The neighboring packs have gotten angry that Maximus gave us some of his territory. They said that we don't deserve it because we are a bunch of filthy rogues. They are even more angry that I am the Alpha of the Castaways. With my pregnancy nearing the end, I have been allowing Jonathan to take over all the duties an Alpha has to fulfill. That includes some of the small battles with the rival packs. We have so far won all of them. By winning the smaller battles, we have also won some territories.
I can do little to help. I can't shift and my hugely protruding belly gets in the way as I try to show I will not back down to any kind of threat. I am also not willing to harm my unborn pups for anything. Alphas are supposed to be out on the battle field with their pack, but yet I am stuck at home. I was waiting for any word from Jonathan. Suddenly, the front door flies open and a large man comes walking in.
"So you're the She-wolf that thinks she is Alpha. Some Alpha you are. You aren't even out there helping your mate. Oh and what's this, you only have a small child to protect you." The strange man said as his eyes fell on Henry, who was sitting with me, because both Lia and Jimmi were in the battle. He was right. I was all alone, but something Jackson told me before he left to join the battle was to never let your enemies know you were alone.
Jonathan, I love you. I thought I didn't have much faith that it would work. I didn't know how to defend myself without shifting. "I am not alone. I have three strong warriors waiting for my command to attack." I said with a deep growl. Not only was he invading my home but he was also threatening the safety of my pups and the little pup I was pup sitting.
"You see, that is simply not true. All of your warriors are fighting to get more land than your pack of Rogues deserve." The stranger said as he took another step forward.
"You a bad boy. You should leave." Henry said, causing the man to laugh loudly.
Don't worry, beloved Maximus and a small group of his warriors are heading to the cottage. Just hold off the threat as best as you can. Don't get hurt. They should be there soon. Jonathan said through a mind link. It made me feel a little better knowing that Maximus was coming to my rescue yet again. But that meant that my pack was short on numbers.
"I will leave when I have ended you and your mother." He said.
"Henry, go upstairs and get in the bathroom and lock the door. Don't come out until your mother or I come and get you." I said, causing Henry to run upstairs. Now I could focus on what I had to do without worrying that Henry would try and help. He would only be getting himself hurt and I couldn't allow that. I was his Alpha.
Suddenly, I saw movement outside one of the windows. There were three figures moving about. One of them was large. By the scent, I could tell he was a Lycan. Oh, Moon Goddess, let it be Maximus. I thought as I watched the man move a little closer. Before I knew it, he had ahold of my neck and took a knife to my belly. I felt a tear fall from my eyes as a thought came to my mind. One time when Jonathan was teaching me how to fight, I accidentally kicked him between the legs. That brought him down quickly.
I did so to this man and he fell, but not before he cut my belly. I was bleeding badly as I fell to my knees. Just as Maximus came in. I fell to my side as Maximus rushed over. "Henry. Tell Lia that Henry is in the upstairs bathroom." I said as things started to go dark.
"I won't because you will tell her. Sophia stay with me. Your pups aren't ready to be born and they need you to survive to be able to be born. Jonathan needs you. You may act like the Alpha, but he will always have alpha blood. Alphas always get attached to their mates. You must stay with me. Matt go get the doctor. Hurry!" Maximus said as I felt him put pressure on my belly. "Landon, I want you and Byron to stand over that scum until Sophia's pack gets back. I want them to decide what to do with that scum." I could see that everyone was doing what their Alpha said.
I tried very hard to fight against the blackness. Not just for my pups but for my mate. Jonathan was the sweetest wolf I ever met, but I didn't know how he would act or feel if I did die. After what seemed like a lifetime, a doctor came in and began to work on my wound. "Check on her pups," Maximus said, not taking his eyes off of me. I watched as a tear fell from his eyes. "Don't leave me like she did." He said and I knew he was worried that I would die like his sister did. I saw Jonathan, Jackson, and my mom walking in. Jonathan instantly fell to his knees before crawling towards me.
