Carson's POV

Let me tell you something worse than being rejected by a douchebag Alpha who doesn't know romance if one saw it: it's being abducted by a lovestruck rogue Alpha who doesn't take "no" for an answer. It's even worse when the abductee is pregnant and is facing a lot of threats to lose the unborn pups (being ripped out of the womb or being born and then sold to slavery or sex trafficking for a profit) if one didn't fall in line with the rules.

And despite the nagging threats that were bound to arrive sooner or later, I didn't dare show my worries in front of Ryan in the few days that followed. I needed to keep calm and act natural if I wanted to survive. And it often includes putting up with Ryan's clinginess and being met with the other members of the pack. When I wasn't being locked away in my luxury bedroom (which was like my prison but with better amenities), I was constantly being escorted around the pack mansion and being introduced to the other members of the pack- all of them being too happy to see me mated to their Alpha instead of my REAL mates. Most of them even gave me small trinkets (handmade blankets and clothing that could easily be passed off as designer clothes since they were well made, antique books, handcrafted jewelry, and robes, etc.) and a few of the eager Betas even offered me the opulent gifts like everyone back at the palace did (the Alfa Romeo sedan that I was stowed away and escorted to the Dark Moon pack).

And I had to be familiar with all of the names of everyone in the pack that was in the higher-ups. Gregory, the Head Beta, was the one who kept the pack in shape when Ryan was away. Marcel was one of the strong pack warriors who could easily snap a rogue or a hunter's neck in two (even when he was pregnant with his husband's son- a future Beta). Anita was the head maid who made sure that I was well-fed, yet could also handle trespassers with a gun. Genevieve, a svelte Frenchwoman with long black hair and exquisite green eyes, was the pack's treasurer who made sure that no one went over their budgets and kept everything to Spartan minimums. And all of them made sure that I was well-attended to and kept in good company.

It was all overwhelming, to say the least. But I wanted to make sure that Ryan saw me as a fit Luna like he hoped I would be for the pack.

And as much as I wanted to go out and have a run on the grounds, Ryan didn't fully trust me to leave the manor just yet. "How will I know if you might run away from me or worse... having those mates of yours try to steal you from me and put our children and pack in danger?" he had asked me after I asked him the first time. "And since your pregnant, anyone can take advantage of you. You should wait a while until I'm sure that you're safe from perverts and stalkers."

And I knew from experience that "later" would often mean "never" back when I was a pack runt. So I stopped asking and accepted his suggestion to exercise in the fitness room (under heavy guard and protection by the female warriors). Thankfully, I still had my ability to shift into my other halves and let them run (or swim or fly, per the case for Francois, Seraphiel, and Apollyon) to avoid passing out from keeping them detained.

Trust in my plan, my son, I heard the voice of my Mother in my head as I swam laps in the indoor pool under the heavy watch of Katriona (the stout female guard who was mated to a male omega that she doted on despite her harsh regiment). All will be clear in the end and help will soon arrive. Trust in My plan. Trust yourself.

I will, Mom, I said inwardly as I pushed off into the next lap. I will trust in Your plan and remain calm.

That's all that I ask of you, my child. Ryan will not succeed in his plans.

And for Her sake and mine, I believed it.

***********

"You look so edible, my love."

I looked up from the novel that I was reading to see a grinning Ryan as he handed me a bouquet of lilies in his hand as well as a small jewelry box that look too familiar. "Thank you," I said, taking the lilies and motioning for the nearby maid to put them in a vase. "And you look handsome yourself."

"All for my baby," he boasted as he sat down on the bed next to me. "Anyway, I was thinking that I wanted to make sure that you and I will be together by the end of this week. And what better way than a perfect wedding?"

Wait, what?

Ryan got down on one knee and opened it to find a large emerald-cut blood diamond surrounded by baguettes that sat on a silver band. "Will you make me the happiest man alive and be my husband and Luna?" he asked me dreamily.

Say yes, Mom said in my head. Make him think that you will be his.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to be happy. "Yes," I said, keeping myself from crying.

