n u t s | chapter 05

"I swear he's going crazy."

"Just shut up and do whatever he wants us to do."

"What's the plan again?" A cold gust of wind passed their surroundings as Ludovic asked Onyx this question. At that moment, they are outside of the Lycan Shadows pack borders, not in Area-6 but in the main territory where the pack house was located.

The Lycan Shadows pack territory is massive – it occupies almost 50% of the Southern Continent. Due to its enormous land, Octavia has divided it into small regions and simply calling every region as 'Areas.' Aside from the main territory, there are 15 areas across Lycan Shadows.

It really was a wonder to Onyx how they aren't ranked as the number 1 pack. He guessed that maybe Octavia just wasn't interested in the World Rankings of Packs.

Atticus assigned them a 'special mission'; which is to kidnap the Alpha of the Lycan Shadows pack. It's been almost 2 weeks since Octavia made a short visit to Broken Blood, discussed a proposition, and punched Atticus in the face. Shortly after she left, Atticus ordered the pack's best spies to gather information about her while tending to his bloodied cheek.

"We sneak in after half an hour when the lights turn off. According to the scouts, Tic sent, every day the pack house falls into complete darkness at exactly 11 pm. But Octavia will still be in her office until 12:45 am." Onyx explained carefully to the 7 men in front of him; which consists of Ludovic, Griffin – one of their close friends who is really good in combat and is one of the pack's Delta in charge of the men training in spying and capturing, Demarcus – another close friend of theirs and is another pack Delta, and 4 of the best warriors in the pack when it comes to kidnapping and such.

Atticus sent a lot of extra men because Octavia's a really good fighter and he's pretty sure that she will not go down without a fight.

"We will not directly go to her when we got inside the pack house. We'll wait by the stairs when it's her 'bedtime'." Nick chuckled lightly, putting air quotations on the word bedtime, before continuing to speak. "The spies also said that she likes to stroll in the darkness. So it will be pretty easy when it comes to not getting noticed."

Vic nodded. "So now we wait."

They remained still and silent as the minutes passed by. After a while, Onyx looked at his wrist watch.

10:59 pm. A minute more. 11:00 pm.

And as if on cue, all the lights in the Lycan Shadows pack house shut off. They continued to stay hidden; not moving a muscle, while preparing themselves for another round of waiting.

A few border patrols passed by them, unaware of their presence. They had masked their scents with a potion that Atticus got from a witch. And no, none of them had a single idea how or where he did it – interacting with a cunning witch and getting what he wants.

12:40 am. Thursday. May 8, 121 A.T.

"Gear up." Onyx instructed the others, who were entertaining themselves with a game of cards, as he got on his feet. He placed the bag that he was carrying on the grassy floor. In the middle of their second cycle of waiting, Nick had received a call from Atticus, informing him that there is back up far away in case something goes wrong. All he needs to do is howl if something were to happen.

Nick found it pretty weird since Atticus never gets this 'protective' to actually send back up in any type of mission. It was pretty worrying.

Shaking back the idea of the possibility that there is something wrong with his friend, he opened the bag and took a look at the objects inside it. He grabbed the 'special weapons' that Atticus gave him in order to abduct Octavia with ease; a rope and a handkerchief.

Nick rolled his eyes as an idea cross his mind. The cliché materials used to cliché-ly capture a girl.

"Everyone all set?" He asked his companions. Some nodded in response, while Ludovic responded with a "hell yeah, Nick."

It's Showtime.

They split into 4 groups; Onyx, Ludovic, Griffin, and Demarcus split up with 1 warrior, in order to infiltrate the pack house and enclose Octavia with ease. The men entered Lycan Shadows territory and dispersed in different directions toward the pack house.

Nick made his way to one of the massive windows, with a warrior in tow, and peeped inside it. He could see the main stairway of the pack house from his place. He raised an arm before smashing the window, hoping that he didn't made much sound to alarm any living thing inside the huge mansion.

He hoisted himself up and set foot inside Octavia's home, avoiding any broken glass as his companion did the same. They lurked behind the side of the stairs, away from the hall that leads to the Alpha's office. He glanced at his watch.