"I have her and her pups stable. I would like her to stay in bed. With Alpha's permission, I would like to come and check on her daily." The doctor said. As soon as the doctor spoke, Jackson lifted me up and took me into the spare room that was downstairs. The doctor followed. "Who are her parents?" She asked kindly.
"Myself and Lindsey over there," Jackson said.
"Do you know her blood type?" The doctor said.
"No, but perhaps her mother or mate will know. I wasn't around until just recently." Jackson said, sounding a bit embarrassed. I let myself drift into unconsciousness. At least if I did die now, my pups would go with me. I didn't want to die, I wanted to meet my pups. I wanted to grow old with Jonathan. I wanted to watch my pups have their own pups.
Jonathan's POV
We got back from the battle in time to see Alpha Maximus and his doctor sitting next to my mate who was lying on the floor with blood coming out of her stomach. As soon as Jackson got Sophia comfortable on the spare bed, our attention turned to her attacker as Lia and Jimmi came in. "Henry. Where is my baby?" Lia said as she started to sniff the air. I assume she was trying to see if the blood on the floor was her son's. I forgot that we left only the pup in the pack with Sophia.
Now I was not only worried about my mate and my own pups, but now I had to worry about the potential injuries to a pup. "Are you Lia?" Maximus said as he walked up to the hysterical She-wolf.
"Yes." She said quietly, as she was clearly fighting back her tears. Maximus placed his hand on Lia's shoulder in a comforting way.
"I think she said something about the bathroom upstairs." Maximus said, causing Lia to run upstairs. I can't imagine the worry she must have not knowing if her son got hurt. I feel horrible not knowing what I can do to help my mate and my pups.
"Jonathan, what would you like to do with this scum? He is the one who hurt Sophia." Maximus said once he returned to my side again.
"My pack doesn't have a prison. I think he should rot in a prison for the rest of his life." I said with the deepest growl I could muster.
"Get your pack to build a prison, but for now he will remain in my prison until your prison is finished, but I can promise you he will not be there without suffering." Maximus said as he looked toward the spare bedroom where Sophia was. "Please let me come visit, when the doctor comes tomorrow." He said taking his eyes off of the door when his doctor came out.
"Yeah. You may come anytime you wish. Sophia likes you a lot. I don't understand why you two have gotten so close, but I have a younger sister that I can't bear the thought of losing her." I said as I patted the Lycan on the back. Maximus and the doctor left.
"Jonathan, I contacted Larry and told him what happened. He and Cassie are coming, leaving his beta in charge. They are bringing a doctor that will stay here with us until Sophia is all better," Jackson said as he left the little room where my beloved mate lay.
"All right." I said as I stood up.
Alpha, there is another attack from Shadow Tree Pack. Matteo mind linked me.
"What is wrong, Jonathan?" Jackson said as I felt my face go blank.
"Can you stay with Sophia? We have another attack. She can't defend herself the way she is now. I will have Lia stay here with Henry." I said, and Jackson simply nodded and went back into the little room. I left the little cottage and shifted without taking my clothes off. I ran as fast as I could. My dad was hot on my heels as we reached the fight. My pack was easily holding off the attack. They were out numbered though. Dad and I quickly jumped in and took on the large wolf I assume is the Alpha. I ripped his throat out. I wasn't taking any prisoners. This pack sent that man in to do harm to my mate and I would take out all of my pain on them.
I saw a large brown wolf next to my sister's smaller grey wolf. I rushed to my sister's side and jumped up into the air, landing square on the brown wolf's back, giving Ashleigh a chance to kill the wolf. Jonathan, a wolf, has broken through the perimeter. They are headed toward your cottage. I got this under control. Dad said through the mind link.
Kill every one of them you can. It is their fault Sophia was injured. I replied as I took off in the direction of the cottage I shared with my mate. I quickly caught up with a large black wolf. He heard me coming as he turned to face me. His piercing blue eyes told me his wolf was quite strong. I do believe I am stronger. The mate bond coupled with seeing my mate fighting for her life created a monster out of me. I would die before I allowed this wolf anywhere near my mate or unborn pups.
