Alpha Rising: The Wolf Runs
Chapter 27

KRISNA

Since I mated with Collin, I can feel the strength pulsing through myself and my wolf. She feels more powerful and more alert than ever. There is also this lingering feeling where I feel sick to my stomach and I can’t place it.

After leaving the Alpha’s house, I set off. He would be sending a team in a day behind us, he wants to get the best team together and we agreed to do recon before we enter. Me rejecting Renwick still gives me that feeling that something inside me withered and died, which it did.

Collin and Kale have followed me and I know even slower Renwick and Thorin did. I can feel them lurking just out of reach. I have one focus and only want to deal with the major issue at hand, so I try to bury the aching feeling that keeps pulsing.

I don’t bother stopping, not this time. I want to get to the Redland city and replace my mates, and kill that bitch. When I do finally stop we are near the rocks where we were the last time. Being so close to this area makes me feel weak again, actually brings fear into my body.

“We need to stop here the night.” I whisper to Collin and Kale. They both nod their heads in understanding.

“We should move a little further away.” Kale points to where Renwick and Thorin set up. It would be a safer vantage point and it would allow us to have easy access should we need to. I just don’t want to be so close to Renwick right now.

Seeing the logic and trying to put aside my feelings, I follow Kale over with Collin holding my hand, which brings me comfort. Renwick doesn’t even acknowledge me when I walk over, he keeps his eyes anywhere but at me.

“We can do recon here and if we see our opening we need to take it.” I say to both of them, Thorin of course being the only one to acknowledge me. I know I can force Ren to say something, but that wouldn’t be beneficial.

“That is a good idea.” Thorin says casually casting glances at Ren. “We can take shifts to start and keep an eye out. We didn’t stop all day and with night coming, we may be able to see and hear more.” He is right so I nod allowing him to finish. “Collin and I can take the first shift while you and Ren take the next and by the time the sun rises hopefully the others will be here.”

“Good idea.” Collin says. I again force myself not to say anything, this is not about how I feel right now, it is about getting my other mates back. The fact that I will have a shift with Ren is not something I wanted to do.

“I want a closer look before I get some sleep.” I start moving back over to where I saw some higher rocks that look out over the city but from a different vantage point.” I don’t wait for anyone and I start walking over there. Collin like I thought starts to follow me and when they get to the rocks I sit and for a moment I don’t say anything.

I turn to him and he smiles. “I know what you’re going to say.”

“So why?” I ask him.

I watch him sigh and he runs a hand through his thick hair and grabs my hand. “Because I think that this will be the right thing for you. I think that Renwick and you need to talk. You both need to figure out what is going on.”

“I rejected him, Collin, did you not catch that?” I sound exasperated and hope he hears it.

“I heard it love, but he is still here.”

“He only came for the guys. He doesn’t want to be here with me, but he knows I am his best chance at replaceing them.”

“He could do that on his own love. Please just try and talk to him tonight.” Collin leans in and k****s me. Once he pulls back I look down at the city trying to calm my racing heart. Having my mate so close to me is allowing me to regulate the uncontrollable feelings in my body. “I love you Krisna, so much that it feels like I’ve loved you for a lifetime.”

His words touch something deep in my heart and I feel a tear roll down my cheek. Hearing his words is something I always wanted to hear from my mates. Ruse tells me all the time that he loves me, that he has loved me from the moment he laid eyes on me. Collin told me before he loved me but him saying this now makes me realize how deep his love is.

“I love you too Collin.” I do so much. Ruse and Collin have been my sun in some of the darkest days. When their father found me I was a wreck, I was lonely and untrusting and slowly the two of them pulled me from my own personal hell.

As we got older Collin pulled away a little noticing that I was getting closer to Ruse and after he ran the wolf trials and came back as my mate, he tried to move me into the friend zone.

“I never could you know.” I turn to look at Collin and he smirks. “I can hear your thoughts right now you’re projecting. I could never put you in the friend zone. I just needed to try and distance myself after Ruse came back and you were his. I didn’t know if I would be yours and I didn’t want the disappointment.”

I understand that, it was one of my biggest fears when Ruse went and ran the trials. Even with the constant assurance that he was mine. “I understand that.”

He smiles at me and we fall silent again. I look down at the town and start to see people moving about. There is something in the air here that feels different from the last time that we were here. It is like the people are about to celebrate.

“It feels different here.” I say to Collin. “Almost like they are getting ready to celebrate something.”

“It could be this is a holiday for them, but it could be a good thing. If the town is out and about we could blend in and sneak into the castle and get them, you remember the way right?”

“I won’t ever forget the way ever. Let’s go tell them and get ready for when the town is up and really celebrate if that is what they are going to do.” Collin stands first dusting off his clothing. I notice like me he put back on his running clothing, which is a smart choice considering what we are doing.

“Agreed.” We walk back over to the others and tell them what we are thinking. Kale and Collin again tell Ren and I to get some sleep. I lay down and can not fall asleep. I keep thinking of what could be happening to the others and with the sudden sickness it is hard to focus.

