The Huntress and her Alpha

Chapter Twenty Seven

Sarah was awake when we found our way to her room. I gasped when I saw her sitting up, Lip held tightly to my hand to keep me from running and hugging her. I knew it was to protect me, because if she didn’t remember me this would be awkward.

“Took you long enough little sis.” Lip smiled as the door closed behind me.

She rolled her eyes. “My memory is fine. So let go of the hold you’ve got on your mate and let her hug me.”

I laughed as Lip let go of my hand and I wrapped my arms around her. “I was so worried about you.” She hugged me back tightly. “I mean, he attacked you because of me.”

She blew out a breath and pulled back. “Actually I provoked him. I saw red when he started telling me about how he kidn*pped you and what he planned on doing if he got his hands on you again. I crossed the boundary and just snapped. But it was a trap, because he was prepared.”

I squeezed her hand. “Sarah.”

“You’re my sister. My future Luna.” Her eyes looked at my neck and i blushed as she raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I don’t like when people talk badly about my family. I have a temper. It got the best of me.”

I shook my head. “I don’t deserve your loyalty. But I’m so grateful for it.”

She squeezed my hand. “Let me see it.”

I looked at her confused. “What?”

“I know that if he marked you, he proposed first. Because when it comes to you, Lip is nothing but a gentleman. So let me see my mom’s ring.”

I blushed as I pulled my hand out of hers and held it up. Lip watched us with a smile on his face the entire time. I looked over at him, smiling back as Sarah gushed about my ring.

“You did good big brother. Mom would love Max so much.” She looked at his neck. “Holy s**t! How did you do it?”

Now Lip blushed. “I have no idea. But I can’t say I’m mad about it.”

I smiled at Sarah. “So enough about us. How are you feeling?”

“Alright. I’m tired. A little sore. But I’ll survive.” She sighed and looked at her brother. “So what’s the plan? I’ve been out for three days. I know you have a plan.”

He shook his head. “Not yet. Jack wants to ambush Andrew, but that means taking all our warriors leaving no one to protect the pack. Max thinks she can get some hunters to help. So if we can do that I’ll talk with Jack about an ambush.”

Sarah’s eyes were wide. “Hunters protecting wolves? Dad is probably rolling over in his grave.”

Lip laughed. “I thought the same thing, but it was Max’s idea. And as my mate and Luna, I think we should try it. Because we don’t have to be enemies.”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Sarah said softly. Then she looked at me. “I’ll stay too. If you can afford it, I’ll stay with Max and the hunters, to protect our pack.”

Lip nodded. “I gotta run numbers with Jack. But you should be okay to stay. I don’t want to push you.” Lip stood up. “I’m going to go find Jack. You two behave.”

I smiled as he kissed my forehead and then leaned down and kissed Sarah’s cheek. She nodded at him before I grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards me.

I pursed my lips and he laughed, leaning down to kiss me properly. “I’ll text Travis. We’ll go see him tonight?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Don’t go without me.”

I squeezed his hand and then he left, leaving me with Sarah who had a giant smile on her face. “Alright now that he’s gone spill. Tell me everything that happened while I was out. He proposed? He marked you! I missed so much!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well I mean. I didn’t plan on getting engaged, but after what happened I knew I couldn't say no. He promised me a long engagement anyways.”

“Marking you is basically our equivalent of marriage so I’m sure he doesn’t care. So tell me how did you mark him?”

“I honestly have no idea. He marked me and um. Yes we were together. Then I just felt it come over me and my teeth were sharp and I bit him the same way he had bit me. It happened so fast and there were a lot of feelings I didn’t really process it.”

Sarah laughed. “I’m sure there were a lot of feelings.” My cheeks burned red. “Well I'm so happy for you. Now have you two talked about the Luna ceremony?”

My face paled. “Not yet. Hopefully not soon. With everything that’s happened I forgot I’ll be Luna now.”

“You’re already a wonderful Luna, Max. Don’t be worried. Well when you’re ready I’ll help you plan it. And maybe you’ll be inspired for your wedding.”

She wiggled her eyebrows and I laughed again loudly. “I doubt it. I need to call Travis. You look like you’re going to pass out. I’ll let you sleep.”

“You better come back and tell me everything that happens okay?”

I nodded. “Of course Sarah. You and me we gotta keep this pack house safe.”

I kissed her cheek and then let myself out of her room. I pulled my phone out and clicked on Travis’s number.

“Hello. Max?” He sounded rough like he had been asleep.

