Oh For Mates Sake
Chapter 49

Sion took a protective stance in front of me. I watched as Joey immediately scowled and glared at Sion.

"Who are you protecting her from?!" Joey growled.

"Anything and everyone I have to." Sion challenged back. I watched as Joey's eyes rifted to mine. A small smile reached his lips, and he tilted his head to the side.

"Do you need to be protected from me, Clover?

Joey said, making my chest ache at the pain in his voice. I stepped forward, out from behind Sion and shook my head.

"Clover.." Sion's eyes shifted to the side while he still faced forward towards Joey.

"I know Sion.. but I..." I pursed my lips together as I looked up at Joey. I trusted him. I know there was a lot at stake, but I hated this.

"I know she is your mate...and you are just protecting her. But I would never hurt her. I-I loved her first." My l!ps parted at the loud declaration he made. He looked at me, as if saying I told you I really loved you. A rough chuckle left Sion's throat and Joey straightened up to stare at him.

"You loved her first?" Sion snorted. "No, you didn't."

"Yes I-"

"How long?! One year? Two years?" Sion growled.

"Two!" Joey's arms trembled slightly, but he got control over them. I could see just how emotional he was right now. No doubt he felt hurt that he was being treated like a threat.

"Four" Sion said quietly as he gave Joey a small smile. I was afraid he was going to get angry but instead it looked like he was calm. I knew he must be struggling but he was staying calm for me.

"For four years, I have loved her. For four years, I have searched for the girl who disappeared from my side... because of what your pack had done to her... she didn't think that I-" Sion sighed and continued to stare at Joey.

"This isn't personal. I told Clover she couldn't tell any of you from the Sulfur pack. We need answers and" Sion was in the middle of talking when a growl reverberated in Joey's throat. I watched as he lifted his nose and his eyes darkened.

"Taylor.. that b!tch is alive?! Is that what this is about? Where is she? What the hell is going on?!" Joey stepped closer, eyeing the shelter behind us. His eyes flipped to mine, and I could see all the questions swarming. "What is going on...?" He said softer.

I listened as Sion groaned and rubbed his forehead. "There are more people from the Sulfur pack involved in all of this. It seems like this is all connected.. somehow."

"Where is she at?" Joey asked, looking around.

"The trail is old, and she wasn't alone. It leads away from the Sulfur pack... I don't think there is a point in tracking them down right now. We have other pressing matters that need dealt with first." His eyes moved to mine as he seemed to be contemplating something. "if you want to know what we know you have to come with us. "I'll tell you when we are out of mind link range."

I watched Joey's brows pinch together and he nodded his head. "I'm coming." He didn't hesitate. ""I let Denny know I decided to go with Clover for extra protection. He will understand this."

I could see something flicker in Sion's eyes.

They flickered golden briefly before they returned to hazel. I imagine it was hard for him knowing Joey's affections for me.

"Is this a good idea?" Conner asked, stepping closer to Sion.

"At this point, this is the best idea. Clover trusts him. If he breaks her trust.. I will break him." Sion said, glaring at Joey.

"That won't be a problem," Joey said, walking up to us. His eyes moved back to the site. "Any chance of her coming back?" I watched as he smelled the air again, testing the scent.

"No, I don't believe so." Sion reached out, pulling me into his side. I glanced up at him, but he didn't look at me. I imagine he needed to calm his beast.

"Did Denny have any objections?" I asked and Joey smiled at me.

"No, he didn't have any problems with it. Why would he, since I am some secret spy, right?" Joey chuckled but quickly wiped the smile off his face, seeing Sion's less than amused look. "It is a joke. Honestly... I don't understand. You just stayed the night at the Sulfur pack. You were givern our hospitality... where is this coming from? We didn't know about Taylor. You think we did?" Joey looked at Sion. I was glad he looked at Sion and not me. It meant he understood I already felt conflicted. "You'll understand soon," Sion said tersely. Once we are farther away from here."

"Is that... Hazel's scent I am picking up?" Joey watched as Sion stared at him blankly and he let out a sigh. "Well, lead the way." He nodded his head to the side and Sion snorted. We walked past Joey, our eyes met as I walked past him. I couldn't tell what he was thinking but it looked like he was happy to be coming along.

"So, you are Clover's gamma?" I heard Joey ask as he walked beside Kai. "Is she a tough boss?" The groups began to break off into their own quiet conversations, except for Odell. I wasn't sure where Stilts was, but I imagine he was around somewhere. I needed to find out if he was invisible or if he could teleport. I wasn't exactly sure how he kept popping up. I also didn't know what a gnome and leprechaun mix could do magic wise. He seemed powerful for such a tiny creature.

Clover. I glanced up at Sion as I heard his voice in my mind. His eyes met with mine and then he just smiled. He didn't say anything else but squeezed my side into his lovingly. I leaned into his warm embrace as he walked through the woods quietly. Once we were well out of range of mind linking the Sulfur pack Sion quietly began to explain everything.

He talked about what really happened when we went to the spirit realm and how we knew Taylor was alive. Then he explained what the innocent victim there had said. All the while, Joey was quiet. I glanced back at him a couple of times to see his lips pursed and his brows pinched together. Finally, when Sion had finished talking, Joey spoke up.

"No wonder you didn't say anything.." Joey's voice was a wounded whisper. I stopped walking to turn to look at him. He looked at me and then at Sion. "I didn't know. You have my word. Gosh you must be so confused, Clover... I-I am so sorry." I could see the pain in Joey's eyes as he looked at me. It looked like he was in more pain over this than I was.