12:47 am

A few seconds later, Onyx heard the light and slow footsteps of a person. He turned to Dan, the warrior, telling him to go and find the others before standing up from his crouched position. He slowly walked over to Octavia, who stopped to look outside the moonlit forest through the large window she has in her foyer.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" He asked her when he was standing a few feet away from her. She wasn't startled by his statement. If anything, she seemed to relax at Nick's presence.

"It is." She replied oh so softly. He could see a faint smile lingering on Octavia's lips as her beautiful, unknown to the world voice echoed inside Onyx's head. The voice that he would normally hear during their phone calls, the voice that would speak his name whenever they're together, the voice that was unfamiliar to neighboring packs, and the voice that made him fell. "What are you doing here?"

Nick remained silent as he continued to gaze at her reflection through the window's clear glass, memorizing every detail of her beautiful face.

"Make sure that my windows are fixed by dawn. I don't want to worry my Omegas living in this house when they see the mess you've made. I'm going to rest for the day." She said in a soft Alpha tone before turning to leave but Onyx gently grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"I'm sorry but I can't allow you." He said with solemn eyes and a genuine tone. He truly was sorry yet he can't mess with Atticus. He knows that his Alpha would pretty much punish him before banishing him from the pack. Best friend or not. That's how much his mate really means to him.

With furrowed brows and narrowed eyes, Octavia spoke with utter confusion. "What?"

"I'm really sorry Via."

"Nick-" Her face morphed into something between comprehension and dread when realization dawned on her. "You're going to held me hostage in Grady's pack."

Onyx simply shrugged. "Orders." He made a subtle move to reach the insides of his pocket in order for Octavia to not notice. Unfortunately, she did and shook her head.

"Onyx Maximillian Aion, I love you but-" She gave him a powerful kick in the chest that knocked the air out of him, making him fly across the room before landing on his back.

"Via." He grunted after taking a sharp breath. Nick stood with shaky legs and made his way towards her with a slight limp.

"Tell your precious little Alpha to fuck off. I don't want anything do to with him." Octavia growled lowly.

"I wish it was that easy." Ludovic Moretti said coolly behind her before wrapping his arms around her to keep her in place while she thrashed around trying to break free from his iron grip. "But Atticus would literally kill us if we don't get to return with you."

"I don't give two shits about what would happen to you." She snarled before muttering. "Well, except for your Beta that is."

Nick found it weird that she wasn't shouting nor calling for help. He took heavy breaths as he walked over to where the two stood, grabbing Atticus' 'secret weapon' in his pocket. As he was about to use it on her, she roughly elbowed Vic in the ribs, giving his knee and Onyx's stomach a kick.

Octavia then placed her foot on Nick's thigh for support as she flipped over Vic's shoulder. At the moment she landed, she kicked Ludovic on the back, causing him to topple over Onyx.

Griffin and Demarcus, appearing out of nowhere, sprung into action and tried to grab her but she managed to knock them to the ground with one swift movement of her leg. She started running upstairs, where 2 of Atticus' men were waiting. Nick immediately rose to his feet and rushed after her as she slipped past the warriors 2 pairs of kicks and punches.

He was hot on her trail, trying to grab onto her but she quickened her pace, adding a very great distance between them. She glanced back at Onyx only to see that she had lost him but that didn't cause her to be assured of her safe situation and didn't do anything to decelerate, if anything she increased her speed as her lips tugged upwards in a smirk.

However, the smug smile was swept off her lips when she was tackled, American football style, by Onyx Aion out of nowhere and the two of them went tumbling down a flight of stairs.

Nick wrapped his arms around Octavia to protect her from the continuous impact hitting their bodies. He also realized that they must've ran around in a circle as they landed back to the pack house's foyer.

When they reached the ground, Onyx was on his back with Octavia on top of him. He quickly flipped them over and straddled her stomach while she struggles to get free. He grabbed her wrists with one hand and the sedative-filled handkerchief with the other.

Octavia's sharp gaze snapped to his hand, specifically on the item he was holding. Her eyes slightly widened and decided that screaming for help would be sufficient at the moment. But before she could cry out, the female Alpha froze as she felt the familiar softness of Nick's lips against hers.

