Alpha Loren
Chapter 181 Chapter 181

Ella's POV

Two hours later, I was on a bus. I figured that getting off territory anyway other than by aeroplane would only lead to my capture so I bought a plane ticket to Mexico online before Leo had the chance to cancel my credit card or anything like that and I headed for Seattle airport.

I watched the trees whiz by outside and tried to get my head around everything that had happened in the last four hours. Unable to decide whether I was doing the right thing or not either so I just tried to not thinking about it. I was just gonna trust my gut and do it.

When we reached the border between the North section of Stella territory and the South, I ducked my head out of sight of the window hoping that Leo's men wouldn't stop a human bus.

My heart sank as the bus ground to a halt and the doors opened. I tucked even further under the seat as a tall, definitely werewolf man stepped onto the bus wearing the Stella army uniform. Leo must have clocked that I'm missing and put all his men on high alert. I switched on my phone to see ten missed calls from Leo, 6 from Luca and 4 from Max confirming my suspicions

I watched through a crack in the seat as he sniffed the air before doing a hand gesture into the forest and turning to the bus driver.

"Two tickets to Seattle please,” he said with a seriousness in his tone as another soldier joined him on the bus.

Fuck.

I hastily fumbled with the zips on my bag before finding and spraying my deodorant in an attempt to mask my scent. I then pulled up my hood and tucked in my hair.

I listened to the men walk down the aisle of the bus, their heavy boots clonking against the metal floor. There were plenty of empty seats so when one of them sat beside me, I knew that my attempts to hide myself had been futile.

"Can I persuade you to get off at the next stop and we cut the journey?" he asked quietly with that slight Italian accent that all native Stellas had.

"I'm sorry, Sir, I don't know what you're talking about,” I lied tuning my face away from him. "Do I know you?"

"You may not know exactly who I am but I am pretty sure you know who I work for and that I know who you are, Luna,” he replied in a calm tone. "If you cooperate with us, there won't be any trouble." "Threatening your Luna...nice,” I remarked. "And I won't be getting off at the next stop. I'll be getting off at Seattle before getting on a plane to Mexico to rescue my son.”

After that, he didn't say anything and neither did the other one sat towards the front of the bus. He only sighed, leant back into the uncomfortable bus chair and prepared for another hour journey.

A few minutes later, he pulled out his phone and dialled a number.

"Buonasera Alpha. Questo ¢ il punto 96 di controllo del confine sud-nord,” he began in Italian presumably to avoid raising concerns of the human passengers amongst us.

Translation: good evening Alpha. This is South-North border control point 96.

"Abbiamo trovato la tua Luna su un autobus umano per Seattle,” he added.

Translation: we have found your Luna on a human bus to Seattle.

"Ma lei si rifiuta di scendere dall'autobus senza tante storie."

Translation: but she refuses to get off the bus without a fuss.

"You have my permission to do whatever you have to do," Leo replied. "Under no circumstances must she be allowed to get on a plane to Mexico.”

"Si, Alpha," he said before hanging up.

"Luna, there's a stop in five minutes,” he said. "Come on.”

"No," I snapped pulling my arm out of his hand.

"Luna, I don't want to force you-" he replied taking my wrist again.

"You can't do shit," I said looking around the half-full bus. "There are too many people and I'm good at making a scene.”

He let out a short breath before sitting back in his seat and letting go of my wrist. He knew I was right.

When we reached Seattle and only had the drag through traffic to the airport to go I grabbed my bag and stood up.

I thought that if I could move to the front of the bus, I'd be able to get off and into a crowded area before Leo's men could stop me.

Easier said than done though.

Of course, the soldier beside me refused to move out of my way.

"Excuse me, Sir," I said loudly enough for the entire bus to hear. "I need to get through.”

"But why? The next stop isn't until the airport?" he asked tugging my wrist to try and get me to sit down.

"I'd like to move to the front of the bus so that I can get off quickly. I'm late for my plane, you see,” I replied stepping forward.

"But there are no seats up there. You'd be standing for half an hour," he retaliated quickly.

"I can deal with that,” I remarked with a sarcastic smile as I stepped awkwardly over his long legs into the aisle.

He discretely grabbed my wrist and just as the bus suddenly jerked forward as the traffic began to move again, everything shook and he took the opportunity to haul me back to my seat without anyone noticing his sudden roughness.

"In traffic like this, I think it'd be best if you remained seated, miss,” he said still holding my wrist. Another gruelling half hour later, we arrived at the airport unfortunately in a pretty quiet parking lot. Instead of trying to get past the soldier beside me again, I freed my hand and scrambled over the empty seat in front of us and onto the aisle before legging it off the bus in front of everybody else. It was a short sprint to the elevator signposted for the main entrance. I only hoped I could get there and shut the doors before my two little friends could.

Spoiler: I couldn't.

I madly pressed the shut door button as they approached, just like in the movies but they got there and squeezed in so that I was trapped with them.

"Luna, are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?" the one that had been sat next to me asked before pressing all the buttons on the elevator. "Because the outcome is the same.”

