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Ariel's POV

I ended up telling Parker a few small innocent details. Only because he promised he'd stop pestering me for them if I did. He did stop thankfully and we sat together eating chips.

Suddenly my body erupts in pain. Not my pain.

"Ariel?" Parker gasps as I convulse.

"Raphael!" I call painfully.

I'm up and out faster than I've ever run before. Running to his office like a bullet. I know Parker is following behind. I run faster, my heart pounding. Raphie's pain went away but my pain grows.

I barge into his office. "Raphael!?" I scream, though it's a parched one, cracking and sounding like I'm dying.

He's not here. Taped to his chair is a stark white paper. I pick it up and look, the note is written in the most beautiful handwriting.

'You're much harder to get to than Raphael. We'll be waiting for you.'

I know who it's from. I know what's happening. They kidnapped Raphie. They kidnapped him to get me. I know they won't kill him. They want to kill me, but they can't do that because I'm always so guarded so they want me to bring myself over now that they have Raphie.

I break down, sobs racking my body. Parker comes over and I scream at him. Pained, hollow screams. In turn he hugs me and lets me cry into his chest.

Soon, a crowd has formed outside Raphael's office. I'm hidden behind his desk with Parker while Liam and Anastasia work on the scene. They send trackers out and Justin shows up soon after.

Parker and Justin exchange a look. I'm still a mess. Raphael is gone. "MY RAPHIE IS GONE!" My voice is raw and it cracks. Parker holds me again and Justin sits on my other side. They sandwich me between them as they try soothing my tears.

Liam and Ana keep everyone out of the building while Liam takes the current place of Alpha. Only because my hysterics prevent me from doing so.

I want Raphie to link me and tell me he's okay. That he'll come back tomorrow. I know I'm crying all night because I can feel Raphael wake up. He tries linking me for a split second before our link is broken and it makes me scream in agony once again.

Parker desperately tries to calm me down but it's a minute later before I'm writhing on the ground in Raphie's pain. I scream and scream but I know no one can help. Not until my wolf gets used to her mates pain and can push it away.

They're torturing Raphael. And there's nothing I can do about it. My skin burns and every once and a while I'm hit in the gut or the face. It hurts so bad yet no actual physical harm happens to me.

Slowly my wolf gets used to it and she's able to block out the pain coming from those specific things. I can feel them still, they're just a twinge. But I'm glad they've stopped. Because I've got a hell of a lot of work to do.

I lay on the ground panting. Parker and Justin look after me in the room while Liam and Ana run around getting myself things and running the pack.

Finally I push myself up, with the help of Parker steadying me.

"Ariel?" He asks.

"Call a pack meeting in an hour." I say, using my alpha tone though my voice dead. There's nothing for me without Raphael. I need him. He knows that, I know that, they know that. That damn pack.

Parker walks with me while I go back home. I need to shower and prepare myself. I'm going to introduce myself to the pack once and for all and we're going to get my Raphie back, their alpha.

Parker simply waits for me as I get ready. I shower, trying to block out Raphie's pain. My wolf is in so much pain, it hurts me in addition to my own pain, added to Raphie's pain. If I don't die soon, it will be a miracle.

I walk up to Parker.

"The pack'll be ready for you..." He says slowly. "It's your first time meeting them."

"I know." I say, my voice sounds... well, it doesn't sound like my voice anymore. I sound so dead. I can't sound like this when I meet the pack. I'm they're Luna, I need to inspire them. I need to help them. And I will. As cheesy as it sounds, I'm their leader and I'm going to give a damn good cheesy pep talk.

Parker and I walk to where the pack gathered. It's an amphitheatre behind the pack house, apparently used for big events and barbecues. I wait until Parker says everyone's here and I take a deep breath. Liam walks on stage first.

"As I'm sure you all have heard," Liam says. "Raphael found his mate months ago. Today, your Luna wishes to speak to you on a very grave matter. But, as the official welcoming of your Luna, please welcome," Liam smiles, it's not quite a normal smile, but it's something. "Your Luna, Ariel."

There's a light applaud throughout the group as I walk on stage, giving Liam a look. I did not need to be welcomed. Especially now.

Finally I take a look over the group. Raphie's pain is starting to subside so I know they're not torturing him right now. I'm scared they'll find a new way to, it will be a new pain for my wolf to learn to block and until then, I'll be lying on the ground, crying. Unable to help Raphael.

