Chapter 118
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The road back to the Red Moon Pack was fraught with tension for Chassy and Ethan. Uneasiness hung heavy in the air as they sped through the winding paths that led to their home. The anxious thoughts that were echoing in their minds drowned out the rumble of the car’s engine.
Xander’s call had injected a sense of urgency into their journey. Chassy gripped the steering wheel with a tight resolve, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and determination. Beside her, Ethan’s gaze flitted between his stepmother and the passing scenery, mirroring the concern etched across Chassy’s face.
“Mommy C, do you think something’s wrong?” Ethan’s voice cut through the uneasy silence, and his brows furrowed with worry.
Chassy spared him a fleeting glance, her eyes reflecting a depth of maternal concern. “I don’t know, Ethan. Your dad didn’t give much detail, but it sounded urgent. We’ll find out soon enough.”
As the car cut through the cool evening air, their thoughts drifted to possible scenarios. The bond that tied the Red Moon Pack members together was palpable, and any disruption could send ripples of distress through its members. The uneasiness in their hearts intensified with every passing mile.
“Maybe it’s just a routine check or something,” Ethan suggested, trying to alleviate the tension. Despite his attempt at reassurance, his voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty.
Chassy nodded, acknowledging the possibility. “You might be right, Ethan. Your dad deals with a lot of things as the Alpha, but it’s better to be prepared for anything.”
Their conversation lingered in the realm of speculation, the uncertainty of the situation casting a shadow over their journey. But still, Chassy’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her mind racing with thoughts about the safety of their pack and the well-being of Xander.
As they approached the familiar road on their way to their territory, the atmosphere grew thicker with anticipation. Chassy and Ethan exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They were a family, and the safety of their pack was paramount.
The car roared onto the national road and the scene that unfolded before them revealed a sense of urgency. Chassy doesn’t know, but the more they get closer to the pack’s territory, the more anxiety she feels. She looked at Ethan, and she noticed that he was feeling the same. With that, she thought of Xander; they were both deeply bonded to only one man in the pack, and that was Xander.
As Chassy and Ethan approached the familiar borders of the Red Moon Pack, a growing sense of worry gnawed at Chassy’s gut. The usual posts, manned by vigilant warriors, stood eerily vacant. It was an ominous sight, and the absence of the pack’s guardians sent a shiver down her spine.
The car slowed to a stop, and Chassy surveyed the area from a distance. Her keen eyes, sharpened by years of leading the pack, sought familiar faces among the absent warriors. The lack of their customary patrol guards on the border was a deviation from the norm, and a heavy feeling of unease settled over her even more.
A surge of fear intertwined with her worry. The border was the first line of defense, a symbolic barrier that safeguarded the pack from external threats. The silence that greeted them now was disconcerting, a stark departure from the usual lively hum of pack activity.
“Something’s not right, Ethan,” Chassy murmured, her eyes narrowing as she continued to scan the vicinity. The sun cast long shadows, heightening the sense of foreboding.
Ethan, too, felt the tension in the air. He shifted uncomfortably in the car, his gaze mirroring his mother’s concern. “Where is everyone? Did something happen?”
Chassy took a steady breath, her instincts as an Alpha on high alert. The absence of the border patrol raised troubling questions, and her mind raced to fill in the gaps. An Alpha’s responsibility weighed heavily, and the fear for her pack’s safety intensified with every passing moment of uncertainty.
As they continue driving on their way to the heart of the pack, Chassy rolls down the car windows, and as soon as she does that, she instantly feels her bond with Xander and the other pack members, who are all feeling worried and scared at the same time. The anxious energy permeated the air, creating an almost tangible barrier. Chassy’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as she navigated the car toward the heart of the pack’s territory.
The lack of welcoming patrol guards and the absence of familiar faces fueled Chassy’s fear. The pack was a tight-knit family, and deviations from routine were met with keen awareness. The unspoken connection between pack members forged through loyalty and camaraderie, made the current situation all the more unsettling.
“Stay close, Ethan,” Chassy instructed, her tone carrying a weight of authority born out of necessity. Together, they made their way toward the heart of the pack’s activities after they decided to get out of the car even before they reached the pack house, a shared concern etched on their faces. The unfolding events would soon reveal the nature of Xander’s urgent call and the challenges that awaited the Red Moon Pack.
With each passing moment, Chassy’s concern deepened. Then she started to smell blood. ‘Xander!’ She mind linked her mate, hoping for a response, but she didn’t get any. ‘Anyone?’ she tried to connect to anyone looking at Ethan, who had worry etched on his face.
‘Luna, Alpha is in the western part of the border.’ Jack managed to answer.
‘Okay, I’m on my way there.’ she replied, looking at Ethan. She knew that he would be able to fight, so she nodded her head at him, a signal that she wanted him to come with her. Then the two started running on their way to the western part of the pack’s territory. They won’t be able to use the car there since it is in the woodsy part of the territory.
