Marian

"Jessie!" I ran back to my home, and I yelled out my husband's name.

Jessie came out the front door and rushed towards me. "Marian, what's wrong? Is it the baby? What happened?"

"No, our baby is fine; it's the woman Addicus was imprisoned with; she's still alive; Mirage is alive. Henrik and I were going to take Addicus to the Promised Land to see her, but she wasn't there. Henrik realized it before I did," I said.

"No, she's still there, trapped with the hunters, still a prisoner. Goddess," Jessie lowered his head. "This is going to break him,"

"What are we going to do!?" I was freaking out; I had never experienced this before.

"I don't know. We must rescue Mirage, but we must find out where they were held," Jessie hugged me.

"Well, we know how long it took Addicus to get to Henrik's pack," I said.

"That's right, we do. In a few days, I'll leave with a few warriors, and we'll scout every square inch. If I retrace the path, I can find the facility where they held Link and Addicus. He was on foot the whole time, so I should be able to trace back his steps, and when I find it, I will bring Mirage home," Jessie smiled. "If not, I'll come back, and I'll bring Henrik and Garland, those we trust,"

"I can't believe this is happening," I said.

"Everything will be okay, my love. I'll handle everything," Jessie said. "For now, I want you to focus on yourself and our children. I love you, Marian Harper,"

"I love you too, Jessie Harper," I kissed his lips.

(A Few Days Later)

I was resting in the living room while I was rubbing my stomach. "Luna, someone is requesting entrance into the pack," One of the warriors said. "He doesn't have a pack and is asking for Nostos,"

"Nostos? Hmm, okay. Escort them to Jessie's office. I'll meet them there with Nostos," I said.

I mind-linked Nostos and told him to meet me at Jessie's office. Someone wanted to meet with him, and he accepted. The rogue walked into the office as I was speaking with Nostos.

"Jax?" Nostos gasped.

"Long time no see old friend, wait, you are no longer the Alpha?" Jax said.

"No, Jessie is the Alpha now, I passed the title to him when he came of age. This is Marian, his mate, and Luna. Not sure if you remember her," Nostos said.

"I'm afraid not," Jax shook his head.

"That's okay," I giggled. However, I get weird vibes from you. I need to find out what they are and why. "Be careful, Marian, something isn't right," Urbosa growled softly. "Just focus on our pup, Urbosa. I'll be fine,"

"Where is Ophelia?" Jax said.

"She passed away," Nostos said.

"Oh, Nos, I'm so sorry. I also lost my mate. She had a very troubled pregnancy, and something wasn't right, and the doctors couldn't figure it out. My mate and our child didn't make it during the birth," Jax said.

"Oh, Jax, I'm so sorry," Nostos said. "I know it can never erase the pain, but Marian here, I'm not sure if you remember, but she is a twin,"

"The Moon Warriors, that's right," Jax nodded.

"Marian and her brother can let you see them again," Nostos smiled.

"Sorry, I just...I know it's some time, but I'm not ready to face what happened. I've been running from it ever since," Jax said.

"I understand. That's why Jessie took over so young. I didn't want to deal with anything after I lost Ophelia. We live a tough life," Nostos said.

"That brings me back to why I'm here. I wanted to re-join the pack. If you'll have me," Jax said.

I smiled. "You are always welcome. Jessie is currently away on business. But I can officially welcome you. You were a member of this pack once, you can be once again,"

"Luna Marian, thank you so much," Jax said.

"Jax, stay with me until we find a place for you to call your own," Nostos smiled.

Henrik

(Meanwhile)

I was in the office working on files and reports. I was also researching a feral power I experienced yesterday night; according to most books, it's called The Blood Rage. I was fighting a rogue wolf that wanted to kill me, and I was stabbed in the chest. At that moment, I felt nothing; my vision had turned red. He punched me a few more times, but I still felt nothing; I became unresponsive to pain, and then I blacked out. I woke up the next morning naked and covered in blood; the rogue was torn to pieces.

"Alpha, you have a visitor," York said, looking into my office.

