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It was almost as if my dream had foreshadowed the series of events that were being revealed. Footsteps of the collection of men quietly crunched the snow beneath their feet. The stillness of the air brought an eerie, heavy feeling to the atmosphere. It was almost as if I could reach out and touch the tension in the air and snap it. Just as in my dream, our feet led us to an open field, similar, but not exactly the same one I had saw in my sleep. It was an oddly relieving feeling knowing that it wasn't exactly like my dream, the ending of it never sat well with me.

We stood at the edge of the clearing, staying in the shadows of the tall trees that were being formed from the light emitting from the moon's surface. An uneasy feeling rose from within me, making me shift from foot to foot with anxiety for what lies ahead of us, coming for us. An owl's hoot added a sudden noise to the empty silence, making me flinch. Alpha Orion moved from his previous position, moving behind me so that his head was positioned above my shoulder.

"Relax." He whispered so quietly that I was confident that I would be the only one able to hear it. "Nothing is going to happened to you. I am here to protect you. I promise that I will keep you safe."

His warm breath make goosebumps arise on my skin, his hand coming up to rub up and down my arm. The sound of his heart beating filled my ears and he presses his chest against my back, filling me with warmth. Hit breath his the shell of my ear making the goosebumps stay on my arms as one of his hands trace them.

I suddenly pulled away and ducked my head with embarrassment, realizing that we weren't alone in the slightest. My cheeks burned, the stares of my fellow packs members seemed to burn holes against the back of my head. Finding my reaction amusing, Alpha Orion's let out a low, quiet chuckle, letting everyone know of his amusement. His laugh brought a small smile to my lips, an expression he could not see because of the layer of hair that was blocking his view of me. Another series of warmth wave over my body as his laughter filled my ears as he moved to stand next to me, rather than behind me. It was a warm, smooth sound that I had to smile at, it was impossible not to.

A snap from across the clearing made me whip my head up as Alpha Orion's ceased. Dark silhouettes began to emerge from the darkness of the forest, the moonlight illuminating their figures. Instead of being in wolf form, they walked out clad with pairs of legs. Though, only some had the decency to put on shorts, making me advert my eyes from their lower regions. I did not wish to see that any time soon. Rather, I focused on their faces, most I unfortunately recognized.

As I scanned over the seemingly endless faces, my hands began to shake at my sides as I became refamiliarized with their undeniable features that haunted my past. I seemed to grow even more fearful when I didn't see the man who was behind this whole situation. Sending a nervous glance towards the man that was standing next to me. He captured my quick gaze with his own, sending me a small, reassuring once he saw the expression that was blatantly plastered across my face.

"Well, well."a voice mocked and seemed to materialize out of the shadows, a spot I must have overlooked. "I didn't expect to see you here, especially after to completely disregarded my last message to you, Malia." A sneer formed on his lips as he casually leaned his body against a tree. The moonlight shrouded his body making his eyes have an unnatural, discomforting hue. I quivered beneath his gaze, my legs threatening to give out on me at any moment.

"You have no right to address her, Gordon."

"Ah." He mused and pushed up off the tree, taking a few steps towards us. "She finally gained enough courage to actually say my given name. And who might you be?" His eyes ran up and down the Alpha that was next to me with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You know, it is a very disrespectful offense to not address a higher power of authority, especially when you are on their territory."

"And you thought I would care about that? Please." He laughed and pointed his finger. "Your little title means absolutely nothing to me. Names give you power but it's the man that makes the name powerful, makes men fall at their feet with a single command. The satisfaction of having men cower at your feet with only having to say your own name, damn, it's great."

"Ruling people with fear does not make you powerful." Alpha Orion shot back.

"You are right." Master agreed, surprising me. "It just makes other men cowards." Master's eyes trailed from Alpha Orion and then to me. "Just like you, Malia."

Shame was all I felt after he uttered that last sentence. I allowed him to gain control over me, allowed him to make me fear him for years. He ruled over me, commanded me to do things and I wouldn't even ask why. The worst thing about all of that is that he knew it too.

"You will not speak of my mate in that type of manner." Alpha growled.

"Well, I had never thought that I would live to the day that the bitch would actually find her mate." A new voice joined into the conversation, making my knees shake for the last time before the collapsed underneath me. Alpha Orion caught me in time, just before my body completely fell to the ground. He held me against himself firmly, shielding me from my other torturer's stare.

"What? You aren't going to greet your dad after all of these years?"

"You are not my father!" I snapped. My voice quivered but I was proud of myself for actually standing up to him.

"Your mother would say otherwise." He laughed. A lone tear escaped my eye and a small whimper passed through my lips, even though I tried to suppress it. Alpha changed my position, standing in front of me. One hand was holding my waist, pushing my front to his back, while his other hand held one of mine.

"Wow, I'm surprised. Somebody actually does care about that bitch." I felt Alpha Orion's back rumble as he growled once more

"If you are only here to insult my mate then you may get off my land before I make you." Master and Alpha Pierce's laughs joined together in a wicked cackle, making my bury my face into the back that was protecting me.

"Oh, we aren't just here to insult her, we are here to get her back." Master stated.

"That's never going to happen."

"Maybe not now, but soon. Tonight, we only came here for a little chat, a warning. The numbers I have brought with me aren't even a fraction of what I have in store. Either you turn her over to me now, or I will slaughter your entire pack without a blink of my eye."

"Like I said." Alpha Orion repeated again, this time more slowly. "Never going to happen."

"You have just sealed your fate then, Orion. You will not know when but I will be coming for you once more." He paused and glanced at someone in our ranks that were standing behind me and smiled. "It was good chatting with you." Master smiled at me once more before he turned and disappeared back into the veil of darkness.