by Riki Bishop
“Baby girl, I could never leave you. Even if I did you would bring me back just to kill me yourself. I love you with all my heart and then some. We are going to have a lot of changes coming and even more enemies than before, but if I have you by my side, I know we can make it. Now, I need to go to the medic and get checked out before we deal with the next threat that will be knocking on our door before we know it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY: AMBUSH
With becoming King and Queen over all werewolves, Levi and I have been doing nothing but traveling to every pack in our control. We’ve decided that Josiah will be a great Alpha to run our pack when we move to the kingdom. There aren’t many people who are happy with the change of leadership, but Levi is ruthless when he needs to be. He has made it known more times than I can count over the past week since the battle that he is one to be respected. I’m not going to lie, seeing him like that has me jumping his bones every time we are behind closed doors. Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones, but I just can’t keep my hands off him. I can tell he is trying to be strong for everyone, but I know he is stressed and it’s getting to him. Between moving not only ourselves, but our Beta and Gamma pairs, transferring everything over to Josiah, and dealing with the sons of the late king along with my parents, it’s getting to him and I just want to help him and take some of the stress off his shoulders. He won’t let me. He doesn’t want me to stress because of the baby. I understand completely, but he’s not alone in this and I want him to know that.
Today is the day that we are moving, and I have been running around the house trying to make sure we have everything we need and didn’t forget anything. We decided to just leave everything in the nursery here for when we come to visit and just put another one together when we arrive in the Kingdom. With one more sweep through the rooms and the offices, we have everything we need and loaded up into the trucks. “That’s everything.” I tell Levi wrapping my arms around his torso.
“You ready to go home?” He asks. Of course, I am. This will always be my home, but we have a new adventure waiting for us and I couldn’t be happier to conquer whatever is thrown at us, together.
“Home is wherever you are my love, but yes. I am ready to go home and get things settled so I can have my husband back. Since you won’t let me take some of the worries off your plate and insist that you have it all under control. You know I can feel your emotions and you don’t block me out when your asleep right? I know what you’re going through. I just wish you would let me help you. What good are you to me and our baby if you croak from a heart attack from all the stress you have yourself under. I know Ryder and Jason are there helping, but I’m here too.” I said.
I wish he would just get it through his thick skull, but he won’t. He’s worried about everything. We have more enemies now and I understand that he’s worried something might happen, but he needs to put the trust in me that I can take care of myself as well. “I know baby girl; I just want you and our pup to be safe. We have more enemies now that I took over as King and with the late king's sons out there somewhere, I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He explained.
Once everyone is ready, we head out to our new home. We said our goodbyes to our families and even though I’m currently not on speaking terms with my parents I made sure to tell them goodbye as well. We have a two-hour drive until we get to the Kingdom and it’s going to be a long-ass drive. I manage to nap for about an hour of the drive, and I know I’m not the best road trip partner, but sue me, I’m tired. “I’m starving. Are we almost there?” I ask Levi and he just chuckles. “No babe. We still have about an hour to go. We’ll stop and get you something at the next stop. Can’t have you going hungry now can we?” He teased.
“Definitely not! Your kid wouldn’t allow that anyway. Are you excited to find out what we’re having in a few weeks?” I ask. I’m five weeks pregnant now and we get to find out what we are having in a few weeks and I’m excited. At least with knowing we’ll be able to get things that aren’t gender neutral. “Of course, I am. I can’t wait. Besides you, that pup is the silver lining in all this that is going on. I’m glad I was able to get away to go to Ryder’s graduation and met you. I love you, Wills.” He knows how to melt my heart.
“I love you too, Levs.” Finally, we are about twenty minutes away from our destination and I am more than ready to be home and take a nap. Make these men do all the hard work. Unfortunately, that doesn’t go as planned. “LEVI LOOK OUT!” I scream as Levi slams on the breaks. We come to a skidding stop along with Ryder and Jason and their females behind us. It’s a good thing we had our seatbelts on, otherwise, this could have gone a lot worse than just a crack on the head. “What the fuck was that?” I ask. I thought it was a wolf, but it doesn’t seem to be there. I’m looking around and Levi has a gash on his head from hitting the steering wheel when my door opens behind me and I’m dragged out of the car. “Levi! Help me!” I’m struggling against my assailant and it’s not working out in my favor.
“Let her go!” Levi says as Ryder and Jason join him. “What do you want. Do you know who I am? Who she is?” Levi asks.
“Of course, we know who you are, your highness. We also know this is the queen and we’ve been paid quite a bit to get her back to the boss. Now get out of our way before she gets hurt or one of the other women you have with you.” The unknown guy says.
“Over my dead body will you take MY mate! Your queen! Let. Her. Go. Now.” Levi says through quenched teeth.
“That’s not how this works. We take the girl and you let us leave.” The other guy says. I can’t let them hurt Levi. Or anyone else for that matter.
“Baby…listen…” I start to say.
“NO WILLOW! I will not let them take you.” Levi yells.
“Baby…I can’t let you do this for me.” I try.
“No. It’s you and me until the end. You want me to let you in? I can’t do that when you aren’t with me. Stop trying to sacrifice yourself. It’s not going to happen!” He says.
