The Summer Moon
Chapter 91 -

Malia

I ran down the stairs taking them two at a time towards the basement. Liam passed me on his way, the same sense of panic in his eyes that Ty had, and I could smell the same unusual scent as them in the air. I knew what it meant, a rogue was here, but how did it get this far into unnoticed? And was it here for Ty? For me? The same questions were filling Ty's head but I could tell her was pushing them away as he ran around the house searching for the rogue. Meeting Alana at the bottom of the stairs, I grabbed her hand and pulled her into a bathroom with me and locking the door. I knew far too well that this door would hardly be a barrier against a wolf, but hoped that Ty and Liam would be able to lead the rogues away before they found us. Worst case, I guess I would be putting the training I had done with Liam to some use today.

"Malia, what's going on?" Alana looked up at me with wide eyes as she huddled against the wall, her body sinking to sit on the floor. She wrapped her arms around her legs and hugged them into her chest and I felt for her. I remembered feeling that scared when I had first learned about the wolf world, so I slid down beside her and wrapped an arm around her.

"We're going to be okay Alana, Ty and Liam have this," I said, making sure Ty heard it as well. I heard Ty's wolf suddenly howling outside, followed by Liam and I knew the battle had begun. Several other wolves joined in and I listened carefully to the thoughts crossing through Ty's mind as the fighting ensued.

It wasn't just one, but several rogues had come into town, straight to this house and it was very clear that Ty was there number one target. One by one Ty and his pack members fought them off and with each passing minute I felt my anxiety building. I was begging for Ty to be okay, for our friends to be okay, and desperate for someone to finally declare the battle at over until finally it was and everyone fell silent.

Ty's thoughts went to a jumble and I struggled to decipher what was happening as he jumped from one thought to the next sporadically. "Malia what's going on?" Alana asked me and I noticed how much my entire body had tensed. I tried to relax and shook my head, "I don't know, something's wrong." My heart began to ache as I felt hurt suddenly wash over Ty. It wasn't physical thought, this was something deeper, Ty was upset about something but through his racing mind I couldn't figure it out. I tried calling out to him but there was pure silence. Then suddenly more howling in the woods and Ty's thoughts cleared. My eyes widened as the images Jesse pinning Liam up against a tree, his canines fully extended as he snarled and threatened to attack. Ty was pushing himself between the two of them, begging Jesse to stop. The look on Liam's face was unreadable, like he was horrified but also heartbroken, like a sad puppy. "Liam did you tell your parents where we were today?" Ty was asking next and I started to make sense of the string of thoughts chaining through his mind. They were trying to figure out how the rogues got past the border, only to realize that Liam's parents had been in charge of guarding the border. His parents, now missing, with their scents trailing beyond the borders and into the rogue territory. His parents, who knew exactly where Ty was going to be this afternoon thanks to Liam. And just like that I realized exactly what everyone else had come to realize, exactly what had started the fight between Jesse and Liam - Liam's family were traitors to the pack, they were behind these attacks.

Ty's emotions suddenly dropped again and I could feel the ache in his chest growing. "Ty," I called out to him and was surprised to hear his voice calling out for me through the house.

"Lia," he yelled from upstairs, and I jumped up to unlock the bathroom door. I ran back up the steps taking them two at a time noticing the broken glass on the front window. "Sorry, first repair?" He gave me a guilty smile but I didn't care. I ran into his arms, jumping up and he caught me with ease as my legs wrapped around his waist.

"Thank god you're okay," i whispered into his ear, my hands knotted into his hair as I held him tight. Ty sighed into me and all I could hear in his mind was "this can't be happening" repeating over and over again. I pulled back slightly, holding his face in my hands. "Are you okay?" I asked him and he gave me a small smile.

"I'll be okay as long as your okay," He said then gently led my legs slide back down to the floor. "I just can't believe Liam's parents are after me. I don't get why they would do that, they've been in this pack for generations, I've known them since I was just a kid. And what about Liam? Is he in on it too? He's been one of my best friends for years," Ty rambled on and I wrapped my arms around him to smooth him again.

Jesse and the other pack members from the battle joined us in the house, talking amongst themselves. But I ignored them, my entire focus right now was on Ty and what he was trying to sort through in his mind. Then, a few moments later, Liam wandered in through the front door and everyone fell silent. I looked out from behind Ty, catching a glimpse at his tear streaked face, dirt smudged across his cheek.

