They landed in the early morning and the ride back was uneventful. He removed his tie in the car heading back to the hotel. All he wanted was a hot shower and to curl up with his Luna. His mind drifted once again to making things official and he was not going to let anything or anyone stop him. He wondered if he should also propose marriage and he began searching for engagement rings online. There was a bit of traffic and they reached in under two hours. He wanted to call Trishanna but decided to surprise her instead. He sent Sam a quick text and slipped his phone back into his pocket. Martha looked the worse for wear, but her sharp eyes missed nothing. She laid her hand on his arm and asked, "Son, is everything okay? You haven't seemed quite yourself these past few days."
Bradley laughed a humorless sound, "I'm just so tired of it all. Not having my mate, not to mention the lack of progress on my attacker is making me imagine all sorts of things." Martha squeezed his arm, a reassuring gesture and Bradley placed his hand on hers, a real smile on his lips. "It'll be alright" she whispered. Bradley felt the concern and he blinked back the tears. This woman meant the world to him, just like his aunt Cynthia. He just nodded and she gave one last squeeze before she leaned back on the seat. He did the same and hoped that she was right, even as his wolf wondered the same.
They pulled up to the hotel and Bradley jumped out, not even waiting for his security detail to take their places, or noticing the old grey car parked across the street. It was a bit too shabby for the area. He walked briskly in and headed straight to Trishanna's room. He linked the guys, thanking them for their hard work and letting them know that they are relieved from duty, so as to liaise with Sam for their updates and replacements until they get back to Goldmoon. Their "Yes Alpha", was all he allowed as he closed his link. He didn't want anything else but his mate, yet as he got into the elevator and punched her floor, his wolf's uneasiness grew the closer he got. Bradley tried to tell himself it was just the strain of being away from her, but even he found his excuses empty to his own ears.
The door dinged open and he stepped out, a man with the mission of burying his nose in her hair. He walked to her door, feeling foolish like a teen about to ask his crush to the prom. He paused at the door and took a deep breath to strengthen his nerves but what he smelled made his eyes flash to gold in anger. The scent of sex and Trishanna was all but pouring out and he could smell the man, the wolf who dared to touch her. Without thought, Bradley kicked in the door his eyes darting straight to the bed. The sight made his blood boil and his body began to shift.
Trishanna and James were asleep, her head nestled on his chest when a loud crash woke them and they jolted up, Trishanna trying to cover her nakedness while James placed himself in front of her as best as he could, tangled in the sheets. They both looked at Bradley, but he only had eyes for James. "You bastard", he and his wolf growled, his canines cutting into his lips. He was already beginning to change and it looked like he wasn't trying to stop it. James' wolf responded with a growl of his own and James got on his hands and knees, ready to fight for his mate and his pup. Trishanna stared wide-eyed at the both of them, fear and guilt making it hard for her to speak. Bradley took a step towards him and James jumped off the bed, hoping that it would give Trishanna a chance to ease herself away. He desperately wanted to look at her, to tell her to get out or lock herself in the bathroom, but he knew that second of distraction would give Bradley an opportunity he could not risk.
Trishanna tried to speak, to grab James back, to try to stop Bradley but she saw the ripple of fur on Bradley's arms and legs. She heard the sound of bones snapping and reshaping and she closed her eyes, knowing that this time they would not stop. She looked around and at the door, she saw a shocked Sam wearing nothing but a barely zipped pants and a few of the warriors of both packs. Sam glanced at her and in that one look, she felt his judgment and condemnation all at once. Yes, this was her fault, yet deep down, she knew that they were both her mates but she didn't know how.
There was a howl and Bradley now in his wolf form, lunged at the other wolf, and both of them rolled on the floor, snapping and tearing away at each other. Trishanna wrapped the sheet around her and edged her way to Sam. "Please," she begged, "please stop them from killing each other." Sam tightened his lips and turned away from her in disgust. He would not help. She looked at the others, but they all lowered their eyes or looked away. Trishanna felt alone, a feeling she hadn't felt for so long. She stiffened her spine, determined to stop her mates by herself, but Sam grabbed her hand. He just shook his head, his look saying that if his Alpha died, it was her fault.
What? Did they think that this is what she wanted to happen? Do these fools believe that she somehow feels honored that two Alphas wanted her enough to fight to the death in a hotel room? She could hear voices coming from the corridor, and warriors trying to calm them. She looked up at Sam and could see that he was linking the others, but his grip on her hand stayed the same. She heard a whine and her eyes darted to the wolves. They were both covered in blood and there were bits of their fur all over the room. James was hurt, his hind leg was bleeding profusely, but he was not giving up. With a growl, he lunged at Bradley and they were rolling around again, snapping at each other's throat.
The scene was getting too much and Trishanna began to feel sick. Her pup became tense and soon she began to feel pangs in her stomach. She doubled over, a cry escaping her lips. She felt her muscles tighten, and a sliver of fear clutched at her heart. She couldn't be in labor, It was too early for that, she still had two more months and as an omega, she wouldn't be able to be sure that she or her pup would survive. Another pain shot up her spine and she fell to her knees, holding her stomach as if she could keep the babe within.
Sam felt when she fell, and thought it was her dramatics, but when she began to cry, he knelt down. He looked at her and knew something was wrong. He linked Lorenzo and tried to reach Bradley, but the wolf had completely blocked him, lost in his haze of anger. Trishanna moaned again and Sam didn't know what to do. She looked pale and her breathing was ragged. Trishanna clutched his arm, "You have to stop them" she begged, even as another wave of pain crossed her face. This is bad, very bad. Sam looked up to ask for help, but everyone was focused on the fight. He could feel the tension and the peace that was formed between the packs was crumbling with every hit and bite of the two Alphas currently destroying the room.
Just as Sam wondered where the hell Lorenzo was, a sudden energy was felt, quickly followed by a blast of wind. It moved the men standing at the door and Sam's reflexes were the only thing that kept Trishanna from the force of it. Yet that didn't stop the wolves. It was like they were locked in a battle as old as time.