With Ayla, Titan, Phoenix, Raphael, and Rhae trapped at the border, it was looking like they were going to have to rely on Alexander and Stella to get them out of the territory.
It wouldn't be long before it was discovered that Ayla was missing.
She was supposed to be attending the celebration in Alexander's honor.
Since she was the one who found him for the Luna and Orion, they wanted to thank her properly.
Or so they said.
Ayla was sure that wasn't what they had planned.
The fact that Titan rushed her out of the pack house made her even more sure that they had more sinister plans in mind.
Or at least he believed they had more devious things in the works.
The waiting was the worst part.
Sitting like ducks behind the last house on the border was torture for the lot of them.
Anything could go wrong at that point, including the guards catching their scent at any moment.
Every second that went by filled Ayla with more and more anxiety.
Her heart was racing as the anticipation swelled within her.
Titan could sense it, causing him to grab her hand, using his thumb to draw small circles between her index finger and thumb to calm her down.
This was starting to become a regular occurrence for the two of them, now being the third time he had done it since she had broken Julius out of his cell.
A small commotion could suddenly be heard from the front of the house they hid behind.
They all wished they could see what was happening because it wasn't helping the anxiety that was growing within them.
The sound of two wolves was running toward the edge of the territory with one intent in mind.
As they reached the two guards protecting the border by the house the group was hiding behind, they shifted.
They didn't waste any time delivering their message.
"Your Luna wants you to attend the celebration tonight. She and the next Alpha Orion said it's important that the whole pack is there for the announcement. You can return after you hear what they have to say."
Rhae looked at Ayla, raised an eyebrow, and smirked.
Unsure of what they were just told, the two guards looked at each other, questioning whether to follow the orders or not.
"Next, Alpha Orion gave us strict orders to keep the border protected. With the escaped prisoner still on the loose, he doesn't want anyone in or out without us knowing."
One of the wolves that had just come running sounded offended, "You dare disobey a direct order from the Luna. I will inform Luna Alina right away. She will be furious to know you don't care about her announcement. Apparently, it's big!"
The guards looked at each other worriedly, because the last thing they wanted to do was offend their Luna.
"No, no, we are coming, wait for us."
Ayla knew they didn't have long, so as soon as they were clear of the passage, the group bolted.
In the background, the men could be heard asking, "Who are you anyway? I don't recognize you."
The rest of the group kept running while Ayla found a safe space to linger and listen.
"Oh. A new girl sent me. Her name was like Selena or Stena, something like that. Said it was really important that I made sure everyone was at the party."
A smile came across Ayla's face.
She knew exactly who sent them.
The guards stopped in their tracks.
"You mean to tell me that you didn't come straight from the Luna herself to get us? Someone else sent you."
One of the two men who came to distract the guards laughed a little at the guard's absurd remark.
"Well, duh. She said that our Luna told her that everyone has to attend tonight to hear the announcement because it's that important."
One of the guards was growling and getting into the smaller of the two's faces.
"Our orders only come directly from the Luna and the Alpha themselves. Not pack members. If we are supposed to be there. They will pull us from our station. Understood?"
He was angry at the pack members for pulling him from his position, but more furious at himself for allowing it to happen.
"Understood," the young man whispered.
"Let's go, Mooney. Clearly, they want to be the only ones in the pack who don't know. Let them go stand on the edge of the woods alone."
Ayla knew they were coming back at that point.
She had hidden in a thicket in the woods, listening while her friends got the head start they needed.
The main reason was to make sure the guards didn't realize what they did and chase after them.
As they made their way back to their post, they didn't seem to pick up on any scents, not that they mentioned out loud anyway, and went back to standing guard like before.
Ayla was ready to send the guards on a wild goose chase if they came after them if they had.
While she sat there listening, her face reflected fond memories of both Stella and Alexander, and remorse for leaving them behind.
It was clear they were clueless about anyone crossing the border as they got back into position, so she quietly and quickly followed after her friends.
If she was good at anything, it was moving like a ghost, no sound, no scent.
Stella was clever, though, and she was proud of her friend.
She had picked what seemed to be two of the best candidates to distract the guards for the group to escape.
How Stella did it, that was a mystery, but she did it.
Stella was enjoying her good work too.
The smile on her face was larger than life as she walked around the massive number of wolves gathering in the now decorated open area at the entrance of the pack house.
Previously, the enormous area was just a large grassy area with a mountain to its front, trees to both sides, and the grass all between led to the houses that the members all lived in.
The pack house itself housed the higher-up members of the pack.
Now, in the valley, there were tables, chairs, and flowers all in the grassy area, with pack members playing music while they ate and drank.
Cheer could be felt by everyone in the valley.
Even though they weren't sure what they were celebrating yet, they knew they had been summoned for a celebration, so they were taking the time to do just that.
Alexander looked at Stella, and the smile she bore was verification that she had ensured their friends had made it out of the territory, or at least past the guards.
When she nodded, the two of them decided to engage with the other members and do a little celebrating of their own.
They were finally with their pack; Stella and Alexander were no longer that.
Orphans.
Something the two of them never thought possible when they were small pups in the orphanage.
Even leaving their lives behind seemed minuscule in the scheme of things.
There, they had family, blood relatives, and finally felt like they belonged for the first time.
Happiness was flowing through their veins, or it could have been the Moon water with scarlet firethorn in it.
It was different from anything the two of them had ever drunk in his club in Scarlet Crest.