"I'm okay, Joey. Yeah, it is all confusing..." I stopped and just shrugged, pursing my lips together.

"Look, I now there are others involved, but.. you have to know.." Joey looked up at Sion. "Denny and Jude would never..."

"What about the man that was there when the fire started?" Demetri asked and Joey shook his head.

"Impossible. Jude was with us-" Joey motioned to Conner, Logan and me, "the fire started sometime when we were packing Clover's clothes."

Joey was right. I don't know why that escaped me before, but they were both with me during that time.

"What about Denny?" Odell said, clicking her tongue and raising her brows.

"He would have been with Sion." Joey looked up at Sion, who looked down at the ground. His forehead was wrinkled, and his jaw was tense.

"Not the whole time." Sion's eyes met with mine. "He got a mental link and stepped out momentarily right before it concluded. He wasn't gone for long.

Maybe a few minutes.. don't know. The timing would have been close. We can't rule it out."

"Denny wouldn't-" Joey began, but Sion cut him off, turning to talk to me.

"Denny acted ignorant of how Taylor treated you before, didn't he?"

I nodded my head, but there was just no way.

Denny wasn't like that. "That isn't the type of person Denny is-"I said, trying to defend Denny, but Sion seemed to be ignoring my words.

"Maybe Denny and his chosen mate..." Conner said, and I pursed my lips together. I thought back to the night I was attacked when I overheard his conversation with Andrea. He... wouldn't have.

"I don't see Denny, he wouldn't have. However, Taylor was Andrea's close friend. I could see Andrea being involved. I wonder who the guy was. Geez!" Joey ran his hand through his hair as he shook his head. "What is going on..." "Clover, did everyone look normal there? Did you see anything indicating anyone was being manipulated?" Demetri asked.

"I didn't notice anything." I said quietly. I wish I had. At least then I had an explanation for everything that happened.

"There are wolves tailing you," Stilts said, appearing above us on a limb.

"How close are they?" Sion asked lifting his nose in the air trying to test for their scent. I did the same but couldn't smell them. "can't smell them. Do you know if they are Seekers or." I watched as his eyes moved to look at Joey. "They aren't from the Sulfur pack if that is what you are asking." Stilts sat on the limb swinging his legs casually.

"What do you want to do?" Conner asked.

"Demetri, how long until we reach the Nova pack?" Sion asked. Demetri shook his head and looked ahead.

"We still have a good bit left to travel," Demetri said as we all looked at Sion for his decision.

"Let's keep moving. We don't know if they are seekers or not. Maybe they are just curious about the scent and checking us out. If we keep moving, we won't seem confrontational. If it is Seekers, we will know soon enough, their scent will eventually reach us." Sion grabbed my hand and began to walk again briskly. "It is best to avoid a fight if we can." He muttered under his breath, glancing down at me.

"Sion, I can fight if we have to." I watched as a sexy half smile curled over his lips as he looked at me from the sides of his eyes.

"I know that, my love, but why take unnecessary risks?"

"Because you would if I wasn't with you," I said pointedly; his grin widened, but before he could say anything, a scent carried on the wind reached us.

Seekers. There was no doubt about it.

"There is a new territory line up ahead. They might be more hesitant to follow us past that point."

Demetri said urgently.

"Should we shift?" Conner asked, and Sion shook his head no.

"No, we are heading into a new territory. We don't have to enter looking like threats. Just run!" Sion said looking down at me. Inodded my head and dropped his hand from mine. I could run better without him dragging me from behind him, which is what I know would happen.

We raced through the woods. The trees blurred brown as we crashed through the branches and bushes making a path of our own. We all smelled the change in the scent as we entered a new territory, but we kept running. Blood curdling howls echoed in the air behind us, and we knew the Seekers had taken chase. They were on our trail.

What would they do when they reached the next territory? If they chose to pursue us, we would have no choice but to fight.. but how many? The air sounded like high pitched screams as their howls echoed from all around. The numbers weren't on our side. We did have a lupine on our side.

If only I had a grip on my powers. I could order them to stop. I wasn't sure if I could rely on it. I didn't have the confidence in myself with it yet. It always just came to me.

The brush was getting thicker, and we were having to squint as we ran. Small leaves fell in the air, twigs shattered all around and then... weightlessness. I was falling. Covered in darkness. Squeezed into something tight.

My arms were tucked at my sides, and I couldn't use them. It was too tight. I heard the snarls from above me as I slammed into a solid surface. I arched my back in pain as the wind left my lungs.

Coughing, I gasped for air as I tried to make sense of what had happened. I stared straight up from my back at the tiny hole I had fallen through. A hole too tiny for anyone else to fit through. I glanced around as the air began to return to my lungs. I was in a cave again... or was this a mine?

"Fell into an air shaft, did ya?" Stilts chuckled next to my head, looking over into my face. "Can you get up?" An airshaft? Seriously? Of all things to fall into. I gingerly sat up as II rubbed the back of my head. Thank goodness Sheena was with me and healing me. Otherwise, I would be in serious trouble right now.

"Now what?" I muttered, looking up at the hole above me. It was about twenty feet straight above me.

Clover! Sion's panicked voice called out in my mind.

I'm okay, Sion. I'm in a mine again.. My voice was dripping with annoyance. Stilts is with me. 'I'll see if he can help me find the way out.

There has to be an entrance around here. I'll find you. Sion sounded anxious and his words were rushed. Then echoing down the hole were the echoing sounds of growls.

Sion!