Chasing the rejected Luna

59: He is my best friend

"She's... I don't know.” she took in a shaky breath and looked away from me. I guessed it had something to do with the intensity of my stare. "She was unconscious when I left.”

I turned around swiftly and took deep calming breaths. I feared if I looked at her one more time, the control in me would finally snap. And it didn't help that I had a rough idea of what would happen to Dianne if my wolf took over.

"What happened to her?" I heard myself asking against my wish even if I knew I would most likely not like the answer.

Dianne didn't answer for quite some time. And I knew she was thinking of the best way to reply to me without angering me. If only she knew just how much her silence was doing to me.

"She was unconscious when I left. Her wolf was taken care of again so she became powerless."

I turned to her, “Taken care of? What do you mean by that?" I asked her and spun around to face her. I wanted to see every emotion on her face and be able to detect when she was lying or not.

"What do you think..." she stopped, thinking better of her word choices. “That was the reason she was able to be taken in the first place."

"And how did she manage to get back her wolf? You mentioned her wolf was taken care of again, does that mean she got her wolf in where she's been held?" I asked and Dianne shook her head

I had many questions to ask her. Like how she was able to get back her wolf and how hurt Sophia was. But even if they were eating me up, I knew I shouldn't be asking that now. I needed to know where Sophia was being kept and needed to get her out of there before it was too late.

A slow shudder worked its way from the base of my spine at the thought of getting to Sophia at the last hour.

"You do realize coming here to me could get you killed and you came here nonetheless. I wouldn't ask the reason you betrayed your mother because it honestly isn't my business. But what I want to know right now is the exact place Sophia is being held." I said without breathing a breath.

I noticed Orion had been silent the whole time. And I also knew he wasn't just standing there being silent, he was taking important notes I might have neglected when we were to go rescue Sophia.

"She's been held in an uncompleted building just at the outskirts of his pack,” she muttered and looked at her feet. I think that was the moment her guilt began eating her up. "I Know I betrayed my mother because I recently found out what she did. One innocent life had been lost because of her high ambitions. And I will never forgive myself if two more were to be lost when I had the power to prevent it."

“Orion, gather our men and put my father in charge of this pack while we are gone. The guards should be brought forward. I won't underestimate Ryven again. He had taken me by surprise the first time. And I would be a fool to let him do that to me the second time," I growled, the thought of it making my blood boil in my veins.

"Since I went into his pack, I haven't seen him nor have I seen his sister who is the new Alpha "You mean Ava is the new Alpha? What about Ryven? And why wasn't he there with you in the building? I thought he was part of the plan?"

"That's what I thought too but I think he just doesn't want to be seen.” she stopped and looked at Orion and me. "it would be best if you leave now. If my mother finds out I'm missing, she'll find a way to get out of that building. And it won't be surprising to her that I came here because my emotions were all over the place when she told me she was the one who killed Rudolph.” she said, and a pained look flashed before her face before it was gone all too quickly.

"I know,” I said without a word of appreciation for her coming here. I wanted to tell her how much he came here meant to me and all the members of the pack, but the words couldn't get past my lips.

Maybe it was because I knew she had known all along the plan of taking Sophia and doing what Heaven knows with her. Or because she had gone with her mother when she would have given me just a tip and all these would have been avoided.

She went to sit down on the empty couch that had survived my massacre. And she began rubbing her arms and biting her lips. She was mulling over what she had done. Even if she did the right thing. the person she betrayed was her mother who had always gotten her back in the pack. Her mother was her strength and anchor. I knew whatever happened to her mother, she wouldn't still forgive herself. But what mattered to her was that she did the right thing.

I could understand her to a certain level because I was also like that. And it came to me as a surprise Dianne would willingly help Sophia and she had this side to her when all she did was behave like she was possessed by some evil spirit.

In about thirty minutes, the guards were gathered outside the pack house and I was ready with my men. My father hadn't asked questions when he came to me. And I wouldn't have appreciated him asking either way.

