Impasse

8

Maiya

I stared down at the little, white stick that would forever change my life.

Positive.

The words rang through my mind over and over again.

I was going to have a baby… with my mate.

Now that was something that I never thought would happen. I placed my hand on my stomach gently and wonder what it would feel like to be rounded. I wondered if Miguel’s family had twins somewhere in the lineage. I’d like to have twins…

My head jolted up quickly as I heard the sounds of struggling and grunting. The scent of rouge was beginning to fill my nostrils and burn. I involuntarily growled and wrapped my arms protectively over my stomach. There was no way that thing was getting anywhere near me…

Alarms had been going off all around the perimeter of the territory for days. When ever we pulled the security systems up nothing would be seen. I figured it was just a rouge trying to get our attention. Then, luckily, the rouge was spotted just sitting in front of the sensor. I had sent two of the men who had opted to stay here, to capture the rouge that had been spotted roaming Miguel’s lands freely.

Our lands now, I thought wistfully.

I had still not been use to the fact that I was now Alpha Female. It felt weird considering that only months before I was a rouge.

Luna, the rouge that we captured claims to have vital information, but he will only speak to you, one of the fighters sent me.

Again, I growled involuntarily. I didn’t want the rouge anywhere near me, but if he had vital information then I was obligated to listen and hear him out. My wolf and I were torn between duty and instinct. With everything in me I wanted to turn down that offer and make my way to the pack doctor so she could check me out, just to make sure the baby or babies were OK. But then, the other side of me wanted to square my shoulders and stand up straight, facing the rouge head on.

Bring him in, but stand at the ready. I am with child.

My thoughts were laced with an Alpha command so that they would have no choice but to bend to my very whim. Not that I thought that they were going to go against them anyway.

Yes Luna, and congratulations. Does the Alpha know, he asked.

He truly sounded not only excited, but also a bit worried. I could feel the worry flood the link I just wasn’t sure who he was worried for…

Not yet and I would like it to stay that way until he comes back. I want for it to be a surprise.

Yes my Luna.

There was a hard knock on Miguel’s office door where I currently sat. The test was still in my hand, which was still wrapped protectively around my stomach. I stood up and walked in front of the desk, quickly disposing of the test in a drawer that contained a variety of writing utensils.

You may come in, I told him.

As soon as my eyes fell on the face of the rouge I knew who it was. My heart lurched at the sight of the gentle soul being bound and held as if he was some sort of criminal. His face was bruised and blackened from the brutality of a fight. Blood still leaked from the wounds on his face and dried blood still donned his face as if he hadn’t washed in days…

“Christian,” I asked incredulously.

His head whipped up. He looked as if he had seen a ghost with the way his face paled over. His eyes were both swollen masses of skin and I knew was unable to see me clearly. I watched him squint at what was most likely a blurry spot through his eyes, and then he smiled.

“Maiya?”

I chuckled and smiled. “Yes.”

He tried to stand up and make his way to me but was immediately restrained and forced down with a kick. He groaned in pain, but didn’t stop trying to rise up again. The fighters responded by kicking and punching him into the ground. I covered my open mouth with my hand to keep the quiet noises that leaked out of me from coming to life. This was just too much for me to handle. Christian was my friend, not only that but the smell of his blood made my stomach churn.

“Enough,” I yelled. The men halted their assault on Christian and looked at me questioningly.

“Luna?” One of the men asked.

“Luna,” Christian asked confused. Apparently, I had forgotten to mention to him that my mate was an Alpha.

“I know this rouge. Release him.”

Your child Luna, the fighter I spoke to earlier said.

I know he won’t hurt me. Release him, I said.

They released him and he laid where he was for a moment, I can only imagine that he was trying to recover whatever energy he had left. After a few moments he staggered to he feet and limped towards me. Even though he was weak my wolf only saw him as a rouge and a threat to her and her pup. I only saw him as a hurt friend that needed my help, but that didn’t stop me from growling when he came to close. I wrapped my arms around my stomach again and gave him a warning growl not to come closer.

“That’s enough Christian,” I said through my teeth.

“Maiya it’s just me.” He said with his hands raised in surrender.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

He tried inching closer and I growled again. He looked down at my stomach questioningly and for a split second I wished he was as dense as his brother.

“Take another step Christian and I won’t be able to stop myself. My wolf only sees you as a threat right now,” I said trying to get him to understand. I wasn’t going to tell him I was pregnant, he could’ve been trying to help Noir and I didn’t want to have to hurt him.

“OK. OK. I’ll stay still.” He dropped his arms and looked at me. His wounds were already looking better than they had before.

Thank the Fates for quick healing, I thought.

“Why are you here Christian? If it’s something for Noir then you might as well leave. I am not leaving my mate,” I said with finality. I had been away from Miguel long enough and not that we were together again it felt as if we had always been this way… together and happy.

“It’s more or less about Noir than for him. He’s coming here… for you,” he said dropping his head.

