Chapter 129

Ryan

I fight through the winds, the rain cascading over my warriors and me. It wasn't the best idea coming out during this type of storm but we lacked one natural ingredient that grows just south of the waterfall trail and then the cure would be complete for the last facility of rogues. I have healed slowly in my weeks of developing the cure, but I could use a dose myself.

Thankfully it hasn't affected my poorly mate, spending most of her days passed out in bed until I force her to get up and move around a bit. It's been exhausting for her, but she is the patriarchy of a new family, the strongest she-wolf I know who is capable of carrying these pups.

"Dammit, lover boy! Where are you?!"

I barge out of the mouth of the cave where my warriors have been taking shelter from the monsoon outside. I see that rogue alpha in the distance, throwing his hands up in a small fit of rage. It's almost amusing if he didn't also sport a petrified look of angst as well.

"Over here," I call out.

His eyes lock mine and suddenly, I fill with dread.

He barges into the cave, standing practically against me and speaking so low, through gritted teeth, so only I can hear him. "You have to get back to the palace, now."

My wolf rattles inside of me, desperate to break out just from panic alone. "Why? What's going on? Is Alyson okay?"

His mouth opens but words don't leave. He only shakes his head.

"Return to the palace when the storm clears!" I tell my warriors, returning my focus to Olivera. "Let's go. Now."

"The falls have flooded," he says, worried, but I can't stand to wait here a second longer if she's hurt and needs me.

"Then you stay, I'm getting back to my mate."

I shift, my wolf irrationally impatient, sprinting through the woods so fast that I almost miss the sight of Olivera's onyx wolf following diligently behind. The rain has picked up in quantity and in speed, making it near impossible to see the trail just a few paces in front of me. I run faster, daring to press my luck just a little more, so I can be there for her when she needs me.

Lightning hits, a bright, sizzling white bolt of electricity flowing out of the soppy sky above and striking a tree up ahead, the massive trunk splitting down the middle and landing just before myself and Olivera. We skid to a stop, the branches still intact and towering far too high in the way for us to simply leap over.

My wolf is controlling and furious, taking over as we bolt sideways, toward the water fall trail. I can only picture my mate, weak and exhausted, fighting to be by my side and begging for me to hold her. I've spent too much time not holding her, I can't allow it to go on any longer.

Olivera howls, trying to break my focus for whatever reason but I continue on, my wolf jumping clear over a fallen tree and landing in a slick, muddy patch before I find myself dipping underwater. I've lost my footing, my wolf begging for air as we are both dipped under the rapids, only to be brought back up as the river rages in the storm.

I catch a glimpse Olivera running parallel to the rapids, careful of his step as he passes me and my wolf up, stopping on a rock that overhangs over the water slightly. I push off the slick river rocks underwater and launch myself in that direction, the river bringing me closer and closer to Olivera's waiting wolf.

I kick upwards, my claws digging into the rock, only to feel it crumble.

Olivera and I trade miserable looks to one another.

He aims to leap back to the path nearby but the rock ledge has other ideas, sweeping us both back into the rapids and further away from my mate's side. Olivera panics, dipping under the water once, then twice, his head submerged for a moment too long and that's when I lose sight of him.

I fight the current, fight the rain pouring overhead, desperately looking for the rogue Alpha. It's only me, though, my wolf tired from the paddling and cold rain. Ahead there is a break in the ditch the river has carved, a low spot I can latch onto that would bring me back to the solid ground. I launch sideways, clinging to the embankment and finally pulling free.

I collapse in exhaustion, my wolf giving up as I shift, cold, wet and naked int his treacherous storm. As if by chance, I glance sideways, seeing a worn-out black wolf washed up just a few yards away.

I run to Olivera, his eyes lapsed closed and his head badly bleeding from the unforgiving river. In my haste, I struggle to grab at him, yanking him sideways until I find a smaller, less sheltered cave. At least for the most part, we are out of the rain now.

I settle for a moment, exhausted, Olivera passed out from the head wound.

Alyson, I breathe, calming the haste in my mind to reach out to her. It's going to be okay, Alyson. I get to you soon enough. Hang in there; wait for me. I love you.

Nothing comes through, the absence of my mate wounding me further.

If the rain halts, I'll run again, but the lightning is attacking the trees, the clouds hovering over in darkness like it's nighttime, and I'm too frozen to shift from the freezing temperature of the rain pouring overhead.

Olivera shifts to his simple form, groaning as he grabs at the bloody cut on his forehead.

"Dammit, that's what I get for trying to help you," he mutters.

"Should have left you in the river if I knew that's how you would thank me."

"Never mind your thanks," he hums. "We have to get to the palace. Now."

I wave toward the storm, practically destroying the forest before out eyes. "We won't be able to make it there right now. It's too dangerous. I think we learned that the hard way."

He seems flustered, but I can't pinpoint why.

"What's wrong?" I breathe, knowing that no matter what he tells me, I can't be senseless and try navigating the storm right now; it would only get me killed. "Is it Alyson."

He nods, wiping the blood as it leaks over his eyes, but it doesn't show signs of slowing yet. "She wasn't looking to good this morning. I got the healer to the room and she was in pain—I think… I think she's going into labor."

My heart drops clear into my stomach.

"She can't be—it's too soon!"

"I don't think the timeline matters, anymore."

He's right, but I wish he wasn't. The strength it will take Alyson to have those pups without me there will be undeniably difficult, but I can't deny that she is powerful enough to try it. I just hope she doesn't have to, that I will get to be there for her, for my pups.

For our family.