Sold To The Alpha
Blood L**t Chapter 52

Three days later the warriors finally pulled into the diner car park just outside of the forest that surrounded their mountain home. Tired, dirty and desperate for some hot food, the group parked up the cars and decided to have a quick meal before making the run to the mountain pass. Piling inside the diner, tables were soon pushed together for the group to sit down. Not even looking at the menu, Justin asked the waitress to just bring everyone a burger and fries and then two of each sides on the list that they could all share. Hurrying off to inform the chef of their order, she left the warriors to themselves as they began to chat, their moods buoyed at being this close to home.

As food was placed in front of them, they delved in with gusto, clearing the plates in record time as the workers openly stared at them. Once finished, they scraped back their chairs, Leo going over to the till to pay, leaving a hefty tip before they traipsed back outside again.

As Justin led the way over to the trees, Daniel hurried over to the Alpha and covertly got his attention, 'Alpha, umm, I know you want to get home quickly but.. uhh.. Vaya can't shift in her condition' he murmured, his eyes darting over to Carter who was talking animatedly with some of the warriors.

Justin nodded, 'we'll stick together, don't worry, I am not leaving a pregnant she-wolf and her mate alone, not even this close to pack territory. Vaya is one of ours and we will make our way home tomorrow as a pack, protecting her.' Daniel gave the Alpha a relieved look before he added, 'oh and Carter doesn't know yet, Vaya would prefer to wait until he has had time to adapt to being a father and free before she bombards him with the 'hey you are also going to be a grandpa' conversation.' Justin dipped his head in agreement, giving the Beta an understanding smile. Once they reached the trees, the Alpha mind linked to the warriors, giving them the information that they would not be shifting due to Vaya and not to mention it as Carter was still

unaware.

'Yes Alpha' came back the voices in his head as Vaya and Carter stood next to them all, watching the silent exchange, bemused.

'OK Pack, we are going to walk back to our territory rather than run, with all the travelling we have been doing I think its best we take things easier, plus with Carter basically being a rogue wolf with the smell of being pack less, I don't want to risk one of our own fighters thinking he is a threat and attacking him before I can get word out that he is with us' he declared as everyone nodded agreement.

Setting off into the woods, Carter stayed beside Vaya, sneaking looks at her as they wove through the trees.

'Are you OK little one?' he asked finally, looking over at her, Vaya gave him a smile and nodded,

'of course dad, we are finally going home, I have found you and you are free' she replied happily, 'what could I have to be unhappy about?'

Carter shook his head slightly, 'I don't know, it's just.. something.. he started before Daniel cut across him suddenly.

'Carter, what is the first thing you want to do as a free wolf when we get back to the pack?' he asked with a grin.

'Oh, I want to let my wolf out, he has been caged for twenty years, I am just hoping that I can still call him forward after all this time' Carter replied with a shrug.

The walk was slow but as the sun started to dip over the horizon they all found themselves at the base of the mountain. Leading the way, Leo and two warriors set off first, the remaining warriors behind, essentially sandwiching the Alpha and the visitors in the middle in a protective bubble. Following the well hidden path the lead members finally came to a halt looking back at Justin who held his hand out to Vaya, who took it firmly, Daniel grasping one of the other warriors hands, a third holding out his palm to Carter who looked at them all warily.

'Umm why are we holding hands?' he asked

Everyone grinned at the confused werewolf before Justin spoke, 'we have a very special protection around our territory, you can only enter if you are a member or in direct contact with a member of our pack'

Carter still looked unsure, 'surely we can hold hands when we reach the pack lands' he asked dubiously.

'Trust me dad, you want to take that warrior's hand now' Vaya said, indicating with her head to the fighter who stood waiting patiently. Nodding uncomfortably, Carter reached out and grasped the warriors hand before facing forward again. Suddenly a loud gasp left his lips as Leo and the leading warriors suddenly disappeared, followed by Vaya and Justin.

'Vaya!' Carter shouted in panic, trying to free himself from the tight grip of the warrior next to him.

'Vaya is fine Carter, I promise' Daniel called out calmly, 'I would not let my mate walk into danger' he added with a slight frown.

'Of course you wouldn't' Carter agreed slightly shame faced, 'I just didn't expect them to disappear like that.'

Grinning, Daniel stepped forward with his warrior, the empty air swallowing them leaving Carter next. Taking a deep breath, he allowed the warrior to pull him forward, feeling a change in atmosphere around him as he walked forward. Looking back over his shoulder he gaped at the shimmering veil that separated them from the warriors outside.

'See, it's a protective shield' Vaya giggled as she took Daniel's hand in hers, having released the Alpha.

'It. Uh. It hides the pack' Carter stuttered in shock.

'It's effective to keep people we don't want near our pack away from us' Justin replied easily before beckoning them onwards toward the pack house.

As they walked through the streets, pack members came rushing out to greet their Alpha, everyone beaming to see their Alpha's daughter back and safe. Marching toward the steps to the pack house, the door suddenly got flung wide and a blur of brown hair ran down the stairs, engulfing Halle in a tight hug.

