**Erick's POV**
We were packing up when I heard her. Erick! They attacked us in the underground tunnels. David is hurt. It is a trap, Joel was working with Eliza. Don't come after me. Stay safe I love you. Avenge me.
I am coming for you! I growled filled with fear, anger, worry, and rage. "The tunnels now, I yelled at Doc not waiting on him to follow." It was as if I had tunnel vision, I could only focus on getting to the tunnels. Even though I knew it was doubtful, I was hoping that we might catch them escaping.
I heard Doc in my mind, he told Samuel and the other fighters to get to the tunnel immediately we were under attack.
They had beat us to the prison cell. David was sitting on the ground rubbing his head. He looked distraught, "I am sorry, he set us up. He had help and he distracted us while they snuck up on us."
"Did they hurt her? Is she ok? Where are they going?" I felt Samuel's hand on my shoulder when I realized I was on my knee with David's shirt clutched in my hands.
"Easy son, let him breathe. They won't get away with this. We will get her back." Samuels words sounded more like white noise. I was numbed with everything coursing through my mind. Focused only on getting Rhian back.
David looked up tears in his eyes. "He said.. he told me..." He was practically hyperventilating at this point. "Pups...not dead. How? Possible?"
Doc knelt beside him speaking slow and methodically, "Look at me," He put his hand on David's chest. "Breath with me, in, out. Follow me, big slow breaths. Hold it, then exhale." David's breathing began to return to normal. "Take your time."
"Joel distracted me, he said my pups were alive. I couldn't control the shift and I ripped the door from the hinges trying to go after him. I was hit with an electrical bolt and I couldn't move. They are taking her to Eliza. They want to use her as bait.
His eyes looked like they were pleading with Doc, "Is it, could it be possible? Did they survive?"
Doc pulled him in wrapping his arms around David. He was sobbing overcome with grief. "I don't know son, medically speaking the babies had reached viability. I fear he may have just said it to hurt you."
"I have to know, we have to find out. I couldn't save her but if they are alive I have to find them." Something came over David and with a new resolve, his tearful face shifted to one of determination.
"They didn't really hurt her. They may have given her a concussion knocking her out but they wanted her alive. They collared her, I smelled wolfsbane she won't be able to shift. Maybe even have trouble linking you. I failed to protect her, I am so sorry." David hung his head.
"It isn't your fault. You were outnumbered. Even if Joel hadn't distracted you you couldn't have won. Just help me get her back." I reached out to help David stand. "I will need all of you to help me get her back."
Samuel spoke up, "We will all help. Why don't we go to the conference room, we need to devise a plan. We can't go blazing in without being prepared."
We walked together upstairs in somber silence. Sitting around the large oval table Samuel pulls out a massive map. It shows the territory lines of the current packs. He was going over the basics, I am sure for my benefit more than anyone else.
The Crescent moon pack's territory bordered ours far beyond the woods bordering my own property. It dawned on me just how far Rhian had run to escape before. She was amazing, I knew if we could just reach her quickly she would be smart enough to stay alive, no matter what it takes.
It felt like we were in that room for days. In actuality, it had been a few hours. Every moment seemed like an eternity when I had no idea what was happening to Rhian. Would Eliza even keep her alive? I just wanted her back in my arms so I would know she was safe.
It was decided that we would attack in the morning. Samuel was contacting another alpha that he was close with and requesting some of his best warriors to help us. I hated waiting but I knew rushing in wouldn't benefit anyone.
I retreated to the room in the packhouse Rhian and I had stayed in the previous night. I sunk into the bed bringing the pillow she used to my face. It still carried her scent and I breathed it in. It was intoxicating.
After some time had passed with me just lying there taking in her smell the exhaustion of the previous week hit me like a ton of bricks. I fell into a deep sleep.
I opened my eyes and was frightened when I didn't recognize my surroundings. I was in what appeared to be an old tower. Stone brick walls, it was damp, dark, and dingy. As my eyes adjusted I saw her, she was chained to the wall. Her arms were outstretched bound with heavy chains connected to a pulley system.
What was going on, "Rhian, Rhian," I called her name but she didn't even acknowledge my presence? Where was this, where was she? She looked weak, tired, what had they done to her?
I heard a loud creaking noise and a wave of light entered the room someone was coming. I couldn't see who it was yet but I heard the footsteps approaching her. It was Joel and another man he didn't recognize.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here." Joel raised her chin so she was forced to look at him. "You thought you were so smart figuring out who Eliza was. That you would escape and get to live happily ever after with that mutt of yours. Let me ask you, how is that working out for you now?"
She looked up at him with eyes so filled with hate and disdain even I shuddered. "It is working out exactly as I planned. I can promise you this, you will regret this." Then she spat directly in his face. That a girl! Don't give in to him, keep fighting.
Disgusted Joel wiped the spit away from his face. "Two can play that game sweetie." His hand came back and swiftly slapped her across her face. The force of the hit knocked her off balance. I was going to kill him for hurting her.
"Has anybody ever told you that you hit like a girl!" She sneered. It only frustrated him more she was refusing to back down to him.
"Be careful, you'd be wise to remember you are the one currently in chains, not me." He turned to the other man. "Honestly, what do you see in this chick? I suppose maybe if she wore a muzzle she might be more appealing." His head snapped back to her, "don't think I don't have the power to make that happen either."
"Queen Maeve said I could do whatever I like with her. You have to admit her body would be awful fun to play with." He had walked over and was running his hands up and down her body. I could see Rhian repel his touch.
"You are both dead," I growled enraged at the thought of them hurting her, touching her. They would not get away with this. I would make them suffer and torture them slowly for inflicting pain on her.
Wait a minute. Did she just look at me when I growled? Could she see me right now? Could she hear me?
I can feel your presence, especially when you got angry. I thought I was imagining things until I heard your growl. I heard her voice in my mind, a sense of calm rushing over me.
We need to get you out of here. We are coming tomorrow morning. Be safe my love.
NO, don't I only pretended to be unconscious on the drive up here. They are expecting you tomorrow. Wait, they won't know what to think. Gather as many warriors as you can and come in three days. They will think you are abandoning me, their defenses will go down. She pleaded to me.
I won't leave you there for days.
Please, I am ok, I can withstand this. It will give you an advantage. She has me in Cyrus's Castle in the far southeastern area of my pack's lands. She has yet to show me her face. If you delay the attack she may come here personally to question where you are.
Be strong, I will let the pack know. I love you Rhian. If anything happens to you I swear I will rip Eliza's head from her body and kill her once and for all.
I love you, go don't watch what is going to happen now. Go be safe. I heard her plead with me to go as I heard the screams escape from her lips.
I was growling and unable to control the shift that was occurring. I was up swinging and fighting the air back in my room. I must have created quite the ruckus as I saw the door to the room crash open and in rushed a group of warriors from the pack followed by Samuel, Doc, and David.
"What the hell happened are you OK?" I heard David's voice but I was still so overwhelmed with rage I couldn't respond.