We arrived back at the pack house and I was stunned. Both packs were crowded around the porch, there were no smiling happy faces. Everyone looked ready for battle, I felt an immense amount of pride for our packs. Damien's pack didn't know me or Marty all that well but they were still here and prepared to fight.

I caught Lauren's eye and jumped out of Damien's arms and into her waiting ones. A fresh round of tears escaped as she held me and smoothed my hair. I was so caught up in my grief that I didn't even care how I looked to the packs, I didn't care if it made me look weak or pathetic. I just wanted him back.

"Shh, we will get him back Lys"

"I can't lose him Laur. I can't lose anymore of my family"

Lauren pushed me back, hands on my shoulders and face stern "Now you listen here. You won't lose him okay? You have 500 wolves behind you who will do anything to help you get him back. You hear me?"

I simply nodded, too afraid to get on her bad mommy side. She smiled at me and turned me around so I was facing Damien again. I gave him a small smile and a nod, letting him know I was okay for now.

He returned the smile then turned around to face the packs. I started walking to be beside him but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. Turning around, I came face to face with Thrain, he didn't say anything, he didn't need to and he knew I didn't need that right now. He simply squeezed my shoulder, gave me a sad smile and a peck on the cheek before walking over to Delilah.

Quickly blinking my eyes to keep the tears away, I went and stood beside Damien. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed softly, making me feel safe.

A sharp whistle got everyones attention on us, there were anxious faces and angry ones from the people who know what happened.

"Some of you know what has happened, but for the people who don't know we will explain everything now" Damien's voice floated out across the silent pack with ease

"On our way home just a few hours ago, we were ambushed. Alyssa and myself were drawn out of the car by a little girls screaming. While we were investigating, both cars were attacked"

Shocked gasps rang out across the pack, some people were silent but with horrified looks on their faces. Still no one said anything, waiting for Damien to continue.

"A few of our warriors were mildly injured, but someone was taken. You may have noticed that we don't have someone with us, Marty, our pup was taken by someone who wants to hurt Alyssa and has hit her in the worst way possible"

Loud, ferocious growls rippled through the crowd. Exclamations of disgust and anger could be heard. I saw Brooke, Marty's sitter in tears. A wave of Damien's hand quietened everyone down for the moment.

"Tonight, we will be do the Alpha ceremony as planned. We need to show everyone that we are a united pack and a pack that is not to be messed with when it comes to our pups and our pack members. Everyone meet in the clearing in two hours. Dismissed"

Everyone left still chattering angrily, I heard a few people say that they can't wait to tear into whoever it was that took him. But that privilege is for me only. Damien turned to the Beta's and Gamma's, making sure I still stayed glued to his side.

"Meet us in the meeting room in 5 guys, we need to clean up a little bit"

They all nodded and moved to walk inside, Damien and I followed but instead of going into one of the many bathrooms, Damien guided me all the way into my bedroom, then into the bathroom, where he lifted me up and sat me down on the sink.

Two large hands engulfed my face and bought me back to the present. Looking into his face, I could see the concern and the love he has for me. I tried to smile but it must have come out as a grimace as I saw the concern deepen. I laid my hands over his and felt myself becoming more focused, I need to remain focused on what I am going to do to get him back.

"Love, how are you feeling?"

"Like my heart was ripped out of my chest while it was still beating"

"Well, that's not a good feeling is it? Come here"

Before I had a chance to respond, he drew me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me tightly. My face was pressed tightly against his chest, I took a deep breath in and let his scent take over my senses. I let the muskiness of the forest flow through me and settle my mind. His heart beat was steady and strong, reminding me that he was right here and he wouldn't be going anywhere without me. I felt my wolf become serene, we still had anger about Marty and fear for what could be happening to him right now but for the moment I have to focus on myself and our baby. There is nothing we can do about getting Marty back until we have more information, no matter how much I want to go charging after whoever took him. I have to have a level head to run our pack, especially seeing as after tonight, I will officially be Alpha of the largest pack in our area and the first female Alpha for that matter.

**

Five minutes later, I had made myself look semi presentable, okay, I put my hair up and wiped my face. Damien and I walked into the meeting room to see everyone already there. Thrain and Delilah, Josh and Lauren, Tony and Louise and Joel and Francie. They all stood up and bowed their heads in respect to us, we took our seats at the head of the table and everyone sat down. Damien took control straight away, I didn't fight it, I needed to just listen and figure out what we are going to do.

