Rising Within

Family Tragedy

Elias

“Elias, we need you here. There’s been… an accident.”

Lia was pretty composed, but that was what she was good at. She never over reacted. That’s why I was s**t scared. I knew this had to be bad. The mind link went silent.

All I knew was that I had to meet at the pack house and that the surgeon was on his way. She wouldn’t say anymore. My brain was pounding, feeling torn between my two worlds.

Dionne’s scent was gone. I had been running for the last half hour using every bit of my senses to get to her. I didn’t know what to do. I can’t leave my family and I can't leave her. My mate was out there somewhere, in some f****d up danger, I just knew it…I didn’t even have a chance to have her before she was ripped from me. I should never have left her to get that coffee. I should have been right there waiting for her. I knew she would be closing with someone, so it was two missing girls on my watch!

I needed help, some sort of fill in for me, so I called the only wolf I knew would handle this very sensitively for me.

“Blake, man, I need you…right now. Yeah, meet me at the Docks.”

I was glad he understood me, I felt like my words were on repeat in my mind, looping me into insanity. But I knew Blake would have some ideas, he always came through for me. He was like family thick and through and I knew he would not give up. We were allies, but more so like brothers just from two different packs. Regardless, our bond was strong.

“Man, you took long enough”. I punched him harder than I meant to in the shoulder.

He wasn’t fazed. Seems he could see my demons eating me alive and my wolf pushing through. I could barely breath through talking and I just felt like I was rambling on.

“That chick I told you ‘bout last night, I was here to meet her and she’s gone... I'm sure she had someone working with her too.

Something’s wrong, I can smell it. I’ve been tracking her for ages, I can’t fuckin’ find her!

I, I think she’s…my mate!

...And now I have to check in at home, some s**t’s gone down there too, but I can’t leave her!” I pleaded with him.

Blake hadn’t found his mate yet. He was seeing someone he cared about, I just wasn't sure if he sensed I knew about it. I was pissed that he hadn't told me, but knowing him, he had his reasons. Blake squeezed my shoulder, and I knew the empathy was sincere. I handed him the top I wore when I met Dionne, the one I held close while I slept last night, the only thing I had left of her; reality punched me hard in the face... I couldn't deal with the possibility of never seeing her again.

“Whatever you need boss!” Blake shot off a salute and we both laughed it off.

Blake would keep searching the area while I ran home. My wolf was furious, he ripped into me with blame and guilt for leaving her. I knew it was his way of blowing off steam, it wasn’t anything new to me. He knew our obligation to our pack, so I took it lightly.

As we reached home, the air was tainted with despair. It dripped over me and Wolfie thankfully decided to retreat to leave me facing the demons alone. My heart dropped into my guts; I wasn’t prepared enough when I opened the door. It was like I was in some hospital ER with everyone dedicated to their duties. Mum was setting up drips, Dad was sterilizing tools, Lia was talking with the pack surgeon Trevor, and Dad’s top three were ushering some of the nurses.

I stood there as everything twirled around me until my eyes found my brothers. Shaking my head, I couldn’t help the pained roar that escaped me. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Dad came straight for me and embraced me. It was firm and definite, waking me from my dream like trance.

“What the f**k is this, Dad?” I grabbed his shoulders as I tried to read his eyes.

Ari and Dean, they were goof balls, but they were amongst the strongest in the surrounding packs, I couldn’t make any sense of this…this, bullshit.

“Elias, the war has begun. We have a lot to talk about, but first we have to try and save your brothers. It’s not looking good!” Dad’s anger overpowered his teary eyes and almost by command they dried.

I nodded. The boys come first!

But what war? What in the world is going on?