A Runt Luna
Chapter 44

"It's not." Titus growled. "My views have changed."

Rory didn't say anything, but looked out the window.

"He killed my mate." Titus sighed, and after a minute of silence he explained. "I've never agreed with what Franklin has done, but he's held my mate over my head. Told me if I did what he said, she wouldn't be harmed. But I questioned him too many times about what he was doing with you and he killed her."

Rory's heart broke, she knew that he was telling the truth, she could see the sadness in his face, but it was his eyes that made her see that he was truthful. Unlike the previous times that she had seen him there was life in them, and at that moment there was nothing but darkness.

"Do you have a phone?" Rory asked. "I can call him to make sure he's aware you are bringing us."

"Here" Titus nodded and gave her a phone. Rory took the phone with shaking hands and typed in her house number. The continuous ringing made her heart pound in her chest.

"Hello."

She couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips as she heard Peter's voice. "Peter." Rory said, immeditally stating to cry.

"Rory! Where are you? Are you ok?" Peter demanded his voice having a nervous panic to it. She heard lan yelling in the background, demanding to talk to her and if she was ok.

"I'm fine." Rory nodded, "I am being brought home."

"When? Kole has been going crazy to replace you."

"Soon. Is he there?"

"Ian just went to get him, when-" Peter explained but was cut off as if someone took the phone away from him.

"Mate." She heard Kole growl, his wolf more prominent than normal. "Where are you?"

"I am coming home. Someone help me escape and is bring me home."

"Come to the clearing."

"Ok." Rory said trying not to be bothered by the coolness of his voice, she hoped

it was only because his mind was more wolf than human, and not that he was angry with her.

"Get off the phone." Titus said, "Too much time and Franklin will track us."

"ok." She said to him.

"Who are you with?" Kole snarled.

"I have to go. I will be in the clearing."

"Aurora, do not hang up on me." Kole yelled, but she wasn't able to respond before Titus took the phone from her and hung up, before throwing it out of the window.

"Give me directions to this clearing." Titus said. Rory nodded and did as she was told, glancing in the back seat to see the children huddled together. She tried to give them a reassuring smile, but she was sure that it came out as a grimace.

Rory gave him the direction and by the time that they got to the edge of the forest,

it was nearing dark.

"We have to walk from here." Rory explained.

"Fine." Titus nodded. He came to the other side of the car and helped her out, he went to go pick her us, but she stopped him saying that she could probably manage to walk.

"No can do. I am not about to get torn apart by your pack." He said swooping her up into his arms.

Rory understood and directed him in the right direction, all while making sure that the kids were not falling behind.

The first thing that she saw when they reached the edge of the clearing was Kole pacing back and forth, running his hands through his hair. Behind him was Josh, Alex and

Peter standing looking alert, ats

off

the the side was Georgia standing next to lan, looking to be comforting the young boy. Rory was touched that her family was there to greet

her and she wanted nothing to do but run into Kole's arms.

A loud growl, followed by several other growls called Rory's attention to Titus,

who's grip tightened on her painfully.

"Set me down." Rory said gently, trying not to wince at his tight hold, but she could see that he was prepared for his fate. He was ready to die, as was the punishment for hurting another's Mate.

Titus set her on her feet, making sure she was stable before letting her go.

It all happened so quickly, Kole had her in his arms, peppering her face with

kisses, and Josh and Alex had pinned Titus to the ground.

"Wait, he's innocent." Rory said moving to stop Josh and Alex from roughing him

up too bad, but was pulled back into Kole's arms.

"Kole, make them stop." Rory cried, as she heard the sound of fists meeting flesh. "He helped me. He never laid a hand on me." She

explained, knowing that it wasal

entirely true, but his only crime was delivering her to the torture Franklin gave her. "Please, I just want to go home." Rory shivered the cooling temperature biting at her skin. By her calculations it was the end of November and December and its' snow was right around the corner.

Kole stared down at her, taking in ever inch of her face, before telling Josh and Alex to stop.

"Let's go to the house, we have much to discuss." Kole said, taking off his jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders. "Who are the kids?" Kole questioned noticing the three standing off to the side, looking to his mate for direction.