Skylar POV

"Alpha Myers! They're here!"

The smile leaves Colton's face. He releases his hold on Beta Larson, dropping both him and the pen to the ground. I can hear Larson coughing. Theo crawls towards him and begins to look over his neck for any injuries. However, all I can focus on are those two words. 

They're here. 

My pack is finally here to save me. 

"Very well. Where are they, Mitchell?" Colton demands. Beta Larson shakes off Theo and slowly gets up to his feet. I see him straighten up his back and he throws on a blank face. 

"The south border. There are about a thousand of them visible." Mitchell answers. 

Colton purses his lips and nods his head. "They came for a war." He states. 

"And a war they shall get." Beta Larson adds. 

My head snaps in his direction, disbelief at his words stains my face. "What?" I ask him incredulously. 

Beta Larson ignores me and instead turns to the warrior. "Round up the warriors. Prepare the women and children who cannot fight for the Cellars. Alert the other districts of what is happening. We will convene in the courtyard in fifteen minutes to discuss our plan. Now leave." He orders. "Alpha, what do you want me to do with these two?"

Colton turns to look at his Beta. His eyes burn into him, looking for answers that Beta Larson isn't giving. "Nothing. I need both of them with me on the front lines. We will deal with their indiscretions later." He finally answers. 

Beta Larson nods his head. "Yes, Alpha." 

"Come. All of you. We have a war to fight." Colton commands. He grabs my arm and leads me out of Theo's office. His grip is relentless. 

"Why must it be a war, Colton?" I ask quietly. "Why can't we just tell them I am alright?"

Colton laughs a humourless laugh. "That's not how it works, sweetheart," He replies simply. 

"Well, that's the way it's going to work!" I huff. 

He stops suddenly and turns to me. He grabs my other arm with his free hand and pushes me against the wall with enough force to knock the wind out of me. "Don't make me muck up that pretty, little face of yours, mate. It would be a shame for your father's final image of you to be one of your hazel eyes swollen shut and your nose bloodied." He growls. 

His words make me freeze. 

My father.

My forever tear-filled eyes leak down my stained cheeks again. I nod my head silently and he releases his hold on me. I follow him to the courtyard without fighting. Thoughts of Colton killing my father dance around my mind. I couldn't care less what he did to me, but my father doesn't deserve his wrath when all he is doing is looking out for his lost, little girl. 

I mean, Colton would do the same if he was in his situation. Wouldn't he?

Truthfully, I don't know the answer to that. Colton is cruel and evil. He has no heart whatsoever. I don't know how he would be with his own pups. Maybe he would change, but my better judgement says otherwise. Colton wouldn't change for anything. His behaviour towards me is proof of that. 

A loud cough catches my attention and I find myself beside Colton in front of hundreds of men, women and older children. Some are in their wolf forms, but all of them are ready for a fight. Every single one of them are sending knowing glares my way. They know that if they die today, it is because of me. Their glares send shivers down my backs, forcing me to look down. I don't care if it is an act of submission. I cannot stand the thought of being the cause of so much death. 

"Attention. We have word of wolves on the southern border. They are believed to be from the South Niagara pack with numbers close to a thousand, maybe more. These wolves are lead by Alpha Gerald Kennedy. They are searching for your Luna." He pauses, letting the crowd take in what he is telling him. I can feel the burning glares the entire time Colton speaks. They give me an uneasy feeling. I can feel the bile creeping up from my stomach, threatening to spill from my mouth. 

"The plan is simple. I will arrange a meeting with Gerald and his beta. Luna Skylar, Beta Larson and I will meet with them. Let them see that they made a grave mistake coming here. And then we will attack!" Cheers erupt through the courtyard. The sound thunders over me.

Colton lets the pack quiet down before he continues. "First, we kill Gerald and his son, Lucas. Then we kill the Beta and third in command." 

I look at Colton when he says those words. My hand grabs his and I plea with my eyes. "Please don't do this," I beg through our mind-link.

"Second, we kill anyone who refuses to join us. Just like we always do. Any questions?" He states, ignoring my plea. I look over the crowd, praying someone would object. 

No one does. 

"Perfect. Remember to watch each other's backs. Keep an open link to those around you. Fight in wolf and human form. Let's do this!" Colton yells and the crowd cheers again. 

He turns towards me. "Come, mate." Again, he grabs my arm and drags me south towards to the forest. "Shift."

I quickly strip from my clothes and shift, not wanting to argue any further. Colton shifts after me and leads me south through the woods. The pounding of my heart matches the thumping of the thousands of feet behind me. I will finally see my father and pack again. It's all I ever wanted since being taken, but not like this. I didn't want them to start a war. Especially not one they can't win. 

