Chapter 16

MAEVE

I gave my best witty glare in Alpha Bain's direction. I lifted my hand and slapped his shoulder playfully. He clearly thought he was quite the comedian!

He winced and took a sharp inhale. My face dropped as I realised I'd slapped his bad shoulder.

"Oh my Goddess! I am so sorry!" I offered apologetically.

He controlled his expression quickly.

"It's fine, don't worry about it." He responded.

"Shall we go and meet this Beta Stimpson of yours?" He continued.

Alpha Bain, Luca and I walked out of the tent. I was in such a haze when Bain had first brought me here, that I hadn't had a chance to look around before being carried into his tent.

I took in my surroundings and was astounded by the amount of tents that had been erected. The number of people here was astonishing! The whole pack must have joined to help. Even the women and children.

I felt numerous eyes on me from members of the White Claw pack as we followed Luca to the location of Beta Stimpson and the women. I could here the whispers of curiosity.

"Is that her?" I heard a female voice ask.

"That must be the Luna!" I heard another voice utter in the distance.

There had been a campfire set in the middle of the battle camp. I was relieved to see the women from the cells sat around the fire, having a good meal. They had been provided with blankets to hide their nakedness.

They still had a look I can only describe as a 'deer in headlights' kind of aura. One of the women noticed me. She jumped up and ran over, extending her frail arms around my neck she let out a joyous squeal.

"Luna Maeve, we are so thrilled you made it back safely! We were all so worried about you." She exclaimed.

As she pulled away from the embrace I noted the chain collar that was still around her neck. Looking over her shoulder at the women behind her, noting they all still had theirs on as well.

My eyes turned to meet Alpha Bain's.

"Could you find someone to remove their chains please? I asked.

He in turn looked over at Luca who simply replied "on it." Giving a military salute before wandering away.

I made my way over to Beta Stimpson who was still sat by the fire with the other women. Sitting down next to him, I wrapped my arms around him in a warm embrace. Earning a deep growl from what I assumed was Alpha Bain. I decided to ignore it and continued my focus on Beta Stimpson.

"Beta, I cannot thank you enough. For helping not only me, but all these women escape from that awful place" I praised.

"No thanks required Luna. I was just doing what I should have done long ago. But please, refer to me as Jake. I lost my Beta title the moment I betrayed my Alpha. Although.." he stopped his sentence to let out a huffed laugh. "In doing so it was probably the most Beta move I have ever made."

"Thank you Jake." I heard Alpha Bain reiterate behind me. "For delivering my mate to safety." He continued with genuine gratitude.

Jake looked in Alpha Bain's direction and gave a nod of acknowledgment. I know Jake thought he hadn't done much, only his duty. But in reality it had to take a lot of guts for a Beta to defy his Alpha. I would be forever in his debt. Not only for saving me, but also for helping the women before me. Allowing them the opportunity to rebuild their lives and be happy."

I stood up and sauntered back towards Alpha Bain who was only a short distance away. Although I was in the safety of his packs camp now, his adoring grey eyes had rarely left mine since we had left the shelter of his tent. As thought he was worried I would disappear if his gaze left mine for too long.

"So..." I asked looking up at his massive frame. I felt like a mouse in the presence of a lion. "What's the next step?" I continued. "If it is ok with you I would like to return to my pack?"

His face faltered for a moment. A hurt look passing across him ever so briefly.

"I was hoping you would come with me?" I finished.

The moment of hurt was quickly replaced with one of relief. I realised that he might have assumed I wanted to go home alone. For us to part ways so soon. I don't think I'd have the heart to abandon the man, that was so quick to risk his life for me.

"Of course I will come with you." He responded, with a smile grin of contentment written over his flawless face.

At that moment Luca returned with another. He gave me a warm smile, the wrinkles around his eyes creased as he did so. Giving away his standings as an older gentleman.

"Excuse me, Alpha." The gentleman spoke in admiration as he motioned his head towards Alpha Bain. "Luna." He continued, as he turned his face to me and gave a gentle nod.

