Lycan Prince Hunter
We were almost about to land at the airstrip outside of the Opal Mountain pack. We took two planes that could hold up to 300 warriors each. I didn’t care how we did it, but we were going to storm in and take back Kailen.
The pilot announced that we were starting our descent when the worst pain I’ve even felt before ripped through my chest. I was panting, trying to remember how to breathe. My jaw was clenched and my teeth were grinding together to stop me from screaming out.
My whole body was trembling as I grabbed the armrests of my seat. I could almost make out what Greyson and Zach were saying, but I couldn't focus on them. My entire being was engulfed in this burning pain that just wouldn’t stop.
“Rex, what the hell is happening?”
“Mate is being touched by another.” He whimpered in my head. I would have let out a growl if I could have focused on anything other than the pain I was in.
When the pain finally subsided, I was gasping for breath. I felt like someone had strangled me. I’ve never experienced anything like this before, and I never want to again.
“Hunter, what happened?” Greyson yelled out, panicked.
“He’s touching her,” I gasped out.
“You can feel it?” Alpha Owen asked me. He and his beta insisted on coming with us. I nodded my head.
I was still trying to catch my breath as the plane hit the tarmac of the airstrip. I was covered in sweat and my body was achy and tired. My mind, on the other hand, was racing with my fury about what I was going to do to that bastard when I got my hands on him.
We waited on the plane while all the warriors disembarked. I was still trying to get my body to catch up to my mind. We heard a commotion outside the plane. Greyson went to check it out. Moments later, he called out.
“Hunter, you’re going to want to hear this.” I disembarked to find Greyson talking with an older wolf. He had shoulder-length shaggy salt and pepper hair and a full beard to match. He was still built for his age, maybe a little smaller than my beta.
“Lycan Prince.” He greeted me, bowing his head.
“I’m on official business, but I’m sure we can set up a meeting when I arrive back in Ivory Moon.” I told him. Getting Kailen back was the only thing I had time to deal with.
“This is about Kailen.” He said before I could turn away from him.
“And what do you know about Kailen, that you think I don’t already know?” I asked him, crossing my arms over my chest. I couldn’t show that I was now interested in this conversation. I didn’t need him making demands.
“I was her father’s beta, Thomas.” he said, and I was stunned, but I quickly hid it. I didn’t expect him to still be alive after what happened to his alpha and luna.
“Start talking.” I commanded.
“Cathy is my sister. She’s the one that has been taking care of Kailen. Kailen’s father ordered me to take Kailen and run when that bastard first came to challenge him for Kailen’s mother.” He started to explain.
“But how would he have known about Kailen’s mother?” I asked him.
“Drake heard the legend of the Luna wolves of Opal Mountian. Luna’s have always been the more powerful wolves of our pack. It is said that it has something to do with how close the moon is to our pack. When the moon is full, it powers their white wolves like no other. It is also said that if a male was ever born to our Luna, he would be one of the most powerful wolves ever to exist. I can’t confirm that last part, since there has never been a male born to any luna of the Opal Mountian pack.” he explained.
“Why wouldn’t I know about this legend?” I asked him, skeptical about what he was telling me, even though Cathy had said something similar.
“The pack has been trying to keep the legend a secret since the beginning of this pack. I’m not sure how he learned of the legend or how he was able to kill my alpha. I still regret not being there to help him, but he commanded me to protect his daughter.” He answered.
“The full moon is tomorrow night,” Zach commented.
“I’m not waiting another day to save her.” I told him firmly.
“Lycan Prince, Marcus will want to have the Luna ceremony under the full moon. It would give us an advantage.” Thomas started to say, but Rex interrupted him with a loud growl.
“He is touching her and I’m not waiting until tomorrow night to save her.” I growled out. He looked at me, stunned.
“You’re her mate?” He said, and I nodded.
“Not fated.” Alpha Owen growled out, and I glared at him.
“What?” Thomas asked, confused.
“Alpha Owen was her fated mate until she rejected him. She is now my chosen mate,” I explained.
“Interesting,” Thomas said, rubbing his chin.
“Why is that interesting?” I asked him, curious to know what he was thinking.
“That Kailen would have been fated to a normal alpha. I’m not surprised that she would reject him, no offence, but she will never submit to anyone. Her wolf is much too strong for that. Why did she reject you?” He asked Alpha Owen.
“After Marcus took her the first time, when she came back to her former pack, she found him with someone else.” I explained instead of Alpha Owen.
