Born in Fire

Chapter Twenty

*Caspian*

The Pack stood on the front lawn. Kalama and I stood on the porch. Elite Sam stood to the side with Kalama’s parents. My Gamma, Neal, stood to my right. My Beta, John stood back. They did a good job of hiding it, but I knew they were apprehensive. After learning that Julie’s brother, Samuel, the future Alpha to the Crescent Wolf pack, had been involved in Ethan Hanyes’ attack on Green Grove, the two had been quiet and spent the majority of their time in their room. Kalama and I had tried to talk to them last evening, but our knocks had fallen on deaf ears. The thought of ordering them to open the door and talk had crossed my mind, but Kalama had thought it best to let them come back at their own pace. 

I looked at the yard, to the wolves who stood off the main group. Julie and her parents, Alpha Mason and his Luna Mary stood with their Warriors, warriors they had sent to help us with Ethan Hanyes. They were set to leave in the morning, and though she did not say it, I knew my Love was worried that they both may decide to leave with them. I looked back at John. He was my closest friend, a brother really. My gaze switched to his mate Julie. She was the first friend Kalama had made here, the first person to accept her for what she was, power or not. I couldn’t count how often the two were texting back and forth or taking lunch together, or how often I found Kalama in the play room, baby Grace in her arms and Miley on one leg. It hurt to know they now felt out of place, that my Love may have lost her friend.

A hand gripped mine. I looked at Kalama. She gave me a small smile, complete understanding in her eyes, and squeezed my hand. I squeezed it back. “Ready?” Kalama’s voice swirled in my mind. I squeezed her hand again,

“Let’s do it.” I stepped up, raising my hands for silence. The mutters going through the gathered pack members quickly died. I looked at their faces, many still bandaged from the attack. An Omega stood in the front, a long, pink scar now running down her cheek and across her mouth and chin. I cleared my throat, allowing my voice to boom over the open space. “New information has come to light about the attack that happened, now three days ago. Seeing as this was an attack on Green Grove as a whole, your Luna and I believe you have just as much right to know what is happening as the rank members.” Whispers trickled through the group. When they died down, I continued, “Green Grove was betrayed. Wolves, close to us, have paired up with Ethan Haynes to try and take us from within, during a time that should have been of joy.” I swallowed. “Thanks to the quick thinking of Warrior Elite Samatha Nelson, we were able to apprehend two of these individuals.” 

Elites Jackson and Ben along with Will and Charles, came around the side of the house, Deborah and Joanna between each of them. Gasps went around as Jackson and Will dumped Deborah on the ground in front of the steps. Ben and Charles did the same with Joanna. The she-wolves’ bruises and broken bones from the beating they’d received had healed, however Joanna’s hand was tightly bandaged, as was Deborah’s head. We had sent for Dr. Barker immediately after the interrogations as well as in the days after, but the burns Kalama had given them were not healing as the doctor thought they would. The burns remained blistering red, angry, and painful. Dr. Barker couldn’t say if Joanna would ever again have use of her hand. I let the whispers continue. “That’s right. Green Grove Warrior Scouts, Deborah Sampson and Joanna Smith have betrayed us. Now they are nothing more than a couple of rogues.” Growls rubbled. “They are not alone. Green Grove Omega Delilah Richard also conspired with the Blood Creek pack. She is also now Rogue.” More growls. I swallowed. I had wanted to leave the last one out, knowing the knowledge of it would cause an uproar, but Kalama had insisted. There would be no more secrets. The pack would know everything we did. I swallowed again, trying to get past the lump that had formed in my throat. “There is also one more, Samuel Blake, future Alpha of Crescent Wolf.” The growls and whispers increased. Many members looked towards Alpha Mason and Luna Mary. Mary clenched her mate’s arm so hard I could see her white knuckles from my spot on the porch. Sinsing the shift, the Crescent Wolf Warriors quickly formed a circle around their ranked members.