Chapter 46 The Pick Up

*Lucas*

After Diana exited the guesthouse, with all of us following her with our eyes, I turned to Ethan. I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ethan, this is a sad truth, but apparently Diana has outgrown me and her Uncle Mike. She has never accused us of lying to her. Diana usually just accepts there are things we would rather not say than hurt her feelings. Once she shifts, I will give my consent to a mating ceremony. She needs you by her side. I just want you to promise me one thing, that you'll be there when she needs you."

"Alpha Lucas, I promise you I will be there for Diana at all times. She is my Luna. I will protect her with my life even if it means protecting her from herself. You have my word." I gave him a weak smile and nodded my head.

"Thank you, Alpha Ethan. I'll meet you at the parking area. I just need to talk to the Elder first."
Ethan nods his head and motions to his men to follow him. Michael closes the door behind them.

"Elder Allen, what just happened? Be truthful. This is my daughter we're talking about. If you don't tell me the truth, I won't be able to help you." I walk to the couch and take a seat. The Elder had her hand on her throat, rubbing it, to ease the pain.

"I had thought I was sent here by the Moon Goddess to train her, maybe aid her in her first shift. However, I was sent here to provide information and to provide all of you safe passage back to New Jersey or even New York." The old lady sighed. "She saw into my past, Lucas. She saw the sins of my youth. The worst part, she made me relive it, all the emotions during that time of my life, I felt it all once again. Even when I-..." The Elder's voice suddenly trailed off and she placed her face in her hands and started sobbing. The remorse she felt was there to see.

"Alpha Lucas, I think it is time for the Elder to rest. She's experienced too much excitement for one day," said Jonathan. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently helped her out of her chair. I stood up and watched Jonathan guide the Elder to her room.

"Michael, let's go. Have Ethan's men guard this guesthouse. I don't want the Elder to flee." Michael nods his head and opens the doors of the guesthouse. We exit and I head over to the parking lot while Michael gives instructions to Ethan's men.

I knew it. It was just a matter of time before she unlocked her full potential. Diana had the ability to see past sins and make you relive them. I always thought Elder Allen was squeaky clean. She, too, had skeletons in her closet and now that Diana knows, I'm thinking she would use it against the Elder.

Diana and Ethan were already seated in the pickup, talking while waiting. Ethan abruptly let go of Diana's hand when he saw me. I chuckled and shook my head.

I went to Diana's side and gestured for her to roll down her window.

"Kids, I need you to stay alert."

"Dad, do you really need to call us kids?" Diana pouted

"Yes, because you are kids. You especially. You're my kid." I pointed to her. "Anyway, Athena must be near if she isn't here yet. Ethan, I need you to follow me as close as you can and as for you Diana, I need you to learn how to mind link. It'll be the easiest way to communicate. Ethan, I need you to teach her." Ethan smiles and nods his head.

"Mind link?" Diana asked.

"Yes, Diana. Mind link. Like this." I mind link to her. I saw her eyes widen with surprise meaning she could hear me.

"Oh neat! Let me try." I waited for it but all I heard was static.

"All I hear is static. Means channels are open, but you need to focus more. Ask Onyx's guidance then, try it with Ethan. It'll probably be easier because he's your mate." Michael emerges from the back of the house. "Let's get moving." I open the door of Diana's SUV which was parked beside Ethan' pickup. Michael climbs in after and we drove off.

"Lucas, what do you think Diana saw?" Michael was pertaining to the Elder.

"I have no idea. I always thought she was the type who could and would never do no wrong. I remember the time when our classmates bullied this new Asian classmate of ours when we were in the fifth grade. She was so calm about it even when we saw her anger in her eyes. She had us each stand in front of the class and she acted like our classmates who bullied Feng  After that, no one bullied Feng anymore. It was the most realistic way to teach why bullying isn't proper. Well, whatever Diana saw gave us our ticket back into New Jersey and New York. I'm going to call Connor later so he can expect us. We need an army against our pack. Call our Gamma. Tell him to prepare for our return. Gather whoever is still loyal to us and make sure they are bound to secrecy until the time I set foot back into the mansion."

"Sure, Lucas. I'll call him once we are safe back at the house. Athena flying back here only means she's not allowed to return. And I thought Athena was your father's favorite."

