Maddox

Missy clung to me, crying. I’d messed up terribly. I let that stupid prick distract me when I should have been outside with the kids. I only managed to keep Missy safe, but now she was in tears, probably blaming herself. I felt Vlad’s glare, but I could only look at Missy.

“Maddox, we need to call my dad,” she sobbed. She must have been terrified. I didn’t know how to comfort her. I never expected any of this. I thought we’d just hang out all day, then I’d talk her into staying up all night with me. I knew the pack had been having issues with rogues lately, and I suspected that’s why the Alpha and Beta had left, but I never imagined an attack hours later.

“Maddox, we have to find them! They’re probably so scared,” she cried. I was speechless. How could I tell her everything would be alright when I had no idea?

“We need my dad. He’ll find them.” I needed to calm her down.

“Comfort her, son. Tell her it’ll be alright,” someone linked me. I looked up, meeting Miss Marci’s gaze—the kitchen lady. “Let her hear the words, so her mind will settle.” I nodded.

“Missy, hey. It’s gonna be alright. We’ll get them back,” I tried. She pressed her face harder into me. I looked around. Most of the chairs were taken. I moved to the wall, slid down it, and held Missy close. I sat on the ground, adjusting my grip. “They’ll be okay. I’m sure your dad’s already on his way.”

“Pat her back. Calm her,” Marci advised.

I patted Missy gently. After a minute, she calmed down, her cries subsiding. “That’s it. Take a deep breath. It’s gonna be okay.” I felt ridiculous telling her everything would be okay when I had no clue what was happening. I tried linking Jacob, the Gamma, and Sean, the patrol head, but neither responded. They might still be dealing with the rogues.

We sat for a few more minutes until her tears stopped. She kept her face hidden in my chest. My shirt was soaked. “You know it’s not your fault, right?” I said quietly. Her grip tightened. “It’s mine. I was arguing with your boyfriend like an idiot. If I’d been outside…”

“Stop,” she whispered, pulling away. Her face was red and puffy; she looked devastated. “No what-ifs. We just need to find them. Liam and Lea can’t lose them.”

I brushed damp hair from her face. “You can’t lose them either,” I said. Her lip quivered, so I hugged her tightly. A few minutes later, I saw Vlad leaning against the wall, giving me a hateful look. He had the nerve to glare at me while doing nothing to comfort his girlfriend.

Liam

We sat in Langston’s enormous conference room. Azalea stayed by my side; I couldn’t leave her alone. She’s pregnant and struggling physically, and she’s been on edge since we left. Constant touch helps. Her emotions are overwhelming, but I need to focus on the rogue problem. I only anticipated trouble at night, when the pups would be asleep. Extra patrols should deter any attacks; Sean assured me multiple wolves would be in the packhouse from dinner until breakfast.

Five packs were represented. The smallest sent only their Beta; their Alpha wouldn’t leave after three pack members were killed in the last attack. Another Luna was there with her Alpha. Lily went to visit Emma while Damien, Azalea, and I stayed. Langston and Emma have a close relationship with our pack leadership. I admire Langston far more than my father. He’s older than most Alphas, but he leads exceptionally well.

“Are we certain these ‘peaceful rogues’ weren’t implants? Devereaux, Blackfur, you’ve accepted many of these wolves. Are you sure they aren’t relaying information?” one Alpha accused.

“You think rogues are using children to gather information?” Langston argued.

The other Alpha shrugged. “It could happen. Are you watching them?”

“No more than any other pack member. They’ve given us no reason to suspect they’re spies,” Langston snarled.

“These wolves came to our borders needing help. Their condition showed their honesty. No rogue spy would willingly leave a pack that sent them away!” Azalea thundered. The Alpha turned to her.

“Not all of us are naive enough to believe these claims about destroyed packs,” he said callously. I leaned forward, partially shielding Azalea. Before I could speak, Damien touched my shoulder, panicked.

“We need to leave now,” he linked.

“What’s going on?”

“There was an attack on the pack.”

“What? In broad daylight?”

“Liam, the kids were taken.”

“What kids?”

“Junior, Leo, Delilah, and Lucas.” Gavin’s rage surged, ready to attack anyone who’d touched our pups. I stood.

“Langston, we need to end this meeting,” I said, controlling my anger.

“What’s going on?” he asked, worried. I looked at Azalea. I needed to tell her gently, and not in front of everyone.