"You are clearly very loyal to your Alpha but what about your future Alpha?" I asked. "Cato will be Alpha in ten years if you let me save him. How old will the two of you be? In your thirties? Plenty of time to live with the Alpha's gratitude and rewards for allowing his mother to exchange her life for his."

"Not really because the current Alpha will kill us the second he finds out,” the other replied bluntly. "Don't be dramatic," I said as the doors opened to another empty parking lot floor.

"My daughter is five, she just started school. Then I have a son who is two and another son that was born just two weeks ago," he replied.

"What are you doing here then?!" I asked. "You should be at home with your mate!”

"I'm a soldier, Luna. I can't have more a few days off in a row for any reason,” he said with a sigh. "My loyalty is to the Alpha.”

"What bollocks,” I stated. "How about you resign, go home to your kids, let me go and save my kid." "Nice try," he said with a smile. "It is for their sake that I can't let you get on that plan. A father away from home is better than no father at all which is what I'll be when the Alpha is done with us if we lose you."

"Is he really still that bad?" I asked through gritted teeth. "I thought he'd changed.”

"He has changed. But as soon as there is a matter concerning the safety of his Luna, he has no mercy on any of us," he explained.

"I'm sorry," I apologised. "Over the years, I must have caused a lot of problems for you and the other soldiers. Please spare me the details but I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. If one of my children was kidnapped, I'd be doing the same thing. As for the time that you went to Italy and Russia, I guess in the end you turned out to have good intentions too and then all the times you've been abducted, we can't really blame you for either,” he explained.

I smiled before the restroom door opened and Xanthus came in with a shopping bag. He unloaded it to reveal a blue T-shirt that he threw in Alessio’s direction, five boxes of pills and a bottle of water. I didn't recognise any names of the medication. Beno.. something or other... Phenilzenthai...you get the picture.

I watched as Xanthus crushed different quantities of the pills with a penknife he got out of his pocket and then dropped a little water on them to make it into a thick paste. He then pushed it into one of the moulds of an empty packet and squeezed out the excess water.

"We'd normally inject it but surprise surprise, needles aren't available in airports,” he said handing Alessio the pill. "So please cooperate.”

"No, no, no," I said shying back into the cubicle wall.

I climbed up onto the ledge again and curled myself into the corner.

"You can't force me," I added.

"You don't listen to him, do you?" Xanthus said grabbing my wrist. "The Alpha told you to do as you're told. Why don't you listen?!"

"Xanthus," Alessio warned deeply. "She is still your Luna.”

Judging by his grip on my wrist, he was beginning to lose patience with me.

"I'm not fucking taking your stupid pill," I growled pulling my hand out of his grip. "How can I save my son with a million different chemicals in my system?"

Alessio used his arm to push Xanthus away from me before he knelt down and put his hands on my shoulders.

"Luna," he began ."As a parent myself, I can sympathise with what you are going through and I completely understand why you feel that you have to do this. However, as a mate, I can also sympathise with the Alpha and I see why under no circumstances should you be allowed on that plane. Both he, your other kids and the pack can't afford to lose you, especially to an avoidable, irrational, instinctual act. You haven't thought this through and you haven't even given the Alpha a chance to find another way either. He's the most powerful man in the world, have you forgotten that? It's okay to trust him, there is good reason to. And the harsh truth is Luna, we are here to bring you home whether you like it or not. We will stay here all week if we have to. But the longer we do, the longer the Alpha isn't 100% focussed on getting your little boy home too. So please, let us do our job."

He took a deep breath in and looked up at me with pleading, hopeful eyes. I paused in thought for a moment before nodding

I couldn't win this and he was right.

He breathed heavily out and smiled before standing up, picking up the bottle of water and handing it to me with the pill.

"Xanthus go now, we can't all leave together in case we are recognised and someone needs to find a car. I don't think public transport with an unconscious girl is a good idea," Alessio said.

Xanthus nodded before disappearing out of the restroom.

"Do I have to take it?" I asked. "What if I promise to just come out easily?"

"I can't risk it, Luna. There's a lot at stake if I lose you. Please understand that" he replied holding the pill closer to me.

"What's in it?" I questioned taking it out of his hand and looking a little closer.

"Benophalein, Phenilezenathen, Rynerol, Sominex and umm... powdered Wolfsbane Cannabis," he replied. "That last one isn't available in drugstores.”

"Wolfsbane?!" I questioned.

"Yeah, you may feel a bit shit for a few days but it's only a small dosage. I promise,” he said. "Just take it.”

Just as I brought it closer to my lips the door to the cubicle smashed open, the lock flying across the floor.

I gasped and Alessio took the opportunity to force the pill into my mouth before covering it. "Swallow," he demanded before turning to whoever had just kicked open the door.

"Where's my shirt asshole?!" a middle-aged shirtless man bellowed with a gun pointed at Alessio. After a few moments, I realised who he was, the man Xanthus had knocked out and stolen the shirt of. I was also pretty concentrated on trying to stop the pill from dissolving in my mouth and getting Alessio’s hand off me so that I could spit it out.

