The Silent Alpha novel Chapter 86

**"Vanessat*"

The adrenaline pumping through my veins numbs the burning of my leg as we rush down the tunnel and I use the cold walls as support to limp onwards.

"You're doing great," Rionna whispers.

"We’re almost out of here."

I can’t tell if she’s trying to soothe me, Kota, or herself, but regardless, I find comfort in her words.We speed walk down the tunnels for what seems like an eternity until finally we see a bit of light peeking in from a distance.

"Dear Goddess," Rionna sighs in relief as she throws my arm over her shoulder.

"Come on, let’s get you out of here." She lets me lean against her and helps me limp my way through until we reach the end of the tunnel.

As Jordan promised, the exit is hidden within an old hollow tree and after climbing out, we find ourselves somewhere in the forest.Though it is late in the evening, the sun is only just setting, the light burning our eyes as we gather our bearings..

"Do you know where we are?" Rionna asks as she shields her eyes from the sun.

I look around with uncertainty and a bit of guilt.Luna Kay had been adamant I memorize the map of the territory but I had never paid much attention to her lessons.

"I don’t know," I mumble sheepishly.

"This doesn't look like the Silver Crest pack territory anymore."

"We'll figure something out. Come on," she says, setting Kota down.

"Let's see how that leg is doing." It's only then that I notice the bites and claw marks on her shoulders and chest.

"You're hurt too!"

I gasp, feeling guilty that she helped me while she was hurt too.She waves me off however and finds a large stone for me to sit on.

With a little effort, she manages to tear open my pant leg to reveal an already healing bite wound on my ankle.

"Uh-oh! That's a big ouchie!"

Kota cries as he peers over Rionna’s shoulder.

"Does it hurt?"

I shake my head, though I still wince when Rionna ties a strip of my jeans around my ankle.

"It looks like your wolf is healing the wound quite nicely," Rionna says, helping me to my feet.

"I take it you are a Silver wolf?"I stare blankly at her.

"A Silver wolf?"

"I guess not," she laughs awkwardly.

"They are wolves with special abilities.Gifts granted by Moon Goddess.I had a Silver wolf once but I lost mine."

"You lost your wolf?" I ask.

"It's complicated," Rionna replies.

"But I am still a wolf, just without a gift.You, however, appear to have a very interesting gift," she adds curiously.

"The shadows. They followed your command didn’t they?"

We are not a Silver wolf, a voice whispers in my head, startling me.

"What’s wrong?" Rionna asks.

You did, the voice chuckles.

"There it is again!" I cry out, grabbing either side of my head.

Rionna studies me carefully before bursting into laughter, Kota laughing with her, though I don’t think he knows what the joke is.

"You must be hearing your wolf." She giggles.

"Has she never spoken to you before?" She smiles when I shake my head.

"Well, why don’t you start with an introduction? Maybe she knows what you are."

Before I have time to think, however, we hear rustling in the trees behind us and I instinctively push Kota behind me, the shadows around us gathering into little tendrils ready to attack.Aman and young she-wolf step out from the trees and Rionna visibly relaxes, Kota running up to the man for a hug.

"Micah!" he squeals.

"Little dude!" the man named Micah replies as he crouches down on his knees to pick Kota up.

"Little dude, you had us worried sick!" he scolds the little boy.

"You just disappeared on us!"

"Boo!"

Kota shouts, the man laughing with the child.

Micah finally notices us and immediately removes his t-shirt and hands it over to Rionna, turning around to give her privacy as she dresses.

"Vanessa, this is Micah and Nikki.They are Talia’s friends.Guys, this is Vanessa, Talia’s older sister,"

Rionna introduces us. She looks around and a worried look washes over her face.

"Where’s Brody?" she asks.

"Knocked out cold," Micah replies with a smirk.

"He was annoying me so I shut him up.He’s behind that tree over there," Micha says, pointing to the distance.

"So where’s Talia and Jordan?" he asks, Kota leaning over his 

"Jordan didn’t make it," I reply quietly as I fight back tears.

"And I don’t know where my sister is or what she’s up to but I'm afraid. I-l have to go back and get her."

"Vanessa, you can’t!" Rionna snaps, reaching for my arm to hold me back.

"You’re hurt!"

"It’s all my fault,"

I whimper, shaking her off.

"None of this would have happened had I not gotten in the way.I have to help fix my mess."

"But you are helping," Rionna retorts.

"You helped protect Kota from those wolves and you got us out of the tunnel with your gift!"

"And now my sister needs my help," I reply, scanning the horizon.

"There should be a town to the west of the territory," I add, holding up my hand when Rionna begins to protest.

Nearby, we hear howls break the silence of the forest, Kota squeezing Micah’s neck tightly and hiding his little face in fear.

"We’ve taken too long,"

I mutter, nudging Rionna towards the sunset.

"Jack must have sent a patrol after us," I hiss, hearing the sound of paws stomping towards us.

"You promised Natalia you would keep Kota safe.Go! lll only hold you back! Just go!" I urge limping in the direction of the howls.

From the corner of my eye, I see a patrol wolf hiding in the trees and I shove Rionna out of the way as he leans on his hind legs.

"Run!!" I shout, the wolf pouncing on me and pinning me to the ground.

Nikki tries to help me but a second wolf appears and attacks her.

The shadows quickly gather around me and form tendrils that stab and hurt my attacker's shadow, the wolf collapsing on top of me.I struggle Micah climbing on top of her while holding Kota to his chest.

Our eyes meet and I nod silently for her to go on without me.

There is a sadness in her eyes but she begins to sprint away to take Kota to safety.

Beside me, Nikki struggles against her assailant, getting pinned to the ground with a loud yelp and I send my shadows over to help.

They stab and slice into her opponent's shadow, pools of his own blood gathering at his paws.I dust myself off as the wolf collapses dead on the ground and I instruct Nikki to follow and protect Rionna and Kota as they get to safety.

A questioning look flashes in Nikki’s eyes and I answer as simply as I can.

"Go," I snap, limping in the direction that the wolves came from.

"I have to help my sister."

***Natalia*** 

Once safe, I step out into the corridor and make my way into the main clinic waiting room when I suddenly double over as a pain spreads across my chest.

Jordan...

I whimper, the pain intensifying as I lean against the wall to catch my breath.

Of goddess, Igroan, clenching my fists.

He’s....He’s  breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, tears springing to my eyes that I forcefully blink away.

What about my baby? \wonder, the dark thought making my heartA wave of anxiety washes over me and my wolf quietly tries to soothe me.

Don't let your thoughts wander, she scolds.

Dakota is a strong pup and he needs you to be just as strong.You've made it this far.Finish the job.I nod silently to myself, taking deep breaths until the pain and my thoughts fade away.

Once calm, I walk out into the waiting room where I find Christian waiting for me.

"All done," I say through a forced smile as I approach him.

"I’m perfectly healthy."