The Beta's Justice

Chapter 3

Audrey's POV

I watched as the pups turned to follow the warriors as they headed back down the tunnel. It broke my heart to see the babies being carried by some of the she-wolves and older pups. Slowly they filed after the warriors, and soon I was following behind them with Caden at my side. “How long can you keep control of so many?” Caden sounded worried.

“Not sure,” I responded honestly. I had only used my abilities on a large group for a short time, but this time, I needed to move everyone from all the way down here to the buses and then keep them calm during transport. It would be taxing, to say the least. “I just need to stay focused,” I told him.

He nodded and we continued walking. I saw Darren as we exited the secret tunnel, but I couldn't break focus. “Audrey, you're safe,” he smiled.

“She can't talk right now,” Caden cut in. “If she breaks focus, then she may lose control of the pack in front of her,” Caden explained to him.

“Okay,” he nodded with understanding. “Everyone, grab what you can, we will come back later with another group to finish clearing out the facility. For now, our top priority is to get the pups back safe and deliver the ingredients necessary for our future Luna,” Darren ordered the warriors around him.

Without a response, everyone began to move as I continued up to the main floor with the nearly sixty wolves in front of me. Heading out to the front of the packhouse, my head began to spin. “Get onto the bus,” my voice bellowed. I could hear the c***k, but I prayed to the Moon Goddess that they wouldn't and that it wouldn't affect my order.

Slowly, the world was beginning to spin. This isn't good. The longer I tried to hold out to control this many, the more draining it was becoming. Taking in heavy breaths, I continued to push forward. We made it to the bus and the children started to get on. They were seated and buckled in. Luckily, we had just enough infant chairs on the bus. The bus was barely large enough to seat everyone. Only a few of the she-wolves didn't fit. They were moved to the black cars along with the supplies we need.

"Restrain them," I told the warriors. I was about to lose connection with them all. I could feel it. "Quickly!" I urged. We had come prepared for kids and maybe a few she-wolves, but not this many. They outnumbered us and we had no way of knowing what special abilities they had been endowed with.

The warriors rushed to do as I had instructed. Luckily, they had just restrained the final she-wolf, when I nearly collapsed into Darren's waiting arms. My breathing was heavy and labored. Sweat was dripping down my forehead. "Let's move out," Darren said as he picked me up and carried me to the last empty car.

He buckled me in as the driver got into his seat, started the car and then it all started. We were at the start of the caravan. Everyone followed us. The warriors kept in constant contact to make sure the other vehicles were moving without an issue. Taking in a deep breath, I tried to steady my heart and stop my heart from pounding so hard, but it was incredibly difficult. I need to be better fast. We need to be ready for anything. Even if their powers haven't manifested yet or they weren't in control of them, it doesn't mean that we can rest easy, not yet. Anything was still possible.

Breathing in deeply wasn't helping. Instead, it felt as though my head was spinning more. "Don't push yourself so hard," Darren whispered, trying to put me at ease.

"I need to be ready," I pushed out the words.

"I am ready for you," he tried to put me at ease.

There was nothing I could do, so I nodded. "Then let me rest, just a little," I muttered as the world disappeared.

Darren's POV

Audrey passed out as soon as I gave her permission to rest. I had to, she had turned so pale I feared something was very wrong with her. I hoped she would be okay after resting some. However, I was worried about the little monsters Ryker had created, which were sitting on the school bus. We may not have brought enough warriors with us, but we didn't have much of a choice in the matter. So many were injured from the battle after all.

As we moved toward Crimson Fang, I felt relief wash over me. With each minute and no outburst from any of the she-wolves or pups, everyone felt more at ease. Although it still remains one of the tensest rides of my life. I had been in some fairly intense moments, especially with my father. This was on a different level. A sudden shudder of breath brought my attention back to Audrey. She was shaking in her sleep. Gently, I wrapped my arms around her. A warrior passed a blanket from the back for me to cover her. Using her powers must have taken more of a toll on her than even she had expected.

Just as we were about to enter Crimson Fang territory, there was a sudden loud bang that came from the bus. Our car skirted to a stop as the bus swerved behind us towards the trees. I set down Audrey, trying not to wake her, then I raced out of the car. The warriors had all pulled out, making their way to the bus. It had managed to stop before smashing into the tree line. Carefully, we walked to the bus, but before we could reach the bus, there was another explosive sound. Within seconds, Audrey was at my side.

"What happened?" she worried.

Glancing down at her, I couldn't help but think that she still appeared so weak to me. She needed to rest more. "We aren't sure," I responded. She stepped forward as though she were going to investigate on her own. "Where do you think you're going?" I placed my hand on her shoulder to stop her from going any further.

"I'm the only one with powers," she stated, as though it were a sound argument.

I shook my head. "No, I'll go. You're still not feeling well."

She opened her mouth to argue with me and at that moment, I saw it, she was about to try and use her powers. I should feel angry that she was willing to use them on me, but I knew she was doing it to try and protect me. "Trust in me," I smiled at her, trying to reassure her.

She closed her mouth. "Fine," she muttered as she took a step back.

