Hayden's POV

I stay behind and watch Diana leave with Matt. My hand slaps my forehead and I groan in irritation.

"Damn it!" I whisper sharply.

In seconds, I run back to the Packhouse to stay and handle things here just in case. Of course, the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were all gone at the moment and they left me here. I had to take charge.

The snowfall began to get worse causing shivers to run up my spine. As soon as I make it back, the first thing I do is go upstairs to my room and find a phone. I needed to call the group back home to let them know what was going on.

Jade's POV

Mia cried loudly in my arms as I bounced her up and down while walking around the basement of the Church. Lena rushed inside with a warm bottle of milk for her while Monica sat on the couch observing my every move.

"Shh," I hush.

Mia takes the bottle in her mouth and quiets down almost instantly. James's boots clicked as they met the wooden floor. He flopped onto another couch next to Monica's letting out a heavy breath.

"I really miss the Pack. It's boring not working with my warriors." He says.

Lena climbs on top of him and lays down making herself comfortable. James wraps his arms around her causing my heartbeat to speed up. It was jealousy. I knew Monica felt the same way just by looking at her.

"Where are the boys?" James asks.

"They went home with their families. Where they belong." I say while my voice was shaking. My throat had tightened from holding back unfallen tears.

"Speaking of homes, we should start heading back to my place. Dad isn't going to like it if he realizes we never came back."

They leave without another word.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket distracting me from the two lovebirds in front of me. I hold Mia with one arm and the other one grabs an old generation iPhone out of my pocket. I check the caller I.D. to see who was calling me.

Hayden

Before it could vibrate again I answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Jade. You need to listen very carefully. Alpha is trying to get himself killed! He is going to fight Theo to death!"

My eyebrows furrow so deep that they almost covered my eyes.

"What? What do you mean kill?"

Monica's head swings up and she soon makes her way next to me. Her left-hand rubs Mia's tiny foot while her right hand was on the curve of my back.

'Is everything alright?' She mouths.

I shake my head and bite my lip hard.

"He is going to take over both Packs. I might not be able to make it home soon...along with Blake. Tell James. we really need him here. You two stay there and Lena will take care of you."

"James!" I yell.

Mia drops her bottle on the ground causing the top of it to shatter and spill milk everywhere. At this point, I could care less.

"Was it Hayden? What did he say?" Monica asks.

I explain everything that is going on. Her reaction was just as shocked as mine. I yell for James once more but got no response in return.

"I think they left. Call the boys and tell them to meet us here." I instruct.

"On it."

Monica grabs the phone out of my hand.

I shift Mia so she is now sitting on my arm as she faces the outside world. I grab a blanket wrapping her in it.

Mia babbles randomness as I start to walk out of the youth room and outside.

"Monica, get all the boys here. I'm going to find James and Lena. I doubt they drove back."

Mia and I are soon gone and in the snowstorm. After a few small slips here and there I walk around the Church and toward a busy sidewalk.

There were many people staring at me but I stared right back. I continue my way along the cement path, squinting my eyes to prevent the snow from getting in them.

My cold and shivering hand wipes my running nose. I hold my baby closer trying to give her as much warmth as possible.

There is a small coffee shop that is open and I see Lena waiting in line. Good, they didn't make it too far.

"LENA!"

Hopefully, she can hear me. She never did. I jog across the street and almost get run over by a cab.

I jump back, holding Mia's tiny head to prevent any bruising.

She gurgles while making spit bubbles and I scoff walking to Lena. I had lost all feeling in my hands due to the cold air. It had taken me multiple tries to push the glass door open.

Luckily, the small bell rang to indicate that I did. I push up Mia and fix my hold on her, walking to Lena.

"Lena!"

Her hair flips and she looks back. I butt my way into the line with a few threatening and annoyed glances.

"Jade? What are you doing here?"

"James. Where is James?" I say trying to catch my breath.

"He's using the bathroom...why?"

Lena raised her eyebrows. I tell her everything. I may have been a little dramatic in some parts.

James walks up to both of us, whistling, hands in his jean pockets.

"Jade, what's up?"

"You need to go to Luca now!"

His eyes widened at my sudden outburst. He puts the back of his hand onto the side of his face.

"People are staring..."

I look around to meet the many wondering eyes. Lena gripped onto her mate, pushing him out of the small shop.

There I was, left alone with the judging eyes of customers.

Hayden's POV

I'm in the kitchen staring at intensively at the stove. My foot taps repeatedly against the hard flooring leaving a pattering sound.

