The Defiant Luna
Chapter 53

Jay-la POV

It was dark and cold out here in the mountains, and not being able to shift to keep truly warm under Kora’s coat.

Jay-la knew that they needed to find somewhere to stay put for the night, rather than be out in the open with not only the freezing cold air, but the breeze that blew through the trees as well. It wasn’t so bad when everything was still. But that wind dropped the chill factor considerably

Both she and Kora were now hunting and searching for a place to spend the night, a place that kept them out of the direct breeze. It took a long time for them to find an old hollowed out, half-burnt down tree trunk. It wasn’t all that big but she would fit inside it if she curled right up. It wasn’t likely going to be very comfortable but it was all they could find. They were too tired to go on anymore.

She glanced around and found a few low hanging branches, pulled them off and shook the snow from the foliage, was thankful for evergreen trees right this minute.

Dragged them over to the hollowed out tree trunk and climbed in. It wasn’t very comfortable, but she was able to sit with her knees pulled up to her chest, pulled those tree branches across the opening in an effort to reduce the wind and chill factor.

Hooung that her own body heat would also be able to warm the biny space a little, and they could not only get some rest but sleep She knew that kora was really tired and needed to sleep. She sat there with her arms across her knees and her head resting on her arms and tried to relax

Wolves ran hotter than humans did, and though it was freezing out, she should be able to survive the night. She had pulled the skirt of her dress around her legs, not much protection there, but it was all she had. She had no idea how long shed been awake for, but she was also tired like Kora was.

There was just too much low lying fog or clouds for her and Kora in the dark of the night to be able to continue tracking their own footprints now. They were going to have to wait for daylight and hope it didn’t snow over night and the tracks were covered over.

Nathan was coming for her, she knew he would never give her up, never stop looking for her, they would find her somehow. She reached out with her mind and tried to feel for him, got nothing and then tried to reach for Stephen himself. There was no tether to either of them. No connecting a mind-link to either of them. Even Kora huffed inside her mind, she didn’t like not being able to feel her Mate.

Though there was no ache inside their chest to indicate they were so far away from him, so he had to be relatively close by, just not within mind-linking range. So likely they were only a few hours away from him on foot out here in the mountains, it was nothing like she had felt when flying across the country away from him.

‘He’s out here somewhere Kora. She told her wolf quietly’ Rest up, he’ll find us. Just needs time is all.’

They were both tired and despite being lost in an unknown mountain range, in the middle of winter, they slept curled up tightly in that hollowed out tree, with branches covering the open side of the hollow, to not only help keep their body heat in, but to keep them out of sight from any unknown dangers to them, that maybe lurking out here.

Jay-la’s eyes flickered open a few times as it was becoming light,

dawn was here, they’d slept soundly and

undisturbed or set upon by anything. She sighed as she lifted her head and tried to wake up, and knew it was going to be another long day out there.

But she felt Kora was already up inside her mind, and her ears were pricked right up and her head tilted to the side, she was listening for something. Something that had likely woken her ‘Kora?’

‘Havoc. She answered and Jay-la reached out for that tether to their Mate. It was right there, and it wasn’t the only one either, could feel Jackson, Stephen and Ethan.

Nathan’s tether to her felt stronger and closer to her as well.

Was getting closer by the second, she tried to mind-link to him but couldn’t, he was still too far away.

Then they heard what had clearly woken Kora from her sleep, and had her undivived attention. It was Havoc’s howl, he was calling for his Mate. His howl could be heard through the forest for a good 6 to 10 miles, depending on the terrain around them.

Jay-la pushed the branches from in front of the hollow and climbed out, g*****d as her body protested againststanding up from its cramped position all night, stretched out a little to ease her aching muscles. Felt Kora push forward and then just howl right back for Havoc to hear her.

They stood and felt there tether to him to locate which direction he was in and headed that way. They knew he was coming, and fast, he would hear her howl for him and hunt relentlessly till he found her. They felt their tether to him good and strong and suddenly it was moving faster and they both knew it was Havoc in wolf form coming for them, that tether was getting closer very fast. Too fast for it to be Nathan in human form.

His mind connected with hers not long later ‘Jay-la, She heard Nathan’s voice inside her mind ‘are you alright?’ he asked right away, could hear the worry and concern in his voice.

She sighed as relief flooded through her body, at just the sound of his voice ‘I’m okay! She answered him.

‘Stay put, we’re coming.’

