JADES RESCUE

SILAS STRIKES

BOOK TWO

JADES RESCUE

Jade dressed and made the long walk down to the smaller dining room she and Silas had used the night before. She placed her hand

on the doorknob and stopped.

Saphira, please remember we must be nice to Silas if we stand a chance of escaping.

I know the answer came back, but he just angers me.

He makes me angry, too cooed Jade, but we have to get back to Victor as soon as possible.

Saphira smiled and nodded. I know there is a lot we need to discuss with him, like maybe moving up the mating ceremony.

Jade drew in a quick breath she should have expected Saphira to know, but not so quickly.

She had only figured it out for herself last night.

A voice broke through her thoughts," I know it’s going to take some getting used to having someone else in your head and

I’m sorry, said Saphira.

No, no it’s fine. Said Jade, it’s just that I’m not sure myself but you seem so sure.

I am sure," whispered Saphira," and I will defend both of you to my death Jade", so never worry, our pup is safe. I will look after it.

Well, I suppose we had better get this over with, sighed Jade and turned the knob.

Silas stood and smiled when Jade entered the room.

There you are, he said and his smile spread across his face but never reached his eyes. He took a step toward Jade

and she shrunk back.

Silas stepped back and said in a soft, quiet voice," You have nothing to fear from me Jade, my fight is not with you, and as long

as Victor abides by the agreement, then no harm will come to you or that pup you carry.

Jades’ head jerked up and she asked, How did you know?

I forget you are new to the pack life, Silas answered and shrugged his shoulders.

He motioned for her to have a seat. After she was seated, he poured her a cup of coffee and went back to his chair at the other end of

the table.

Let me explain some things to you, dear Jade. Once a Luna has conceived her pup with the Alpha, she emits a chemical reaction

that all other Alphas can smell. I knew it when they carried you into the pack house last night. Now if you want that pup to see the

light of day, I suggest you take this paper and encourage Victor to agree to the terms of his surrender.

He motioned for the girl standing near to take the paper and pen to Jade.

I can not ask that of him, he would never consider it anyway, snapped Jade.

Silas threw back his head and laughed. Oh, you’re precious Jade. You don’t understand how this whole mate thing works, do

you? See, in the human world, a man can and often will turn his back on the woman he loves, and his offspring mean nothing or

almost nothing to him, but in the world of the wolf, it’s very different. A wolf, especially an Alpha, will give up everything for his

offspring, even if that means he forfeits his own life.

Jade bowed her head. She knew he was right. Victor would give up his own life if it meant that she and his pup were safe. A single

tear slid down her cheek before she said,

I will not do your dirty work, Silas. I will throw myself from the roof before I write to Victor asking him to sacrifice himself for me

or this child. He is the future of the pack, but we are not!

His next words caught her completely off guard.

My dear, you don’t have a choice in the matter. I sent word to Victor this morning about your condition and demanded that he

surrender if he wants your safe return. He is already on his way here. He smiled “Now why don’t you run upstairs and

make yourself more presentable for your mate? We don’t want him to think you have been mistreated in any way. I have instructed

my best maid to help you with choosing something to wear. She will assist you with getting ready, but do try to hurry,

Victor should be here within the hour.

With that, he dismissed Jade and returned to his breakfast.

Jade felt numb as she climbed the stairs to her room. How could she not have known she was pregnant? Now because of her

stupidity Victor was going to forfeit his own life. Suddenly, it was as if someone took hold of her heart and squeezed it until she

couldn’t breathe. Without warning, the world went black and she began to fall back down the stairs.

Jade! roared Victor.

He caught her as she fell. For a moment, his heart stopped beating in his chest.

Laying Jade gently on the floor, he looked at her beautiful face and his love and anger grew. At this moment he knew that he would

do anything for this woman, including going to war or killing the man who would threaten her.

Silas! Where are you? Come out and face me or die hiding like the coward you are! Demanded Victor.

Silas stepped from the shadows and snapped his fingers. A dozen of his best guards surrounded Victor. They separated him from

Jade.

Victor looked around and laughed," Is this the best you have?

They aren’t enough to stop me from killing you and taking my mate home.

Silas stepped next to Jade and lifted her to her feet, placing his hand around her throat. He said to Victor.

Take one step closer and I’ll end her life and the life of your unborn pup.

Victor stopped and raised his head. He drew a deep breath and knew in an instant that Silas spoke the truth. He put his hands behind

his back and lowered his head.