This water had one hell of a bite.
Once everyone was in a liquid state of mind, the Luna finally came out with Orion at her side.
While she didn't seem concerned with anything, Orion was casting his eyes over every inch he possibly could.
It didn't seem to occur to Alexander that his brother was looking for anyone other than him when he raised his hand to gather his brother's attention.
Orion nodded and continued to scour the crowd.
With the firewater messing with his perception, he was a little off on the take.
He was finally able to see Stella, but seemed to become restless after a few moments and whispered into his mother's ear.
She only nodded, turned, and patted his shoulder.
It seemed like she was assuring him that everything would be fine.
Alexander, drunk on the Moon water, still didn't see what was happening.
Orion turned his attention back to his brother and gestured for him to move forward next to the steps.
Once he was in place, the Luna addressed the crowd and told them all the good news, and how they had come to find the once lost pup.
Not sparing a single detail.
She had put Ayla's name out there, in every way.
Luna Alina had taken the stance that if Ayla was going to flee and stand her up, she would have her revenge.
No one disrespects the Luna.
She came across as a sweet, innocent woman, but she was nothing of the sort underneath.
Orion seemed to be amused by the latest moves made by his mother.
The young Alpha in waiting had a lot to learn from his mother yet.
Alexander was not as thrilled, however, as they pulled him on stage and showed him off to the whole pack.
They didn't stop there, though.
"This young lady, Stella dear, would you come on up. She is a beautiful, tough, smart young lady. Stella has come all this way to reunite with her family and has brought our Alexander home to us as well. Let's all thank her and help her find her family, too!"
Stella and Alexander knew what the Luna was doing.
She was marking them in front of the whole pack.
Everyone knew who they were now and would have eyes on them constantly for a long time.
They were new and important.
Neither of them would be able to make a move without the whole town knowing, including Orion and herself.
Thank goodness she helped Ayla and the others when she did, because anything like that was as good as done now.
Stella looked at Alexander with a cross of worry and anxiousness.
Now she was beginning to wonder if she had made the right decision to stay with him.
Obviously, leaving him alone wouldn't be right, but was it the right choice for her to stay?
Her attention was brought back to the Luna, as she wasn't finished quite yet.
"This is a celebration, I know. Unfortunately, I have one small matter to address with you before we go back to that."
Orion looked at her with pure curiosity.
Would she really do that here, tonight?
"As you all know, we did have a prisoner escape earlier. Even though we have continued to try to locate him, we have not been able to. He appears to have vanished somewhere within our territory. I need you all to be on the lookout for him. Also, if you see our dear Ayla, please tell her I'm looking for her."
She really did it.
Orion and Alexander were looking at her for nearly the same reason.
Luna Alina openly threatened Ayla.
The whole town would now be looking for Julius and Ayla.
Alexander turned from the woman who pretended to be so sweet with her fake charm and smile, to Stella, who was speechless.
From what they just heard, it sounded like they had no clue that the others had made it out of the territory borders, and they needed to keep it that way.
"Luna, I mean, Mother, why don't I go see if she just got held up in the quarters with Titan. Those two seem pretty close lately. I don't see him either. Maybe they are being wolves, if you know what I mean."
Luna Alina and Orion glanced at each other before Orion answered, "I don't think that is what is going on. Titan wouldn't be with her. She isn't his type. Have you seen the wolves that throw themselves at him?"
Alexander felt rage growing from his reply, "Have you seen Ayla. You can't get any better than her. If he didn't want her, something would be wrong with him. Anyway, I've seen them together before."
Luna raised an eyebrow, "Really. They are together?"
"Not together, but they have been together. I don't know how serious it is. Ayla isn't known to mate like that. I'm not sure about Titan."
That made Luna think.
"You seem like you are speaking from experience. Was there something there with the two of you?" She asked.
Alexander knew he had said too much, "We were only ever travel companions. I am waiting for my fated mate. That is the only person I will be with."
Luna Alina squinted her eyes as if she knew he was lying.
"Very well. Go and see if they are in their quarters still, but go together. The last thing I need is for you to come up missing, too. I just found you, I don't want to have to find you again."
Alexander didn't see that coming.
He was just trying to buy them some time.
Stella was listening, like a good potential Beta, and tried to help him.
"Orion, I was wondering if you might join me for a drink while he goes to collect Ayla and Titan. I'm sure they just lost track of time. Drinks are this way, right?"
She was doing her best innocent look and teasing him with everything she had.
Looking at her in her low-cut top, showing just how amazing her body was, it was hard to say no to her.
She was a highly attractive and very sought-after she-wolf after all.
Her smell was intoxicating to match.
"Mother, I'm sure it's fine. Let him go collect Titan and the girl. He's your son after all. Stella is new and doesn't know anyone. It would be rude to leave her alone after she asked me so nicely."
Luna looked at Alexander and shook her head, "Young wolves, there is no helping them. I'm glad you seem to be in control of your urges. Go on, go and collect your friend and Titan. Hurry back, though. I would like to speak with them both."
Alexander was quick to get out of their space for just a moment to think, "Yes, ma'am," he yelled back to her.
Once he was out of earshot, he started talking to himself like a crazed person, "What the fuck am I going to do?"
"When I don't come back soon with those, too, all hell is going to break loose. I need a plan. A good plan. A fake note. I can write a fake note. NO. They wouldn't do that. I need to come up with a story. What's a good story?"