Abandoned Hope Unforgettable Faith

Chapter 4 The Wolf within the Storm

JACKSON'S POV

As we got closer to the territory I called Dr. Pritchard to let him know we were about ten minutes from the gate and that we needed him to meet us there. I could feel the energy already buzzing around me a mile from the pack. Word must have spread that I was arriving home early from the meeting. I groaned internally, I was hoping to keep the crowd to a minimum when I brought Alexandra home. She has been through too much and taking her unconcious body through a hoard of over eager pack memebers was not something I wanted to do.

"Rowan, I need you to take everyone to the traing arena I will speak with them there once I know Alexandra is settled. Have my father meet me in my personal office," I linked my Beta.

"Sure thing Jackson," Rowan said back as we pulled up to the gate. Daniel and Zeke, the gaurds, approached the us.

"Welcome home Alpha, we are glad to see that our Luna has been brought to the safety of the pack," Daniel bares his neck to me in respect before moving away and letting us through the large iron gate.

Dr. Pritchard is waiting expectantly behind the gate with his medical bag in hand. Rowan stepped out of the vehicle and I stepped out behind him as Dr. Pritchard approched and bowed.

"Alpha, Beta, I must apologize but the excitement has spread through the pack and that is my fualt. I had a few of the nurses assist me with preparing the Luna's room and unfortunately they became rather chatty with the rest of the staff and soon the word spread like wild fire."

"It is alright Dr. Pritchard I expected as much," I nodded towards the car, "She is layong down in the back. She has been unconcious since ten this morning."

"I see then we need to get her to the hospital right away."

"No, not the hospital everyone will swarm us there. Head to the pack house. I will have Gamma Braydon bring over anything you may need."

"Alpha, though I do not disagree with your sentiment I doubt that Gamma Braydon can move the whole X-Ray, CT, and MRI machienes into the packhouse. Allow me to run those tests and then I swear that if she is stable enough I will have her transferred to your room."

As much as I wanted her safely tucked away in my room I knew the doctor was right. It isn't that my pack would harm her in anyway but the amount of excitement and crowding is not good for her either, "Very well, but if it is decided that she must stay at the hospitl then no one is allowed in unless they have a medical need or medical cleanance and the staff for the Luna's care will be limited."

"As you wish Alpha."

Rowan stripped down behind the SUV and shifted into his wolf Axel. He nodded to me and took off towards the main sqaure to gather the pack so that I can address them. Dr. Pritchard climed into the back to check over Alexandra while I took over driving. Patricia remained silent in the passenger seat. It was only another ten minutes before we reached the small town of our pack. As we drove down the main street a few stragglers saw us and bowed. The pack Hospital was a block from the pack house as we pulled into the small parking lot. Nurse Tabitha came out through the double doors pushing a hospital bed and a new I.V. bag. Carefully I lifted my beloved out of the SUV and placed her on the bed while Tabitha replaced her I.V..

"Son, I am in your office what is it that we need to discuss?" I heard my father's voice over the link.

"Apologies father. The plans have changed. I am at the pack hospital now and will be ther shortly."

"Of course son."

"Patricia," I turned to look at her, "I can assure you that Alexandra is safe with Dr. Pritchard. I wish for you to join me when I speak to my father, as you would be able to explain more about what has occured in Alexandra's past than I can."

She turned to me sadly still holding Alexandra's hand, "What if she wakes up?"

"I will notify you imediately if there are any changes in her condition," Dr. Pritchard reassured her.

With that, she climed back into the passenger seat and we drove to the pack house while the doctor ran his tests. As we stepped out my mother was on the steps to greet us.

"Welcome back darling," my mother wrapps her arms around my neck in a quick embrace.

"It's good to be back," I nodded, stepping to the side to let Patricia step forward, "Mom, I'd like to introduce you to..."

"Patricia, darling it is wonderful to see you."

"Like wise Luna Julianna," Patricia smiled as they both embraced each other like long lost friends.

"Wait," I looked between the two of them confused, "You two know each other?"

"Well of course, son. I have known Patricia for years."

"I didn't realize."

"Of course you did not realize, boy, you never thought to ask," Patricia chuckled.

"I apologize. It didn't cross my mind," I shook my head, feeling stupid.

"Oh it is quite alright son. Now, let's get inside I am sure there are far more important things to be discussed. Your father is waiting for you." my mother waved us through the large oak doors of the pack house.

Everyone in the pack house stopped as we entered and bowed. Some looked at me curiously. News had spread that I had found my mate and their future Luna but they found it odd that she was not by me when I walked in. I ignored the stares and made my way to the glass elevator at the end of the entry loby. There were two grand staircases on either side for the elevator. To my left was the large dining room, rec-room, and public restrooms. To my right was the large living room with enough space to fit seventy people comfortably. There were a few doors just past the living room for offices for my lead house keeper and a break room for the omegas who worked in the pack house. The pack house is eight stories high. The first floor from the ground level was reserved for the few omegas who chose to live in the pack house. The second and third floors were reserved for the unmated warriors. The fourth floor was strictly reserved for my Gamma, Braydon, and his future family. The fifth floor was reserved for Rowan and his future family. The sixth floor had the higher ranked members offices, and finally the seventh floor was reserved for any vistiting packs. The eighth floor was where I stayed and where I had my own private office.

