Page 143 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

I linked Cameron, “They are going to pop out and take on Hammond alone. I’ve got to get to them.” Cameron said, “If you can touch them, you’ll pop with them. GO!” I turned and pushed Bolt. I needed to keep Haley safe for Lexi. Or at very least fight beside her.

I linked Alpha Eric, “THEY ARE GOING TO POP AWAY!” He whirled, shifted back, and shouted at them to wait. Haley winked at me as I dove. I missed them by a split second. I shifted back to Bolt. Alpha Eric linked me, “It was a good try.” He sounded murderous. I went back to my group. I was taking out rogues left and right.

I kept an eye on Haley. She was a literal force of nature. I felt bad for Lexi if she’d been tasked to keep Haley safe on a mission. The woman did what she wanted. A Hackura guard stepped out and cut down two wolves. He smiled at me. I recognized him from that time in my office. He took off. He was going to the girls. Thank god for that.

I saw a witch drag a kid to a holoport. They disappeared. Haley screamed about hating witches. Honestly at this point I felt the same way. They’d become a giant pain in my ass lately. Alpha Hammond shifted. All of us paused for a second because of how his wolf looked. He was turning rabid. He really was losing it.

Luna Emmaline was somehow drowning Alpha Hammond. We all gaped in shock as she announced the warlocks fighting on our side were her brothers. Cameron yelling in our link, “THAT’S EVELYN FORRESTER? HOLY SHIT!” I surmised, “David Forrester’s wife cheated. You just have to love karma.”

Beta Dylan shifted back. He told everyone, “No one will repeat my Luna’s birth name, or I’ll have to bring out serious Dylan and kill you. It’s like fight club. WE DON’T TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB!” Cameron rolled his eyes, “I thought he was going to be all threatening there for a second.” I responded, “I think he’s very serious.”

Haley snapped right before she popped out. Were all back in our costumes. Alpha Eric linked me, “I appreciate the effort you made to keep my mate safe.” He shot me a knowing look, but I refused to give anything away. I knew that look though. He knew but he wasn’t going to say anything. I responded, “Anytime.”

Cameron said, “He one hundred and twenty percent knows you’ve met Lexi.” I replied, “Maybe.” Cameron scoffed, “There is no ‘maybe’ about it.” Alpha Eric told Haley to pop his people home the second she came back. Alpha Eric nodded to me, and then their group was gone.

Alpha Lucas took off with his Luna. Beta Dylan grumbled, “It’s only my mating ceremony. Why shouldn’t I coordinate efforts?” I offered, “I’ll do it. I need a distraction.” Beta Dylan bowed to me, “Bless you Alpha Skywalker. I don’t care what anyone says about you, you're the best. I’ll tell ALL the partial fairies I know. Alpha Skywalker is a Prince among wolves.” I snorted and Beta Dylan took off running.

Former Alpha Dale Lyons told me, “I’ve been tasked with the chore of it all, Alpha Chase. You are free to go. Our pack can handle clean up. We appreciate all your efforts.” He nodded to me. I asked, “Are you sure? I really could do with the distraction.” Dale smirked, “I’m sure you could, we are good though. Go on home.” Did everyone know? Bolt growled, “Clearly, so mark mate.” He was basically a parrot that only knew so many words at this point.

I linked Matt, “Is everything all good at home?” He didn’t answer. I started toward the border we shared with Cameron. Matt replied a few minutes into the run, “Hey, Chase is everything over?” I stopped running which had Cameron and Reagan pulling up. I didn’t like his tone one bit. Bolt agreed, “Something is up.” I knew that.

I answered, “Yes, Hammond is dead. We won. What happened? Is Susie ok?” Matt assured me, “She’s fine. It’s your dad. He was running a patrol and stumbled on a Hood member. They were talking when they were attacked. He linked my dad. Jenna and I went with him, but we got attacked too.” Fear gripped me. My dad couldn’t have died. We were in a fight, and…. No. I couldn’t lose my dad too.

I asked panicked, “Matt, is my dad ok?” Matt admitted, “We can’t find him. Nadine can still feel him though. He’s in pain, but alive.” I asked questions and made orders, “Did they take him? Send out search parties! PICK UP HIS SCENT NOW! I’m on the way!”

I turned to Cameron and shifted back to explain, “Dad’s missing. He went out to the damn border alone. We got attacked too and were also supported by members of the Hood.” Cameron looked torn. I assured him, “I’ll find him. Go secure your pack.” Cameron argued, “He’s my dad too.” I pointed out, “Yes, but he’s not just my dad. He’s my pack member. Your pack needs to see their Alpha and Luna. I’ve got this. GO!”

I shifted and took off. Matt linked me again, “Ted said the Black Arrow found your dad. He’s fine. Ted has eyes on him. She brought him to the pack hospital. Nadine is with him.” Thank you Moon Goddess. My heart was pounding in my chest.

