***
It's been six day since we've arrived at the Adler Pack. A lot has happened. We went through all of the data that Charlotte collected and dad and Charlotte each sent spies to the different enemy packs to find out who's holding Neil and Niklaus, now we're formulating a rescue plan. I haven't told my dad or the others what Charlotte and I discovered about Neil and Niklaus, I figured now isn't the time. However, I have told them that Niklaus can't shift and if they've done the same thing to Neil then he probably won't be able to either.
"HARPER!" James called and waved him over.
"We know from the hostage that Colin brought that the boys are at the Betelgeuse Pack." Atlas looked over to check on Harper. "From what our hostage said, they're being held at the back end of the pack in one of the celled dungeons."
"How do we know what he said isn't a trap?" Harper was right to be cautious.
"Trust me, it's not a trap." Charlotte was stood at the other end of the table with her arms folded.
"How do you know?" Atlas was cautious too.
"I have a witch."
"Why didn't you tell us you have a witch? She could be helping us with the rescue!" Harper didn't mean to raise his voice but anyone who knew what he was going through would understand.
"She's a strong witch but her power doesn't go farther than digging through people's minds." Charlotte talked with her hands.
"She's only a Wiccan is what you're saying?"
"Yes. Of course, she's not a pure Wiccan which means she has the potential to do more but she doesn't have the stomach for anything else."
"Can we forget the witch? She can't help us so what does it matter?" Harper was getting more irritated the longer he was away from Neil.
Everyone just stared at Harper, they didn't understand what he was going through. None of them had ever lost their mate before.
"I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to be nippy. I-I just.."
"It's alright. I've never lost a mate but I've seen the way losing one makes someone act." Charlotte's eyes spoke sincerity.
Harper nodded. Scarlett reached for his hand, trying to console him. She wasn't sure exactly of what he was going through but she imagined it being about as hard as losing her oldest son.
"Back to the rescue." Atlas spoke. "They're in one of the celled dungeons. There are two possible dungeons that they could be in and each one is guarded by at least 20 men and women at any one time. If we want to rescue them and make it out before the alarm is sounded we'll need a smaller group to go in, maybe nine or ten of us."
"Are you sure that's all we'll need?" Morgan glanced up to Atlas.
"Yes, if we bring ten and end up having to clear both dungeons than that leaves at least four people for each of our group to put out."
"What if the alarm is sounded?" James, always asking the important questions.
"If the alarm is sounded. We-we'll have to leave them behind and try again with more from our pack."
"Leave them behind!? You can't just leave them!" Harper couldn't wrap his head around this plan, that was his mate. How is he expected to just leave home behind?
"Harper, I know Neil is your mate. Which is exactly why you won't be joining the group when we go to rescue them." Atlas knew that the longer Harper was away from Neil the more hot headed he'd be during the mission.
"WHAT!? I am not staying behind!"
"YES YOU ARE! I KNOW HE'S YOUR MATE! WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY I CAN'T HAVE YOU IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW BEING HOT HEADED AND MAKING RASH DECISIONS!!" Everyone stared at Atlas, none of them had ever heard him raise his voice in that manner especially to his son.
Harper stared at his father, the anger clear in his face. Suddenly he turned and walked away without a word.
"Morgan.." Scarlett looked over to her, pleading.
"I'll look after him." Morgan followed Harper out of the room.
***
(I can't BELIEVE him!) Harper was heading toward the back door, slowly getting undressed.
(Let's just go for a run, that always helps us think.) Apollo hadn't been able to go for a good run since he'd arrived at the Adler Pack.
"Harper!" Morgan was running up behind him.
"Leave me alone Morgan" Harper walked faster.
"Come on, let me run with you. At least just let me follow you."
"Fine. No talking about Neil!"
"I wasn't even going to-" Morgan had her hands raised as if to deflect the accusation.
"No. Talking. About. Neil." Harper shot her a glare.
"Fine. Then I'll race you." Morgan loves her races.
"Race to where? We don't even know the terrains."
"Ohh come on." Morgan pulled on his arm and gave him literal puppy dog eyes.
Harper rolled his eyes.
"Fine. We'll race from the door to the edge of the woods."
Harper shifted and looked up at Morgan waiting for her to shift as well. Her wolf was slightly smaller in frame to Harper's, she had a mixed brown coat with a scar she doesn't like to talk about on her stomach and golden yellow eyes, indicating that she'd never killed anyone, same as Harper.
Once they were both in their wolf forms they dug their paws into the ground and readied for their race to the woods. Morgan locked eyes with Harper, gave him a slick grin and shot forward at full speed.
[You're a cheat!] Harper called to Morgan from behind.
[You're just jealous that I'm ahead of you.]
[Not for long!] Harper started going full speed, he usually let her win because she was younger and needed the self esteem but right now, right now Harper was the one who needed to let off steam.
Harper quickly shot past Morgan, his fur flowing and the air whistling past his ears. It'd been so long since he'd had a proper run.
[Since when are you this fast!?] Morgan still had surprise on her face.
[I've always been this fast. I just go easy on you.]
[What!? How dare you! I always tell you not to go easy on me!]
[Yeah, oh well.] Harper reached the edge of the woods and skid to a halt and turned back to see where Morgan was.
Morgan arrived soon after, out of breathe from trying to catch up.
[You're a son of a bitch!]
[Watch it! That's our Luna you're talking about!] Harper gave an unamused look.
[Don't go easy on me! You know I hate that.] Morgan laid in the grass.
[Are you really that tired?] Harper chuckled to himself.
[Yeah, I've never had to try so hard when racing you.]
[Yeah, Well-] Harper was suddenly cut off by Atlas telling them to return to the house.
[Ready to go again?] Harper nudged Morgan.
[No holding back!]
[Okay, Ready.. Set.. GO!] Harper and Morgan took of at the same time, both going full speed.
Morgan started falling behind, she didn't have as much stamina as Harper due to being a couple years younger. Harper started slowing down slightly so that Morgan could catch up.
[I said no going easy on me!]
[I'm not, I'm just making sure you don't pass out.] Morgan had been abandoned by her pack in Britain and made her way to New Hampshire and traveled southwest to Pennsylvania where Harper discovered her in wolf form sleeping under a park bench. He brought her food for about a month before she trusted him enough to go to his pack which is why they feel so much like family. That was nearly four years ago.
When Harper and Morgan reached the pack house he was finally cooled down enough to rejoin the plan meeting and Atlas told them the official mission to rescue Neil and Niklaus. Atlas and the rest of them returned to the Red Vine pack and readied for the rescue mission that would take place in four days.