He lunged at me but I was ready. I fell down on my sides and sliced him with my claws, causing him to let out a loud yelp. I got up and lunged at him and grabbed the back of his neck before I sunk my teeth deep into his neck. I could feel his spine crunch under the pressure of my bite. He instantly went limp. I returned to the fighting and there were six new wolves that seemed to be fighting with us, not against us. They smelled familiar but I couldn't figure out why. I flung myself at the nearest white wolf. I tore his pelt to pieces, causing him to run back to his own territory.
This battle went on for hours as neither side wanted to give up. I killed over thirty of their wolves myself. I wasn't certain how many wolves I lost, but I sure wasn't going to let that stop me from getting my revenge. I saw a grey wolf take off in the general direction of my cottage only to be cut off by Maximus and his warriors. He brought with him ten warriors.
They charged in to help and helped us win this battle. The Shadow Tree Pack all fled. Perhaps we showed them that we were here to stay. My pack were going to raise pups here and grow. "I think that was their Alpha's son." Maximus said as he looked at the black wolf I killed who was heading to the Cottage where my mate was resting.
"I think that is their current Alpha." One of Maximus's warriors said, pointing at the large wolf that my dad and I killed. Maximus started to laugh.
What was I supposed to do when they were threatening my mate? She had no hope of defending herself. I also just wanted to get back to her. I was worried that I would loose her when I was not there. I was also worried that she would wake up and I would not be there. I started having memories of our first time mating. I didn't want our lives together to come down to just memories. I knew that one day she and I would be separated by death, but she was far too young to worry about death.
I rushed back home to see Sophia. I missed her terribly and had to see her soon. When I got to the cottage, I scratched at the door to have Lia open it enough for her to see who was standing there. She opened it a little more, allowing me in, and I rushed upstairs to change into some of my spare clothes. When I returned downstairs, I nodded at Lia before entering the spare room.
Sophia was still asleep on the bed with Jackson sitting on the foot of the bed. "When my first mate was still alive she told me we were going to have another pup. She told me it was a girl and I was happy I had a son and I was going to have a daughter. Then she got very sick and she died before the pup was old enough to be born. I lost them both. Then I met Lindsey and found out she was my second chance mate. Then she had Sophia and I was so angry that the Moon Goddess would take another mate from me. A fact that would be the death of me. Then Joseph told me that a pack of rogues killed my mate. He also told me it was my child's fault and that caused me to hate Sophia for a lie. It took me this long to realize I do love her and now I am going to lose her." Jackson said without taking his eyes off of Sophia.
"She can't die. I can't live without her." I replied.
"Then you need to let the doctor take the pups out. I asked her what the chances of Sophia and the pups surviving and she said they are greater than they would be if we leave them where they are." Jackson said as he looked up at me.
"Next time the doctor comes I will talk to her about it. I jumped to check everything because if I just jump to having them born early and they died because they weren't ready, Sophia would never forgive me. I have to at least try to keep all three of them alive." I said as I bent down and kissed my mate on the forehead. I heard a knock on the door and Lia answered the door.
After hearing heavy footsteps coming down the hall, Maximus and the doctor came in. "Do you know what the chances are that my daughter and grandpups will survive if you remove them?" Jackson asked after placing his hand on Sophia's belly.
"If we don't remove them I can't give Sophia the proper care and she will die and she will take her pups with her. If I do remove them, they have a ninety percent chance of survival and I can give their mother better care." The doctor said. "She is far enough along that she falls in the range of when it is safe for the pups to be born."
"Then do it. You do everything you can to save all three of them." I said as I stood up to show her that I towered over her.
"We will have to take her to our packs hospital. She will have to remain there until I am sure that she and the pups will survive." The doctor said as she trembled.
"Jonathan, I will pay for you to have a hotel room at night so you can be close to them at all times," Maximus said calmly. I followed Maximus with Sophia in my arms.
I will do whatever it takes to protect you, my beloved mate. I said through our mind link. I hoped she was able to hear me, but I wasn't so sure she did because she just laid there with no sign of life. My heart was breaking with every passing second.