Chapter 41

Gunner's POV

Today is the day. We are all loading up the busses and trucks and heading over to Iceland. When I left there months ago I never thought, in a million years that I would be heading back so soon. I was getting just one step closer to my mate with every step I took. I was bound and determined to find her and bring her home.

I was lost in my own thoughts, daydreaming if we're being honest, about what I was going to do to my mate when I saw her again. Maddox was not shy about anything and was throwing dirty mental images into my head.

"Would you knock it off. Horn dog." I had to chuckle. I know this had to be just as hard on him as it was for me. To finally find our mate and then lose her all within the same hour.

"What? Don't act like you haven't thought of it either!" Maddox retorted.

"Go lay your fluffy ass down and reserve your strength. We have a fight to win." Maddox snorted at me and I could feel him retreating to the back of mind.

"Dude how many suitcases you got?! And what is in these? Dead bodies?" I asked Ben as I grabbed one of the 3 suitcases he was lugging out the door of pack house.

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to buddy." He gave a sly smirk and I just stared at him.

"These are actually Chelsea's. We're going to be dropping her off at a relative's place in an undisclosed location. I would tell you but the less that know the better. You understand right?" He asked.

"Yeah dude. No worries. Completely understand. I'm just glad Becka was able to find some of her family in such a short amount of time." I responded.

"That's another discussion we need to have. But it can wait for now. After all, we lose this fight and it won't matter anyways." Ben looked down at the suitcases in his hands and then inhaled deeply, "Anyways, let's get moving. Not getting anything accomplished standing here." He said as he started walking towards one of the blacked-out SUVs.

His comment had my mind reeling with what could possibly have him so…torn? Distracted? I didn't know exactly what was going on with him but I knew something was off. I shrugged it off and lugged Chelsea's suitcase to the SUV and threw it in the back with the rest.

"Is that the last of it for this one?" I asked around.

"That the last of it." Alpha Nik said with a nod.

Just as I was closing the back hatch, someone grabbed my shoulder. I whipped around not knowing what or who to expect at that point, and it was Tyler.

"Hey what are you doing here?" I asked, kind of in shock that he was standing in front of me.

"My pack is riding with yours remember?" He said questionably.

"I know that, but what are you doing here?" I repeated myself.

"I'm going with you guys." He shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Oh no you're not Tyler! If anything happens to you, your sister will murder me." We both laughed because we both knew how true it was.

"Guess you better not let anything happen to me then." He smacked me on the shoulder with a wide toothy grin that went from ear to ear.

"What about your dad? How's he holding up after all this?" I asked in a low voice so only he could hear me.

"Eh he's ok considering everything. Couple of my sisters are going to stay with him until I get back. They'll keep him busy I'm sure." Tyler rolled his eyes.

"Guess you got it all figured out then huh?" I asked.

"Oh hell no. I have no clue what I'm doing." He laughed. "All I know is I want to bring my sister home."

"You and me both." I said with a huff. "Well guess let's get ya loaded up then." I motioned for him to lead the way and he slung an old military style bag up on his shoulder and we both headed for the first bus.

After all the luggage was loaded, everybody was standing around waiting on orders. The group of people that have come to help fight this war was much more than I could've ever imagined. There were people as far as you could see. Just then I saw Alpha Nik climbing up on one of the bus hoods so he was everybody else and people in the back of the group could see him.

"Attention please. Everybody." As soon as he started talking everybody went quiet and all eyes were on him. "Thank you. As you all know, we are not loading up for a vacation in the Bahamas. We are heading out to war. If any of you have any doubts about this, speak now or forever hold your peace. This is your last chance to back out." Alpha Nik paused for a minute while everybody looked around but nobody said anything and everybody stayed rooted in place where they stood.

"Some of us will not be coming back home. We are going up against some Lycans, some of which are of royal bloodline. I can't promise you anything, but just know that your loyalty will not go unnoticed or unappreciated. For safety reasons, and to save me from repeating myself 300 times, the whole war plan will be presented when we get to our destination. It's going to be a long trip so I hope you are all prepared. If there are no questions, comments, or concerns, load up!" Alpha Nik jumped down off the bus as the crowd started cheering loudly.

"Gunner, I want you on the first bus. Since we will be making a pit stop to drop off Chelsea, you will be in charge until we catch back up with you. Should only be a day behind you." Alpha Nik said as we walked towards his SUV.

"Will do sir." I nodded and walked back towards the first bus.

Once I stepped on the bus I found that Tyler had saved me a seat with him right up front. I sat down and prepared myself for long ride it was about to be to the east coast. As the busses started to pull out I watched as the town passed by the windows and slowly out of sight all together. I put my headphones on and tried to relax. At this point, there was nothing else to do but wait.

Ben's POV

We were about two thirds of the way through the trip when I felt the SUV take a turn but noticed that nobody else was following us. I knew then that we must be getting close to Chelsea's relatives. As much as I didn't want to leave her, I knew I had to. It was for her safety. Axle was whining so loud in my head that I was starting to get a headache.

"It's just until we get back Axle. Not forever." I reminded him.

"I don't want to leave mate!" He said.

"It's for her own safety. We've already talked about this." I responded.

"I know. Still sucks though." I could see him actually pouting in my head.

"I know buddy, but the sooner we get there and get this over with, the sooner we can come back to her. Now go rest up and safe your energy for those bastards across the pond." I smirked and he trotted off with a huff to the back of my mind.

Chelsea and I haven't completed the mating bond yet. With everything going on, we decided to wait until it all quieted down, when it would be more appropriate to have a celebration. I looked down at her sleeping in my lap and brushed some stray hair away from her face. She was beautiful and I didn't want to wake her up. She started stirring and her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at me and softly smiled before getting up and looking out the windows.

"Where are we? How long have I been sleeping?" She asked as she looked around.

"We're almost there. You've only been out for a few hours." I said as I took her hand in mine.

The driver continued to drive and followed the directions from my dad. It took another hour but eventually we pulled up to a large metal gate and the driver rolled his window down and pressed the button on the intercom.

"Can I help you?" Came a lady's voice from the speaker.

"Yes, I'm here to drop off Chelsea with her relatives." The driver answered. Then there was a short beep noise and the gate started to open.

Once the gate was open enough, the driver proceeded to drive threw. We were all looking around and taking in the sight before our eyes. Hundreds of mansions just lined the roads. All with their own gates, fountains in the yards, some with long driveways with trees that lined them, just everything seemed to perfect.

After a few twists and turns, the driver pulled the SUV into the driveway of one of the smaller homes.

"You ready for this?" I asked Chelsea.

"About as ready as I'll ever be I guess." She replied.

"I will be right by your side." I squeezed her hand then placed a soft kiss on the back of it.

She looked at me and smiled and without even saying it I knew she was saying thank you. We proceeded to get out of the SUV and met up at the front of it. I grabbed her hand again and we walked up to the porch. I could tell she was a little hesitant so I squeezed her hand softly to get her attention and then just offered her a soft reassuring smile. As we started walking up the stairs on the porch, I could hear someone in the house heading towards the door. Just as I was getting ready to knock, the door swung open and there stood a five foot nothing 140 pounds chunky little old lady.