"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am. If I may?" He extended his hand out towards me. I accepted the gesture and placed my delicate hand in his callous ones. He was clearly a tradesman of some sort.

He pulled my hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. Earning another growl from Alpha Bain's lip.

"Apologies Alpha." The elderly gentleman continued. "I meant no disrespect. I was just meaning to properly introduce myself to your mate."

His gaze returned to mine as he finished his introduction. "My name is Gerald, Luna. I am the packs blacksmith." He removed his hand from mine and lifted his other to show off some large pliers of some sort.

"I understand you require some chains to be removed from these young ladies?" He finished as he signalled towards the women sat around the fire.

"Yes please Gerald" I responded with a warm smile. "Thank you ever so much for helping us with this matter." I concluded.

Gerald got to work on removing the chain collars from the women's necks. I resumed my position next to Alpha Bain whilst waiting for the last few collars to be eliminated. I stood there with a huge smile gracing my lips. I was beyond grateful to know that these women could have a fresh start. They could create new lives for themselves, be whatever they wanted to be.

Whilst we were idly standing around waiting, Luca approached Alpha Bain and I.

"Excuse me Luna." I was surprised to realise he'd come over to talk to me and not Alpha Bain.

"I apologise that I haven't introduced myself yet. With all the chaos that has happened within the last few hours I haven't really found the right opportunity. I am Luca, Alpha Bain's Beta. It is an absolute pleasure to finally meet you." He summed up whilst bowing his head in a gesture of respect.

"It is an honour to meet you Luca" I answered. "Thank you to not only you, but by the looks of it the entire White Claw pack. For taking the risk upon yourselves to save me. Even if we did manage to escape the walls ourselves, I dared think that we wouldn't have got very far without your pack here to help." I concluded earnestly.

I felt a large hand place itself on the small of my back. From the stimulating, blaze I felt on the area being touched, I promptly knew who the owner of said hand was.

"I'm going to start packing some of my belongings so we can get going tonight. I can imagine that you're already yearning to go home. Would you like to return to the tent with me, or stay here by the fire?" Every time I heard that deep, melodic voice it fired something up from within.

"Ummm... I think I'd like to return to the tent if that's ok?" I responded, turning round to face Alpha Bain.

That smart ass grin I was already getting so accustomed to snuck back into his face. "Well I wouldn't have suggested it if it wasn't ok, would I Maeve?" He replied jovially.

I rolled me eyes and swatted my hand in the air towards him, gesturing for him to quit it as I started to make my way towards the tent.

I heard him chortle to himself as he followed close behind.

"Well someone is easy to wind up." He declared observantly.

"Or maybe, I'm just on a higher intellectual level and don't tolerate child like behaviour" I quipped back. As we entered through the threshold.

Next thing I knew in one swift movement, he had me pinned against the pole that was erect in the middle of the tent to hold it up.

I examined his face and noticed his usual light grey eyes had turned a darker shade, almost black. He moved his hand towards my face, brushing his thumb across my law line ever so softly, as though I was a delicate glass threatening to shatter at any moment.

He lent down, inhaling the scent in my neck. His nose tickled my skin as his lips moved dangerously close to my ear. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. The room was so quite I would have heard a pin drop.

"Believe me my little fox..." his tone was so sensual it forced a small moan to escape my mouth.

"Nothing. And I mean nothing, about me is childlike." He words purred softly through me. Like they were a sweet melody, meant for my ears only.

My eyes widened as I realised the innuendo he had just made. "I.. ummm. I... didn't mean to... I didn't mean it like that." I finally managed to spurt out. 

He shifted his face from my neck, his eyes found mine. Once again that smart ass smirk decorated his lips. "Neither did I you pervert. Get your mind out of the gutter." He feigned disgust as he finished his sentence. Then gave me a cheeky wink and walked away to start packing up his clothes.

I just stood there, glued to the spot. Absolutely mortified, with my face turning a ridiculous shade of beetroot red.