"I didn't do this, I'm not- I wasn't a part of this. I didn't know," Liam stuttered out and I could sense the vulnerability in his voice. He was terrified. His eyes were locked on Alana, who stood leaning back against the kitchen counters with her eyes glued to the floor. I looked up to Ty, what should we do? And I knew he was struggling with the same question.

I took a deep breath and made the first step forwards, acting on my instincts. We could trust Liam, he was family to us and there is no way he would do anything to hurt us, that I was certain of. Liam may have some questionable morals when it comes to girls, but he had done everything he could to help Ty in these attacks. He'd done everything to help me and Ty through all the drama, to help me adjust to life here. He wouldn't hurt us.

"We're happy to have you home Liam," I came to stand in front of him and I heard a few murmurs front he crowd behind us. Ty's thoughts suddenly aligned with mine, realizing just as I had that Liam is family and he came to stand at his side as well. I looked into Liam's eyes and saw more tears threatening to spill so I moved forwards to wrap my arms around him and pull him into a hug, and Ty quickly joined in.

Turning back to the group, Ty cleared his throat. "Liam would not betray us, he will never be a traitor to us. He has proven his loyalty to me, to Malia, to our pack over and over again, his loyalty should never be questioned. If anyone has any problems with that, you can direct them to speak with me," he announced and the crowd cheered in approval. My eyes fell to Ty as I stared at him in awe.

The crowd returned to mingling and Liam awkwardly shuffled on his feet at the door. He still looked like he was trying to compose himself, and I could only imagine what he was going through in his mind. He had just found out his parents, the people who had loved and raised him his whole life were traitors. They had tried to kill his best friend, they were threatening the pack, and now had placed a target over their son's back. Liam's eyes remained on Alana, who still hadn't moved. I sighed to myself, they always needed a little push. So i moved slowly to Alana's side, knowing that she was watching Liam in her peripheral vision just as he watched her. I leaned into her side, whispered in her ear, "If you want him, you better go. He really needs someone right now." I prayed this would push her forwards, but she didn't budge. Her head shook slightly so I nudged her shoulder again, then suddenly she leapt forwards. Alana ran into Liam's chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders while he stood frozen in place, shocked.

"I'm sorry about your parents," she whispered into his ear. At the sound of her words, Liam finally broke. Tears rushed forwards and he buried his head in the nape of her neck. The two clung to each other and I went back to squeeze Ty's hand. Finally, we both sighed. Deciding to give Liam and Alana some space, everyone else slowly wandered out into the driveway and said their goodbyes until it was just and I remaining.

"I had to go talk to some of the warriors, are you okay to get home?" He asked me and I nodded back. The romantic moment between us long gone, and the space placed between us seemed evident once more. Standing a few feet in front of me Ty made no motion to come any closer.

The two of us went our separate ways, Ty gone to talk to pack members and I returning to his house. I had said I would return to my house tonight but after what had happened today, sleeping away from him seemed impossible. I was sick of this, I was sick of all of it. And with that in mind I silenced my thoughts from Ty and summoned all my courage, preparing my best speech for when he got home. I had to convince him that being together was better than any other option. I had to make him trust me that this was right.

My heart raced in my chest as I saw the lights of Ty's car pull into the driveway. I scrambled around the room, lighting some candles and trying to make it more romantic. Second by second passing, I paced around the room waiting for him. My palms were clammy, my heart fluttering. You can do this, I urged myself until finally I heard the click of the doorknob turning.

"Malia," my name dripped from Ty's lips as he walked into the dimly lit room.

"Ty," i whispered back, my hands clenched into fists. I was ready to stand my ground, ready for a fight. Ready for a fight worse than anything we've ever had, because I wasn't going anywhere tonight and neither was he. We needed this, we needed each other, and staying apart was never going to be the right thing to do.

"Thank god you're here," his voice broke as he spoke and I widened my eyes at his surprised. Did he really meant that? Then rushing towards me, his arms were around me in a heartbeat, my head crashing into his chest as he held me tight. His chest shook as a sob let loose, his tears running into my hair as he buried his head into my neck. Finally, the deafening silence of his mind broke. The emotions and thoughts of this afternoon rushing forwards and I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing my home would always be in his arms.