After breaking Julius out of his prison cell, Ayla had expected to feel on top of the world.
This is what she came to this miserable pack for.
Everything she thought she knew about the Moonlight Shifters began to crumble the moment she neared their borders.
They turned out to be far less warm and welcoming than they had seemed, though she couldn't say it caught her off guard.
Welcoming them with open arms, as they had made it seem they would, didn't happen, but that was exactly what would have surprised her.
The entire group was treated like hostiles, more like friendly captives at best.
As she crept down the corridor with her newly freed friend, he kept unloading bad news, while Ayla tried hard to keep her eyes fixed on their way out.
Julius just had to pop that bubble of good news and a job well done.
"What do you mean they want me to track down Orion's brother? What does that have to do with me?" she whispered.
"I don't have time to explain," he whispered back, "The guards make their rounds often. But you slipped in without being seen or smelled, so get us back there now. You can't be here... they'll never let you leave. You really must have a death wish."
"Look who's talking. If I've got a death wish, what does that make you? You came all this way with them."
Ayla didn't need to look to know his shoulders slumped and his head hung low in shame at her words.
"I'm sorry, I'll explain everything. But first, I need to get you out of here, now."
The urgency in his voice unsettled Ayla more than she wanted to admit.
Ayla suddenly realized she might have made a mistake by rushing off alone to save Julius.
She hadn't told anyone she was leaving, and as far as she knew, none of them were on friendly terms with the members of this pack.
They were all outsiders, and if she got caught, they'd end up in the dungeon because of her, or worse.
She realized she didn't know enough about wolves to guess what might happen to any of them if she got caught.
For once, she had to think about more than just herself, and it felt almost overwhelming.
Ayla didn't have a second to panic; she had to stay focused if she wanted to get out of there with Julius.
But what would happen if she were caught breaking into their pack house?
Not only that, but also helping Julius escape now that she had arrived.
They no longer needed him to entice her to come.
Suddenly, she felt the urgency to move a bit faster, pressing a finger to her lips to remind him to stay quiet, as though he didn't already know.
Julius rolled his eyes and shook his head, trailing after her while listening to her whispered instructions.
"This way, Julius. I came this way."
As they made their way toward the tunnel, the sound of guards entering the dungeons reached their ears.
When the sound of their footsteps and deep voices reached them, Ayla and Julius froze for a moment, fear holding them still.
"Did you hear that she came to save that wolf faster than anyone expected? Fastest rescue attempt they've ever seen. Shaw said that she's just sitting there with her group of muscle wolves, in their quarters, waiting to be let out. Like that's ever going to happen. 'Julius will come this and that. Julius can't come right now.' Just stringing them along. Orion's going to be the best Alpha," one of the guards remarked.
"Yeah, those other wolf packs are all heart and no brains. That one over there didn't even think twice. Just came along the moment they promised Ayla would be fine if he went with them," the second guard said, chuckling.
Shaw's voice carried over the group next, "All those other packs kept chasing her, stupid Alphas and their special forces. You can't hunt a wolf like that. Someone like her has to come to you. Found that out firsthand. You catch flies with honey."
Ayla's blood began to boil as her fists clenched.
Julius took hold of her arm and shook a finger at her.
Pointing toward the exit with his finger pressed to his lips, she knew it was in their best interest to get the hell out of there fast.
Time was running out fast when they heard another guard shout, "Time to get the honey cleaned up for the fly!"
The two escapees slipped into the tunnel as quietly and quickly as they could, closing the grate gently behind them.
It was time to slip away as quietly as possible, with the guards only seconds from discovering the empty cell and mere moments from piecing together what had happened.
Once they were far enough away and a few turns down the tunnel from the dungeon, they quickened their pace.
Before long, they reached the tunnel's exit, but Ayla hesitated to step outside.
The sun now revealed the town in all its glory, casting its rays over every inch of the land ahead, which meant they'd have to walk through together and would likely be seen doing so.
"Ayla," she heard someone whisper, "What the hell did you do?"
She recognized the voice only moments before the enticing scent reached her nose.