“I see Collin’s feet move into view. “You’re up beautiful. I know you didn’t sleep and won’t sleep so I figure you will be okay.” I stand and move to the rocks. I notice Renwick move behind me. He doesn’t open his mouth at first, only looking down at the hill.

—CB—

Renwick

She is beautiful and I f*****g hate it. The broken mate bond withers and cries inside my heart. I feel it dying, but every time she looks at me there is still a spark that ignites in hopes that she will want me.

I feel so pathetic and useless being near her. The whole time we were running here my heart beat with hers and my wolf wanted to be near her and mate with her. The knowledge that she rejected him has put my Alpha in a mood, not knowing what to do.

I can feel her sadness, and see her vulnerability being here with her. Her hair has gotten longer since she came back. It blows every time the wind picks up, blowing all over her face. It smells like jasmine and lavender.

I can tell she has a lot on her mind, just when she’s going to say them is another. I don’t know what to do with the awkwardness, so I just start talking trying to keep my mind off of everything.

“It looks like things will be getting into swing here soon.” I point down to the large fire they have going down in the middle of the village. I hear more and more people making their ways from their homes to join in the starting festivities. “Maybe once more arrive and we have less chance of being noticed we move closer to them and try to listen to what they are saying.”

“Good idea.” Krisna doesn’t say much, only listens to the crowd below. I hear her breathing and notice how slow she sounds, she is trying harder to keep her breathing regulated and not out of control.

“If you want to say something to me, now would be the perfect time.” I whisper to her, not really sure if that is what I want but willing to allow her to vent.

“I have nothing to say to you.” Her tone is sharp and offers no further protest, but because my Alpha is wounded and confused I push forward.

“You obviously do, and let’s be honest I know there is so much that you want to say to me.”

“Now is not the time Ren.”

“There won’t be another time Kris. I am leaving when we save Juniper. I will take Thorin with me and if I can pull Kale I will do that too.”

Her eyes snap to mine, and I see the fire I light blazing behind them. “You will not take Kale from me.” Her teeth bare at me and for a moment I feel pride in her before my own anger rises. Kale was my pack before her and always has been.

“If I go, so do they.” I again make sure to include all of them.

“No, they won’t.” She unknowingly moved closer to me and I can feel the threat emanating off her body.

I get in her face and I snarl, letting my eyes flash to my wolf. “Yes they will. They are my pack.”

Her eyes flash and her voice has a bite to it. I instantly regret saying anything. “They are my mated, you will not.”

I nod my head and back down. I will lose this if i keep pushing and my wolf is telling me to stop. I move back away from her and try to slow my heart rate down. I don’t want to push her too badly.

“Tell me why.” I barely hear her but I did.

“Why what?” I know what she’s asking but I don’t want to answer her. I should have known that she would get around to asking eventually, I just wasn’t sure when. Maybe I just want her to say it outloud, make it more real.

Instead she says something I wasn’t expecting. “I loved you four so much that it felt like my heart broke into four pieces and I gave you each a piece.” She looks down at her hand which is not pushing aside the smaller rocks near her arm. “Now that I am older I realize I had more pieces of my heart that I didn’t give you four. They were given to Ruse and Collin and they cherished me. The problem now is.” She looks me in the eyes and I have to gulp. “The problem now is that I will always be missing those four parts because you are leaving and you don’t want the same as I do.”

“You rejected me Krisna.” I didn’t mean to say it outloud but it happens.

“You are giving me no other choice.” She’s right I am not and I don’t know how I can stay or fix it. I feel a longing inside me to be with her, to give her everything I ever dreamed of. It would be so easy to be with her. It would be easier to give myself to her and try this, but I know that now I would have to replace another way to show her that I want her.

Not really knowing the words I don’t say anything and I start watching down below again. I am looking for the witch, Krisna described her to the Alphas when she was in there. Telling them to keep a look out.

“Do you think she will come to this.” I ask her.

“I think if she wants to maintain her image she will.” We fall silent again and when night is full in swing we climb down moving slowly over to the rocks that lead to the city. We hear people laughing and having fun but nothing substantial until a young couple moves to where we are.

“This land feels so free now that she is gone.”

“I do miss Alore though.”

“I know he was your friend.” The young girl says to the boy. I can hear how she is trying to console him.

“He didn’t go with her, when they left we didn’t see anyone and she looked in such a hurry.” He whispers back.

“Well lets hope she stays gone.” A moment later we hear the boy m**n and Krisna motions and we start moving back to Collin and Thorin to tell them what we found out.

The closer we get the more my stomach drops and I don’t know why until it is to late. I try to grab Krisna arm before she gets any further but she doesn’t sense the danger like I do. This is something unique to me and something only I would see. I feel the sweat dripping down my back and into my eyes. My head is soaked seconds later and when Krisna realizes I stopped walking she turns to lok at me.

“Ren, let’s go, we need to tell them.” She looks me over before moving back to me. “What’s wrong?”

“Krisna you need to…”

“Hello Son.” The b***d drains from my face as my father steps into view.