Chapter 17

Rhydian's POV

I pressed the brake of the range rover as we pulled up outside the forest. I didn't know how long we'd be so it was better not to take the car into the forest. The 6 of us got out. I held Maddy's hand tightly as we made our way towards the camp. I had a bad feeling about this. We made our way through the dense forest and passed the border. My eyes darted nervously around me trying to watch out for danger. There was no one around but this didn't ease me in the slightest. As we made our way to our hut I heard raised voices from inside. Keeping a firm hold on Maddy I opened the door and stepped in. The other four behind me. As soon as we entered a glaring Jana turned back to face us. I instinctively stood in front of Maddy keeping her away from Jana. She looked slightly shocked to see me and instantly calmed a little.

Jana:"Rhydian what are you doing here? What's Maddy doing with you? She was supposed to be ill."

Me:"I had to go to London. I had to take her with me." Jana looked annoyed as some of her calmed demeanour broke and her anger returned.

Jana:"you should have asked my permission. Anyways why would you take her when you could have taken me?"

Me:"I love Maddy." I said looking into Jana's eyes. "I need Maddy. Maddy is my life."

I heard Jana growl and saw her veins start to turn back. Shan Tom Ava and Harry stepped backwards and out of the open door. Jana was breathing heavy as she stood in a stance ready to pounce. I pushed Maddy backwards out of the door and followed not turning my back on Jana. I saw her feet lift of the ground as she pounced. She tried clawing Maddy who was behind me but I was too quick for her. I pushed her from the side as her wolf took over and she fell to the floor. Without turning around, my eyes on Jana I spoke to Tom and Harry.

Me:"Tom, Harry use your bracelets. Hold hands around Maddy Shan Bryn and Ava. They will protect you all." I heard everyone else rushing out. I saw Jana's body twitch.

Maddy:"I'm not leaving you. Were in this together."

She came and stood in front of me. Her eyes pleading.

Me:"mads."

Mads:"together." I nodded as worry and fear passed through me. I moved Maddy to my side and saw Jana struggling to stand in her wolf form. Her eyes were venomous.

Me:"no one interfere. This is mine and Maddy's battle."

Everyone nodded. Then Jana howled and I sniffed the air. Other wolfbloods in their wolf forms came out from behind the trees. The rest of the pack turned to wolf form. I glanced over to see Harry and Tom had Bryn Shan and Ava between them. A blue light surrounding all five of them. Protecting them. My eyes flashed yellow and I felt my wolf coursing through my body. I caught Maddy changing into her wolf from the corner of my eye. Just as we transformed Jana leapt again aiming for Maddy but I managed to knock her out of the way. I felt jaws grip my back leg. I howled as pain shot through me. One of the unknown wolves was attacking me. Maddy rushed over gripping the wolfs neck in her jaws until he let go. Looking around I saw everyone fighting. This had been my worst fear. And now it was coming true. Me Maddy and the unknown wolf circled each other. He pounced too early and I was able to hit his tummy with full force sending him flying into a tree. An awful crunching sound was heard before the body slumped to the floor. Jana was growling viciously. She was limping still. She eyed Maddy vindictively. I heard Shannon shout.

Shan:"Rhydian behind you."

