CHAPTER 4.

　　James stepped out and harshly slammed the door behind him. His chest was heaving, his body was rigid and he had grown to his fullest height. We all flew to our feet, covering ourselves up as two others jumped out. It was Alex and Jason.

　　James growled and the guys looked away. I could see the rumbling of Alex’s shoulders from the hidden laughter. James came up to me, his stance was predatory and intimidating as he handed me the clothes.

　　”Put them on. Now.” I did as instructed and I don't believe I've ever gotten dressed so quickly before.

　　I turned around and saw that Lydia and Amber were dressed too. I gave James a cheeky smile and an innocent glare as I stood there, rooted to my spot. He didn't look amused, if anything, he was about to shift and wreak havoc upon the woods.

　　I placed my hand gently on his chest. James gripped my wrist the second it touched him and pulled me to him, making me slam into his front.

　　”Did anyone see you?” He asked me in a low growl.

　　I shook my head slowly as I stared into the furious eyes of my mate. His orbs were black and raging, he was fighting for control as he stared down on me.

　　”James…” I said quietly.

　　He turned around and dragged me after him to the car without a word.

　　He opened the door and gestured for me to get in.

　　I gulped, but got in and buckled my seatbelt.

　　James got in the drivers seat and everyone else soon filled the car.

　　I wasn't afraid of him, he was my mate and would never harm me, but this side of him was reserved for pack business and I hadn't seen it in a long time. I knew my ass was in for it once we got back home.

　　We were driving back home, James' heavy breathing being the only thing one heard in the car.

　　The silence and tension weighed heavily and my heart was clenching and hammering at the same time.

　　I knew this would happen, I knew he’d be mad that I didn't tell him we were leaving the pack grounds, but Amber deserved some answers.

　　As we rolled up in front of the packhouse, Amber chose to break the silence.

　　She cleared her throat.

　　”James, we-” Her timid voice came to an abrupt stop as James cut her off.

　　”My office,” he said and got out. I and the girls looked at each other, neither of us wanted to follow him but we knew we had no choice.

　　It wasn't a request, it was an order.

　　”What the hell were you thinking?” Alex asked as he too got out and we all followed behind.

　　”It’s a long story,” I said quietly.

　　”Well, it better be good for what you almost did,”

　　My brows were furrowed as I looked confused at the back of Alex head.

　　We made our way into the packhouse and saw the glares from everyone as we passed.

　　What the hell is going on?

　　’Something bad’

　　Ye, thanks for the help

　　I rolled my eyes and walked up the stairs, taking a right turn for James' office.

　　Alex turned the nob and slid the door open, before turning his head to us.

　　”You’re on your own from here.”

　　He said and walked away. Jason had left earlier, so it was just us girls and a pissed of Alpha.

　　I could feel James’s disdain and worry, but since we weren't marked, I couldn't sense him as well as I wanted to.

　　His emotions, feelings, thoughts, and everything going on within him were locked away from me, I couldn't reach him as mates normally could.

　　We walked in and stood beside each other by his desk.

　　He slowly turned around and raised an eyebrow.

　　”What were you doing by the border of Silver Moon?” He asked us. The accusation was noticeable in his voice.

　　”We ran from Carlos pack and accidentally got close to their border, it wasn't our intention.” I said, taking a step forward.

　　He sighed and sat down on his chair, massaging the bridge of his nose.

　　”Start explaining and leave nothing out.” He ordered.

　　I took a deep breath.

　　”It was my fault,” Amber said.

　　”I wanted to go to Carlos and see if he had any information on Malia and her family. It was a Knight that turned her and Carlos is the oldest one alive so I thought that maybe he could help me,” Amber said.

　　”And did he?”

　　”No. He said that some things are better left unsaid.” Amber said, her voice was giving away the anger that was boiling inside of her.

　　”Good.” All our heads jerked up as we looked at James in disbelief.

　　”You agree with him?” I asked, unable to mask the shock in my voice.

　　”I do. There is more to this than any of us know and we can't be running around, asking people questions.” He said as he stood up.

　　”James, she’s my mate,” his face softened but his eyes remained resilient.

　　”I know, and I'm sorry that things aren't easier for you. I want you to be with Malia, but someone in our family turned her and in doing so, started a war with the vampires. They had been waiting for a reason to attack us for centuries and that was the reason they needed. If you want Malia, if you truly believe that she is worth fighting for, then you have to be prepared to fight the vampires as well.”

