Chapter 30

I finally was able to pack a few pairs of cloths and other necessities. It got to the point I had to kick my mate out of the room because I couldn’t concentrate on anything else but his soft lips. Imagining them traveling around my body and sending so many sensations through me. He is driving me crazy. It’s like he unlocked a completely new person. I have never been like this with anyone before. Plus, the little surprises he left on my neck gave me the motivation to kick him out.
It’s now morning and we are all preparing to leave. Aiden never returned and hasn’t even come back to the pack lands. We are going to head south and stop at the Dark Howl pack to see if they have an idea where he went. From there we will track his scent. Im praying he hasn’t gotten too far so we aren’t gone too long. If I am absent from the pack too long It will give the Hale family the opportunity to attack.
I grab all of my things and head down stairs and find everyone is waiting on me. Everyone is sitting in the kitchen and Mom enters with me. Everyone stops their chatter and focuses on the Luna. Her demeanor is all over the place and mixed. There Is worry plain as day and uncertainness. She obviously doesn’t want us to go but there is no other choice. No one else is capable of bringing him back.
“I don’t want all of you gone longer than 2 weeks. Each of you are still the future of this pack and we can’t risk losing any of you.” She says and looks at each of us. “Don’t take any risks and if you encounter the rogues flee and call Beta James. Silas, when will your warriors arrive?”
“In a few hours ma’am. They are taking longer than expected but my Gamma notified me they left about 6 hours ago. When they arrive, they will be under your command.” He informs.
“Very well, thank you Silas.” She nods. “When they arrive I will allow them some time to rest and I will send them to my Beta’s location.”
Silas nods and Mom takes a deep breath. “Please bring him home safe, and each of you better return unscathed.” She says and turns her attention back to my mate and Alaric. “Yes, even you two, you both are also the future of this pack. If any, I mean any of you come back with a scratch. I will raise hell fire.”
`We won’t take any unnecessary risks Mom. You don’t have to worry about us. We’ll be fine.” I reassure her. I can’t promise her we will come back unharmed. Aiden will probably put up a fight and injure some of us. She yanks me into her arms and squeezes me. Her bear hug is warm but crushing. After a few moments she let me go but it was reluctant. She didn’t want me to leave.
We all say our goodbyes and we head to the garage. We will be taking Silas’s large black SUV. After he arrived the pack warriors drove it from the border to the garage so its not just sitting at the base of the mountain.
We throw all our bags into the back of the vehicle. Then Silas takes the drivers seat and I take the passenger. Celeste and Alaric take the back seats and Atlas takes the third row. We all close our doors and we begin our journey south to search for my curse inflicted brother.
“Alright, when we reach the base of the mountain, the Dark Howl pack is about 30 miles south. Should take us about a half an hour to get there.” I say and look at a map on my phone. “We just need to make our way to the highway 77 and ill let you know when to get off.”
“Sounds good, Angel.” Silas says.
Along the way it becomes quiet. Almost too quiet. I reach of the radio and see what channel he has on. To my luck he had a country station on. ‘To be loved by you’ by Parker McCollum is currently playing. This is me and Celestes song. I look to the back seat and meet the excited eyes of Celeste. I turn up the volume and we begin to yell to each lyric. Each note that leaves her lips are off key but no one cares. Both the guys smile in amusement and allow us to have our moment of fun. Eventually I hear Silas start to hum along with us. I smile and pretend I don’t hear him.
We are driving down the highway and finally our exit comes. I tell Silas to take it and we take a couple back rounds to get to the secluded werewolf pack. They are a smaller and peaceful pack. They stay out of politics and mind their business here deep in the southern forests. They almost never attend to important events and never hold major events. ‘
We pull off the paved roads and we start to take gravel roads that lead to the forest they inhabit. We pass the tree line of the forest and after a little more driving we are greeted by the patrol pack warriors. Silas stops and puts the SUV in park and we hop out to greet them.
I face the warriors and state in a proud clear voice. “I am Athena Goldstein of the Mystic Evergreen pack, your Alpha should be expecting us.”
