Blue Moon Eclipse

Chapter 7

Antonio POV~~

I hear her scream and don't care that I'm naked. I dart out from behind the tree just in time to see a Lycan wolf lunge from the trees and tackle Lotus off the cliff. Running to the edge and looking down, I see them crash into the waters below. They surface moments later, and Lotus is limp. He has the shirt I let her wear to sleep in between his teeth. He looks up at me as I shift, a dare to follow him in his eyes. He takes off running toward the border of our lands and Kai howls into the night. Turning toward the pack house, we take off running as quickly as our legs can carry us. A few moments later, my entire family mind links me.

"Antonio, what's wrong?" My mother asks.

"What happened?" Is my father's question. Before anyone else can ask anything, Kai responds.

"Thompson. Took mate. I'll kill him." Even as the link is broken, I can feel the anger and concern from my family. Even though they've only just met her, Lotus is a part of our family now. She's my Mate, and Thompson took her. From our lands. As I'm running up to the pack house, I hear the sound of many wolves clamering from their beds. Shifting and throwing on a spare pair of sweats quickly, I bolt into the house and go straight to my father's office.

"I stepped away for a second. I was shifting, and he tackled her off the cliff." Tears are fighting to break from my throat, but the anger from Kai reigns them in. I begin pacing in front of the desk, struggling to keep Kai from tearing apart the whole room.

"Jonathan, he crossed the line." My mother is even angry, and it's hard to piss her off.

"Yes, he did, but declaring war on our King? It's a difficult situation." My fist slams onto the desk.

"He declared war on us by trespassing on our lands and stealing my flower." Kai snaps.

"Kai." My father uses his Alpha tone to settle him. "I understand you're upset. But this is not the time for outbursts." We begin pacing back and forth again, uncaring as to the shock that is written on my sisters' and mother's faces.

"Then what are we to do?" We snarl. My father sighs, slumping back into his chair.

"Well, I can't name you Alpha until you've claimed your Mate. And I assume because of how new this all is, she didn't let you yet, correct?" Sadness washes over me, and Kai recedes to the back of my mind as the tears finally break free.

"No." I say quietly, finally slumping into the nearest chair. My hands cover my face as the sobs shake my body. My mother walks over and places a comforting hand on my back.

"Jonathan." My mother says. "We have to do something." She hates seeing her children in pain.

"I know, dearest. And we will." My father opens the mind link to the entire pack.

"Everyone. The Lycan King has stolen my son's mate. We are now at war. Prepare yourselves." And with that, everyone is awake and moving. Those who can't fight and weren't already moved to the safe house begin transferring their necessities into the pack house. Warriors are preparing to fight, and my siblings are all among them.

"Kylee, you're not old enough to fight." My mother says.

"I don't care. That's my future sister-in-law he took. I'm helping." She stubbornly says.

"You can help. But you'll help from here, patching up the wounded as they return." My father states.

"But -" She tries to protest.

"No buts." He says, his wolf's eyes flashing at her. Without another word, she stomps off to help in the pack hospital. "Antonio. This is going to be your call. If we try to storm the castle, there's a chance he'll kill her. How do you want to do this." My father places his hand on my shoulder. I take a few moments to think over the many scenarios in my head. It feels as though everything around me is moving in slow motion. There's only one scenario that I feel might actually work.

"Do it." Kai states, and I nod.

"There's only one thing I can think of that could work. We have to go above his head. The council." Looking up and meeting my father's gaze, the tears are gone. There is only determination left in my eyes. My father's shine with pride.

"A wise, alpha like decision. I approve. What do you want to say to them?" Turning toward his desk, he grabs a pen and paper and prepares to write.

"Let it simply say that the Lycan King has broken the accords. He has taken another wolf's mate, and he must pay the price." I straighten and watch as my father writes almost exactly what I said. Only he writes that the Luna of Blue Moon Pack has been taken.

"Sound good to you?" passing me the paper, he awaits my reposnce.

"Luna?" Looking up at my dad, I see my mom tearing up behind him.

"That choice was a hard one. Difficulty putting your pack above your wants is important to being an Alpha. And I feel as though you've earned that title. With or without her by your side, you are an Alpha, and she your Luna. Besides, putting it that way will catch the attention of the council much quicker." He winks at me, and I smile back. Standing, I embrace him in a grateful hug.

"Thanks, dad." Releasing him, I turn toward Seb. "You know what that means, right?" Sebastian stands, leaving Leah with a questioning look.

"You're sure you want me?" He asks.

"Of course I am. You're my brother. Who better to be my Beta?" Giving him a clap on the back, I turn back to the letter. "I want to deliver this personally. And I'm going to need the best 5 warriors to come with me."

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Lotus POV~~

I wake in a dimly lit room. There's nothing here, save for the cot I'm laying on. As I attempt to lift myself into a sitting position, shooting pain hits me in the ribs, causing me to scream in pain. The cuffs on my wrists prevent me from grabbing my side. Looking around a bit , I realize I'm chained to the wall.

"Hello?" I croak. My throat is dry, and there's a funny feeling in every inch of my body.

"Well, good morning, Princess." That voice from my dreams permeates the darkness. Then I see him, stepping into the dim light. He's wearing a black suit that makes his black eyes look less out of place.

"Let me go. Please, I just want to go home."

"Are you sure about that?" He waves his hand, and a guard drags a small boddy forward, throwing it into the room next to my cot.

"Lo-Lo? What's going on?"

"Shyla?" Turning my head, my eyes meet her sky blue ones. Terror looks back at me through those eyes as Thompson snaps his fingers. The guard walks up and grabs her by her hair, causing her to scream.

"Leave her alone!" I screech. "She didn't do anything to you!" Pulling and yanking on the chains, to no avail, as they drag her crying and screaming from the room.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You are so predictable. Quite frankly, I'm disappointed." He walks up to me and gets so close I can smell the whiskey on his breath. "You do as I say, and no one has to get hurt here. Understand?" That menacing tone has returned. Narrowing my eyes at him, I muster up every bit of saliva that I can and spit in his face. Surprised, he jerks back and wipes his face with a handkerchief.

"Stupid bitch." He growls, backhanding me so hard I see stars.

"Screw you, asshole." I resume fighting against the chains.

"We'll see how long this fire lasts once I kill your mate." I freeze.

"Antonio." He laughs at the fear that appears in my eyes.

"Not so tough now, are we," and with that he walks out of the room, slamming the door behind him.