Having just broken Julius out, Ayla was hoping she would be on cloud nine.
This is what she came to this wretched pack for.
Everything she had come to believe about them was shattering from the moment she got close to their borders.
They were nowhere near as warm and inviting as they had pretended to be.
Welcoming them with open arms as they had made it seem like they would did not happen.
The whole group was being treated as hostiles, friendly prisoners at best.
As she was sneaking slowly down the corridor with her recently freed friend, he just kept piling on the bad news.
Julius just had to burst that good news, job well done bubble.
"What do you mean they want me to find Orion's brother? What's that got to do with me?"
"I don't have time to explain it now. The guards round regularly. However, you came in without being noticed, so get us back there now. You can't be down here. They will never let you go."
Ayla suddenly realized that she had made a mistake running off on her own to save Julius.
She didn't tell anyone she was leaving, and none of them were close with the members of this pack.
They were all outsiders and would end up in the dungeon because of her if she got caught, or worse.
Actually, she was realizing, she didn't know enough about wolves to know what would happen to any of them if she got caught.
For once, she had to worry about more than just herself, and it was almost too much to bear.
Ayla didn't have time to panic in that moment, though; she needed to keep a clear head to escape with Julius.
What would happen if she got caught breaking into their pack house, though?
Not just that, but helping Julius escape now that she was there.
They didn't need him to lure her there anymore.
Suddenly, she found the urgency she needed to move just a little quicker, placing a finger to her lips to remind him that they needed to be quiet, as if he didn't know already.
Julius just rolled his eyes and shook his head as he followed her and listened to her whispered commands.
"This away Julius. I came this way."
As they headed toward the tunnel, they could hear the guards entering the dungeons.
"Did you hear that she came to save that wolf faster than they anticipated? Fastest rescue attempt they've ever had. Her and her muscle wolves just sit in their quarters waiting to be let out. Like that's going to happen. 'Julius will come so and so. Julius can't come at the moment.' Just tugging them along by a string. Orion is going to be the best Alpha," one of the guards said.
"Yeah. Those other wolf packs are all feelings and no brains. That one there came without a second thought. All they had to do was promise that Ayla would be fine if he came with him," the second guard said and started laughing.
Another guard chimed in, "All those other packs just kept chasing her. Stupid Alphas and their special forces. You can't chase a wolf like her. Someone like that has to come to you. Trap flies with honey."
Ayla was starting to get furious.
Julius grabbed her arm and waved a finger at her.
Pointing toward their exit while placing his finger on his lips, she remembered it was in their best interest to get the hell out of there.
Time was running out quickly, as they heard another guard, "Time to get the honey cleaned up for the fly," as the two escapees were entering the tunnel, quietly, and as quickly as possible, closing the grate behind them.
It was time to run as quietly as possible because the guards were seconds away from finding an empty cell and moments away from figuring out what had happened.
When they were a good distance away and a few bends from the dungeon, they put some speed in their steps.
Before too long, they were at the exit to the tunnel, and Ayla was hesitant to walk about.
The sun was now up, which meant they would have to walk through town together, and they would probably be spotted doing so.
"Ayla," she heard in a whisper, "What the hell did you do?"
She recognized the voice.
"I did what I needed to do. Did you know what they were planning? Orion, I mean. To trap me. To imprison me in order to find Orion's brother?"
Titan was now standing within Ayla's sight in front of the grate.
"No. I didn't know what they had planned. All I knew was that they wanted you. Every Alpha wants you for some reason or another. Even my Alpha wants you."
Ayla knew he was telling the truth; she could feel it.
"Help me get him to the house. Prove you are on my side."
Julius was confused.
He had no idea what was going on or who this new wolf was.
When he left, she was with Alexander, and now she was friendly with another male.
Julius looked at Ayla, who was now looking at him with a bit of a shameful look, "I'll explain later, promise. Over lunch, maybe if we can get out of this."
Titan slid into the tunnel at that point, "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Ayla. You didn't do anything wrong. Alexander insinuating that you did was on him."
Ayla cut her eyes at him because he knew what he was doing.
"I said I would talk about it later. That's what I meant. Right now, we need to get him safe."
Julius looked at the large, muscular man standing before him, "So, what's the plan. How do we get me from here to wherever?"
Julius smirked.
"You aren't going to like it, but we have to mask your scent as best we can. I'm basically going to bear hug you a whole lot and probably rub you a bit. We have to cover your salt with my snow and citrus. Ayla might even like you till you shower," Titan joked.
Ayla slapped his arm.
"Cut it out and get to it. We have to get moving before the whole pack is up and alerted."