The guy that is holding me has my throat and he’s starting to squeeze until there is a thump and he drops down from behind me. I run over to Levi and he wraps me in his arms. “Go get in the car! I’ll be there as soon as we deal with these. I don’t know how many there are. I want you in that car and locked. I’m going to shift now baby. Go. Now.” I run to the car and notice that Alexia and Shay are also in the same car. They must have gotten in here when the other guys weren’t looking.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: THE BOSS
“What the fuck was that! Who the fuck are they working for and what did they want with me?” I ask anyone in general. It’s been about fifteen minutes since Levi, Ryder, and Jason have left to deal with the ones that ambushed us. I’m still wanting to know what the fuck happened. We haven’t been in the high ranks but for a week and shit is already starting to go to shit. Maybe it’s because they know that mates are each other’s weaknesses. Who the hell knows, but the guys better get back soon? I’m tired and shook and over this day already.
“Willow! Someone is coming over here.” Shay exclaims. I look to where she is looking, and a man is coming directly for the vehicle. Great. Can this day get any worse?
“Where are the guys? They should be back by now. No matter what happens you two stay out of it. I don’t want you to get hurt.” I say. By now the guy is at the door and he rips it open. The next thing I know is he’s ripping me out of the car and throwing my over his shoulder before taking off running. I can hear Shay and Alexis yelling my name, but all I can do is kick and punch this guy trying to get him to let me go. “Let me go you ass! Who are you!” I scream. I continue to thrash around, and he eventually has enough of it and takes me off his shoulder and throws me to the ground. The last thing I remember before it all goes black is Levi mind-linking me asking where I was.
LEVI’S POV
They came out of nowhere. There were so many of them compared to us three. I have called for backup and it hasn’t arrived yet. Ryder has five to hi
s one, Jason has six to his one, and I have around ten to my one. Where the fuck did they come from? It has to do with this boss that wants my mate and he will not have her. Over my dead body. It seems as soon as we take out one three more show up. Our back up finally shows up twenty minutes later and I instantly tell them I’m going to check on Willow and the other two girls. When I get there she’s not there. Shay and Alexis are shouting for me as they run back towards the vehicles. “Where is she?” I ask them.
“Some man…he came and got her…we followed her as far as we could. He was too fast for us. We couldn’t catch up to them.” Alexis explains.
“Why the hell didn’t you mind-link someone!” I growled out. “What the hell were you two thinking!” Willow…baby…where are you…are you okay? Answer me, please. “She’s not answering the mind-link. She’s either too far away or worse. We must find her.
WILLOW’S POV
I don’t know where I am. I open my eyes and it’s nothing but darkness. I try to move my arms, but I can’t. They’re tied down somehow. My head is killing me. I’m shackled to the wall maybe. Silver chains. I’m so tired. How long have I been here? Is my baby okay? Someone is coming into the room. I hear the door slam and footsteps getting closer. I just want to go back to sleep, but I can’t. They threw something on me. It burns. “Ahh!” I scream out in pain. Water and wolfsbane.
“Wake up, bitch! The boss wants to talk to you.” The stranger said.
“And he thinks that throwing wolfsbane and water on me will get him my attention? Fuck you!” I screech. I want to be home with my mate. He must be looking for me. Can I mind-link him? I should try it. Right?
Levi…baby can you hear me? It hurts. I need you. Please come.
I don’t think it’s going to work. I don’t know how far away we are. Hell, I don’t know how far we can link anyone now that we’re the King and Queen. “It’s not going to work, princess. We’re too far out for your precious mate to hear you.” Jackass said.
“Go to hell dick.” I spat out. My skin is still burning, but it’s tolerable now. “Let me go. Do you know who I am? Obviously, you do, but you don’t seem to value your life enough to give a fuck.”
He just chuckled at that statement and it just made me even more pissed. Who the fuck is this guy? I’m going to kill him with my bare hands. Put me in danger, but don’t bring my unborn child and mate in this. “Don’t worry, princess, we’re not going to hurt you…yet…but your mate, on the other hand, has a death warrant.” He said.
“You touch him, and I swear I’ll make sure your death is slow and painful along with everyone you work with! You’ll wish you were dead by the time I’m done with you.” I spat. That got under his skin. I felt the sting of him slapping my face as it flung to the opposite side.
“You shut your mouth you little bitch before I kill your child as you watch.” He sneered and that’s all it took for me to fight the restraints that are holding me in place. “Fight all you want; you won’t be able to escape.”?
“How long have I been here?” I asked.
“The boss wants to speak with you and maybe if you’re good he’ll answer your questions.” He said taking my cuffs and leading me out of the darkroom.
“I don’t want to see your damn boss. I want to kill each of you and go the fuck home!” I said and it’s true. I’m pissed enough that I want to kill everyone in my way to getting home with my family. Who is this boss guy and what do they want with me? We walk up the steps and through a door and I’m immediately blinded by the sun. I must close my eyes and readjust them. I must have been down there for a while. “Where are you taking me?” He didn’t answer. He just kept walking to a different building. This place seems familiar, but I can’t place it. I have been here before.