　　James had walked around his desk and was standing in front of Amber. His Alpha aura was radiating and I could tell on Lydia that it wasn't just a smidge.

　　”Would you rather back away and let Avery walk, or would you stand and fight for her? Because I don't remember you giving her over to Crow,” Amber spat.

　　James' stiff features turned into a smirk and a glint in his eye woke to life.

　　”We better get prepared then,”

　　”We?”

　　”I don’t remember fighting Crow and the Celestial pack alone?” He said with a raised brow.

　　”You’re my sister, and Malia is your mate. You’re not doing this alone,”

　　Ambers face lit up as she swung her arms around James and laughed in joy as she embraced her brother.

　　James pulled back and looked at Lydia.

　　”What exactly did your father say?”

　　Lydia shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

　　”Only that he couldn't say anything. He gave Amber a journal but that was it, whatever information he had, he’s taking to the grave.” She said.

　　”What journal?” He asked.

　　Amber grabbed the journal from her bag and handed it to James.

　　His eyes widened and his jaw clenched. James dragged his hand over the front of the journal.

　　”What is it?” I asked.

　　”This is our fathers journal.” He said.

　　He dragged his fingers along the front before reeling back to reality.

　　”Read it, see what it says, but we’re going to need more if we’re starting a war against the vampires.”

　　Lydia looked at me and flicked her head towards James. He furrowed his brows and stepped towards me. He pressed two fingers under my chin, lifting my head so that I was looking into his eyes, something I had tried not to do since we stepped out of the car.

　　”Yes?” He asked as he towered over me.

　　”Yeah, um, there is one more thing.” I said and Amber turned to me.

　　”Malia is the cousin of Raven Whitlock,” I said and scrunched my nose.

　　James squinted and waited for me to continue.

　　”Raven is the descendant of the first-ever vampire in existence. She’s, um, strong.” I said and scratched the back of my head.

　　”Fuck,” he said as he gritted his teeth and turned around as he dragged his hand through his hair. But then he stopped, slowly his body turned to face me and he took slow, menacing steps towards me.

　　His body was pressing up against mine.. his eyes were narrowed like an animal watching its prey. I wanted to cower away, to turn around and run away from him, his intimidation was pissing me off. I wasn't used to feeling intimidated, not my by him, but right now I wanted to redo this entire day.

　　”How long have you known?”

　　I gulped and looked at Lydia but James' fingers turned my face back, forcing me to look at him. Yes, he was an ass right now but understandably so, however, I couldn't help but be turned on by this dominant side, the one that demanded my attention and answers. I was getting wet simply by his touch and I could tell he noticed based on the smirk that grew on his face.

　　”Just today,” I winced from the hoarseness in my voice as I raised my head.

　　He scanned my face, without blinking his eyes bored into mine.

　　”Damit, Avery, you have to tell me these things.”

　　”I’m sorry,” I said and placed a kiss on his lips.

　　”You can go, read the journal and get back to me.” I took the opportunity and started walking out.

　　”Love, you were naked in the woods in-between two different packs without my knowledge, you're not going anywhere.” James said as he leaned back against the desk and with his finger, he beckoned me over.

　　I looked at the girls who both smiled innocently.

　　”Good luck,” Lydia said as she and Amber scurried out of the office.

　　”You guys suck!” I shouted.

　　I turned around and looked into the dark orbs of my mate. I slowly walked over to him, and when I was within reach, he grabbed my shirt and pulled me in. He held me tightly against his body, one hand around my waist and the other holding under my chin.

　　"I'm gonna have fun punishing you,"

　　'Me too'

　　Xena cooed in the back of my mind. Me, I was excited but I couldn't pretend as though I was the slightest bit nervous.

　　~Malia~

　　The chains clanked as I walked over to my bed. I removed the dirty bed sheet and laid down, staring up at the ceiling.

　　I closed my eyes, willing myself to fall asleep. For three nights I had laid awake, thinking of a plan but ended up with nothing. My mind wasn't working, images of Amber flooded before me and my urge to get to her was stronger than anything I had ever felt.

　　My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, a sound I had never heard before. She missed her mate too, as did I. With every waken moment away from Amber, the image of her face got blurrier. The thought of never seeing her again was an unbearable pain, unlike anything I had ever felt.

