Chapter 86 - The vision

**Callums pov**

Last night was the first night I slept in our bed after Hope was taken. After the link last night, I had an even greater need to feel close to her. I was contacted by several Alphas in the packs who received her link. Those who had not already offered their help did so and wondered why we do not attack directly. So, after giving the same explanation and picture of the situation several times, I was completely exhausted. Feeling Hope’s closeness in our shared bed was at least a small relief.
I bury my head in her pillow and take a few deep breaths for strength before reluctantly leaving the bed.
It’s still very early, from what I can hear the house is completely quiet. I leave the room and make my way down the stairs as quietly as I can so as not to wake anyone. A dim light comes from the kitchen and I understand that Greta has already started her day. I’m not ready for breakfast so I leave the house through the front door and shift as soon as I get outside. Both me and Beacon need this. We run fast sprints through the forest, long and high jumps, over streams, between rocks and rolls under tight spaces. I push us up a steep hill at top speed and even though my muscles burn and my mouth starts to taste metallic, I don’t slow down. Who would I be if I couldn’t take the pain of overworked muscles? If I couldn’t take the lack of oxygen in my lungs? when my mate is going through so much worse. Images of the soldiers targeting her and Mr. Landrover’s sweaty face flash into my head. He had ordered her rape..what sadist does such a thing? Did her father know about it? I don’t know how she feels but from what I saw he is a cold, calculating man. Mr Landrover wears everything on the outside, you know immediately where you have such a man. But Bugatti..he is of a different breed. One who puts up a kind and understanding facade to wrap you in security..the most dangerous kind.
I stop at the top of the hill. Its a beautiful scenery with the sun starting to rise. Beacon whines in my head and I feel why. “I know buddy..I miss them to..we’ll get them back, I promise” I lay down on the grass and continued to look at the view. The sky went from red to pink to blue before I stood up and started jogging back. I took the road past the Moon Temple. It’s been so long since I’ve been here and the place now has a whole new meaning for me. I open the big doors and go inside. As I recall, large coats hang on the wall to the right directly inside the doors. I shift and put one on. The sun hasn’t risen high enough to shine through the glass roof yet with the other windows letting in enough light for me to see well enough. I look at all the paintings with completely new eyes. Previously, they have only been pictures for a fairy tale around the campfire, told by the crazy hag. Now..now they have a whole new meaning. I study them one by one, trying to find something I missed..something that can help me. When I get to the center I find myself in front of the statue of Selene. I feel Beacon’s awe and respect but they clash with my own feelings. She is our Goddess and after all I have experienced, I don’t doubt her existence..but isn’t she our protector? Hope and Luna’s protector? I fall to my knees and lower my head.
“Please Selene..help them..don’t call them home so soon..we need them..not just me and Beacon..all werewolves need them. They have already started to heal deep wounds..the rogues, the vampires..they need them too..Please Selene..I’m begging you..” I raise my head to look at her, I don’t know what I expected, that the statue would come to life? That she would somehow give me a sign? I shake my head and stand up again.
“I know I’m not worthy of your attention..I haven’t always been the best son or wolf and I still have a lot to learn..but I’m not just praying for myself..I’m praying for all of us.. “ I continue talking to her as I move towards the painting on the wall next to her. The painting of Aayla..the resemblance to Hope is striking. I reach out to caress her cheek when suddenly a crack goes through the painting and the mortar falls to the floor. I growl in fear and surprise when I see that only half the face is left. Did I break it? I barely touched it! I see something glinting in the wall, metal? glass? Carefully I break off the rest of the beautiful face in front of me. There behind, built into the wall, covered by the most beautiful of paintings is a glass box. I pry it out, worried it will crumble in my hands. It is made of dark blue glass with leaded edges. I can glimpse something inside the box through the dark wavy glass, but when I try to open it, it stays closed. I look back at Selene and I could almost swear her expression has changed..sorrow?..compassion?..determination?