I turned quickly just in time to see a wolf jumping at me. I clawed it's chest as I pushed it away. I turned to see Maddy and Jana had jumped at each other and thrown each other back. Jana was quick to get up. She lunged towards Maddy her sharp claws unsheathed ready to kill. I managed to jump in front of Maddy just in time. I felt her claws rip through my chest. A sticky foul smelling liquid oozing out matting my hair. Darkness began to consume me. But Maddy's distressed howl, her mouth muzzling me kept me on the brink of consciousness. I opened my eyes and saw Maddy slightly relax. I concentrated all my energy on standing up. Jana stood there looking bewildered. I took a quick glance around. All the unknown wolves seemed to be slumped around. All eyes were on us. I noticed Alric's wolf stood amongst the others. He looked at me sadly apologising with his eyes. I circled Jana. Then through my mind I told Maddy to grip her hind leg as soon as she got the chance. The chance came soon enough. As we were circling Jana mistakingly turned her back to Maddy. Maddy clasped her jaw onto Jana's leg. Jana howled in pain. I took my opportunity to take a grip on her neck. As much as I wanted to kill her I was not a murderer. With all the strength we could muster Maddy and I threw Jana full force against a tree. A sickening crunch was heard as her body crumpled to the ground. Me and Maddy walked cautiously to her body. I placed my paw on her chest. She was still alive. She looked at me and Maddy her eyes full of spite. I barked at her telling her to submit. She bowed her head. A loud burst of howls erupted. I looked towards Maddy who smiled at me sadly. I lifted my paw of Jana as we both turned our back on her. As we began to walk away from Jana and towards the pack everyone all of a sudden went rigid. Before I could fanthom what was going on Alric jumped over me and Maddy. We turned to see he had his jaws locked on Jana's neck. Her body struggled for a moment before it stopped and collapsed to the ground. I walked up to Alric. We all turned back into our human forms and our four friends rushed over.

Me:"is she dead?" Alric nodded. "Why?"

Alric:"she was about to attack you again. I know my daughter she has no remorse. Unless she died she would keep harassing and troubling you. I am sorry on her behalf. It's ok Rhydian. It was for the best." I didn't really know what to say. I felt weak but I refused to let my injury get to me. Mum stepped forward.

Cerri:"Rhydian and Maddy. You defeated Jana together. She submitted to you both. You are now the leaders of the pack. You are equals." Everyone cheered. I smiled slightly as I looked over at Maddy and took her hand.

Me:"I love you Maddy." She smiled.

Mads:"I love you too." Just then my legs gave way beneath me. I felt myself falling through darkness as unconsciousness consumed me. The last thing I heard was Maddy screaming my name.

Maddy's" POV

Me:"RHYDIAN!" I shouted as his body sunk to the ground. I fell to my knees placing his head in my lap. "Rhydian please wake up. Please you can't leave me." Everyone gathered around us. Rhydian's top was drenched in blood As was the left leg of his pant. Someone placed a hand on my shoulder.

Harry:"Maddy let Winnie take a look at him. He'll be ok. Come on."

Me:"no I'm not leaving him. I'm staying here. She can look at him here."

Harry:"Maddy you might not be able to take it. He's been badly injured."

Me:"Harry I'll be fine. Please don't ask me to leave him."

Harry:"ok." I hear my other friends surround Rhydian. Shan puts her arm around my shoulder. Winnie is checking Rhydian's pulse.

Winnie:"his pulse is weak. He is barely alive. He is too weak to be moved. Beth go bring me my potions here please. Hurry." Beth rushes off to Winnie's hut.

Me:"please be ok. Please don't leave me." I whisper helplessly in his ear. I kiss his forehead gently. "Please wake up."

just then I feel something tugging at my neck. I looked down to see my necklace was glowing. I pulled it out from under my top. Shan and Ava did the same. Everyone was watching us astonished. The pendant part of the necklace i.e. the Diamond began to rise. Shan and Ava were sat on either side of me. Our heads were pulled closer together. The three pendants joint together. The diamonds seemed to momentarily fuse together to make a pointy charmed symbol. The pendants were above Rhydian's chest. White lights started to shower out of the pendants falling on Rhydian's chest. Winnie cut open his t-shirt as everyone watched as the wounds started to close up. Winnie checked his pulse again.

Winnie:"his pulse has strengthened." My heart fluttered with hope. Soon the wounds were closed. All that remained was four long thin scars. Winnie checked his leg and that had also healed. There were just little scratch like marks were the teeth had bitten him. The pendants separated and fell against our chests. Rhydian twitched a little but his eyes remained closed. I looked at Winnie. "He'll be ok. He needs to rest. Aaron Adam come pick him up. Take him to his hut."

