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I turned from him before he could ask me anything further; the next wolf stepped forward to pledge themselves to us. Nyte looked at me with the same question in his eyes as Thompson, but I couldn’t answer either of them yet. I only knew that there would be answers to come…so long as everyone involved survived.
Chapter twenty-four
Nyte
Mynewpackdidn’tput up much of a fight in accepting me as their Alpha and Paige as their Luna. Even the woman waiting outside the packhouse when we arrived bore her neck to us without a fuss. Not a single wolf chose to leave the pack to be rogue.
“What are your first orders?” the she-wolf asked, stepping forward with Beta Thompson.
“What is your name?” I asked, frowning at the air of authority she seemed to carry within the pack.
“I am Morghan, Alpha. I was the older sister of Alpha Markus and often performed the duties of Luna within the pack. I offer my services to you and Luna Paige now.”
I looked to Paige then to see how she would react to the woman. Her reaction would tell me of the treatment she had received and how I would proceed.
“That was why you didn’t seem scared of Markus,” Paige mused, tilting her head.
Morghan gave a nod, looking at Paige. “Yes, Luna. Although my brother was unwell, I never feared for my safety around him…only for the safety of the pack. I am sorry for his treatment of you and the welcome you were given when you arrived. It was a very trying time for us all.”
Paige smirked at me. “It was still a warmer welcoming than I got from the Coronado Pack.”
That was the answer to her treatment, the she-wolf now gaining my respect through my mate. “We are to go to the Coronado Packhouse. Anyone able to fight should remain in the house. Anyone unable to fight, mothers and their children, and the elders will join the midwives in their caverns to hide until the threat is handled.”
Morghan’s interest seemed to peak, her eyes widening. “Alpha Nyte, are you saying you know where the kidnappers are? Where the missing packs are?”
I shook my head, watching her deflate. “No, but my mate can find them.”
The nearest wolves all stared at Paige, eyes widened in amazement.
“The witch Luna can find them?”
“How is that possible?”
“Can we trust, really trust her?”
The voices and whispers all rose, news passing from wolf to wolf until the entire pack heard that Paige could find the missing packs. Paige stepped forward, raising her hand and calling out for the pack to listen. “Yes, I can find the missing wolves and those who have taken them. The fates gave me a vision. I know for certain the missing packs are being kept alive. I know who has them and for what purpose, and I know how to find them. However, even if I lead all of us to them right now, we will fail if you don’t trust Nyte and me. An Ancient Vampire Lord is keeping them prisoner, and a dark witch is at his side. We must gather all the remaining packs and join forces against them. Can you trust us to lead you? Can you trust me to guide your friends and family to the missing packs? Will you stand with us, as your Alpha and Luna, at the sides of the other packs?”
Morghan looked over her shoulder as nervous eyes turned to her for guidance. Clearly, they still respected her and now looked to her to speak for the pack.
“We have sworn to you as our Alpha and Luna,” Morghan stated, lifting her chin proudly as she spoke. “We will follow you both. There is no hesitation from our pack. Whatever you need, you can find it with us.”
Paige smiled at the she-wolf, the stern look on the older woman’s face softening.
“Then it’s time for us to return to Point Loma.”
Madilyn and Chase joined another car on the way back to the packhouse, leaving Paige and me alone in my car. It was such a relief to have her back; my body relaxed in places I hadn’t realized had stiffened since she was gone. It had only been for a few hours, but my body felt like she had been separated from me for days.
I rested my hand over hers on the middle console, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she relaxed at my touch.
“I’m sorry,” I said, watching her turn away from the window in the corner of my eye.
“What?”
“I said that I’m sorry,” I answered, keeping my eye on the road now, embarrassed at apologizing to her.
“I heard that, but what are you sorry for?” She watched me expectantly.
I knew what she wanted. I also knew that I owed her an apology for everything. I thought about it while she was gone. I felt inner rage for having kept so much from her, realizing that had I only trusted her with the truth, she might not have been taken from me.
