10. Catch me if you can

Andrea POV

'Head south, head south' I kept repeating in my head.

'We can do this, if you need to, shift when we hit the trees' Siaya told me.

"We are going to have to shift no matter what, they won't give us much of ahead start" I told her.

I looked to where the Echo Pack was and I just glared.

Why did I ever have to give this a**hole any sort of attention.

I decided to not to focus on him any longer and turn to what I needed to do for myself.

'I don't feel pulled to him, I don't think he's wants the child' Siaya commented.

"That will actually be a big help if he decides to let us leave, I don't want him to be apart of the baby's life." I said with a little sigh.

Just then I felt a tug on the rope that was attached to my hands.

And I looked up at my dad, the man who raised me, I didn't see anything.

Nothing, no sorrow, regret, or pain.

Just emptiness.

How could he be so cold?

"Dad?" I tried to say.

"Quiet!" He shouted to me.

But to me this wasn't anger, I knew his many voices.

I knew when he was holding back.

When he felt like the weight was on his shoulders, when he needed to prepare for battle, when he was talking to my mother, when he cooed at me and my brother, when he was getting ready to kill someone, I knew them all.

But THIS!

This one I didn't know.

All I knew was that I wasn't worried.

He pulled on the rope and started to lead me to the tree line.

"You have 30 minutes, better start running" he said as he untied my hands and giving them a slight squeeze.

I stared at him.

I wasn't sure what was going to happen but just his small hold on my hand, I was comforted.

I wanted to hug him one last time, but with everyone surrounding us I decided I couldn't make him seem weak.

"I love you dad" with that I turned around and started running after 5 yards I started to shift.

Siaya was howling, it had been awhile since she was able to run and to her this will feel like utter and complete freedom.

She picked up my clothes and started running, the fastest I've seen her run, I let her take complete control and she was surely free.

We headed south just as we were told.

And after about 20 minutes I heard them.

The wolves sent to hunt me down and rip me apart.

Some once my family, my friends, playmates from childhood.

Now they following orders, to me now they are just pack members sent loose to hunt me.

Siaya was covering the distance with every stride she took.

But still I could feel the pack gaining on us.

I urged Siaya to go faster

But instead she started to slow down.

"What are you doing?" I asked her with a slight panic in my voice.

'We are nearing Nessi we need to shift back' she told me

Finally, I don't know what she had planned but I knew if she was going to come with me I would be alright.

After we shifted I hurriedly ran, but I wasn't expecting to find her with her legs around some guy.

I didn't want to interrupt them but seems like she knew I was here.

"Shit your killing me b*tch" I heard her say.

I could help but chuckle.

"Sorry" I appoligized.

"No worries, but we have to hurry the packs are not far, we might have 10 minutes" she hurried and grabbed a bag out of the truck.

"Wait who is this?" I asked very curious as to who could make my 'punch first beat later' friend all cuddly and softhearted.

"Oh, he's my mate"

I couldn't believe what I just heard.

"Your mate? Oh my gosh Nessi, I'm so happy for you" I couldn't help but hug her.

She found her mate.

"Not now we have to leave" she shrugged me off her.

"No. Nessi you can't come with me"

"Like h**l I'm not" she was getting mad, but I had to make her see reason.

"You found your mate you can't just leave him"

"Hes ok with me leaving" she said while looking at her mate.

He stared at her as if pleading, and his face had a longing expression, not someone ok with their mate leaving them.

"No. You can't leave. I'm sorry Nessi but I'm not going to allow you to leave with me."

She was now furious.

"I'm coming, we can protect each other. You need me." She pleaded

I didn't know how to make her stay so I thought of only one thing that will get her to stay.

"I need you to stay, I'm going to constantly be on the run. And that's no life for a baby. I need you here so that when the time comes I will send the baby to you. I need him to be protected at all costs." I really didn't know if I could even do this but I knew she would put the baby before the both of us.

"You can't" she said to me.

She had always done what was best for the baby before so I didn't see why she had a problem with it now.

Until she said, "My mate, his name is Noah, he's the gamma of the Blood Hunter pack. The one your mate is from"

I walked backward slowly, how could I have been so careless again.

"Luna Andrea, I am Noah, Gamma of the Blood Hunter pack. It is my sole duty to protect and obey you and I serve you above all else. If you command me I will take the child when you are ready and raise him as my own. By this I swear on my life. I will protect and care for the child until you return."

I didn't believe he would do such a thing so I had to make sure.