Each warrior eye Silas and Alaric with unsure expressions. Finally one warrior steps up. “Yes Ms. Goldstein. Please, all of you follow us to the pack house.”
All of their expressions return to normal and they turn to go deep into the forest were the pack house is located. We finally reach the pack house and I find it quite smaller from ours. However it has beautiful architecture; It looks like it used to be an old and rustic Victorian house that is modernized and updated. The exterior of the house is made up off white brink and very dark chestnut accents. There Is a beautiful rose garden that surrounds it and two elegant fountains complete it. It seems to be three stories high and a balcony with dark decorative railings stands on the second floor. I am awestruck by the beauty of the pack house.
They lead us inside and take us up the straits. Mostly likely to the Alpha’s study. The interior is just as alluring as the outside. We go up to the second floor and the warrior knocks on a large double door. A loud and deep voice sounds from the inside.
“Enter!” The warrior opens the door and bows his head in respect.
“Alpha, the visitors you’ve been expecting are here.” The warrior says.
“Very well, thank you Darren. Please come in all of you.” The Alpha says.
The Warrior, Darren steps out of the way and we all file into the study. There sits a middle aged man with dark hair and short stubble on his face. In the background, there is a woman with a warm smile. She is a tall dirty blond beauty who also appears to be pregnant.
“Welcome all of you. I am Alpha Finn and this is my lovely Luna, Aria.” He says and his mate gives us a small wave.
“Thank you Alpha. I am Athena. This is my Mate Alpha Silas, and this is Alaric, Celeste, and Atlas. You spoken with my mother.” I introduce everyone.
“Yes, you are here in regards of your brother. I also want to offer my deepest condolences for your lose of your father, He was a good man.” He says sadly.
“Thank you, Alpha.” I bow my head and accept his condolences.
“Aiden has indeed come through my territory last night. He was stopped by my patrol warriors. .” He informs us. “He put up quite the fight, but he was able to escape my warriors before I could arrive. He continued his way to the south and his scent still lingers.”
“Did he say why we is going south?” I ask.
“No, but when he was captured apparently he continuously yelled ‘I need to find my Alpha.’.” His Alpha? He is of Alpha blood, he has no Alpha. Who could he possibly be looking for? “From what your mother the Luna told me, she is under a witches curse?”
“Yes, what our pack healer told us is it causes the host to turn against the ones they love and see their enemies as allies.” I inform him. “It is very possible he could be looking for the rogues that attacked a couple of weeks ago.”
“That’s horrible.” Luna Aria gasps. I nod in agreement.
“I am afraid that is all I know. I can lead you in the direction of his scent so you can follow it.” He says and stands from his seat.
“Thank you Alpha. We really appreciate this.” I smile and comes around the desk and places a hand on my shoulder.
“I will pray for Aidens and your safe return. May Artemis guide you.” He says and bows his head. I nod my head appreciatively. He leads us to the back of the back house and into the forest. The warriors already brought our vehicle to the site and Aidens scent invades my nose.
“He was definitely here.” I say and look at every single detail of this part of the Forest. There is obviously some damage and signs of struggle.
“Indeed. If you follow this path, it will take you out of the forest and you wont be far from the border of West Virginia and that’s the direction Aiden went.” Alpha Finn points in the direction of a gravel path that leads deeper into the forest.
“Thank you Alpha,. We really appreciate your help, if there is anything my pack can do in return please let us know.” I offer my hand and smile.. He friendly chuckles and takes my hand.
“That wont be necessary Athena. Your.pack is a friend of mine and we always aid our friends.” He says. “Safe travels all of you, and if there is anything else I can do to help please give me a call.”
We say our final farewells and hop in the SUV. We follow the trail he told us about and find he is completely correct Aiden went in this direction. The ride is quiet and everyone has become quite glum. Mostly Silas, he seems the worst out of all of us.
“Are you alright?” I ask and place my hand on his that is resting on the center console. It breaks his concentration and he slightly tenses up.
“Yea, I’m fine. I just have a lot on my mind.” He says vaguely.
It’s obvious he is half lying. He is not fine. For some reason I can feel guilt emanating from him. Why does he feel guilty for my brothers disappearance?