Sage's POV:
Running to another pack for a visit is usually fun, but right now we're all on edge and worried that we're going to be attacked by the Alphas who have hurt my mate for years. Even though he's been hurt by them, Ashton isn't cowering; he's being more possessive than normal and is growling at everything that he thinks is a threat. The wind blew too hard when we were starting the run and he snarled, shocking both Nolan and I.
Mom rarely sends me as an ambassador, but I understand her sending me now. It isn't about being an ambassador, as Nolan could do this on his own; it's more about making sure he isn't alone and getting Ashton used to this pack because we're going to be working with them soon enough. It's also for insight and getting my opinion on their strategy because, according to my mom, everything can be a training exercise.
However, usually the situation isn't this intense.
We get to the border of Alpha Bay's pack and we are immediately surrounded by warriors who growl at all of us.
I bite Ashton's ear when he growls back and get him to stop. Even though he's annoyed, he stops and sits down, copying Nolan and myself.
The warriors recognize Nolan, since he visits consistently, and lead us to the pack house. Once we get there, Alpha Bay is outside the front door and waves us inside.
He offers us a bag once we're inside the house, still in our wolf forms. "Go to the room you usually use and get changed, please," he says to Nolan and we follow our pack mate to the spare room in the pack house.
I've met Alpha bay a few times and I personally do not like him all that much, but I do respect how he takes care of his pack.
Alpha Bay's pack is the oldest pack that we've aligned with, and they offer lots of help and assistance. However, he was the first to jump down my mom's throat when she introduced me as the future Alpha when I turned seventeen. The decision had been made long before, but she said that she would wait to announce it to other packs until I was older.
Bay wasn't happy that she was allowing an Omega to be the Alpha of her pack, but my mom was firm and said that I had been trained and my biological status would not stop me from leading. She threatened to stop being allies if he wouldn't respect me as the next Alpha, so Bay sucked it up and forced himself to be less judgmental over my future position and allowed me in the meetings without giving me dirty looks.
When we shift back, Ashton immediately puts his arm around me. It's obvious that he's not a big fan of this pack already and that he's on edge, so I can understand his possessiveness. Hell, I'm feeling the same way; I don't want anyone looking at my Alpha the wrong way.
"Come on, we have a meeting," Nolan says, a bit bitter.
He's definitely jealous that Ashton and I get to be together and he had to leave Charlie back at home. Nolan would never put his mate in danger, and the trip here would be hard on a pregnant Omega, what with the anxiety that would stem from potential dangers lurking around, but he's still annoyed.
I feel bad for him because I'd hate to travel without having Ashton with me. Not only has my mate become an addiction, but I know he needs me just as much as I need him.
We go to Bay's office, and I shake his hand out of respect for him, and he nods to me with similar respect. He then shakes Ashton's hands and embraces Nolan because they're familiar with each other and they get along quite well.
"I heard you found your mate," Bay says, smiling at Nolan. "How is he?"
Nolan chuckles. "Pregnant and very bitter that I'm not home with him. It's still early in the day, so if we can figure out a strategy and end our discussion, I'd like to return home before nightfall."
"Understandable," Bay says. "I have heard that a snowstorm may be rolling in, so you best get home before it gets too heavy."
Yeah, I'd rather not be blocked in a pack house with Bay. During a fight, he's great to have support from, but as a person? Ugh, I want to go home as soon as possible.
"I just want to apologize on behalf of my pack for the losses you have experienced," I say sympathetically.
Bay offers me a small smile. "Thank you, Sage. This is your mate, is he not?"
"Yes, my future Luna," I say, making his smile fall briefly before he forces it back to his face. "He was one of the Alphas who was forced to serve the animals who attacked both of our packs. He has insight and we don't know their angle right now, but we must work together to decide a strategy so I can report it back to our Alpha."
He nods and sits at his desk. "We didn't kill any of them. They attacked in the middle of the night and slipped past our borders and killed two Alphas here that used to belong to that pack. They also attacked Omegas with the intent to kill as opposed to capture, which is rare."
He's right; that's why we know the attack was premeditated and they have some kind of plan. It's rare to attack an Omega and kill them; usually they're kidnapped or raped, but just killing one for the purpose of killing (unless it's by an insane rogue who only thirsts for blood) it's extremely rare.
Since the attack was so planned, we know that it's not rogues and they just wanted to kill Omegas and harm our different packs.
"It is," I agree. "I can understand if they attacked me or any of my fellow Omega warriors, but they were going after our innocent, unprotected Omegas. Two of ours were severely injured."
Bay hums. "We need to find wherever their camp is, because some of those leaders, including the very one in charge of the whole corrupt 'pack' escaped and are probably rebuilding somewhere."
"We need to find one of the Alphas forced into it... they have tracking collars and both of our packs have smart people that could potentially track back to its origin," I say, and Ashton nods in agreement.
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Alpha Bay asks, and I hesitate, because I know that no one is going to like my plan.
Ashton catches my eye, clearly suspicious of the plan I'm hesitating on. He knows it's something he won't like because I don't hesitate when I talk to him.
"Myself and some of my Omega warriors can set up a trap and be bait," I say, and Ashton and Nolan both gape at me.
Alpha Bay hums. "If they take exiled Omegas and you and your Omegas warriors can play the part... that could work.
