Chapter 11

With the morning rain, Ben and Jen were up and waiting for any sound of movement in the house. It was seven when they heard Andrew knocking for Blair. The pair waited until they heard Andrew leading her down the stairs before they opened their door. As they opened their door, there was a knock on the main door. "Go ahead to breakfast, I'll be there in a moment," Andrew told Blair, kissing her cheek. Ben let out a low growl, Jen looped her arm through Ben's to calm him. Andrew opened the door, Jen and Ben were shocked to see James standing on the covered porch. Andrew was clearly flustered, "Alpha James, to what do I owe this surprise visit?" Andrew asked still holding the door. James smiled, "You have my Luna," James replied calmly, as if he was talking to an old friend. Ben and Jen looked at each other, not sure what was happening. "You say that as if I'm keeping her here," Andrew chuckled nervously. "No, you wouldn't do that. It's against pack by laws. I've come to bring her home," James smoothed, his light Scottish accent could charm anyone. "Come in, have breakfast with us," Andrew finally caved. "Thank you," James replied and walked in. Ben and Jen hurried down the stairs, and followed them into the dining room, where Kathrine fumed seeing James. "Hello," Blair said cheerfully. "Blair," James greeted looking at her hands as she reached for the pouched eggs. "Alpha James said he's here to take you home," Andrew said sitting at the head of the table as James sat on the other side of Blair. Blair's eyebrows furrowed, "But I am home, you announced it last night," Blair began. "You haven't formally rejected James," Ben interrupted coldly. Blair looked at her plate, clearly fighting with herself, "Blair," James said turning to her.

Blair looked him in the eyes, tears welling in hers. James reached over and grabbed her hand with the ring on it. Andrew and Kathrine froze, James pulled it off, of Blair's finger, "What are you doing?" Blair asked getting angry. "I believe you've been swayed to stay here with this," James accused. Blair stood, "The only person swaying me to stay here is you," Blair snapped. "Blair," Ben stood snapping back at her. "And why are you here?" She asked Ben. "Because my sister wouldn't just leave her mate," Ben answered holding tight to his rage. "Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do," Blair bit back. "Wrong, I know you better than anyone one else. You love James, you have since you were a little girl," Ben tried to remind her. "I'm not a little girl anymore," Blair shot back. James sat there, looking at her a little hurt. He didn't have the strength to fight against his mate, "Blair explained the Luna duties in your pack left her feeling inadequate," Andrew explained. James tried not to show the anger burning in him, that Blair had let Andrew in on pack matters. "Blair, I've," he began. "I understand you think I need to be rescued, but I don't," Blair assured him. James looked to Ben defeated, "Blair, do you understand what you're saying?" Ben asked. Blair looked at he and Jen, "I'm choosing a new life," she told them and walked to stand behind Andrew with her hand on his shoulder. Blair screaming in agony inside herself, she refused to let whoever was controlling her to say the words rejecting James. She fought, screamed, and claws inside herself never allowing whoever it was to say those words and hurt James more. "Blair," James began. Andrew cut him off, "I think it's clear, you were all hoping to come here and take Blair home, but she told you she's staying put," Andrew began putting his hand on Blair's and kissing the back of it. No one moved they all just stared at her, "I understand something like this can be difficult to hear, but I do think it's for the best that you all leave," Andrew ordered. James looked back at Ben, "Of course, we are sorry to intrude," Jen broke the silence and slowly pushed the men outside shutting the door.

They were clearly in shock, Ryan looked on from the comfort of the SUV, he furrowed his brow seeing them come out without Blair. Jen pulled the men to the SUV, and they all climbed in, "Where's Blair?" Ryan asked. "I pulled the ring off," James said. "Clearly Craig is in on this," Ben told him. "We need to find him, so I can kill him," he added. Ryan pulled out on to the road and headed home, a solemn quiet settled in the car.

