RALPH
I shifted back to my human form, blood dripping from the gashes Zac had left. My heart pounded not from exertion but from the panic twisting in my chest. I need to find Keilah. The sound of approaching footsteps made me halt for a moment, and when I turned, it was Alexander and other council members marching towards me. As they reached me, Alexander stepped forward, his gaze piercing and authoritative.
“Go get your mate and your pack, Ralph,” he commanded, his voice low but firm. “And get out of this place.”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. As Alexander turned to leave, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder, a silent gesture of understanding and urgency. Then, without another moment’s hesitation, I bolted out of the ring and dashed through the cave, my heart pounding as I searched for Keilah.
Keilah, I called out through the mindlink, desperately trying to connect with her. But there was no response. My heart clenched, fear tightening around my chest like a vice. Keilah, answer me!
Nothing.
Panic clawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to take over. I quickened my pace, the cave walls blurring around me as I sprinted through the winding tunnels, frantically searching for any sign of her. But she was nowhere in sight, and the silence was deafening.
Dahlia, I mindlinked, shifting my focus. Where is Keilah? Is she with you?
There was a brief pause, and then Dahlia’s voice came through, laced with worry. She’s with me, but she’s… getting out of control, Alpha.
Her words sent a cold shiver down my spine. Is it bad? I asked, my voice betraying the panic I was trying to keep at bay. Did anyone touch her?
No, Alpha, Dahlia replied quickly. But I think it’s the herbs she took-they’re taking their toll on her.
Where are you now? I demanded, my voice sharp with urgency.
We’re outside, Dahlia responded, giving me the exact location.
I’m coming, I replied, closing the mindlink with a renewed sense of determination.
I burst out of the cave, skidding to a halt as I took in the scene before me. Dahlia, Jay, Andrew, Drake, and his Luna were all gathered in a tight circle around Keilah. She was in the centre, encased in a shimmering magical bubble that pulsed with a soft blue light. I recognized Dahlia’s magic instantly-it was her protective barrier. My heart twisted at the sight of her. Keilah’s eyes were wild, her expression a mix of confusion and fury, her fists pounding against the invisible walls of the bubble as if trying to break free.
My eyes narrowed, and I moved toward them with purpose. “Get my mate out of that thing,” I ordered, my voice sharp and commanding.
Dahlia opened her mouth to speak, her eyes filled with concern, but I cut her off before she could get a word out. “I said get her out, now,” I barked, the urgency in my tone leaving no room for hesitation.
Dahlia nodded quickly, understanding the desperation in my voice. She raised her hand, murmuring a few words under her breath, and the magical bubble flickered before disappearing completely.
The moment the barrier vanished, Keilah bolted forward with a speed that left me momentarily stunned. She sprinted straight to a nearby tree, wrapping her arms around its thick trunk as if it were her lifeline. Her fingers dug into the bark, and with a determined grunt, she bent down, straining to pull it up by its roots.
“Why aren’t you moving?” she muttered, frustration lacing her voice as she struggled against the immovable tree. Her face was flushed, her eyes wild and unfocused-the herbs were affecting her far more than I anticipated. Instead of pain, they made her delirious. I stood there, stunned, unsure of what to do next.
Taking a deep breath, I scanned the gathered pack members. “Everyone, prepare to leave,” I instructed, my tone firm but calm. I glanced back at Keilah, who had already moved on to another tree, attempting once again to uproot it.
I approached her slowly, making sure to keep my movements gentle to avoid startling her. “Keilah,” I called softly.
She turned towards me, her expression blank for a moment as she registered my presence. Then, a broad smile spread across her face. “Another tree!” she exclaimed with childlike wonder. “How did I miss this one?” She reached out to touch me, her smile fading into confusion as her fingers brushed against my chest. “Oooh, this tree is soft,” she murmured, her eyes widening in surprise.
She roamed her hands over my body, then pulled them back, now stained with blood. She stared at her palms, her voice filled with awe. “You’re not just a soft tree-you have a beautiful colour too.”
I clenched my jaw, suppressing the mix of frustration and amusement bubbling inside me. I looked down at my mate, wondering how I was going to handle her in this state. Without a word, I bent down and scooped her up, hoisting her over my shoulder.
She squealed in excitement, her arms spreading wide like a bird about to take flight. “Cora, come see!” she shouted with glee. “I did it! I finally carried the soft tree!” Her voice echoed through the clearing, drawing curious looks from the pack members.
As I approached the gathered pack, I felt her hands reach down unexpectedly. Before I could react, she began smacking my ass repeatedly, like a drum. “I’m a strong woman! I can lift soft trees and swing them in the air!” she sang loudly, her voice carrying a playful tune as she continued drumming on my butt.
Andrew let out a hearty laugh, the sound booming through the otherwise tense atmosphere. I noticed the others stifling their own laughter, shoulders shaking as they struggled to contain themselves. My irritation flared, and I shot Andrew a stern look.
“Stop it, Andrew,” I growled, my voice laced with warning. “This isn’t funny.”
But Andrew couldn’t stop. His laughter only grew louder, tears forming in the corners of his eyes as he doubled over. The infectious sound finally broke the tension, and soon, a few other pack members were chuckling too, unable to hold it in any longer.
I sighed deeply, a mixture of exasperation and helpless affection washing over me as I adjusted Keilah on my shoulder. Despite the chaos, we needed to get moving and find a way to help her. “Alright,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head slightly. “Let’s get out of here.”