"Do we know anything so far?" Damien asked everyone

"Not just yet, we had some trackers try to follow his scent but it seems like it just disappeared at the edge of the forest" Tony answered

Damien nodded "That sounds about right, when we first got out of the car, Alyssa identified the scent of a witch. So we have to assume that whoever took him is using witches to do their dirty work"

"I'll make some calls, I have some favors owing to me from a few old friends" Joel stated, being Damien's Gamma he would have quite a few relationships that others wouldn't have.

"Good" Damien turned to me "Love, do you have any idea who could have done this?"

I shook my head "I've been trying to think about who would do this but I haven't got any enemies. I haven't been Alpha long enough for that to happen"

"Alright, well, just keep thinking okay. I think that's all for now"

Before everyone stood up, Thrain cleared his throat "I'll have some trackers continue to see if they can pick up Marty's scent. I'll also have them ask around the other packs to see if anyone has noticed anything"

"Good thinking Thrain. Let us know what you come up with" Damien stood up and held his hand out to me

As we moved to the door, everyone bowed their heads in respect and I sent everyone a smile in gratitude. I'm glad to have such a supportive mate and such a supportive pack who would do anything for us.

"Love?"

"Mmm"

"Why don't you go for a bath? I'm going to talk to some of the warriors about upping the training for a few days"

"Okay. Tell them to take anyone who wants to train"

Damien nodded and left a sweet kiss on my forehead before walking out the front door.

I continued up the stairs and into our room, there was a nice, warm fluffy towel sitting on the bed and I smiled, knowing that Damien had asked someone to leave it for me. I picked it up and opened my closet, pulling out some sweat pants and a jumper before heading into the bathroom.

I dumped the clothes and towel on the sink and started filling up the tub, making sure it was nice and hot. I added some bubble bath and sighed as the smell of lavender wafted up with the steam. I stripped and stepped into the tub, wincing a little at how hot it actually is but I ignored it and sunk down so I was covered by the bubbles.

I sent a mental image of myself covered in the bubbles to Damien, so he would know that I was actually doing as he suggested. He's been a bit more protective since he found out about the baby, but that's to be expected. I just have to stop myself from getting annoyed if he insists on doing something for me.

I laid my head back against the tub and closed my eyes, focusing on the baby. I let my senses flow out from within me, my hearing got sharper, I could hear everyone in the house. My nose got more defined, I could start to smell the dinner that was cooking in the kitchen and know who was coming in and out of the house. My vision got sharper as well, even though I had my eyes closed, I felt like I could see what I was hearing and smelling, I could visualize the people in the kitchen cooking, I could see them walking up and down the stairs, I could see a young girl in her room dancing to some music.

Everything together made me smile, even though my pack came from rogues, we are all a family. We may not be a traditional pack but we all love each other and protect each other fiercely. Damien's pack will know the full extent of that when we officially become one whole pack tonight. I should be nervous about becoming the Alpha to such a large pack but knowing that I have Damien by my side helps to keep me grounded.

Thinking about everyone protecting each other just drives the thought of Marty home, no one second guessed in helping Marty or his family. I do wish that I was able to help the rest of his family but knowing that I was able to help Marty does make me feel better. My brows furrowed when my brain went to something that happened a couple of weeks ago, I don't remember much but I do remember seeing a little girl covered in blood and the note attached to her clothes.

I shot straight up in the bath and gasped. Of course! How could I not see it before?

I drained the tub and climbed out, I grabbed the towel and dried myself off in record time. I dressed quickly, put my hair up and charged out of the bedroom. I could feel myself getting angry and I knew that is was radiating out from me, everyone that I came across bowed their heads and scurried off in the opposite direction. I reached the front door and flung it open. Damien was standing on the porch talking to Tony and Thrain, their heads spun to face me but I didn't stop.

"Lys?"

"Alpha?"

"Love?" I heard feet pounding down the stairs and knew that Damien had followed, still I didn't slow down.

I let my wolf take over slightly, I could feel the fur sprouting and my bones start to snap. A hand fell on my shoulder and before I could comprehend what happened, I had grabbed it and flung the hand and the person it belonged to off me. Another hand landed on my shoulder and spun me around, I growled at the person trying to stop me from getting to my pup. My eyes registered a face with two different colored eyes but my brain didn't register that we knew who it was.

I went to throw the other hand off me but before I could I could feel a pressure in my mind. Someone was trying to mind link me but my wolf was resisting, the pressure got worse before it lessened and a velvet voice broke through my thoughts.

Love? I need you to calm down and see what you have done

I shook my head and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself and my wolf down. Blinking, everything came into focus. Damien was standing beside me with his hand on my shoulder, Tony was standing behind him looking worried and what worried me the most was Thrain laying on the ground rubbing his shoulder. He looked up and sent me a wide smile.

