Chapter 216

Almara’s Pov

We’ve managed to get to the outskirts of town without a single incident. The military trained wolves had a knack for interweaving through the woods without making a peep and using intricate hand signals to communicate.

I try my best to keep up with their signals, but mostly I just stay out of the way. They don’t expect me to do much which is good because I don’t think I can focus on anything else other than Arthur and Grace right now, let alone try to learn all of their hand signals.

The military wolves don’t seem to have a problem with my lack of understanding and seem to be content with just looking out for me, maybe it’s because I’m their leader's wife or maybe it’s because I’m their Luna, but either way I’m grateful.

Even Robert has lost his gloom and doom attitude and taken on the persona of a stoic military wolf. Maybe that is his way of coping with his very possible deadly fate. He’s gone further ahead of the group, wanting to reach the vampire territory long before we do.

This way he appears to be entering alone, and should any danger arise upon his entering he can call us for backup.

We should be reaching vampire territory by nightfall, which will be when their town is the busiest. Another tactic, hide in plain sight. If the councilmen see Robert approaching at night, they’ll know he wanted to see them that he comes with no hidden motives, allegedly.

Every mile we cross, I swear I get whiffs of Grace's scent, but I’ve also heard that grief can play tricks on the mind.

Then, abruptly, yet familiarly, a howl sounds in the distance. All the hair on my body stands up. I know that howl. It’s a howl etched into the very blood of my heart. It’s my mother.

I stop in my tracks and listen to her call. She’s calling out for me. I suck in a deep breath and prepare to bellow until Charles steps in front of me blocking the direction where my cry will be sent out to.

“What are you doing?” Charles asks, using an authoritative tone with me as if forgetting I’m his Luna, though he asks it with such power in his tone that he makes me forget the same thing.

“That’s my mother,” I tell him as if that explains everything. “She’s calling me. I have to answer,” I tell him and as I speak the words I think of my physical phone and how I probably should have told her that we were ditching our phones.

My mother probably called my phone and when I didn’t answer became riddled with anxiety. I tell myself that’s why she’s howling out to me, to soothe her own worries but I know deep down that my mother would only call my phone and then by howl if something was wrong.

That’s been the unspoken agreement between our communication for the last several months.I wait for Charles to step aside but when he doesn’t I grow agitated and move past him. Just as I’m about to call out again, I feel his light touch on my arm. I spin around. “What?’ I bark.

Charles doesn’t flinch at my slight outburst, and I try to cover up the fact that I feel bad about it. “Responding to her call while we’re this far away could blow our cover. Not to mention Robert might think something is wrong and come running back,”

I almost laugh at the last part. If he thinks Robert would backtrack out of concern for someone other than himself then Charles doesn’t know Robert like he thinks he does. He did spend the last several months with him. Day and night in battle. Maybe the military instilled that in him.

Lily says and her voice of reason, as always causes me to pause. “It’s my mother,” I say again to Charles, not knowing how else to explain this to him. Family above everything.

Charles nods and steps aside. I quickly howl out to my mom with urgency before I can be delayed again.

We stand and wait, for either my mom, Robert, or some enemy to show up. When twenty minutes passed and no traitor wolf comes leaping out of the woods to attack us, I start to settle and assume maybe we’re in the clear. Maybe Arthur was able to dissuade the crowd with his speech.

Ten more minutes and no sign of Robert. I’m guessing he knew neither of those calls were for him and kept to his duty of getting to the vampire territory.

Finally, within the next five minutes my mother appears- though she isn’t alone. Cathy and a few other nurses I recognize from the hospital are with her. When we lock eyes we run up to one another and wrap eachother in our arms.

“I’m so glad you answered. I was so worried,” She says her voice a tad hoarse from her howl. I realize that my mother probably hasn’t tapped into that primal instinct of hers in years.

“I should have told you we ditched our phones, though even calling to tell you could be risky if they’re tapped or-”

“Shh, none of that matters,” my mother says patting down my hair and looking at me with love in her eyes. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

I fill my mother in on the plan. Her, Cathy, and the other nurses cling to every word I say without so much as tossing out a quick question. When I finish speaking my mother closes her eyes.

“Your father probably isn’t with Grace,” she says softly.

“If he was watching her, and now they’re both gone, why would he not be?” I ask. “How could be anywhere else and not have come to look for me or Arthur, or you if he wasn’t held against his will with Grace?”

My mother gives me a sad smile, tears welling in her eyes. “What reason would the vampires have in keeping your father?” My blood turns to ice.

“You think-” My throat goes dry and I struggle to find the right words. “Are you saying, he could be, that dad is. . .” my voice trails off, I can’t bring myself to finish the sentence. I can’t even bring myself ot conceive of the idea.

“I don’t know,” my mother quickly assures, but her answer isn’t exactly comforting.

“You’re his fated mate. Can’t you tell if he’s . . . still here or not?” I ask, searching her eyes for any hint of answer. A lone tear rolls down my mothers cheek, and she shrugs.

“Perhaps I’m fighting the knowing,” Her voice cracks. My knees go weak beneath me and I fall into my mother's arms, though no sobs escape from me. I think I’m in too much shock to be feeling anything yet.

“But,” My mother says her tone determined to change the direction of our conversation. “That’s why we’re here,” I pull away and look up at my mom and instantly realize she is the strongest woman I know.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“We want in on your plan, if only to look for your father. If he wasn’t killed, then he too would be searching for Grace which would explain why he hasn’t contacted any of us.” I nod, agreeing with my mother. Believing her words. I have to. For both our sakes.

“Yes, of course,” I say, nodding in strong agreement. I try to make like these soldiers and become stoic, focusing only on the duty at hand- like I’m back in the hospital and saving my emotions for a more convenient time.

“I’ll stay with you,” Cathy says and I know she’s offering her support by being by my side. I smile a thanks at her and briefly introduce her to Charles who fills her in on the plan.

My mother turns back to look at the other ladies and says they’re going to pick up some of my fathers items and break off in pairs and hunt down his scent. I tell her of the meeting place of where to be in three days.

With that, she gives me a hard squeeze and a kiss on the check. Then she whispers in my ear, “They messed with the wrong pack,”