“Luna. I think it’s time to call the Alpha and the rest of the fighters back.”

“No,” I said. Miguel couldn’t come back. He’d kill Noir and even though I didn’t want to be with him, I didn’t want him to die.

“Luna?”

“Why is he coming back? I am with my mate! Why can’t he just leave me alone?” I wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular, I was just speaking but it didn’t surprise me when Christian answered.

“He thinks that you are his mate. He has it in his head that the only reason you are with the Alpha of this pack is because of fear.”

“I love Miguel!” I shouted. I only wished that Noir was here so I could tell me to his face. I wished I could show him how I really felt about Miguel and show him that it was Miguel’s father that I feared, not Miguel.

“Maiya that’s not all,” Christian added quietly.

“What else could there possibly be,” I growled.

“He’s coming here with a horde to take out the pack and the Alpha. He’ll accept anyone who surrenders to him, but everyone else dies. Men, women, and children.”

“Rouges are easily disposed of Luna,” one of the fighters said.

“I never said it was a horde of rouges,” Christian said grimly.

“Then a horde of what,” I asked. I feared for what the answer could possibly be. There was no way a Sub-Alpha would be able to control a monster like that…

“Lycans,” he said. The fighters and I growled at the same time.

“When?” It was one of the fighters who found their voice first. “How?”

“I don’t know how, but he’s on his way here now. They were only an hour or two behind me. Maiya I am so sorry. I tried to stop him. He’s gotten stronger somehow. I don’t know how he did it. I’m sorry,” Christian cried.

“Will you stand and fight against your brother,” a fighter asked.

“I can’t. He is still my brother.”

“I am not like a sister to you? Do you not care for me,” I asked.

“You know I do, but he’s my—“

“I am pregnant Christian. He can’t take me…”

“s**t,” he cursed. He knew what it meant for an Alpha, whether it is a Dom or Sub-Alpha, to take a pregnant Alpha mate; automatic death. Either way if Noir was on his way to kidnap me he was going to die.

“What will you choose Christian,” I asked him.

“What are my choices?”

I looked at the fighters for an answer.

Death or joining the pack my Luna, one of them said. I wasn’t sure which one though so I simply nodded towards them both.

“Death or joining my pack,” I repeated to Christian.

It didn’t take him long to choose. Hell, there wasn’t much of a choice there.

“I’ll join the pack.”

This made it easier for my wolf and I to approach him without fear, but just as an extra precaution the fighters stood closer to him.

“You do know what that means right?”

“I relinquish my Alpha rights.”

“Yes. I am sorry Christian. I know you looked forward to being an Alpha one day,” I said trying to comfort him.

“It’s OK. It beats dying for my brother’s stupid and pointless cause.”

“I am going to mark you as one of the pack now.” I told him before I lurched forward and bit down on his shoulder quickly. I could feel his mind merging with mine and Miguel’s. He was one of us now… I could only wonder why he hasn’t tried to contact me through the link about the new addition.

Miguel?

As I waited for him to answer my call to him, I began to form a plan. We needed to be completely ready to take on Noir and his ill-gotten horde. It was still a puzzling fact that a Sub-Alpha was able to control and horde of any kind not to mention Lycans. There was no controlling them and that’s why they are feared by even the fiercest Alphas. They wont be easy to take down but it isn’t undeniably hard either.

“OK Christian. You’ll protect the women and children down in the cellars.” I turned to the fighter that was slightly taller than the other. “What is your name?”

“Dex Luna.” He answered calmly and happily.

“OK well Dex take Christian and take everyone who can’t fight to the cellars. Make sure you take some of the Guard down there too. You guys will need all the protection.” The Alpha command rang clear in my voice. He nodded and pulled Christian with him.

“Wait,” Christian shouted. “You’re pregnant Mai—I mean, Luna. You have to come to the cellars too.”

“I am the best fighter in the pack. I can’t just not fight and besides Noir won’t hurt me. We both know that,” I told him calmly although I felt anything but.

I truthfully had no idea what Noir would do to me, especially since I am carrying Miguel’s pup. If he was this demented to come after me with a horde of Lycans following his command then he was capable of really anything. He was willing to kill hundreds of innocent men, women and children if they did not bend to his rule. And he had truly gone off the deep end if he believed they were truly mates…

“What is your name,” I asked the second fighter.

“Xander, my Luna.”

“Well Xander see if you can get in tough with the Alpha. He isn’t responding to me and then assemble the Guard and notify me if you get in contact with the Alpha or see the horde. Whichever comes first,” I explained.

He nodded and left the room. I immediately began pacing the room. Why the hell was Miguel not answering me and what was I going to do if Noir got his hands on me? Scenarios ran through my mind with blinding speed making me dizzy. The room was spinning too fast for me to catch myself so instead I fell into a heap on the floor and stayed there until Xander linked me.

Luna?

You reached him, I replied relieved.

No. The horde is here, he said gravely.