The largest of the guards stepped forward and placed handcuffs on Victor.

Jade heard a low growl from Victor and opened her eyes.

When he raised his head and looked at her, Jade saw hopelessness in his eyes.

She wanted to run to him and put her arms around him and tell him it was going to be okay and that she would protect their baby

with her life. She wanted him to know that she would stand and fight beside him all these things that she wanted to tell him but

instead, she lowered her head as the tears slid down her cheeks.

Suddenly she thought of Saphira.

Saphira, can you contact Jake? Asked Jade.

I can try to come to the answer.

Good if you can have him tell Victor that we are okay and we will find a way to escape and free him as soon as possible.

Will do, said Saphira.

Silas released his hold on Jade and said to the guards.

Take him to the cell and I’ll be down in a few minutes to deal with him.

His voice was so cold it sent a shiver down Jades' spine.

Saphira, please hurry, we have to let Victor know that we haven’t given up and he can’t either.

“I’m trying, said Saphira, but for some reason, he’s not responding.

Keep trying, said Jade.

As if he could read her mind, Silas turned his attention to Jade.

It won’t do any good for you to try contacting him. I took the liberty of lacing your food with Wolfsbane. I suppose I can thank your

adoptive parents for your inability to taste it. All those years they put it in your food, dulling your sensitivity to it.

Jades' heart sank. She wanted desperately to let Victor know she and their baby were okay.

Without replying, Jade turned and ran for the bedroom. Taking the stairs two at a time, she flung open the door and ran to the bed.

Throwing herself face down, she let the tears flow. She didn’t know how long she had been crying, but when she looked out the

window it was dark, and the moon was casting shadows on the ground. As she stood looking out the window, Jade thought she saw a

movement out of the corner of her eye. Looking closer, she was able to make out the outline of a wolf sitting quietly at the edge of

the woods. His coat was golden brown, and his eyes shone with a golden color.

Jade drew in her breath. Could it be? How did he get past the guards Silas had stationed around the grounds?

Running to the desk, she found paper and a black marker. Writing in big letters, she ran back to the window.

and held the paper to the window.

The wolf made an ever so slight movement and Jade smiled to herself. She ran back to the desk and wrote on another piece of paper

and once again held it to the window.

The wolf again moved his head in an affirmative nod. Jade opened the window. She walked to the door and locked it, returning to the

the window she gave the okay signal, and the big wolf began to move across the lawn.

A few minutes later, Jermaine stood in front of Jade. She handed him a sheet and he wrapped it around himself.

When he was properly covered, Jade threw herself around his neck. He hugged her back and then disengaged her arms from around

his neck.

I’m glad to see you too, Jade, but where’s Victor? He was supposed to get you

and meet us back at the boundary before dark, said Jermaine.

Jade dropped her arms and sighed.

I’m afraid Silas has him locked up in a cell somewhere in the house.

What! How did that happen? Demanded Jermaine.

There’s no way in a fight Silas can beat Victor, not even with his best soldiers, said Jermaine.

Victor didn’t fight him, replied Jade.

He didn’t fight him. Why didn’t he fight him? Asked Jermaine.

Maybe you better have a seat while I explain some things, said Jade.

She waited for Jermaine to make himself comfortable and then she told him how

Silas had threatened to kill her and their unborn child.

When she was finished Jermaine looked at her for a full minute before he spoke, even then his words

were measured and thought out.

So let me see if I have this straight. Silas figured out you were pregnant, and you didn’t even know? Then he used it against Victor to

get him to surrender without a fight by threatening both your life and the pup's life? Now Victor is in the dungeon and Silas has

control of both packs.

“Yes, said Jade. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know I was pregnant, and I didn’t know Victor was coming to try and save me although

the latter should not be a surprise. But now I’m stuck in this place trying to figure out how to save Victor and he’s locked in a cell

with Silas doing, who knows what to him and it’s all just such a big mess!

Jade put her face in her hands and started to cry. Jermaine reached out a hand and gently moved her hands to her side. Don’t

cry, Jade. I’ve known Victor a very long time and if there’s one thing, I know for certain it’s that Silas won’t stop him from getting

back here to you and your baby.

Jade looked at him through tear-streaked eyes. Do you think Victor will make it out alive? She sniffed.

I do, said Jermaine. I’ve seen him in much tighter spots than this with much less to lose. He took her hand and guided her to the bed.