"What if your alpha wants to know where you got the child?"

"Then I will tell him that the mother was looking for a better life and there was no father" that hurt but it was true.

So I nodded my head and turned to Nessi who was now spilling silent tears.

"I love you, you hear me" I tried to comfort her but she just picked up the bag.

Placed it on my shoulder.

"we can slow them down for you, there is a map inside the bag, I think it will help. If you run 5 miles west you will find a car and the keys are inside the bag. Take the car and drive to the numbered destinations on the map. When you make it to the last destination someone will contact you and take you to the last place you will be" she instructed me.

"Where is that" was all I could think to ask.

"I don't know that was all on the note inside the bag. But you need to leave now, you don't have much time left."

With that I hugged her one last time as I fled in the direction she told me.

HUNTED!

I couldn't believe it.

My mate hates me.

I don't blame him.

My father bound by pack laws.

Plus the father of my child tossed me aside as well.

He wanted nothing from me or his child.

So now I have to flee, for my life, our lives.

I shifted as quickly as I could and was there in less then 2 minutes.

I found the car and jumped in, I didn't have time to get dressed so I pulled out of the broken treeline as fast as I could.

The pack members were so close to me I saw some of them in the rear view mirror.

I got out of there fast.

"Catch me if you can a**holes" and I was gone.

Cain POV

I was looking for Beta Jason everywhere after I left my mate in the cellar.

or former mate now.

But I couldn't find him, he might be avoiding me.

Well that worked in his favor, as it gave me time to calm down and think level headed.

I had to plan my revenge not act impulsively.

So that's what I was going to do.

In the distance I could hear the laughter and music of the wolves getting ready for the pairing ceremony and the hunt.

I couldn't bring myself to attend the hunting.

I don't know how long I was walking around, but as soon as felt the hue of the moon high on its apex, I decided it was time for me to return to the pack house.

Didn't bother stoping by the ceremony grounds.

She didn't need me there to rub it in that I rejected her.

So instead I went up to my room that was on the third floor, I was about to retire for the night until my Gamma Noah caught my attention.

"Dude I heard you found your mate, our Luna, where is she?" He said all chipper.

Maybe because he now had his purpose in the pack.

Gammas are the ones to protect the Luna, kind of like her own personal body guard.

I didn't know how to tell him that I rejected her without making things worse so I decided 'ripped it off like a bandaid'.

"Yes, I found her. But she is no longer the luna of our pack. I rejected her" I got out before I heard a growl coming form him.

I was shocked and pissed.

No one ever challenges my decisions.

Especially a Gamma.

"Don't you dare do this now Noah" I commanded using my alpha tone, it took him a few seconds but he backed down and submitted.

His loyalty ran to the luna and now having found her he was instantly protective of her.

He would have done his job well if she were to come home with us.

I have to let him know what situtation the luna was in.

"We need to talk" I said motioning to the sofa in my room.

He took a seat as I closed my door and then I started.

From when I saw her in Atlantic City.

How she ran away from me at the club, to Beta Jason claims to have mated with her and now she was pregnant with his child.

And now her being in a dungeon waiting for her father, the Alpha, to send her off to her death in the hunting that is starting any minute.

The look on his face told me that he was still processing.

"I know its a lot but….." I began to say before he interrupted me.

"And with everything going on with her you rejected her on top of it all?!" He shot back at me.

"I had to, my wolf is gone. I don't know if he will ever come back, my mate is pregnant and I can't help her. If I didn't break the bond she would be stuck trying to come back and she would have been killed. Its not my law, its her fathers. I can not help her in anyway. I wish I could but this was the only way to give her a fighting chance." I was exhausted, but I had to tell someone.

He didn't say anything, he didn't need to but when he got up and left I realized just how exhausted I was.

I wanted to sleep but my mind became restless.

My mate is running for he life and my wolf was gone.

How do I keep claiming to be an Alpha.

Noah POV

'How could he reject our luna? She was our main purpose in the pack, besides training the warriors with the delta' my wolf Clay was now on edge.

'Its always up to him, but I want to hear from her now. There are always two sides to every story' I told him.

I was leaving the third floor until I was hit with Honey and pumpkin spice.

Ooooh that was mouth watering.

I was frozen, too busy inhaling the scent to notice that Clay wanted control.

That's when the smell got stronger, until I heard footsteps coming my way.

"MINE" Clay and I both said together.

Instantly I was met with the deepest of honey golden hue eyes that I could get lost into.

