Chapter 25: Chapter 25

I groaned as I snuggle into the warm bed, my body exhausted from everything that has happen in the past few days. I wanted to keep sleeping, my body ready to doze back asleep again when I notice that Dominic is missing. I jolt awake, realizing that that was a bad idea when my head spins and my stomach churns, reaching for the trash can beside the night stand, I throw up what ever food remained in my body from last night’s dinner. With my stomach now empty I sit in the bed, brows knotted together. This is the first time after a battle where I’ve been extremely sore, exhausted, and dealing with morning sickness. Then it hits me – morning sickness.

I start counting how many days it’s been since my heat ending, realizing I should have had my period by now. A smile blooms on my face as my hands caress my stomach, I had a one hundred percent feeling that inside me is mine and Dominic’s pups. Turning to look at Dominic's side of the bed, I find a note and pick it up, reading his messy hand writing.

Gone to get things in order for our trip home, I packed our bags and left out an outfit for you on a chair, I will be up around twelve thirty if you haven't woken up by then.

Love Ice.

I kiss the note and fold it gently, getting up and putting it in my purse so that I can put it in a memory box I kept at my house. I guess now it would be mine and Dom's house when we get back. Grabbing the clothes that Dominic had set aside for me, smiling at the shirt I had gotten from him the first time I trained our wolves, and quickly dress. My stomach protests the need for food, and I make my way down to the dining hall, Scarlet meeting me in line for the buffet.

“How are you feeling?” She asks, a smile on her face.

“Tired, you?” I answer, filing my plate with everything that appeals to me. Scarlet whistles, seeing the mountain of food that I carry to a table close by.

“Hungry?” The she-wolf chuckles out, motioning to the plate I was now devouring like I will never see food again. I blush and nod, taking a sip from the large glass of orange juice. I bring up the idea of sending her some files I have of old training programs I created for Blood Moon, wanting to give this new Head Tracker of Forest Paw a fighting chance in keeping her position and making this pack stronger once I leave. The excitement in her face is all the answer I need as we finish our meal and head upstairs. She promises to meet me in my room where I promptly take a seat on the bed, laptop booted up and ready to go. The sounds of construction vehicles can be heard even on the top floor, a head ache forming but these vehicles were needed. Last night after the battle, a crew began to clean up the bloody snow, using these trucks to also scoop up and haul away the snow that piled high in front of the pack house door.

“Okay I am ready to learn.” Scarlet’s enthusiastic voice brings my attention to the short haired energetic wolf, who plops onto my bed, firing up her own laptop. I am glad to have already logged into my email, finding the old files from last year with the training I started Blood Moon on and quickly emailing them.

The two of us go through each training, Scarlet scribbling down notes in a journal while asking questions. Part of me wished I could bring her with us to Blood Moon, wanting to have her gain more experience before being thrown into the job. But I was already taking Zack and Axel and their families with me. Scarlet became as really good student, finding it easy to teach her as she has an attitude that if you are willing to teach, she is willing to learn. My respect growing for her with each second that ticks by.

"You’re leaving today aren’t you.” It’s more of a statement than a question as I look at the sad expression on Scarlet’s face and nod.

“Yeah. Our job here is done and I miss my home. You have my email and phone number so if you need help or have questions you can always reach out to me.” I see the young she-wolf nod, tears in her eyes as she scoots over and gives me a hug.

“I’m going to miss you.” Scarlet admits.

“I’ll miss you too.” I whisper back. My stomach decides to grumble, breaking the sad atmosphere and causing both of us to laugh. We decide that this is enough training and make our way downstairs to grab lunch. Scarlet brought along her lap top, wanting to find a quiet corner to review the files I sent her while she eats and bids me a good bye then and there. I sigh, watching the her join her friends when strong arms pull me against a sturdy chest, Dominic’s scent filling my nose.

“I’m ready to go home.” I whisper, leaning into him and nuzzling his neck.

"That’s good, so am I. Its a good thing that the roads were cleared last night so we can leave now that training is done, and the Soulless threat is gone." He whispers back, kissing my forehead. My mate takes my hand, leading me towards the buffet where I once again load a plate up and grab a large glass of orange juice, finding an empty table in the corner. Miles, Christian, Lease and Concra join us soon after, Dominic and I making sure that they, along with everyone in the pack is ready to go. Lease informs me that Zack and Axel were ready and packed, just waiting for Blood Moon to say when. We get into a discussion on what we will be doing when we get home, Concra already planning her vacation with Miles. Apparently she had a hard time fighting the Soulless yesterday because Miles kept protecting her, almost losing his life when a wolf tried to sneak attack him. If it weren’t for the pregnant Concra using her gun and aiming a well-placed bullet to the Soulless’ head, Miles would be dead before meeting his unborn pup.