Maybe you had better have a seat, Jade. I don’t know how much Victor has chosen to tell you about himself, but there is something

important I think you should know now. Said, Jermaine.

Pacing around the room, Jermaine looked like a caged animal. For five minutes he walked around the room as if

trying to figure out how to tell her something about her mate that he thought would change her mind if she knew. Maybe he was

trying to decide if he should tell her or if it was Victor’s place to give her this information. In any case, she was about to tell him that

she couldn’t take the silence any longer when he stopped and said, I’m not sure how to tell you this, so maybe the best way is

to just say it.

Sitting on the bed next to Jade, he took her hand and said, have you ever noticed that Victor’s wolf is much larger than all of the

others? Jade shook her head yes and said, I thought that was because he was the Alpha.

Well, partly because of that, yes, said Jermaine, but there is another reason. Drawing in a breath, he said, Jade, your mate Victor is

not just a wolf, he is a Lycan.

A Lycan! said, Jade.

Jermaine let go of her hand and stood up. I’m sorry Jade, I know Victor would have told himself in time, but time is something we

do not have, and I need you to understand that Victor can withstand much more than a regular wolf. I’m not saying

that it is going to be easy for him, but he will survive.

Even with his Lycan blood, he won’t be able to withstand torture forever, so we need to decide on a plan of escape, stated Jade.

Jermaine was impressed with how quickly Jade had taken in the information and processed it.

I agree, he stated. I will return to the pack and discuss with our best warriors how they feel is the best way to get all of you out of

here Safely. Until then, I think it’s best for Victor if you stay here and pretend to play along with Silas. We don’t want to do anything

that will cause him to harm Victor more than he already has or maybe even kill him.

“I couldn’t go with you even if I wanted,” said Jade. Silas has been giving me wolfsbane I can’t shift.

Jermaine stepped closer to Jade and wrapped his arms around her. I know this is difficult, but you are strong and capable of doing

this or my Alpha would not have chosen you to be his mate, he said.

Jade leaned against his shoulder and a small sob escaped her.

For a moment both stood holding onto each other and the hope that they could save Victor before Silas killed him. Taking a step

back, Jermaine told Jade he must go before someone realized he was there.

Not wanting him to leave but knowing that he had to get back to the pack and start making plans, Jade shook her head and stepped

away from the window.

Jermaine shifted into his wolf and walked to the window. Before leaping onto the ground, he turned once again to Jade. She reached

out her trembling hand and stroked the fur on his head. With that Jermaine leaped from the window and disappeared into the forest.

Jade stood for some time looking after him before turning her attention to Saphira.

Do you think we will be able to save Victor? She asked.

I think if anyone is capable of following through with a plan that will work it's Jermaine. He is loyal and loves Victor as he would

his brother. Victor would not have come here without a backup plan.

“I suppose you’re right,” said Jade with a yawn. Maybe I’ll just lie down on the bed for a few minutes and get some rest.

Suddenly I’m so tired.

Saphira smiled." Yes, it is good for the pup and good for you to rest. After all, you are going to need lots of

rest and food for the pup to grow and become strong. Jade lay down on the bed and placed her hand on her stomach.

Her last thoughts before drifting off to sleep were of the baby she carried. Would it be a little boy with his father’s stunning violet

eyes or a little girl with her mane of auburn hair. She didn’t know, she only knew that she would do anything to get her family back

together, and no one, not even Silas, was going to stop her.

Saphira felt the first stirrings of life within Jades' womb, and she let slip a low growl. Silas may think he was in control, but she

knew her mate, he would stop at nothing to make sure that Victor survived to see his pup born. Tonight, she would let

Jade rest. Tomorrow she would speak with her and see if they could formulate a plan to get them all free of that Evil Silas.

Victor looked at Silas through swollen eyes. Is that the best you can do? I’ve had girls hit me harder, Victor taunted.

Silas raised the bat and brought it down once more across Victor’s face. I’ll wipe that smirk off your face, Silas hissed.

Victor spit out the blood and maybe one of his teeth. He wasn’t sure. He looked up and smiled. It’s going to take more

than that to get the job done, he said.

Silas turned to his Beta and handed the bat to him.

See that he has an unpleasant night. I am going to go get better acquainted with Jade. She is going to start becoming lonely and

Victor has other plans.

Victor pulled against the chains that held him to the cell wall and snarled," If you touch Jade, I will kill you, Silas!

