#7 The Twins of Satin Moon
Chapter 42

Maizey

When we returned to the packhouse, Melody was waiting for me by the front door. She pulled me into a tight hug.

“My brothers will replace them, Maze, don’t worry.” She said, patting my back.

“Thanks, Mel.” I smiled at her. Hunter laid his hand on my back and gently pushed us towards the door.

“Please stay inside the packhouse, baby.” Hunter said once we were secured inside.

“You honestly think someone would try to get her on pack grounds?” Mel asked with wide eyes.

“I’m not taking any chances. They killed 6 of my best patrol wolves.” Hunter sighed, running his hand over his face in frustration.

“Mom and Dad are in the living room, they wanted an update.” Mel frowned. Hunter grabbed my hand and we walked into the living room.

“Oh, Maizey, honey, are you alright?” Elena jumped up and hugged me.

“I’ll be better when my brothers are home.” I mumbled. Elena flattened down my hair and nodded.

“Archer and Hunter will see to that.” She smiled at me and her son. Elena sat back down on the armrest of the large recliner Wesley was sitting on.

Mel grabbed my other hand and drug us both towards the couch, pulling me down with her. Hunter plopped down beside me. Winter slipped into the room then, leaning against the back wall to listen in to the conversation.

“Archer called the Warrior pack and they’re lending us some of their wolves.” Hunter said, his face void of emotion.

“That’s awfully generous of Alpha Sal.” My mother said,

“Archer wants to start a Warrior pack here in conjunction with our pack. Alpha Sal agreed and is taking volunteers to come here to stay.” Hunter explained.

“You agreed to this?” Wesley asked with a stern expression.

“Archer doesn’t feel comfortable being joint Alphas. He doesn’t think he’s Alpha material, at least not the type of Alpha Satin Moon needs. As the Alpha of a Warrior pack he doesn’t have to worry about being pent up.” Hunter said.

“I suppose that makes sense.” Wesley replied thoughtfully.

“You disagree with my decision?” Hunter grumbled. I squeezed his hand and offered him a small smile.

“No, I stand behind your choices as the Alpha. I’m just wondering what two packs in the same territory are going to look like.” Wesley said.

“We’ll figure out the details later. It’s not what’s important today.” Hunter abruptly ended the conversation. Wesley nodded, knowing better than to push the matter.

“Why are you here instead of out helping Archer?” Mel asked.

“Archer is better at tracking than I am and he said that in order to be his best he needed to know that I was with our mate.” I could tell that it was hurting Hunter to stay behind. He wanted to be out there searching, too.

“You can go, Hunter, I’m safe here with your family.” I mumbled by his side. Hunter attempted to smile down at me.

“Archer is better at this than I am. I am enough of a man to admit that. If me being here helps him be more capable of getting your family back, then that’s what I’m going to do.” Hunter said passionately.

Zane ran in the room then and grinned at me.

“You’re back!” He wedged himself between me and Hunter, to Hunter’s absolute fury.

“Hi, Zane.” I struggled to lift my mood so I wouldn’t worry Zane. It wasn’t working very well.

“What’s wrong?” Zane turned his glare on Hunter, “What did you do?”

“Zane, go away.” Hunter grumbled at his brother.

“He didn’t do anything, Zane. My brothers are missing.” I narrowed my eyes at Hunter, making my disapproval of his tone with Zane well known.

“I can help! I’ll go out and look for them.” Zane had a determined expression on his face. I suppress a laugh so I wouldn’t hurt his feelings. Hunter, on the other hand, didn’t care.

“You don’t even have your wolf, Zane, what are you going to do?” Hunter scoffed.

“Hunter! Be nice.” I yelled at him.

“I’m more useful than you just sitting here.” Zane huffed, crossing his arms.

“Hunter is protecting me.” I assured him.

“Whatever.” Zane rolled his eyes and hopped off the couch, stomping away. Winter smirked as she watched her younger brother run off.

“You surely know how to piss him off.” Winter said.

“Watch your mouth, Winter!” Elena snapped disapprovingly. It was Winter’s turn to roll her eyes and exit the living room. Elena sighed loudly and rubbed her stomach, probably silently praying that her next baby came with less attitude.

Hunter grabbed my arm just as his eyes went black.

“Archer’s mind linking me an update. Hold on.” He said. Hunter sat stiff and still for several minutes before life returned to his face.

“They followed the scent of your brothers and rogues through town on foot. It led them away from Atlanta and further into the Chattahoochee National Forest. He found an abandoned camp filled with rogue stench. The fires were still smoking so they couldn’t have gone far. They are continuing to track their scent.” Hunter explained. I felt new tears forming in my eyes and Hunter cupped my face gently,

“He’ll replace them.” He promised me, kissing my forehead.

“Maizey, why don’t we get you some tea.” Elena smiled, standing up and walking towards the kitchen.

Mel jumped up and held her hand out for me. I looked over at Hunter who nodded. I took Mel’s hand and let her drag me after her mother. Elena was already in the kitchen standing over a tea kettle warming on the stove.

“What kind of tea do you like, dear?’ Elena asked, pulling out a container filled with tea packets.

“Mint?” I asked, looking over at the packets. Elena plucked a few of the packets out and laid them off to the side.

Mel sat at the small table inside the kitchen and I joined her. I watched as Elena pulled out three coffee cups from a cabinet and leaned against the counter, waiting for the kettle to start steaming.

“I’m sorry for everything that’s happened, Maizey. You and my sons don’t deserve this. I wish you three could have some time to get to know each other.” Elena sighed.

“None of this is your fault or even your pack’s fault, Elena. It’s mine. This is about my family.” I mumbled, feeling ashamed that my troubled past is affecting so many other people.

“You are our family now, dear. Your problems are ours.” Elena smiled just as the kettle started to scream. She poured the hot liquid into the three cups and dripped in the tea bags.

“Mint for Maizey,” She said, sitting a red cup in front of me, “Earl Gray for Melody,” She sat a green cup in front of her daughter, “And Chamomile for me.” She sat at the table with her black cup.

Hunter came bursting into the room then, physically picking me up from the chair and wrapping his arm around me protectively.

“Rogues are on the border. They smell like the ones from the waterfall.” Hunter announced and I immediately started cowering in his arms. Wesley and Toby ran into the room then. “Toby will take you to our room and fortify it.” He said, handing me over to Toby.

“Hunter?” I gasped, clinging to his arm. He looked down at me and his eyes softened. He cupped my face,

“You’ll be fine and so will everyone else. Go with Toby, and I’m going to take my wolves and deal with the rogues.” Hunter pressed his lips to mine. I felt Toby’s hands grab my arm and pull me after him. I kept my eyes on Hunter until I could no longer see him.

Toby ran up the steps and I was barely able to keep up. He yanked open a sturdy looking door and practically threw me inside. I stumbled in, blinking against the darkness. Toby flicked on the light and I started to look around.