"You can try." Blink's grin never faltered while Atlas spoke. "You'll have to go through my men, but you can still try."
All at once the alarm sounded and Atlas and James lunged for Blink while the rest of the group went after the guards holding down Neil and Niklaus. In the blink of an eye Atlas, James, and Blink were all shifted to their wolf forms, Blink must have had the house de-spelled. Blink was grayish black with clumps of fur missing from his back and neck and his eyes were a deep, glowing red. Atlas and James paled in size compared to Blink's wolf, if it was a one one one fight Blink would've easily won the match but James and Atlas's coordination had been maturing since they were children. This match wouldn't be easily won by either party.
The other men in the rescue party were fighting against the six men that had been holding down Neil and Niklaus. The six men were more unevenly matched against the eight group members, the group members easily got the six men off of Neil and Niklaus who got out of the way to make sure they weren't trampled by the two fighting groups.
"Did you know they were here!?" Neil gasped for breathe as he reached the edge of the room. The men had been slightly blocking his airway when holding him down.
"Yeah." Niklaus reached the wall next to Neil, sitting beside him. "They got here maybe an hour or so ago. They're here to rescue us."
"Is Harper here?" Neil's eyes were scanning the men that had barged into the room.
"No." Niklaus glanced at Neil's face, he seemed disappointed but relieved that Harper wasn't there.
"Oh. Should we join the fight?" Neil smirked slightly, it would be the first time the two of them truly fought together, as brothers.
"Definitely." Niklaus and Neil stood from the wall and lunged at the four remaining guards that seemed to be confused as to who they should help.
Blink seemed to be handling himself against Atlas and James but he also seemed to be tiring faster due to his greater size and having to deal with more than one opponent of suck skill and power. The group of six against the group of eight was slowly diminishing and getting tired but the ones remaining were still fighting strong. Neil and Niklaus were back to back fighting against the four remaining guards that Blink had with him when the fighting ensued. Neil and Niklaus were fatigued and malnourished after the three months of captivity, the last few day they had been regaining their strength but not enough to fight four guys at the same time.
"Neil, Niklaus!" Matt, one of the timber wolves from the group of eight was calling to them. "How are you guys holding up?"
"Good, just holding these guys off as best we can!" Neil and Niklaus answered together, fighting back to back.
Matt and the other timber wolves broke from their group, knowing the two red wolves, grey wolves, and the silver wolf could handle themselves, and hurried to help Neil and Niklaus who they could tell were getting quickly fatigued.
"Thanks." Niklaus was breathing hard, he hadn't had this much movement in nine years.
"Don't thank us 'til you're outta here." Karl was the second timber wolf, he was slightly thinner in than Matt but quicker.
All at once it seemed the eight men defeated Blink's guards and slowly started surrounding Blink against the wall.
"Your men are strong." Blink still had a smirk on his face. "It seems I was wrong about you escaping today." Blink's gaze shifted to Neil and Niklaus. "However, it will not be the end of our war."
Blink continued into the edge of the room, his back soon pressing against the window.
"I'll see you soon. Dolofónos!" Blink smashed his elbow into the window, quickly shifting back to his wolf and disappearing into the woods. Soon after Blink was lost from sight a curdling howl could be heard. As the group watched from the window they saw the rest of Blink's pack rush from their pack house following Blink into the dark woods, all quickly disappearing.
"Dolofónos?" James looked around the group, seeing if anyone understood what he said. His eyes glanced over everyone until he reached Niklaus, his face was dark. "Niklaus, do you know what he said?"
"N-no. No." Niklaus quickly shifted in place, shaking the look from his face. "We should check for other captives." Niklaus shuffled through the items in the room as everyone else watched in confusions.
"Niklaus, are you looking for something?" Atlas walked over, placing a hand on Niklaus's shoulder.
"I had something when Blink first took me." Niklaus spoke quickly, he seemed almost frantic to the rest of the group. "It's sentimental."
"What is it? I could help you look." Atlas looked to James, his face asking what to do.
"No, it'd be impossible for you to know." Niklaus moved from one spot of items to the next. "I'm not even really sure if it's in here."
"What is it you're trying to find?"
"A picture.." Niklaus took a deep breath. "Thank the gods! I found it.." Niklaus's voice was barely a whisper, Atlas thought he could see a tear forming in his eyes. "She was so beautiful.."
The looks of confusion grew on the groups faces.
"Niklaus, who is that?" Atlas peeked at the photo from the edge of Niklaus's side.
"My mother." Niklaus looked over to Neil and slowly walked forward. "I know you can't remember, but I thought you might like to know.." Niklaus handed the photo to Neil, soon they both had tears in their eyes. "I thought you'd like to know what our mother looked like."
Neil cleared his throat as he tried to speak, looking Niklaus in the eyes. "Thank you."
"Okay, now that we're all throughly confused, let's search the house and get the hell out of here." James looked at Neil and Niklaus. "I hope you know you're explain this.." James gestured to the room and all of the searched items. "Was."
The group came to a chuckle as they all followed Niklaus to the dungeons to search for other captives.
***
"Harper?" Scarlett tapped on the door. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Harper never took his eyes away from the window. "Do you think they're okay?"
"Your father is a little bruised. That much I can feel." Scarlett rubbed her ribs, she wasn't physically hurt but she could feel the pain from her mates injuries. "However, he is alright."
Harper released a sigh of relief as he heard his mother's words. He was glad that his father was alright but he still couldn't feel Neil's physical or emotional state which is what was occupying his mind.
"Why don't we grab something to eat?" Scarlett walked over and sat next to Harper on the windowsill. "We can go to that little bistro in town that you love."
"No, thank you." Harper's gaze left the window for a moment to see his mother's face.
Her face was full of worry, she could feel Atlas's wounds but she didn't know the full extent of his injuries, how he got them, or if he was on his way home.
"You know what, actually I think we could both use some dinner and a distraction." Harper stood from the bay-window and walked with Scarlett from the room. "Why don't we go eat and watch a movie?"
Harper didn't really pay attention to the movie they had chosen, his mind was still focused on Neil and the others as was his mother's. The credits rolled over the screen and Harper stood from his seat.
"They're okay.." Scarlett braced Harper in a hug. "They're okay."
"How do you know?" Harper pulled back and stared Scarlett in the eyes.
Scarlett pointed out of the front window, a smile forming on her face.
Harper turned around, the same smile from his mother's face forming on his own. He quickly bolted from the door as the emotions he had been feeling all day spilled down his face.
***
We had been walking for hours but the house, our home, was finally coming into view. As we got closer I could see Harper run from the front door and I was suddenly filled with new energy.
"Go." James gently pushed Neil's shoulder and Neil took off towards Harper, embracing him in full fervor.
"I'm so sorry." Neil could finally feel his mate again, he could hold him and kiss him. "I'm sorry you had to worry about me. I'm so sorry."
"Stop.. stop apologizing. It's not your fault." Harper kissed Neil again, he couldn't get enough now that they were reunited. "I missed you." Harper's eyes were full of tears, both happy and sad.
"Hey you two!" The group was only a couple yards away now. "Get a room." The group laughed as they slowly passed the two patting them on their backs.
Neil and Harper's looks both changed very quickly from beatific to realization.
"I have so much to tell you!" They spoke over each other and laughed, holding each other the entire time as they walked to the door.