The elevator opened and we stepped in, "On our way up father," I linked my dad as I pressed the eighth floor button. Once we reached the top we made our way to my office. Opening the door my father greeted me with a breif hug before noticing Patricia behind me.

"Patricia, so wonderful to see you. I see my son managed to pull you away from your work. I sincerely hope that he hasn't inconvieneced you too much," my father smiled, taking Patricia's hand between his.

"Actually, your son managed to disrupt a days worth of work and has now stolen my best worker. He has promised to compensate me by sending a handful of omegas to work there while I remained here to look after my granddaughter."

"The young girl who works the front desk? She is here?"

"Yes. It appears that she is your son's mate. Although I cannot say that I understand why the Moon Goddess fated her to him."

"I can greatly understand your concern's Patricia and although my son is often careless about thinking through his actions and behaviors he knows better than to question the Goddess and he was raised to understand how precious our mates are to our kind."

"I have already seen how much the boy cares for her but there are many things he does not understand about her past. I can only hope he has the patience to learn before he leaps into action. She has the makings of being a wonderful Luna to your pack but she has much to learn and many things she must heal from before she is ready to lead," Patricia nodded, giving me a 'don't screw this up' look.

"I will give her all the time she needs. From what you have told me and from what I wittinessed she is a fighter and I have no doubts that she will make the perfect Luna when she is ready," I replied, trying to sound encouraging and honest about my intentions for my mate.

"Well then that is all settled why don't we go ahead and get those omega's set up and ready to meet with Patricia so that once we have you mate, what is her name again?" my father looked between myself and Patricia.

"Alexandra."

"Andie."

We both responded at the same time and I looked at Patricia confused as to why she called my mate Andie when she told me her name is Alexandra, "It is what she perfers to go by, but you are not allowed to call her that unless she says otherwise." Patricia stated simply not even glancing in my direction.

"Alright, when Alexandra is settled in then we will have the omegas speak with you Patricia about the responsibilities and descriptions of the tasks they will be handling while they work for you. If that is what you'd like?" my father finished.

"That is perfectly acceptable."

Just then Dr. Pritchard's voice came over my mind link, "Alpha, your mate has finished going through the scans, if you would like to be here while we wait for the results she is currently set up in one of our rooms."

"We will be on our way now," I responded before turning back to the rest of the group, "Dr. Pritchard has finished running the labs on Alexandra. We are welcome to wait with her until the results are in."

Everyone filed out of my office and towards the elevator. It wasn't a long walk to the pack hospital so we chose to walk and continue to discuss the coming changes to the pack. I know that I will personally have to address the pack about my mate and their future Luna but for now Rowan will have to handle it until tomorrow, which reminds me I need to link him and let him know to address everyone he has gathered and give them a brief explination.

"Hey bud, go ahead and let the pack members you have gathered know a brief explination and let them know I will have an entire pack meeting in the morning. Right now I need to be with my mate."

Rowan linked back, "Of course man, no big, I get it."

I am grateful for his support in all of this. Even though Rowan hasn't found his mate yet he understands what it means. Both of our parents raised us the same way, that our destined mates are gifts from the Moon Goddess and are treasures no matter what species they are. They were made to complete us and made to make us stronger and we should not squander such a beautiful blessing. Saddly, I failed to respect my beautiful mate and slept around a few times and had my fair share of 'girlfriends' but no serious commitments, not that it makes what I did acceptable.

We finally made it to the pack hospital and nurse Tabitha came out to meet us. "Hello Alphas, Luna, and guest. Right now she is still unconcious. We are not sure when she will wake up and we hope to make a better estimate of how long this state may continue after we get the scans back," she greeted us while usuring us through the doors before leading us down a few hallways. "I am sure Dr. Pritchard told you that we currently have her set up in one of the rooms while we wait. There aren't any signs of stress on her heart and her brain activity is good. We do have her on blood and an I.V. to try to keep her hydrated and get her blood count back up to a better level. Her wolf seems to be healing her physical injuries, however there are some concerns regarding the rate in which she is healing. Dr. Pritchard will explain more when he comes in to give the results."

"Thank you," I nodded.

"Of course Alpha, and ah here we are she is just in here," Tabitha took a key from her apron and unlocked the door letting us in, "Let me know if there is anything you need. Dr. Pritchard and myself are the only one's with keys to this room so you shouldn't be disturbed."

I thanked her again before turning my attention to my beloved. She was laying in a hospital bed and I realize that she is in a hospital gown. Something makes me want to growl at the thought that someone else had undressed her. Logan twitched annoyed in the back of my mind feeling the same. Patricia is already sitting on one side of her gently stroking her hair. I made my way to her other side taking in her angelic face. The bruises that had tarnished her complection this morning had began to fade but for most wolves they would have been completely erased by now. Tabitha had mention that her wolf's healing seemed to be sluggish. Gently taking her hand in mine, I knelt beside the bed grazing my thumb back and forth across the back of her petite hand. Something dark seeped through me through the bond and Logan whimpered running to the furthest reaches of my mind. Every ounce of my body wanted to turn and flee as if my life depended on it but I stayed rooted in place holding my mate.

