Silent Strength: The Female Alpha Leads the Purge

Sam I laid her bleeding body on the ground, my hands shaking as I stood over her, cupping my fingers behind her head and realizing the gravity of the situation. How the f**k did we get here? It was supposed to be simple; find her and get her as far away from these f*****g idiots as I could. Both of them, Damien and Joshua, stood on the territory line of Stewart's pack acting like damn renegades, taking the law into their own hands. The council was going to have so much to say about their vigilante bullshit and I didn’t want to be involved. All I wanted was her. I begged her, fruitlessly yelling at her to shift, to save herself. My pleas fell on her deaf ears as tears streamed from my face. I was desperate. Why the hell hadn’t I brought someone along? “Shift, you i***t!” My wolf screamed in my mind. Taking my hand from behind her head, I gave way to him as I stared into her eyes, pleading with her yet again to follow my lead. “She will do it. Her wolf is taking over.” He was excited and I allowed myself to hope. Hope that we weren’t too late, that she hadn’t lost too much blood. Her bones started to break as her wolf came into form. No longer the spry and powerful figure that tackled me earlier that night, she was frail, lying on her side and slowly pawing at the ground as she attempted to roll on her stomach and rise. I went to her, nuzzling against her neck, trying to allow my comfort to flow through my actions. She needed to rest, and I would stand guard over her until she was ready. She gave in to my request, relaxing on the forest floor and closing her eyes. I listened to her shallow breathing and watched as her chest rose and fell. Taking a step over her, I stood in a protective stance which I would hold as long as she needed. I’m here for you, baby. You will want for nothing and be threatened by no one for as long as I live. We will get through this, and I will get you as far from here as I can. We will leave these awful memories behind, and you will find healing for your soul. We stayed, just like that, for more than three hours. She slept peacefully, her breath becoming more stable, lifting my hopes that she would be able to travel to a pack clinic soon. But where? Where would I take her? It would have to be Damien’s pack. The clinic at Crescent Pack wasn’t large enough to handle the type of care she would need. A twig broke and I lowered myself over her body as I searched the dark which still settled heavily through the woods. Kristi sensed it too and started to whimper some, looking up at me. That set me over the edge. The hair on the back of my neck stood and I growled loudly, willing whoever it was to make the mistake that would end their life. My wolf, Noah, was pissed and craving death at his hands. Glowing eyes came into view, and I started to walk toward them, interrupted by my precious mate attempting to rise once again. I whimpered and nuzzled her back down, licking her face and pressing mine against her neck. Her breathing became stressed until she gave in once again, allowing her eyes to drift shut. Rest, baby. I’ve got this. I let out a growl as I pounced in the direction of the wolf daring to invade our moment. I knew the large black figure and didn’t care if he was considered the strongest alpha on our continent, he would not take another step toward Kristi. I lowered myself, giving him one last warning, and he shifted, holding his hands in the air, and crouching almost submissively to the ground. “I am just here to offer the medical services of my pack, nothing else. Is your mate alright?” Damien asked hesitantly, remaining in his position. I looked back and whined, seeing my mate’s body still lying on the ground, knowing she was too weak to walk still. I shifted, nodding at him. “Thank you. She is still too weak to walk. She hasn’t attempted to shift back yet.” I confessed. “I could help carry her if you’ll permit me. She could stay in wolf form then and continue healing with our doctor’s help.” He balanced his weight uncomfortably and looked at the ground in front of him, wrestling with something in his mind before looking up at me again with an eyebrow raised. “Sam, we need you… and we need her. The two of you will have to lead this pack. It’s her rightful place. She is Stewart’s daughter and, as of about thirty minutes ago, he is dead, and this pack’s alpha is now lying at your feet. Without her, little Rose, Scarlett’s daughter, will be next in line. I know you care about them both, and you don’t want to put the child in danger of someone killing her off to take over the pack. It’s up to you, but she will heal better with medical care.” I took some time to consider his offer. Was I ready for anyone to touch her other than me? I grunted possessively thinking about it. Damien nodded in understanding… but I did need to get her help. I would have to push that possessiveness aside for now. I took a deep breath and nodded at him, then turned and walked toward my frail mate. I pet the side of her face with my thumb and smiled when she locked eyes with me, attempting to reassure her as much as I could. She had to live, had to be with me. I had waited so long after realizing what pack she belonged to, allowing Joshua time to plan his mate’s daughter’s extraction, and for what? For my mate to die? For her to suffer when she should be leading? f**k them. Joshua was standing right beside her when her father sliced her open. I was sure he was already back in his territory by now, safe with his mate and her daughter. He wasn’t here. Wasn’t making sure my mate was protected the way I protected his. No, Damien came instead. I might not agree with the way he killed without thought, but I was no better. I was willing to do the same. Maybe it was time to change my opinion of Damien. I looked back down at Kristi’s wolf. I had no idea how to use sign language, but I would learn so that my words would have meaning in her heart. “Baby, we are going to carry you to the Red Savage Pack clinic. You’re going to be okay.” I whispered before lifting her body into my arms and walking her over to Damien, who had already shifted back into his wolf. I laid her onto his back, then relaxed, shifting myself and stepping beside him, letting part of Kristi’s body fall onto my own shoulders. I bowed my head slightly toward him in appreciation and we took off, heading straight to his territory line, knowing that within the hour, she would be getting the care she needed.