Silas stepped from the cell without looking back at Victor. No sooner had the cell door shut than once again the bat made

contact with Victor’s face.

Silas had no intention of visiting Jade, but he loved the way it drove Victor insane to think that he was having his way with her. He

knew that physical pain was nothing for Victor and he would endure it until his last breath without complaint but the thought of

another man touching his mate was something Victor could never tolerate. Silas had learned early on that what he lacked in physical

strength he could more than make up for in the art of mental warfare. He had been able to outmaneuver many stronger opponents,

with psychological assaults. Victor was no different. He would beg for mercy before he died.

Victor steeled himself for the strike of the bat and his cheekbone broke. He braced himself for the next blow, but it never came.

Victor looked up through blood-filled eyes and saw his Beta Jermaine just as he struck.

The man with the bat lay dead at Victor's feet. Two of his most trusted warriors lifted him to his feet.

Find Jade, Victor whispered to Jermaine.

Get him out of here. Jermaine barked at the two men who held Victor up. Without waiting, Jermaine shifted into his wolf and

bounded up the steps to the main house. Inside the pack mansion, he made his way from room to room looking for Jade. As he

rounded the corner in the second-floor hallway, he encountered one of the pack wolves.

Shifting into his human form, Jermaine ran down the hall and reached the wolf just as he was starting to shift into his human form.

The man never had a chance. Jermaine was on top of him before his shift was complete. Jermaine snapped his neck and shifted back

to his wolf form and continued.

Silas hit the button on the bottom of his desk. He lifted his head and sniffed. There was the faint smell of something different

in the air. His guards arrived and when he asked where his Beta was, no one could answer him. You, he said, pointing to one of the

guards get him. He’s going to need to postpone his fun for a while this evening, as it seems we have a visitor.

Yes, Alpha. Said the guard

Silas turned to the others and said, I don’t detect more than one and it should be easy for you to dispatch him quickly. You are

not to disturb my guest under any circumstances. Do you understand?

Yes Alpha, they said in unison.

Silas left his office and headed for the cell. He had left Victor in. Halfway down the stairs, he was met by his guard.

Did you find my Beta? He asked.

Yes, sir, but I don’t think you want to go down there, replied the guard.

Nonsense snapped Silas and pushed past the guard. He had only taken a few more steps when he smelled the fresh blood. He had

expected that, considering how badly he had beaten Victor. He was not expecting the sight that met him. His Beta and friend lay in a

bloody mess on the floor.

How did this happen? Demanded Silas.

I found him like this, stammered the guard.

Silas looked at the guard with cold eyes. No one leaves this place. Do I make myself clear? Any wolf found on the ground, not from

this pack is to be killed immediately, no questions asked. And one more thing bring me the woman from the Prairie pack. I want

you back here with her in the next ten minutes. No excuses!

Yes, Alpha! Exclaimed the guard as he turned to run to retrieve Jade.

Silas knelt beside his Beta and cradled his lifeless body. How could this have happened? He had taken every precaution to make sure

that no one from the Prairie pack could enter his compound, yet somehow, they had managed to sneak in and kill

his Beta and best friend.

Victor clung to his guard and slipped out the door to the cell. He knew that Jermaine would be on his way to rescue Jade. That had

been the plan all along if anything were to happen to Victor, Jermaine was to save Jade. Suddenly the fog cleared from Victor’s

mind, and he remembered that Silas had said something about Jade being pregnant. Could it be that she was carrying his baby?

Victor was shaken from his thoughts by his most trusted warrior, Patrick.

Victor, can you shift? Asked Patrick. It will make travel much faster and the sooner we can get to the border the sooner, Doc

can take a look at you.

“I don’t think I can," answered Victor in a barely audible whisper. Silas put something on the chains to keep me from shifting

and it hasn’t worn off yet.

Then I’m going to shift, and I want you to get on my back and hang on as if your life depended on it, because it does, replied

Patrick.

Victor shook his head. He knew that when Patrick said to hang on, he meant it. Patrick was the fastest wolf in the pack other than

Victor,

Patrick was also a Lycan and a much bigger wolf than the rest of the pack.

Placing Victor gently on the ground, Patrick shifted into his wolf form. He lay down to make it easier for Victor to crawl upon his

back. Once Patrick was satisfied that Victor was secure, he leaped from the ground and began to run with all the speed he could muster.

He knew that even though Victor was a fast healer he was in bad shape and Patrick worried that he wouldn’t make it to Doc Gaines

in time to save his Alpha’s life.