“What are you going to do when you get home Amberle?" Concra asks and I smile, the two things that will need to be done right away.

“Having Dominic move in with me and getting him to help me build a nursery for our pup.” I state, putting a hand over my flat stomach as I sip on my orange juice. The table is silent, each end every one of my friends gawking at me with this news bomb I just dropped on them. I turn to look at Dominic, surprise - and shock - on my mates face, causing me to giggle.

"Um...I...how, well I know how...but..." Dominic stutters our incoherently, his eyes going from my face, to my stomach, and back to my face. I giggle again, placing the now empty glass on the table and learn forward to kiss his cheek.

"I just know." I say turning back to continue eating only to notice my plate empty. I frown, Dominic volunteering to grab me more food and another glass of orange juice, leaving me with my friends who have yet to move.

“Shit, when I said create Alpha pups for the pack I didn’t mean right away.” Lease shouts, breaking the silence at the table. Bill starts laughing, shaking his head at his mate just as Dominic brings me my food.

“In my defence I was in heat when this most likely happened. I should have gotten my period a few days ago and clearly it’s a no show.” Is my retort, my hands up in surrender before the temptation of food becomes my focus as I go back to eating. After my third plate, the twins stared at me and I glare at them, feeling annoyed.

"You are definitely pregnant by the way you eat. That’s one extra then normal." Lease states impressed by my ability in eating more than usual. Concra slaps the back of her head, giving me an apologetic look before her and Miles excuse themselves to load their car. I roll my eyes at Lease, telling her to get her things together.

[Zack, tell Axel to get ready, we are leaving soon.] I link my brother, Dominic and I heading up the stairs. I can feel the excitement coming off my mate as we talk about names for our unborn pup. He wanted to at least include his mother’s name in there somewhere, something I happily agreed too as long as my mother’s named is used as well. We are so close to leaving, excitement in being home and curled in my own bed tonight being the one thing on my mind.

“Fire put that down, I don’t want you carrying any of the suit cases.” I roll my eyes at Dominic, already knowing his instincts were kicking in with the need to protect me in my pregnant state. Instead of arguing, I humor him and allow Dominic to call an Omega from forest paw to help carry the luggage to my mustang. Deciding to double check the room for any of our belongings left behind, I go through all the drawers in the dressers and check the bathroom, satisfied in knowing that Dominic was thorough this morning when packing.

I just exited the bathroom, sending a text to Avery letting her know we were leaving soon when strong arms grab me from either side, slamming me into the dresser where the edge digs into my stomach. A sharp pain follows immediately after impact, fear for the safety of my unborn child having me fighting to get free. The stench of Moon Shine is strong on these wolves, footsteps from behind me alerting me to a third attacker.

“Amberle, Amberle, Amberle. Who said you can leave?” Leo’s voice echoes around the room, his hand playing with my red hair. I can tell something is different with him, the scent of Moon Shine stronger. A bottle is placed in front of my face on the dresser before me, Leo leaning over to look at me, his breath reeking of the liquor. Moon Shine, a liquor originally made by were wolves, is the only thing that can properly intoxicate us. It also acts as an enhancer like steroids, giving the drinker a boost in strength leading to the predicament I am in now.

“I think its time I properly mate you. My pack needs a strong Luna, and you are my mate.” His hands roam from my hair, down my back where they stop at my butt, groping the skin and sending shivers of disgust through me. My guard against these wolves rise as I kick out behind me, happy when my foot connects between his lags and he stagers back.

[Help me!] I call out through the pack link, missing what Christian is about to say as a punch to the back of my head forcefully disconnects me from everyone, my mind becoming hazy as I see stars.

“Fucking bitch, you need to learn your place.” Leo growls out, grabbing a fist full of my hair as he slowly presses against me, the bulge I feel on my thigh indicating what’s to come if help doesn’t reach me soon. My head hurts, nausea threatening to bring up all the food I had eaten just an hour ago. I had to stall for time, deciding to try and free myself as my legs kick out again, missing their marks. I try another tactic, turning my head to try and bite at the two hold me down. Leo yanks on my hair, forcing my head back as his accomplices laugh at my pain, all three of them ignorant to the mate mark on my neck.

“Now be good Amberle, I promise you will be fine.” Leo growls out, his free hand groping my butt once again. I keep my face neutral, tucking away the fear that wanted to pour out of my pores in waves. His hands release their hold, only to move around and grope my breasts. Out of everything this coward has done to me growing up, this is the first time he’s laid his hands on me like this.