1 know, I can feel just how fast Havoc is running! She told him. Where am I?’ Jay-la asked, wanted to keep talking to him, hear his voice until he was right there in front of her.

Was a comfort to know he was out here with her.

‘Sequoia Mountains. The boys and I have been tracking you all night.’

‘Is Stephen alright?’ she asked, still felt bad about leaving him behind.

‘He’s fine, a few welts from the silver bars, but is good.’ He told her, it seemed like he was happy to talk to her the whole time as well.

Teft him, just…’

No, you didn’t. He set off your flight and fight on purpose.

It was the only way he could see to help you. Allowed you to be lost to it on purpose.

She sighed, had thought as much, caught movement in the distance, a flash of black against the crisp white of the snow, coming right towards her. She stopped walking herself as she watched Havoc come into full view through the trees. His brilliant glowing green eyes were locked right on her.

Nearly sagged with relief at just the sight of him, watched him shift mid run, from his wolf form to their human form, didn’t even miss a step, stopped right in front of her, was pulled right into his chest, his arms around her tightly, holding her to his body, leaned right into him and hugged him back. Stood there for a minute with him and just said nothing

His hand tilted her face to look up at him and she found it was still Havoc on the surface, he was still in full control, slid his hand into her hair and then his beast just leaned down and kissed her softly right on the mouth. She felt Kora huff a little. She was connected to him right that minute and heard his gravelly voice tell Kora he loved her, even as he kissed Jay-la.

He relinquished control back to Nathan a moment later and he smiled down at her, touched her face. “Sorry, he’s just happy to see you.”

“I got that.” Jay-la nodded up at him “It’s alright.”

Nathan’s mouth was on hers in a long deep k**s as he held her body to his, as much as Havoc had done. Leaned on his bare chest when he pulled back from her a little, but still held her close to him, rested his chin on the top of her head

“Aren’t you cold?” she asked him. He was completely naked

“Not really.” He murmured “You must be though.” He looked down at her, saw him look over her as he put her a little away from him, his hands stayed on both her arms. “You were injured, we could smell your b***d, when we got to you.”

“Kora healed us.” She told him “When did you get to us?”

“You were already fighting that Alpha male, Havoc ripped him away from you, you fled. We had to let you go. Do you recall anything?”

“Pretty sure we saw Havoc in his half shift state.” She nodded “I am too dangerous even to our own pack.” She murmured “Did I hurt anyone of ours?”

“No. Your affliction likely saved your life, Jay-la. Right at this minute, I’m glad you have it. I honestly don’t know what I would have done if something terrible happened to you.” he pulled her right back into his chest “I’ve never been so scared in all my life.” He whispered as he hugged her.

She turned her head at the sound of more wolves coming, saw three of them, his unit in wolf form. They were coming much slower than he had, likely already knew he had found her, You’ve all been out all night haven’t you?”

“Of course we have.” He nodded “would you expect me to wait till dawn and leave you out here?”

“No.” she shook her head “I knew you were coming.” She looked right up at him, she had done, had faith in him coming for her. “Never doubted it.” she told him.

Saw him smile softly at her. “We really should start the journey back, it’s a long way.”

“Um.., I can’t shift right now.” She told him as she looked up at him, it was early on but she had to tell him, knew his whole unit would hear her, “I’m with pup.”

“I know.” He said gently “Havoc picked it up the other day.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asked, a little shocked.

“I was happy waiting for you and Kora to find out. To tell us. I was not trying to get you pregnant, just wanted to be with you, for us to reconnect. Babies can come later, we already have three.”

She shook her head a little, but it was nice to hear that from him, heard Kora snort ‘Havoc wants a pup.’

Jay-la knew that, she also knew Kora wanted to give him one as well. One that he would be around to see grow in their belly, and be able to touch and be there for its birth, watch it grow up, all the things they had missed out on with the triplets.

“How far did I get?” she asked.

“About 20 kilometres. I’d say, though tracking you was not easy.”

“I was all over the place.” She nodded, “Crossed one valley three times myself trying to get back, following my own footsteps.”

He nodded “All of us could only guess at why, came to the conclusion that anything that startled you, turned you around or changed your direction.”

Jay-la had no idea herself, didn’t recall much of anything of her flight away from danger. “How many people did I hurt?”

“None of ours,” Nathan reassured her. “I’m going to shift back to Havoc, and you sweetheart, are going to ride him back to where our car is.”

She looked right at him. “I’m not small like the children, you know.”