Long black hair and olive tan skin.

My mate was so beautiful, she was perfect for me.

I couldn't think of a word to say.

'Well by all means let me have a shot' and before I could stop Clay, she was in my arms.

Our lips met and sparks erupted from my lips to my toes.

I was afraid she would be upset, but instead she leaned into our kiss and I could hear a subtle purr coming from her.

Clay took that as a sign that she was wiling to be our mate.

So I took back control and deepened my need for her, reaching into her mouth with my tongue and tasting every inch of her.

I did notice that she smelled a little like dead wolf.

That was curious.

Panting I figured that I needed to let my mate breathe and at least let her know that I will be out for a few hours but I was going to return.

I had to get to my Luna before she was killed.

"Come with me" was all I said and willingly she did.

We were still near the third floor so no one in the other packs would over hear me talk to her.

I led her to one of the rooms, I was just about to ask her to enter when she pulled her hand from my grasp.

"I can't" she muttered.

I was confused but I didn't have time.

The hunting was going to be starting in a few minutes.

"Your my mate, where do you need to be other than by my side?" I asked her.

She looked like she was torn between a decision.

"I need to help my friend, she's being hunted tonight and i need to go to keep her safe"

Hunted?!

There was only one name on the list tonight, and that was my Luna.

Was she going to be helping her escape tonight.

How did she know my Luna?

Who is she and why would she risk her life for her?

She did say friend, so I'm sure my mate was a good person.

Definitely loyal to risk her life to help a now dishonored wolf.

Dishonored or not, she was my Luna and my mates friend.

Alpha Cain may have rejected her but I still need to know my Luna doesn't want to be my Luna.

And if she is still my Luna my duties are to help her.

I had to make sure my Luna was safe and will return to our Alpha.

Cain needed her just like the whole pack needed her.

"What does she need"

Her eyes went wide with surprise.

And I saw a little curled smile and she looked so adorable.

She definitely wasn't expecting me to offer any type of help, but I can always explain everything later.

I needed to head out and I was about to let her know when a kitchen worker came up to us.

"Excuse me Denise, you forgot your pack in the kitchens" the she wolf handed my mate a bag.

'Denise' That fit her.

"What is it?" I asked genuinely curious.

"I need to get this to Andrea".

Without saying anything I quickly headed down the stairs and out the front door.

I nodded to her that the coast was clear and started leading her away from the house.

Everyone was most likely at the hunting ceremony and awaiting the pairing ceremony.

Just as we were about to load up in one of the pack vehicles when I heard someone approaching .

"Nessi where do you think you are going?" I was about to growl at who decided to stop my mate from coming with me.

When I noticed it was the Beta Aaron of the Blood Rain pack.

He must be my mates father.

My mate is a Betas daughter.

I hope she won't think low of me when I tell her that I'm only a Gamma.

"I'm sorry, but we are going to miss tonight's festivities. She is my mate. We found each other just now in the corridor and I wanted to get to know her away form the party" I told him, which wasn't completely a lie.

He gave a slight nod and smile to my mate and she returned it with a blown kiss adding, "I'll see you soon pop"

"Take good care of my firecracker you hear Gamma Noah"

Well I guess her father could tell her for me.

I glanced her way to get some indication that she was displeased with my ranking.

But all I saw was the smile that she had on her face.

"Yes sir" I replied as I opened my truck door for her.

As I got in and started the vehicle she asked,

"Why are you helping me and my friend?"

She asked me.

There was worry in her voice.

"Because she is my Luna" I didn't look in her direction.

I needed to keep my head straight to make sure that the hunt started but never ends with her death.

My Luna was in danger and I needed to hurry.

So I quickly drive away from the pack house.

After about 90 minutes I pulled off the road next to a thicket of underbrush.

I tried to keep focus the entire drive.

It was hard to not pull over and become a mated pair, but I could tell she was fighting just as much.

My mate was now looking out the window in every direction.

I wondered what she was to my Luna.

A very good friend, no one would do this for their enemy.

What was in the backpack?

Was she leaving?

Clay growled in my head but he was cut short just by the closeness of our mate.

Clay and I were both mesmerized by how our mate looked.

I wanted to remember everything about her.

Her heart was racing but yet not from being close to me.

It was more she was on the verge of shifting.

Just to help her calm the rhythm of her heart I said "she should be coming through here soon, give it an hour maybe hour and half, depending on the pairing ceremony"

Her smell was intoxicating.

I fought Clay every second to not take control.

