Maddox

We ensured Emmett’s bleeding was controlled. By the time it mostly stopped, he looked very pale, and his healing seemed impaired. Allie held his head in her lap and dressed his wound once the bleeding subsided enough to bandage it. The blanket she'd used to staunch the bleeding was soaked, and I worried about the amount of blood he'd lost. I wondered if his connection to his Beta, Damien, had been severed, but I didn't want to panic him by mentioning it.

We'd covered Sulien with a blanket, and Sol sobbed over his chest. Her ragged gasps tore at my heart. She was inconsolable, and I didn't blame her. I'd accepted the consequences of being a warrior, but my friends hadn't signed up for this. This war wasn't fought a day's drive from town; it was fought in our homes. We'd escaped once; now, we faced it again.

Missy gave Julie a blanket and a change of clothes, though it hadn't been long since the fighting ended. Julie was exhausted, weakly consoling Sol by rubbing her back as she sat against her grieving friend, clutching the blanket.

Liam's voice came through our link: “Your Delta and Gamma will direct your teams. These vampires are here to kill us all, but we will not let them…” We all looked at each other in confusion. Could the Alpha do that?

"I know he wants us to go to the packhouse, but I need to know my siblings are safe first. I also think we should find my dad and help him. Warwick wants to ruin my dad's life, so he must be in danger too," Missy insisted.

I linked Austin: "Austin, it's Maddox. Missy is safe, but she wants to know where her siblings are before we go to the packhouse. Do you have any idea?"

His reply: "I patrolled to Lyssa's to get them. They'd stopped the first attack, but more vampires arrived quickly. I think they're trying to capture the kids for Warwick. Betas are here too. If you can, get here and help me get them to safety. Lyssa is hurt and can't get them all out." He sounded worried, and I knew the fight wasn't going our way.

"We're on our way. Hang in there," I told him.

"They're at Lyssa's, fighting vampires who are trying to take the kids. We need to go now!" I told Missy. She nodded.

Our friends couldn't move; they were probably safer here. Missy ensured everyone had clothes, so I instructed them to go to the packhouse as soon as they could move. Julie nodded, pulling on her clothes. Some vampire bodies still twitched, worrying me they weren't entirely dead.

"There's gas in the shed if you can burn these bodies before you go. If you see danger, either escape into the woods or hide upstairs in our bedroom. Use your best judgment," I told them. I didn't want to leave them, but there wasn't time to get the injured to the packhouse and then back to Lyssa's.

Emmett coughed, a painful laugh escaping him: "It's fine; you're a real warrior now. You can't stay here with… us."

"Don't die, you idiot," I said playfully. He annoyed me, but I didn't want to lose him. He was less annoying in Allie's lap, not desperately flirting. She refused to move, only letting Missy cover her with a blanket, so Emmett blushed whenever he looked at her.

Missy pulled me to the door. We could only hope no more vampires came. We had to get to Lyssa's. As we ran, I felt her anxiety through our bond. The distance vanished, and we arrived at our former Alpha's home.

I heard fighting in the back, so we went to the front. Austin would have the kids away from the action. We found them huddled around Lyssa, who sat on the couch, blanketed. She looked unwell. Little Liam looked up, relief washing over his face as he ran to hug Missy. They all did. Watching her comfort them, I couldn't help but think about her with a litter of our pups. I dismissed that thought and strode to the back to see Austin fighting the last vampire. The ground was littered with vampire bodies; three wolves lay still. Austin was slowing, too tired to continue. I felt Missy behind me.

I threw open the back door and ran to him, but I wasn't fast enough. He fell for a feint, the vampire plunging his teeth into Austin's neck.

"NOOOOO!" Missy's scream echoed. The horror, rage, and other emotions hit me through our bond. Missy shifted and leaped, her jaws clamping down on the vampire's head, tearing him away from Austin. Blood sprayed from Austin's neck. I caught him as he fell, pressing my hand to his neck, but it was useless. The light was gone from his eyes. I closed them and gently laid him down. Missy struggled with the vampire, who had a hand on each side of her jaw. He looked at me pleadingly: "You mind getting her off me? I just came for the puppies. Let me have them, and I'll be on my way. There will be more of us soon. I won't be the last."

"You'll not be taking the Alpha's children today," I said fiercely.

I ripped his throat out, ending his resistance. Missy dropped the body and shifted back, falling to her knees, tears in her eyes.

I knelt behind her, softly rubbing her back, giving her a moment to grieve.

Missy

This wasn't happening. Austin was my childhood crush; I never minded he had a mate. He treated me like a sister, always humoring me and looking after me when Liam wasn't around. He scolded me for worrying Lea, advised me, and now…

I couldn't bear to look at his body. My chest hurt; I couldn't breathe. It felt like losing my mom. What did Austin do to deserve this? Any of us? I didn't care what grudge Warwick had with our pack; none of us were alive then! I was done with this war, this pain. I couldn't handle losing anyone else.

I was grateful for Maddox's comforting hand on my back. Sulien, and now this.

"We have to get the kids back," I said, standing. I needed to act.

"Sure you don't want another minute?" he asked gently. His eyes were full of remorse.