The landline phone I borrowed from a pack member sat messily on the chair next to me.

"May I go now?" The poor woman asked.

"Oh yes, yes."

She points to her belonging while reaching out for it.

"May...I keep this for a moment? I will return it soon," I ask.

The confusion was written all over her face. I felt bad.

"It is for Alpha King. He requested it."

"Why would Alpha need a phone?"

"..."

Think Hayden thinks!

"You know what? I won't even question it. I will be back in a few hours."

My shoulders relax with relief and I am soon out of my chair. I escort her out of the Packhouse and lock the door behind me.

Alex's POV

I was watching my mother sleep peacefully on my bed.

She has been quite scared to leave me alone since the entire incident. My father tried to take a few days off to stay with us.

He couldn't. My mother had called my older sister, who was in Texas for college.

All I knew was that she would be coming over tomorrow. I missed this life so much, but everything suddenly felt...different?

It was weird not waking up to loud howls and the smell of burnt bacon. Or the dark walls of the Packhouse.

Everything here was...pale. It was too human for me and I didn't like it.

I will miss it all. I will miss them all.

The phone rang.

Immediately, I grab it to prevent my mom from waking up. She needed the rest.

"Hello?" I whisper.

Monica called me, saying I had to come back to the Church. A large smile forms on my lips.

"I am on my way."

Aiden's POV

I stop running and check the new clock on my wrist to see the time I had gotten.

My breathing was uneven and my heart rate was all over the place.

7:47 it read.

A smile spreads across my lips as I soon realize my mile had gotten much faster. Thanks to all the workout and running in the Pack.

My other handheld a metal hydro flask. I opened the lid and took a huge swig of water, gulping down the cold goodness.

My dark skin was shining in the sun causing it to tan more than it already was. I was becoming darker by the minute.

The Fitbit made a small ringing sound. As if someone rang a bell.

A small text bubble made its way onto the small screen leaving me confused. It had told me to come back to the Church. Huh, why would they need me there?

I reset the timer and prepare to run again.

Monica's POV

The old Church was so eerie. Every step I took left a creaking noise causing me to flinch every time. I hold my large stomach and slowly jog up the stairs to figure out what was going on. I run toward Hayden's office and use the wired phone.

I dial Jade's phone number which I had memorized from the time being here. The line rings a few times until I hear her muffled voice.

"Hey! I'm on my way back. I found James and he is heading to back the Pack."

A sigh of relief leaves my lips and I put a hand over my heart.

"What about us? Are we just staying here until it is all over?"

Jade hung up leaving the monotone sound of the line cutting.

"H-hello?"

Lena's POV

Jade and I are walking back to Monica in the cold blizzard and I shield her child from harm, putting my arm in front of them. She takes another heavy step crunching some of the ice that was beneath us.

I bite my lip and think about James, how was he going to make it? Would he make it on time? Is it too late?

Luca had enough of it and I did too, but he was asking for a death wish...not only for him but his Beta and Gamma also.

I slip and twist my leg under myself. A sharp pain shoots through my leg in seconds and I am screaming in pain. Jade covers her mouth and kneels down on one knee trying to help me up.

Many strangers give us odd looks and walk away, ignoring us. Mia was so close to the ground, I remove pressure off of my leg, raising her up a bit.

"We need to get you help. Okay, stay here. I will go back to the Church and grab Monica! Hold on!"

Jade gets back up and sprints dangerously with the baby in her arms. My cheeks felt warm all of a sudden. I wipe them to feel the salty tears running down quickly. I just let it all happen, letting out my tears for emotional and physical pain.

I am pretty sure I looked crazy but I couldn't care less at what anyone thought. My true feelings were showing and it felt great to finally let them out.

"James!" I sob out.

It was only twenty minutes, but any second without my mate felt like a lifetime. I felt dramatic. But there was so much happening at once.

"There she is!"

Jade comes rushing back to me, pointing.

Two other figures arrive behind her. I squint my eyes to get a better glance only to see Aiden and Alex.

They help me up and carry me all the way back.

"T-thank you." I stutter.

Jade glares at me then asks,

"Were you crying?"

I scoff and wipe my runny nose ignoring her question. Aiden and Alex stay quiet the entire time.

*****

We made it back this time.

Safely.

I was put down on the leather couch that James and I were laying on moments ago. This time it was just me with a messed up leg.

"Where's Daniel?" Aiden questions.

I look at Monica.

"I contacted him. He said he was on his way."

Hopefully. We don't need any more stupid decisions around here.