“Get your hands off my mate!” A feral growl comes after Dominic’s statement, sounds of wolves running into the room. Leo is soon yanked off of me, Bill and Miles tackling the goons that hold me down and Christian catching me just in time before I could hit my head off of the corner of the dresser. The sounds of fist hitting flesh alerts me to the beating the three wolves are receiving, Axel and Zack running in, their focus not on the three Forest Paw wolves, but on me. Zack reaches out to touch my head, causing me to wince away as my vision blurs. Rage is seeping off of my brother, his hand reaching for a device that he brings to his lips.

“Everyone over the age of six-teen, outside Now!” His voice fills the pack house as Christian lifts me into his arms, Axel and Zack helping my pack to bring the three wolves that were attempting to rape me down the stairs and out to the front of the pack house where a crowd is gather.

blue and the Elders are in front, sending a questioning look my way as Christian and I exit first, then Axel and Zack who help Bill and Miles drag the two goons of Leo’s out, followed by Dominic, his hand grasping Leo’s hair, the latter begging for mercy when thrown to the cold snow-covered ground.

“As you all know by now, Amberle was once fated to be the mate of Leo. But he rejected her over two and a half years ago.” Dominic begins, his eyes scanning the crowd and waiting for their whispers to settle down.

“A few days before the blizzard, that mate bond finally broke and we realized we are fated to be each other’s second chance mate. Today, while my pack, the pack Leo requested help from, is getting ready to leave, Leo and these pathetic Hunters enter the room we share, the Hunters holding my mate down why your so-called Alpha tried to rape her while she is pregnant with my pup and vulnerable!” Gasps follow after Dominic finishes, the pack doctor and Blue rushing to my side as they fuss over me. I answer the questions as best as I can while the doctor shines a light into my eyes, confirming that I have a concussion and will have to be monitored the next few days. Thankfully, the doctor confirms my pregnancy, stating the baby will be fine.

“Due to the law, Leo, Alpha of Forest Paw, and his two accomplices will be punished as seen fit.” Dominic finished, his rage rolling over the crowd, causing everyone to step back. The law for sexually harassing and raping another wolf’s mate was a beating by said person's mate with an arm of the criminal being cut off. If its an Alpha's mate you touched, the crime is punishable by death. If the wolf who is the victim of said assault or rape is pregnant, then the criminal will get neutered if they aren't killed. Dominic is handed a silver whip, his eyes glowing as he unwinds the silver rope, flicking his wrist just right to inflict damage on all three wolves. Cries of pain sound out as the whip connects with flesh, the drunken wolves soon cowering in fear, giving up on begging for forgiveness. Just when I think Dominic is going to kill them, he stops, leaving the three barely breathing while Miles takes the whip and walks away.

"I will let them live with this shame, but our alliance ends here. From now on the Forest Paw pack is our enemy. Those of you who wish to stay will become my pack's enemy as well. If you wish to leave, we welcome new, loyal members with open arms. We leave in two hours.” My mate walks towards me, kissing my forehead and ordering Lease and Concra to guard me before heading inside. Blood is splattered along his arm, splattered by the whip he held just moments before. Christian helps me inside, wolves from Forest Paw doing their best to scrape the three nearly dead wolves from the cold ground being the last image I see of Leo. My phone is handed to me, the screen cracked from earlier and I sigh. I would have to get a new one when I return home. My friends try their best to keep me company, Abby coming to sit with us while her pups play quietly in the living room.

“So I am going to be an Aunt.” Abby states, sending me a playful wink as I nod, wincing when the pain from my head causes my vision to blur.

“Careful now, how about you take these.” Serena walks in just in time to hand me some Advil and a glass of water, the headache I have easing slightly within few minutes. I’m not in the mood for talking, deciding that resting on the couch for now is the best thing I can do as the hustle and bustle of wolves preparing to either leave, or challenge for the right as the newest Alpha fill the building.

Blue surprises me when he comes to inform me that Axel and a few omegas have helped him pack up his house, deciding to give up on Forest Paw and his son and join Blood Moon. I can see the tiredness in his eyes, the man ready to retire with Maria and live out his days peacefully.

“There’s a cottage you can move into, its close to Amberle’s house.” Dominic states, appearing behind Blue and smiling at my adoptive father. Blue thanks him, letting us know that he is ready to go when we are before he and Maria leave the pack house. Dominic scoops me into his arms, a smile on his face as he plants a kiss on my sore head.

“I think it’s time to head home. I’m driving so all you have to do is rest okay.”

“Okay Ice. Can we stop for food on the way home?” I ask, getting a chuckle from my mate.

“Yes we can.” With that everyone is given a ten-minute heads up, Dominic have a Forest Paw member join a car with a Blood Moon member so that we can communicate. With everyone ready to leave, we say good bye to Forest Paw for good and make the journey home.