ANDIE'S POV

I had been laying in the torrential rain for what has felt like eons. Lightning violently kissed the ground around me but never struck me. An endless barrage of thunder drowned the sounds of my own whimpers as I cowered from the raging sky. Moon Goddess why? Why must I suffer? Lightning flashed again mere feet from me then another hit a few feet from that one. Suddenly, as if on que, a line bolts crashed to the earth all one right after the other. A pang in my chest pulled my body to follow the path the lightning was marking and I obeyed.

My drenched form sluged through mud for hours. There was nothing in this world but storms, fog that never disappated, and mud. Inhaling deeply I tried desperately to find anything familiar any smell or sound that could take me away from this hell but between the cracks of thunder and the musty smell of mud I couldn't desipher anything. The only hope I had was the lightling path ahead of me. The luminecant glow was the only thing visible through the storm. If I fell behind the lightening would continue to strike the same spot until it was sure I was close enough to it before moving ahead. Suddenly without warning a solid beam of lightening crashed down just meters ahead and didn't disapate. As I approched the stream of light it burned brighter. I was about to reach out and touch it when I stepped of the edge of a cliff that I did not see infront of me. My stomach plumitted as I began to free fall all over again. I braced myself for an inevitable impact that never came. When I finally managed to convince myself to peal my eyes open I am face to face with my wolf floating in the air.

"Amaya!" I scream throwing myself towards her. She growled and backed away. Hurt ripped through me and everything in me wanted to collapse.

"You locked me away. You became weak. You bowed before men when they should be cowering before us! The Goddess cursed me with a pathetic weakling like you. You do not deserve a wolf let alone me," she raged, towering over me.

"I... I don't understand. Amaya I never locked you away! You abbondoned me! Maybe you're right that I don't deserve to have a wolf but I never asked you to leave me. I never wanted to lose you. I knew you hated me but there was a part of me that always hoped I was wrong."

"You locked me away more and more every time you let that trash you claimed loved you when he beat you. You cowered like some mouse in a room full of eagles. How dare you degrade me to such a pathetic state! I am a warrior. I am power. I am Amaya and you shall not hinder me any further. The Goddess may not allow me to return to her and leave you here to rot but I swear that I shall make your life a living nightmare," Amaya spat.

"Why are you doing this? Amaya I never wanted this! You have to believe me!" I pleaded.

"You made your choice the night I woke. You chose to run and you have been running ever since."

"Amaya how do I fix this? How can I get you to understand?"

"There is nothing to understand. I feel everything you feel and you do not mean what you are saying. You are saying this out of fear. You are afraid of the consequences. If this is ever to be reparied then it will be on my terms. You will not come groveling to me. If you do I will shut you out forever and you will be nothing but a human. You are nothing without me."

"You're wrong!" I screamed, my whole body tearing itself apart as if I had been thrown into an industrial wood chipper.

"Am I? If you are so bold now then prove it. Prove to me that you are not nothing. Prove to me that you are even an inkling worthy of my power and then maybe I will belive you."

"How do I do that?"

"You are proving yourself wrong just by asking me that question you stupid i***t," Amaya rumbled.

"I... I can't," before I can finish a voice that I feel I should recognize fills the void around us and Amaya growls raising her hackles.

"What are you doing?" but I had already lost her. I could feel her primal rage emminating like a suffocating wave. She bolted through the storm and before I could register what was happening she was gone.

The storm cascades around me and the light fades. My body crashes onto the cliff's edge. My mind rages into chaos like the world around me. Amaya truly hates me. I cannot blame her. I am a weekling I do not deserve her or anyone. Curling into a heap of dejected garbage, I let the mud swallow me. Amaya is gone and I will never get her back. I am alone. For the first time in my life I look to the sky in despise and disgust. Goddess Pheobe why would you curse me like this. What have I done to deserve such pain? I am weak. I will always be weak and Amaya does not deserve to be paired to something like me. Take her back. Give her to a she-wolf more deserving. She cannot stand me and she cannot live like this. There is no response to my pleas. The Goddess truly does despise me as much as everyone else.

Fear begins to creep through me but it isn't mine. I feel as if the wind has been knocked from my chest. I frantically sat up looking around trying to find the cause of my anguish and fear but I find nothing.

"What is happening? Alexandra talk to me." the same voice rang through the night this time clearer and I suddenly realized who was calling for me but I knew he was not talking to me. Dread stabbed me through like a Spartan's spear. I needed to get out of here. Something is not right and I can feel Amaya's hatred boiling over. Who ever is calling for me is in danger. Without a second thought I get up and run. I run as fast and as hard as I can.

"Please Goddess. You have cursed me and I deserve your wrath but please spare those who are undeserving of Amaya's rage," I pleaded as I ran through the fog.

Something in the distance catches my attention it looks like a window. I have to get to it. Pushing myself harder than ever before I finally reach it, but what I see on the other side makes me scream in terror.