Chapter Forty-Eight

ALPHA JOE POV

Shifting in mid-stride I bound into the forest heading in the last direction the patrol saw Sam going in, Cayden Close on my heel on the right and Dean on the left with two of Chris's pack behind them. It may be a small team but without knowing who the spies are, we can only put our faith into the ones we trust one hundred per cent. Watching out of Godric's eyes, he follows the directions Carl links to us from the SUV, he had pushed me back, taking control as soon as we had shifted, blocking me from everything in his desperation to find the pups, no, find his pups.

He was fuming that we had allowed Sam to go on his own, knowing full well that he could be in danger if he was discovered with no immediate assistance nearby and he was frantic with worry about Jenni, not knowing where she was and what state she was in. Leaping over yet another fallen down tree we move deeper into the forest, setting another panic of worry through us, rogue territory is not one for a pup to be alone in. They are not all bad but you can never know for certain, picking up speed the others behind me do the same.

'Alpha, they have changed direction you need to stop for a second.' Skidding to a halt I lower my body to the ground hoping the others will follow my actions without question. 'He seems to be backtracking his steps. Wait, he's heading to the East towards the river.' Turning towards the East, Godric bounds in the direction of the river waiting for Carl to give the next direction.

I don't know how long it has been since we set off from the pack in the hopes of finding Jenni but with the way, Gregory is moving it is clear that he is up to something, hopefully, it is showing us to Jenni's location and not on a wild goose chase.

'Alpha. Sam has stopped, keep heading straight and you should come across him. We will get as close as we can before heading out on foot.' Carl informs me.

'When Sam rings get information on numbers and location, Carl.'

'Yes, Alpha. He is ringing now.' Breaching another set of trees we skid to a stop nearly ploughing into Sam with the phone at his ear. Godric approaches him sitting in front of him and pushing his head into Sam's chest to reassure himself that Sam is alive and well.

"It's a cabin. Gregory entered through the front door but cannot see anyone else. Jenni managed to tell me there are a vampire, a witch and two shifters inside with her. I think she is heavily injured as-" hearing this Godric is up on all fours and sprinting towards the cabin expecting him to stop I am shocked when he springs into the air and bursts through the window, the shards of glass shattering around us and cutting into our skin.

'Carl, tell Sam to keep watch and stay safe. Godric is in control and not waiting.'

'We are almost there, Alpha, stay safe.' the stench of blood overwhelms me as Godric's eyes narrow on a doorway that looks like it leads down to a basement, the thuds of paws behind tell me that the others have followed me.

'Dad, we are right behind you' Cayden confirms that it is indeed them and I stalk forward to the open door 'blood, Dad is that?'

'Cayden, concentrate.' I growl at him through our link.

Taking a step through the door I am met with a barrier at the bottom of the stairs not letting me move in any further. The cackle to the left sends a shiver down our spine and I see red when I clock Jenni in a man's grasp, holding her limp bloody body up with the hand around her throat as he looms over the top of her. Growls sound from around me echoing around the cabin.

'How dare they touch my pup' Godric snarls 'they must die.'

'Why can we not pass?' Cayden snarls in my mind.

'Alpha?'

'Barrier, the witch has cast a fucking barrier spell. There is no way past it.' I growl into a group link with all those in my pack with us.

'But we cannot leave her like that.' Cayden whimpers, no we cannot but no one here knows magic other than the witch casting the spell. How do they even expect to get out of here alive?

"Oh, lookie here if it isn't the big bad wolf from the Evergreen Forest. Now what shall we do with you." a weird sensation wraps around me, and an electric current shocks my wolf form sending it to the ground, the thuds around me indicating it happened to all the others. "And you thought the four of you could defeat us how pathetic."

'Godric, look' I link him as I watch Jenni through his eyes as he whimpers 'be ready.'

We watch Jenni struggle to move her limp body without detection as the three behind the barrier watch us amused, come on Jenni, you can do it you're a warrior I chant in my head, it must pass through into the link as I feel the hope in the others strengthen.

"Now what shall we do with the mutts?" the witch sneers.

"Perhaps, we can get the young alpha to be to do our bidding?" the man muses but I don't care about their rambling as I watch Jenni clasp the handle of the dagger.

"I think" she splutters before coughing "that I want to talk now." What the hell is she doing? Growling I watch as the man's attention goes back to her, lifting her higher off the ground by her throat he brings her to his eye level.

"Is that so pet?"

"Nope" she sasses and plunges the dagger through his chest with all the strength she has, he drops her as he clasps at his chest gasping with shock, the dagger still in her hand she drops to her knees, the other three turn towards her and with the last bit of energy, she has she launches the dagger at the witch, the dagger landing right on target as she faces Jenni. The barrier breaks immediately and Godric leaps over to cover Jenni's body to protect her where she has collapsed, whilst the others attack the shifters to attempt to subdue them.