Welcome Home Mate
Chapter 49

ROXIE

The drive was weird. There were so many emotions running around the car.

I knew we were heading to help Alpha Dean's pack as they had rogues ready to attack any moment.

I stared out the window, trying to keep my mind on one thing at a time.

But I drifted back to the kitchen when Lex and Dad were talking about going home and when Dad asked if I was, I felt put on the spot.

Everyone was staring at me, and all I wanted was for the ground to swallow me whole.

I knew Lex wanted me to go, it was written all over his face, and I knew I had to, especially if I was given him a second chance. I excused myself and went into my room.

I stood rooted to the spot for ages, Bex telling me everything was fine and our mate would never let anything happen to us.

I believed her and packed, but my mind was clouded as everything I went through came flooding back. I had to face everyone, including Naomi. I knew I could take her if she did anything, but part of me was scared of what Lex would do. He was with her for a while. Would he help her or me?

I felt a hand slide into mine, and I looked over to see Lex staring back. He was lost, his face was holding so much, and I knew he was worried about his friend.

Uncle Keith was driving like a lunatic to get to the pack, and after what should have been a long ride, we arrived, and the sight was shocking.

Rogues were edging toward the pack members, with no one guiding them.

There weren't many pack members out.

"We need to help them," Lex gritted out.

I squeezed his hand and looked at him. "We will," I said, trying to comfort him.

Bex was up on all fours, ready for action. She was prepared to kill anyone that stood in our way.

Uncle Keith came to a halt, and we all climbed out of the car when we heard someone yell "ATTACK."

All the rogues waiting on the edge were running toward the pack members. Screaming could be heard, echoing around.

I was ready to fight, this might not be my pack, but they needed help.

I stood and looked toward the rogues; there was more than what Alpha Dean said. There were five hundred or more.

I looked at Lex, who stared at me. "Be careful," he said.

I smiled. "You too," I said.

He nodded and turned to face the scene. "Help who you can," he said, looking between the three of us.

Alpha Gareth sent more men to help, and they were on their way. Uncle Keith received mind links that help was on its way. We just needed to fight till they got there. "Let's go," said Lex, who stripped out of his top but shifted into Blaze.

I looked back at Bex, who was ready to shift.

I closed my eyes as she took over and shifted, tearing my clothes as she took over.

Blaze stared at us as Bex looked back, with a slight nod in agreement.

Blaze let out a roar to let everyone know who was fighting and that we were there.

We all charged to the scene; Bex took out rogues who came toward us. She ripped into their throats or bit them while Dad's wolf helped.

He wanted to protect us, but he knew we were alright.

He looked around and noticed a few rogues surrounding Uncle Keith and a giant black wolf; it wasn't Blaze; it had to be Alpha Dean.

I looked around and tried to spot Blaze.

Bex let me shift back into my human form, "I will come up with you to kill," she said as she looked through my eyes.

I looked around and spotted Blaze; he was ripping into a rogue.

I couldn't help but feel proud.

I was about to walk and carry on fighting when I heard a scream.

I looked around, and my eyes landed on a woman a rogue was holding; he flung her over his shoulder and walked toward the forest clearing. Not happening, buddy, I thought.

I ran, but some rogues tried to intervene, but Bex and I took them out, using Bex's claws to rip through them as they thought I couldn't do anything to them.

I might be a small woman, but I know how to fight.

I got closer to the rogue, who held the woman over his shoulder in place.

"LET HER GO," I yelled.

The rogue turned around and smirked as soon as his eyes landed on me.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he said as he threw the woman to the ground.

The woman looked at me but shouted. "RUN," she yelled.

The man looked at me, c*g his head to the side. "Oh, I am going to enjoy this," he muttered.

I smirked.

"Bex," I said. "Get ready."

I could feel Bex smirk. "With pleasure," she said.

The rogue shifted into his wolf form. He wasn't as big as I thought he was. His wolf charged at me, Bex came up close, and we became one. The wolf ran and jumped; Bex changed my hand into her claws, caught him in mid-air, shoved her hand into his c...hest, and wrapped my hand around his heart.

The wolf whined as he froze as we threw him down on the ground like a ragdoll. I was on my knees, staring at him. The wolf's eyes were wide; I don't think he knew what he had got himself into. The wolf shifted back to his human form, and the man coughed up bl00d.

"How?" he said, coughing.

"Who do you work for?" I said through gritted teeth.

I could feel eyes and the people around us watching.

The man smirked. "Not happening," he said.

"Very well," I said as I pulled out my hand from his c... hest. His heart came with it.

The man died instantly, and his heart dropped to the floor.

Bex was growling in my head. "Why wouldn't he tell us?" she snarled.

I shrugged. "Maybe there is a bigger person behind it all," I said.

I got up and started to rub my hand on my leg, trying to rub the blood off my hand. I looked around and noticed I wasn't alone. There was a crowd of people circling us.

"Rox," shouted my father as he came closer to me. He looked at the sight of me and then at the man on the floor. His color changed, and he looked pale.

Dad recovered and smiled. "You okay?" he asked.

