Trishanna huddled in a ball under the covers. It was night and she was safely returned to Goldmoon. It took a few hours for the warriors and the scouts to assure James and Bradley that it was safe for her to travel back. They did a thorough sweep of the forest, but the attacker had disappeared without a trace. Not a footprint, not a bent twig, not a scent, nothing. It was like he appeared and disappeared like magic. That word kept playing in her mind. Magic. What if he used magic? But the only ones she knew were the twins but only Trixy had actual magic, while Bruno's was more in his strength and recovery, his ability to take hits without much damage. Trixy said he could use a bit, but it only activated when he was in dire situations. Besides, why would he attack them now? It didn't make sense, yet her mind kept coming back to magic. In her home realm, magic was common, wasn't it? She reached for El, but she seemed more distracted, barely communicating with her. Trishanna rubbed her belly, allowing the movement of her babe to calm her down. Lorenzo checked on her when he got a chance and said that everything was fine, just that she and the baby was a bit stressed and he urged her to get some rest. Of course, when her mates heard that, she was now treated as an invalid and forbidden even to put one foot on the floor. She humored them as she could see and sense their fear and concern for her. They may have tried to paly off today's attack as someone wanting to finish Bradley and it may be linked to the previous attempt on his life, but she knew. She knew and no one was going to convince her otherwise that that first blue streak was not aimed directly at her. She knew if El hadn't warned her, she would not be here. The memory made her feel sick to her stomach, like really sick. He stomach began to cramp and she curled up tighter, hoping that if she could just get some sleep, everything would be alright.
Trishanna woke up a few hours later, her belly feeling taut. She glanced around, realizing that neither of her mates came back. She held her belly, a sliver of concern running down her spine. The pup was still and her belly felt hard and heavy. A sharp pain hit her and she doubled over, clenching her teeth to keep from waking up anyone, as it was three in the morning. She reached for her wolf. "El, what's wrong? What's happening?" "It's time, you need to get outside", was her advice. "What are you talking about. "Now", she snapped, the urgency in her voice, making Trishanna move. She got out of bed, holding her belly that felt so heavy, it took a few seconds to balance herself. Another pain hit her spine, but quickly left, leaving Trishanna breathless.
She carefully walked to the door, opening it a bit, scanning the corridor. Thankfully no one was around at this time. She made her way to the stairs, but El told her to head to the back door. She did and soon she was outside. Another pain, just as quick and Trishanna wondered if she really was going into labour. If that was the case, she should go to Lorenzo, or to her mates, but El disagreed, urging her to head into the woods. Trishanna hesitated, but El assured her that the person from earlier was no longer here, she would be safe. She walked to the woods, just beyond the tree line. She was kind of surprised that neither James or Bradley sensed her leaving the house or that she was in distress, but El said that she blocked their connection, but it would only last for a short while. Trishanna eyes widened at that. How would they know if she was in trouble? El just told her to keep walking. Trishanna did, feeling her belly growing heavier each step she took.
Another pain, this one brining her to her knees and this time she felt the wetness run down her legs. Her water just broke and she was scared. She wanted to get up, to get to a safe, clean hospital room with her mates by her side. She reached for El. "Shift. You have to shift Annalise". Trishanna was too scared to even notice the use of her original name. "I can't, I'm scared. Besides, Lorenzo said shifting while pregnant is impossible". "Maybe for them, but you are different, special. Now shift. I will help you. Just focus on me, what I look like and it will happen naturally. Don't fight it and don't be afraid. Relax and trust me. I know what's best for you and this pup and you need to shift."
Trishanna nodded, her body feeling a need to do something, but what? She closed her eyes and pictured El, her white fur with its mark on her hip. Soon her body began to tingle and she stopped fighting the feeling. Inhaling, she allowed El to take over, her body beginning to bend and realign. She could feel her bones lengthening or shorting, the feeling painful, but somehow easing the ache in her belly. She was still concerned for her pup, but the more she shifted the less she worried. Finally, the last bone snapped into place and Trishanna looked down at her paws. Wriggling her toes, she could feel the damp earth beneath it, smell the scents of flora and fauna, hear the sounds of the night creatures near and far. She lifted her nose and sniffed, feeling it enter her lungs. The delight was huge and the desire to run was strong, but a sharp pain made her whimper.
Trishanna was pushed into the background of her mind, becoming an observer as El took over. Without hesitation, she trotted towards the spot where Rosie was buried, knowing something that Trishanna didn't. They made their way there quickly, four legs being faster that two. They paused at the rose bush, El taking a sniff to fortify herself before going around it and into the denser foliage. She wriggled through some bushes, some of the branches scratching her but nothing serious, before she found it, a small shallow cave. Trishanna found it many years ago in her youth and hid there form the previous Alpha of Bloodmoon. She only came out when she heard Sammy's voice calling her. She was so young and she was scolded so much by Sammy and Rosie, both of them scared of her being hurt that she never went back and the fresh torture she received buried the memory, but El remembered.
She went in sniffing to ensure that it was not inhabited. Sensing that it was safe, she lay down her body straight as she surrendered to the pain rippling down her spine. She could feel her body getting ready, and she wished her mates were here with her. It was her first time and both of them were scared, yet the wolf's instincts were stronger, guiding them to do what needs to be done. She licked away the blood and fluid, laying back down as she tried to rest as best as she could, knowing that she will need all her strength for what is about to come.