Back in Xander’s fight, as he thought the rogue leader had retreated, a deceptive illusion of reprieve settled over the forest. Xander, catching his breath, watched the figure diminish in the distance. The simultaneous urgency in Jack and Limuel’s minds, however, shattered the calm and revealed an unexpected twist in the confrontation.
While the increasing number of rogues posed a formidable challenge, Xander couldn’t shake the lingering image of the retreating rogue leader. The smirk etched on the rogue’s face fueled a flicker of anger within Xander. The rogue’s parting taunt about Chassy and Silas’ bond struck a nerve, stoking the embers of resentment that lingered beneath the surface.
The forest seemed to echo with the rogue’s mocking words, a bitter reminder of the complexities entwined in the delicate threads of the supernatural world. Xander’s jaw clenched a silent promise echoing within him-that the rogue’s words wouldn’t go unanswered.
‘Get ready, Alpha. We’re not done here.’ Limuel’s voice in Xander’s mind, though composed, hinted at his readiness for the imminent clash.
Jack’s affirmation followed suit: ‘We’ll hold our ground, Alpha. The pack is ready for whatever comes next.’
The resolve within Xander solidified. The rogue’s provocation served as a catalyst, fanning the flames of determination. He pivoted, his gaze scanning the forest’s edge, where the retreating figure of the rogue had melted into the shadows. The smirk etched vividly in his memory fueled the alpha’s determination to protect what was his.
In the looming confrontation, Xander’s mind veered briefly to Chassy. The rogue’s mention of her and Silas ignited a protective instinct-a vow that the impending clash wouldn’t compromise the safety of his pack or the delicate balance they strived to maintain.
The taunts of the rogue, resonating through the tense air, twisted like a knife in Xander’s gut. The moonlit battleground became a stage for psychological warfare that struck deeper than any physical blow. As Jack and Limuel valiantly held their ground in the distant echoes of battle, Xander found himself locked in a one-on-one skirmish with the mocking rogue leader.
“Xander, you’re just a placeholder, a fleeting presence in her life. The moon goddess knew she needed more, so she granted her a bond with a vampire. Silas, the immortal, the powerful,” the rogue sneered, his words cutting through the night.
Each word struck a chord within Xander, amplifying insecurities he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge. His gaze remained fixed on the rogue, but his mind drifted to Chassy, a tempest of conflicting emotions swirling within him.
“You’re blinded by your arrogance, Alpha. Do you think you’re enough for her? Silas can give her eternity and power beyond your grasp. What can you offer other than a fleeting existence?” The rogue taunted, his words intended to penetrate Xander’s defenses.
The alpha’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching involuntarily. The rogue had struck a nerve, exploiting the vulnerabilities that Xander dared not voice. As the moon bathed the battleground in an ethereal glow, the weight of his responsibilities bore down on Xander.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, rogue,” Xander growled, a flicker of anger overcoming the shadow of doubt. “Chassy chose me, and our bond is stronger than you can fathom.”
The rogue laughed, a derisive sound that reverberated in the night. “Chosen or not, she’s haunted by the uncertainty of your mortality. Every moonlit night, she wonders if she made the right choice. Silas assures her of eternity, while you’re just a flicker in the grand tapestry of her existence. You’re going to die, but Chassy and Silas are going to live forever. You are the unnecessary variable in their mate bond.”
Xander’s eyes narrowed, the raw truth in the rogue’s words lashing at him. The realization that Chassy might grapple with such doubts struck deeper than any physical wound. It was a vulnerability he hadn’t anticipated-a fracture in the foundation of their bond.
“You’re just a passing chapter in her story, Xander. A page in the tome of her immortal destiny. Can’t you feel it? The insecurities clawing at her heart, whispering doubts in the quiet moments,” the rogue continued, relishing the impact of his verbal assault.
As the rogue’s words echoed through the battleground, Xander’s resolve hardened. Under the doubt and insecurity, a fierce determination ignited. He refused to let the rogue’s psychological warfare erode the foundation he had built with Chassy. He remembered his dream, and what the rogue was doing now was exactly what he did in his dream.
The battle raged on, both physically and emotionally, as Xander fought not only against the rogues but also against the shadows of doubt that threatened to engulf him. The forest, once a haven, transformed into a battleground charged with tension. The rogue leader’s taunt had unveiled a deeper layer of the brewing conflict-one that would demand not only physical prowess but also resilience in the face of the supernatural intricacies that entangled their fates. With a renewed sense of purpose, Xander led his pack into the gathering storm, the looming clash echoing with the unspoken challenge that lingered in the forest air.
“You can say goodbye to your beloved mate, Xander,” the rogue said, smirking. And because of the rogue’s taunting earlier, he didn’t feel the presence of a vampire behind him. He was unaware while the warriors with him were busy with the other rogues, and it was too late before he knew it. A blade struck his chest.