"I did what I had to do, what we came here for. Did you know what they were planning? Orion, I mean. To trap me, to lock me up just to find his brother?"
Titan now stood in Ayla's view, positioned in front of the grate with his back turned to her.
"No, I had no idea what they were planning. All I knew was that they wanted you. Every Alpha seems to want you for one reason or another... even mine."
Ayla knew he was being honest.
Somehow, she could just sense it.
"Give me a hand getting him to the house, and show me you're with me."
Julius sat quietly, a wave of confusion washing over him as he listened.
He was completely clueless about what was happening or who this strange new wolf might be.
When he left, she was with Alexander, but now she seemed really friendly with another guy, and he didn't think he'd been gone that long.
Julius glanced at Ayla, who now met his eyes with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"I'll explain later, promise. Over lunch, maybe, if we can get out of this."
Titan slipped into the tunnel then, saying, "You've got nothing to be ashamed of, Ayla. You didn't do anything wrong. Alexander's suggestion otherwise was on him. You had every right to stand up for yourself."
Ayla shot him a sidelong glance, knowing full well he was aware of his actions.
"I told you we'd discuss it later, and I meant it. For now, our priority is getting him to safety."
Julius eyed the large, muscular man in front of him.
"So, what's the plan? How do we get me from here to… wherever?"
Titan smirked.
"You're not going to like this, but we need to mask your scent as much as possible. I'm basically going to give you a lot of bear hugs and probably rub against you a bit. We have to cover your salt with my snow and citrus. Ayla might even like you until you shower," Titan joked.
Ayla playfully slapped his arm, her cheeks warming with a gentle blush.
"Cut it out and get going. We need to leave before the whole pack wakes up and realizes what's happening."
Titan kept his word and reminded them to stay near the backs of buildings and keep hidden as much as they could.
He planned to distract as many members as possible on the far side of the buildings while they made their way back to the group's assigned prison.
The plan was going smoothly as they quietly and carefully lifted the grate, scanning the area with precision before slipping out of the tunnel.
They moved stealthily, weaving between huts and houses, until the sound of tolling bells broke the silence.
Titan slipped into Ayla's mind without hesitation.
"That means a prisoner has escaped, and now it's clear. They know. Soon, everyone will know. Go, quickly. You're almost there. I doubt they expected you to break him out this fast or get this far without being noticed."
Ayla and Julius dashed as fast as they could behind the row of pack homes.
They were only a few buildings away now, and their destination was clearly in view.
Julius contacted Phoenix and told him to quietly open the back door, making as little noise as possible, so he'd be there waiting.
Just as he'd hoped, the soldier heard him and managed to open the door without a sound.
He stood there, peering out as he searched for the pair to reach him, and as they crossed the threshold, all three froze, startled by the sudden knock at the front door.
The front door swung open, and with only seconds to spare, Ayla shoved Julius into her room and quickly tried to shut the door.
Orion walked through the front door with Titan close behind, calling out, "Hey, how was your night in the big house?"
The next-in-line Alpha's attention shifted behind him just long enough to miss the sheer panic on Ayla's face as she pulled her bedroom door closed.
That sly devil had held off ringing the bells until he was nearly at the dwelling, hoping to catch them off guard.
He wanted to catch Ayla with Julius red-handed.
"Well, it wasn't as eventful as my morning. Not sure if you've heard, but we had a prisoner escape earlier today. He was there during the last check, but when the guards returned, he was gone. Vanished like a ghost."
Ayla was the first to respond, fully aware of what he was up to.
"A prisoner. Could they be dangerous? I'm not sure we should stick around if there's a dangerous wolf on the loose."
Orion eyed her with a mix of curiosity, annoyance, and suspicion as the words slipped from his mouth.
"You'll all be perfectly fine. While the prisoner is still loose, I'll add some extra protection to your quarters to keep you safe. Julius isn't ready to see you right now, but I'll let you know when he is, given the situation. Ladies, if you'd like to look around, just let the two up front know. They'll guard you while you explore, considering the prisoner is still out there. Ayla, I'd like to spend some time with you, if you're willing."
