Escape to Midnight

Episode 19

Charis Point Of View

I released him and asked “What is happening? what is the alliance”

He sighed, “It is worse than anything I imagined. I am not sure you can handle the truth about Warren.”

“I need to know. I should hear about it from you. I don’t want to find out from someone else. By tonight everyone in the pack will know.” I responded. 

He nodded and began to speak. He was speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully. “Right after we got you here to Midnight, Rogue children began to disappear. At first it a few kids between the ages of 2 and 6. Warren captured a rogue she wolf and told her to tell the parents he had the children and would kill them if the parents did not surrender to his pack.” I gasped. Why would he kidnap children and why did he want their parents. 

Logan continued. “ Once the parents surrendered they were given a choice, join his pack and become warriors or die along with their children. Once they join his pack he can keep track of them and make sure they are not talking to other rogues or planning anything against him. A group of parents refused, they tried to rescue their children. Some of them were killed, but some of them escaped. The next day the dismembered body parts of four pups were scattered along their border.” 

I dropped my head into my hands. He was such a monster. How could he do such unspeakable things. “Bennie believes 50 rogues from his alliance have joined Warren, but Warren is also taking pups from all around his border. We have no idea how many new warriors he has. We do know he is making every she wolf in his pack train to prepare for war. He intends to s*******r every wolf in this pack even our pups.” As he finished I felt sick. How could we stop him? What would I do if we could not. 

“Things will be different from now on. You will not leave the house without an escort. Seth will train you twice a day at our house. He will also be training some of our warriors that feel they have outgrown Benjamin. They will also train here. Patrols will be doubled along the border, but we are also sending some of our warriors into the valley to help the rogues.”

Listening to him speak, my mind was spinning, so much was happening so fast. I was relieved we would have warriors around our house a lot.   I would feel safer. I would die before Warren ever got close to our pup. 

Logan spent the rest of the day with me. He listened to me talk about my Mother and How I felt seeing Edward again. By evening, I felt things were back to normal, at least in our relationship.

I woke up early, I wanted to eat and get some stretches in before Seth arrived for my first training session of the day. I heard someone knocking at my front door. It was a little strange. You could mind link anyone in the pack, there was really no reason to go to someone's house. I opened the door to a woman a few years older than me. She was petite and cute, but she looked really nervous.

“Hello, I am Ann Marie, I live a few streets over from here.” As she spoke she put her hand out for me to shake. I took it and introduced myself. 

“Oh, I know who you are," she giggled. "I heard you are going to have private training lessons here and I was wondering if I could join you.”

 I had to smile at the hopeful look on her face. 

“I would love for you to join us. I need someone to help me beat Seth.” I laughed and smiled at her. “Please come in, Seth will here soon, I am just finishing breakfast. Are you hungry?” I asked.

“I ate breakfast with my mate before he left for patrol. He has to be up really early, but I enjoy spending time with him before he leaves. How long have you been training? Did you train before you came here?" She asked.

"I have never really had formal training. I attended Daniel's class a few times, but Logan suggested I train with Seth to learn faster. “

“Benjamin tried to put me in his beginner class too. My Mate Johnathan said it was to humiliating for him to see me spar with little ones. I am so glad you are letting me join you.” She said. I was about to ask her more about her mate and their life when Seth breezed into the house. He paused when he saw Ann Marie. I realized I probably should have asked Seth if he was okay with her joining.

I hope you don't mind, this is Ann Marie, She wanted to join us this morning.” I said. Seth smiled and nodded. He went out into the back yard and we followed.

"We will work through some forms, and then we will spar. Ann Marie I will spar with you, but I can’t spar with Charis, She is pregnant.” He said it so matter of fact, but Ann Marie Squealed. “oh Wow! I did not know you were expecting, Congratulations.” I smiled and blushed. I really liked Ann Marie.

We trained for two hours. By the time Seth left I was exhausted and the thought of training again tonight was a horrible thought. Ann Marie made me feel better," Lets go to the coffee shop and have a coffee and snacks. We need to recover from that workout.” she said

“That sounds great. Let me change right quick.” I said. 

We walked to her house so she could put on fresh clothes, and then we went to the coffee house. I learned a lot about her. She joined the pack two years ago when she found her mate. She has had a hard time making friends. The wolves born into this pack don’t really like outsiders. I had not noticed. I really had not tried to make friends, I was happy in my bubble. After Coffee we separated and both went home. I invited her to come back for our second round of training. I decided to take a quick nap when I got home. I wanted to be well rested. I was worried about putting to much stress on my body. I am still adjusting to being pregnant. 

I woke up about an hour before Ann Marie arrived for our second session. She seemed concerned when she arrived. “ I was mind linked earlier by some of the other she wolves in the pack. Two of them want to know if they can join us. I don’t really know them, but I told them I would ask you.” She said. I thought about it and mind linked Seth to get his opinion. As I asked him I heard him yell from the backyard. I rushed to the window to look outside. I had distracted him and the warrior he was fighting got  in a lucky swing. Seth was flat on his back. I hoped he would not be annoyed. As he stood up he yelled at me.            ”Double time on your next lesson for that.” He laughed as he said it. He mind linked me that more people in our group would be ideal. He could have several sparing at one time, and we need to practice defending against more than one attacker at once. 

