The Broken Queen

Chapter 22: Missing

Hulu's POV:

After spending all day learning how to hunt for fish, meeting our Alpha's dragon and flying on his back we are all exhausted. Reno had us in the air for a solid half hour, but Ethan Fionn and Bree had declined the offer and said they would follow us. The red dragon had flown high enough where we broke through the clouds, scaring us all shitless. He flew expertly, with great speed but managed to still keep us all safe. It was an experience I doubt any of us could ever forget. Once he felt that he had stretched out his wings enough, he decided to circle back and land at the top of the mountain, about three feet above the cage. It is pretty flat up here and the three guys had seen where the dragon had been heading and climbed up to meet us here. We all decide to spend the evening on the flat mountaintop talking about the past, our journeys and listening to Alpha's story.

Reno had flown off to gather a bunch of sticks for a fire before coming back to us and shifting so Dani could take control again. She did seem less disorientated after taking control following her shift this time, which is a relief. As we sit around our little campfire, our Alpha doesn't go into details of her story, but she does tell us about how she had been blamed for her mother and brother's death when she was just ten years old, and how her father turned on her and had abused her ever since.

I think all of our hearts broke hearing it, but I think it's pretty safe to say that we all admire her even more after hearing it all for the sheer strength she had to have had to endure sure despicable treatment and grief. Two of the guys do let a tear or two slip and it doesn't take long for all of us to give her a group hug, though I notice Fionn briefly scowl and hesitate to join in on the conversation and affection. Dani is a part of our family now and we are a part of hers.

Around four or five in the morning, I wake up to the sound of heavy, shallow breathing. I already know it's Alpha Brown, the poor girl. She has so much responsibility on her shoulders and has already been through so much at such a young age. I would like to be one of her royal guards when she becomes queen if she'll have me. I walk out of the cave to see her gasping to catch her breath as she stands just outside the cave entrance hyperventilating. I panic and rush to her side, putting my hand on her back in an attempt to comfort her.

"Alpha?! Are you okay?! What's happened??" She looks at me with tears streaming down her face. "Bree's g-gone. I failed him, and I'm having a panic attack" she gasps. "Okay, we can work it all out soon but first we need to get your panic under control Alpha. Now, tell me what to do to make you feel safe and in control. Whatever you need, I'm here to help" I say, keeping my voice as steady as possible. "I need to sit down..." she whispers. "Okay, let's get you comfortable" I reply.

"Hold me? I only trust Bree but he's-" she can't finish her sentence; she just chokes up with vulnerability. I sit down with my back to the external wall of the cave and guide her to sit on my lap with her head on my shoulder, wrapping my arms around her as she sobs and her entire body trembles. "Shhh, you are okay Dani. You're safe. I got you and we will find Bree, I promise okay. Just focus on my heartbeat and focus on slowing your breathing for now. I want you to breathe in for 5 seconds, hold it for 3 and exhale for 6 until it becomes easier, okay?" I gently instruct.

She silently nods, follows my instructions and then turns back to look at me after what feels like an eternity. "Thank you" she whispers looking into my eyes. All I see is so much pain and anguish. "Now, do you want to tell me what happened Alpha?" I encourage. "I just woke up with a bad feeling in my gut and when I got up to investigate what I was sensing, I realized Bree was gone. I failed him, I'm not cut out to be an Alpha, never mind the supernatural queen."

I look her dead in the eyes, Blake surfacing at my words. "Nonsense Alpha, you will be an amazing queen, and I can't speak for any of the others, but I will proudly serve and follow you until my dying breath" she freezes in her panic as her eyes flash, signaling Kayla has stepped forward at my words too, feeling their sincerity, and they are sincere, she is exactly what this world needs. She is compassionate, intelligent, intuitive, strong, fair and observant. I have no doubt in my mind that she is heavily underestimating herself right now and it makes me sad knowing she has yet to realize just how wonderful a person she truly is. She takes a deep breath before responding.

"Thank you for saying that, I hope you are right, but in this moment I can't believe that you are as I'm still a damaged child at heart and right now I'm very weak from my dragon shift. If I wasn't, I would have noticed Bree was missing and woken before it was too late." I rub her back as she speaks.

"I don't know if he left, or if he was taken Hulu but he has been gone at least two hours, his scent is so weak here. I lost my best friend and Beta." I feel anxiety rise in my own chest at her alarming words, but I just nod as I link with Blare, mulling over the information. "What am I supposed to do?" she asks looking up at the sky. Why is she looking up? I'm about to question her strange behaviour when she starts talking to the sky once again, her eyes glazing over slightly as if she is linking with someone, confusing me even more as I feel my brows furrow when she stands up off my lap.

"Okay I got to inform the others. Lead the way and I will lead my pack in search of her." What has gotten into her? Who is she talking to? I am so confused. Our Alpha wipes away her tears, a determined expression forming on her face, before marching into the cave. I follow protectively close behind her. Everyone else is groggily waking as the cave floods with morning sunlight.

She claps to get our attention, clearing her throat before speaking, hearing a few groans of exhaustion in return.

Dani's POV:

"What am I supposed to do?" I call towards the clouds. Then, I hear her again. 'My darling Cricket, Bree is missing but you will get him back, I know you will. You need to make a plan, but first you need help, and you need more wolves. A friend of mine, Erin, is a witch who helped me when I was not much older than you are, after I escaped the castle. She will know what to do. Find her and she will help you find Bree along with other wolves and rogues to grow your pack. I will show you how to find her.'

I respond out loud. "Okay I got to inform the others. Lead the way and I will lead my pack in search of her." I reply out loud before steadying myself and heading back into the cave to the others.

I can tell that Hulu is seriously confused but me talking to my mother's magical voice in the sky and likely thinks I'm crazy right now, but I can't tell him the truth just yet as I don't even know for sure what that truth is. I don't know if my mother's voice is all in my head, a spell, a guiding communication from the moon goddess, or something more. I need to figure that all out before I let anyone know about it, because no matter what it is, it could have some serious consequences...