"You would've thought I would have learned by now wouldn't you?" He chuckled and stood up

"I'm sorry Thrain, I didn't realize"

He waved me off still smiling "Don't worry about it Lys, I should know not to grab you when your like that"

Thrain walked off, grimacing a little but trying not to let me see. Tony nodded towards Damien and walked off Oswell. Soon enough we were alone again, I sighed and walked into his waiting arms.

"I'm sorry, I tried to control myself but just couldn't"

"It's okay. But what happened?"

"I figured out who took Marty"

Damien pulled away so he was looking at me "What do you mean you figured it out?"

"I was in the bath and thinking about everything that has happened lately and remembered the little girl we found at the edge of the forest before we, you know"

"Ah, that little girl. What about her?"

"Well, I don't know if you know who dumped her there but it was my old Alpha before we were banished. Thomas Bell is the Alpha of the Vicious Peak Pack and completely obsessed with me. I think he took Marty to try and get me to come to him"

"Hm, well he is going to die. No one messes with my family. We will get him back and soon okay?"

"No, we need to go now. I don't know how long he has got"

"Lys, we can't go right now. We don't know where Thomas is keeping him and we will be weak. We aren't a united pack yet, we can't mind link with the entire pack. Plus, what about the baby? We need to think about you and that baby right now as well"

I frowned, he had a point but I didn't like it. I sighed and resigned myself to the fact that at least we know who took Marty and possible where he is. Damien walked me back upstairs and into our bedroom where I saw Lauren waiting for me with a pile of clothes on the bed with a sadistic smile on her face.

"Nope" I ducked under Damien's arm and tried fleeing the room but the next words out of Lauren's mouth stopped me

"If you don't get your ass in here and let me help you get ready then I will ban you from having baby time"

I threw my head back and sighed but did as I was told and trudged over to the bed, sending Damien a death glare in the process.

He put his hands up in surrender and backed out "Have fun girls. Love you Lys"

I grumbled a love you back before Lauren got started on treating me like a baby doll.

**

Three hours later, we had just finished the Alpha ceremony. I took the cloth offered to me from Damien with a smile and wiped my hand of the blood, checking out the cut to see it healing nicely. I looked out over the whole pack and beamed with pride. Everyone was currently wiping the blood off their hands and the children's hands before looking up at the stage where Damien and I stood proudly. Damien wrapped and arm around my waist and looked down at me with a serene smile. I could feel the pride shining through his eyes.

A stray thought of my family had my smile slipping momentarily but I quickly recovered. I know my parents would be proud of everything that I have done so far, I just hope that they will be proud when they see what I do when I get my hands on Thomas.

"Who's ready for the very first pack run?" My voice carried out over the heads of everyone in front of me

The pack cheered and one by one, everyone shifted into their wolves. The children too young to shift where lifted onto the parents back. I looked over at Thrain and Delilah, she is looking pretty pregnant now so she won't be able to shift. I asked the question with my eyes and Thrain nodded before shifting into his large wolf. I walked over to Delilah and smiled at her. She is looking so much healthier than what she did just a few weeks ago.

"Need some help?"

Delilah smiled at me in gratitude "Yes please, I was worried how I was going to get onto his back, I forgot how large he actually is"

I chuckled and held her steady as Thrain laid on the ground to help, she was able to throw her leg over his back with some help. Once she was nice and settled Thrain stood up and Delilah beamed with happiness. I gave Thrain a hard pat on the head and headed back over to Damien, ignoring the growl that emanated from the angry wolf I had just left.

"Ready?" Damien asked

"Let's go" I watched as Damien shifted into his large black wolf and sauntered up to me before licking my face

I scowled at him and swatted him away, I stepped up to the front of the stage and everyone's eyes turned to me. It was unnerving having so many people watch you shift, especially as Damien's old pack have never seen me in my wolf before. I shook my head and took a deep breath and let the shift happen.

My bones cracked, my nose grew longer, my spine curved until I dropped to the floor on all fours. Fur sprouted out of my pores and my vision went red. I could hear the collective gasp through the mind link, no one had ever seen anything like my wolf.

I shook my reddish coat out and raised my head and let out a long deep howl. I was soon joined by Damien then by the Beta's and Gamma's. The rest of the pack joined in, every pack around us would now know that we have a new Alpha and are a united pack once again.

I jumped off the stage with Damien right behind me, the Beta's and Gamma's behind him. We walked through the crowd until we got to the start of the forest, I let out another short howl and took off running into the trees. Damien was right by my side the entire time, the Beta's and Gamma's all formed a 'V' shape behind us with the rest of the pack falling in behind.

We ran for hours, playing in the waterfall and playing in our wolf forms. Getting to know everyone else and forming new friendships.