"Keep up, mate." Colton's words invade my mind. I speed up and try to match his incredible speed. 

It's not long before we reach the south border. Colton shifts back and I follow suit. We dress quickly and head in the direction of my old pack's camp. I can hear the signals of their scouts alerting every one of our arrival. Soon, we arrive in a large clearing. On the other side, I can see at least a thousand wolves. Alpha Gerald's looming body comes into view. Behind him, I see Beta Thomas and Alpha-to-be Lucas. I frantically search the faces in the distance until I land on my father. Alpha Gerald, Beta Thomas, Lucas and my father all step forward. Colton, Beta Larson, Theo and myself do the same. We meet in the middle of the clearing. 

"Gerald, what do I owe the pleasure?" Colton asks with a smirk plastered on his face. 

Alpha Gerald growls. "You know why I'm here."

Colton laughs. "Enlighten me again?" 

"We came for my daughter!" My father yells. His eyes soften when his gaze lands on me. He looks older like my absence has caused him to gain ten years in a matter of a couple of months. 

That famous, evil grin forms on Colton's face. "Ah yes. That's it. Well, I am happy to inform you, Dad, that Skylar and I are mates." He taunts. My father's eyes snap back to Colton when he dares to call him 'Dad'. 

"Nonsense! My daughter would never be mated to a disgrace of an Alpha such as you!"

All I can do is look down. I am definitely mated to Colton. There is no denying that.

My mate chuckles. "Well, that's where you're wrong. We are definitely mates, Dad."

"Enough with this! Release my daughter!" He roars. 

"I'd advise you to hold your tongue before I cut it off, Norman." Colton snaps. I can feel his anger through our bond. My father's disrespect won't be forgotten. 

"I'm fine. You need to leave." I tell my father. Colton quickly turns to me and shoots me a glare, silently telling me to shut my mouth. 

"I won't leave without you, Skylar. I am your father. I vowed to keep you safe the day your mother birthed you." He responds to me. "You are certainly not safe with this asshole!" 

Like father, like daughter. 

"Oh Dad," Colton grabs the back of my neck firmly, "Who says I don't keep your daughter safe? Lars, do I keep Skylar safe?"

"Well, there's that one time when you whipped her-"

"You whipped my daughter!?" My father roars, lunging towards Colton, Alpha Gerald and Beta Thomas barely manage to hold him back in time. "I swear I will rip your head from your shoulders when I get my hands on you, Colton!" 

"She tried to run away, what can I say?" Colton shrugs. 

"And then there was the time you locked her in the cells and let those men have a go at her." Beta Larson chuckles, however, he is looking at me with eyes that say he is anything but enjoying this. 

"I'm sorry. I don't mean anything by this." He mind-links me. Yep, he's definitely not enjoying this. 

Colton laughs at the memory. "Yes, I suppose that wasn't particularly safe." He says with a smirk. "But, I mean, she did go against me again."

My father looks at me and I can see tears in his eyes. They force me to look away because those tears are what could break me and I definitely don't want to give in. 

"Okay, that's enough Colton," I say weakly. 

"I can't hear anymore." My father's broken voice adds. 

I feel Colton's arms wrap around my waist, bringing me close to his side. The annoying tingles run up and down where he touches. He nips at my mark and it makes shivers of unwanted pleasure course through my body. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. 

"And I'm sure there is more punishment in store especially with her most recent act of defiance. Isn't that right, mate?" He taunts in my ear. "Maybe your punishment will be that I take you right here, right now, in front of dear ol pops. What do you say?" 

"No, Colton! Please stop!" I cry out, pulling away from him. He is wearing his signature evil grin and his eyes are lit up in amusement. He winks before grabbing me and holding me close again. I try to push him off but my strength is nothing compared to his. 

"Aw, but it sounded like so much fun!" 

"Enough with this childish behaviour, Colton. We came here for the girl. If you don't plan to give us the girl, then we shall take her by force!" Alpha Gerald states, power laced in his words. 

"Nope, definitely not giving her to you. I don't give away what's mine!" 

"Then you leave us with no choice. You have until tomorrow morning to change your mind. If you don't, we will march on your land. Innocent wolves will die for your greed." Alpha Gerald growls. 

"Why wait? Let's start the party now!" Colton roars. He picks me up and hands me over to Theo. "Take her and lock her in the cells now!" He orders using his Alpha tone. 

Theo nods and runs off with me. He doesn't stop running until he reaches the pack house. The last thing I hear is the cries of war as Theo shuts the door to my cell. 

"It's for the best." He says, but he hands me a key and winks before heading off. 

 Thank you, Theo! Ailith howls.

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Author's Note:

Ahhhh!!! I am so excited by this chapter. What do you think? Let me know in the comments what you think will happen during the war! :)