Night and Day: The Alpha Nomad

No Rest

Night-

The next morning I almost completely forgot about the Goddess’ visit. If it wasn’t for the pulsing sensation in my shoulder, I would have assumed I had dreamt the entire encounter. I suddenly remembered cracking the chains last night so I lifted my arms to test my freedom. The simple ability to lift my arms was a relief, even if it was a small freedom.

I removed the blindfold to take in my surroundings and try to assess where I was. It was a large empty metal container, like a shipping container. It was modified with sound proofing panels and a temporary wall separating my room and the entrance. The container was warm, but there wasn’t any kind of heat source so I must not be in the mountains anymore. I removed the headphones in hopes of hearing anything that would give me a clue where I might be or if there was anyone nearby. Although I didn’t hear any humans, I felt and heard a kind of vibration and mechanical sound.

The container shook and rattled. The container must be moving. I was being shipped like livestock or something, but where was I being transported? I wondered how Day would find me if I was being shipped like cargo.

After what seemed like hours, the container came to an abrupt stop. I replaced the blindfold and headphones then pretended to be restrained. I didn’t have a plan for escape yet, so I couldn’t let them think I broke free. I began worry whether the Goddess’ power to block out the wolfbane’s effect was still working. The container’s doors must have swung open because I could smell the body odor of a man nearby.

I felt the man approach me so I tried to reach out to Day via link in case they were able to drug me again. It was faint but I felt him far away. It reminded me of the initial pull I felt to the mountains before I met Damon. My body wanted to get to him any way possible and suppressing this urge was difficult.

The man named Paul removed my headphones and whispered to me, “it’s time for your daily dose of drugs, Princess. But before we contaminate that liquid gold, let’s collect our share. Shall we?”

It took all my strength to resist killing this man right now. I felt the rage boiling under my skin but had to restrain myself. I had no idea how many others were with him and where I was or how to return to Day. Although part of me just wanted revenge. I was also curious to find out who went through all this trouble just to kidnap me.

Paul was gathering supplies to collect my blood when I heard a familiar voice calling me.

Night? I heard Day calling. Are you there? Can you hear me?

Just barely, I confessed. I don’t know how much time I have before our link is broken again. They have me in a shipping container and we’re on the move. I don’t know where I am or where I’m headed though.

I feel you out East, he informed me. You’re really far from the mountains.

You don’t need to come after me, I know you have a responsibility to your pack, I begged. I don’t want you to get caught up in this. It’s my fault your pack is in danger.

I am not giving you up, not now, and none of this is your fault, he insisted. That woman told me to fight for you. Well…she insulted me saying I didn’t fight enough for you…

Woman? What woman? I questioned inquisitively.

Some glowing lady came to me last night, he recalled in an annoyed tone. She insulted me then touched me and told me to listen to my heart. It was so weird because she looked just like you.

The Goddess visited you too last night? I was shocked. She gave me some gift of strength and restored my senses. She told me I’d be able to fight through the wolf bane and the drugs so I could reach out to you but didn’t tell me how long it would last. I was able to break the chains but I haven’t developed a plan to escape yet.

Paul sliced my wrist and began the draining process. It stung but I held as still as possible through the collection process. I was worried he would notice the broken chains if I struggled too much.

I may lose contact with you soon, Day, I informed him frantically.

I’m going to find you Night, I promise.

I felt him stroke my hair even though I knew he wasn’t anywhere near me. I missed his touch more than anything. I regretted not accepting his invitation sooner. If I accepted his invitation at the ceremony then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

I felt slightly woozy but nearly as much as the first time Paul drained me. He was bending down to collect the bucket of blood on my right side when he noticed the severed chain. I heard him chuckle maniacally then tsked disapprovingly of my escape attempt.

“I guess we haven’t been giving you the right dose or something. Although he said those cuffs were specially made to suppress your strength and other senses, I guess Todd was right when he said we shouldn’t trust him, or you for that matter,” Paul scolded.

He removed the blindfold so I could get a brief look at him. He seemed familiar, like I’ve seen him a long time ago. His face was young but just a bit older than me. I almost placed where I knew him from but he smacked me with the back of his hand.

“You thought you could escape me back in Maine, didn’t you?” He hissed. “I almost had you if it wasn’t for that damn wolf you were with.”

“I don’t understand, have you been following me this whole time?” I glared at him. “But why? You would chase me all the way from Maine? You…you killed Jake!”

I realized he was one of the hunters from Maine that nearly killed us. Memories of Jake flooded my mind and I choked back tears. He was one of the few friends I had ever made and he took him away from me! I growled and bared my teeth feeling my wolf push through my

“Not so fast, Princess,” he cupped his hand in my blood and drank.

He wrapped his hand around my throat and his strength multiplied tenfold. He had the strength of an Alpha, but how was that possible? Could wolf’s blood give humans our strength? Is this why he was collecting it all this time? That would mean he had enough to take on a whole pack.

I couldn’t breathe and lost consciousness. I sent out one last link to Day: they are using the blood…

……………

Day-

I didn’t understand how the hunters could be using her blood. How could a human benefit from wolf blood? I lost the link before I could discover anything else. I felt a squeeze tighten around my neck which caused me to cough uncontrollably.

Night! I tried to reach her hopelessly.

They hurt our mate! My wolf raged.

My fists clenched tight as I released a howl into the night. I would cross the nation if I had to but I would get her back. My heart blazed inside my chest and glowed steadily like a fire. Suddenly I knew exactly which direction I needed to head.

My wolf took over and lumbered down the hillside in the dark of night. Letting my wolf out would be the only way to catch up to her captors. Our resolve renewed when Night linked us, so I knew my wolf wouldn’t stop until we had her back again. Even if it meant traveling all night and all day.

I crossed the plains of eastern Colorado by the next day. She was farther than I anticipated. Delphie and Fen were supposed to be on their way I knew they would never catch up at this rate. Still I pushed on, there was no time to waste.

I grew weary after a couple days of ceaseless travel, but the blaze in my heart pushed me to continue. I only stopped briefly only to feed myself, and only because my wolf reminded me I would not be able to fight them if I was weak and weary. I couldn’t lose her, not when she was about to officially become my mate.

I crossed another state-line and ran into one of the Great Plains packs of Oklahoma. They were more welcoming than I expected considering Night’s experience with surrounding packs. I explained my situation and they somehow convinced me to stay at least one night before continuing on my hunt.

“Alpha, you would be best to stay and rest,” the pack’s Alpha convinced me. “If you give us time to prepare we would be happy to assist you in getting your mate back from these humans.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I do not have much time to stop,” I refused politely.

“It is merely a suggestion, but I sincerely insist. Just remember you won’t be able to fight your best if you are exhausted from the pace you’ve set,” the Alpha pointed out. “I would be more than happy to set you up for the night, tomorrow I will send my best wolves with you.”

I could not refuse being nearly dead asleep on my feet, so I accepted and remarked, “one night only. I appreciate your assistance, fellow Alpha.”

“There is no need to thank me, I would hope someone would offer the same assistance should my own Luna find herself in a similar situation. Now get some rest, sir.”