I linked my dad, “DAD!” He replied, “Chase? Are you ok? The Black Arrow said Lexi is fine.” I felt more settled. I asked, “Are you ok?” He sounded surprised, “I’m fine, son. Are you?” I answered, “I’m fine, I’m on my way home.” My heart was beating regularly again. My dad let me know, “The Black Arrow is running our border.” I didn’t really care at this exact moment. I told him, “I’ll thank her if I see her, but I’m not waiting around. I’m coming to you.” I pushed Bolt to go faster.

I linked Cameron, “The Black Arrow found dad. He’s linking me, and he seems fine.” Cameron let me know, “We will be there as soon as we can be.” I replied, “I know.” I shifted back when I got to the hospital. Ted was standing there with another Romeo costume. I couldn’t stop my laugh. I threw it on as fast as I could.

He led me to where my dad was. I stood outside the room for a second. I spoke to no one in particular, “He looks good.” Ted told me, “He took on a witch’s spell. According to my super sleuthing he and one of our guy took on a group of rogues and witches. Twelve of them. BA stumbled upon them at the end. Just as your dad went down unable to take on any more pain. My guy said he took on three different spells. He’s in a great deal of pain but is refusing pain meds until he sees you and Lexi.” I rolled my eyes, “Stubborn old man.” Matt handed me my phone. I texted Lexi. I needed to see her.

I walked into the room trying to fight back my tears, “Dad?” My dad whipped his head to me and winced in pain. He told me, “You look good.” I asked, “What were you doing?” My dad answered, “Running the border just checking things out.” Nadine growled, “You said you were going for a run!” I added harshly, “We don’t run border patrols alone.”

My dad replied, “I know that, son.” I walked in and hugged him. I whispered, “Don’t scare me like that again. I can’t lose you.” My dad choked out, “I didn’t mean to scare you.” I pulled back away from him. Nadine tilted her head towards me, “What Chase said.”

Bolt shouted, “Mate is here!” Nadine asked, “Will you take the pain meds now, Frank?” My dad shook his head no, “Not until we see Lexi.” I announced, “She’s here, I’ll be back.” My dad yelled, “Only her fated could smell her from here.” I flipped him off and ran in the direction her scent was taking me.

I heard her before I saw her. My blood settled. Everything was ok. She was here. She didn’t even have a scratch, and I knew she hadn’t seen Haley. I pulled her into an empty room. I breathed her in. She did the same. I didn't realize I was crying until she was consoling me.

Everything hit me all at once. My dad could’ve died. Lexi was off doing goddess knows what. Whoever fought with my dad had my gratitude along with the Black Arrow. I couldn’t believe my dad had done something so dumb. It wasn’t like him. Bolt huffed, “We need to bring him back in. Alpha wolves don’t do well when excluded.” Clearly. He was off the rails.

I was stunned when Lexi started crying. She managed to tell me she’d gotten word a black wolf was down in my territory. I wanted to wince. I couldn’t imagine her terror in that moment, and I didn't want to. My poor Sweetheart. I would’ve gone into a murderous rage if I’d gotten that kind of news. I didn’t handle her getting shot at well, and I didn’t know it was her.

Matt linked me, “Your old man and mine may come to blows if you don’t get back up here.” I asked, “What the hell happened?” Matt snorted, “Really? If you did something like your dad did without me, I’d be royally pissed.” Fair enough.

I got Lexi walking towards my dad’s room even though she didn’t understand why. Bolt told me, “It’s a simple explanation. He realized she’s our mate and wants to repair the damage he’s done with her.” He’s right that was easy to explain. Bolt huffed, “I make sense a lot of the time.” He actually did.

My dad visibly relaxed when he saw us both. He linked me, “I’d never want you to go through what I did, Chase. I’m glad she’s ok.” I replied, “You could at least admit to her you were worried too.” He frowned, “I don’t deserve it. I want a relationship with her, but not because she feels manipulated on my end. I was worried about her, but we need to build to that type of conversation. Right now, she’s got to have the worst opinion of me. I won’t have her thinking I want to manipulate her.” I respected that quite a bit, actually.

Isaac was upset. He linked me, “We could’ve lost him. You know, that right?” I answered, “I do. He’s a stubborn old man.” Isaac pleaded, “End this with him, Chase. I know you have a right to be upset but stop shutting him out.” I admitted, “I plan to. I would never want anything to happen to him and our latest conversation to be the last words we’d spoken. He has to stick around for me to be pissed at him, but I won’t shut him out anymore.” Isaac nodded, “Good.”

We all breathed a sigh of relief when my dad took his medicine. Lexi and Ted stepped outside. Matt reported, “They came at Sophia’s pack HARD. The Black Arrow was around because she was fighting WITH the Hood himself.” I asked, “Why would Hammond care that much about Sophia?” Matt frowned, “I don’t think he would. I think he focused on Cameron’s pack.” I questioned, “Then who is coming for Sophia?” Matt admitted, “I don’t know.” I sighed, “Great. That’s just great.”

My dad fell asleep, and I walked out to take Lexi home. I linked Matt, “Heath Scott knew these attacks were coming.” He agreed, “He did.” Kevin and Kincade were hanging around. They were visibly relieved to see Lexi in person.

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