"Thank you." I think she forgets that I am not a weak wolf. I am a future Alpha after all.

I walked toward the bus, followed by the warriors. I pried open the door and stepped inside. The babies were crying combined with the whimpers of a few young pups. Slowly, I peeked over the small wall that kept their seats out of view. The back door had been blown open and a few of the seats were empty. I let out a sigh, it appeared only a few had escaped along with two or three she-wolves. The warrior that was driving the bus was unconscious but otherwise appeared uninjured. Quickly, we took him off the bus and checked the back to see if we could repair it somehow. While some were working away, others checked on the health and well-being of the remaining pups and she-wolves. It appeared the ones that remained were more docile.

As we moved, I sent two trackers after those who escaped. They were informed not to engage, but rather to link for backup. We managed to get the bus back on the road and after counting, I decided it was best to leave a few vehicles behind and then send the others on ahead. It's better to have as many of the monsters back in Crimson Fang, where we are better equipped to take care of them than out here in the open with a few warriors.

I tried to send Audrey back with them, but she refused. I decided not to fight her on the matter. The bus and two vehicles drove off, leaving Audrey, two warriors, and I behind with two other vehicles. By my calculations, only six had escaped. Only six. Before I could say anything, Audrey was already directing the two warriors with us to track down the pups. The warriors turned to leave, but before they could, she stopped them. “Shift,” she ordered.

They glanced over at me, but I didn't say anything. I wanted them to trust her judgment. She needed to feel their trust again. She needed to know that she could be a leader, a great one at that. I could see it in her. The warriors bowed their heads out of respect and then stepped into the forest to shift. Then I felt her gaze on me. “You, too,” she smiled.

“What?” I looked over at her. I was worried. One of those pups was strong enough to blow open the back of the bus. This means they now have access to their powers. I worried about the possible lack of control or, worse, their ability to control their newfound powers.

“Shift so I can ride on your back. We need to go with the warriors.” She was right. I knew she was, but I wanted to refuse her anyway. She still looked far too pale to be using her powers again. “Darren, you know they need me,” she pushed me. She peered up at me with big sad eyes.

Sighing, I walked into the forest and pulled off my clothes. “I'm only doing this because I know if I don't you'll try going on your own,” I told her just before I shifted.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she came over. I lowered myself to allow her to climb onto my back with more ease. Slowly, she pulled herself up. I waited until I felt her grip my fur tightly and sat balanced on my back.

She leaned forward. “I'm ready. You can go now,” she informed me. Her voice was quiet. I could hear her exhaustion, making it harder for me to push myself and my wolf forward after the warriors.

“Please move,” she urged me. I huffed in response but stood up and started after the warriors. I followed them by tracking their scent.

We moved swiftly through the trees. I tried my best to make as little noise as possible. We neared the pups in a matter of minutes. They were traveling on foot and therefore could not move as quickly as wolves. We could hear the pups crashing through the trees as they made their way forward. I could smell their fear. They were scared.

“Slow down,” she told me. Her voice was stressed. Maybe she could sense it as well.

Slowing my pace, I caught up with the warriors who had also slowed. We glanced at one another for a brief moment before Audrey spoke in a hushed tone. “Circle around me, slowly. Do not frighten them any further than they already are. Then I will try to calm them. If that doesn't work, I will then command them to follow us without complaint,” she explained her plan to everyone.

They nodded and followed her instructions immediately. She and I waited while the other two warriors circled around the pups. Once they were in position, we began to close in on them. However, the closer we got to the pups the more panicked they became. “Please calm down,” Audrey gently spoke to them.

Her words had no effect on the pups. Instead, they continued to crowd together, tears in most of their eyes, except for one. That one pup stood in the center, eyes ablaze. He was ready to fight. Then we saw it, he began to start a fire. It circled around them preventing us from getting any closer to him and the other pups. “Stay back!” He growled at us.

We all stopped in our tracks. The warriors looked over at Audrey, waiting for her to give them an order. She was quiet for a long while. Then I felt her move. She sat straight up on my back before speaking. “Put out the fire!” her voice boomed.

The fire was immediately extinguished. The pup glared at her. “Now, come with us,” she commanded.

We watched as the pups glared angrily at her. “Leave us alone,” he growled at her, but his body moved unwillingly.

“No, we won't,” she spoke back, but her voice was not angry. Instead, she sounded sad.

“Why?” He pressed. Everyone could see he and the others were fighting hard not to obey Audrey's command. They managed to slow their steps, but they couldn't stop themselves.

“Because you were used by my father and I will not allow his evil deeds to corrupt young pups. Instead, I will take you back to Crimson Fang and we will help you not only control your powers but to learn the truth,” she gave them a short speech. It made the other five pups appear to be questioning Ryker, but the oldest appeared to be holding strong.

“Alpha Ryker gave us these amazing gifts and we will not allow Crimson Fang to steal them and use them for their wicked plans,” he shot back at her. What had Ryker been filling these pups' minds with? He only had them for a few months or so and yet he had been able to corrupt them so much. Was it because their parents laid the foundation when they decided to follow Ryker? Was this all planned? How long had Ryker been planning to take pack members and create his own monster of an army?