Not wanting waste anytime, I don't wait for Alpha Felix and start following Sariah's scent. It's faint at first but gets increasingly stronger as it leads me to the side of the pack house and then into the forest. Five other scents also become increasingly strong as I go deeper into the woods...rogues. Focusing on her scent, I follow it for another mile before I hear the rushing sound of the Blue River. Shit...if they reach the river and cross it, I will lose her scent.

Zeus. We need to go faster. We'll lose her if they reach the river.

I know. But we have to be careful. Feral rogues don't generally have the ability to plan ahead. Whoever has her is smart. He worriedly answers me back.

He's right, these aren't just a group of random rogues. I push my legs as fast as they would go making my lungs scream for air. Making my way over a hill that leads to a small pond that feeds into the river, I stop when I observe five large wolves on the bank of the river. My eyes focus on the small body strapped to the back of the biggest wolf. It was Sariah! Her eyes were shut and she isn't moving.

Crouching down, I focus on Sariah trying to pick up a heart-beat or see her torso rise and fall. The other wolves heartbeats are too loud and erratic making it difficult to pinpoint hers and they keep circling in front of her so I couldn't tell if she is breathing or not. FUCK!

My whole body tenses and go absolutely still as the largest of the wolves stops mid-stride as his head snaps towards my direction. He's caught my scent. I can't wait so I jump up and run full speed at the fuckers.

My eyes stay focused on the wolf holding Sariah and it finally steps into the moonlight giving me the opportunity to finally get a good look at it. His coat was light brown and grey. That scent...the coloring of the wolf's fur...

It's NERO! Zeus roars.

Shit...I should have known. These past few weeks...tonight...they required careful planning. Feral rogues want one thing—to kill and eat.

He has her. I want my pup. Kill him! Zeus yells.

I bare my teeth and growl with everything I had at the four smaller wolves that are barreling towards me. I catch a glimpse of Nero running towards the river just as two of the wolves veer to the right. Two continue at me and jump directly at me at the same time. My jaw catch one by the neck mid-air. I jerk my head hearing its neck snap.

The other wolf lands my back forcing his claws deep into my fur. The pain was excruciating as he starts to claw at my back. Sharp pains on my hind legs cause me to growl out in pain. The other two wolves must have circled behind and each have locked their jaw's on my hind legs.

I throw myself to the ground and roll over trying to force all three of them off of me.

I feel claws tear out of my back and my hind legs free of teeth. Using my hind legs, I kick the two wolves down at my feet sending them tumbling on their backs. I flip to my stomach and slash my claws directly at the throat of the fallen wolf next to me nearly taking off his head.

Turning towards the other two wolves, blood drips from my claws and muzzle. I snarl and start to stalk towards them. They yelp and run into the forest. I will find and deal with them later. The only thing that matters right now if finding Sariah.

Alpha Jack links me.

Nero has Sariah. He is making his way up the river bank. Two rogues are heading towards the east border.

Alpha Jack roars.

Yes Alpha. Titus links back.

I yell into the link.

I let out a howl so they could find my position faster. I also know that this will give my position away to Nero but I need help so I'm forced to take the risk.

The thought of Nero having Sariah fuels my strength and speed even more. His scent becomes stronger and my ears pick up his paws as they scratch over fallen trees. I was close.

I hear howls come from the north. The border patrol must have spotted Nero. A growl coming from the right pulls my attention...it was Nero. He's turned and is heading east, deeper into the forest.

I've almost caught up with him when he slows down and stops in a small clearing. He must have sensed the large number of warriors slowly surrounding his position. He shifts and holds Sariah to him.

Shifting, I slowly make my way towards Nero. The moonlight engulfed clearing allows me to see Nero with greater ease. He has one arm around Sariah's waist and the other around her neck.

Her eyes were shut but I could her weakly whimpering.

"Don't worry, she's alive. I gave her a little something to sleep" Nero smirks evilly.

Low growls from almost every direction join mine. Warriors.

"Give me my daughter Nero" I demand glaring at him. My body is trembling with rage and Zeus is trying to take over.