　　”We can't be together,” I told her as I looked into her eyes. I got lost in them, all rationality disappeared.

　　”Why not?”

　　”I was turned by a Knight, Amber, us being together is a death sentence.”

　　Ambers smile was the most beautiful vision I had ever witnessed.

　　"Where do I sign?" I scoffed and looked at her in disbelief. She rolled her eyes but I could tell she meant her words.

　　”Maybe, but that doesn't mean it’s not worth fighting for,”

　　”But is it worth dying for?” I asked her. The thought of any harm becoming her was making my insides twist in pain and worry.

　　”Yes.” Her answer was quick and honest.

　　She would die for me, I would do the same for her. Only, the odds were against us both.

　　I woke up in a jerk, sweat dripping down my face and my hand flew to my chest to ease the beating of my heart.

　　I needed her, I needed to see her.

　　If only for a moment.

　　I stood up and looked around. There were no windows I could crawl out from, the chains were laced with wolfsbane, keeping me put.

　　The only way to get out of here was if I went on a mission.

　　My door bursting open made me sit back down, pretending as though nothing had happened, I was used to that, to the facade and the pretending.

　　”Get the chains of off her,”

　　Aldo came around and unlocked my chains.

　　”The Silver Moon pack needs a merciless werewolf for where they’re going. You’re up.”

　　”Where are they going?” I asked her.

　　”To the Red Moon pack,” my heart did a backflip. This was it, I was about to see her again.

　　”What are you looking so happy for?” Aldo asked me.

　　”To get some fresh air,” I said, suppressing my giddiness so not to draw attention.

　　”Mutts don’t deserve that luxury.” He spat.

　　* * *

　　I was dragged outside and looked up to see a fairly well-built man standing before me.

　　”This is it?” He asked, trying his best to hold a cold demeanor. But something shone through, he looked at me with pity and at the people behind me with disdain.

　　”Yes, this is Malia.”

　　”So this is your daughter,” he asked and looked at my father.

　　He scoffed and tossed me forward, I reached out my hands before my face hit the ground and winced as the stinging pain from the wolfsbane on my wrist was scraped into my flesh. It would take a while for the wounds to heal but it didn't bother me anymore, I had gotten used to it. Whereas wolfsbane made most wolves weak, for me it simply meant I couldn't reach my wolf, the pain had no effect on me.

　　”No, this is the hidden shame of our family.” He said.

　　”And you rent her out?” Another guy, probably the Beta, asked. His voice was laced with poison and he made no effort to hide how he felt about this ordeal. This was nothing new, many werewolves took pity on the girl who was shackled by her family but nobody dared to do anything about it.

　　Nobody wanted to go against the vampires, knowing it meant starting a war amongst the species. Not only that but my family weren't ordinary vampires, they were royals, at least my uncle who was the brother of Ravens father.?

　　”Only to those who pay well,” my mother said in a sweet-honeyed voice. Their comments didn't get to me, I was used to it. This was the way I had lived ever since I was turned. Locked up and only allowed out when my family could make a profit.

　　The Beta scoffed but seeing my whole family turn towards him and their veins starting to show, he somewhat pulled back any other comments.

　　”Fine, let’s go.” The Alpha said as he reached out his hand for me. I grabbed it and got up.

　　* * *

　　The car drove through the gates to the Red Moon pack and the scent I had longed for filled my nostrils.

　　As soon as the door was opened up I ran out.

　　I looked around frantically before stopping when I saw the confused look on the Alphas face.

　　”Anyone you’re expecting to meet?” He asked me.

　　”Nope, just excited to get to work,” I said and shrugged.

　　”Good.”

　　We walked up to the packhouse where I saw the Alpha and Beta awaiting us. They looked at me but didn't give away any emotion or recognition. I kept my face void as we walked up to them, but slowly shook my head, it was a tiny movement but they saw it.

　　The Alphas shook hands and greeted each other before we walked up the stairs and to James office.

　　The scent got stronger and I had to fight the urge to scan around for her. The need to have her in my arms, to feel her touch, and to hear her voice was becoming unbearable but I couldn't blow this. The fear was there too, the fear of standing by the Alphas side and not getting more than a glimpse of my mate, more than a look, and then walking away again. I don't believe I had that strength in me.

　　’Keep it cool, we’ll see them soon’

　　I hope so