I glanced over at Andrew, my irritation simmering beneath the surface. “You’re going to carry us,” I said, my voice firm.
Andrew, still catching his breath from laughter, nodded in agreement. “Of course,” he replied, his tone shifting to match my seriousness.
“Everyone, shift!” I commanded. The pack members nodded and, within moments, shifted into their wolf forms. I watched as Andrew shifted, his powerful wolf standing ready. Keilah, now softly humming to herself, had gone quiet. I carefully adjusted her and sat her on Andrew’s broad back, ensuring she was secure.
As I swung my leg over to sit behind her, she suddenly tipped to the side. Before I could catch her, she fell to the ground with a heavy thud that made my heart jolt.
“Holy fuck,” I muttered, quickly kneeling beside her.
Keilah groaned in pain, her eyes fluttering open, but instead of tears, another burst of laughter escaped her lips. She sprawled on the ground, both her legs and arms splayed out wide.
I reached down to lift her back onto Andrew’s wolf, but just as I leaned in, she abruptly raised her head, colliding her forehead with mine.
“The trees are whispering… Can you hear them?” she murmured, her eyes wide and unfocused. Then, just as quickly, she let out a childish cry, rubbing her forehead. “Ouch, that hurts!”
I clenched my jaw, biting back a groan of frustration. Carefully, I lifted her again, this time more securely, and sat her back on Andrew’s wolf. I swung my leg over and settled behind her, holding her hands firmly in place to prevent any more unexpected movements.
“Let’s go,” I ordered. The pack didn’t need to be told twice. We sprinted off, the forest blurring around us as we raced through the trees, with Keilah safely secured in my grasp.
As we reached the clearing where our cars were parked, the pack began to shift back to their human forms. I jumped down from Andrew’s back, steadying Keilah as I lifted her off and placed her on the grass ground. She was still humming softly, her eyes half-closed in a daze.
“Alright, everyone, get in the cars,” I instructed. “Dahlia, you’re in the back with Keilah.”
Dahlia nodded and quickly opened the car door, climbing into the back seat. I carefully guided Keilah over, her feet dragging slightly, and helped her into the car beside Dahlia. Dahlia wrapped an arm around Keilah to keep her steady, but Keilah started screaming, singing, and crying all at once, throwing wild punches at Dahlia, who did her best to keep her from jumping out of the car.
~~~
By the time we pulled into the pack’s yard, it was late morning. The sun was climbing higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground. I got out of the car and walked around to the other side to carry Keilah. She had fallen asleep on the drive back, her head resting gently on Dahlia’s shoulder. I carefully lifted her out, cradling her against my chest, and carried her upstairs to our room.
Inside, I laid her down on the bed, pulling the cover gently over her. She stirred slightly but remained asleep, her face soft and peaceful. As I stood there, I couldn’t help but notice how unnervingly pale she had become, her complexion so drained that it looked as if she had been ill for years. My heart jolted at the sight. I knew I needed to get her some medicine to help counteract the herbs and restore her color. With one last worried glance, I headed downstairs to meet the pack.
They were all gathered in the main hall, their expressions a mix of weariness and anticipation. I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“I want to thank all of you for your support today,” I began, my voice strong and clear. “I know the fight didn’t go as planned because of Damien, but the important thing is that I am still your Alpha. And I’m telling you now, as your Alpha, that today marks a new beginning for the Moonrise Pack.”
As the pack nodded in agreement, I caught a sudden whiff of Damien’s scent. My instincts flared with tension. What the hell is he doing here now? I thought, my senses sharpening. Damien was never one to let anyone catch his scent-he was too cunning for that. So why now? What is he up to?
I noticed the change in the pack as well; they had caught his scent too. Their expressions shifted from trust to concern, and I could see some of them starting to move toward the exit, ready to defend the territory.
“Wait,” I commanded, raising a hand to stop them. “Damien isn’t here for any of you. He’s here for me-at least, I assume that’s the case. I’ll go find out what he wants.”
The pack hesitated, but they trusted my judgment. I nodded to reassure them, then turned toward the door.
As I stepped outside, I looked around for any sign of him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Then, as if materializing out of thin air, he appeared before me, moving with a speed only a vampire like him could manage. Before I could even react, he grabbed my hand, his grip like iron, and pressed a tiny frosted bottle into my palm.
I barely had time to register the cold glass against my skin before Damien’s voice cut through the air, low and urgent. “Your mate drank the poison that was meant for you,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine with a fierce intensity. “Give it to her. It’s the only thing that can counteract it.”
I stared down at the tiny glass bottle in my hand, its dark liquid swirling ominously inside. My gaze shifted back to Damien, disbelief and suspicion flooding my mind. Without thinking, I grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him closer. “What the hell are you talking about, Damien?” I demanded, my voice a low growl. “When did Keilah take poison?”
Damien’s expression remained cold, but he didn’t pull away. “She took it when she consumed the herbs,” he replied calmly, as if he had all the time in the world. “The herbs had poison in it and were meant for you. She drank it instead.”
My mind raced as I processed his words. The herbs… of course. Keilah had drunk the mixture, dismissing my worries with a casual excuse about being thirsty and a laugh. I had been so focused on the fight, on Zac and the pack, that I hadn’t realized just how serious it was.
Damien’s voice cut through my thoughts, his tone even more chilling. “And if she doesn’t take the antidote now, the poison will kill her in her sleep. She won’t wake up.”