Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 142: Chapter 142

Mason POV

I avoid looking at Elara, Kane or Axel when we pull up to Elara’s cottage in Stillwood. I do not want to see the blame and anger in their eyes.

“You guys get settled in while Rhiannon and I gather a few supplies,” Gabriella says, looking at us in the rearview mirror. “We won’t be gone long.”

Elara, Kane, Axel, and I get out. Axel picks up Stella while Kane retrieves the bassinet.

I feel a pang of jealousy as they tend to Stella. That should have been me.

Memories flood back immediately when we walk to the cottage. Those early days with Stella, just the three of us bonding and hanging out together. Until I got the call about Alice, and everything changed. I was blinded by grief and revenge, not realising that leaving this place and bringing Elara with me would change both of our lives forever.

Once inside, Kane sets up Stella’s bassinet in the living room, and Axel puts her down.

“We should talk,” Kane says firmly, looking at me.

“Come on, Kane,” I sigh. “I really don’t think now is the time to fight about who’s the alpha.”

“Sit down,” Elara snaps, and I obey, looking at her with surprise. Now that Kane and Axel are no longer the official alphas, she will not be the Luna, except if she leaves them and picks me, but she sure sounds like one.

I’ve begun to realize that Elara is no longer the girl who once relied on me. Now, she’s like a real woman—mature and full of allure.

Strangely enough, I feel a subtle sense of Melancholy about the way she’s changed.

“It doesn’t even matter who’s alpha anymore,” Elara continues. “At this rate, there will be no pack left to rule.”

“Mason,” Kane sighs, sitting opposite me. “We should find a way to get along. Now more than ever, as we are on the brink of war. We love and care for each other’s children, and we all care for Elara. This thing between you, me and Axel isn’t doing anyone any good.”

“You’ve been whining about a father not caring for you since we met you,” Axel continues. “And the first change you got, you endangered your children.”

“Because of the chip on your shoulder, Orion found me and Stella,” Elara adds. “After you told me how much you love me, that you want us to be a family.” freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

“What is this?” I explode, jumping up. “An intervention? Pick on Mason moments? Like none of you ever made a mistake. You’re teaming up against me, and ...”

“We’re stating facts,” Elara cuts me off, her eyes blazing. “We all made mistakes. I never should’ve left Kane and Axel. They shouldn’t have hidden the twins from you. But what we’ve done, we did to protect others and ourselves. You did it because you were jealous, angry and hurt. You only thought of yourself, and fuck everyone else.”

Her chest heaves in anger, and Kane takes her hand. She smiles sheepishly, but I can see how she calms down.

“What Elara’s trying to say,” Kane looks at me. “Is that if you want to be part of our pack, you must realise you’re no longer a lone wolf. It can no longer be just about yourself and your needs. You must learn to share.”

“Like we share the alpha title and Elara,” Axel takes Elara’s other hand.

“You mean ...” My eyes widen, and I can feel life in my crotch. Does this mean I get to sleep with Elara?

“Easy there, cowboy,” Kane grins. “We’re talking about responsibilities and consideration. No more running off into the woods when you don’t get your way or stealing babies.”

“It’s not stealing if it’s your babies,” I grunt. “If anything ...”

“And no more fighting,” Elara cuts me off sternly. “We need to stick together.”

They look at me intensely, and I exhale deeply. They are right. As much as I hate to admit it, I was the one who brought Orion to our hiding place. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

“I can’t even express how sorry I am,” I admit. “Running away was the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever done. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Well, that’s in the past now,” Elara says, letting go of Kane and Axel’s hands and sitting beside me.

“We’re starting fresh,” she smiles, rubbing my back. “We’re going to set aside our differences and kick this war’s ass.”

“You’re not fucking with me?” I ask suspiciously. “You’re not just buttering me up to trust you and then throw me under the bus?”

“Personally, I like to look a person in the eye before I toss them in front of an oncoming train,” Axel smirks, crossing his arms.

“And we could’ve left you tied up and burning with Orion if we wanted to,” Kane adds.

“Jokes aside,” Elara rolls her eyes. “We need each other if we want our children to survive. This is no longer about us, it’s about three little babies who only brought love and joy to our lives.”

“Oh, good,” Gabriela storms in, successfully ending the weirdest conversation of my life. “You’re all here. We have a complication.”

Elara POV

“That’s not something new,” Kane snorts.

“Don’t be dramatic, Kane,” Gabriela scoffs. “This is serious.”

“We’re listening,” I step between mother and son. Just as I smother one fire, another one pops up.

“Elara, the hybrid facility is heavily policed by elite guards,” Gabriela explains. “For you to get in, you’re going to have to turn into one of them.”

“Yeah, I figured,” I shrug. “We’re using the transformation potion thingy, right?”

“Transmogrification potion,” Rhiannon corrects me. “The potion is brewing now, and once it’s ready, you’ll need to add a strand of hair from whoever it is you’re trying to transform into.”

“How do we get that?” Mason asks.

“That’s the not-so-great part,” Gabriela exhales deeply. “You’re going to have to hide outside the facility and wait for the guards to change shifts. You’ll need to follow them until you’re far enough that you can attack and knock them out. Then you’ll take their hair and their clothes.”

“Sounds easy enough,” I nod, confident that I can do it, especially with my wind power.

She did, and it was fucking annoying. Did Gabriela really think we’d let her send Elara out alone to do something like that?

“There’s no way Elara is doing that alone,” Axel protests.

“I’m going with her,” Kane and Mason say at the same time.

“No!” Mason yells, his eyes blazing. “They’re my children, it’s my fault they’re captured, and I will get them.”

“Mason will go with me,” I say adamantly, and Kane and Axel look at me as if I kicked their puppy. “You two are wanted. If somebody so much as gets a whiff that you’re at the facility, we can kiss this plan goodbye.”

“Agreed,” Axel and Kane sigh, and I smile proudly at them. Our newfound unit just might have a chance of survival.

“Okay,” Mason smiles. “I ...”

A thudding sound interrupts Mason, and we all turn to the sound.

“Mom!” Kane yells, kneeling beside Gabriela, who is lying on the floor, not moving.