#5 When the New Moon Falls

Leo

I ravaged the packhouse like a feral beast. Ripping through the couches and chairs, destroying the furniture, and shredding the wallpaper. I was uncontrollable and inconsolable. Our mate was gone and nothing could control us now. The pack was so distraught over the loss of their Luna they didn’t even care about my mood. Every single member joined the search.

“Alpha, I think I might have something.” Jacks entered the destroyed office. His face was as solemn as mine.

“What?” I growled. My eyes were constantly black, Quinn never leaving the surface as he forced his dominance on the entire pack.

“Everything’s been really quiet over at Dark Moon. Hardly any movement. I called Alpha Victor to see if he knew anything about his son and he avoided my calls, all twelve of them.” Jacks said.

“You think Alpha Victor and Dark Moon are involved?” Quinn’s voice demanded an answer.

“I think Alpha Victor lied. He never exiled his son. It was all a plan against you and the Luna.” Jacks answered.

“Against me?” I snapped.

“You haven’t marked her, Alpha. Your bond is incomplete. If Kayden were to…..you know….” Jacks waved his hand uncomfortably. He was insinuating something that neither Quinn nor myself appreciated. I snarled at him, lunging towards him. Jacks quickly scurried away,

“I don’t mean any disrespect, Alpha.” He mumbled.

“You think Kayden will mark my mate! So he can weaken me?” I wrangled in Quinn. We weren’t really angry with our Beta, but his words disgusted us, mostly because of the possibility that he was right.

“I think it’s a possibility.” He nodded.

We’re going to Dark Moon. Tonight!” I ordered. Jacks bowed his head and ran off to assemble our best warriors for the job.

I left the packhouse for my mate’s cabin. It was the only place where her scent remained and her scent was the only thing that kept me from going feral. Amber, Mallory, Emma, and Fern were staying at the cabin. They were devastated and filled with guilt. It was easier for them to all stay together. The cabin was heavily guarded by all five of the guard wolves.

The girls had informed me that Austyn left the cabin because of my actions against her guard. She was pissed at me for taking my anger out on them. So, I reinstated all five of them. At least she would have one less thing to be angry about when I got her back. And I would get her back.

“Any news, Alpha?” Emma rushed towards me as I entered the kitchen.

“We think Dark Moon is involved.” I explained Jacks’ idea.

“Those assholes!” Fern shouted, shocking all of us.

“I promise all of you, I will get our Luna back and make every person who harmed her pay.” I snarled.

“We know you will, Alpha. You showed your loyalty to her by executing your own father for her honor.” Mallory smiled softly at me, trying to be encouraging. Amber stepped forward,

“Let me help. My family needs to pay for what they did.” Amber’s face was filled with vengeful hate.

“Actually, Amber, you could be helpful with our preparations. Is there anything we should know about the packhouse? Traps, weapons, secret rooms? Maybe a location where they would hold Austyn?” I asked her. She made a thinking face,

“Well, there’s an entire network of hidden corridors in the packhouse for the staff. There’s also the cellar which serves as the pack’s dungeon. The tower on the north side of the pack is where the Alpha’s quarters are. It’s heavily fortified because of my father’s….extracurricular activities.” She grumbled and I raised an eyebrow at her in question,

“His mistresses aren’t always…..willing participants.” She tried to hide the venom in her voice.

“He could be keeping Austyn there.” I said in a quiet voice, controlling my own emotions. Amber’s face snapped to mine in realization,

“No, I know where Kayden would take her.”

“Where?” I nearly shouted at her.

“The cabin where her parents were killed. She was never allowed to go back there. It’s remote and hidden. Her parents insisted on living in privacy instead of at the packhouse. It would be somewhere away from the prying eye, away from the pack, and away from any attacks on the packhouse.” Amber was speaking quickly, her words making sense.

“How do we get there?” Amber gave me directions and drew up a crude map for my men to follow.

“I need you girls to stay here. Nick won’t be able to focus if you’re in danger, Amber, and I need him to focus. When I get Austyn, she’s going to want all of you.” I silenced their arguments.

“Yes, Alpha.” Mallory nodded in submission. I nodded to the girls and left the cabin.

I called Nick and Jacks to the packhouse so I could fill them in on the new plan. They already had all of the Warriors and Fighters assembled. Many of the pack members had volunteered to work with the Fighters to retrieve our Luna. The Patrol and Border wolves would stay to protect the pack.

“The armored cars are ready for your command, Alpha.” Nick said. We had five armored cars at our disposal to transport our wolves wherever the fight was.

“We’re going to the cabin.” I made the final decision.

I found the drivers and gave them new directions. I sent a group of Warriors ahead to scout out the terrain. I also sent a group to the packhouse directly to act as a distraction.

“Let’s go get our Luna.” Quinn and I spoke together, determination and fire in our voice.