Hudson huffed and puffed as he stared at his friend still standing across from him. He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t knocked Marco out yet. He had been able to meet his strong punch for punch, but he was growing impatient and wasting his energy and anger on the wrong wolf. He wanted to use this pent-up anger that he was having on Colson—he was the one who deserved his wrath.
“This is a waste of time, just give in and let me be,” Hudson snarled.
Marco chuckled as he leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees. “I’m not giving in, but maybe you should. Then you could go and be with your mate. Remember her?”
Hudson growled, “Of course, I remember my mate,” but his eyebrows furrowed for a moment as he tried to remember what was so important for him to be there for her.
Marco shook his head as he watched his Alpha. “You don’t remember, do you? Can’t you see it for yourself? Something is not right. There’s something that is screwing with your head and mixing up your priorities.”
Hudson shook his head. He didn’t believe anything that Marco was saying; there was nothing wrong with him. Hudson lashed out again at his friend when they heard a loud howl echo through the night. Hudson and Marco froze where they were standing. They knew that howl all too well. They both turned and looked into the distance as they watched a large black wolf running in their direction.
“THAT IS ENOUGH!” Benjamin yelled to them in his Alpha tone once he shifted back into his human form. He walked with determination over to his son and best friend. “What is the meaning of all this?” he asked them.
Both Hudson and Marco kneel in front of their Alpha. “Apologies, Alpha,” they both said to him.
He looked perplexed at both of the. “Explain.”
Hudson stood up but was having a hard time trying to think up a valid reason for fighting with Marco. He clenched his fists as he stood there, looking down at the ground and not at his father.
Benjamin crossed his arms over his chest as he waited.
Marco stood back up and stepped forward. “Alpha…”
But before he could continue,
Benjamin raised his hand to stop him from explaining. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time for this. We have to get back to the pack.”
Both Benjamin and Marco looked at Hudson with surprised expressions. “What’s going on with the pack?” Hudson asked.
“Amanda is attempting her first shift with the pack,” Benjamin told him.
Hudson’s heart pounded and ached as it hit him that he was supposed to help her with her shift into a wolf. “I—” he started.
“There’s no time to explain your actions, we need to shift and head back to the pack now!” Benjamin demanded just before he shifted back into his wolf and started back to the pack.
Marco was next to shift into his chocolate brown wolf, having Solomon take over to follow their Alpha.
“I’m such a fool,” Hudson breathed out before letting Artemis shift into his wolf form and run back toward the pack. He hoped they would make it back in time.
*****
Amanda screamed as she continued to feel the bones in her body break. “Please, make it stop!” she cried out to anyone who would listen.
Willow started to weep as she began to lose faith that their mate was coming.
“No, Willow, please don’t give up. I can’t do this without you,” Amanda sobbed. She could slowly feel her wolf start to slip deeper and deeper away, leaving her alone to deal with all the pain.
Luna Cynthia shifted into her wolf, allowing Carmella to try to call Amanda’s wolf. The pack howled as they tried to show their support, but it wasn’t working. Willow wasn’t going to shift without their mate.
Amanda collapsed to the ground, lying there in tears.
Tabitha walked up to her, still in wolf form, and lay next to her as she tried to be there for her friend. The pack followed suit as they all gathered around their future Luna. it was silent except for the low sobs that were coming from Amanda; she didn’t know who to be more upset with, herself or Hudson. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She thought they had gotten past all the old drama that had wedged between them some time ago. A part of her felt like Hudson had reopened the old wound and now it was bigger than before.
The pack lifted their heads as they heard familiar howls in the distance, but Amanda refused to look up. It didn’t matter anymore if he was here or not. When she needed him the most, he was absent, doing something else that was more important to him.
Amanda shivered to know that Hudson was close. She didn’t want to see him at that moment. “I can’t do this.” She quivered as she got up from the ground and ran toward the house that she used to live in with Ruby.
At least there she knew that she was safe.
*********
Ruby walked back into Vita’s room with a glass of water, which she handed to Vita.
“Did you get in touch with your Luna?” Vita asked after taking a sip.
Ruby bit down on her lower lip as she looked down, not wanting to make eye contact.
Deak looked at her with curious eyes; this was not normal behavior for Ruby. “Ruby, what did you find out?” he asked in a serious tone.
Ruby sighed as she looked at the both of them. She didn’t want to tell them about the drama that was going on. They just got Vita home and she needed to rest before running out and trying to help others. She smiled as she looked at Vita. Vita reminded her of Amanda—both girls willing to put others before themselves.
“Ruby, please.”
Ruby shook her head. “Hudson didn’t make it back in time for the shift, but the Alpha went back to the campus to grab him and Marcus. It seems they had been fighting with each other. Why they still haven’t figured it out.”
“How’s Amanda? She must be crushed?” Vita asked.
Ruby nodded gently.
Deak let out a growl. He didn’t like hearing that small girl was upset.
“She’s at my house at the pack. Tabitha is staying with her for the time being.”
“It’s not Hudson’s fault,” Vita said as she got up from Deak’s lap and made her way toward the closet. She had to hold onto the wall for support. As much as she needed rest to build her strength, this was more important.
“What do you mean?” Ruby asked.
“I had a dream and I saw them fighting with each other, but there was something off about Hudson. He wasn’t his normal self. There’s foul play going on, and I think I know what it is.”
Fighting for my Mate
Mated to my Bully (Book 1)