Kael stood a short distance from the lake, his gaze fixed on the water that reflected the light. The gathering seemed to be going well enough and he’d seen one of the older Omegas actually being interested in the Redwood dogs which was good enough to keep them quiet for now and stop pestering them. She’d already gone to talk to Lance about the mating ceremony and soon that too would be finalised.
He should have been making sure that Ramona was also happy but with her busy mingling with the pack, his attention was focused entirely on Emira.
She stood a little away, still talking to the Cassian Redwood and once again, he had to stop himself from going there and separating them. If he didn’t know that Emira had given up the chance of finding her true mate, with the way these two had been glued together since yesterday, he would have thought that Cassian was her destined mate.
He exhaled slowly, turning away before his gaze lingered too long. Focus. He needed to keep his focus on Emira and not anyone else. Only then would he be able to protect her.
Just as he was thinking this, his gaze moved inadvertently to her again, and his hands clenched when Cassian extended his hand, holding Emira’s shoulder. What was the man trying to do?
He was about to go and ge tthe two away, when suddenly a strange heaviness pressed against his chest. His wolf bristled as it stood at attention, and a sudden chill coursed through the air.
His instincts screamed that something was wrong. Just as he was about to open his senses to scan the surroundings, Lance’s voice echoed in his head urgently, "Kael. Take everyone away from the lakeside. Now. We’re under a rogue attack. They’ve sneaked in from the far north and could—"
Kael didn’t wait for him to finish. His command rolled out through the pack link, " Everyone, to the safe house. Now. And take the guests.
The guards and wolves who had been casually chatting moments ago snapped to attention. The hum of conversation broke off as they began herding the guests toward the inner grounds.
He turned to Ramona, who was hurrying towards him with a frown and ordered, been walking toward him. "Go with them. Take the western path and don’t stop until you reach the stone house. Stay there until I come."
He watched her hesitate but in the next moment, she nodded and turned around, hurrying away with the others. Of course everyone in the pack knew what going to the safe house meant. It meant that their pack was under attack and the pack boundaries had been breached.
The lakeside that had moments ago been filled with laughter now buzzed with fear as the women and children who had come to enjoy the scene were taken away, leaving only those who were capable of fighting.
Of course everyone in the Stormhold Pack was able to fight, but there were those who could do it in the front lines and those who could only defend themselves.
Kael scanned the edges of the forest, trying to sense where the attack would break from
Then a scream sliced through the calm. The crowd froze for half a second before movement erupted and everyone almost started to run.
Kael’s head snapped toward the sound. "Stay in formation!" he barked, and several of the pack members, already in wolf form rushed forward. But even as they moved, he realized something was missing. Or rathr. Someone.
His gaze swept the area. Ramona was gone as ordered, the guards were in motion, but Emira had been on the other side and he had not seen her move...And he couldn’t see her now. Nor Cassian.
Kael’s pulse spiked. Not again. Was this attack also to kidnap her ? But if it was, then where was she now?
Closing his eyes, he contacted the wolf at the Stone house," Is Emira or Alpha Cassian there yet?" Only to receive a negative response.
Kael’s hands clenched at his side and slowly moved towards the Northern line. Emira was in danger and he needed to save her.
***
Emira stumbled as the ground shook beneath her feet,but without giving her a chance to straighten up, Alpha Cassian grabbed her arm and almost dragged her through the forest, pulling her towards the northern line of the Stormhold Pack.
Emira followed for a few steps before realizing the direction they were taking. Her head snapped toward him. "Wait! This isn’t the way to the Stormhold pack safehouse," she said, panting as she tried to catch up while still running. "We’re heading north."
But Cassian didn’t slow down. Instead, he turned his head towards her and snapped, "We’re moving toward the Redwood Packlands. There’s a safe house closer to the lake and I’m more familiar with that route. It’s faster, safer. And I trust my people to protect us better."
She shook her head, and planted her feet so that even as he pulled her heels scraped against the ground, causing him to slow down, "No. Prince Kael said to move towards the Stormhold safe house. We don’t know where the danger is coming from. What if they’re already on this side?"
Cassian turned to face her, eyes flashing. "And what if the rogues are between us and your precious Prince Kael? You think he can protect you from across the forest? If you want to stay alive, stop dawdling and follow me. Trust me on this. I know this place better than you. Come on."
Even as she paused to think, he pulled her along and sighed in relief as she followed albeit slowly.
Because Emira was distracted, she failed to notice the smirk on Alpha Cassian’s face and even his careless mistake of admitting that they were running from the rogues. After all, no one had mentioned Rogues attacking. It had only been said that there was danger and to move towards the safe house.
Danger came in various forms when living amid the mountains from land slides to other things etc. Then why was Alpha Cassian so sure that there were rogues they were running from...
However, before these thoughts came to her, they had already crossed half the forest and in another few minutes, they would enter the Redwood Packlands.