“Something’s come up on my pack land that needs my immediate attention,” I said as Azalea stood slowly.

“Liam… what’s going on?” she linked me. I felt her panic. I took her hand and led her from the room, Damien behind us. Halfway down the hallway, Lily came running, Emma following.

“How could this happen?” Lily cried.

“Liam, what is going on?” Azalea asked again, noticing Lily’s alarm.

I stopped. “There was an attack. Rogues entered the territory,” I explained calmly. She gasped, covering her mouth.

“Is anyone hurt? Have they stopped them? How far did they get?” she asked quickly.

I swallowed. I wasn’t ready for this. Gavin’s rage made it harder. “They must have gotten close to the packhouse,” I said.

“Liam…. What are you saying?” She looked between us three; Damien now held Lily.

“I’m going to find them. They will pay,” I promised.

She shook her head. “No. No, you aren’t saying…. Liam, they didn’t…. No….” she sobbed. I pulled her close.

“I’m going to find them. They won’t hurt them, I promise. You stay with Lily so Damien and I can go.” Azalea sobbed. I looked at Damien, holding a crying Lily.

Emma approached. “Go, Liam. Find the pups. I’ll stay with them. We’ll come to Blood Eclipse soon,” she said. I kissed Azalea’s head. I hated leaving her like this, but finding our children was the only way to comfort her. Emma put an arm around Azalea as I released her. Langston emerged from the meeting room, striding towards us. He and Emma exchanged a look. He put an arm around Lily.

“Go. Let me know if you need anything,” he said grimly.

“Thanks,” I said, nodding. Damien and I ran from the packhouse towards the trees. We didn’t bother changing. A few yards in, we shifted and ran to our territory.

“Where’s Missy?” I linked Damien.

“Sean found her in the safe room with Maddox. She won’t leave his side but keeps asking for you,” he replied.

“So, all the rogues are handled?”

“Yes. A few escaped, but the rest were killed. They’re dealing with bodies now.”

“Anyone hurt from our ranks?”

“Only one. They’re taking him to the clinic.”

Damien and I ran, reaching the pack in under twenty minutes. Wolves near the border recognized us. In a few more minutes, we approached the packhouse. Sean and Jacob waited outside, each holding a pair of shorts.

Damien and I shifted as we approached the patio and caught the shorts. “Did they get into my packhouse?” I asked coldly.

“No, sir. We stopped them out here.” Jacob responded.

“Why were my pups unattended?”

“We don’t know. We haven’t questioned Maddox about it.”

“Where’s my daughter?” I said, moving to the door.

“Upstairs in her room with Maddox. She’s asking for you.” I took the stairs two at a time. Her bedroom door was open. Maddox and Missy sat on the bed; he was comforting her.

Her head snapped up. “Dad,” she croaked. She jumped up and ran to me. I caught her. She only calls me “Dad” when scared. “I’m so sorry. I should have been with them!” she cried.

“Shhh. You’re safe, and I’ll find them,” I said, calming her. I looked at Maddox, eyes glued to the floor.

“Where were you when my children were taken?” I growled. I knew he wasn’t entirely to blame, but my anger was directed at him.

“I’m sorry, sir. I let them go outside unattended for a minute…” he said, avoiding my gaze.

“Look me in the eye if you’re going to make an excuse!” I shouted. Maddox looked up fearfully. “The Alpha and Beta’s children have been taken. That hasn’t happened in living memory!” Missy clung to me tighter. “Rogues took four children while you were doing what exactly?”

“Dad, stop!” Missy shrieked. Damien put a hand on my shoulder.

“Liam. We need to go. We’ll deal with this later,” Damien linked me. “They could be getting away.”

I growled; Maddox flinched. I looked at Missy. “Stay here. Your mother will be back soon. I’m going to get your brothers.” She nodded, her eyes fixed on mine. I kissed her forehead and stormed from the room.

“I want twenty wolves with us, leaving now. What direction were they taken?” I ordered downstairs. Jacob and Sean followed.

“The scent leads south-east, sir. We have scouts moving that way,” Sean informed me.

This cleaned-up version addresses grammar, punctuation, and word choice, improving flow and readability. I've also removed the asterisks from the censored words, as their meaning was clear from context. Finally, I've made the dialogue more natural and conversational.