“It makes sense why her wolf would reject you. She felt that you were too weak for her,” Thomas said, and Alpha Owen let out a growl.
“I’m not weak.” He growled out, fists balled to his side.
“Maybe not physically, but mentally. You were no match for her. Even if she didn’t find you with another, you failed to protect her. I was the one that paid those worthless goons to take Kailen away from that monster.” Thomas told us.
“You helped her?” I asked him, and he nodded.
“It took me almost six months to find someone in that pack that would betray their alpha. But I needed to help her. He’s trying to beat her down. He wants to control her in everyway and the only way to do that is to beat her into submission.” Thomas explained. I was grateful that someone helped her, even if it took six months.
“Why are you here now?” I asked him.
“I have informants in the pack. They informed me that Kailen was back and needed help. I had just arrived when your plane landed. As soon as I saw all the warriors, I knew that it had to be Ivory Moon. I can help you. I know these mountains and you have an army. But you will need to be patient. There is a tunnel that is hidden. It will take us all night to reach the exit that opens up into the backyard of the pack house. That is where the ceremony will be held. It will provide us with the distraction that we need to attack. And the full moon will give Kailen the power to fight him.” Thomas explained. I felt defeated. How can I just knowingly leave her there with that monster, but how do I ask my warriors to put their lives on the line for hers? It was a good plan and if it was anyone else, I would be all over it, but this is Kailen and he is hurting her.
“Hunter, it’s a good plan. I know that you are anxious to get her back. We all are, but he knows these mountains and it will give us an advantage.” Greyson told me, resting his hand on my shoulder. I growled out in frustration. I felt trapped.
“Fine, we will go with your plan, but if I feel him hurting her again, I rush in.” I huffed.
“I understand. Can your wolf reach out to hers?” Thomas asked me, and I nodded.
“Tell her wolf that you are coming.” He said. I knew that Rex had already told Aurora that we were on our way. There was no way I was leaving here without her.
“So what’s the plan?” I asked him.
“We should take half the warriors through the tunnel and leave the others to spread around the border to the south of the pack. That way we could surround them if need be. But I have a feeling that once their alpha is dead, no one will fight.” he said.
“How can you be sure?” Greyson asked him.
“He’s a tyrant. He’s only in power because no one has challenged him, not because his pack respects him.” He explained. And I wonder why no one has ever reported him to the crown. We would have investigated. No pack member should have to live their lives in fear.
“That’s a good plan. Zach, I want you to lead the warriors to the south. Greyson and I will take some warriors with us through the tunnel with Thomas.” I told him, and Zach nodded.
“Try to stay in wolf form so we can mindlink. I’m sure there won’t be any phone reception,” I added.
Thomas took out a map, and we spent about an hour planning what we were going to do. It was way past sundown by the time we were ready to shift and take off towards the waterfall where the entrance of the tunnel was hidden. All of us had our bags in our mouths with our clothes and weapons. Rex prefers using his teeth, but if anything happens, I have a way of protecting us.
Thomas left one of his warriors with Zach so that we could all mindlink. I guess Thomas started his own little pack. He refuses to be called alpha. And all of his pack members were once members of the Opal Mountain pack. Their only mission was to keep Kailen safe, to one day bring their true Luna home.
We ran towards the waterfall, and I was anxious. I just needed it to be tomorrow night, already. I needed to storm in there and kill Marcus and take back my Queen. After about an hour, we made it to this beautiful waterfall. The water sparkled under the almost full moon. It was truly a magical place. I made a note to take Kailen after she was safe. Thomas shifted, and I followed suit.
“We will need to shift to get behind the waterfall. Once behind, we can stay in wolf form until we make it to the exit,” he said, and I nodded. All the warriors shifted, and we followed Thomas along the narrow passage along the side of the waterfall. It was barely carved into the side of the mountain. Only my toes fit on the ledge and I found that you needed to balance your weight towards the mountain or you’d fall into the pool below. And to top it off, the ledge was also slippery. This passage was indeed hidden and dangerous. There were sharp rocks below the thunderous falls. I wonder how Cathy managed to do this with a four-year-old child.
When we all made it safely behind the falls, we all shifted and followed Thomas’ wolf into the dark, damp tunnel. It’s a good thing wolves have great nightvision. It was pitch black down here and the smell of mold filled my nose.
We made our way through the tunnel, only stopping for water and food when needed. I was praying to the moon goddess to keep Kailen safe.