Ann Marie linked her friends to let them know they could join us. When they arrived I began to have second thoughts. Their names were Nicole and Melanie. They were very distant, not rude, but not nice either. We trained for another two hours. Seth made us run for thirty mins through the neighborhood. He said it would help with stamina and endurance. The new girls complained a lot, but I ignored them and focused on getting the most I could from the lessons. We all agreed to continue training twice a day at my house.

The next three weeks passed as a blur. All the training made me tired. I began to feel like all I did all day was eat, sleep and train. Logan was busy with strategy meetings and recon reports. He did not talk a lot about what was happening, I think he needed a break from it. Home should be his escape. I learned more from Seth. He said they had captured some of Warrens warriors trying to kidnap more pups. The two they caught were rogues who had joined Warren. Bennie killed them. I thought it was horrible, but Seth explained that no matter the reason, they were traitors. Letting them go meant fighting them another day. It was all very sad. 

The fourth week we started our morning training as usual,  but it seemed like Nicole had something on her mind.

 “ Hey are you  okay?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “ Do you really care about anyone other than yourself?” She said.

I was a little shocked, but Ann Marie jumped at her, “ Hey we don’t have to let you train with us. If you have a problem you can leave.” 

‘So I can die defending her?” Her words seemed really hatful.

“What are you talking about?" I asked.

“Oh Come on. You are okay with two packs going to war and killing each other just so you can have your mate. You are a selfish Bitch.” She growled as she spoke.

Seth walked up as she finished her comment. “What the hell did you say to your Beta,” He growled back at her. 

"I don’t know why you two are acting like you don't know what I am talking about. She should be banished. It would save a lot of lives if we just get rid of her. A lot of us believe it. I just hope she is banished before its to late.” Her words cut through me. I was stunned. People were blaming me. They wanted me banished. I felt tears fill my eyes. Seth looked at Melanie. “is this how you feel as well?” He asked her.

"She has family with the rogues. She could be there problem and none of us have to deal with it. Why was she allowed to bring her crap with her? Sterling and Logan are supposed to care about the good of the entire pack. Not one wolf.” Melanie responded bitterly.

I had heard enough I wanted to go inside and lock myself in my room. Seth growled at them. "Get out of here and don’t come back.”

“You have got to be kidding me, You are not going to train us because we won’t pretend to be okay with her drama destroying our pack.” Nicole was still running her mouth. 

Seth walked over to her and grabbed her by the throat. He lifted her in the air and forcefully threw her towards the gate leading out of my yard. He turned to Melanie, but she was already running for the gate.

 I started to run into the house when I felt Ann Marie grab my shoulder, “Wait Charis! Please don't listen to them. Not everyone feels the way they do.” She said. I know she intended to make me feel better, but she just confirmed more people felt that way. I started crying and rushed inside, slamming the door behind me. 

Logan instantly mind linked me. He could feel through the bond how upset I was. “Charis, Are you okay, what's happening.” 

“Did you know your pack wants to banish me. They want me to leave so they won’t have to go to war. Did you know?” I asked. He was silent for a few minutes. 

I had heard rumors, but You are my mate and we are not leaving. I don't care what they say.” He answered.

“ They are right Logan. If I leave, this all ends.” I was trying to come to terms with this new knowledge, but it was brutal.

“What will end? Will Warren suddenly stop torturing and killing. Will he suddenly become a better Alpha? He is crazy. I don’t believe he will stop if you leave. He has a vendetta against our pack.” He shouted at me through the link. I don’t think he was angry, but definitely frustrated and scared. 

I walked into the den and was caught off guard. Edward was sitting in the chair. "Edward!" I exclaimed as I ran to hug him. He laughed as he hugged me back. 

"I told Sterling I could get past all of his defenses and get into your house undetected. He did not believe me. Would you mind linking him to let him know he owes me dinner and I want Crème Brule again.” He said smugly.

 I linked Logan and Sterling to let them know. Both of them seemed angry he made it to me. Sterling told me to tell him dinner was at six.

I sat down across from Edward and felt myself begin to cry again. 

“Are these pregnancy tears? Is this a hormone thing?” He asked.

I rolled my eyes, I was glad to see him. I needed some perspective. “I just found out the pack wants to banish me. They think if I am gone Warren will go away and there will be no war.” I said.

He appeared to be thinking it over before he spoke. “I don’t agree. We know how he is. Once he decides to do something he does it. No matter the cost. Bennie is going to war with him no matter what. The things he has done to the rogues in our collective can not go unanswered. We have to stop him. If you are banished or if you choose to leave, you can come to us. We will take care of you.” 

He no sooner got the words out than Logan was yelling back at him. ‘Charis is my mate! She is not leaving. This is our pack and our home! She belongs with me.” I had not seen him come home. Edwards words had made him angry. I did not want them to fight.