Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 35

Liam was consumed by worry and fear as he frantically searched the forests and his surrounding territory for any sign of Nicole. He had changed back into his human form when he was far enough from everyone to keep himself from losing his mind. What if she ran away? Someone said through the pack link.

He could feel some stakeholders buying the idea that she escaped because she couldn't deal with the pressure of being a witch bane. Witch banes were known to be lone wolves and couldn't stay with packs.

Most werewolves believed that they were selfish. None of them knew that he had marked her yet. It was why they couldn't understand his urge to replace her.

Because, in the past, he did everything to get back a single pack member who went missing, he suspected that they thought that it was the usual. They didn't know that it was much worse than that.

Something was wrong with Nicole. He could feel that she was in danger and that her disappearance wasn't ordinary, but he had no idea where to start looking.

The scouts had combed through the forest and left no stone unturned. So what was he looking for? At the back of his mind, he also knew that the concerns of the panel were valid. His being distracted with searching for Nicole was the perfect opportunity to attack. He knew he should listen, but how the hell was he supposed to sit down while she was missing?

His heart ached with pain as he thought about what could have happened to her. The thought of her being hurt or captured by someone filled him with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

Maybe they were here to build the bond needed, but he was certain that he would never remain the same if something bad happened to her.

The worst part was that he was shocked that she was taken because of him. Guilt began to gnaw at him. If he had let her be, if he had left her or sent her away, she wouldn't have been discovered. The more he thought about it, the more he believed that there was a mole in the Dark Moon.

The Dark Moon pack members were not stupid. They must have seen the way he was around her and concluded that she was one of his many women, at least his current favorite, and coupled with the fact that she had suddenly become the most powerful wolf after him in the pack, they may have ratted her out or decided to get rid of her.

Liam's heart pounded so much that it hurt. He had been searching for at least an hour without a trace, and his wolf was beginning to get restless again. The fear of losing her had gripped him like a vice, making it hard for him to think clearly. Every moment that passed without replaceing her only added to his anxiety and despair.

Images of the last time he saw her flooded his mind. She had been so hurt by Lilian, and it was clear that she was trying her best to be strong.

Liam regretted everything. He shouldn't have let her out of his sight. He promised to protect her, to keep her safe from harm. But now he felt like he had failed her. What if he was too late?

As he searched, his mind raced with all the worst-case scenarios. What if she had been captured by the witch? What if she was being tortured right now, alone and afraid? The thought of her suffering filled him with a deep sense of helplessness and rage. He knew that he had to keep his wits about him, to stay focused and alert, for her and Dark Moon. His state of mind was affecting the pack. He could sense their worries about him seeping into the pack bond. James and Garrett continued to reach out to him, but he refused to respond.

He couldn't deal with the 'I told you' so' speeches they were going to have. He had been trying to push Nicole away and was lying to himself. Now it was clear as day that he liked her so much, and it wasn't about the bond anymore.

His confrontation with Lilian flashed into his mind. Something about her reaction had seemed off. His wolf also believed that she had something to do with it. The way Lilian had reacted when he had confronted her reminded him of their memories as kids. Lilian could never hide her dislike for someone, and she seemed defensive and evasive when questioned. It was as if she was hiding something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Suddenly, Liam's senses heightened, and he could sense danger around him. He froze in one spot and listened to the wind. The forest was eerily quiet.

His wolf was restless and even more eager to take control. His senses were on high alert as he prepared for battle. He couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. An ambush! James's voice pierced through his head. We're under attack. They're not rogues!

Abruptly, Liam spun around and shifted into his wolf form and dashed towards the Dark Moon.

He let out a roar on arrival, but it was almost too late. The pack was a mess. Chaos erupted as his wolves fought for their lives. The air was saturated with dark magic that slowed even him down.

Black werewolves attacked his pack members and, amidst them, were black-cloaked figures weaving spells. They were outnumbered and outmatched. The witches were too powerful and too skilled in their dark magic. Snarling, he dove at the witch closest to him and thought of their gut.

He was very clumsy, but he managed. He released another ear-splitting roar that cut through the spells. The hooded figures were shocked by his presence, and that distraction was enough for the warriors to attack them.

Liam continued his attack. Tearing off the throats of his enemies. The attackers soon began scampering into the forest.

"After them!" Liam roared at the scouts. They had to be coming from somewhere, and this was the perfect opportunity to trail them to wherever their camps were.

*****

A few hours after the attack, Liam stared speechless at the aftermath of the devastation left in its wake. The pack hospital and infirmary were filled with injured pack members. Guilt ate him and tore him apart.