I used my jacket to cover the research book. "Tell whoever it is to come in," I said, still looking at my documents.

"Alpha Henrik, it's me, Addicus," Addicus said; the sweet voice of my mate made me raise my head to meet his face.

"Addicus!? Wha-what are you doing here?" I shuddered.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't know who to go to. Did something happen the other day? With you and Luna Marian?" Addicus asked.

"Why are you asking?" I said.

"I know I'm shy, quiet, and sometimes not sure of myself, but I'm not dumb," Addicus crossed his arms.

"I never thought you were. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met. You've survived so many years in captivity, and still, you survived it all," I smiled.

"Then why do I feel that you and Marian lied to me? I've been looking back to that day. I know something happened, and you and your sister lied to my face. I tried getting answers from Marian, but she wouldn't talk, and Jessie has been too busy to see me," Addicus growled. "I want the truth!"

I took a deep breath. "Mirage wasn't there. Marian and I couldn't find her in the Promised Land,"

"She? Mirage?" Addicus's breath hitched.

"Mirage wasn't there when we called to her. Our powers allow us to call forth someone you want to see. But she wasn't there; we would have felt her soul even in the Land of the Forsaken. We couldn't feel her anywhere, and that meant that she's still alive," I explained.

"I had a feeling," Addicus said.

"You had a feeling Mirage was still alive?" I tilted my head.

"Yes. Link, he still says goodnight to her. He wouldn't do that unless she was. I felt my bond with my mother break when she was killed like this tether inside of me snapped. It's like there's a hole in my chest that never healed," Addicus wept.

"Jessie left this morning. He's going to try to find the facility," I said.

"I don't even know where it is," Addicus paced around my office. "I just kept running,"

"It's okay; Jessie will find it. They know the general direction from what you've said. If he can't find it, he'll return, regroup, and I'll help," I said.

"Why?" Addicus said. "You don't owe me anything. Why help at all? This is not your packs problem,"

"Because I care about you, Addicus. When my warriors found you, I was there when they took to the hospital. I just...want you to be okay," I smiled, and I saw his blush flush with color. "And if that means saving your best friends and the mother of your child, then I will happily put my life on the line. For you."

"Is it okay if I explore your pack land?" Addicus asked me.

"Of course, I'll let my patrols know to look out for your wolf or will be walking?" I asked.

"Walking. I haven't wanted to shift since I escaped. I'm not ready," Addicus shook his head.

"Would you like me to be there when you are ready?" I asked.

"I wouldn't want to impose," He shook his head at me.

"You could never. I'd be honored to be your rock, a shoulder to lean on. If your worried about my pack, they can survive without me for a few hours," I said.

"Thank you," Addicus said.

Jessie

I've been trekking for three days at a speed with my wolf at the helm, trying to track where Addicus was held prisoner for most of his life. For days, there was nothing but trees and trees and more trees. The type of settlement I find is an abandoned graveyard where vines grew on the rickety walls of the church, and the headstones lay cracked and tilted. Not a sound to be heard for miles around. But deep down in the earth, something churned.

I could feel it in my bones; something terrible had happened here. It is still happening here. This was the second time I had come back to this graveyard. I listened to my gut and did a perimeter check. I eventually found a building that had been renovated not far from there. It had to be the lab Mirage blew up to let Addicus and their son escape. But when I checked it further, it was also abandoned. Like everyone upped and left, and I knew why. Because Addicus escaped, and unlike the church, that place had no noise coming from underground. This place did. I knew they had moved their operation underground if they weren't already there all this time.

I need to find a way in before returning home to gather my team. Marian is going to KILL me when she finds out I didn't take any warriors with me. I can't leave her, our children, and our pack unprotected. So, I had them shadow her; they hid in the shadows everywhere she went, protecting her until I got back home.

"Jessie, someone's here, I heard something," My wolf, Adam, alerted me.

I entered a battle stance but couldn't get a read on the creature Adam detected. I need to shift before It's too late. But before I could turn, I felt a hard punch to my jaw, but before I gave myself to the darkness, I heard a feminine voice.

"I'm so sorry,"