"She is. But you know father. He doesn't like to be challenged and mother never seemed to care about any of her children." Athena said mother was in rehab to control her drinking. They wanted to do the same to Chase, but he said he would have everyone killed before he set foot in a rehabilitation center. "Anyway, this could also be my father's plan to follow Athena and find us. He knows Athena would come to me if she encountered any problems. On her own, they'd find her and probably throw her in the dungeons. I am her only ticket to freedom."

My phone pings. I hand it over to Michael so he could read it.

"Says here she's getting off at Harbor View."

"I know it. It's about five miles away. Message her to go to the nearest cafe or restaurant. Then message us the name of the cafe or resto she's in." Michael starts clicking on my phone.

"Ethan, we're headed to Harbor View. It's five miles away. Keep close." I mind link him.

"Copy Alpha."

We were close by when my phone pings again.

"Athena says she is at "Cuppa Joe" cafe right across from the hotel."

"No problem. We're just a few minutes away." We were already in the vicinity. I just had to make a left turn to get to the hotel.

"I can hear another helicopter coming in." Michael starts scanning the sky. I turn left and we see a helicopter coming in to land. It was just too close for comfort. We needed to pick up Athena and leave as quickly as possible.

Suddenly, the sun went behind the clouds and it grew dark. The wind started to howl causing the helicopter to move up and away from the hotel.

"Whoever is in the chopper won't be able to land until the wind stops. I'm hoping no one took the ferry. Even then, they won't be able to get here in time to find Athena," I tell Michael.

"The Moon Goddess is on our side," Michael quips.

"Diana is on our side. I have a feeling her wolf is making the weather work in our favor. I'm going to mind link Diana and tell her to pick up her aunt. No one knows who she is. Not even my father's men."

"Diana, go inside Cuppa Joe and pick up your Aunt Athena. She'll ride with you. Please hide your face when you go in." I mind link Diana. I wait to see if she could mind link me back.

"Okay Dad." I hear her albeit faintly. She has learned to mind link.

"I hear you. Good job, Diana." I park the car on the other side of the street near the cafe while Ethan parks infront of the cafe. I peer through my rearview mirror and watch Diana walk inside the cafe.

"Lucas, look. We have company." Michael turns his head and points to a black car which was slowing down as it approached the cafe.

The black car parks beside Ethan's pickup. Without a word, Michael pulls up his scarf to hide his face and quickly walks out of the SUV. My pack has a penchant for black cars. It has always been a symbol for us. If that car was from the pack, how in the world could they have known Athena was here? Are they tracking her?

I see three men walk out of the car as Diana and Athena walk out of the cafe. I get out of the SUV and sniff the air. They are wolf! I run towards them, hoping to get there in time.

The biggest among the three walks to Athena and grabs her. Michael and Ethan sneak up behind the other two, their scarves hiding their faces and grabs each one by the head and quickly snaps their heads breaking their necks. They fall to the ground. The wolf remaining takes out a silver dagger and presses it against Athena' neck. The silver on her skin starts to sizzle, burning Athena's neck and she screams in pain.

"Let her go and we will allow you to live," I tell the man holding Athena hostage.

"Lucas Lockwood." He chuckles, his black eyes dancing merrily knowing he will get a huge reward for my capture. "So, it is true that you live. You are worth more to me than her. I will let her go in exchange for you."

"Fine. I will come with you just let her go. You have my word." I needed to deescalate the situation before he hurt Athena even more.

"Tell your men to back away. I will let her go once they are at a safe distance." I motion to Michael and Ethan to move back. Michael growls, his eyes black. He was just seconds away from shifting. I gesture again for them to step away from the wolf, but they wouldn't budge.

"Move back!" I growl at Ethan and Michael. They unwillingly take two tiny steps back creating some distance between them and the wolf.

"Now let go of my sister and take me instead. Go on. Let her go." The wolf removes the silver dagger from Athena's throat and softens his hold on her. I move forward to grab Athena and pull her away when Diana hits the man on the head with a rock I saw her pick up and he falls to the ground. Michael walks up to the wolf lying on the pavement and snaps his head back breaking his neck.

"Dead men tell no tales." Michael stands up and rolls his neck, feeling alive. It's been a while since both of us had some excitement. "Let's go. We need to drive away from here before we ditch whatever you have on you, Athena. They're tracking you," he said.

We hear sirens wailing in the distance. Damn, we needed to run and hide. We all jump in our cars and speed off towards the opposite direction of the sirens. The wind howls and heavy snow starts to fall once again.

Time to ditch our cars and get new ones and time to call in a few favors from people who owe me.