The Panel had warned him. They had expressed their doubts. They had told him that it was a trap. And he hadn't listened. How could he? When he felt like the other half of him was in danger.

He was in a state of shock as his eyes surveyed the damage. Garrett was lying on the ground, unconscious and covered in sweat and blood. The tangy scent of blood and grime was in the air, and he hated it. Lola, Garrett's mate, the love of his life, was lying motionless, with her life force ebbing away.

Raw pain clouded his brain. It was as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest. How was he supposed to explain to Garrett when he came to consciousness that he had lost his mate? Garrett wouldn't take it well. No one could. The loss of a mate was like death itself. It's even made him more afraid for Nicole.

"Liam!" Lillian screeched. She was badly injured, blood pooled out of her body, and she staggered toward him.

"Do you see it now?" She snorted, wobbling as she stood.

Liam felt detached from his environment and was unable to make a response. He was somewhere between guilt and pain. He had failed Dark Moon.

"How many dead?" He asked James, who limped to his side.

"Shouldn't you be coordinating the weak and injured?" James asked Lilian.

"So far, they are two; Lola and an Omega."

Liam growled.

"Are you ignoring me?" Lilian screeched.

Liam took a deep breath, "You're hurt, Lilian. You need rest." He said, then turning to James. He continued, "Talk to me, James, what happened?"

A panel was summoned immediately after, and as Liam had expected, the panel rubbed the recent attack in his face.

"If only you had listened... If you had been here, if only you had given us attention." They grumbled.

Lilian, who was healing up just right, was most annoyed. She continued blaming Nicole, accusing her of being a witch and having some effect on her brother, which made him soft and gullible.

Liam would have responded if he hadn't disassociated from reality.

"I've been silent on this matter." Connor, Darkmoon's Gamma, spoke up for the first time in a while. He was as huge as most men on the panel. His brown hair was slicked back, and unlike most werewolves, he wore his signature suit. "I've watched you, Liam. From the moment she stepped foot into this place, things have gone awry. I've monitored silently, and I have to agree with Lilian. It's either the Witch Bane is hexed or up to something."

Silence reigned. Connor was not an active member of the pack. He held a position of power as the third in command but was normally silent on most matters. Yet, everyone knew that when he spoke, his words carried weight. "This is all her fault," he continued. "She has brought danger and destruction to our pack. We should never have allowed her to join us in the first place. I've also come to question your reason for bringing her back to this place." Liam clenched his jaw and exchanged a look with James. His frustrations multiplied at Connor's words.

"Lilian," Liam hissed, "Once this meeting is over, pack your bags and return to your pack. You've caused enough chaos in mine. And I will not have you sowing seeds of dislike for the witch bane,"

Lilian's eyes popped open. "You wouldn't dare."

Liam ignored her and faced Connor next. Connor was significantly older than Liam and Garrett.

"I would like to know where you've been monitoring me from when you haven't been around. The last time I checked Connor, you're a Gamma, and the Gamma is normally unavailable in the pack. Did you not just return after the witch attacks increased?" Connor looked away. The man was in his late fifties and was always away, attending meetings and representing the pack.

"Don't you dare blame Nicole for this," Liam declared, his voice ice cold. "She's not the one who attacked us, and she's definitely not the one who killed the pack members. She's missing and in probable danger.

What we should be more concerned about is our borders. How is it that they're able to sneak in easily and sneak right out without being seen or noticed? You shouldn't sit here blaming her."

He could hear murmurs.

"It's possible that she set this up," someone said.

Liam's wolf was starting to take over, the overwhelming urge to lash out and seek revenge building up inside him.

Lilian leaned forward, "Liam, this is what we were trying to avoid," she said. "Bringing that Omega here has caused this. How are you sure she didn't connive with -"

Liam's mind was in turmoil. He wasn't listening anymore. He reached out to his bond with Nicole for the umpteenth time, hoping to replace something, anything, but what he discovered was even worse than he had feared. She was in deep trouble, being tortured and hurt, and he couldn't be there to protect her.

The pressure was too much for Liam. He felt guilty and responsible for the chaos that had engulfed his pack. His wolf was about to go feral, his senses sharpening, his muscles tensing. He needed to replace Nicole, protect her, and bring her back to safety. "I need to go," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I need to replace Nicole and bring her back. And anyone who tries to stop me will regret it." He turned and ran towards the edge of the forest, his wolf taking over and driving him forward. No one dared to stop him because they knew what havoc he could cause.

Liam didn't know what lay ahead, but he was determined to do whatever it took to save Nicole and restore order to his pack.