Her Protector

Chapter IIII

Maxon

"I'm pregnant Maxon."

The crowd of onlookers gasped and whispered. A Luna keeping the news of pups from the Alpha... a mother keeping that news from a father...

"What," I asked gasping. My chest ached as if someone had punched me in the stomach.

My wolf growled in frustration. He wanted to check on his pregnant mate; he knew *she* hadn't wanted to be away from him but Nova was her human and she'd follow her to the ends of the world.

"I'm pregnant... Maxon I know I should've told you but"

"But what," I shouted angrily momentarily forgetting Noni was in my hand and I was squeezing the last bits of oxygen she had left...I dropped her and turned to walk away but stopped in my tracks and looked at Noni.

"If you were anyone else you would've been severely punished. It is NOT your place and that is something you have forgotten... you are hereby banned from all pack functions until I say so. You will eat only when I say it is time..."

"Maxon," Nova started but my wolf and I just flashed our eyes at her causing her to instantly submit.

My heated gazed burned into the top of her head. I wanted to lash out and scream at her why until she gave me an answer that I accepted. Why didn't I deserve to know? Had she planned on getting rid of the baby? The thought immediately enraged me. I had to turn away from the pure anger that radiated from my eyes; I needed to get my emotions under control. I looked back at my best friend and his hurt mate and grimaced. I know Alex wanted to tell me and if I truly think back, he had been very uncomfortable since Nova's seizure...

"Alex, I'm sorry but," he cut me off.

"There's no need to apologize Max. They both deserve much more, no matter the reasons."

I nodded in agreement and turned to address the pack. The group of onlookers' faces ranged from shocked to appalled that their Luna would be apart of this kind of secrecy. I felt their outrage at her like I'm sure she could.

"The clean up crew is on their way... those who aren't badly injured or burned follow me to the pack house and spread out to the surrounding homes and air out as much silver and smoke as you can."

I watched men and some women untangle themselves from their mates and their children; preparing themselves to go back into the burning homes, their homes and breathe the burning air. No one, not even I, wanted to go back into the burning building but it had to be done. We needed to salvage what we could for the rebuild...

The thought of a rebuild perked my mood but looking out at my sullen pack's faces it was quickly washed away. Sensing the mood of the pack wolf work pushed his mind into the light.

"We will rebuild."

The pack turned to their Alpha, stopping stiffly in their tracks. Glowing eyes appeared throughout the crowd gazing intently at him. Only the young who hadn't yet met their wolf didn't feel the complete draw of the Alpha wolf.

"We will find the culprit behind this attack and we will make them pay. We will have our vengeance for our homes, our memories but more importantly for every life that was taken from us today."

Growls ripped through the pack and grunts of agreement filled in air around them overlapping the cackling flames. The pack was getting their life again, their fight... the children looked joyous as their parents seemed to come alive again and happiness filled the backyard.

Howls filled the sky as the Luna came and stood next to the Alpha. Her cobalt blue eyes shone bright as she smiled at her newly revived pack.

"But first we must rebuild! We will make this place worthy of us again. We will make this place formidable and we will never be taken by surprise again. We must protect the next generations!"

The Alphas locked hands. He turned to face her and placed his hand on her stomach. "To the pack and to my pup!"