Italian mastiff above

Kyle POV

I sit next to Hannah, watching her sleep. 

Mikkeli and Hayden are on the north border or, more precisely, on Full Moon's previous border with us. Patrick called him this morning saying that there is a problem, so Mikkeli went, even though Hannah hasn't been well.

She's been bleeding since yesterday; Gideon said for now, the child is safe, but we don't know how long it will last. She is forbidden to leave her bed. I saw the way Mikkeli was clenching his fists when Gideon told him that the child seemed to have problems with blood tension, but he didn't know what to do. And he told him to be ready to be there for Hannah if the worst happens.

The way he looked at me almost broke my heart; I saw him helpless for the first time. Still, when the problems came to the pack, he went to take care of them.

That's why I sit with Hannah today; Rosie stops playing with her puzzles, comes to me, and starts complaining that she wants to go outside. Hannah sleeps, so it's not that bad an idea. I take both her and Carson, who strangely is very calm.

I pass Celia in the kitchen without the supervision of any other omegas, which is weird. She is cooking something; judging by the smell, it's the beef stew. Danny and Kathy sit by the table, and both seem bored. I offer her to take them both with me, and they happily accept.

Woods seems calm during this part of the year, even though it's cold already. Kathy is playing with Rosie, and Danny only watches them running around trees. He is still sore after what happened last week with the pack warriors. Another reason Mikkeli is in a foul mood, all involved were punished; both Alpha and Hannah organized the pack meeting and empathize that any sort of this type of action in the future will be punished more severely. Hannah was barely standing because she was so weak that day but still, she fulfilled her duties as Luna.

That day, my mate also had some visitors, his mother and his sister; I only saw them from afar, and even though I shouldn't have, I still felt guilty. His mother didn't seem well, and since I listen to pack gossip, I know she took the death of her younger son very badly. I understand that he was my rapist, and I shouldn't feel like she suffers because of me, but still. It was his action that caused his death, but for her, he was her baby boy, and I can imagine how much in pain she must be now.

Rob was sending me hateful glances when they were here, and even though I try so hard not to have any feelings, it still hurts like hell. I cry every night because my wolf and my body yearn for his presence, for his touch.

So basically, the future doesn't look so well. My brother may lose his child, pack members seem conflicted, Celia and Danny still aren't safe, my mate hates me, and lately, my nightmares have intensified.

I stop wondering since something catches my attention, and some strange fragrance reaches my nostrils.

"Kathy, Rosie, come here now," I say slowly.

"What's wrong?" Danny asks, but I hand him Carson, asking him to keep an eye on all of them, and after that, I shift and mindlink one of my fellow omegas to come and take them back into the packhouse now.

Skyler trots fast but quietly; after the trace of the smell, we go deeper and deeper into the woods. This strange fragrance is getting stronger and stronger, but I also smell something else, something my nose is already familiar with.

When about a couple of minutes later, I start digging. I'm not surprised when I find the freshly dead body buried not that deep in the ground. Someone was in a hurry, and the amount of blood suggests that he also died there. I mindlink again, this time Dalton, to inform him about my discovery.

I continue my chase; the trail is stronger here, and I have no problems following it deeper and deeper into the woods. Soon, I know I'm no longer in the main territory; it's the second now, but I don't stop, going still deeper and deeper into the woods. I am familiar with this part of the land, and I know I'm very close to the edge of human lands.

I spot them thanks to the smell and come as close as I can.

Three of them are standing smoking but still looking around, focused. Beside them sits a wolf, a werewolf for sure. There is also a track on which I see the cage, and the smell that comes from there makes me shiver in fear. That smell is unmistakable, Italian Mastiffs, at least ten of them. I try to stabilize my breathing and slowly crawl closer; I must at least try.

The three who smoke are looking at the fourth guy, who slowly comes close to them.  He has tanned skin and dark hair; his not extensive, but has a good body shape. He looks at the werewolf sitting next to the car and says:

"You did well; you can go now; we will stay in touch."

"Terry, why are you alone?" one of the guys asks, a very big guy with burned scars who looks tough and seems to be in his early fifties.

"We separated, and he didn't come back; I couldn't risk waiting for him any longer. He knows what to do if he gets lost," Terry says in a bored voice. "I've checked what I had to, but we need more preparations. Have you ensured that all the cargo was taken?"

"Yes," one of them points in the direction of yet another track parked nearby.

"Alright, let go, we are far away from the main parts of the packlands, but still, someone can see us."

He goes in the direction of the track, and that's when I hear growling coming from the dogs kept there. The wind blows stronger in their direction, and I know, I just know...

The cage gets opened, and all ten of them run in my direction. Skyler sprints, his fear getting stronger; we both know we are running for our lives.

Rob POV

I run through the woods; I've never run so fast in my life. Dalton keeps guiding us after the faint scent of Kyle as my heart rams in my chest. I can sense Kyle's fear so strongly; I know my mate has not much time.

How could he be so stupid and once again follow what he had found without any backup? Kyle is fast, and his nose seems not to get anything, even in the Black Moon pack, but as an omega, he is so defenseless.

