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It had been six weeks since Killian left the pack. Cordelia held onto the note he left and every night she prayed for his return, and every morning, she woke with disappointment he wasn’t back. She knew he didn’t abandon her, but at the same time, she’d not heard a peep from him. She’d not felt his consciousness, his presence, nothing. She was one half of a whole and without him, she would never be complete.
And he had no idea she was pregnant. She wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon, but when her period hadn’t arrived, and she woke with severe morning sickness, she sent Annmarie to buy her a test. She swore her guard to secrecy in everything she did from the moment Cordelia accepted her as her new guard. Annmarie had secrets locked away from her father and Cordelia knew if she asked, Annmarie would never tell, even in his death.
The moment she peed on the stick, it was positive. She stared at it for what felt like eternity, but in reality, five minutes. The instructions directed to wait for two minutes before reading the results, but the thing showed the two blue lines the moment her urine touched it. Excitement filled her, however, so did dread. Where was Killian? She had a good idea, but if she were to encroach on his territory, she was bringing the war to him, the Blackcrown pack.
Her part of the world was not strong enough to consider going to her, what could be called, her father-in-law. They would be outnumbered ten to one. Not only were there more of them, they were stronger and vicious. They wouldn’t hesitate to take her, and her pack down.
She sighed and longed to rub her hand over her belly, to protect her unborn child. She had to find Killian, but doing so would be considered a suicide mission.
There was a void ever present in her heart and she needed him back before she fell apart completely. She paced the floor of the den and movement caught her attention from the yard. Children were playing a game of tag and Cordelia stopped to watch.
She imagined this was her child playing with the neighborhood children. Her baby would laugh and scream in delight as he, or she, was chased, tagged, then become ‘it.’ She smiled absently to herself and began to pace once more.
Trying to formulate a rescue mission that didn’t end in certain doom was harder than she thought. She was tough and could hold her own, but she had never been through anything like this before. Even if her father was still alive, he would tell her to wait it out, else face a war that was not needed. Then again, if he were still alive and healthy, there was a good chance he would have rounded up his guard and approached the Blackcrown pack for a meeting. For all she knew of Richard Blackcrown, the meeting would end in a fight.
“Cordelia?” Sarah called to her from the den’s entrance.
Turning to find her sister in a light green, long sleeved top, fitted jeans, and boots, Cordelia motioned for her to come into the room. “You good?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. How about you?”
Cordelia shrugged. “Could be better. I didn’t throw up this morning.”
“Ahh, well the day is still young.”
Cordelia side-eyed her sister with a sneer. “Thanks.” She paced again, being careful to not wear a path on the hardwood floors.
“Have you heard from him?”
Stopping to stare out the window again, she shook her head. “No, and please, stop asking me.” Cordelia glanced over her shoulder at her sister. “You’ve done it every day for the last six weeks.” She shifted back to the window and folded her arms across her chest. Winter was coming and soon, there would be snow on the ground. They were unprotected without an Alpha and the packs Beta had not been officially assigned as of yet. In the interim, she and Sarah served as the leaders of their group, at least until Killian returned.
And she knew he would, but until then, where was he?
“I have questions,” Sarah started and placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Sue me. He left you at the altar.”
“We weren’t getting married.” She sighed and rested her hand atop of Sarah’s. “Not yet, anyway.”
“No, but you were announcing him as Alpha. He was supposed to accept and go through the change, take on the powers and all that. He left you to hold the pack together. Who the hell does that?”
She wheeled around on her sister and snarled. “Watch your tongue! He may not have taken the oath, but he is still your Alpha and I am his mate. This is no time to show weakness, Sarah. There will literally be wolves at the door wanting to take over. They’ll do whatever they need to do to make it happen. Case in point, James. So please, stop reminding me of our current shortcomings and help me formulate a plan.”
“Fine,” Sarah answered, and leaned against the wall. “Then you might want to puke more quietly. Oh, and take up wearing baggy clothes.” She shook her head. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but how could he do this to you?”
“What, the claiming? That was wonderful. It was the most amazing experience of my life.”
