Avenging Nina (hiatus)

Chapter 3: His Mission

Ryan took his beta back to the pack house and called for an emergency meeting. He was unhappy about the arrangement but Alpha Charles had insisted that Nina stay at his home until Ryan had killed the enemy and Nina was ready to accept him fully. His wolf whimpered from separation anxiety. "I know, buddy, I know," Ryan said to his wolf, Nero.

The whole pack gathered together unaware of what laid ahead. They were still unsure of why the impending war had come to a stop. They were not upset about a truce with a bigger more powerful pack but they were confused because Alpha Ryan had run off as soon as the treaty had been signed. They were left in the dark, unsure what to make of his actions.

"Everyone, good morning!" Ryan called to his pack from the stage. They hooted and hollered in excitement. "First, I'd like to thank everyone who came to fight with us, to defend us. A battle did not take place but that does not change the fact that it took courage for you to volunteer to fight against a larger pack. Thank you. Second, I'm happy to announce that I found my mate, your Luna!" The pack howled in excitement. "Luna! Luna! Luna!" The pack eagerly waited for her to come on stage. Ryan could tell from their expressions they were disappointed when she did not appear. "Your Luna is not here at this time..." Silence hit the room quickly before members started shouting, unhappy. "Where is the Luna? Why is she not here? Is she ashamed of us?" Ryan leaned on the podium, his eyes dark, and said, "She is a wonderful she-wolf, the daughter of an alpha, who will one day stand here with me to proudly join our pack. Unfortunately at this time she is in recovery due to an attack on her that took place only last month. I and her family want to track down her attacker. I want volunteers. Who will help me avenge their Luna?!" Dozens of wolves and she-wolves stood, screaming that they would help track and kill the beast. Ryan smiled and thanked the volunteers. "Tracker volunteers please come see me immediately after dismissal. Warrior volunteers I will meet with you after dinner tonight. We will discuss strategy at both meetings." They cheered. He dismissed the pack, thrilled with their response and loyalty.

******

Nina paced around her room, nervously awaiting contact from Ryan. He had promised to call and let her know if he could visit or not. It had only been 2 days since she had met him and despite her words to him she already felt the bond forming. She wanted him to be nearby. She wasn't ready to be marked or to mate but she knew she wanted him near. He was her long awaited mate after all.

The phone rang and the nurse answered. Nina sprinted in the direction of the sound and waited in anticipation. "Yes, Alpha. I will get Alpha Charles right away. Please hold," the nurse said before cradling the phone. Nina's heart dropped. The call was for her father, not her. The nurse exited the room and returned a few minutes later. "Miss Nina, Alpha Ryan is on the phone for you. He needed to speak to Alpha Charles first." Nina ran to her and held out her hands for the phone. The nurse pushed the hold button and handed the phone to Nina.

"Hello? Ryan?" "There's my Luna! I've missed you!" Nina felt her face flush red with excitement at the sound of his voice. "Are you visiting me today?" She asked, holding her breath for his answer. Ryan sighed, "Not today, unfortunately." She let go and whimpered. Nera growled inside, disappointed. Ryan heard the hurt in her voice and said, "I'm so sorry, baby. I really am. One of my trackers already got a lead from an ally contact. I need to follow up on it." Nina sucked back tears, "I understand. I'm just..." "Just what, Love?" Nina wrapped her free arm around herself as she said, "I'm lonely without you here. I miss you. I know that probably sounds ludacris but it's what I'm feeling." Ryan felt his heart race and his wolf whimpered again, his own loneliness overwhelming both him and his human-counterpart. "Baby, please just be patient a little longer. I promise you, I will get this guy and then come running to your side. I will move you into my home and never let you go again. If you will have me, of course," he said, this time holding his breath. Nina cried tears of happiness, "Yes, of course! I can't wait for that day!" Ryan felt butterflies and blushed, imagining what it would be like to have her at his side sharing a bedroom. As Nina talked on Ryan pictured his mate lying in their bed with his mark on her neck. The image made him shake with excitement. Before he got any more aroused he told her he needed to go, to start his trip. Nina blew kisses through the phone as she said goodbye. Her invisible kisses sent him over the edge. Ryan had to go to his room and take a cold shower before going anywhere.

******

With a small group of trackers in tow Ryan went to a town 25 miles away and spoke to Alpha Leonard. He and his beta sat in the back of a tavern in the VIP section. "Alpha..." Ryan bowed to show respect. Beta Matthew came to greet and show Ryan and Tim into the roped off area. They sat with the men. Alpha Leonard was in his 40s, a big man with more hair than Ryan and Tim combined.

"I hear you have information for me," Ryan started, looking directly at the masculine alpha. Leonard took a swig of his beer and said, "My beta heard some things in this very tavern, not very nice things." Ryan and Tim leaned in, anxious to hear what the alpha had to say. Leonard chugged down the rest of his beer. "Tell the alpha what you heard..." He grumbled in disgust and ordered another beer. He was looking at his beta when he said this.

Beta Matthew was much leaner and better groomed with lighter hair. His hazel eyes looked sad as he said, "A couple of weeks ago I heard this group of rouges in the public section swapping tales of conquests and kills, normal bar talk at first. Then I hear a story, one that made my insides twist. This rouge with bleached hair and eyes like sapphires was talking about conquering the daughter of an alpha. He said he got past another wolf, chased her down, and forced himself on her. He bragged about blinding her. It was disgusting to hear. And his comrades were cheering him on as if it was an accomplishment. I have a mate and five daughters. I could never even pretend to be okay with what this mutt was talking about."

Ryan's eyes flickered between green and black. His wolf Nero was trying to take over, anger erupting inside him. Ryan forced him back inside and powered through the rage with questions. "Did you ever hear his name? Do you know where to find him? Did he have distinguishing marks?" Matthew sipped at his drink and said, "I never caught his name but I think he runs with a few rouges named Aces and Runt. Those names I definitely heard from his lips while they drank. I've seen them here quite often so I would not be surprised if they are settled somewhere nearby, maybe the rouge camp by the falls. As for marks, he did have a tattoo of a pack crest on his arm but it had a scar through it like he had tried to get rid of it....or someone tried to."

Leonard chimed in, "Like my beta here I have daughters. I don't usually let such vulgarity bother me but this was especially disturbing. When I heard about the emergency meeting and Alpha Charles keeping his daughter under medical care I put two and two together. I've known that girl her whole life. She did not deserve what happened to her. If there is anything I can do to help I want you to let me know. I'm not one for conflict, believe it or not, but for Nina and Charles I would go to war."

Ryan thanked the men for their honesty and set out to learn more about the rouge with bleached hair and sapphire eyes.