'Oh my goddess, are you OK? Are you hurt? How is Jason? How could you run off with the Vampires! What were you thinking? I missed you so much' Hazel growled, her emotions riding a roller-coaster between relief, anger and happiness.

'I'm fine mum, Jason is fine, Vallance is fine, everyone is fine' Halle managed to croak out from within her mother's bear hug. Finally releasing her daughter, Hazel threw herself into her husband's arms, kissing him passionately as Justin lifted her off the floor in his

arms.

'Eww! Get a room!' Halle protested loudly, 'children standing right here who do not need to see this!'

Justin broke away from his wife to eye his daughter, 'that is a very good idea my daughter, but first we have business to attend to and guests to settle, but then I fully intend to, get a room, with my mate as you so helpfully told me to do' he replied with a smirk as Halle made retching noises.

Dismissing the warriors, Justin told them all to return to their families before He, Hazel, Leo, Halle, Vaya, Daniel and Carter all made their way into the pack house and up to the Alpha's office.

Pushing open the door, Justin walked round the desk and dropped into his chair heavily, Hazel perching on his desk with Carter and Leo in front of them, the two girls and Daniel curling up on the sofa to listen.

Hazel sent down a message to the kitchen and moments later one of the kitchen staff came upstairs with drinks and food for the travellers. Once the young girl left, Justin looked over at the three guests with a smile. 'Firstly, introductions I think' he said as he gestured to Hazel, 'this is my wife and Luna, Hazel' he said as Carter bowed his head with a quiet and respectful

'Luna'

Indicating to the older werewolf, Justin turned to his wife and said, 'this is Carter, he worked at Viktor's castle after being taken captive twenty years ago and was given his freedom by Vallance when he assumed the throne after the Vampire King's death. He also happens to be Vaya's father' he added with a grin as Hazel's hands flew to her mouth and she let out a squeal, hopping off the desk and running over to the dryad, engulfing her in a hug.

'As you can see, my wife is very close to your daughter Carter' Justin said with a laugh as Hazel rolled her eyes.

'I love this girl like my own, and her mate' she huffed, 'they are best friends with my god daughter, that makes them family!

Turning serious again, Justin looked over the three with a kindly expression, 'You are all welcome to stay here with us as long as you want too, but I know Isabella will be screaming if you don't return to her soon.

Vaya chuckled, 'yeah, I managed to text her that we were on our way back to Oak Ridge and I've already had seventeen messages asking when we will be setting off back to Silver Cross. She is very unhappy with me for my lack of messages telling her what was been happening Telling her that we were camping in fields and with Vampire clans so chances to charge my phone were slim is not cutting it with her' she admitted as the Alpha and Luna laughed.

'Well, I think you need to stay here and rest at least tonight and tomorrow, we have had a long and arduous journey, we could all do with some rest before you do any more travelling' Justin replied as Daniel made a rumble of agreement.

His eyes clouding over momentarily, he called out 'come in' as a soft knock resonated from the door a few moments later.

Stepping inside the young girl from the kitchen bowed to each of the members before raising her eyes shyly to Justin, 'you summoned me Alpha?' she asked softly as Justin smiled at her with affection.

'I did Gaynor, please could you show our guests to their rooms, you know which one Vaya and Daniel normally occupy, try to keep Vaya's father nearby if you can' he replied as Gaynor bowed again before beckoning the trio to follow her from the room. Standing up, Carter bowed to Justin respectfully, 'thank you for your hospitality Alpha' he murmured before following the young girl from the room.

Once alone Justin looked at his Beta with a knowing smile, 'what?' Leo growled, annoyed at the werewolf's smirk.

'Just wondering how you are still sitting here when your mate and that little girl are at your house right now' Justin mused.

Hazel spun her head to the Beta with a grin, 'oh Leo, she is such a wonderful little girl, she has really taken to Carmen, follows her everywhere and though she tries to hide it, your mate has fallen in love with that little girl.

Leo looked stricken, 'is that a good thing? For Carmen to be so taken with her? she's not our pup' he muttered worried.

Hazel walked over to the Beta and sat in the chair next to him, placing her hand on his, 'Leo, she may not be your blood, but there is no reason that she couldn't be your pup. Maybe you should ask Carmen and Olivia where they would like Olivia to live now' she suggested softly.

Leo gazed at his Luna, fear in his face, 'what if Olivia says she doesn't want to be ours' he asked, his eyes studying Hazel's as he allowed the fears and emotions he had been keeping hidden within him since replaceing the child weeks earlier.

'Hazel just smiled, 'go and talk to your mate and to your pup Leo, I don't think you have anything to worry about' she replied as she started to shoo at him with her hands.

Looking at Justin he stood to his feet and the Alpha nodded in agreement, bowing to each he muttered, 'Alpha, Luna' before heading out of the office and back to his own home.