Once Victor felt the big wolf leap off the ground, he grabbed hold of its fur and allowed himself to relax against Patrick’s neck.

It wasn’t long before sleep overtook Victor, and he began to dream of his child with Jade. They were walking across a field watching

their child his child run carefree and wild. He dreamed it had his dark hair and Jades' emerald eyes. They would have a boy first and

then a little girl. They would be his pride and joy and he would do anything to make sure they were always protected and happy.

Suddenly, a dark cloud appeared over them, and his world began to turn black. He tried to reach out to Jade and their child but the

closer he tried to get, the further away they became. He ran faster, but the darkness grew bigger and bigger. Soon he

couldn’t see or hear them, and he dropped to his knees.

Patrick knelt and Doctor Gaines gently removed Victor from the big wolf’s back.

He did a quick assessment of Victor and said to Patrick.

We need to get him to the hospital fast if he is going to stand any chance of surviving. Patrick snapped his fingers and two

soldiers stepped forward to lift Victor onto the stretcher. Dr. Gaines placed an oxygen mask on his face and said, okay guys, let's get

him in the ambulance and move like the devil himself is chasing us.

Without another word, the two men placed the stretcher with Victor on it into the ambulance and waited for the doc to step up into it.

They closed the doors and stepped back as the driver placed the vehicle in drive and sped off toward the hospital.

Patrick turned to the two men and the rest of the soldiers and said, Jermaine is still in the pack house with Jade. It is now our mission

to ensure that both of them make it out alive. I don’t care if you have to kill every wolf in this pack to make that happen!

Yes sir! Came the answer in the unison of fifty voices.

Wolves shift. Ordered Patrick and suddenly the forest was filled with angry, determined wolves who were on a mission to kill Silas

and rescue their Luna.

Patrick split them into four groups. The first group he sent to the outer perimeter with orders to keep any wolf or man from getting to

the pack house. The second group he sent to the village. It was their mission to keep the rest of the pack in their homes. They weren’t

here to annihilate the pack. Most of them were unaware of what was transpiring in the pack house.

The third group he assigned to the outside of the pack house. It was their mission to make sure that no one slipped past the other

two groups would not make it past them. The fourth and final group he took with him to help Jermaine and rescue Jade.

Remember it is not our mission to kill innocent people, but do not hesitate to kill anyone who tries to stop this rescue. Patrick

ordered the soldiers.

Now go and make our Alpha proud.

As each wolf raced off to his assigned duty, Patrick said a quick prayer for all of them. He knew that what he asked was dangerous.

There was a good chance that some of them would not be going home tonight.

Patrick turned to the ones left waiting for him and gave a quick nod. Without a word, each wolf readied himself for the fight ahead.

Patrick set the pace as each one of the wolves he had picked to go with him was the fastest runners and excellent fighters. He would

trust any one of them with his life and he was trusting the life of his Luna and Victor’s Beta to them.

It took only a few minutes for Jermaine to find the room Jade was in. Knocking softly, he opened the door and entered.

Saphira opened the mind link with Jermaine.

Jermaine, this is Saphira, she said. Jade is getting some much-needed rest as she hasn’t slept since this whole ordeal began.

Nice to meet you Saphira, responded Jermaine. I need Jade to wake up and join me. I have men waiting we have sent

Victor ahead, but she needs to know that we will have a fight on our hands to get out of here alive.

I’ll let her know that you are here, and she needs to be ready to fight, but Jermaine, I think you should know that Silas has been

giving her wolfsbane and she may not be able to shift. I don’t know if she has any fighting skills as a human and she may not be able

to protect herself. Stated Saphira.

Please wake her and I’ll ask her some questions to assess just how much help she will be replied, Jermaine.

Walking to the forefront of her mind, Saphira called gently to Jade.

Jade, please wake up. Jermaine is here and he would like to ask you some questions, she said. He would like to know if you can shift

and if you cannot, he needs to know what your fighting skills as a human are. Said Saphira.

Jade sat up and rubbed her eyes. Looking into the dark room, she tried to find Jermaine but didn’t see him until he stepped from the

shadows.

Jermaine, did you find Victor? Asked Jade.

We have found him. I sent him with some of our best soldiers to Dr. Gaines who waits on the border. He should be there by now and

on his way to the hospital. “I’m not worried about Victor right now,” said Jermaine. At present, we need to know how best to get you

to safety.