Fastest of the Woods

XXXI

Kian's POV

It's kind of amazing how horrible you can feel about something that wasn't your fault. 

Hannah was trying to create a distraction so when she heard Holly coming she kissed me. I pushed her away immediately after and started after her but a tracker called my attention to Hannah and the problem at hand.

It sucks to be the Alpha's son sometimes. 

I had to spend almost an hour taking her down to the interrogation room and trying to figure out why she was here and who she works for.

She didn't break, but one of the wolves had the amazing idea to bring down Faye to see if she recognized them. Hannah was from her old pack-coven-clan-thing. After her cover was blown we were able to get her to talk, threatening to tell the people she came from that she told us who she was instead of Faye.

They plan to attack at daybreak, they want the oracles and they want Faye. 

Why do they want Faye, you might ask. 

They want Faye back so they can punish her for her betrayal.

How?

By stripping her of her powers.

Let me explain, when a witch is stripped of her powers she is primarily robbed of her life force. It would destroy her to say the least. She would be broken by it.

"We have to get Faye to a safe place," I told the people in the room after we received the information.

"Why," she asked, looking more confused than i thought possible for such a smart girl.

"You're part of our pack now, we have to protect you."

"But... why?"

A small smirk crossed my lips and I just responded with because before telling the others that I was leaving. Mike had come and was taking over to make an attack plan. That's how it works, he's better with plans and schedules and fighting but I'm better with negotiating and people.

I went back to the place that Holly and I were before taking a deep breath to track her and followed it to the orphanage. She was sitting on the floor with Nova holding her. 

My heart broke at the sight.

It crumbled at her words.

It felt like it was dipped in gold at her kiss.

And it was whisked away with her leaving.

I tried to follow her out but Nova stopped me, saying that she needed time and I had to be respectful of that.

You know what she did with that time?

She got drunk and felt up a fucking Mexican. Don't get me wrong, Arturo's a great Alpha but if he doesn't stay away from my mate we'll have some serious problems.

I was about to call her out for it but then I heard her thoughts trickle into my mind. 

I wonder if he'll still take me to his pack?

"Don't say that," I told her, by now Arturo was gone with that white lie I told him about my dad's plan.

"Look, I'm willing to believe you about the whole Hannah thing."

"Real-," I was going to say really but she interrupted me, quickly deflating whatever hope I had.

"But that doesn't mean I'm okay with it or that I forgive you."

"Bu-"

"And for once I want to have my own say before anyone interrupts me and with out you kissing me and with out people ignoring me," I shut up," I want to get some things clear to you; the first being that I have saved myself all these years for my mate. I didn't want to be with anyone else, not even flirting wise. Secondly, you need to know that you have put me through hell with all the things you've done to my head."

My head lowered at her words and she took a step towards me.

"And the final thing is that I'll still wake up every morning and think of you because you are my mate. I can't live with out you."

Tears slipped from my eyes. I know, real manly.

"Please, for the love of the huntress, stop trying. It's not going well. Just be you, Kian. They harder you try and the more you promise the worse it will be if we crash."

"We won't crash. I kn-"

"We're already spinning out of control," she held my face and I accepted her words. They were true.

"I don't want to loose you, lo-"

She doesn't want me to call her that anymore.

"I didn't mean what I said," my head fell to her her shoulder and she held me tightly," Call me love. Call me what ever you want. Just make sure it's me you're calling."

Neither of us spoke, she just held me and I focused on her heartbeat racing against my chest. I suddenly felt the unrelenting urge to make it go faster. 

Lifting my head I planted a soft kiss against her lips and moved my hands to her hips so I could guide her into her room. Her back hit her dresser almost immediately because of the lay out and she moved her hands so they were on my forearms. I moved one arm so it was holding hers gently, my thumb began to run up and down it but I froze.

What was that?

Was that a scar?

I pulled her arm off my own and looked at it carefully. A long, jagged scar was on her upper arm. Where did it come from?

Who hurt my mate?

"Holly," I whispered, unable to voice my questions.

"I'm sorry," she said, moving away from me and going to her closet to pull out a sweater and put it on," I forgot to put on a jacket. I didn't mean for you to see those."

"They hurt you there."

"Only a little," she tried to laugh it off but I didn't join her.

Instead I went to her and pulled her tightly in my arms, kissing her lips with all that I had. She was breathless when I pulled away from her.

"I'm doing this because I love you."

With that I was outside her room and locking the door. She banged on it loudly.

"What are you doing?"

"Keeping anyone from doing that to you ever again," I said under my breath before telling her," I love you, stay in there."

She was not pleased with my answer but refrained from cussing or swearing.

My innocent little mate.

Mike and my father were downstairs with the other Alphas. 

"I'm ready."

_____

Half of the pack was waiting for the signal at the bottom of the hill with me, all of us changed into our wolf forms. 

Faye had volunteered as a look out. Her old pack would go straight for her.

It must have worked because soon enough we heard the long and low sound of her slightly mournful howl. We charged.

I set my sights on everyone. Anyone who could have hurt my mate. I kept on seeing those scars before my eyes and remembering the pain I felt each night when I woke up in from my sleep. 

The battle was short, it was barely over when it began. They had dozens and we had over a hundred.

They were slaughtered.