Aaron and Adam came and picked Rhydian up. Tom and Harry put there arms around me, lifting me of the ground and helping me to walk behind Rhydian. Tom moved my hair out of my face as I let my head droop onto his shoulder. Why hadn't Rhydian woken up? I hope he would be ok. They lay Rhydian down on the bottom bunk. I sat beside him stroking his face willing him to open his eyes. But he remained asleep. At least he was still alive.

I don't know exactly how long I sat there. It felt like days but in reality it was probably only 2-3 hours. People came in and left. Shan and Ava tried talking to me, tried to persuade me to eat but their attempts were futile. I remained by Rhydian's side. Holding his hand. It must have been about 11 o'clock at night when I was broken out of my trance, by Rhydian's phone ringing. It startled me at first as I looked around confused by what was causing the noise. Luckily Shannon was in the room. She took the phone out of Rhydian's pocket and answered. Thanks to my wolfblood hearing I heard both sides of the conversation even though I couldnt fully concentrate on what was being said.

Phone conversation

Mia:"Rhydian."

Shan:"Mia it's Shannon."

Mia:"oh Shan where's Rhydian?"

Shan:"erm well he's erm here."

Mia:"shan is everything ok? Can I talk to him please?"

Shan:"Mia you can't talk to him right now." I heard Mia start to sound hysterical. This caused a fresh bout of tears out of my eyes. How would I face Mia again?

Mia:"why not? Is my baby ok? Shannon what happened?"

Shan:"Mia he was hurt. He's ok but were still waiting for him to wake up." I heard the line go dead. Shan looked at me. "So much for trying to keep everyone calm." She said lightly.

End of phone conversation

Me:"Shan how am I going to face Mia? It's my fault Rhydian's hurt." Shan came over and folded me into her embrace.

Shan:"don't be silly mads. It's not your fault, it's Jana's. Mia is not going to blame you and I know for a fact that Rhydian would not want you blaming yourself."

Me:"but..."

Shan:"no buts. Come on now stop crying." We sat there for about half an hour. Shannon consoling me as my sobbing ceased, stroking my hair attempting to calm my shaking body.

Then all of a sudden there was a commotion at the door, before the door flew open and Mia came rushing in with a vivid cerri behind her. she ran over to the bed and dropped to her knees. Tears streaming down her face. Her hands touching Rhydian's face checking him over. Then Brian walked in holding a sleepy looking jack.

Mia:"my baby. My little baby. I should never have let him come."

Cerri:"who are you? What are you doing here? Don't you touch my son." Mia turned her head and looked cerri in the eye.

Mia:"your son? He's as good as my son. I bought him up since he was a little 2 year old." I needed to speak up before another war broke out.

Me:"cerri it's ok. This is Mia. She took care of Rhydian because his foster family treat him wrongly. She knows. They love Rhydian."

Cerri:"how did you find us?" She pointedly ignores me and looks on at Mia.

Mia:"my son is a wolfblood. He sniffed Rhydian out." Cerri seemed to calm down at this. By this time mam dad and Winnie had also entered the hut. Brian was trying to calm Mia down.

Mam:"who's this Maddy?"

Me:"mam this is Mia and Brian. And there son jack. They are part of Rhydian's family. Part of our pack." I was trying so hard not to cry again.

Mia:"Maddy how did this happen? Who did this to him?" I gulped.

Me:"Mia I'm so sorry. It's my fault. Jana was trying to hurt me. He jumped in front to protect me." Mia looked up at me. She stood and walked towards me before enfolding me into an embrace.

Mia:"no Maddy this is not your fault. It's my fault." she let go of me and turned to Brian. "It was my job to protect him. I should have never sent him here alone. I promised I would keep him safe. And now look at my baby. Brian look at our baby." Brian hugged Mia to him.

Brian:"this isn't your fault babe. I'm gonna get that bitch. She's gonna pay. Our baby will be ok. You just see. He's a fighter."

Ava:"you won't have to worry about Jana. She's dead." No one seemed to be listening really. No on was really bothered. Mia asked Winnie to explain how Rhydian was before she gave her announcement.

Mia:"I'm taking him home?"

Cerri:"what do you mean? This is his home."