He laughs. "Your daughter. She's nothing but a mutt!" he snarls. I growl at him bearing my canines. He tightens his grip around her neck.

"Now, now Dane. One more outburst like that and the mutt here will die" he cockily threatens.

I'm going to kill him...Zeus snarls.

"What do you want?" I seethe.

"Compensation. Retribution. Revenge. Whatever you want to call it" he counters.

"Taking my daughter won't get you those things Nero. Get your head out of your ass" I tell him.

"I don't understand Dane. How can you stomach bowing down to that weak Alpha and his twink mate. I had it all planned out. We would turn this pack against them and you would become Alpha and I would be your Beta. But you ruined my plan. You became weak when you found your mate. I tried to teach those little mutts some respect but instead you attacked me. Me!" he roars.

His eyes were almost black and I could tell his wolf was trying to take over.

"You have no one to blame but yourself for getting banished. I warned you but you would not yield" I bark out trying to inch my way closer to him.

"Yield? We were the strongest! The pack was ours" he yells.

"Cut the bull-shit. Do you actually think I believe that you did this so I could become Alpha? You would have found a way to take me out just like you tried to do with Alpha Jack. Your rogues are dead. Give me my daughter and maybe I will ask Alpha Jack to let you live" I say glaring at him.

Throwing hid head back, he lets out an evil cackle.

I scream into the link.

In less than two seconds the head of Alpha Jack's large wolf rams into Nero's legs throwing him off balance. At the same time, Felix grabs Sariah from his grasp and runs back into the forest.

Alpha Jack and Nero roll over each other before getting their footing. Nero stands up ready to attack Alpha Jack when snarling and angry growls from the surrounding warriors fill the air causing him to stop. His attention was solely focused on Alpha Jack.

. Alpha Jack links.

I knew that Nero would not shift back to his wolf. My wolf was more powerful and he stood a better chance against us a human. Nero was a good fighter, but he never listened when I told him that he left himself open to easily. His pride was about to get him killed.

Shifting in mid-air as I jumped towards him. My teeth clamp down on his throat just as he starts to turn his head. Landing on top of him as we hit the ground, his fists begin pounding into my body trying to get me off of him. Using my whole body to keep him down, I quickly clamp down on his throat and rip it out.

Zeus howls as the life drains out of him.

Not stopping to even take a breath, I turn and run towards the pack house with Alpha Jack and several warriors following.

I link.

Almost to the pack house. I already linked Brian and Caleb.

I linked privately to Caleb.

I'm fine. Gideon and Seth are fine. Please hurry. I run faster hearing the anguish in Caleb's voice.

I didn't stop running until I reach the entrance of the pack hospital. I follow my mate's scent and find him hovering over Sariah. It felt like someone had kicked me in the gut when I saw her.

She was laying in the middle of the stretcher and her face looked so pale. Brian was looking with a small flashlight into her eyes. One nurse was drawing blood and the other looked like she was trying to start an IV. They already had her hooked up to the heart machine and her beat was steady.

"Caleb. We've got her. I need you step back and let us help her" Brian says calmly.

"This is my daughter Brian" Caleb growls back.

"Exactly why I need you to step back" Brian countered.

"Beta Dane. Get Caleb" Brian demands looking at me.

I nod and made my way to Caleb. I stood behind him and wrapped my arms around his torso. His body stays tense in my arms. Lowering my head, I put my lips right next to his ear.

"Love. Let Brian do his job. We won't go far" I whisper.

"I'm not leaving the room Dane" he exclaim.

"We'll stay right in the room, but let's back up and give them some space" I try to convince him as I slowly take steps backwards. Keeping Caleb in my arms, I move to the other side of the room by the couch.

"I can't lose her" he whimpers.

"I will never let that happen" I quickly respond loud enough for him to hear hoping I could mask what I was truly feeling. I have never felt so helpless as I did as this moment. If she dies, it's my fault. I promised Caleb that I would protect our family and I failed.

I tighten my arms around Caleb as we watch our daughter fight for her life.