James looked at Bradley, shocked. Bradley was just as concerned. They both tried reaching out for her through their bond, but nothing. It was like the connection was so poor, or more like it was blocked. Panic arose. Could this be a trick of the attacker from today? Bradley reached out to Sam, who had some of his best warriors standing guard. Sam assured him that she was in bed. No one had entered or left. Bradley urged him to check, as the Beta, he had the authority to enter the Alpha's room without knocking. Sam did, rushing up the stairs and opening the door, only to find the room completely empty. He relayed the information, even as he questioned the guard, who swore he never left his spot.
Bradley gave orders for her to be found, fear building as he relayed to James what he'd learnt. James's throat closed, his mind reeling at the possibility that someone had kidnapped her. But who? Why? Bradley told Sammuel, and the three of them ran out of the building, hoping to catch up with Bruno, as it seemed he knew something, but he was gone. James tried his link again, and even asked his men he had posted in the forest, but everyone claimed not to have seen anything out of the ordinary. Fear crept in, three of them knowing that the first strike was aimed directly at her earlier today. Clearly, she was a threat to someone, but who? Could she really be the bearer of the child who saves the world, and are there people who want to continue in chaos?
So many questions ran through their minds, but the most urgent one was, Where is she? They shifted, Samuel jumping onto Bradley's back as he still couldn't shift, and they ran like madmen back to Goldmoon. The lights were on as an alarm was raised. Sam was there, issuing orders and looking frantic. As soon as Bradley appeared, He rushed over to him. Alpha, there is no trace of her, and even Trixy is missing as well. She was helping me look, and then her eyes glowed and she disappeared, like she vanished right in front of me." Sammuel nodded, "I'm not surprised. Bruno took off after asking us about the Luna. I guess that wherever he is, his sister is there, and I'm sure they are both heading to Trish." Bradley communicated through his link, his wolf worried, "Our bond seems to be weak for some reason. It's strange, never heard of it." Sam was about to answer when he felt his mate reach out to him. It wasn't in words but in a sense of what they should do.
"Alpha, I suggest that instead of trying to find her using your bond, you should try using your senses instead. Remember, we don't know much about Trishanna or the twins, so who knows if it is something they may be doing intentionally or not." Bradley, in his wolf form, nodded, looked at James and asked for everyone to cease their search, staying put wherever they were outside the house. James joined him, both raising their noses in the air. James picked up something, a faint trail that smelled a bit familiar, and walked to the back of the house. Bradley followed, and soon they saw it, a small partial heel print. They both sniffed at it, assured that it was their mate. They turned in the direction she most likely took and headed into the woods. They found the spot, sniffing as the scent changed, became different, mingling with another.
Bradley asked Sam for some light as he was still in human form, and when he shined the flashlight, what they saw made James gasp. The ground here was a bit softer and damp for some reason, making Trishanna's footprints easier to recognise, even though her scent was weak, and not from time passing, but as if it was disguised. What was surprising is that the two prints led away to four paw prints, heading back to Bloodmoon's territory. The two men looked at each other, and Bradley contacted Lorenzo, fear clutching at his throat. Pregnant wolves never shift, it's impossible and incredibly dangerous, which is why it is impossible, right? They took off, Sam shifting and running along. Every so often, they would stop and sniff the air, adjusting their direction as needed. They had stopped when Sam smelled his mate and took off in another direction. Samuel wanted to call him back, but Bradley shook his head, still in wolf form. He tilted his head, the three of them continuing.
Sam headed to where his mate and her brother's scent was coming from. He soon found them, standing, facing each other, hands joined as Trixy's sidnature purple glow surrounded them. He shifted back and approached, not sure why his mate was out here in the dark, at the boundary between the packs. Bruno looked up, saying nothing at his nakedness, but he must have signalled Trixy, for she turned to him. What he saw in her eyes made him worried. She looked afraid, yet determined. "What do you need?" He asked, somehow knowing that now was not the time for twenty questions. "I need you, your strength. Someone is trying to harm the Princess, and we need to stop them." Sam nodded. "Tell me."
Trixy grabbed one of his hands, pulling him until they all stood in a triangular formation. She closed her eyes, and Sam did the same. When he opened them, he could now see a swirling black mist with some of the blue coloured streaks from earlier rolling through the forest like some evil fog. It went in every direction, its finger-like tendrils going into every crevice it could find. "Wha.. How? What the hell?" Trixy shook her head, "I need you to focus. We need to build a barrier over Annalise. I know what happened, but right now, the best we can do is give her the protection she needs from this threat. Her mates will know what to do when they find her." Sam squeezed her hand. "Whatever you need, I'm here." Trixy smiled, and closing her eyes, she ramped up her powers, drawing the physical strength and protectiveness from her brother, and using Sam to boost her powers. A purple light shot out of her chest, heading in the direction that it knew Trishanna was. Trixy hoped that it would at least cover her while she was in her most vulnerable state and ensure that the child would be born safely as well.
James and Bradley paused at a rose bush planted in the middle of the woods. James looked around and realised that they were very close to his pack, but why did Trishanna's scent lead them here? If she needed help, why not just come straight to the packhouse? She was the Luna, and if anyone didn't like it, they didn't have a choice; they would have had to help her. Samuel jumped down. "This is our tribute to Rosie, the woman who raised us. It's where we come to whenever we feel lost, upset or scared." He walked around, looking for clues and disappeared behind a shrub. "Alpha, he called. "She's here. At least, I think she's here." He stepped back, allowing Bradley and James to go before him. In their wolf forms, they made it through the underbrush and soon found the shallow cave with their pregnant mate panting. A soft whine escaped, and they soon felt her pain. James doubled over, as he was directly connected to the pup. The pain made him shift. "She's in labour, Bradley. The pup is going to be here soon, but they both need help."