Mia:"I'm taking him to his other home. He needs rest and taking care of. I know you guys can do that here but it's not sterile here and it's not as comfy for him. I want to nurse him to health myself. Plus it's safer there then it is here."

Mam:"cerri I think she's right." Mam said putting a hand on cerri's shoulder. Cerri nodded.

Cerri:"very well."

Mia:"you can come with us if you like. I won't keep you away from your son. He is as much yours as he is mine."

Cerri:"thank you but I must stay. I trust you to take care of him and I will be sure to visit. But someone has to sort out the pack. We have to bury the bodies."

Me:"cerri me and Rhydian have discussed this already. We would like you and Winnie to be pack leaders until me and Rhydian complete the job we were sent to do. We'll go over the details once Rhydian has recovered. But for now you two are in charge. Also were allowing Alric back into the pack. Jana admitted it was her doing and Alric has more than made up for his mistake." Cerri and Winnie both nod smiling sadly.

Alric:"thank you." I nod at him.

Mia:"have you guys packed?" She asks mam and dad. They both nod. Then she turns to Tom. "Tom can you show Brian where the range rover is parked. Brian bring it as close as possible to here." Brian nods. Mia takes the keys out of Rhydian's pocket and hands them to Brian. Brian places jack in Mia's lap.

Jack:"mummy. Is uwncle Rhydian hurt?" Mia nods. She looks like she's about to cry again. I kneel down in front of jack.

Me:"he's not well but me and jack are going to make him all better aren't we?"

Jack:"and Nicko." I smile a little and nod.

Me:"and Nicko." Jack throws his little arms around my neck and hugs me. He kisses my cheek and wipes a falling tear.

Jack:"don't cwy then awnty Maddy. Uwncle Rhydian will be better soon." I nod and ruffle his hair. Mia watches us awed. I look around to see we have an audience. The whole pack has gathered there. Just then Brian came in.

Brian:"I've managed to bring the car right outside the door." Mia nods.

Aaron and Alex and Adam come forward. Everyone moves back to give them space. They gently lift Rhydian and follow Brian to the car. Brian opens the back door and they lie him down across the back seats. Everyone has followed us out. Tom and Harry are putting what little luggage we have in the boot. Mam and dad are hugging everyone. Who would have thought that I would grow to love the wild? That I would miss these people. I hugged everyone. Winnie wished me look as I hugged her. Then I came to Bryn.

Bryn:"you won't forget me will you?"

Me:"never Bryn. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have survived. Your my little brother. we've gotten so close these last couple of weeks. I'm going to miss you so much." I hugged him hard.

Bryn:"I'm going to miss you too. Make sure you visit. And I will visit too. Take care of my brother ok." I let go of him and nod. Then cerri hugs me.

Cerri:"take care of yourself and my beautiful boy." I nod. She let's me go placing her hands on my shoulders. "When I first left Rhydian I was so afraid that he would not be loved but I was so wrong. He received more love than he could have ever received here. They love him a lot don't they?" She asks looking over at Mia and Brian.

Me:"yes they do."

Cerri:"he's lucky my son is. I can see now humans are not all bad. They are just like us. You take care of yourself Maddy. I'll see you soon." She kisses my forehead and hugs me one more time before letting go. Then she goes to hug mam and dad.

Brian has also bought the Porsche into the camp to. I sit in the range rover placing Rhydian's head in my lap. Jack sits next to me. Shannon and Harry sit at the back and mam sits at the front with Mia. Dad Ava and Tom sit in the Porsche with Brian. Mia starts to pull away from the pack. They all wave and follow us to the edge of the border. They stand there waving until we disappear from view. Once were on the forest road Mia speaks up.

Mia:"Emma would you like to go straight home or do you want to spend the night at ours?" Mam looks at Mia.

Mam:"erm.."

Mia:"don't worry your house is clean and is fully stocked with food." She glances sadly at Rhydian. "He told me to make sure it was ready before you guys got back." Mum smiles sadly and I stroke Rhydian's hair. Surely he's too good to be true. "Can I just add, I think you should stay at ours until Rhydian wakes up. It would make him happy."