I could sense a wave of solidarity from them and willingness to do whatever it took to get back their Luna. I was emotional because these people had been there for me even when I was losing my shit. And they're still here for someone who is not even yet their Luna. I wanted to do something for them. Maybe provide better for their families. But I knew that would have to wait as we were running out of time.

We got into our respective cars. We would use cars because running to another pack would be energy-consuming because Ryven's pack was far from my pack.

"I would be driving," Orion came to the driver's window and took out his hands, expecting me to hand over the keys. I eyed him and put the key into the ignition, "Get into the car if you don't want to be left behind,” I growled but he was unmoved.

"You're in ne position to drive. I mean, look at you, your emotions aren't stable. I can't let you handle this car. You might run us into a tree or something,” he said with a straight face and I knew he was right

"Fuck you," I muttered under my breath and got out of the driver's seat, cursing all the way through to the passenger's seat. Orion got inte the car and drove us out of the pack. other cars following behind us.

"Sophia is fine. She’s a strong girl. Even if she gives up fighting for herself, she won't stop fighting for her baby.” Orion said, breaking the silence of the car and I had to admit, those words pierced my heart.

I hadn't been able to rest knowing where Sophia was and what possible dangers she could be in. And the fact that I wasn’t able to do anything earlier ate me up. Especially knowing I had been at fault. If only I didn't doubt her...

"It's not your fault," you're being too hard on yourself. Anyone could have done what you did. Sophia had looked almost smitten with Ryven when he came into the pack. So it's only Normal you believe the baby was for her when you had been diagnosed unable to impregnate a baby when you were a teenager."

"I know. But I can't help it." I said, my voice was something I could barely recognize as we moved closer to where Sophia was. I was both scared and upset.

"Then can't you just stop being this way? It's not Fetping any of us. Right now, you need a clear head to deal_ with this-Mie Alexander I know < would have come up with a lot af strategies for this plan. But all. we haves going to the pack an? rescuing her. No plans. Nothing!" He said, his voice almost rising from exasperation.

"We'll figure something out."

His eyes left the road to stare into my eyes only. I wasn't looking at him but thinking about what he said. And slowly, the fog began to lift from my head.

"No, we're figuring anything out now. Do you know those people following behind us came with us without any questions asked because they trust you down to their bones? How would they feel knowing their Alpha called them out from their homes to go on a suicidal mission with him?”

I threw my hands in the air, tired of his nagging, ‘RO you think I like the way I am? Thé way lam unable to think clearlybecause my mate and. our childcould be dead by now. — Okay, Ira sorry for not thinki ng about othersbut thinking about my-mate what could possibly be deadsince the I time she walked out ofthe pack because I haven't been able to feel her. Nothing to even tell me she is alive or if Dianne was telling the truth.”

"We both know Dianne was telling the truth.” he said in a calmer voice. And I knew Dianne was telling the truth because she couldn't have faked the emotions she came with. She was looking like someone without a soul as if she had lost all meaning to life.

I ground my teeth, unable to counter him. Damn Orion for always having a clearer head in times such as these. But I was thankful I had someone like him in my life.

"And Sophia is alive. We need to be optimistic in this journey. Those guards and warriors wouldn't want to hear we are rescuing a dead Luna," he said and I growled, almost slipping.

Hearing him saying my thoughts out loud wasn't pleasing. But someone needed to say it.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"You just have to deal with whatever is going on with you. I know it's not easy with the knowledge that one's mate is missing. But I beg you to put your pack members in this. If something were to happen to you here...” he stopped and didn't continue the sentence.

But I knew what he wanted to say. I didn't say anything further as we drove in silerice until we got to Ryven’s pack and I discovered to my horror, I hadn't thought about thes excugento give to the guards athis gateon the reason we were I here. Ané how the hell would we pass through the gate with mere than twenty warriors without alerting Ryven?

"What..." I stooped when I laid eyes on Orion. He was looking at me with amusement in his eyes and a smirk dancing on his lips.

“Even if right now, my Alpha is a dickhead, his soon-to-be Beta couldn't be one.” He laughed, "And in case you're wondering what I mean, it means I have a plan. I had everything sorted out before we left the pack.”