Multiple POVs

Kota's POV

I swear we all stopped breathing and the world froze when Samael led her to the platform. She was breathtaking. Her ebony hair was up with light tendrils draping down to tease her bare shoulders. Gabe had really outdone himself with her dress. It hugged every curve of her luscious body and was a dusty black color, but when the light caught it, it shimmered with various other shades. It wasn't until she came closer to us that I realized it was picking up on the shades in our shirts and casting light hues. He managed to make her match each of us when she stood next to us. Fucking genius.

Doc Roberts stepped forward and took her hand from Samael. "Members of the Blackbourne pack, we have gathered tonight to welcome our new Luna, Calista Rose, officially into the pack along with her other mates and her children." He looked at North and nodded. He stepped forward, clutching both Raven and Corey's hands, a huge grin on his face.

"I claim these men as my destined mates along with Calista. I present Raven Ravensthal, a bear shifter, and Corey Henshaw, an elemental. Please welcome them," he proclaimed proudly, kissing each of them. The crowd cheered.

Nate and I stepped forward next, each holding Brandon's hand. "We claim this man as our destined mate along with Calista. We present Brandon Henshaw, brother to Corey and also an elemental. Please welcome him." The crowd again cheered as we each kissed him. His cheeks flushed as he continued to hold our hands.

Owen stepped forward with Sean. "We welcome Axel Toma and Marc Weiland to the pack. They are the destined mates of our destined mate, Calista Rose." They each held their daughters in their arms. "We welcome Mela Toma, daughter of Axel and Calista, and Aydana Weiland, daughter of Marc and Calista to our pack." The crowd cheered wildly, shouting blessings and congratulations.

Phil cleared his throat, "Now if you will all form a circle around Calista we will begin." We did as he instructed. I felt a slight pang from myself and the others as we remembered Sang's ceremony. She gave us all a knowing look and mouthed - I love you, as Phil continued. "Everyone please hold out your hand." He cut each of our palms as we allowed the blood to dribble into the cup. He placed the cup at our lips and spoke as each of us drank. "Bound by blood, you are all now connected. Your life becomes one with the pack, with the land." Marc and Axel dipped their fingers in the cup and placed a drop of our mixed blood on the girl's tongues. Mela giggled, but Aydana made a sour face, which had us all laughing. When Phil let the remaining blood fall to the ground it soaked in immediately and a rush of magic spread throughout the crowd and us. I could feel all of them now, even the girls. I could feel her joy at finding us, finding a home. Phil had us turn and face the pack as we all linked hands. "I present your Luna, Callista Rose." Tears of joy streamed down her face as we all embraced, covering her, the girls, and each other in kisses.

We danced late into the night, celebrating the unification of our family and our pack. I noticed her cradling both girls as she swayed gently with them. "Hey beautiful, hand me one of them and we'll go lay them down in the pack nursery." I saw the concern flash in her mind, "There are guards and nursery staff around the clock for times just like this one," I chuckled. "Even us old married folk need to cut loose once in a while," I teased, giving her a wink that had her giggling.

With Mela in my arms and Aydana in hers, we held hands as we walked toward the nursery. I sent a quick message so the others would know where we were headed. They were all busy mixing with pack members and making the rounds to ensure all felt welcome and heard. As we rounded the corner I heard her gasp and felt her heart race. I turned to see Sang's wicked grin as she held a dagger to Aydana's neck. "Don't link and don't do anything stupid, Kota," she hissed. I started to growl and felt a prick in my shoulder. Faster than I could react, Lisette grabbed Mela and darkness overtook me as I tried to call out to the others.

****

When I opened my eyes, the room was overly bright and hurt my eyes. I tried to move and found myself bound in silver shackled to a hard chair. Scanning the room, my eyes fell on Callie and a large crib. She was strapped to a chair in a similar manner next to the crib. I tried to mindlink her, but couldn't. The tranquilizer must have had silver in it. "Callie," I called out. Her head lifted and I saw the tears that stained her cheeks.

"I can't reach them. Why can't I reach them, Kota? Can you?" she pleaded.

