Chapter 151: Rhys
This was a mess. Grace wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned into me as low as she could. My wolf was cussing me out for the danger we had put her in, but I knew she would have never stayed at home. Not after the night of the pack run. Kate and Sawyer flanked my sides, as Heather took the lead with another solider who I didn’t know the name of, and two more now took up the rear. There had been more when we had set out, but whether they were dead or alive, I wasn’t sure. But we were lucky to get out of here alive.
I could hear pounding behind us. Fuck, they were right on our tails. I pushed harder. Normally, I was the fastest wolf, but with Grace on my back, my wolf was holding back in fear of dropping her. Especially with what I had done earlier.
I didn’t turn to look, but she did. They followed us well into our side of the border, but a little bit further and they would hit our full defenses. I should have known that anyone leading us to the Wild Lands wouldn’t care about borders.
Grace buried her head in my fur, but she felt like she was burning up. Even through my fur, I could feel her. Someone moved to our right, and whoever it was, I knew my mate had seen it. She sat up, her one hand holding onto a fist full of fur to keep her balance, and the other was free as she tried balance. I could feel her focus through our bond when she threw her hand out, a ball of fire escaping it, hitting whoever had been nearing us on the right, knocking them backward, and I didn’t stick around to see what happened after that.
Holly fuck. My mate was a bad ass. She leaned back down, and I made a noise of approval. I could see our soldiers coming into sight, but I couldn’t breathe
a sigh of relief until we were past them. Many of the ones they had sent after us had dropped off at the sight, but a few dumb ones were still trying to fight.
Our soldiers made an opening in formation for us, and we bolted past them. Kate stopped, ready to give orders to protect our inner lands, but the rest of us kept going. We reached the next defense line, and I felt better about things. Okay, these guys weren’t engaged in any fighting, so we were probably safe, but I wanted to be sure. We didn’t stop until we made it back to the pack house. I trusted Kate to handle things, and she had the resources to be successful now.
Grace jumped off my back, and immediately bent over trying to catch her breath.
“Holy shit!” Heather exclaimed as she shifted back. “That was incredible! How did you do it?”
“I uh- I don’t know.” Grace stuttered, her face flushed.
“You don’t know?” Heather frowned.
“No... Kinda new to the whole powers thing...” She answered meekly.
I pulled her into me, giving her as much comfort as I could. Maybe I was seeking comfort myself.
“Well, that’s badass,” Heather gasped, still trying to catch her breath. “We’d all be dead without you.”
Grace gave her a small smile, but I could tell she didn’t feel the same.
“Grace!” Alana and Maizie shouted, running out of the packhouse with a speed even I envied.
They ripped my mate from my arms, wrapping her up in their own.
“Hey!” One of the soldiers shouted. “You were specifically instructed not to leave the packhouse!”
Maizie rolled her eyes, but Alana seemed to shrink at the scolding. I felt for her. I really did.
“They’re okay,” I stated, giving the soldier a look, who held his arms up in defense.
“I’m just trying to do my job, sir,” He mumbled.
I nodded for him to go back to his post and turned my attention back to the girls.
“Is everything good here?” I questioned.
“Yea,” Maizie answered with a nod. “I’ve noticed nothing abnormal. And nobody has gotten close. We were watching from the roof.”
“Of course, you were,” I sighed, pulling my mate back into me.
“Where’s Alpha Prince Caleb?” Alana asked, her eyes scanning over the small group of us that returned as Sawyer approached, looking exhausted.
I swallowed. My best friend and my brother, swallowed by the land just past our borders. Just out of reach. Forever out of reach.
“And it looks like you didn’t find Leon...” Maizie concluded as she scanned us the same way Alana had.
“No.” Heather’s voice broke as she pulled on a shirt. “No. We lost them both.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Heather,” Alana cried, pulling the older lady into her.
My stomach churned. I had no plan to get them back. How the fuck had this happened? How had I been so distracted that I didn’t even truly notice that my best friend was missing?
“Are any of you hurt?” Maizie asked.
I looked to Grace who shook her head, and I did the same. I actually think Grace had unintentionally healed me while she had been on my back.
“Okay, well, I’ll grab some plates for us and take it up to the Alpha suite. You all must be starving.”
“I’m just going to go to bed...” Heather said numbly. “Um Maizie, would you mind watching the girls upstairs with your lot today?”
“Of course,” Maizie answered, looking uncomfortable with the idea of feelings that Heather seemed to have.
We all started to move inside at a snail's pace. Exhaustion was evident with every step.
“Maizie...” Sawyer’s voice broke a little, stopping just outside the door.
She gave him a curious look before whispering something to Alana and letting the door close. Shutting them out, and we continued on like it wasn’t weird at all. But Grace took my hand, and off we went to eat, and get some well-earned rest before facing whatever was going to come next.