"You can have this one,” Alessio said kicking one of their black uniform shirts on the floor towards him. "And why the fuck do you have a gun in an airport?"

"Why the fuck do you have a woman in the men's bathroom?!" He asked pointing the gun closer to Alessio. "Is she your girlfriend? Kids come in here you know and-"

In one swift movement, Alessio had lurched forward and somehow ended up with the man's gun in his own hand. In the process, he had let go of me and of course, I had spat out the pill and was in the process of climbing over the side of the cubicle.

Before he could notice, I was in the main restroom and just about reached the door back into the terminal before he could reach me.

I legged towards the check-in point as Alessio was hot on my trail.

Seconds before I reached the front desk, Xanthus appeared in front of me, blocking my path.

He grabbed my upper arm and forcefully dragged me away as Alessio joined us.

"A taxi is on its way," he said over my head to Alessio as they marched me through the terminal. "l.l.d.on't feel so..good," I said bringing my hand to my head. "I thin.kk I'm going to faint.”

The room was suddenly spinning and my head felt light and fluffy.

"Did she have the pill?" Xanthus asked.

"Enough of it," Alessio replied as my phone began to ring.

The two of them paused by a wall before Xanthus took the phone out of my pocket. Xanthus's grip on my arm tightened as I began to sway, feeling as though could collapse any moment. I felt too weak to even scream.

"No caller ID. Is this the Mexican?" he asked.

"I have... to answer that," I said clumsily reaching for the phone.

"No...no..." Xanthus replied. "You don't have to do anything."

I noticed a woman holding the hand of a little girl, about Cato's age, watching the three of us with a concerned look. She caught eye contact with me as Alessio and Xanthus were distracted by the phone and she mouthed an “are you okay?"

I shook my head and she nodded before walking to one of the security guards, taking her little girl with her.

She whispered something to the guard which I could only just hear.

"There's a woman over there with two men,” she said pointing discretely. "One is gripping her arm and she looks like she's in trouble.”

"Thank you, Ma'am," the guard said with a nod. "We'll investigate.”

He and another security guard then began marching towards us talking into a walky-talky as he went. Alessio and Xanthus were still distracted by whatever was going on with my phone.

"Excuse me, Miss,” he said approaching us from Xanthus's side. "Are you alright?"

Xanthus looked up scanned the man before nodding.

"She's fine," he said dismissively before looking back to the phone.

"Could you just let go of her a minute, please sir," he said turning to Xanthus.

"She's not feeling well. I am only helping her," he replied

"Miss, do you know these men?" he questioned.

Xanthus glared down at me and gripped my arm tighter.

I looked at the man and shook, disregarding Xanthus's body language threats. What was he going to do anyway?

"Okay, Sir. I am going to have to ask you to let go of this woman and the two of you follow me. We have some questions to ask," he said urging Xanthus in the opposite direction of the door.

Shortly after, four more security guards appeared at the scene.

Alessio and Xanthus exchanged glances before Alessio shook his head.

"We don't have a choice," he said to Xanthus. "There are too many people.”

Xanthus reluctantly nodded before letting go of my arm and allowing the airport security to lead them away from me.

"I'm sorry, Alessio,” I whispered when they were a few metres away knowing only someone with werewolf hearing would hear. "I'll call the Alpha and beg him to be merciful. I promise.”

I didn't have long to feel bad before staggering as quickly as I could towards the sign in point before anyone could come back and make me even later for my flight by asking questions.

I felt fainter and dizzier by the second and the room around me was spinning. I couldn't read the signs and I stood no chance of finding my way to my plane.

Well, that was until I felt someone draw up next to me.

"Max?" I mumbled looking upon the familiar face of my cousin. "No, no, please don't take me back- "I'm not going to," he said quietly. "I'm here to help."

"What?" I asked.

"It's your choice and I respect that whether I think you're being a dumb bitch or not,” he explained. "And you look like shit.”

"They drugged me," I slurred. “But I don't have long until check-in closes.”

"And you don't have long until they get out of the security office either,” he said. "The Alpha's got contacts with the Seattle police.”

I nodded and he wrapped his arm around my waist and lead me to a desk where he bought a ticket on a random flight to anywhere and then we went through passport control and security together. "Ells, are you sure you're okay to fly?" he asked after making me drink more water as we waited at the gate. "You're pretty out of it."

"Leo's going to murder you for this,” I said resting my head on his shoulder.

"With any luck, he won't find out,” he replied. "And if he does, guess I'll just go into exile for another three years."

I let out a laugh before an announcement called my flight.

"Guess this is goodbye then," I said hugging him tightly.

"See ya later cuz,” he replied hugging me back. "And you're sure you wanna do this?"

I nodded, "Thank you," I said. "For being the only person in the entire pack to understand.”

"Don't get soppy on me, sweetheart," he said. "Now get on that plane before you change your mind."

I hugged him one more time before making my way over to the passport and boarding pass check giving him one final wave.

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