Chapter 19

Cass’s Point of View

            I knew that I was getting closer to the Mutts because their scents were getting stronger and easier to pick up. I was four, five minutes away from them when I caught a smell of several alphas near me. Changing my direction just a little, I run right into their group. They were in their human forms. I quickly stepped behind a tree and shifted back to my human form. Slipping on my shorts, I join them. As I glance around the group, my eyes land on Dean Teague, Randy’s beta. I’m not going to lie, the man looked like hell.

            He had a deep gash on his forehead, several slashes on his face, and glass shards in his hair, clothes, and skin. To say that I was shocked to see him here, almost fifty miles from their new territory, would be an understatement. Only Randy left their boundaries over the past eight years. Only because he was looking for his daughter, and he wanted his pack protected and able to defend if anyone attacked. He wasn’t worried about his safety.

            “What the hell happened to you Dean?” I asked, worried about my friend. “It was those freaking Mutts man.” He says as he pops his shoulder back into place without wincing. “We, the alpha, Bobby and I were taking a little girl back to her father on our way to see Alpha McKlondon. He called Randy and said that he found some new and fresh information on his daughter.” He rubs his face, immediately regretting it. “The girl’s a mute. Anyway, she spots some wolves in the woods by the road and pointed them out to me. I could tell that they were Mutts, but before I could tell Randy or Bobby anything, a truck slammed into us.

            “They attacked us for a reason, Cass. I just don’t know what it is. The alpha, he made me run, to go look for help. Bobby… He had a metal pipe in his throat; the alpha was bleeding but not too badly. And the girl…I couldn’t hear anything from her, no heart beat nothing. I stumbled on these guys and we were just about to head back to get the others when you came running up.”

            “I’ll go with you Dean. Randy’s a good friend of mine and he was my dad’s best friend. There’s no way I’m going to just walk away from helping him.” All of us shift into our wolves. But before we could lift a paw to run, we all heard a voice full of pain, angry, longing, and sadness through our links. Now we all know that there is no wolf powerful enough to talk to any wolf outside of their pack through a link. So when we heard the voice, it scared the crap out of all of us.

            Alpha Cortez and three others were attacked by Mutts. One’s dead, one’s missing, one’s still trapped in the SUV, and the alpha was last seen being dragged off by the Mutts. Please, anyone who can hear. They need help!! We all look at the other. In every pair of eyes were shock, fear, and awe. I let out a deep, sorrowful howl and the others joined in. Without looking back, I took off, following Dean. 

            Within minutes we came to the wreckage. Shifting behind the trees, we slowly stepped out onto the road. We kept our eyes and ears peeled for any sign of trouble. There, on the side of the road, laid Randy’s body. Beside it laid the torn and broken body of a young Mutt. I kneeled down and felt for a pulse. “Dean! He’s got a steady, but weak pulse. We got to get him to a doc and fast.” As Dean sends a link to his pack, I slowly make my way to the upturned SUV. One of the men walk towards me bringing the most beautiful smell with him. I would know that smell anywhere. Mari’s here, or was here.

            I rush to the back window and kneel to look in. There, on the back seat, held tight by a seat laid my mate. My wolf, Danger, was going nuts. He was jumping up and down, howling, running in circles, and sighing happily. I look at her confused. Hey D, why didn’t you know she was our mate back at the house?

            I don’t know man. I could feel something between us, but I didn’t know she was ours.

            Wait a minute. Dean said that they were taking a mute girl to her father. Mari’s not mute.

            We’ll figure it out later man. Out mate’s not conscious. Get her out so we can make sure she’s not hurt. I slowly brace her body against my shoulder as I unbuckle her seat belt. Keeping her body on mine, I slowly back out of the car. “Dean, give Lynx a call. Tell him that Mari’s been in an accident and that she’ll be at my place.” He nods but one of the other men steps forward.

            “Cass, my pack’s closer. And we have several pack doctors on hand. If she’s seriously hurt, she’ll need medical attention right away.” I knew he was right. “Dean.”

            “Already on it sir.” I look down at Mari. Nuzzling her neck, my wolf starts to calm down. Now that we found our mate, there’s no way in hell that we’re going to let her get away again.  She lets out a small, faint whimper and curls closer to my chest. Holding her tighter, I growl softly, “Mine.”

Mari’s Point of View

            I listen to Cass give orders as he looks around. Although every wolf with the exception of Dean is an alpha, they all listen to him. I can hear him coming closer to me. Echo starts purring and sighing. Calm down girl. I’ve waited 18 years to meet you. He can wait.

            But, he’s our mate.

            I know. And we got a sexy one too. But we won’t go rushing into his arms. I’ve met him before this you know. And at that point, he couldn’t tell that we were mates then.

            That’s because I’ve been hiding your scent all your life. Because of what we’ll give to our mate after we’ve finished the mating process, many people would wish to do us harm, forcing us to mate and give those powers to them.

            Oh. I didn’t know that. What powers?

            Well, for starters, Cass and Danger…

            Who’s Danger?

            Danger is Cass’s wolf. Now stop interrupting.

            Sorry.

            It’s okay. Both Cass and Danger will have increased speed, strength, and stamina. And in battle no harm will fall on them as long as we live. If we fell into the wrongs hands, it could mean the end of our kind, or maybe life as we know it. Wars would start over us, each leader trying to find and mate us.

            So after we mate with Cass and Danger, will others still be after us?

            No. After we mate, his scent will completely mask ours. And I’ll still be hiding it. I mentally nod. Suddenly, I feel Cass right next to me. He presses his shoulder against me as he starts to unbuckle the seatbelt. Then, taking his time and making sure that my body stays on his, he pulls me out.

             “Dean, give Lynx a call. Tell him that Mari’s been in an accident and that she’ll be at my place.” I listen as he tells Dean. I want to open my eyes so bad, but restrain myself. Then it hits me. Crap!

            What’s wrong Mari.

            I let Dean and my father believe that I’m a mute, while Cass just believes I’m human. How am I going to explain to both of them that I’m not either of those things without hurting them for not trusting in them?

            Girl, you got yourself in this mess. You’ll figure it out.

            Ugh! You’re not helping you know Echo. I snap at her, but she just laughs.

            “Cass, my pack’s closer. And we have several pack doctors on hand. If she’s seriously hurt, she’ll need medical attention right away.” A voice spoke, one that I didn’t know. “Dean.”

            “Already on it sir.” I feel Cass nuzzling my neck, taking in my faint scent. His wolf must be getting upset. I let out a small, faint whimper and curl in closer to his chest. He holds me tighter and growly, “Mine.” Oh, boy, that one little word made Echo flip out.