Emma:"will you have room for us all?"

Mia:"we have plenty of space."

Emma:"your place it is then. But can we take a detour. So we can pick some stuff up from home?" Mia nods then picks up her talkie.

Mia:"babe were taking a detour to the smiths house. They're gonna pick some stuff up then we'll head home. Can you call suki and tell her make sure the guest room is ready."

Brian:"ok."

The rest of the car journey was in silence. Jack fell asleep leaning his head on my shoulder and holding Rhydian's hand. Thankfully it was only a 20 minute drive. I played with Rhydian's hair the whole way. Mia pulled up in front of our house. Mam turned back towards me.

Mam:"do you need anything from your room pet?"

Me:"no. I already have some stuff there." Mam nodded. She took out her keys and her and dad went to the door. "Mia can you watch Rhydian for a minute. I think I should go in with them."

Mia:"sure." She got out and made jack comfortable as I got out. I followed mum and dad through the front door. They were stood together holding each other their heads moving from side to side taking in their surroundings. I went up to them and hugged them from behind.

Me:"welcome home." They both smiled and hugged me back. Their eyes full of tears. We walked in to the kitchen. Dad went to open the fridge as mum browsed through the cupboards and drawers. Mia had definitely stocked up. Then we headed upstairs. Mum and dad went into their room and I went into my own. I sniffed the air. I could smell Rhydian. I knew he had been coming into my room and staying here for hours at a time. My room looked exactly the same if not tidier. I smiled a little then walked into my parents room.

Dad:"we need to thank him for everything he's done. He really has outdone himself." I smiled at dad.

Me:"yes he has."

Mum zipped the small suitcase and we all headed back down. Mum locked the door and we went and sat back in the car. The drive to Mia's house was short. As soon as she pulled up the rest of the family came rushing out. Mum and dad were a little shocked by how many people they saw. Dom Brian and Han carried Rhydian up to our room. I opened the door for them and pulled the duvet back. They lay him in the bed and I took his shoes and jacket of before covering him as everyone entered our room.

Roman:"can someone tell us what's going on?"

Mam:"yeah we need filling in too."

So I spoke up. First I explained what had happened to Rhydian then I explained who all these people were to mam and dad and told them what had happened with whitewood. Everyone was silent for a while. I looked around the room and noticed something Rhydian had failed to for a long time. There were so many people who loved and cared for him. He had love in spades and bucket full's. But his bad experience in life had made him oblivious to this fact and made him cut of from it. I was sat on the bed next to him holding his hand. I didn't have the heart to ask anyone to leave. We all sat there for hours just watching him hoping he'd wake up. Mia was sat on the other side of him holding his other hand. He got a fever just after midnight so she got a bowl of cold water and a flannel. She dipped the flannel in the water wrung it out and placed it in his forehead. She did this until his temperature came back down to normal. We all sat there until the early hours of the morning. I was getting restless. It was now 4:30am and Rhydian still wasn't up. I shuffled up and stroked his face.

Me:"please wake up." I whispered. One of my tears fell on his face and his eyes twitched. I shot up but he remained still. Had I imagined it? His eyes twitched again. "Rhydian?" Everyone looked lively once more. They all looked at him expectantly. His lips moved. Barely a whisper escaping them.

Rhyds:"Maddy...keep Maddy safe." I shook his shoulder gently.

Me:"Rhydian. I'm here I'm safe. Please open your eyes." He was still for a moment then slowly his eyes opened. He blinked before croaking.

Rhyds:"water." I got up and rushed to the water dispenser. I filled the glass with water noticing everyone's relieved faces. I went and sat besides him again. Me and Mia helped him to sit up and he lent against the head board. I bought the glass to his lips and he drank great fully. Then he noticed everyone around him, and his face dawned with realisation. "How did I get here? What happened? What are you all doing here?"

Me:"Rhydian you were badly hurt. You passed out. The pendants healed you but you wouldn't wake up. Mia and Brian bought you back here along with the rest of us. Do you remember what happened?" Rhydian nods slowly.