Once the group had left, Andrew sighed, "Well, that's done," he said sitting down. "She didn't formally reject him," Kathrine stated coldly. "Mother, I'm sure it's just formality. What Blair just went through must've been very difficult," Andrew told her. "She'll never be fully yours until she formally rejects him," Kathrine pushed. "And she will, give her sometime," Andrew ordered. "But Andrew," Kathrine began. "ENOUGH MOTHER!" Andrew yelled using his alpha voice, causing everyone to jump. Kathrine huffed and walked out of the house, slamming the front door behind her. They finished breakfast and Blair cleared her dishes, "That's ok, ma'am, I'll get it," Franny told her, hurrying over and taking the plate from her. "Thank you," Blair offered robotically. Franny looked at Andrew, who was on his phone and then out to the accordion doors behind the dining room table, "You should go for a walk," Franny whispered. "It's raining," Blair said. Franny looked out to the dining room again, "After that decision this morning, I think the fresh air would do you good," Franny pushed. "Blair, I'm going into a meeting. I should be done in an hour or so," Andrew said coming in. "Ok," Blair replied. He kissed her forehead and went to his office, "Blair," Sidney whispered walking in from the kitchen. "Why is everyone whispering?" Blair asked. Sidney grabbed her hand and dragged her out on to the back porch. "Sidney," Blair squealed. "Shh," Sidney hushed. "Craig, what are you doing here?" Blair asked, as he stepped on to the porch. "Why isn't it working?" Sidney whispered. "Give it time," he replied looking in the window to make sure no one was coming.

After a few minutes Blair put her hand on her head as her eyes searched around, "How do you feel?" Sidney asked hopeful. "Who was that?" Blair asked quietly. "My mom hexed you, you need to run and find your mate," Sidney urged. "SIDNEY!" Katherine screamed walking back into the dining room. "Run," Craig called and ran inside the house to stop Kathrine. "Come on," Sidney called running into the trail of the back yard. Blair ran behind Sidney mud splashing her legs, thick rain drops splashing on her face, her hair wild and sticking to her as it rained. It wasn't long before they had reached the Red Creek, "Those woods should lead you to the main road. Craig and I marked the trail, so follow the green marks and run as fast as you can," Sidney told her, pointing to the thick forest across from the creek. "Come with me," Blair urged, pulling her. Sidney looked back at the trail; she knew going back could be death for her. She looked back at Blair, "I can't," Sidney replied. "Please," Blair pleaded. Sidney looked back, "I have a mate, at the ever-green pack," she said turning back to look at Blair with tears in her eyes. Blair nodded, "We will protect you," Blair offered holding out her hand. Sidney looked back one last time, before grabbing Blair's hand and running across the creek and into the forest.

Their lungs burned as they pushed towards the road, their legs screamed with every step. It felt like hours before they had reached the now mud-covered asphalt road. Sidney stopped and leaned over putting her hand on her knees, "Maybe we missed them," she said. Blair looked back towards the town, it wasn't visible from where they were, but she could hear a car. "We should've shifted, my brother will be here soon," Sidney began. Blair walked towards the sound. "We should shift and run to your pack," Sidney told her standing. "I can't shift, I'm pregnant," Blair said absent minded as she focused on the sound. "You're what?" Sidney asked shocked her brother and mother would do this to a pregnant wolf.

 Blair's eyes darted around to all the sounds, the car was getting closer and louder. Sidney pulled her to get to the tree line, Blair refused to go instead she continued walking towards the car coming, "Blair," Sidney called. Soon she could see the car, Blair took a deep breath as the car stopped, six feet from her. The passenger door open and Blair took a few steps, James shut the door and walked towards her. Blair ran to him, her tears mixing with the rain, her feet being scrapped against the asphalt. She crashed into him, flinging her arms around him and buried her face into his neck, "I'm so sorry," she cried, over and over as he held her as tight as he could. James kissed Blairs neck, she pulled her face up to look at him and they kissed, deeply, passionately, as if they had been apart for years. "I love you," she cried against his lips. "I love you too," he murmured, and kissed her again. James lifted her, carrying her to the car, "Sidney," she called. Sidney came out from the tree line, James raised an eyebrow, "She saved me, we have to help her," Blair pleaded. "Get in," James said nodding. Sidney climbed in the passenger's side, while James not letting go of Blair climbed into the back, squeezing in with Ben and Jen. "Drive," James commanded. The dive back was long and exhausting and cramped, keeping carful watch that they weren't followed. James and Ben wanted to put as much space between them and Red Creek pack as possible.