Bradley and James were restless being away from Trishanna, but they needed to get answers from Candice and they were determined to get them. The two of them interrogated her, badgering her with questions, but Candice kept repeating what she did know. "Yes, she ran. No, she didn't have anything to do with the attack. Yes, she met someone new recently, but she had no idea about Alpha Bradley's previous attack. No she does not know anyone with that kind of skill or ability. The questions seemed to change, but they were the same. Candice was growing tired and wanted something to eat. It has been hours, yet they refused to even untie her hands from behind the chair she was tossed in for her to even drink some water. One of them held the cup to her mouth, almost drowning her, spilling it all over her, but it was like they couldn't care. As the hours passed, they grew more and more agitated. Finally, Samuel stepped in, placing a hand on Bradley. "Alpha, I think you should both give her a break and get some rest yourselves. I don't think she knows much. She's never really been the brightest bulb in the chandelier, if you know what I mean." Candice frowned at him, her glare losing some of its strength, but it never really worked on him anyway. She remembered she thought he was cute, being one of her earlier crushes, but he always saw through her actions and ignored her, or paid her the least attention, it always being on that damn 'Trash'. She wished that whoever attacked them that day had at least taken her out. Candice smiled as she thought of the orphan girl who always had Sammy's attention no longer being here. She imagined the pain and despair he would feel. Would've served him right, payback for ignoring her all those years.
Bradley slammed his hand on the table, bringing her out of her musings. "You know something, and you are going to talk. So far there were no casualties, but that doesn't mean that that can't change." Candice just looked up at him, her hatred renewed. How did that ugly orphan girl get not only Samuel and the Alpha of their pack on her side, but now Another Alpha even more powerful and well know in both the human and shifter world? She spat at him. "I will tell you one thing, I may not have known about what was going to happen today, but I do wish whoever it was did take her out." James slapped her then, his fury making his skin ripple. His wolf wanted blood from the female who dared to disrespect his mate, and her Luna. He was about to strike again when Samuel stepped in front of him, catching his hand that already had its claws out, ready to end her. "Alpha James, I think you are too close to the situation. We should all step outside for a break." Sammy looked back at his former pack member, "Besides, I really don't think she knows who it was or even had any idea of what might of taken place today." Bradley nodded, removing himself from propping up the wall. He stayed where he was, afraid that if he came to close to her, his wolf would have snapped and killed her before they got any useful information.
The three of them stepped outside, and headed up the narrow steps. Apparently there was a basement James's father used to keep prisoners and those in his pack he suspected. James shivered recalling a time during his training where he was dragged down there to watch his father "work" as he'd call it, torturing a spy he had caught sniffing around. The man's screams still haunted him until he learned to block it out. His father often talked of taking the little orphan girl down there and showing her her place if she couldn't be grateful that he took her in, and James offered to take that off of his hands. He paused, resting a hand against the wall, the other covering his mouth. That is the real reason why he took on the role of Trishanna's tormentor as a pre-teen. It some weird way, he was trying to keep her out of that room. James fell to his knees, memories returning of the agonizing screams he sometime would here. He never thought that Trishanna deserved that. In fact in remembered one time, she did something and angered his father so much that all his insistence that he would take care of it didn't work. His father marched over to the kitchen demanding her. Rosie stepped in, bowing in apology and offering herself in his place. His father hesitated for a moment but agreed and the two of them left. They were gone for the rest of the day and didn't return until the next evening. His father looked pleased and disturbed at the same time, and Rosie just seemed resigned.
Bradley helped him to his feet and he continued walking, sifting through the memories, until it all made sense. Rosie was his father's true mate, but he always resisted the pull. That is why he was so mean to her. He saw Trishanna as the child they could have had, the type of mother she would have been to his own children. Still, he knew the chances of them being born an omega or a low-ranked wolf at best was something he didn't want to chance. Yet, he couldn't let her go, so he kept her working in the kitchen, even giving her a room in the house instead of having her stay in the omega quarters. And when she arrived with the little girl, dirty and lost, he gave in, unable to deny his mate this one chance to be a mother. Tears fell as he realized that he'd almost gone down the same path.
They entered the hall, surprised to see Bruno leaning against the wall, looking like he was just there to offer his help, but the look in his eyes betrayed him. There was worry and concern, and a hint of anger and frustration, as his eyes darted between the three of them. His gaze paused on James's hand, noticing the bit of blood on one of his fingers. Bruno's jaw tighten, his eyes darting away. "I was just wondering if you guys got any information from the prisoner?" he asked, his face giving nothing away. Bradley caught up with the fact that this is unusual for Bruno, as he usually keeps to himself.
"Not much, she keeps saying she had nothing to do with the attack, however she did meet some strange man a few days ago and he simply asked her to keep him informed of any changes in the pack." Bruno's jaw flexed, but he said nothing. He pushed himself off the wall, "Okay, I'll go make some rounds with the guys." He walked off, but he stopped mid- stride, his markings glowing a bit under his shirt. He spun around, "Where is your mate?", he asked Bradley, his gaze seeming a bit frantic. Bradley frowned, "She's at home, in bed where Lorenzo ordered her and we ensured that someone would keep her there." Bruno shook his head, "She is not there, in fact she is not in your pack, but she is here, somewhere in the woods and she needs you. Don't you guys feel that?" He turned away, pulling his phone out of his pocket, calling his sister for he knew, she felt it too, a shifting in the air, that something big was about to take place and as the guardians of the princess, it is their job to protect her, even is she has two mates who, at the moment, seem incompetent.