Chapter 20: Chapter 20

“They’re waiting for us at the hospital.”

Weston stops walking for a second, dread settling in his guts.

“Hospital? What’s going on exactly?”

Weston starts walking again as fast as he can, Amir struggling to keep up with the Alpha’s larger steps.

“I have no clue. It’s Alec. Came back from patrol all bloody. Says he has a message from Alpha Brook. Was told to deliver it to you specifically.”

Weston nods, eyebrows furrowed.

This can’t be good.

He wouldn’t expect anything else from Axel Brook though, his pack being extremely conservative in every way, a total opposite from the Blayne Pack.

Over the years, they’d never even recognized the validity of the Council, believing Alpha Autocracy is the only acceptable way to lead a pack and anything else is seen as a weakness in their eyes.

That in itself has created countless delicate situations over the years. Adding in Axel Brook's desire to acquire more territory, their shared border seems to always teeter between peace and war.

To put it bluntly, Brook's Pack is the cause of most of Weston’s headaches.

“Alec?” The name sounds vaguely familiar but he can’t quite place it.

“Yeah, really young, started patrol duty only a month ago. Don’t know what happened exactly but he looks really shaken. Nara said he doesn’t have any serious injuries, mostly scratches and bruises.”

“Where’s Jace?”

Jace isn’t part of the Council but he’s a damn good Commander and he has a feeling he might need his experience and expertise on this.

“Still patrolling, I guess.” Amir sounds winded, almost jogging in the effort to keep up with Weston.

“He took the night shift? He’s the Defense Commander for fuck’s sake. He really should stop doing that.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I’ve been trying to put some sense into that hard head of his, but he can be stubborn that one… and with everything that’s been happening on the Northern Border, he wanted to take more night shifts. Just to be sure.”

Once they finally join the rest of the Council, Amir is panting from his half walk half jog.

Weston is more worried than ever as he takes in the scene before him, silence weighing in the small hospital room, everyone gathered around Alec sitting up on the bed, bandages peeking through his sleeves, hands shaking as he sips on a glass of water.

To the untrained eye, Amara looks as composed as ever but Weston knows her. The slight tightness in her jaw and the subtle tapping of her right foot give her nervousness away.

Grant is an open book. Arms crossed, eyebrows drawn together, tight shoulders, all in a blatant effort to appear tougher than he feels.

Malakai Blayne’s stoic stance and wise gaze are the only solid reassurance Weston can lean on.

They all turn to Weston as he enters the room, visibly relieved to see him.

While Amir takes a seat next to Amara, Weston stays on his feet, standing in beside Alec who avoids his gaze by looking down at his lap.

He looks… ashamed?

“Hey, Alec. I don’t think we’ve met before.” Weston extends his hand to shake.

Alec takes it with a bit of hesitation.

“Alpha Blayne. It’s an honour to meet you.”

Weston smiles as warmly as he can hoping to unnerve the boy. He sometimes forgets how his status can be intimidating to other werewolves.

“You can call me Weston. Now, Alec, could you tell me what happened?”

Alec’s shoulders sag, fingers fidgeting as he takes a deep breath.

“They- they took him. I’m so sorry… I tried to- but I couldn’t… I’m so sorry.” Alec sniffs.

Weston’s heart drops, trying to keep his composure.

“Who did they take?”

Alec shakes his head, a sob on the tip of his lips.

Weston takes a look at the Council. Everyone’s on the edge of their seat, certainly sharing Weston’s concern.

“Alec?” Weston prompts.

“They took Jace.”

Amir gasps audibly. Malakai puts a hand on his shoulders and Amara a hand on his knee. Even Grant uncrosses his arms and looks at Amir sympathetically.

Weston gulps.

This is bad. Weston’s demeanor softens as he bends down in front of Alec to meet his eyes.

The boy is undoubtedly overwhelmed, shaken and scared but he still needs to know the details.

“Can you tell us what happened exactly?”

Weston refuses to believe that Jace is in real danger. He could probably take down ten alphas at once in a fight. Hell, he’s seen him do it in training.

There’s just no way.

Alec must be mistaken. The boy takes a deep breath and seems to gain some control back over his emotions.

“I was patrolling the North East portion of the border and I saw an unusual movement on the other side a little further away so I decided to check it out. As I came closer, I realized that there was a dozen of alpha wolves charging towards our territory. I- I panicked but then I thought... they wouldn’t dare cross without permission, right? I’ve heard how bad that hurts! So I stood my ground and waited for them to come to a stop. Only the closer they became, the faster they were running! Next thing I know, I feel an enormous weight colliding with my shoulder and I fall on the ground. I howled for help and tried to run but I- I couldn’t. There were so many of them and…” Alec shakes his head, eyes closed tightly.

“Take your time.” As Weston reassures Alec, he can feel Amir fidgeting beside him, certainly anxious to know what happened to Jace.

“Jace must have heard me howling. I heard him growl and the alphas that were on me dispersed. He fought them off. I thought that was it. But they kept growing in numbers…”

Alec is now looking at Amir through a curtain of tears.. “He was trying to defend me, I’m so sorry.” He whispers those words, repeating his apology over and over again as if hoping they’ll erase the pure look of horror on Amir’s face.

“I still don’t understand how they crossed the border without permission. Are you certain they weren’t rogues?” Amara interjects, a hand still on Amir’s knee in a show of support.

Alec shakes his head.

“No. They were affected… they just ignored it. As soon as they crossed, they were screaming in pain, but they just pulled through and kept fighting Jace and I. It was pure chaos. I’ve never…” Alec shakes his head again.

Tears pooling in his eyes, Amir’s face distorts in anger.

“How did you get away and not Jace?”

Alec’s eyes widen and he swallows audibly.

“Jace pushed me away as he was fighting them off. Told me to run. So I did, but they caught me too. Then, Axel Brook said I had to deliver a message so they let me go. I’m so sorry, Amir.”

“Axel Brook was there?” Alec’s head snaps towards Grant who has spoken for the first time since Weston entered the room.

“Yes. He didn’t fight or crossed, just watched from their side of the border. He said to relay the message only to Alpha Blayne.”

“What message?” Weston asks.

“They want Millan. They’ll release Jace if we deliver him.”

Weston stops breathing.

He’s not even sure his heart is still beating.

How could they ask such a thing?

Why?

What could they possibly want with Millan?

“Did he put a time limit on that?”

To Weston’s relief, Malakai seems to sense his distress and takes over the questioning.

Alec nods, miserable.

“He said we have twenty-four hours. If we haven’t delivered Millan, they’ll kill Jace.”

Amir breaks down then, anger leaving him suddenly as the tears take over.

It was just the three of them left ever since their parents died when Andy was ten years old, Jace eight, and Amir five. They’ve been taken in by the Blayne’s then.

Weston embraces his friend as he sobs uncontrollably. It’s as if Amir’s previous anger is just passed down to him.

All Weston wants to do is charge Brook's Territory with the full force of his military power and kill Axel Brook with his bare hands.

“Fucking hell! If they kill Jace, they start an open war! Why would they risk that just for a rogue omega?” Grant’s eyebrows are knit together as he speaks, he looks as angry as Weston feels.

“They’re bluffing. They wouldn’t.” Amara keeps her composure, always the level headed one.

“I- I n-need to see Andy.” Amir slips out of the room, tears still falling down his face.