I nodded. "I'm fine," I said.

My Dad came closer to me and looked down. "How did you learn how to do that?" he asked and glanced back at me.

I was about to speak when I smelt his scent come closer to me. "Roxie," called Lex, and I turned around to see him running up to me.

I smiled.

He got closer but stopped.

He scanned around, and his eyes landed on the man on the ground. His eyes widened, but he looked back at me. "How did..." he said, but I cut him off with a sigh. "I learned it from one of the books Uncle Keith made me read when I got here," I said as I glanced toward Uncle Keith; he nodded and smiled. "I guess you will have to read it too."

"I made her read every book I had on fighting," he said. "Even the ones from the old days."

I looked at my father as he released a low rumble in his c...hest. "You made her read our father's books," he snarled. "They were never meant to be read. He was a crazy loon."

I smiled.

I was about to say something when I noticed Alpha Dean and the woman I saved come walking toward me.

As they approached, the woman let go of Alpha Dean and came toward me, pulling me into a hug. "Thank you," she said and pulled back. "You saved me."

I smiled.

"Thank you for saving my Luna," said Alpha Dean.

I nodded as I looked between the two of them. His Luna held her hand out to him, and he took it.

"I was happy to help," I said.

"I'm Luna Stephaine," she said with a smile.

I nodded. "I'm Roxie," I said before I could say or do anything else. Lex's scent wraps around me as he places his hand on my h!p. The tingles of the mate bond ignited inside me, and I couldn't help but lean into him. His touch was nice, but it sent Bex purring like a mad dog.

Luna Stephaine looked at me but noticed Lex. Her face lightened, and she squealed. "This is your mate," she said.

I was confused. "Yes," said Lex. "This is Roxie, and she is my mate."

Luna Stephaine squealed once again.

"This is such amazing news," she said and looked at me. "I knew that he had a mate. Alpha Dean told me all the crap he pulled, but to see you here with him and in our pack, this is so amazing."

I smiled. I didn't know how to react, let alone say to her.

"You all have to stay," she said. "I want to thank Roxie for saving my life, and we need to celebrate you having her back in your life."

I felt like the walls were closing in around me as she spoke. She knew about me and me being his mate.

My head was hurting.

I closed my eyes to calm down, and Bex stared back. She could feel my anxiety wash over me.

"Breath, Rox," she whispered.

I took deep breaths in and out, and after a short while, I opened my eyes to see a worried Luna Stephaine. "You okay?" she asked.

I licked my bottom l!p and cleared my throat. "I just..." I started to say, but Lex spoke instead of me. "What Roxie is trying to say is, we can't stay. We need to return to the pack; we were about to leave when Alpha Dean called me," he said. "We also have to announce her to the pack, but we will come and visit you all."

Lex squeezed my h!p, letting me know he got my back.

I couldn't help but feel safe with his arm around me.

Luna Stephaine looked at us, but she had a smile. "That's fine," she said. "We will arrange something when everything has settled."

I nodded in agreement. It might be nice to have a friend like Luna Stephaine around; I'm going to need to have help, especially when I become Luna of the pack.

The thought entered my head, but my stomach dropped. I felt sick all of a sudden.

There was movement behind Luna Stephaine, and Alpha Dean looked at me. I smiled. "Roxie," he said. "Thank you once again for saving my Luna; I am in your debt."

I frowned, which made him laugh. He was about to say something, but cars pulled up, and I recognized some people who stepped outside. They were members of Alpha Gareth's pack.

They arrived after the attack, but at least now they can help Alpha Dean with the cleanup.

I looked over my shoulder and stared at Lex, whose eyes were fixed on me. "You ready to leave?" he asked.

The pit of my stomach turned, but I knew I had to face the pack and everyone sooner or later.

I nodded. "As I ever will be," I said, not sounding too convincing.

Lex smiled and nodded.

Lex looked around and gave out orders. He told my uncle to stay behind to help clean up; when he was done, he and the other men could come to the pack. My uncle could notify Alpha Gareth about what was going on.

Lex left my side and went with Alpha Dean to talk, but I glanced at the man I had killed on the floor.

I could feel eyes on me, but they weren't from the pack members.

Whoever it was, was looking right at me.

I shuddered. "You okay?" asked Luna Stephanie as she stood beside me.

I looked toward the forest, where the man was going to take her.

He must have been carrying her to someone, but who?

I shook my head and looked at her. "I'm okay," I said. "I guess, just feeling a little overwhelmed about going to the pack."

She nodded. "I think I would be, too," she said, smiling at me. "But you have your mate and your family with you."

I nodded, feeling a little better.

Luna Stephanie sighed. "Come on, let's get you back and on your way to your pack," she said. "We will have to organize to meet up again."

I nodded as she guided me away.

I looked up and noticed Alpha Dean and Lex smiling at us..

I couldn't help my heart flutter at the sight of Lex, whose gaze was fixed on me.

My stomach ached in the lower part, which affected my core.

Why does he affect me this much? I thought.

"He's our mate," Bex said.

I ignored her, but I kept my eyes on Lex as we got closer.