Chapter 40

Eric P.O.V

It had been four days since I woke up and we were no closer to figuring out how to get Sophie back. We spent most of the time quarrelling. It didn't help that James still had trouble believing me and it put a strain on our Alpha-Beta relationship. We couldn't agree on anything anymore and it troubled me.

We located Tatiana back at her cottage. She had also been tricked into believing I was the one that released her and that I wanted her back. When she saw me, she flung her arms around me, kissing me. Luke dragged her off and we sat her down telling her she had been tricked into believing I wanted her back. She had insisted that she had felt the mate bond with my doppelgänger. She claimed that the moon goddess had gifted us a gift as second chance mates. To prove her wrong, I clutched her hand and there were no sparks. She was bitterly disappointed. If anything, it proved that whoever had tricked her was in fact her second chance mate.

Blaze was extremely restless. He craved Sophie and our pup and wanted nothing more than to charge into Golden Sun and take her back. A few times I had to force him back before he went crazy on our own pack members. If I was completely honest, I was scared. Scared that she truly didn't love me anymore. I clung to the hope that she never properly rejected me and therefore was protecting me.

Dr Sven had opted to use wolfsbane to curb Blaze's erratic behaviour but I had refused. Using wolfsbane was toxic to wolves especially if used frequently. I would only ever use it as a last resort on anyone. It's effects on a wolf were similar to a human using the drug methamphetamine. The high was euphoric but the coming down was painful and debilitating especially after prolonged use. May rouges used it before battle and would often become addicted to wolfsbane afterwards.

I groaned and banged my head lightly on the desk. I hadn't slept properly in days and it was beginning to take its toll on me. I kept replying everything inside my head. Did I miss something? An Alpha without his mate was also seen as weak and inferior. If we didn't get Sophie back soon my position would be challenged by other Alpha's looking to grow their territory. Something James had spent the last three days reminding me over and over.

"Alpha, I think I have a plan!" Rhea's voice sounded as she raced through the door.

I looked up a little to fast and winced at the pain shooting up my neck. Rubbing it, three people entered my office each with the look of anticipation on their face.

"Well?" I asked while trying to massage the kink out of my neck.

"Right. Um well…" Rhea was fidgeting, and it was frustrating me. "Uh, if you arrange a meeting with Blake and Sophie on the pretence of arranging custody of your child it would help us gauge what Sophie is feeling." She paused and reached for Luke's hand. "Also, we can help push back the hexing date."

James huffed in the corner and I rolled my eyes. "What do you mean push back the date?" I stood up letting my body click itself before squaring my shoulders.

"Well, if this is something Sophie wants then I believe we should let it happen. But…" She jumped as my fist smashed into my desk.

"WHAT! Sophie doesn't want this. She wanted to protect me, to protect us!" I growled.

Luke pushed Rhea behind him growling at me. "Don't take your anger out on my mate!" he yelled. "She's just trying to give you all possibilities! You have to come to terms with the fact that maybe this was something Sophie wanted!"

My face was red with rage and I fought with Blaze who wanted nothing more than to tear the people in front of me to pieces. His snarling and thrashing was causing my vision to blur. I closed my eyes and breathed. I needed the Doctor, so I mind linked him to come to my office as soon as possible. I turned my back on the three of them while I continued to push Blaze down.

Within minutes Dr Sven was at the door. "You called for me Alpha?" He panted.

"I'm struggling Dr Sven. Blaze is pushing hard in my mind to take control. Remember what we discussed? We need to do it now. I can't hold on for much longer." I said through gritted teeth. I didn't want to use wolfsbane, but I was hoping that if Blaze saw Dr Sven, he would quieten down.

Everyone stared at Dr Sven who took a deep breath. "Are you sure Alpha? You were addiment not to last time we spoke. You know what wolfsbane will do to you…"

"Wolfsbane!?" James spat out looking horrified. "Are you crazy?!"

I let out a low growl. "I don't have a choice. My mate has abandoned me, and my beta hates me. It's the only way to control my wolf who is seconds away from taking control!" My teeth nash together as the pain of Blaze's pushing continues. I clutch the edge of my broken desk. My knuckles white with tension. I need Sophie. The mate bond is at its limit. I understand Blaze just wants to go to her, but I can't let the people around us get hurt. The edge of the desk splintered in my hands and Blaze pushed again. I've never seen him so aggressive.

Dr Sven quickly reached into his bag, taking out a small vial and a needle, hastily filling it with silvery liquid. I could sense Blaze's fear as he tried even harder to push for control.

