The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 16: Finding Help

A soft knock at the door startled me. I cautiously went to the door. I could tell whoever was on the outside was a wolf, but was not from my former pack. I was nervous, but I cautiously opened the door. The woman on the other side just walked in, as if she owned the place. “Viviana Strong?” she asked.

“Um...” I considered whether I really wanted to answer that, but I decided I had to. “Yes, I am! Who are you?” I backed up with the children, protectively putting space between the intruder and me.

“You don't need to be afraid, Viviana,” she said with a smile on her face.

“You better explain quickly why you're here, and why you were in my room?” I demanded. Anger clearly rolling off me in waves, I knew as a wolf she could sense that.

The girl held her hands up, showing she was not a threat. “Viviana, my name is Sophia Black, and I know you are looking for my brother, Kaleb Black. He sent me here to transport you back to our pack safely. He thought you would be too tired from running to make it much further. Although I must say you were good at not leaving a trace. Took me almost three days to find you from where my brother said to look. However, he did not mention that there would be children involved. No matter, I'll inform my mate we need two car seats and baby stuff; he knows what to get,” then she stopped talking to me and was obviously mind linking someone.

“Who are you speaking to?” I questioned her.

“Oh, just Lucky as the pack calls him; he is my mate. You will meet him soon! Viviana, are you running from your mate?” She c****d her head to the side and looked at me strangely.

“Yes, um… well… no… I mean… I'm not sure…” It was such a confusing question, really; it was quite simple, I just did not know the answer.

“Come again!” She stared at me awkwardly, then continued, “It'll be much harder to help you if there is an Alpha out there chasing after his kids.” She looked at me expectantly.

I laughed after realizing what she was thinking. I looked at Valentine and Valentina. “These are not his children.” I explained, “I rescued them from a rogue attack that killed their parents. However, to answer the other question, I do not know for sure who my mate is, but as I have a small pack, he may be one of the wolves tasked with finding me.” I rushed through the explanation and exhaled like there was no breath left in me as I sat back down on the bed. I was so exhausted by the last of my words between Victor and those words haunted me every day. I could hear him saying, “Viviana, we both know you will run,” and me responding with “We both know you will catch me.” Yet he had not caught me, part of me wanted nothing more than to be wrapped up again in his strong arms as he passionately kissed me. My face warmed at the thought. I twisted my father’s ring around my thumb.

Sophia coughed, and I realized I had zoned out. Breaking away from my memory, I heard her say, “Lucky is back, and he said he picked up a trail that he had to lose before coming back here. We need to go now.”

“Why did Kaleb send you?” I blurted out.

“Can we talk about this later?” she asked.

“No,” I was confused and tired. “Please just give me the courtesy of answering my question instead of making demands.” I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice.

“Viviana, I understand that these last weeks have been very hard on you. I promise I am not trying to make demands on you, just want to keep you safe. I can tell you the trackers have gained ground, and Lucky says they are close, and we need to leave if you don’t want to have to fight your way out of here. Kaleb sent me because he trusts Lucky and me to discreetly retrieve you and bring you back to the pack without issue. My brother always thinks of everything. I can assure you that he will be waiting for you when we arrive.” She spoke quickly and cautiously.

I was still uncertain if I trusted her, but what choice did I have? If she were related to Kaleb, I would be safe with her. If the others were close, I could not risk the safety of the children on my doubts. Together, we raced to the SUV parked near the rear entrance, each holding a child, jumping inside, closing the doors, and Sophia telling Lucky to “Drive,” which he did. As we buckled the babies in their car seats, we both prepared bottles and then started feeding them. Lucky had done a great job; indeed, there were bottles and formula, diapers, wipes, and even a few toys.

He turned slightly in his seat at a traffic light. “I'm Lucky, by the way,” he said with a smile.

“Viviana,” I replied, “thanks for the ride and all this stuff. What do I owe you?”

“Oh, nothing! Alpha Black said to get you anything that you needed,” when I called him.

Interesting, I thought, “How long will it be?” I looked out the window nervously, but also focused on the babies drinking their milk.

“By car, about a day's journey. We will not be stopping except for gas. Your trackers will not dare cross into Black's territory without permission. Once you are there, you are safe,” Lucky explained, and I just continued to focus on Valentine.

After the twins were fed, I tried to rest, but when I closed my eyes rest.

“Let me go, " I screamed as his trackers dragged me into the packhouse and threw me down at his feet. Beta Rex stood with Gamma Ray, glaring at me.

Max stepped out from behind him, his face twisted in a sinister look. “Good of you to return home, mate! He teased me. “How should I punish you for running away from me and your responsibilities to this pack?” He came around and grabbed my chin forcefully. “Or for coming back with those!” He squeezed my chin harder as he spoke, causing tears to pour from my eyes. I cried out as he slapped my face.

I felt my body hit the floor. He grabbed my arm, yanking me back up to face him. “I’m sorry, Max,” I whispered.

“Oh, you will be,” he yelled in my face.

The trackers placed two car seats in front of Alpha Rex. He bent down and took Valentine from his seat. “Did you really think you could escape me, Viviana? Surely you know my trackers are the best and would drag you back here. Victor may have tried to throw them off the pack for your sake, ask me, Viviana, what happened to him?” he teased me.

I shook my head. “Why are you doing this?” I asked my body, shaking, knowing what he was going to tell me.

“Ask me,” he answered smugly.

Trying to keep my tears at bay, I looked at his face before asking, “What happened to Victor?” I asked.

“If you want the answer to that, you better ask properly, girl,” he spat out.

Fighting every impulse in my body, I looked him directly in the eyes before replying sarcastically, “What happened to Victor, Alpha Rex?” I clenched out between my teeth.

Laughing, he replied, “Now that was not so hard, was it, Viviana. There may still be hope that Max can turn you into a proper mate after all. Then to answer your question,” he eyes turned evil as he walked to his desk, “Perhaps I will give you a demonstration of how exactly he met his demise.”

Beta Rex yelled, picking up a knife from his desk as he stood holding Valentine. I was frozen in fear. “Please,” I begged, “please let me have my child.” I cried.

“Your child,” he screamed as Valentine began to cry. “I will not allow my son to have a mate with children of another man,” then he drove the knife into his tiny heart. I shot up in my seat, screaming. “No!” I screamed out, clutching my chest. I noticed I was not in the packhouse. It was all a nightmare. I was on the verge of hyperventilating. Valentine was sleeping soundly in his seat. My body shook with fear. I tried to calm my anxiety. I placed my hand on his belly and just watched his little chest rise and fall. He was safe. I was safe. We are all okay.

Sophia touched my shoulder and caused me to jerk away. “Calm down, Dear, it was just a dream,” Sophia reassured me. “You're safe with us, and you have nothing to fear from us or our pack. You will see Kaleb has prepared for your arrival, and everyone is waiting to meet you and these two precious kids.”

My body was still shaking. “It was a nightmare. I can't even bear to think about it.”

“Just imagination and fear,” Sophia said softly, “you are safe, Viviana, I promise.” She spoke gently with a smile on her face. She had a way of soothing my stress.

“What of the children?” I inquired.

“They are safe too. I promise Alpha Black will not allow any harm to come to you or them. Now, please try to rest, we should be at the packhouse by morning.” She sighed.