“She’s made of stone Callum, get it together! I say out loud, shake my head and leave the temple with the box carefully hidden under my coat.
Back in the room, I place the box on the coffee table and sit down to study it. A thin inscription is carved into the lid but I can’t make out the words. The lock is beautifully forged but does not appear to be unlocked by a key. I could just break the glass but something inside me tells me that would be a mistake. I see what I think is some type of paper scroll..a parchment of some kind?..I shake it and hear something clinking against the edges, jewelry? I sigh and scratch my head. Well, that will have to wait. I have way too much to handle today, starting with a deep scrub.
In the bathroom I look at my self in the mirror and run my hands over my spiky cheeks.
“ Don’t like the beard huh?..you had an extraordinary reason though” I say out load before picking up a razor and a can of shaving creme and get to work.
“Reece, bring Joe and meat me in the office in ten minutes.” I link Reece on my way in to the shower. They know whats going on, they got Hopes link yesterday and I filled them in about the Sons of the Suns intentions.
As I get dressed Zandras voice is sounding in my head.
“ Alpha? Alpha, are you awake?”
“ Yes Zandra, what’s up?” I move across the room looking for my shoes as I wait for her reply.
“ I’m not sure..I had a vision of sorts.”
“Of what?”
“ Hope..Callum, I couldn’t feel Luna in the vision..I can always feel her.” I stop in my steps and I feel the panic in me rise.
“ They want to kill her..not Hope, Luna..we need to speed things up, we need to get her out of there..can you come to my office? I can have some one pick you up?”
“Sure..yes, of course..I see you soon.” As she closed the link I opened one to Lucas, asked him to go get her.
“Those sick fucks!!!” Reece was furious after I told them about the hunters’ plans to exterminate the wolves. Maya was with him and her hand is massaging his neck, trying to get him to relax. I feel tiny sting of jealousy, missing Hopes calming touch.
“We need to speed things up, we cant wait for this Linda to go on her shift. Joe, can you contact Tony?”
“ I call him right away.” Joe stands up and leave the room
“If we don’t have Linda, how will we get in?” Reece asks and I answer him with silence. I don’t know yet..but I need to figure it out.
“ How about the rogues? They tried to blow your prison to get Fredrick? Maybe they can do a better job?” Maya says. Even though my prison is nothing compared to the fort they holding Hope in the idea is not bad. We may not be able to blow holes in the walls..but maybe a door or two?..Maybe use it as a distraction? We could definitely use someone with skills in explosive. I take my phone from my desk and call the only rogue I know.
“ Hey, what’s up?” Jesse answered on the second tone.
“Change of plans, can you get back here?”
“ Sure, I can be there in an hour.”
“Good..bring Kevin as well.”
Joe comes back in to the office, he points to his phone before he puts it on speaker and place it on my desk.
“ Tony?” I ask
“ No..the other one..” His voice make me tense up and I see Zandra react as well
“Ambrogio..”
“Alpha Callum..So, I hear our girls don’t have as much time as we thought.” He says
“Hope got in contact with me yesterday, the Sons of the Sun has come up with some experiment..some way to kill the wolf in us..making us human.”
“Normally, I would approve of that idea..” he chuckled and I rolled my eyes.
“Zandra had a vision”
I can actually hear his breath got stuck in his throat as I mention her name.
“Of what?”
“Hope..without Luna..” I look at Zandra and she has a weird expression on her face, was there more to her vision? Something she hadn’t told me?
“Zandra?” I say, waiting for her to explain.
“Hrm..yes..the vision..it showed me your attempt to rescue Hope had failed, and Luna was gone.”
“How can you know it had failed?” Maya stands from Reeces lap and walks over to Zandra, putting a calming hand on her shoulder.
“Well..I could tell some time had gone by.” Zandra wrings her hands, with a heartbroken look on her face. Beacon stands up in my head and start pacing, making me really nervous.
“How? Tell me how you can tell” My voice comes out harsh and impatient but I manage to hold the growl from Beacon back.
“I can tell...because she was in labour.”