Ayla tried her hardest to suppress the smug smile forming as she replied.
"Oh, I bet. I'm sure Julius is unavailable, and you'd probably love to get me alone and spend some time together. I'll let you know about my schedule as soon as I see Julius."
Orion narrowed his eyes at Titan and said, "Good to see you again. I'm sending Shaw out here for you. I know how fond you are of him, but he's really been stepping up lately. Keep an eye out for the prisoner if you can."
"Hm, thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep an eye out. See you soon," Titan replied.
Orian smiled, clearly pleased with his work, confident in his abilities.
"Good. Mom's going to be thrilled to see you. Lunch then? You've always been kind of… well… you know."
"Yeah, lunch."
'So, they are close,' Ayla thought to her, 'but how close?'
With that, Orion turned to go, ending up right beside Alexander.
Standing next to each other, they shared strikingly similar builds and features.
Stella was watching them when the realization struck, and she let out a quiet snicker.
She kept her thoughts to herself, simply thinking, "Wouldn't that be funny?"
As soon as Orion left the house and the door clicked shut, Julius joined the group, and they all turned their eyes to Titan.
Without a moment's hesitation, "Spill it, now," was aimed at Titan, the whole group practically speaking in unison.
"I've been close with Luna and Orion since I was a pup. There weren't many of us back then, as most were taken and cursed. Being higher in the hierarchy made things a bit tougher, with stricter rules on who I could spend time with."
Phoenix cut in, "So you're really one of the few top pups who actually made it. A pure blood."
Titan gave a nod, but never actually said yes.
"Ralph is one of the others, but there are rumors about him. Whispers that he was stolen from another pack. That's neither here nor there, though. Luna Alina missed her younger son, who was, or still is, about my age, so much that she grew close to me, sometimes too close, treating me like her own. Then, in recent years, she heard the cursed wolf was in Scarlet Crest. Silver Moon was the main pack chasing her, and they were closing in."
Phoenix cut in again, "Yeah, we were the ones who found her, along with a few other cursed wolves. No shock that Theo can't keep his mouth shut. We figured out who she was, and instead of locking her up, we chose to help her. She trusts us, and for good reason. We don't hurt, trap, or use her."
Ayla gave a small shake of her head at his remark.
"In the beginning, you did chase me and try to trap me, but that was before you really knew me. Let him share his story, and then you can decide how you feel."
Titan let out a deep breath.
"Luna and Orion sent me to find out if the stories were true. If the living image of the Moon Goddess really existed. The first time I saw you, I couldn't believe my eyes. Absolute perfection. I kept my distance, quietly watching you all, before reporting back."
Raphael and Phoenix stepped in front of Ayla, making it clear they were there to protect her.
"It's okay for now, guys. He won't do anything. I can tell."
She motioned for him to go on.
"Orion and Shaw just had to check it out for themselves, so they did. Shaw immediately declared that you would be his. Orion kept quiet, but in his mind, he wanted to save you for his brother when he eventually finds him."
Alexander spoke up, brushing aside the claims of ownership that had been made over her.
He knew she would never let anyone lay claim to her like that.
"Why did they take Julius away?"
Julius repeated, "Yeah, why'd they take me?"
He already knew the answer, but he wanted the group to hear it too.
"From what I gather, he's one of Ayla's weaknesses. They knew she'd come for him, so they told Julius to leave immediately to keep her safe. She did exactly what they expected, the great, fierce, brave Ayla came to save her friend. They thought they could control her by using his safety against her. But Ayla proved more stealthy than they anticipated, as she's already gotten him back. Best case, you two take him and go now, and the rest of the group can decide whether to stay or leave. Ayla can handle them, and I can help."
It felt like he'd just set off a bomb in the suddenly cramped room.
The air felt heavier and more difficult to breathe.
"Over my dead body," Julius said, rising to his feet.
Raphael stepped up next, saying, "We never leave anyone behind, unless they decide to stay."
Ayla shook her head, prepared to speak for herself.