"No. Austin will still be gone, and if we don't help, we might lose someone else. I won't lose anyone else I love," I demanded, more of myself than him. I blinked away the tears.

I put on the oversized shirt Maddox pulled from his bag. Our shoes were discarded.

"Take the kids," my grandmother insisted. "I need to stay here. I'm too old, too injured. Once I heal, I'll be right behind you."

I looked at Maddox, unsure. She was an adult, but she was my grandma. Liam would be distraught.

"Do you promise you'll come later?" Maddox asked.

"There's a safe room in Robert's office. They'll never know I'm here," she replied, relieved.

Maddox helped her to the safe room. I covered her with blankets and gave her water. The kids said goodbye. I stayed to talk to her.

"You're my grandma," I began. "I know I'm adopted, but…"

"That doesn't matter, Missy. You're mine, same as Liam and Azly."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Then don't let us lose you too. Grandpa is gone, but we all need you." She squeezed my hand. I hugged her tightly.

"I can only promise I'll do my best, but I won't give up. I'll heal here and make it to the packhouse if it's the last thing I do."

"Don't make it the last thing," I scolded, pulling away. She smiled. "I love you, Grandma."

"I love you, too," she replied. "When you leave, the air filters will kill my scent. I'll be safe here. Your grandfather was prepared."

"I'll find you later," I promised, leaving the room. The wall sealed itself.

I grabbed Azly, and we left. We moved as fast as possible with small children; surprisingly, we didn't encounter vampires. We stayed in the trees until we reached the packhouse. As we passed the prison, Maddox hesitated.

"What? We need to keep moving," I said.

"Vlad," he replied. "They could come for him. He gave us intel. If we let him die, you'll never forgive yourself."

I couldn't honestly say I didn't care, but I was still furious with him. Why did my mate care?

"We're going," he said, walking toward the prison.

"The kids?" I hissed. "We can't take them to a prison!"

"We'll be in and out. It can't be more dangerous than this." I nodded, and we rushed to catch up.

I held Azly close. We hurried to Vlad. The last time I was here, I slapped him. He didn't deserve our pity, but… he meant something to me once. Vlad looked up, smiling, then becoming expressionless as Maddox and the kids appeared.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Vampires are attacking, and we're bringing you with us. I'm not letting you die here," Maddox said, finding the key. We assumed the guards went to the packhouse.

"I don't deserve your mercy…" Vlad mumbled.

"I don't have time for this," I said coldly. "Get out of the cell, now."

He followed us. Maddox stopped. Fear flooded my stomach.

"Missy… Your dad is hurt, and Damien is fighting the Sire. I should go help. Take the kids, get inside the packhouse," he said.

"No!" I shouted, then lowered my voice. "I have to go too. He is my dad!"

"There's no one else to take them," Maddox reasoned.

"I'll take them," Vlad said. "I will protect them." I turned to Maddox. Vlad had no wolf, but he could move them quickly.

Maddox knelt to talk to Junior. "Little L, you're in charge. Can you get your brother and sister back to the packhouse? Vlad is going to come with you."

Junior nodded. "Go help my dad. He needs you."

Maddox stood and gave Vlad a piercing look. "If you do anything stupid, I'll kill you myself."

"That's fair. But I won't let the kids get hurt. You can trust me," Vlad said.

Maddox took Azly. Vlad soothed her.

"Go now, and don't stop. Someone needs to link me when they are in the safe room," Maddox growled.

"Keep them safe," I warned. I was trusting Vlad with my family.

"I promise," he said, smiling. He turned, leading the children away.

We sprinted to the training field. I saw Lea kneeling next to a body. The stench of vampire was overwhelming. My dad couldn't be dead.

Junior

I don't like Vlad. I can protect Azly, Leo, Delilah, and Lucas. I am the future Alpha. This boy was in prison for hurting Missy.

"You're a bad guy. Why are you helping us?" I asked. He looked sad.

"I'm not as bad as you think," he said. "They killed my mom and took my wolf. I fell in love with your sister, and Warwick threatened to kill her. I couldn't let anyone hurt her."

I stayed quiet. We were close enough to the packhouse to see warriors. A growl sounded. Vlad turned; I saw a vampire girl approaching. Vlad shoved Azly into my hands.

"Run. Call for the warriors. I'll keep the vampire away."

"Just run with us!" I squeezed Azly as he turned. I didn't understand.

"Just go!" he shouted. "Tell Missy I did it for her. Tell her… I loved her."

Vlad raised his arms to shield us. I yelled, "Run!" We sprinted to the packhouse. Jacob rushed to us.

"You have to help him!" I yelled. "He saved us!"

The vampire stood over Vlad; he wasn't moving. A wolf tackled her.

"He's gone, Junior," Jacob said, picking up Azly and me. "Let me get you inside."

I didn't understand why they wouldn't help him. Missy would be sad. Jacob took us inside, where others were getting into the safe room.

This revised version addresses grammar, punctuation, and word choice for improved clarity and flow. It also removes the censored words (replacing them with the full words) as they're integral to the story's visceral nature and wouldn't be considered offensive within the context of a fantasy/action novel.