He wanted his mate and so did I but now was the time.

'Claim her now' he kept shouting.

'Im not going to force us on her'

'She is our mate, she wants us to claim her' he was getting riled up again.

So I decided to shut him down.

I needed to get Clay to focus.

So I hopped out of the truck waiting for my Luna to come our way.

Well I didn't know how she would know to come my way but I hoped that she would.

This would be the only logical path to take.

There is a safe route for unpacked wolves to take safely so that they may keep moving not settling in anyone territory.

I rounded the truck and was now by the passenger side door.

'At least this way I can not jump my mate.' I thought.

but nope.

Not so lucky.

She opened the door and stood by my side.

Her scent circled me.

I was drowning and I wanted another taste of her kiss.

'Take mate and claim her. She wants too' Clay was in a haze with her so close to us.

'Yes I want that too but if we miss the Luna or she gets hurt because we are busy claiming our mate we have failed her' he whimpered at the thought, but I knew he would listen.

'At least let her know we want her, who knows if we will see her again' to this I listened.

I didn't hesitate after he said that.

He was right.

Who knows when we might be able to hold her again or if we would see her again.

I needed a memory of her.

As much as it pained Clay and I, I knew I would let her decide since she would be with my Luna.

So I pinned her to the passenger side door.

My hands on either side of her waist and sending the most wonderful sparks up and down my body.

I wanted her, but having my mate in my arms I wanted to remember everything.

I didn't want to let her go and it took everything in me to remember that she might be leaving to keep my Luna safe.

I didn't want her to go away but I'd give anything for my Luna.

Even if it meant that I had to let go of my mate.

I didn't realize that my grip was getting a little too tight until I heard my mates sweet voice.

"Your name is Noah and your gamma to which pack"

"Blood hunter" I replied quickly.

"If Andrea is your luna and her mate rejected her does that mean you still accept her as your luna"

No matter what Cain has said to my Luna she will still be MY Luna. Until she releases me from my duties."

This I had no doubt would never happen.

Yes, I was still upset that Cain rejected her but I had hope that since his wolf wasn't present that it wouldn't take.

I wanted to ask her if she knew if the Luna accepted his rejection or if she rejected him right back. But I don't see how she would know that.

I was going to ask but she began asking questions again.

"Will you allow me to leave with her?"

"If that is your wish" I wanted to tell her how much she meant to me in just the short while, but I had to put my Luna first.

"What are you going to tell everyone if I don't return"

"Nothing" they didn't need to know.

She is my mate and I am the only one besides my Alpha that needs to know her whereabouts.

"Do you have any questions for me?"

"No" I had endless questions but I didn't want to ask,.

All I wanted was to see every inch of her naked.

So that I may commit to memory just how beautiful my mate is.

I wanted to hear her moans fill our room.

To see her belly swollen with our pup.

She started to push me away when I tightened my grip to hold her just a little longer.

I dipped my nose in her hair and stayed silent.

I never wanted to get rid of her scent, I wanted to remember everything about her.

I couldn't stand the thought of never getting to be this close again.

So I decided that I needed to smell like her and she needed to smell like me.

Sort of a parting gift that she can have.

Without asking her I started scenting her.

I started weaving my fingers in her hair as I rubbed my scent on her.

I then worked my way to her neck, and her back and stomach.

I wanted her to smell like me as much as I could.

When I started to roam my hands all over, she wrapped her arms around my neck and nuzzled me right back.

It was a very intimate gesture saying that she accepted me and claimed me as well.

'She wants us" Clay howled in delight.

Saying this excited me, I wanted her closer, and needed her to be everything I was.

I pulled her as close as our bodies would allow.

I kept scenting her, my arms started to roam all over her body, she was very fit.

I loved that she seemed to be able to take care of herself if anything should come up.

As my hands traveling up and down her body, noticeably, her body began to shutter.

I thought she might be cold and rubbed my arms all over her until I felt the instant rush of pleasure. She was kissing me, and not just anywhere my marking spot.

I couldn't help the growled that slipped my lips.

Doing this made Clay and I hunger for her.

We grabbed ahold of her a** and gently lifted her up and pressed her into the door of the truck.

I started to kiss her neck making my way to her jawline when I heard the rustling of twigs and leaves.

"Shit your killing me b***h' I heard, before my mate pushed her way out of my arms.

I hated the distance already but when I saw who she was talking too I instantly bowed.

I heard a little chuckle and then a, "Sorry"

It was my Luna.