"I didn't save Julius just for you all to end up as prisoners again. Sneaking out might not be the best move right now, but when the chance comes, as many of you as possible should start heading home, or at least far enough to get out of their territory."
Phoenix and Raphael shook their heads as Raphael said, "We came together, we leave together. Quit going off on solo missions. One day, it's not going to end well for you."
Ayla knew they spoke from a place of care and affection, making it impossible to feel anything but love for them.
"Fine, but I want to go talk to Orion. I'll let Titan take me with him when he leaves today, and it can be part of his lunch with Luna Alina."
None of the others liked it, but they'd learned not to say no to Ayla, knowing she'd go ahead with it regardless.
It was better to know what she was up to, who she was with, and where she was headed than to say no and be left in the dark.
"You're acting like a child, you know that?" Alexander shouted after her as they headed toward the door.
"Only when people try to tell me what to do or control me. I've lived my whole life my own way, so why should I need anyone telling me how to live it now?"
They couldn't see either of their faces, but they knew Ayla and Titan both wore faint expressions of satisfaction as they stepped over the threshold and vanished.
Titan strolled with Ayla through town, pointing out its highlights on the way to the pack house, while she quietly mapped every possible route her group could use to escape.
It truly was a beautiful place to live, with waterfalls, flowers in full bloom, pack members bustling about, and a few young children beginning to replenish the packs.
With the sun high in the sky, it was finally time for the much-anticipated lunch with Luna Alina and Orion.
As they walked in, Orion rose to his feet, surprised to see her.
"Glad you decided to join us. I must admit, you have a knack for doing the unexpected, Ms. Ayla."
His attitude was totally different from earlier that morning, much more pleasant and polite.
"The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. Meeting my first Luna, especially one Titan holds in such high regard, sounded like a wonderful lunch plan. You seem to be in a much better mood than earlier, which is great to see. Can I assume you've found the missing prisoner?"
Orion pressed his lips together for a moment before swapping it for a forced smile.
"Not yet. I'm sure it won't be much longer. Let's not trouble Mother with that, though. Please, have a seat."
Luna Alina smiled.
"My boys! Titan, bringing a lady to lunch. She's beautiful, too. Did I hear your name right, darling?"
"Yes, ma'am, it's Ayla, your highness. I'm Ayla. You must be the honey."
Luna's expression said it all as Orion almost choked on his breath.
A mix of shock, surprise, and a touch of hope.
Choosing to brush past Ayla's comment, the Luna carried on.
"My, my. Titan really is an overachiever. You're sitting at my table of your own free will. Not as a prisoner, but choosing to come and talk with me. Willingly!"
"Yes, ma'am, I seem to have a reputation I don't quite understand. If I can help you in any way, I'd be happy to. But honestly, I'm just a lost wolf pup trying to make it through random attacks. It feels like every time I turn around, another wolf is coming after me."
Guilt washed over Luna's face, knowing she was partly responsible for some of Ayla's pain.
Ayla knew that, though.
She deliberately spoke the words, casting guilt on every member at the table who deserved it.
"I'm sorry for the life you've had to endure. Let's try to change things for the better, for your sake. All I've ever wanted is to find my lost son. No matter where I search, he remains out of reach. I imagine he resembles my Orion, yet no man alive matches his likeness. Not to any of us. Could you help us find him? You once helped another wolf find his pup, didn't you?"
Ayla paused for a moment, taking in what Titan had revealed to the two wolves.
"I didn't really help him; he found his pup because he was chasing me. Not that I'm suggesting chasing me will help you find yours. Please, don't spread that rumor. I'll do what I can, though. Just tell me what you know about him."
Luna thought about the best things she could say to help her find her long-lost son.
"He would be nineteen now, with sandy blonde hair and green eyes. I'm not sure, looks can change. I don't know if he's built like his brother or smaller because of how he grew up, or if he even has his wolf. All I know is he was taken from me when he was just a tiny pup, a baby. I miss him so much. He feels so close, yet I can't reach him. My sweet Alexander."
Ayla almost gave herself away, her eyes widening as the sip she'd just taken went down the wrong pipe.
It couldn't be.
That would be impossible, right?