He whooped with joy as he slid the ring on my bare left finger. "You're going to be well-loved by this Friday," he said, wiping away a stray tear from my eyes. "No need to be sad, my sweet Moon Wolf. Soon, you'll want to be tasting and wanting only my kisses and you'll want no one else than myself. Our kids will be the perfect versions of rulers and heart-breakers."

Oh, boy. I can only imagine how this was going to reach the ears of the whole town, if not the world. I hope Mom is warning my true mates and family about this.

*************

Third-Person POV

"He's getting married?!"

That's the first thing that left the mouth of an indignant Eurydice as he and the others were still reeling from the news of Ryan's proposal by the Moon Goddess. And everyone was not happy at all.

"This will not do," Francisco hissed, letting his large white wings unfold. "Ryan's being coerced to marry him to avoid losing our children, I bet."

"That he is," the Moon Goddess said. "Carson had plenty of experience and has heard of all the mates that were kidnapped by rogues who forced them into marriage or face their wraths. Some of the victims were pregnant and lost their unborn and the ability to bear children if they didn't fully agree to the wedding plans. He knew that if he didn't want to be the next victim, he would have to say yes."

"But surely Carson would never dare betray us," Alain commented, his sea-green eyes wide with dismay.

"He won't," Anis replied. "Carson is giving Ryan what the bastard wants to hear. But he knows the truth when it comes to mating. Since cheating on a mated is unheard of, most cases are met with swift and lethal punishment. Carson is too committed to us both to betray us. He knew that Ryan is full of too much darkness and blind ambition."

"I still don't like this," Topaz said, shaking his head in exasperation. He had taken the news hard and he was keeping his radio show informed in the progress of rescuing his best friend. "I'm not going to stand for this at all."

"As you shouldn't," the heavenly royal goddess replied. "Which is why the time will soon come for someone to rescue my son from Ryan and for me to bring justice to end the men once and for all."

"We're rallying the troops as we speak," Gavin announced. "My mates and I are gathering our best warriors and Betas to-"

The Moon Goddess cut him off. "This rescue is going to require a smaller group of three," she intoned. "And it will require the hands of Eurydice, Fianna, and Topaz since they are the most loyal."

"What?!" the three people in question exclaimed.

"This can't be," Nicholas breathed. "My Lady, I mean no offense, but I can't allow two phoenixes and a female witch to risk their lives for the safety of Your Son- my and my lovers' mate. If anything, the Dark Moon pack might kill them on sight."

The opulently ethereal woman smiled brightly. "A little faith can do wonders if one believes in my plan," she said. "And I believe that I can trust in my chosen to lead the rescue party and bring my son."

"But they might need weapons if they face down the pack," Ferdinand said worriedly.

"My werecat-shifter, things are not as they appear as many of Ryan's pack members do not see him as fit to lead the pack any longer," the Goddess replied. "If anything, many want to defect and leave for much more stable packs."

"But what of the hard-core members?" Dominic asked. "What of the ones who will be loyal to Ryan until the end?"

"You leave them and Ryan to me," the Moon Goddess said firmly. "Now, no more fears or inhibitions. The time has come for my chosen three to prepare themselves to collect my son by the end of this week. They will have a few unseen protectors from the other gods and goddesses who will be by their side, but they will need no weapons as I will be the one to end Ryan and his dedicated followers once and for all. Do you all trust in my plan?"

"We do," Iain breathed. "As much as Carson is trusting in You, Mother, we all trust in You and will stay faithful."

"Good," She smiled. "Continue to have faith and believe in My designs. Be strong and vigilant. And never forget to stay true to one another as well as yourselves. All will be made clear as daylight draws near."

Everyone nodded as they watched her fade back into the heavens.

"So what now?" Ciara asked, turning her attention to Fianna and the identical phoenix cousins. "Are you two-"

Eurydice, who was deep in meditation, opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "We prepare for Carson's rescue and then resume the wedding plans I have in mind," he said. "As She said, a little faith can do wonders. A little faith."
 

I know that's right, folks! The next two chapters detail the endgame of the rogue Alpha known as Regan's twin brother as his plans for a sadistic wedding are detailed in the next chapter! Get ready for one doozy of a rescue mission, folks!

Dedication: ViviAnneHunt.

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