Hank's wolf is next to me; the three of us got much ahead of the others in our group, and suddenly I hear sounds, sounds of the chase, sounds of running, sounds of growling.

My blood runs cold as I spot a white wolf in the distance and, after him, at least ten big dogs. Blake runs faster and faster; we know we have to make it.

Kyle falls, and Blake jumps, sinking his teeth in the first mastiff who intends to hurt our mate. Two others come closer, but Hank is near. Soon, I see a big gray wolf fighting by my side with strong animals who were trained only for one purpose: to kill werewolves.

I scratch, I bite, I break bones, and blood drips from Blake's jaws. I take three, Dalton one, Hank six of them. He is the Beta, not just by title; his strength should never be underestimated. When the rest of our backup comes,  there is no one to fight.

Blake gently nuzzles Kyle's fur, who whimpers. He seems exhausted but is untouched. No one has to suggest anything as I lie down and let Kyle crawl on my back. He seems so light as I slowly trot with him back home. Blake is so happy having our mate safe and so close, and I? I don't think about everything that separates us. I'm just so happy that he is alright.

When we reach the packhouse, Kyle gets off of me and slowly goes to his room, presumable to change. I shift, put my clothes on, and go into the kitchen; I'm so thirsty. Soon, my Alpha comes inside together with Hank.

"You did very well, Rob," he says. "Thank you for saving my brother."

I nod to show my respect, and soon Kyle enters the kitchen, and Mikkeli immediately takes him into his arms.

"I think we should talk seriously," he says. "You can't risk like that ever again. I will kill you in a moment, but first, I have to feed Hannah; she wants more stew."

He reaches towards the oven when stands the big pot of stew, which I must admit smells incredible. I really wouldn't mind eating it, too.

But when Mikkeli lifts the cover and starts pouring food into the bowl, Kyle suddenly gets extremely pale. He jumps and literally pries the bowl from his brother's hands.

"What's wrong!" the three of us scream almost instantly as Kyle keeps sniffing the bowl and lifts his head to look at us with horror on his face.

"Something is off; it smells as if something was added and went into interaction with meat. I think it may be silver! And Hannah ate it? What about your baby?"

Hank POV

Before he has a chance to touch Celia, I sink my claws into his hand. 

Mikkeli snarls and throws a punch in my face; I feel the blood in my mouth; the pain is strong, but I can't let him touch her. I jump at him, pushing him into the wall, and start punching his stomach. He shoves me away, and I fly through the room.

I see bloodthirst in his eyes as he jumps at me, clawing my chest hard. I managed to kick and hit his jaw but not shove him away from me. My wolf pushes for a shift, and I know that maybe I won't have a choice. But if we shift, one of us will die, that much I know. But I'm ready; no matter what, I will not let him touch her. Mikkeli's eyes turn black as he intends to punch me again.

"Stop at once!" I hear a very firm voice.

Greyson immediately submits to Luna's demands, and so does Byron Mikkeli's wolf. Mikkeli and I both look in the direction of the door. Hannah is standing there together with Kyle, Hayden, and Rob. Mikkeli takes a big breath and slowly steps away from me.

I instantly run towards Celia, who crouches in the corner of the room; she shakes violently, looking scared as hell. I scoop her in my arms; she doesn't try to fight me.

"It wasn't me; I haven't done anything," she whispers as she starts sobbing in my chest.

I give Hannah a pleading look; Mikkeli is already wrapped around her with his nose in the crook of her neck.

"Marc, take Danny and Kathy to the twins' room and ask Rose to take care of them," Hannah says.

Marc, who was holding both of them during the fight, follows her orders. Kathy protests a little, but Hannah promises her that everything is under control.

"Now, Mikkeli, I know that you couldn't stay calm when you heard that Celia made the stew, but we don't know for sure if she had put silver inside. Plus, I had that stew many hours ago, and I feel fine. To tell the truth, I haven't felt so good in weeks," she says, putting a hand on her small baby bump. "So now we will go to the infirmary because Gideon has to check on the baby. Hayden will speak with Celia and you, Hank, and later with everybody who was in the kitchen today, and we will get to the bottom of this."

She leaves with Mikkeli and Kyle, and Hayden says that he will give Celia and me a moment to calm down. Celia keeps shaking in my arms as I try to make calmer both of us. I wonder whether she even realizes that she presses herself into my chest. Greyson keeps whimpering because he senses her distress, but he is also extremely happy. It's actually the first time ever she is in our arms.

I keep hugging her and stabilizing my own breathing. After all, I've just had a fight with my Alpha, I know I plead loyalty and obedience, but the instinct to protect her was more important. No one touches her; no one touches my mate ever.

"Celia," I say slowly, "I know it wasn't you; no one will hurt you; I promised you that."

I press my lips to her forehead, and to my surprise, she doesn't flinch.

Based on what I found out, mastiffs (there are many breeds of them) are very gentle but difficult to train and were used in past during hunts for bears and wolves in Europe.