The Alpha’s Companion - Chapter 72

When Lacey woke, it was dark out and she felt overly warm. Then the events of the day before came rushing back… being kidnapped and then escaping… running from the wolves… leaping to the other side and missing… then landing in the water and being carried downstream. Then she had nearly drowned. But luckily, the current had taken her close to shore, so she swam with all her might and caught the end of a log that was protruding from the shore into the water and pulled herself in. But she had been too weak to pull herself up the bank onto shore.

Just when she thought all hope was lost, Julien came. She didn’t remember much after that, other than him carrying her in his human form to a cave, and then building a fire. He must have shifted into his wolf form to keep her warm, since there were no blankets.

If it hadn’t been for Julien, she would be dead.

Since they were safe and Julien was still sleeping, she turned over in his paws and faced the fire. She couldn’t believe that Thorn had went so far as to help Rex kidnap her. Evidently, Thorn must have spent the money that Julien had given him when he bought her. But then again, Thorn would always protect what his. The problem was that Lacey had never been his, and never would be. If she ever saw him again, it would be too soon. She just wondered if her mother had known what he had done.

But then again, her mother was kept in the dark about a lot of things. And the only one she had was Lacey. But now, she had turned her back on Lacey, too.

Tears slid slowly down her cheeks as she thought of her family, wondering how it had ever come to this.

Julien must have felt her tremble because his body shook and morphed, until his paws turned into hands. Then he turned her on her back to look into her eyes. “Lacey, don’t cry. I’m here now.” He leaned over and kissed her tears away, and then brushed her matted hair away from her eyes. “Don’t cry.” The sincerity in his eyes touched her heart, bringing her to tears again.

“Oh, Julien… I knew that Thorn hated me….” Lacey’s breath caught. “But I never dreamed he’d go so far as to help Rex kidnap me.”

Julien wiped the tears away from her eyes. “Don’t cry, My Alpha Queen. I’m just glad I found you in time.” Then a crease formed between his eyes. “Were you hurt?”

“They drugged me… shot me up with something….” Then Lacey started crying harder. “Julien, if I am pregnant, I’m afraid the baby will—”

“Don’t even think of that,” Julien cut her off. “Let’s just take it a day at a time.” Then he tilted his head to the side. “Are you well enough to travel in your wolf form yet?”

She nodded. “Nearly.” Then she looked around. “Where are we?”

“In a cave behind the Silver Pack Compound.”

Lacey’s eyes widened, knowing exactly where they were. “Julien, if we stay here, they’ll find us.” She bit her lower lip to keep her tears at bay. “Just before I escaped, I overheard Rex and Thorn talking.” Unable to stop them, tears coursed down her cheeks. “Rex was planning on taking me as his Alpha Queen.”

“Never,” Julien growled, his arms shaking. Then he let out a deep breath as he looked into her eyes. “Don’t worry. You’re safe now. No one’s going to touch you.”

She nodded. “I’m so sorry, Julien. I know I should be strong—”

“And you are,” he cut her off, looking into her eyes. “You’re the strongest warrior I know. They took you… overpowered you.”

“Drugged me,” Lacey finished.

Julien placed his hand gently on her cheek. “What happened… when they came for you?” He bit his lower lip and then released it. “I hate to press you, but I really have to know.”

“Well, I slept all day at the castle,” Lacey began, “but when I woke, you weren’t there. I went downstairs to look for you Then Brock scared me, although I wouldn’t let him know. After I got rid of him, I ordered food from Chef Mastrano, and then went back upstairs. Then someone knocked on the door and I thought that the food had arrived. But it was Brock and Raye.”

“What?” Julien’s voice rose nearly three octaves.

Lacey nodded. “But I phased into my wolf, grabbed Raye by the shoulder, and threw him out the window.” Lacey looked at him sheepishly. “Sorry about the picture window, by the way.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Julien smirked. “I have to replace Scar’s window, too.”

A crease formed between Lacey’s eyes. “Why?”

Julien smirked. “Because I dangled her out the window when you went missing. I thought she had something to do with it, but she told me nothing.” A crease formed between his eyes again. “What happened next? Tell me everything.”

Lacey nodded. “Brock drugged me and carried me through a secret passageway, and then out to the practice field.”

Julien’s eyebrows rose nearly into his hairline. “The practice field?”

Lacey sighed. “Julien, Rex and Scar were there. Brock literally handed me over to Rex and then I passed out.” She let out a deep breath, trying to clear her head of the memories.

Julien placed his hand gently on her cheek. “Lacey, did he….”

She shook her head. “No. I was out most of the time, but no. He didn’t touch me.” She looked away, and then back into his eyes. “Brock was bringing food in to me when I escaped. I haven’t had anything to eat for over a day or more.” She didn’t tell him that she had vomited from not eating.

Julien nodded. “Lacey, I’ll get you something to eat, but first, we need to escape. When we make a run for it, we won’t be able to stop.”

Lacey nodded, squaring her shoulders. “Agreed.”

“We can rest here for a bit longer, but I don’t want to be caught in this cave, just the two of us,” Julien said. “I sent for the rest of the pack, but I don’t want to make a run for it if they aren’t here.”

Lacey tried to sit up but was too weak. If she could eat, that would help. She just hoped Thorn and Rex didn’t find them before they escaped.. She hated to say it, but here in the cave, they were sitting ducks.