Chapter 161 - Success And Failure
Chapter 161 – Success And Failure
Nate's plan was never designed to work. He knew it was impossible to sneak into a wolf's den without anyone noticing.
Yet, all he needed was to buy time. If they were discovered too early, those people would have more time to hurt Lara and the pups.
His guards managed to open the backdoor and walk inside, but their scents were found out immediately. It was impossible to hide the presence of all of them, and Nate knew it would end like that.
The battle started as soon as they came out of the shadows, and the wolves threw punches, kicks, and tried scratching each other with their claws. Without paying much attention, certain of his people's capabilities, Nate stepped forward towards the direction of Mayford pack's Alpha. He could sense him, but he couldn't feel Lara until he was close enough.
Only after reaching a dark hallway, he could finally catch traces of her. Her scent was feeble, and it was accompanied by the pups'. They had passed there not too long earlier. Maybe he was on time!
Without thinking further, he ran in that direction, allowing his senses to take the lead and guide him. If his soul was flawed and couldn't know where his mate was, his body was still powerful enough to find her.
He opened the door, and the little light from outside flew in. He saw her figure, kneeling on the floor and crying. Scarlet was sitting next to her, sobbing as well and clenching the rim of her shirt.
And Jaden?
His body returned rational as he crossed the door and found the light switch. He first needed to see, to be sure they were all right. Then, he would have brought them out.
His eyes found Jaden soon enough. He was lying on the floor, in front of his mother. His eyes were closed, but his body signals were stable.
Even if he passed out, he seemed all right at a first glance. His blood pressure was a little off, most likely because of the adrenaline rush or the pain. He had been hit, or something similar must have happened. Still, Nate couldn't sense any real damage from that far.
Yet, if Lara was crying so much, it meant the situation was serious. Wolves aren't as frail as humans, and they heal faster.
Nate knew Jaden would wake up soon and be as lively as before. Not just that he was aware of his wounds retreating, but he could smell the pain dispersing little by little. Jaden was asleep to avoid feeling it; that was all.
His mind knew all of that. Still, his heart stopped beating for a while while he crouched in front of his family and collected his son from the ground.
«It will be all right,» he said while leaning Jaden's head on his shoulder and paying attention to how he moved him. «He's fine, Lara…»
Lara nodded, trying to wipe her tears. Yet, no matter how much she tried to recompose her image, they didn't stop flowing out.
«Why?» she murmured, still in shock. She was so confused that she hadn't yet registered Nate's presence.
«I failed at protecting you,» he sighed, pulling her by the hand and dragging her out carefully.
Scarlet followed as well, clinging on to her mother's shirt.
By the time they had reached the main hall, the Mayford pack had dispersed. In the end, they weren't expecting an attack so soon.
After seeing the numbers and situation, the Alpha had given the order to retire.
However, even though brief, the fight had been gruesome. Some of the guards were severely wounded. There were no casualties in either pack, but the toll was paid in blood by both sides.
When she received the news that the battle was over, Roxy stormed in. She saw Nate guiding a shocked Lara to the exit, and she fixed her clothes while getting ready to comfort her.
One of the pups, the girl, was following her mother, while the other was in Nate's arms. Unconscious, yet apparently unharmed.
«Come with me,» Roxy said, taking Lara's hand from Nate.
«Jaden…» was the only, whispered reply.
«He will be all right,» the woman replied. «A doctor will visit him, and you will see him as soon as he wakes up.»
«Jaden will wake up, won't he?» Scarlet whined.
Lara wasn't as strong as to say those words by herself, so she felt relieved when Scarlet talked.
«Yes, of course!» Roxy replied, crouching in front of the girl. «Wolves are tough!»
«But Jaden fell on the wall,» the girl continued, searching Roxy's face in search of deceit. Yet, that woman seemed sincere. Was it all right to believe her? To think Jaden will wake up and be just like the day before?
«He's healing right now,» Roxy said. «He's sleeping so that he can do it faster. You also will be visited by the doctor, just in case. You can ask him about Jaden if you don't believe me.»
Scarlet nodded, wiping her tears and biting her lips to stop crying. The fright from the events was still in her mind, and her body was trembling in anxiety and fear. However, she decided to believe.
After all, Nate was one to solve problems when she talked with him. He could help Jaden as well.
As for Lara, she wasn't that easy to convince. Maybe because of the panic preventing her brain from interpreting words.
«Come with me,» Roxy repeated, guiding them to the car. The driver had already started the engine, and they could return to Norwich. Mayford wasn't safe for them: it was better to leave as soon as possible.
Nate would follow them in another car, and Lara turned back with her eyes wide, looking for her son. She dragged Scarlet in her hug, not to let them take her away as well.
It was clear enough: the woman was under shock.
«It will be all right,» Roxy repeated, squeezing her shoulder. «Nate will take care of the kid. Jaden is safe with his father, right?»
At least, Lara nodded at her words.