I shook my head, "I think they dosed us with silver. Even though you aren't a full wolf, silver dampens the link. That plus the chains, and we are on our own love." I saw her face drop for only a moment, then she bristled as Sang and Lisette came into the room.

"Oh goody, you're both awake," Lisette cooed. "Splendid. You were so right, Sang. We got so much more than I'd hoped." The vampire stepped closer to the crib and sneered. "Selene won't be able to deny my claim now. Too bad about Clay, he really would have loved to get his hands on you. You were always his favorite whore, Calista." She turned to me, "And you, well you look positively edible. I can't decide if I want to drain and turn you, or keep you as a fucktoy." Her predatory gaze ran over me as she stepped closer, her fingernails scraping across my jaw, "Then again, I can separate you from your humanity and turn your body, but trap the wolf. I bet your wolf is amazing in bed, right Sang?"

"Oh yes, Mistress, Ronan is quite the dominant in bed. If you go that route, I'd love to participate." Her green eyes flashed with lust as she looked at me. I wanted to vomit. How could I have ever loved her? What had we seen? I still couldn't reconcile the Sang we knew as teens with the cold creature before me. What game was she playing here - why was she acting like Lisette was in charge again? She noticed me staring and gave me a lopsided grin.

Sweet Kota, you are so out of your league - you always were - I heard her say in my mind as my eyes widened.

H..how are you doing that? I sputtered. She only grinned wider and followed Lisette out of the room as she gave orders to a lanky vampire. When I met Callie's gaze I had to assume she had said something to her as well based on the expression she wore.

I felt a pinch in my arm as the male vampire inserted an IV line. His eyes were dull and lifeless as he attached a bag to the line. I recognized the concoction Lisette had used on Raven and North the last time. Ronan growled in my head as the mixture began to mingle in our blood. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't break free. I could only helplessly watch as she kept her eyes on the girls who seemed to be resting peacefully.

Wait, the girls! They were part of the pack now. If somehow they could send a message...

"Callie," I said as quietly as possible, "please baby look at me." She met my gaze. I saw her fear and felt my own heart seize. "Listen to me. Try and talk to the girls. I know they're little but talk about their daddies, about all of us. If they can somehow link or even send images to the others, they can find us. You have to try, baby, please."

She frowned for a moment then nodded. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but I could see her mouth moving. I bit the inside of my cheek as I felt a ripping pain in my head and chest. I felt myself being pushed down as Ronan came to the surface, his deep growl filling the room. He thrashed and struggled against the silver shackles. I cringed as I felt the metal biting into my flesh, but still, he tried to reach her. "Mate," he roared as I felt more and more tired. Save her Ronan, don't let her give up - I begged him as I felt myself slipping away into a dreamless sleep.

Nate's POV

I'm taking Callie and the girls to the pack nursery - they're exhausted - Kota said over the link. I smiled to myself. We were finally a family. A happy hum filled the connection as Brandon and I danced. He placed a soft kiss on my lips and grinned, "I can't believe all this," he breathed. "Never in a million years would I have dreamed that I would be mated to you and Kota, or even Callie - but this? To have a family again, to know that I'm loved," his voice cracked a bit, "Nate, that's a thing I never dreamed possible."

I crashed my lips against his and pushed every ounce of love I could through the bond toward him. When the kiss broke I saw the tears in his eyes, "I love you so much," I whispered. He started to respond then we both felt a sharp pain in our chest.

Kota. Callie. The girls.

We took off running toward the nursery.

"Where the fuck are they," Axel roared. The poor attendant looked at him in utter confusion. "Where are your Luna and our daughters?"

"Sir, we haven't seen them tonight. Are you sure they were coming this way?" she sputtered, shrinking back as his body began to swirl with magic.

"Axel stop," Marc said, gripping his arm. "The poor woman is terrified. Callie isn't here. Owen, what way would they have gone? Maybe we can retrace their steps."

Luke shouted from the courtyard, "Hey, take a look at this!" He pointed to a grouping of tracks. "See here, these are female prints and then it looks like someone was dragged a bit before being picked up. But the really odd thing is they just vanish...as if they were"

"Teleported. Fucking Sang," Gabe growled, his eyes flashing crimson.  

Author's Notes:  Can't catch a break, can they?