She knows she would've kissed back if it wasn't for the situation they were currently in. Her walls would've trembled and her world collapse. She would've felt a hurricane in her stomach as she kisses back the man she had developed feelings for.

But it wasn't meant to be. It is not Onyx Aion, Beta of the Broken Blood pack, and a man with a kind heart and sweet words, that is her mate. It's his Alpha. His best friend and polar opposite.

And so with a harsh realization, she roughly bit onto his lip, drawing blood, and thrust the top of her head into Nick's forehead. By doing so, she managed to knock off the item in his hand.

With a wince and his free hand on his forehead, Onyx spoke after licking his bleeding lip. "Octavia Avalon, I love you but-" He grabbed both sides of her face and pounded her head hard against the floor, but not hard enough to cause harm on her.

Nick stood up and regarded Octavia's unconscious body. He didn't want to consent to violence but he had no other choice. The sedative was out of reach and if he didn't do something immediately, Octavia might've broken free and escape. Probably attack him in the process as well.

He crouched down and picked her up, swinging her motionless body over his shoulder. Ludovic walked over to them with a mischievous grin while clapping in a slow and teasing manner. "That was one heck of a show."

"Shut up, Vic."

"Was it really necessary for you to kiss her?" The Gamma spoke lowly and nodded his head once towards Octavia.

"I did it to shut her up." Onyx spat. He was getting irritated. With himself, with the situation, with Vic, with Atticus, with everything. He didn't really mean to speak harshly to his friend.

Vic raised his hands in surrender, eyes filled with understanding and a bit of sorry. "You know I'm just looking out for you, Nick. What if Atticus finds out that you intermingled your lips with hers? You and I both know that he wouldn't be the least bit delighted."

"That's a funny way to word it." Onyx deadpanned with a blank face and paused.

"I'm ready to face the consequences." Nick sighed and turned to the warriors, randomly pointing to them as he shifted Octavia in his shoulder for a more comfortable position. "You two, make sure this place is spotless; while you two, keep your guards up. Ludovic, Griffin, Demarcus. Let's take her back home."

"No need for full name basis, Onyx Maximillian." Vic chuckled as they got out of the pack house. Nick shook his head before lowering Octavia to his arms. He ordered the two Deltas to gather everything from where they were waiting earlier and to not leave a single mark behind. He then ordered Vic to send the signal soon after.

Ludovic nodded as he takes out a small gun in his pocket, pointing it in the direction of the sky before pulling the trigger of the gun. A green light shot out of its muzzle, flying off into the dark sky.

He walked ahead of them towards the outskirts of the woods surrounding the main territory where their car was parked. Onyx trekked through the thick forest in silence, his thoughts racing.

A loud crack of thunder reverberated above them as the first drops of rain hit his head. He swore lowly, realizing that even if he started running, he and Octavia won't make it to the car in time, before an idea crossed his mind.

Nick glanced around the dense trees, ensuring that it's safe to use his ability. When he had satisfied himself, he pictured his destination and teleported to their getaway car, seeing that the others were already there.

"Nick, what the fuck?! Why did you-" Ludovic was cut off by Onyx's shoulder hitting his, as the Beta made his way towards the black vehicle.

"I know. I also did it while chasing her down. That's how I managed to catch her. Now, let's go." Nick placed Octavia gently in the backseat and made sure she's in a comfortable position to avoid any aches when she wakes up.

Ludovic exchanged looks with Griffin and Demarcus.

As he climbed inside the car, he could hear Vic sigh heavily before muttering. "I still think Atticus is going nuts – you know, for thinking that this is a good plan."

"Same goes for me." Griffin butted in as he got in the driver's seat and roared the car to life.

"As well as I." Demarcus also agreed. "How about you, Nick? He is your best friend."

Onyx sighed and looked at Octavia's sleeping body next to him. "He's definitely going nuts, for sure."

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n o t e

I ship them.

Also, thank you so much for voting on and reading Octavia!

Much love,

Tonie

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Chapter dedicated to @hudafuq for supporting Octavia from the start, even if the first draft of this story was utter cringe-worthy.

Hello, lovely! You are awesome.