"I wish I could have met you all on a much happier note," I start. "I truly do... As Liam said, I am Ariel. And I am Raphael's mate." Cheesy pep talk. For Raphie. "This morning your alpha was taken. A pack that believes your alpha killed their Luna took Raphael. I know, it's hard to believe that they could take him, but... even your alpha isn't invincible when he's alone."

I look at the faces of everyone. They're whispering things back and forth, shock of the news has taken them. They look shaken. But I'll build them up...

"They're torturing him," I say quietly before I can't help but yell. "They're torturing my mate! Your alpha! And we can't do anything!" I look at their faces, anger and sadness at my words. "At least, not yet... I know we don't know each other very well, but now I lead the pack. We start training. Anyone of legal age to fifth will be training from nine to eleven in the morning or at night. I will be at the training sessions and I will be hard on you. I'm sure many of you saw my fight with Raphael and you know how

I can be."

I hope this pep talk works.

"I'm going to push you, and push you and push you until you can't do it anymore. Because when you're fighting for your alpha, for your pack, that's how you're going to be fighting. Your alpha needs you! Now for all the times you have relied on him, he has to rely on us!" I clench my hands into fists. I feel like some dumb team captain on the high school basketball team. "We are going to get back our alpha... Patrols are being switched. I'll be in my office if you need anything."

And I walk off stage, I know the speech worked. I could feel it through the link. I generally kept everyone blocked out but I can't now. I have to be ready to receive a distress link, or one of urgency. I have to be ready for anything.

I walk into Raphael's office and sit in his chair. Now... to plan new patrol times...

Fuck. How does Raphie do it?

I'm not that smart. I take a deep breath and I get to work. I make myself a little table and start planning, pushing Raphael out of my mind completely. I can't have him distracting me while I'm trying to find him.

After a fucking hour, HOUR, I'm done. That took way longer than I thought. But it was way harder than I thought too. I call Liam in and I give him the schedule.

He just nods and walks out, treating me like the alpha... I'm the alpha right now. Oh my goddess I'm leading a whole pack.

I place my head in my hands. I can't do this! I'm just Ariel! A stubborn, head-strong, stupid woman who can't spell! But I have to do it for Raphie. I'll get him back. I'll rip them all apart to get him back. No one takes my mate and lives to tell about it.

I take a deep breath and start on the huge stack of papers Raphael has. Apparently sometimes he can't do it all either, judging by the stack.

I go through complaints, bills, other packs things. Before I know it I've worked well into the night. Wow... No wonder Raphie stays so late sometimes. Thinking of him sends a pang in my heart.

All throughout the day they had tortured him. I could feel it. My poor Raphie. But, it wasn't anything new from before. Or it would have been a new thing for my wolf to block and it would have been much more painful.

The more they tortured Raphael, the easier it was for my wolf to block that pain because she knew what it was. By now it was just like a dull pang when something happened.

There's still lots of papers left, but I think it's time to go to sleep. I've worked way too late if I'm supposed to get up for training tomorrow. I walk out of his office to find Parker standing there. I had been so sucked up in work I didn't even notice.

"Parker?"

"Ariel." He nods and mumbles.

"What have you been doing?"

"Guarding you..."

"Oh, Parker..." I hug him. "You don't have to stand outside the door all day."

He seems surprised but he hugs me back. I need a hug. I miss Raphael. I start to cry again and Parker holds me close. It's like he understands my pain, like he's trying to take some away. He's a great friend, no... Parker is my family.

He rubs my back. "Let's get you home."

Parker walks me home and eats dinner with me. We don't talk as much as normal... I guess that's normal in a situation like this though.

He waits with me until I'm in bed, in my head I think about how normally, Raphie would still be at work and Parker would make me sit through dumb movies. Parker sits on the end of the bed and watches as I crawl in.

"Its going to be hard." Parker warns softly, taking my hand.

"What is?" I frown.

"Sleeping on your own... just remember the whole pack supports you. We're here for you." Parker says, squeezing my hand before his smile turns playful. "If you need a cuddle buddy, Justin and I will be happy to squish you between us."

"Oh shut up," I roll my eyes. I sigh. "Goodnight Parker."

"Goodnight Luna." He says, walking out quietly and leaving me in my greatest fear, being alone.