Page 176 of His Fated Luna

“I challenge—” Dylan began but he was cut off by a loud scream.

A scream that did not belong to me.

“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Lexia screeched, running in between her father and throwing herself over Aiden's limp wolf form.“No, Daddy! No! Please!” Lexia begged, her arms thrown across Aiden’s neck. "I'll make sure he never comes back! Please let me have him!!" Alistair stopped, looking at his daughter.

Then Alistair turned to look at me. I looked away and caught the sharp look Lexia gave Dylan. It was clear, she was telling him to stand down. I couldn't help but agree. Dylan was poisoned, he was in no position to challenge Alistair. Tony was lying unconscious in a hospital bed. Josie and the kids were home, and I…well I did the only thing I could to save Aiden.

I knelt down in front of Alistair's wolf, the men holding me back letting go of me.

“You’ve won. We submit, Alpha of the Bloodfire Phoenix Pack,” I said the words clearly and emphatically, broadcasting the message to my entire pack through the luna mind-link.

A cry of pain escaped my lips when I felt a snapping pain deep in my heart.It felt like the tether that always pulled me to Aiden was breaking. He was no longer my alpha. No longer my mate. Utter desolation washed over me and I whimpered. Aiden. I missed him. Alistair changed back into his human form, a wild grin marring his face etched with deep lines.

Lexia let out a wail.

“Daddy, he’s lost consciousness!” She looked to her pack members. “Help me get him to the doctor!”

I wanted to go, I wanted to follow but couldn’t because Alistair was gripping my wrist, painfully jerking me up to stand. But it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Aiden, Aiden , Aiden. My mind was crying out for him.

He hauled me away to his home with unconcealed glee. I only got one last glance back, glimpsing an ambulance at the front of the mansion. Aiden was passed out in his wolf form, beautiful gray-silver fur matted with blood and laid on a stretcher that was being carried towards the ambulance.

Please live Aiden!

“You’ll give me sons all right. You’re young and strong and genetically predisposed to give the alpha sons." He cackled and flung me into his mansion.

A single tear fell from my eyes as Alistair shut the door.

Please come back to me Aiden!

Chapter 55

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall.” ? Mahatma Gandhi

Rose's POV

I sat huddled in the bedroom Alistair had given me. I couldn’t help but shudder at the lewd looks he’d given me, but he hadn’t tried touching me…yet. The minute he'd thrown me into this room, I had wisely mind-linked Josie to take the kids and leave. She needed to go wherever Lexia was taking Aiden. He would need his family when he woke up. Besides, I didn't trust Alistair to not try and torture the previous alpha's family. They had to get out for their own safety.

In the meantime,I'd issued Dylan strict instructions to not rile up Alistair and to hold Tony back if he woke up. Then I blocked off the pack mind-link so no one could argue with me. If Alistair had beaten Aiden, the other wolves were no match for him. And Alistair was thirsting for blood, denied the kill he'd been looking forward to. The last thing I needed were dead pack members. No...we had to bide our time. No more rushing headfirst. With time to reflect, I realized that the reason Alistair had been successful in this entire scheme was because he'd taken the time to plan things out and assess the entire situation. We needed to do the same if we expected to defeat him.

The doorknob rattled and Lexia entered my room. It had been three days since we'd seen each other.

I scrambled to stand up, tying the sash of the bright red robe tighter around my body. Red lingerie and a red silk robe were all Alistair had given me.Lexia’s eyes flashed over me in disgust.

“You’re younger than I am,” Lexia hissed. “He’s gone crazy if he thinks—” But then she stopped, snapping her mouth shut.

“Lexia, how’s Aiden?”

Lexia let out a heavy sigh, eyes going to the manacles which still burned my wrist. Lexia reached for them, key in hand.

I gave a sigh of relief as the manacles fell away, revealing angry red welts on my wrists where the bracelets had once been.

“He’s got a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a broken leg. Lots of internal bleeding. Possible brain damage. He’s in the ER. We took him to the Rushing River Pack. They aren't part of the alliance and Dad issued a threat that whoever gives Aiden asylum will be breaching the alliance. That was the only safe place Dylan could think up. I got the antidote for Dylan from Dad.” Lexiabreathed in deeply. “Listen, Rose, Aiden is in a coma from severe head trauma. He needs time to get better. Just…just hold on, OK? He’s going to mark you. My …my dad,” Lexiaspit the word out like bile.

I shuddered. This was going from bad to worse.

“He’s been at the Bloodfire Phoenix territory for days, scouting out the land,” Lexia assured. “Let's hope he stays busy with that awhile longer. Just…don’t fight him. Tell him you’re on your period or something if he tries anything.”

I swallowed the words that might have revealed my pregnancy. I couldn’t risk it. So instead, I spoke to seek confirmation for something else. “You really weren’t in on any part of this?”