Titan did exactly what he said and told them to still stick close to the back of buildings and hide as much as possible.
He would distract as many members as he could on the opposite side of the buildings while they made their way back.
The plan was working perfectly until the bells began to toll.
Titan entered Aylas mind, "That means a prisoner has escaped, so now it's clear, they know. Everyone will know now. Go quickly. Now. You're almost there. I don't assume they would expect you to break him out this quickly or make it this far unnoticed."
Ayla and Julius ran as quickly as they could behind the pack homes.
They were just a few buildings away at that point, and the goal was in sight.
Julius reached out to Phoenix and alerted him to quietly open the back door, so he was there and waiting.
Just as they made it over the threshold, there was a knock at the front door.
Ayla had seconds to spare as she pushed Julius into her room and shut the door.
Orion was coming through the front door with Titan at his heels.
That sneaky bastard had waited to ring the bells until he was almost to the dwelling to try and catch them off guard.
He wanted to catch Ayla with Julius.
"Not sure if you heard, but we had a prisoner escape sometime this morning. He was there at the last check, but when the guards went back, he was gone. Vanished like a ghost."
Ayla was the first to answer back.
"A prisoner. Is the prisoner dangerous? I don't know if we should stay if there is a dangerous wolf on the loose."
Orion looked at her with both irritation and suspicion as the words fell from his lips.
"You all will be perfectly fine. While the prisoner is loose, I will add some more protection to your quarters. Ensure you are safe. Julius isn't up for seeing you at the moment, but I will be sure to let you know when he is. With the situation and all. Ladies, if you would like to look around, let the two up front know. They will guard you while you explore, with the prisoner running around and all. Ayla, I would like some time with you, if you would let me."
Ayla did her best to keep the smug expression brewing within her at bay as she responded.
"Oh, I bet. I'm sure Julius isn't available, and I'm sure you would just love to get me alone and spend some time with me. I will get back to you as soon as I see Julius."
Orion squinted his eyes and looked at Titan, "It's good to see you again. Keep your eyes open for the prisoner if you can."
"I will. See you in a bit," Titan replied.
Orian looked pleased, "Yes. Mom will love to see you. You were always like...well...you know."
'So, they are close,' Ayla thought to her, 'but how close?'
With that, Orion turned to leave, which put him next to Alexander.
Standing side by side, they had remarkably similar builds and features.
Stella was looking at them when it hit her, and she snickered under her breath.
She didn't say her thoughts out loud, but she just thought, " Wouldn't that be funny?"
Once Orion was out of the house, and the door was shut, Julius came to join the group, and they all looked directly at Titan.
Without so much as an ounce of hesitation, "Spill it, now," came out directed at Titan, with the whole group nearly speaking in unison.
"I am close with the Luna and Orion. I have been since I was a pup. There weren't many of us since, as you know, most of us were taken and cursed. Being up in the hierarchy made it a little more difficult because it made it stricter on who I was able to spend time with."
Phoenix interrupted, "So you really are one of the only high-up pups that actually made it. Your pure blood."
Titan nodded his head.
"Orion is one of the others, but there are rumors about him. Rumors that he was stolen from another pack. That's neither here nor there, really, though. Luna Alina missed her younger son, who was, or is, around my age, so much that she grew close to me. Sometimes too close. Treating me like her own son. Then, in recent years, she heard that the cursed wolf was in Scarlet Crest. Silver Moon was the man pack chasing her, and they were close to catching her."
Phoenix interrupted again, "That's right, we were the ones that found her, and a few other cursed wolves. We discovered who she was. Instead of keeping her prisoner, we decided to help her. She trusts us. For good reason. We don't hurt her, trap her, or use her."
Ayla shook her head.
"You did in the beginning chase me and try to trap me. That was before you got to know me. Let him tell his story. Then you can decide how to feel."
Titan took a deep breath.
"The Luna and Orion sent me to see if the stories were real. If the living replica of the Moon Goddess was true. I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw you. True perfection. I kept my distance and just observed all of you. Then I reported back."
Raphael and Phoenix began to step in front of Ayla in a presentation of protection over her.
"It's okay for now, guys. He won't do anything. I can tell."
She nodded for him to continue.
"Orion and Shaw had to see for themselves after that, so they went to see for themselves. Shaw instantly claimed that you would be his. Orion didn't say it to Shaw, but he wants to save you for his brother when he finds him."
Alexander chimed in, ignoring the claims of ownership that had been made over her.
"Why did they take Julius?"
Julius echoed him, "Yeah, why did they take me?"