We walk for about five more minutes and arrive at an abandoned warehouse and I know exactly where we are and who the boss is. We walk into the office where someone is sitting at a desk with the chair turned around, so the person isn’t facing us. Jackass over here still has ahold of me and clears his throat. The man turned around and I knew who it was, but it was still a shock. Why was he doing this to me?
“Dad.” Is all I could manage to squeak out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: BLINDSIDED
“Dad? What the hell is going on? Why did you do this! I’m your daughter! Even not by blood, but I’m still YOUR DAUGHTER!” I can’t believe this man. The man that raised me and cared for me.
“Ah, hello princess. Glad you could join us. We have some things that we need to discuss. Please, sit.” He said. I just stand there glaring at him. I can’t believe this man. Was my mom in on this? Who are they working with? The biggest question of all is why. “I said SIT DOWN!” He bellowed. “I won’t ask you again.” I stood there just staring at him. If looks could kill he would be six feet under right now. The day isn’t over yet though, so it could still happen.
“Fuck you! You abducted me, threw me in a dark room, have me shackled, wolfsbane threw on me, and threaten the life of my mate AND my unborn child. You can go to hell! When I get out of here I’ll kill you myself. You’re supposed to be my father, but now I see that you never were.” I sneered. Jackass, yes I still don’t know his name, so I dubbed him a jackass, forced me to sit on the chair that was in front of my father's desk. “Release me, now. That is an order as your Queen. IF you do not cooperate there will be serious consequences.” I stated. He just laughed.
“You don’t scare me. Neither does that mate of yours. You may be the Queen and he may be the King, but that won’t last for long. You and your sister ruined everything for me and your mother. She should be here with your sister shortly. We have much to discuss. Sebastian and Cole will be joining us as well.” He said and then it all hit me. He was working with the late Kings sons and they still wanted us to be their mates. What’s in it for my parents though?
“How long have I been here? You better not touch her or my family. Levi will be here with his best warriors and I’ll make sure he saves you for me.” I spat as soon as the office door opened, and Shay was pushed in by our mother. I can’t believe our parents are doing this to us. Aren’t they supposed to be the ones that always protect us? “Shay! Are you okay?” I jump up immediately to rush to my sister even though I’m still shackled. “Take these off me NOW!”
“Willow! Levi has been looking for you everywhere for a week! I forgot about this place and he’s going crazy trying to find you. Everyone is trying to find you.” The thing about Shay being here is we can mind-link each other. Once I get these shackles off it’ll be stronger. The silver is weakening me, but not as much as it would if I weren’t who I was.
“Take. Them. Off. Now.” I say through gritted teeth.
“Why would we do that? What makes you think we can trust you won’t do anything?” My mother asks.
“Why would I risk my baby's life along with my sisters? No matter how much I want you all dead I’m not stupid! I won’t do anything until I’m forced to do so. Now take them off! That is an order!” I had to use some of the ‘Alpha tone’ that I got when I mated with Levi and when we became higher in the chain of command. I knew it would work against my mother, my father, however, would take more and I just didn’t have it in me. Thank the Goddess she did, and I took Shay into my arms and hugged her tight.
ME: Did they see you leave?
SHAY: They knew I was with mom. They have someone following me. I knew they would lose us, so I activated the GPS in my necklace that Ryder got me. Why didn’t you use the one in your ring?
ME: “I don’t have my ring! My fingers were swollen, and it was hurting so I took it off and put it in the glove box in the car!
“Stop that! I will make sure that you two can’t mind-link again by injecting you with a serum that will drain you. How do you think I have kept you sedated for the last week?” My father asks and I just scowl at him.
“What do you want with us!” Shay yelled. I have been trying to figure it out as well, but the only thing that I ca
n come up with is the deal they had with the King before he died. Maybe they have a plan to take Levi out and take over the Kingdom. It makes sense now.
“You want to take over the Kingdom and kill my mate don’t you!” I asked.
“Ding, ding! We have a winner and here I thought you were more beautiful than brains.” My mother said. Which is wrong. I am more brains than beauty. I’m a lawyer for Goddess sake! “The boys should be here soon, and we can get started with the plan and you girls are going to help us succeed.”
“You wish.” I snapped. “I would rather die than help you with anything. You are supposed to be our mother. To love and protect us. Are you that power and money-hungry that you would do this to your own children?” I was awarded another slap to the face. I’m getting sick of them hitting me. So, as soon as I gained my composure back I lunged at my mother. I had her up against the wall when my hand on her throat. “Touch me again. I dare you. I’m sick of you and your monkeys beating on me. I will end your life without a second look.” She looks scared. Good. I tighten my hold on her neck and bring her up against the wall to where only the tips of her toes are on the floor. She’s starting to turn red in the face. I know it’s getting hard to breathe. Before I can tighten my hold more, I’m pulled off her and she drops to the ground coughing and holding her throat.
“You little bitch!” She says in between coughs. “I should teach you a lesson. I have been too lenient with you and your sister.” She says as she walks over to me. I’m still in someone’s hold.
“Let me go!” I yell wiggling around to get loose, it’s no use.