"No worries, but we have to hurry the packs are not far, we might have 10 minutes" my mate quickly grabbed the bags and was ready to leave.

"Wait who is this?" She asked motioning to me.

I was just about to introduce myself but my mate beat me to it.

"Oh, he's my mate" she told Luna

"Your mate? Oh my gosh Nessi, I'm so happy for you" she said as she hugged my mate.

"Not now we have to leave" she seemed determined on leaving me.

I wanted to growl at her but I knew I had to let her go.

"No. Nessi you can't come with me" Luna was shocked, but so was I.

Why wouldn't she want help in escaping.

"Like h**l I'm not" my mate was mad.

I would be too if Luna told me not to protect her.

"You found your mate you can't just leave him"

"He's ok with me leaving" now this got me mad.

I was definitely not ok with her leaving me and I wanted to begged her to stay.

She meant more to me then my own life.

"No. You can't leave. I'm sorry Nessi but I'm not going to allow you to leave with me."

Luna was not budging, and my mate was now furious.

"I'm coming, we can protect each other. You need me." She sounded defeated, I wanted to hold her and help her.

Luna was her best friend after all.

Not that I minded Luna telling my mate to stay but I know how hard it must also be for the both of them.

I decided they needed to say their goodbyes and I will do my duty as Gamma to keep her safe and make sure that she gets away.

Luna seemed like she was on her last string when she told my mate,

"I need you to stay, I'm going to constantly be on the run. And that's no life for a baby. I need you here so that when the time comes I will send the baby to you. I need him to be protected at all costs."

Her saying this brought me such honor.

Luna, my Luna was giving my mate the greatest honor and entrusting mate and I with her child.

The Betas son of Echo Moon.

Perhaps this will work in my Alphas favor.

The boy could grow up in the safety of Blood Hunter and maybe one day merge Echo Moon with Blood Hunter.

This could work out in my packs favor.

I had to protect this child.

A child that would be killed if anyone found out was her baby.

If it is her wish then I was determined to fulfill it.

"You can't" she sounded a little angry as she turned to me she told Luna

"My mate, his name is Noah, he's the gamma of the Blood Hunter pack. The one your former mate is from"

Luna started backing off slowly, how could I make her understand that I serve her first and foremost.

"Luna Andrea, I am Noah, Gamma of Blood Hunter Pack. It is my sole duty to protect and obey you and I serve you above all else. If you command me I will take the child when you are ready and raise him as my own, by this I swear on my life. I will protect and care for the child until you return."

I wanted to help my Luna in anyway and if I get the pleasure of raising her pup then that is what I will do.

"What if your alpha wants to know where you got the child?" She asked me as if unsure that I would hold my vow.

"Then I will tell him that the mother was looking for a better life and there was no father" I told her.

I would never lie to my alpha but I also will keep this to myself.

Luna nodded her head and turned to my mate who was now spilling silent tears.

"I love you, you hear me" Luna said to Denise.

My mate then gave her the bag that had the items the she wolf gave to her.

"we can slow them down for you, there is a map inside the bag, I think it will help. If you run 5 miles west you will find a car and the keys are inside the bag. Take the car and drive to the numbered destinations on the map. When you make it to the last destination someone will contact you and take you to the last place you will be" she told Luna.

"Where is that" I also wanted to know.

I really should have taken a look at the map.

I didn't like not knowing where my Luna would be but I suppose it would be best if we didn't know.

It gave her more of a chance to live peacefully until she returned.

"I don't know that was all on the note inside the bag. But you need to leave now, you don't have much time left."

They hugged one last time and Luna fled in the direction on the map.

Just over 5 minutes later we saw wolves approaching us I stood in front of my mate and was ready to kill anyone who touched her.

But to my surprise, there was one who stood out.

One who seemed adamant on finding my Luna.

I watched him carefully as he took one look in our direction and put his nose to the air.

He was a tracker!

He then bolted in the direction of my Luna.

And there was only one person that was that good of a tracker-Beta Jason of the Echo Pack!

I will kill him, he was hunting MY Luna and HIS child.

This angered me and I darted after him, shifting mid air and started gaining on him.

Thankfully I was the fastest in the Northern packs, Alphas included.

Just as I was about to reach him I saw Luna driving away in the vehicle.

'Thank you Priestess, if it is your will keep her safe and return her to us at the opportune time.'

And I went back to my mate.

Denise!

Now to wait to hear from my Luna.

Until then I will enjoy my time with my mate.