Bradley linked with Lorenzo, giving him the directions to where they were and his mate's state. To say he was shocked to know that Trishanna shifted so late in her pregnancy and is about to give birth, had Lorenzo intrigued, confused, but most of all afraid. There have never been cases like this, and he didn't know what to expect, so he grabbed everything he could: his medical bag, a case carrying items for stitches, blankets, IV bags, and everything else he could think of. It was as if he had everything needed for a makeshift surgical room, for he feared that was what he might need. He jumped on the back of one of the mountain bikes they have for moving through the woods, his bulky bag behind him. Usually, it's not necessary, as shifting and running would have been faster. Wolves rarely need all this medical equipment on the field as their beast's ability promotes rapid healing, and they can be stabilised enough to be brought to the medical bay at home. This was new to him, and he prayed as they bumped across the dirt, dodging trees, that he had everything he would need.
Bradley walked over to Trishanna, her whimpers of pain breaking his heart. He felt powerless. Nuzzling her face, he whispered in his mind, "What do you need my love?" Hoping against all hope that she could hear him or at least feel his desire to ease her pain. "Bradley", she whimpered, "Just stay with me. I'm scared. I need both of you. Please." Bradley nodded. He growled at James, a clear sound that told him to get his shit together. James shifted back and got to his feet, shaking himself off. Now was not the time to be weak; his mate and his child needed him. He walked over to her other side, nuzzling her belly, which was hard. He moved lower, cleaning her a bit. He soon curled behind her, his nose resting next to her, always touching, always communicating that he was there and he wasn't leaving. Bradley curled up at her head, urging her to rest her head on his belly, licking her to give her comfort. They looked up as a soft purple light seemed to have covered the mouth of the cave, allowing their bond to grow, or was it that it restored it? Whatever it was, Trishanna's wolf sighed in relief, and she drifted off to sleep. They allowed it, knowing that she would soon need all of her strength.
Trishanna drifted between sleep and wake, the pain eased for a bit due to her mates' presence. Yet all too soon, she was pulled back to reality when her contractions became close together. She opened her eyes, meeting Bradley's, she looked to James, his gaze concerned but clear. They were both here for her and the pup. She took a deep breath, strengthening her resolve. She was not only a mate of two Alphas, but she is also a princess in her own right, and how could she rule if she can't do something as simple as bringing the next generation into the world? She inhaled again, catching a whiff of the doctor hovering outside and that brought her peace, knowing that he was there, just in case. She inhaled and stretched, needing more space. "It's time", El whispered in her mind, and Trishanna closed her eyes, relaxing, trusting that even though this is her first time, her wolf instinctively knows what to do. Her mates shifted, giving her the room. She looked at them and gave a small nod. She wriggled until she was comfortable and waited. When the next contraction hit, she held her breath and pushed, the pain nothing she'd ever felt before. She moaned, but her mates comforted her. She knew they wished they could take her pain, but this was something only she could do. A few more pushes, and soon she gave birth to a little brown pup. She marvelled, surprised that she had a pup. El scoffed, "Did you think he would be a human at birth?" she asked.
Honestly, Trishanna was in so much pain and fear that she never gave it much thought, but all the ultrasounds showed a human child growing in her. Lorenzo interpreted her thoughts as he entered the cave, his movements slow and steady. He heard the warning growl from the males, who were now in their most animalistic protective state. Both she and the pup were extremely vulnerable, and it was like their beast was in full control. Lorenzo paused, looking between Trishanna and her pup, a literal pup, with wonder and excitement. He lowered his tone and his head, showing his neck as a form of submission, trying to show he means them no harm. Trishanna closed her eyes as she delivered the afterbirth, and soon it was over. Her body relaxed, now free from pain, and she could feel herself begin to heal. James was busy licking his child clean, but the little one was not enjoying the process.
Lorenzo tried to edge closer, but Bradley stepped in front of him, his growl a promise of bodily harm if he came any closer. Trishanna rolled her eyes and huffed at Bradley, who, surprisingly, lowered his tail and his head, as if apologising. He looked at Trishanna, his eyes pleading with her to understand that he sees everything as a threat. She huffed again, and he retreated a bit, yet stayed by her side. Lorenzo stared at her, his wonder growing. He looked at the pup, now clean thanks to his father's efforts and saw how they sniffed, looking for Trishanna and the milk she would provide. James leaned down, gently pushing the babe towards Trishanna. The little one found his mark and, with his little mouth, began suckling. Tiny paws massaging her skin to produce more to fill its belly.
The doctor gave her a quick look over, but everything seemed to be fine for the moment, although he won't be satisfied until he's had the chance to do a thorough exam. He just shook his head at the wonder of Trishanna not only shifting while pregnant, in labour, but also giving birth to a pup. She really was not from this realm. He wondered if this was normal where she was from, and he began building his list of questions. "Everything seems to be fine, so I'm gonna wait outside for you all." He told her, as she seemed to be in her right mind, her answering nod, making him exhale in relief. He scooted back and took a blanket, bringing it to the cave and gently laying it over her, under the watchful eyes of two overly protective mates. He retreated again, and taking another blanket, he wrapped himself up, sliding down against the base of a tree, where he could keep an eye on the cave. It was only then, he noticed the faint purple hue and inhaled, knowing that the twins were doing what they were born to do: protect their princess.