Sarah growled and took Cordelia by the arms. “No! The leaving!”
Peeling her sister’s hands from her arms, she took a step back, then headed toward the couch. She sat and tucked her feet underneath her as a wave of nausea rolled over her. She took in a deep breath and slowly let it go. “As I told you, he wasn’t aware I was pregnant. Six weeks ago, I didn’t know. And for your information, he will come back.”
Sarah sat next to her and took Cordelia’s hand in hers. “You sure about that?”
“Yes,” she said with every bit of confidence she could summon, hoping her sister believed her. She had to believe it herself. She missed him terribly and if he were to show up, right now, she would not be angry, just relieved. The anger could be dealt with another day. She needed him, and he her. She once read love was not blind. It would see you in the dark and would choose to be your light. She needed his light right now in a way that felt desperate.
She gasped when there was a rap on the door. The sisters stood as excitement, and adrenaline, coursed through Cordelia.
She smiled and said to Sarah, “See? Someone brings news.”
“How do you know it’s news and not a pledge of war?”
“I don’t. I have to have faith.”
“Faith won’t bring Killian home.”
“Sarah, I don’t need this. Be here for me or leave.”
Sarah sat back on the couch and motioned for Cordelia to answer the door. “Consider this my being quiet.”
“You’re seldom without words. And to be honest, that’s what I love the most about you. You call it like you see it, regardless of feelings. You’ll make an amazing mate one day.”
“Flattery gets you nowhere, but I like it.” She grinned.
Cordelia went for the door and peeked through the peephole. There was a man on the other side she did not recognize. He wore tattered clothes and his face was covered in filth. “Sarah,” she said in a softer tone. “Get my rifle.”
In an instant, Sarah flew from the couch and opened the hall closet. Inside, a readied 12-gage shotgun leaned against the wall just in case. They never knew when there might be intruders. She cracked the barrel, exposing the chambers, and checked to ensure the bullets were ready, then snapped it closed and handed it over to Cordelia.
Unlocking the door, she opened it just enough to see the man on the other side. “Yes?”
The man handed over a note. She took it and waited for more information before opening it.
Taking the hint, the man cleared his throat. “There’s a message from the Alpha to his Queen. Killian is being held by the Blackcrown pack.”
She gasped and opened the door wider. The stench from the man crept in and bile rose from her belly, threatening to spill from her. He took a step back and Sarah was by her side. Sarah took the note from Cordelia and opened it.
The man wiped at his forehead and his coloring turned almost green. He collapsed on his hands and knees and began to pant heavily.
Cordelia bent down and held the rifle to his head. “If this is some game to kidnap me in an effort to bring me to Rickard Blackcrown, you’re sadly mistaken. I have no issue putting a hole in your head.”
“Water,” he gasped. “Please.”
“Sarah, get him some water. I’m fine.” Hearing her sister’s feet slap against the hardwood floors as she ran into the house, Cordelia continued. “Talk and I’ll give you the water.”
He panted for a moment, then coughed. He wasn’t saying anything. She grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head up. “Talk!”
His eyes were rolled back and he coughed again. Sarah was back with the water and she held it in front of him.
“Water.”
He grabbed at the glass and chugged at the contents. She took it away from him before he was done.
“Talk!”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He met her gaze and his brows lifted, concerned. “He showed up over a month ago. He was there to plead for his release from the pack, that he found a new home.”
“Where is he?” she asked.
“Water, please.”
“Answer me and you can have the water.”
“The coastal region. The Blackcrown territory.”
“So they haven’t left?”
He shook his head. “They’re waiting for your arrival.”
She gave the water to the man and stood, the gun still pointed to his head.
Sarah turned Cordelia to face her. “Cordy?”
“Oh hell,” she answered, and closed her eyes. She knew what she had to do. It wasn’t going to be pretty and it would be most certainly end in a fight, but she had to go.
“Sarah, pack your things. We’re headed to the Blackcrown pack.”
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THE END... FOR NOW...
I hope you’ve enjoyed book one, Alpha Rising. Stay tuned for more in Alpha Risen, Rise of the Alpha series, book two!
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