Chapter Ten

                                    

                                          
The rain started to pour down from the heavens on me as I ran. I had to get to Dimitri before my father. I had to. 
                          
"Get back here Nat." Amber called through the mind link as she ran with Luna Darkwood through the dark after me. I just kept pushing forwards. The heat of this battle would be at the canyon where my father would be waiting for Dimitri to be at his weakest. 
                          
"Go home Amber. He'll kill you too." I growled, leaping over the log from earlier. The ground became consumed with blood as I ran, passing a few shifters that had already went back to human form, some still in wolf since they weren't dead yet. 
                          
"You are making a stupid decision, running right into the middle of you pack and you family fighting. What if you start fighting along side Dagger like you were raised?" Amber called but I ignored her, bursting through the clearing and taking down a Dagger, snapping her neck with ease since she wasn't expecting me. 
                          
"She's hear." I heard a Dagger say since I was still in tune with the pack. I knew he was telling my father. My one goal was to find Dimitri. I immediately found Jason. He was fighting one of the  younger shifters from the pack but he was strong. I even caught sit of Sara fighting alongside John. They worked together like magic, knowing exactly were the other would be as the fought but I still couldn't see Dimitri. 
                          
"Jason!" I heard Amber cry through the mind link as another Dagger readied to take the kill shot. I lunged, gripping his throat just as he was going to lung at Jason. Amber took over without a second though. 
                          
"Find Dimitri and let's go. I'll hold this one off." she said I took off around the large group of snarling fight wolves until I came across a scene that ripped my heart out. 
                          
"You took my sister from me." Jackson growled through a link as he circled Dimitri. Both of them were covered in mud and blood, both looking deadly. 
                          
"She is my mate." Dimitri growled back. My feet were frozen in place as I watched the two collide. Both were such an even match it was terrifying and I new my brother wanted revenge on Dimitri. 
                          
I couldn't take it and lunged at my brother, taking him away from Dimitri. We rolled on the ground snarling and biting each other until he had me pinned. I snarled and growled up at him, daring him to carry out my fathers wish. 
                          
"Do it. Do it. Dimitri will rip you apart." I hissed. 
                          
"I'm not going to kill my baby sister." Jackson bite back as the cliff edge fell silent. I knew why. All around us Daggers and Darkwoods stood and watched as my father walked through them. 
                          
"Move Jackson." He said. I instantly got to my feet, catching movement out of the corner of my eye that I knew was the one to kill me. 
                          
"Father." I said. I could hear a low rumble come from behind me and turned to see Alpha Darkwood. 
                          
"Cole." 
                          
"Luke." I moved from between the two Alphas and ran to Dimitri. Dimitri nuzzled me as I hid behind him. 
                          
"Cole. You and your son are trying to take away my daughter but I have a family law I miss up hold for her. I must kill her before she mates with your son." My father said. Jackson was behind him now, glaring at Dimitri. 
                          
"Luke. She is no longer part of your pack or family but part of ours. It will be a cold day in hell before you kill her." Alpha Darkwood hissed. "Now take your pack and leave."
                          
"Very well. I will get her another time but you better watch your back Cole or what is dearest to you will disappear." my father said before tilting his head back and giving the retreat howl. 
                          
Dimitri's POV. 
                          
I watched as the Dagger pack left, Natalie pressed against me. She was terrified, I knew it. Jackson was last to go. He watched as I started taking Natalie back to the pack house for a head count. 
                          
***
                          
Natalie sat snuggled up against me on a couch in the gathering room. It was the biggest room, a ball room turned into the ultimate game room. Everyone who entered the fight was here. I watched as people gathered who the left with since you had to leave in a group for any fight. 
                          
"Alright alright. Settle down." My father called but Natalie didn't move a muscle. She was still frozen in fear. "We lost six recruits and two scouts. Not a bad total considering we found sixteen dead and twelve injured Daggers. The injured are going to be cared for then locked away until I can work out something with Alpha Dagger and get back some of our own.
                          
"Now, next time they attack I want protecting Natalie and Amber the main priority until we get them to a safe location then I want them pushed back off my territory. Now if you are fighting one Dagger along side two others, go help a brother. I want one Dagger to every two Darkwoods. Do I make myself clear?" Natalie got up and stormed from the room as everyone answered 'yes sir' in unison. 
                          
"Alright. Dismissed." my father said. I leapt up and ran out and into the night after Natalie. 
                          
Natalie POV 
                          
"You saved my life today Cobalt." I said, rubbing my horses velvet nose. He nickered softly as I kissing his forehead and started walking towards the house.
                          
Amber got permission to sleep over with Jason for the night so I knew I'd be alone. The rain had stopped by now as I walked across the backyard and entered the house. To my surprise, Dimitri was sitting on the couch waiting for me. I instantly collapsed to my knees as he walked over and picked me up bridal style. 
                          
"I have no one." I said as I cried into his shirt but he just laughed. 
                          
"You have me and I'm never leaving you. I will protect you for the rest of your life Natalie." he whispered, carrying me up the stairs before laying  me down in the queen sized bed. 
                          
"I'll see you in the morning Natalie. Remember you have to go to school tomorrow." He said before kissing my forehead. "Goodnight." I watched as he walked across the room and towards the stairs before I noticed he was in pajama pants already. 
                          
"Dimitri? Why are you already dressed for bed?" I asked causing him to pause at the top of the stairs. I knew I was the one in the stables in a silk nightgown but still it bugged me. 
                          
"I was laying in bed but had to be sure you were okay." He said, turning back to go down the stairs. 
                          
"Dimitri." I said, sitting up. 
                          
"Yes?" He answered, looking over his shoulder at me. 
                          
"Stay. Please. I don't want to be alone tonight." Dimitri smiled before walking back over to me and slipping under the covers. I snuggled up against his bare chest as he slipped his arms around me. 
                          
"Goodnight beautiful." He whispered. 
                          
"Goodnight."
                          
"Nat. I know we are still getting to know each other on a deeper leave but I love you more than you will ever know."
                          
"I love you too." I said, staring up into his grey eyes until he smiled and we went to sleep.