47

~Vanessa~

After I could walk without almost passing out, we all ran down to my father's office. We didn't even have time to explain why we were running and sat down. I put the two files on his desk and took a deep breath.

"We can't kill Alpha Jeremy and rescue Veloces at the same time. So, what we're going to do is call Olivia. She's going to give us the information we need and help us from the inside. Once we have everything we need and have the group picked out, we are going to sneak into his territory and find Veloces. Olivia is hopefully going to keep the patrols and warriors away so we can get in there. We're going to do it when her parents are asleep so we don't have to worry about them." I explained.

"Once we find Veloces, we're going to have to get him out of there which is the hard part. He's going to be badly injured. I know, it has been one day, but if his father is there..." I trailed off, not being able to finish.

"He's going to look like he's been there for a whole week." Clayton finished. "His father abuses him whenever he has the chance. A whole day equal a whole week of beatings for Veloces."

My father nodded, "We're going to need strong and fast warriors in the group."

"That is where his brother, Fortis, comes in. We'll take two of our warriors and two of yours. Plus Christine, Vanessa, and I, we're going to be going as well." Clayton explained.

"So, eight are going in?" My father asked.

I nodded, "Yes, once we rescue Veloces we're going to have to get him to an infirmary quickly. Not only that, but the next day when Jeremy finds out, we have to start doubling patrols. We're going to have to train like there's no tomorrow. We have to be ready for a war."

My father smiled, "You're thinking more like an Alpha than your brother." he chuckled, pride and amusement laced through his eyes.

I grinned, "Well, I'm the only Alpha Black Thorn has right now. It's about time I start acting like one."

"So." Clayton turned towards me. "When do we start, Luna."

I grinned, "Call Fortis."

~Vanessa~

As Clayton called Fortis I called Olivia and thankfully she agreed. She told me tonight her parents would most likely be drunk, so they wouldn't focus as well. The bad part is, Veloces' "father" is actually there and he's the one delivering the punishment. I felt dread in my heart at what he's going through, promising to him that I would free him tonight.

I told Clayton about Crudelis being there, so he made a plan with Fortis. Fortis isn't anything like his father, he's kind, caring, and smart. He loathes Crudelis, he didn't care that Veloces was his half brother or that his mother cheated, what his father did isn't right. At least Fortis believes in justice too.

I talked over the plan with them and the four warriors we were bringing. Olivia is going to text me when the patrols are no longer near the border, once we cross we are to follow a thin path through the forest. Once we reached the packhouse there's a door in the ground that leads to the cells, we are to walk to the back of the first hall, make a left, walk to the back of that, and make a right. All the way at the end of that hall is one cell and that's where Veloces is. Her father calls it the torture chamber, the name made me sick as I thought of what they do there.

Once we free Veloces we have to follow that path again and make it back into my father's or Black Thorn's territory. Either one; and rush Veloces to the infirmary. She warned me that he's going to be very weak since his father did something horrible.

I sighed, this plan is going to be a tough one. Especially with Veloces being so weak from whatever his father did. Clayton looked pale as he thought of all the beatings Veloces told him about, but he said he has a feeling this is something new.

I couldn't relax for the rest of the day, I kept making sure everything was organized and then I would pace for goddess knows how long. Christine eventually pinned me down to a chair and ordered me to calm down. My father also ordered me to so I didn't exactly have a choice. Even so, my heart was still beating quickly, my fear for Veloces squeezing me like a snake. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to make myself loosen up. I felt tense the whole day, my wolf and I anxious to free our mate.

Finally, Fortis came and told me it was time. I quickly got dressed into black clothing then texted Olivia. After a few seconds she responded, telling me it was all clear. We sprinted through the forest, knowing we needed to get there fast. Once we crossed the border we searched for the path in the dark. I motioned to the others as my eyes found the thin path leading through a shadowed section of the forest. We quietly followed it, keeping a look out for any patrols.

Olivia told me to kill them if we had to, she didn't care anymore. After a few minutes we reached the packhouse, I scanned the area. When I didn't see any wolves we sprinted to the east end of the large house, searching for the door in the ground. Clayton pointed to a rusted door and quietly opened it, peering into the dark hole.

"This is it." he mind-linked me. "I can smell his scent, it's faded, but it's there."

I nodded and climbed down the old ladder, carefully jumping onto the cement ground below. When everyone was in Fortis closed the door and stood guard. Along with a warrior from my father's pack, Lucas.

We all partially shifted so we could see in the dark; it was disgusting down here. Cell after cell were rogues that were bone thing, covered in blood and smelled of vomit. I had to swallow the urge to gag, my stomach and I not liking this at all. We followed Olivia's directions and found his cell, however, there were two guards in front of it. I could hear Veloces scream as the sound of a whip slashed through skin.

Anger filled me, but I kept it down and kept on walking. Clayton gently touched my shoulder, motioning towards the guards.

"Kill them." I ordered.