James bounded out from behind Luke and Rhea and grabbed onto my shoulders. "I don't hate you man." Blaze pushed through snarling as he sunk his claws into James's arm, but James didn't move. "Blaze! Stop man! Don't do this. We'll get her back. We won't inject you if you calm down. We miss her to but we gotta go this right. There's no point in hurting innocent people." He gripped my shoulders hard. I could see he was close to shifting himself in case Blaze wouldn't listen.

Finally, I could feel Blaze giving me back control and I fell against James in exhaustion. He guided me towards the sofa, his arm around my shoulders. "Don't ever think I hate you Eric. I got a little pissed after seeing the footage and I struggled with it. But I know you're telling the truth."

I nodded as Luke handed me a glass of water. I sipped at it while my wolf whined in the back of my mind an apology. I would deal with him later. "Thank you. I wouldn't normally lose control like that. Blaze is eager to get Sophie back at any cost and as much as I tried to calm him down what Rhea said set him off. I couldn't rein him in."

"Lack of sleep and stress won't help either Alpha." Dr Sven interjected, and I nodded again.

"I'm sorry for scaring you Rhea. Please don't think you've replaced one tyrant with another." I smiled up at Rhea who smiled kindly back at me.

I hadn't noticed the glistening mark on her neck before and I felt proud of my Gamma for claiming his second chance mate. I had missed so much wallowing in my self-pity and angst. If Sophie had been here, she would have slapped me and told me to do better.

"You mentioned something about delaying the hexing?" I asked.

"Yes. When we find out Sophie's motives we must plant information. Whether we make it look like we're gauging the date of the hex or something. If we can get it the date moved it would be perfect." Rhea beamed a happy smile.

"How do we get the date moved? Doesn't Blake need a full moon?" I sipped my water again and relaxed into the back of the sofa.

"Yes, a full moon is needed but the best kind of full moon is a blood full moon which is in just over a month. If we can plant how important this full moon is it might bide us some time." Luke rubbed her back as she let out a sigh.

"Thank you Rhea. That does give us a little more time." I finally felt some hope. "So how do we do this? What is our plan?"

Luke stepped forward still holding onto Rhea. "We are thinking there should be two plans to cover both possibilities. If Sophie wanted this or is brainwashed, then we need to delay the hexing to make sure. If she is just trying to bide some time, then this is perfect."

I nodded to Luke's ideas. They seemed straight forward. "Right so we need to arrange a meeting?"

Luke and Rhea nodded. I turned to James who had been quiet. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know man. Do you think you can handle Blaze if Sophie turns around and says she's in love with Blake?"

"That wont…"

James raised is hand. "Just humour me. What if she does?" He looked at me with concern. He was worried I wouldn't be able to control Blaze from taking Sophie back.

"I would need to talk to him. We will discuss the possibility even if it's remote. I know he needs to understand." I stand up and begin to pace. "When should I ask to arrange the meeting, and should Tatiana come? We could find her second chance mate and see who let her free?"

"No she needs to stay behind. I feel she has a bigger part to play and it's not at this meeting. You need to arrange it to be before the next full moon." Said Rhea.

"Perhaps if you demand it for tomorrow it would play into the notion of you being a dick." Everyone laughed at Luke's comment and I smiled. He was right there, I could definitely be a dick sometimes.

I clapped Luke on the back. He had turned a light shade of pink with embarrassment, and I chuckled to myself.

"Right act like a dick, demand to a meeting to discuss my pup and don't take no for an answer, right?" I looked around the room at everyone nodding at me.

"If I may add…" interrupted Rhea. "I would suggest you start thinking about the blood moon. Start hoping that Blake would NOT be hexing Sophie on the Blood Moon. Just in case he wants to channel you. It's highly unlikely because he's too cocky." She smirked at the thought.

"Right. I DON'T want him to hex her on the Blood Moon. Got it." I made my way over to my now very damaged desk and sighed. "James, can I use the phone in your office? I think this one is broken." I held up the cordless phone that was only hanging together by a few wires before throwing it onto the broken desk.

I walked out of my office, my entourage following close behind. James scooted to the front when I realised his office door was locked. Everyone piled into the room after us. I made my way to the oak desk and picked up the phone. Rhea handed over a piece of paper with her brother's phone number on it.

Dialling the number my heart began to beat fast. Rhea motioned to me to calm down. I took a deep breath as the phone began to ring.

-"Hello?"

- "Hello Alpha Blake. I believe you have something of mine."

-"Well it took you long enough."