Chapter 32

Austin’s POV

Being this close to possibly seeing our daughter again was driving us both insane, yes, we know there is a chance this girl may not be our daughter, but there is also a massive chance it might be. The need for her to be our little girl is so overpowering that I feel I can’t drag enough oxygen into my lungs with each breath. Never have I ever wanted something so badly.

One thing I didn’t like, though, was the fact a lot of our fate hangs in the hands of Tristan! He was a useless excuse for a wolf at times. He used his position in the pack to his advantage way too often. If he weren’t the Alphas nephew, he wouldn’t be granted the measure of respect he gets, and that was begrudgingly by most.

“Over there, my love, see the two rocks that tower over and almost touch in the middle,” Amy pointed out. We tried to follow Tristan’s instructions to find this so-called neutral ground. We needed somewhere to stay tonight; we couldn’t turn up on another pack’s territory unannounced, it was far too dangerous, and we have way too much to lose now.

“Yes, I see it; come on, let’s find a place to park out of sight. Did you grab the blankets off the back of the sofa? It’s meant to be colder tonight,” I say absentmindedly. I just wanted to charge in there and get a hold of this girl to find out if she was ours. But I had to show some restraint, some patients.

“What if she isn’t our daughter,” Amy said, the one thing I had been thinking about the whole time, but I refused to believe it. I just knew she was.

“She is, I just know it”, hoping to sound reassuring

This place was amazing. Nestled deep between two mountains, a beautiful forest grew, with a stunning river running through the middle. I know it sounds odd, but I’m sure I could feel that she had been here not so long ago. Maybe it was just wishful thinking and picking up on things that weren’t there.

“Yes, I packed them; they are in the boot somewhere.” She replied, “Do you think she will want to see us?”

“I hope so, at the very least, so we can explain why we had to do what we did,” I answer.

“Austin, if it is her, then what are we going to do? You know the Alpha will want her dead and soon! I can’t lose my baby twice,” she all but sobbed.

“I know, my love, and I have been thinking about that too. Maybe we can try to join another pack if it comes to it. I don’t want to be forced into becoming rogue wolves, even if it is for a good reason.” I tell her, “If the Winter Moons have treated her well, maybe they will allow us to stay once we explain the situation.

“I’m so scared! But so excited at the same time. I don’t care about leaving the pack if it means we get her back; what if she turns us away” she gasped.

“Amy, don’t think like that. It isn’t going to do you any good. Let’s just focus on getting to see her first and worry about that later” she went quiet and nodded. Hopefully, she will fall asleep soon as I feel tomorrow will be very trying on both of us. I don’t think we can rely on Tristan one little bit. He’s helped get us this far, but I think that is where it will need to end.

“I need to get us an audience with the Alpha of this pack, somehow,” I tell myself. Fixing that plan in my mind, I shut my eyes, hoping that sleep would take me quickly.

Michael’s POV

I have lost my little girl and gained something else entirely in the space of a few days.

“What on earth am I meant to do with an Exalted! And one that has been reborn within the body of the girl I saw as my child?” I thought. I couldn’t tell anyone, not even Laura, and it was killing me. Something big was happening, and I was helpless in the situation.

Aleena had said to leave Ayla and her mates alone, not to try and separate them. How the hell do I do that, knowing what will happen?

“Is she even my Ayla anymore?” the thought flashed through my mind. “Of course she is, don’t be so stupid, " I scold myself; she would just be Ayla plus a bit more. We still have the matter of the person who attacked her in the woods. They still haven’t been found, and they will be found as I won’t be letting this drop. “Now, to add to the mix, an Exalted only comes forth when something needs fixing, but what’s broken?”

“Father, you look tired!” Mason strode into my office, looking too smug for his own good.

“What is it, son? I am swamped,” I ask him.

“Nothing much, father; I just thought with everything going on with Ayla’s attack, we haven’t been able to do all the things we are meant to do with the reps from the other packs. I wondered if you would like me to take charge of a few activities we were meant to have offered. Lighten the load for you,” he asked me; I know I should have felt proud and relieved, but I just felt suspicious, not something I had ever felt around my son.

“Like what, Mason” I decide to challenge him, see if he was up to the task, and see if he’s up to anything other than being helpful.

“Oh, I don’t know, what about the picnic mother had planned or a hike around the surrounding forests. Or maybe I could help with the discussions for how things should go once we are in power, anything really to help you out; I know you have a lot on your plate” he smiles at me.

“Is this, so you get more alone time with the she-wolf representatives” I question him, knowing my son all too well.

“Father! You wound me, and no, it’s not actually, as I’m seeing someone” he shoots me down.

“You are? As of when?” this was a new turnabout.

“It’s very new, and we are taking it slowly; seeing as my mate has not made herself known to me yet, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to allow someone into my life until then”, he adds; he looked a bit put out but held his ground.

“Be careful, son, by doing this, you could hurt this girl; when you find your mate, trust me, I know”, I warn him. Some wolves sadly never find their mates. And they can be left wanting when the person they have chosen to love finds their true mate.

“I know, father, I’m not stupid”, he snapped but caught himself trying to hide his laps in respect with a cough at the last moment.

“Well, who is she then” I wonder

“Stacy Marks”, he replies

“Linda’s daughter? Isn’t she a bit young for you” I was shocked it was my old flames child?

“She turns eighteen tomorrow, a fully grown she-wolf, so no, I would say it’s fine”, once again letting his respect slip. I was going to say more when I heard footsteps outside my door.

“Sir, we have caught the scent of a couple of wolves that shouldn’t be here”, one of my guards informs me.

“Are you sure it’s not one of our guests?” I have to ask

“Quite sure, sir”, he replied

“Fine, find them unharmed and bring them straight to me” I give my orders, then turn to my son.

