Chapter 79

(Maya POV)

The next day a knock at the door woke me from the little sleep I had been able to get. Thomas was halfway across the room to answer it and I sat up beside Noah and listened. Thomas opened the door, and the voice of a woman came from the other side.

“Good morning Thomas.” The woman says.

“Mother. To what do we owe the pleasure?” He replies with slight annoyance in his voice.

“I have come to let you know that the council has spoken to Alpha Christopher, and he has asked for you to escort Maya and Noah back home.” The woman says.

After hearing those words, I scrambled off the bed and rushed to the door.

“We are not going home until we find Tommy and Eli!” I say standing beside Thomas.

The woman looks to me and glances over me but her still expression does not change. Instead, she turns to Thomas again.

“Alpha Christopher has a plan to retrieve the mates that have been taken. The council has no other intentions to be involved further.” She says with a voice as cold as the expression on her face.

“But after everything you told me, about what I am….I thought you would help us!” I say anxiously.

“After further consideration the council does not want to risk exposure for such a conflict. Our kind has lived peacefully hidden and we do not wish to risk that for an Alpha trying to obtain a larger pack.” The woman says looking at me pointedly.

“From the story you told, it is more serious than that and you know it! What changed?” Thomas asks.

“You are not to question the council’s decision Thomas; you well know this!” The woman says with a firm voice.

“I no longer answer to the council. Not after Maya and I were bonded, my loyalty is to her now.” Thomas replies.

“You are Fae, and you understand our need to protect our people. Now, be ready to leave shortly.” And with that she turned and walked away.
“So, we are going home.” I turn to see Noah looking back at us with a expression of defeat.

“There must be a reason why the Alpha is calling us to the pack. Maybe he has heard something about them! In all honesty we would probably be more useful to go to the pack than stay here.” Thomas says closing the door and resting a hand on my waist.


(Tommy POV)

The room where Eli and I were being kept in was in some kind of underground dungeon, because the only light that I could see was the lamp hanging from the ceiling that they would turn on to give us water. They had not fed us so far and my wolf was starting to get agitated. He was scratching to break out, but the silver chains burned every time he tried. The chains must have been enchanted to prevent a prisoner from shifting. Eli had not tried to speak to me again since he had told me what he had done, and I was glad. There was nothing I wanted to say to him right now.

I knew why he did what he did but like he said, I would always consider the pack and they were now in danger. I loved Maya but I had to think like an Alpha now, and I could only hope she would understand what I needed to do. If the Alpha wanted her power and was willing to leave our pack in peace in exchange for it, and of he was willing to let Maya go after he has what he wants….maybe we should agree to his terms. Eli had made a mistake putting our pack at risk but there was a chance we could make a deal if I could get the Alpha to talk to me.

So, when one of his men came down with our water, I asked to speak to the Alpha. The man smirked and laughed slightly.

“The Alpha is not here. He is paying your pack a little visit!” The man says before turning and locking us in once again.

There was silence all around me until Eli speaks up. “I’m so sorry Tommy.”

“I know. Our pack is strong though, they can handle this!” I tell him, and it was true.
Our pack was very strong, and my father was smart. I just hoped they could hold out until I could find a way out of this place.


(Maya POV)

“Ready?” Thomas asks Noah and I as we stand in the clearing in front of the little cottage we had spent the night in.

“As ready as I can be traveling through a mysterious portal.” I say with a smile.
He laughs and takes my hand. “Don’t worry, it’s safe and you have done it once before!”

“I was slightly out of my mind at the time.” I remind him.

“It’s quick and painless, and then we will be home!” Noah says taking my other hand.

“The portal will allow exit a half a mile away from the pack lands. It is unwise to open a portal within the pack limits so you will need to travel on foot the rest of the way. And Thomas, remember what I told you before you left the first time.” Thomas’s mother gave him a pointed look and he nodded to her.

Then she waved her hands in a circular motion and a flash of light sparked and grew into a white mist. A gust of wind made the mistake grow larger and she looked to
Thomas and nodded to him.

“It’s time.” Thomas says and pulls me toward the mist.

We stepped through and I felt a rush of cold and we stepped out onto an empty street. I looked behind to see the mist quickly shrink and disappear.

“Wow!” I said under my breath.

It was a strange sensation but a very officiant way to travel. Time was different on this side though; it was already late evening, and the sun was already almost gone.

“Let’s hurry before it gets too dark.” Noah says leading the way.

Only pack members knew how to get to the pack lands, so Thomas and I followed him closely. The night air was cool, and a light breeze danced along my face as we walked along the side of the road. My stomach was in knots as we walked, I wasn’t sure what was waiting for us back home. If I could even call it home, since I had only spent less than a full day there. Now I was coming back with two of my mates missing and a whole new mate that is not even a wolf. All the fears I had the first time I came here with all the boys mated to me seemed rough but now with a fourth I could only imagine what people might think.

I hated that people looked down on me for something I had no choice in. My mother and their alpha and the Fae all chose this life for me before I was even born, but no one else knew that. No one cared why, they only cared about what they could see. Would they blame me for Tommy and Eli being taken? I was sure they would, and I hated that I blamed myself more. I wish they never met me, because then they would be safe at home.

“Maya? What’s wrong?” Thomas asks taking my hand to stop me.

I sigh and want to shrug him off, but I knew he wouldn’t let it go so I stopped and looked at him.

“I am scared about going back there. They didn’t want me here, so I am afraid of how they will act when I come back now and two of my mates who are members of their pack have been taken hostage because of me. I have given them so many reasons to hate me, I just feel like this is a mistake.” I say.

“Maya, I don’t care what they say or think. None of this is your fault and we will be sure to let them know that! Also, you have worked hard to keep your powers under control, so they have no reason to be afraid of you.” Noah says instead.

“We will be beside you the whole time and we will explain everything to the pack. They need you now and without you Tommy and Eli would probably never be able to come home. Believe in yourself Maya, you don’t have to feel looked down upon anymore. You are strong and you have it inside you to command their respect, but you are too kind to do that. So, showing them how caring you are will show what a kind leader you will be one day.” Thomas adds.

I knew I had a lot of insecurities, but these boys sure knew exactly what to say to help me get out of my own head. So, I nodded and thanked them before we turned and walked the last block to the entrance of the pack lands. Once we arrived some of the pack border security stopped us.

“Noah you have returned! Alpha is expecting you, but who is with you?” Did they not know who I was?

I suppose that made sense. I had not met most of the pack yet, so them not recognizing me was not unusual.

“This is my mate Maya and her other mate Thomas. They are no danger to the pack.” Noah says.

“What creature is that man? His scent is strange.” The other guard says scrunching his nose.

“He is a Fae.” Noah says simply.

Their eyes widen and they look Thomas over a couple of times before speaking again.

“A Fae in the flesh, a rare sight. What is his name?” The first guard asks.

“My name is Thomas and my people had informed your Alpha I would be coming, did they not?” Thomas asks sternly, with a hint of annoyance.

“Yes, you are right. You may enter. The alpha is waiting for you in the meeting hall.” The second guard says.

We walked through the gate and began headed toward the meeting hall. When we arrived, I felt my heart fall when the man who now lived in my nightmares was standing beside Tommy’s dad.

“Ah, my daughter has finally arrived! Now I can finally bring her home.”

No. Please no.