“I need to talk with you. Can you meet tonight at the border? Where we first met Lip and Jack.”

Travis was quiet. I heard rustling in the background and then he sighed. “Yeah I’ll be there. Midnight?”

“Yes. And don’t… tell my dad.”

“Of course.”

We hung up and I felt a strange drop in my stomach like something weird had been happening on the other end of the phone. Like Travis wasn’t who I thought he was and maybe asking for his help wasn’t the best idea.

But for now it was the only idea. For now it was the only thing we had to keep the pack house safe while Lip tried to stop Andrew from attacking us, or trying to take me again.

——

The moon was high as Lip and I stood near the trees where we had first met. “This is where you saved me.”

He laughed. “I’d do it all over again. Even if we knew this was what would happen. Would you?”

“Of course.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I never thought I deserved this kind of love, but I’m so thankful for you, Philip James.”

He kissed my forehead. “Me too.”

“Alright lovebirds.” I jumped as Luca’s voice found us through the darkness. “What is so important you had to drag out us into the creepy woods in the middle of the night?”

Travis came into view first, then Luca stood beside him. I smiled, walking across the invisible line and hugging Luca tightly. She pulled back and looked at me, her eyes falling onto my mark.

“Well I guess that answers my question.”

She sounded sad, even hurt. I swallowed my own hurt and looked at her. “What?”

“You’ve chosen your side.” She stepped back and looked at Travis.

“You told me to choose my happiness. Lip loves me, he protects me, he lets me be his equal. My father taught me that men demand to rule their women. But Lip showed me how incredibly wrong that is. He marked me, but I am still a Hunter. Which is why I’m here asking for you guys to help us.”

Lip stayed behind me, his eyes sweeping the woods every once and a while as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I told them about Andrew taking me, about what he planned on doing. I told them about how he was double crossing them, how he would take me and then go against them.

Travis listened. Luca just kept staring at my mark. I finished the story, my voice breaking. I leaned into Lip.

“So I’m asking if you can gather some hunters, to help me protect our pack house while Lip ambushes Andrew. He needs taken out or once he gets what he wants from us, he’ll come after you.”

Lip wrapped both of his arms around me and held me against his chest. I felt anchored there and safe as he held me close and we waited for their answer. Luca watched us, like she was trying to decide if she was actually okay with us together. Maybe it was easier to tell me to choose Lip when she still thought I wasn’t sold on this mate idea.

“I’ll talk to some of the guys I know will want to help. Andrew already tried double crossing us, before he took you. His plan has always been to get back at your dad for killing his mate. Which meant his plan was always to come after you.”

I stepped out of Lip’s embrace and hugged Travis. “Thank you.”

I let him go and then looked at Luca. “Are we… okay?”

“You didn’t tell me.” She whispered, the hurt coming through her voice. “You have this whole new life and you didn’t tell me. I just thought when you made your decision, like the marking or that ring, you’d tell me.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears filled my eyes. “I got shot and my mate wouldn’t let me out of his sight for days. Then his sister was attacked and I just… I didn’t think to tell you. But I wanted to. You’re my best friend, Luc. I love you and you know I don’t plan on getting married tomorrow.”

She forced a smile. “Which means I better be invited.”

“I mean since you’ll be my Maid of honor, of course you’ll be there.” She wrapped her arms and hugged me tightly. “I’m really sorry, Luca. I never meant to hurt you.”

She nodded. “Happy looks good on you, Max. I’m happy you’re happy. I’m happy Lip is treating you well. We’ll help you.”

“Don’t let my father know.” I said squeezing her hand.

“We’ll keep it quiet. When are you trying to ambush him?” Travis asked as Luca and I fell back into our friendship.

“Five days. Is that enough time?” Lip’s words surprised me.

“It should be. We’ll meet here at midnight in five days then? I’ll have enough hunters to protect the pack house and a few who want to see Andrew’s head on a stick.”

Lip walked forward and held out his hand. “Thank you.”

Luca and I watched as they shook hands and I couldn't help but feel like somehow this was a new alliance in the making.

“Max has always been like my sister. Even if she’s part of your pack now, I will always help protect her.”

“You have no idea how much that means to me.” Lip looked at Luca and smiled that smile he used on the other Alphas. “I guess should’ve told you before I proposed. But Max had been shot and I just pulled the ring out because I couldn’t bare losing her again.”

Luca stepped around me and hugged my mate, making me grimace. “You take care of her.”

“Always.” He answered and then looked at me. “She’s my heart.”