“We will pick this up again later, son” he looked annoyed at being dismissed, but I couldn’t mess about right now; I had to make sure Ayla was safe; these wolves could be here to cause trouble; who knew? Now everything was changing.

Tristan’s POV

Sunlight poured through my window, rudely awakening me before I wanted to leave the safe space of my dreams. My head pounded, and the smell of alcohol assaulted my nostrils. Last night had been epic, precisely what I needed to help me forget the crap I was dealing with.

“Ugh, shut the curtains”, a voice that was not mine said. I whipped up so fast the room span. Who the heck was in my room?

Looking to my right, I could see a female form facing away from me, long white hair rolling down her back. And she was naked!

“Melody!” I gasped

“What? I’m tired; it’s too early,” she moaned back.

“Umm, did we?” I start to ask as she turns to face me.

“Are you serious? You can’t remember” she slapped me across the legs; I wasn’t sure if she was joking or being serious. If she wasn’t kidding, then she was pissed at me.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, stop hitting me…. alcohol doesn’t agree with me in many ways”, I plead, and she laughs; at least I knew she wasn’t mad.

“You’re lucky, your cute otherwise; I wouldn’t let you off so lightly”, she teased.

“Was it good, though” I cheekily asked?

“Ah well, that’s for me to know and for you, maybe to find out”, she laughed, leaving me with my mouth hanging open. Then my phone rings.

“Austin, I said I would ring you later”, I snapped.

“Austin! So, this does have something to do with you then,” my mother’s voice barked down the phone to me; I felt the colour leave my face; I wanted to be sick.

“Mother, I…I didn’t know you were going to be calling,” I stutter.

“Shut up and tell me what is going on; we can’t find Austin and Amy. We followed the trail until we lost their scent. They were heading towards you” she practically growled the last words at me.

“Well, you see, the thing is”, I begin, but she cuts me off again.

“I should have known you couldn’t handle this on your own; you’re nothing but useless. We will be coming to you by this evening. And we will sort this mess out ourselves. And Tristan, you better have everything ready for our arrival; if that Alpha finds out what we are there for, I will know it came from you, do you hear me” I had to hold the phone away from my ear; she was screaming so loudly. The phone call abruptly ended. Leaving me feeling sicker than before.

“Everything okay, Tristan?” Melody called from the bathroom.

“Umm, yeah, fine. I just have to get a few jobs done today. Can we meet up later, though” I try to sound normal? I couldn’t let her know what is going on. I don’t want her to think badly of me or for her to find out I’m terrified of my own mother.

“Sure, I’m just heading out now; I’ll call you later,” she shouted as she closed the door. Damn, she was a fast dresser and once again looked terrific. I couldn’t enjoy the view, though, as my mother was on my mind.

Stacy’s POV

Waking up in Mason’s bed was new to me, unique but strange at the same time. His bed was huge and covered in silk sheets and pillows. Not something I expected from the Alpha in waiting, but I loved it. Last night was something else. It was kind of everything and more than I had ever hoped it would be, yet one hundred per cent terrifying at the same time.

Things happened very quickly once I had agreed to stay the night. I called my mum, telling her I was having a sleepover with Ayla, which she was thrilled about. As soon as the call ended, he pounced on me. He was very demanding, and a bit forceful, but I’m guessing that’s the Alpha in him coming out. I’m sure the bruises will go down soon too.

“Remember, he’s the Alpha’s son, and you are destined to be with him; he will love you once the bond is completed, after my first shift,” I tell myself, but a funny feeling was still in the pit of my stomach.

Things with Jacob were different to Mason’s. Jacob was soft and gentle, whereas Mason was rough and harsh.

“Jacob isn’t a real man like Mason; that is all,” I tell myself. Refusing to believe Mason had taken advantage of me last night. Plus, being with him puts me in a higher position within the pack, and that’s what I wanted, right?

Rolling out of his bed, I was a bit sore but not too bad, not as bad as I thought it would be. I tried to be as quiet as possible I didn’t want to wake him. It wasn’t until I was on the other side of the room that I realised he wasn’t even there! With that, I rushed to his bathroom. I needed to ensure I looked decent before leaving; I couldn’t let anyone know what happened. It has to look like we are amazing together.

I was about to leave Mason’s room when the door opened, and he came back in. My heart leapt into my mouth. I don’t think I could take another go of last night right now; I needed a break.

“There you are,” he said with a half-smile.

“Hi, Mason, I was just leaving” I tried to sound confident, even though I didn’t feel it.

“Without even a kiss!” he gave me the puppy eyes.

“Of course not”, I heisted but moved towards him.

“I’m sorry if I was a bit rough with you last night; I was just so excited to get to know you better; I hope I didn’t hurt you, baby”, he whispered in my ear and kissed my cheek. I didn’t know what to do; he acted sweet and kind to me like I was his everything. He held me gently and kissed me everywhere his lips could find.

“It’s okay, I’m fine; I liked getting to know you better, too,” I replied as sweetly as possible. So very confused by what was going on right now.

“Good, I don’t wanna hurt you or scare you off” he kissed my lips this time.

“Umm, Mason, what exactly are we?” I plucked up the courage to say.

He leaned back to look me in the eyes. He looked confused, then worried,

“I thought after last night; we were together, I thought that’s what you wanted, well what we both wanted,” he said slowly; I couldn’t believe how vulnerable he looked; he seemed to want to be with me; this didn’t seem to be any kind of joke.

“Yes, I do, I definitely do”, I rushed to say. “I didn’t want to assume we were just in case we weren’t.”

“You do want me, don’t you, Stacy?” he asked, the look of hope in his eye.

“Of course, I do,” I tell him, dread setting in at the same time; even though I had just gotten everything I had wanted, something scared me all the same.