"No!" Ashton growls, his voice louder than I've ever heard it. "Those Alphas are feral. Sage, you're a great warrior, no doubt, but what if they outnumber you?!"
I don't like that he's upset, even though it's definitely justified.
"Ashton, I won't be in extreme danger. We'll have people watching us and making sure that we have back up!"
"Sage, they plan before raiding. They won't attack if you have people surrounding you. They're borderline rogue and they have a terrifyingly strong sense of smell. They would know it's a trap."
Bay talks over him. "If your future Alpha is so smart, shouldn't you follow his plan? Unless he's not cut out to be an Alpha..."
"He is," Ashton growls, immediately defending me even though we're arguing.
Nolan cuts us all off. "Bay, how about I discuss strategy with you while Sage and Ashton assist with the destruction?" he asks, and I want to be here, but I think getting away from Bay is a good choice right now.
We leave the office when Bay agrees and begin to assist in the clean up of the pack. There's a lot of wolves here that I've seen at meetings in the past, so they must be higher ranking since they're assisting with clean up and willing to face the blood and horrors that occurred.
Ashton and I introduce ourselves and we work with them for a couple of hours before Nolan leaves the house and tells us that it's time to go home.
It's starting to snow, and it's heavy enough that I know we need to get home within the two hours or we'll have to find a den for the night to hide in.
Personally, I like running when it's snowy, but not when I'm two hours from home and want to be in my warm bed, cuddling with my mate all night. We all shift and start to run together as the snowfall gets heavier. An hour into our run, there's snow everywhere and we're definitely leaving paw prints on the ground.
It's not a big deal because attacks don't often happen when it's snowing since it's so easy to follow whoever attacked. Especially in the space that lies in the middle of two strong packs.
We're only a half an hour from home when Ashton suddenly pauses and sniffs the air, making Nolan growl because he just wants to get home to Charlie. Instead of following, as Ashton usually does, he starts to smell the ground, so Nolan and I have no choice both to follow.
Well, I would follow either way, so Nolan has no choice because he's part of our team and it's better to be safe than sorry. I don't need Charlie killing me because his mate gets killed.
Ashton pauses in the snow and growls lowly.
I'm at his side when he growls and I see a few spots of blood in the snow, as well as paw prints.
Ashton takes off, following the prints, and I hear a yelp before I can see what's happening and see him clamp his jaws around an Alpha lying in the snow.
I rush forward to assist in the attack, but he snarls at me and it makes me back up.
He pulls his face away from the Alpha after he bites down on something and I see a broken collar around the neck of the Alpha. It's still stuck on him, but none of the lights or the tiny screen on it are working.
The wolf whimpers and struggles to stand, so Ashton roughly grabs his scruff and pulls him forward. It looks mean, but the other wolf doesn't seem as panicked anymore and limps after us. Our final half hour to the pack border actually takes forty five minutes because of the injured wolf, but none of us are upset, though Nolan is a bit annoyed.
Ashton shifts back in the backyard and orders the Alpha to do the same. All of his usual nervousness and shyness about being naked after shifting is completely gone and he's glaring at the Alpha.
"How did you escape?" he demands, not at all acting like the shy, loving Alpha that I'm used to. "I was stuck there for years and never escaped. How the hell did you escape?! Are you a spy?!"
The Alpha shakes his head, and I realize that he's young, as in barely seventeen. He's crying really hard with knees pulled to his chest.
"No! It started snowing and they were planning the raids so I ran. I've been running for two days and they haven't come after me yet because of the raids! I swear, I'm not a spy," he cries, wiping his eyes but the tears don't stop. "They can't follow me... not with the collar damaged."
Ashton doesn't seem convinced. "You weren't leaving a big blood trail... where's the injury?" he asks, looking over the naked boy. "I followed the scent of blood."
"It's small," the boy says, showing us his stomach where there's an infected cut. "I tripped and cut myself but it's healing itself."
"The doctor needs to look at him," I say, grabbing Ashton's arm. "He could get sick."
"We need that collar to make sure it's not still tracking," Ashton tells me, his voice much gentler now that he's talking to me.
I send Nolan to get my mother, and she comes outside a few minutes later.
"I'll get him to the doctor and have someone remove the collar," mom says, laying a blanket over his shoulders and helping him up. "Ashton, Sage, go inside and try to calm down and rest. Nolan, Charlie is inside with Alder."
Nolan nods. "Thank you, Alpha," he says, rushing inside in front of myself and Ashton.
"I've never seen you like that," I tell Ashton once we're along in our room and heading for the shower. "All mean and aggressive..."
He shrugs. "I don't really know what overcame me. I think it was the fear of someone threatening my mate and pack," Ashton says, turning on the shower. "I'm sorry if I scared you."
"No, you didn't, I was just surprised," I say because him trying to protect me definitely appeals to my instincts. "I like when you protect me, even though I'm capable of taking care of myself and you."
Ashton smiles as we wet our hair down and I lean against him, nuzzling my nose into his neck.
"I want to scent you after our shower," Ashton tells me, kissing my lips. "You don't smell like you usually do..."
I giggle and kiss him back, running my hands up and down his sides, which makes him shudder. "Well, lucky for you, I love being scented," I say in a whispered voice.
Ashton practically carries me to bed when we finish our shower, and he spends most of the night scenting me.
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