Saw him smiling “Havoc is insisting, and his fur will help to keep you warm, he’s good and strong Jay-la. Let him do this, he needs to be close to you and Kora right now as much as I do.”

She could only nod “Alright. But if he gets tired, I’m walking.

Heard him chuckle before shifting to Havoc, his wolf walked around her, rubbed himself all over her, then bowed before her before settling to the ground so she could climb onto his back, heard Kora chortle inside her mind as he stood up, never thought they’d ever ride on their Alpha.

CH 5.3

“Big bloody softy you are” Jay-la leased Havoc and scratched behind his ears as they were off

Not once did Havoc seem to even tire in the slightest, or labour ever so slightly at her weight on him, he just trotted along like she weighed nothing at all.

They came into a clearing where she could see both her father and brother standing waiting by two cars for them.

She saw her father look from her to Havoc and back, and shake his head a little as he smiled. “Now that’s something you don’t see every day.” He chuckled.

She hopped off of Havoc as he settled to the ground to make it easier for her, slid her hand over his face and smiled right down at him, “Thank you.”

Both her father and brother hugged her tightly. “Are you alright baby girl?” her father asked.

“Yeah.” She nodded.

“We need to lo-jack you.” Brad teased her gently.

She just stood staring at him for a moment, it probably wasn’t a bad idea at all. Her affliction was going to take years to cure, in all likelihood. It might actually. be a better way of tracking her and finding her to bring her back. If this happened again, she sighed a little. She didn’t want it to happen again.

She looked around her, there were the two four-wheel drives in the clearing, and an old shack looking building over behind them. “Is that where we were held?”

“Yes.” Stephen answered her.

“What happened to Sophia?” She asked, had to know, had threatened to kill her already herself, wondered it she had done that, didn’t recall

“Went into labour when your Luna’s distress poured out of you, is still alive at said time.”

“T’ll be handling that Jay-la.” Her father told her “I have called Alpha Austin, he is aware of the situation, her part in it. He was sending someone to pick her up. A specialist that the council use in retrieval services, someone no-one messes with ever, apparently she won’t be getting away.

Take them a bit to get here, coming from Seattle I believe.

So she is under guard in a hotel room till then. She could well have been picked up by now. I called him yesterday afternoon.”

Jay-la nodded, stepped away from him, didn’t really know what to think about the woman, was actually a little surprised that Havoc hadn’t killed her, but it was likely that she being pregnant had been all that saved her from him.

She walked over to Stephen, looked up at him and sighed softly, then just hugged him “I’m sorry I left you.”

“I’s what I wanted. What had to happen, Jay-la. It’s all good.” He hugged her back. “I was safe inside the cell, I assure you. Glad of it, you, my friend, fight like a demon.”

“I didn’t want to leave you behind.”

“It’s all good.” He smiled down at her and put her away from him. “Let’s get the hell out of here, hey”

She just nodded, slid into the back seat of one of the four wheel drives, along with Nathan, while Jackson got in the front and her dad was behind the wheel, saw Ethan and Stephen get in the other, Brad behind the wheel Was given a bottle of water which she drank from.

It was a long drive back to L.A. and she watched as both

Jackson and Nathan dozed off and then were out cold

“Neither slept a wink, from the time you went missing.” Her father told her quietly “I don’t think I’ve seen Nathan that worried, ever before. Or throw up like he did either.”

Jay-la frowned at that “Throw up, from what?” she asked,” Is he sick?” her eyes moved to him as he slept next to her.

His hand was still in hers, not even in sleep did he let go.

“Not sick, baby girl. He was disgusted at the words he had to say to Sophia, knowing you were right there, made him sick to his stomach, literally.”

She sighed softly as she looked at him.

“He didn’t want to say any of that, Jackson and I, even Brad had to talk him into it, he was worried you’d believe what you heard. Think the worst of him, and leave him.”

“Not going to happen, I know he loves me.” Smiled as she looked at him, it wasn’t just him sleeping, Havoc was also out cold as well. “Also know Havoc loves both Kora and I.”

“I’m glad to hear that baby girl, your mother and I, Brad.

None of us want you to ever leave the way you did, cut us all off from you like that.”

“I just left dad, didn’t stop to get any of my things, not even my phone, just got in my car and left.”

“Don’t you ever do it again. Always keep your phone on you.”

“I don’t even know where it is now. I had it when I was taken, but not anymore.”

“Probably destroyed by your captors, I get you a new one.