Even though he knew the answer, he wanted the group to hear it.
"He is one of Ayla's weaknesses. They knew she would come for him. They told Julius that he had to leave that moment to keep her safe. She did what they knew she would. The great, fierce, brave Ayla came to save her friend. They wanted to control her with his safety. Ayla is a bit more stealth than they anticipated, though, because she already has him back. Best case scenario, you two leave with him now, and the rest of the group can decide if you want to stay or go. Ayla is capable of dealing with them, and I can help."
It was as if he had set a bomb off in the now smaller room.
The air seemed denser and harder to breathe through.
"Over my dead body," Julius stood up as he spoke.
Raphael was next, "We don't leave anyone behind. Unless they choose to stay."
Ayla was shaking her head, ready to speak for herself.
"I didn't just save Julius for any of you to end up prisoners again. It might not be ideal to sneak out at the moment, but, when possible, as many of you as you can need to start heading home. At least away from their territory."
Phoenix and Raphael shook their heads as Raphael spoke, "We came together, we leave together. Stop doing solo missions. One day, it will not turn out so well for you."
Ayla knew they were talking from a place of concern and love, so it was hard to feel anything but love for them.
"Fine, but I want to go and talk with Orion. I will let Titan take me with him today when he leaves. It can be part of his lunch with Luna Alina."
None of the others were happy about it, but they had learned not to tell Ayla no, because she would do it anyway.
It was better to know what she was doing, who she was with, and where she was going than to tell her no and be in the dark.
"You act like a child, you know that?" Alexander yelled after her as the two made their way toward the door.
"Only when people try to tell me what to do or control me. I have lived my whole life doing it my way. Why do I need people telling me how to live it now?"
They couldn't see either of their faces, but they knew both Ayla and Titan held small looks of satisfaction in them as they crossed the threshold and disappeared.
Titan walked Ayla around town for a bit, showing her what it had to offer on the way to the pack house.
It really was a beautiful place to live, with waterfalls, flowers everywhere, pack members running around, and young children, not many, starting to replenish the packs.
Now that the sun was high in the sky, it was time for the highly anticipated lunch with Luna Alina and Orion.
As they entered, Orion stood and was surprised to see her, "Glad you decided to join us. I have to say, you have a way of doing the unexpected quite often, Ms. Ayla."
His attitude was completely different from what it had been earlier that morning.
"Pleasure is all mine. I assure you. Meeting my first Luna, and the one Titan is so fond of, sounded like a wonderful lunch plan. You seem to be in a much better mood than you were earlier. Glad to see that. Can I assume you found the missing prisoner then?"
Orion pursed his lips for just a second, then replaced it with a fake smile.
"Not yet. I'm sure it won't be too much longer. Let's not bother Mother with all that, though. Please, sit."
Luna Alina smiled, "My boys. Titan, bringing a lady to lunch. She's beautiful, too. Did I hear your name correctly, darling?"
"Yes, ma'am, it's Ayla, your highness. My name is Ayla."
The Luna's face said it all.
Shock, surprise, but also a sense of hope.
"My, my. Titan is an overachiever. You are gracing my table willingly. Not as a prisoner, but you are coming to talk with me? Willingly!"
"Yes, ma'am. I seem to have a reputation that I don't understand. If I am able to help you in any way, I will gladly do it. I am, however, just a lost wolf pup trying to survive senseless attacks after all. Every time I turn around, another wolf seems to be attacking me."
Guilt crept over the Luna's face, because she, too, was partly to blame for some of Ayla's suffering.
Ayla knew that, though.
She purposely said the words she had to through guilt at every member who deserved it.
"I am so sorry for the life you have lived. Let's see if we can do it differently, for your sake. I only ever just wanted to find my lost son. No matter where I look, I just can't find him. I would assume he looks like my Orion, but there is no man alive who looks like him. Not to any of us. Can you help us find him? You helped another wolf find his pup?"
Ayla thought about it for a moment.
"I didn't actually help him. He found his pup because he was chasing me. Not that I'm saying chasing me will help you find your pup. Please don't put that rumor out there. I will do what I can, though. Tell me what you can about him."
The Luna thought about the best things to tell her to find her long-lost son.
"He would be nineteen, blonde hair, but like a sandy blonde, green eyes. I don't know, looks can change. I don't know if he is muscular like his brother, or small because of how he was raised, or if he even has his wolf. All I know is he was taken from me as such a small pup. A baby. I miss him dearly. He feels so close, yet I can't touch him. My sweet Alexander."
Ayla nearly let it all show in her face.
It couldn't be.
That would be impossible, right?