Rhyds:"we were fighting Jana. We won. Then Alric... He killed her. After that I don't remember."

Me:"that's when you passed out."

Rhyds:"what time is it?"

Tej:"half 4 in the morning."

Rhyds:"you guys have been here all night?" He looks slightly surprised.

Leo:"we couldn't leave you. We needed to be sure you were ok."

Rhyds:"wow." He chocked.

Mam:"how are you feeling now pet?"

Rhyds:"better. My chest still hurts a little though and my leg." He looks at Mia who has been silent this whole time. "Mia... Are you ok?" He asks apprehensively. And she breaks down. She seems to have aged over night and her eyes are puffy.

Mia:"do I look ok to you? You give me a bloody heart attack. I shouldn't have let you go and when I said to let me come you wouldn't listen. Do you know what you've put me through since last night. But why would it bother you as long as everyone else is bloody safe. Did you even stop to think for a moment what would happen to all of us if anything happened to you? Did you? No you probably didn't." Rhydian looks at Mia sheepishly then gulps.

Rhyds:"I'm sorry."

Mia:"sorry. He's bloody well sorry. Sorry my arse Rhydian. My baby nearly dies and he says sorry." Then she's up and hugging Rhydian really hard. Tears flowing freely down her face. "I was so worried."

Rhyds:"I know." She let's go placing a kiss on his forehead then stands up.

Mia:"come on everyone. Let him rest now. We might as well try to catch an hours or twos nap. We've got school in a couple of hours." Everyone hugs Rhydian and they leave, Brian and Dom picking up Nicko and jack from the sleeping bags and taking them to. "Emma dan I'll show you your room." They nod and follow Mia.

I close the door behind them and lock it before turning around. I look at Rhydian.

Rhyds:"hey."

Me:"hi."

Rhyds:"come here." And I let go of my own tears running in to his open arms. He kisses my head. "Shhhhh. I'm ok. Everything's ok now."

Me:"your such an idiot. Why would you jump in front of me."

Rhyds:"I had to save you. But look I'm fine now."

Me:"I thought you'd left me."

Rhyds:"mads I can never leave you." I look up and he wipes my tears And smiles at me.

Me:"I love you."

Rhyds:"I love you too." He brings his face down to mine and joins his lips to mine. i thought I would never be able to kiss him again. Never feel his lips on mine again. Yet here we were. So I poured all my built up angst of the last few hours into the kiss and Rhydian returned my kiss with passion of his own. His hands started to wander and I knew I should pull away. He was still weak. It took a lot but I managed to. He looked at me confused.

Me:"your weak. So no. Right now you are going to bed. So lie down and go to sleep."

Rhyds:"Maddy I've been asleep for ages. And I'm fine."

Me:"no. Bed now!" He rolls his eyes.

Rhyds:"fine. But I'd like to have a shower first and change my clothes."

Me:"ok fine."

Rhyds:"will you shower with me?" He looks at me pleadingly.

Me:"ok." he grins as he gets up and makes his way to the bathroom. I follow closely behind. We strip of our clothes and place them in the laundry basket. I step under the hot cascading water after Rhydian. It's soothing as the water washes away the grime and the horrible memories of the last few hours. I gently rub soap between my hands before spreading it over Rhydian's chest and back, trying to make sure not to hurt him. 15 minutes later we are wrapped in huge fluffy white towels, Rhydian sat between my legs as I dry his hair. He gets up to put on his nighties and I quickly dry my own hair before wearing my own pyjamas. Rhydian is lying in bed. He pulls the duvet back for me to join him. I lay down next to him. He wraps his arm around my waist as I place my arm around his waist. He kisses my forehead and soon we both fall to sleep.

So there it is chapter 17. I think there will be 4 or 5 more chapters before I finish this of. Good news is that I planned a trilogy for this story so the sequel will be up shortly after the last chapter. Like a normal update. Thank you for sticking with my story. I hope you enjoy the chapter :) love you all. Thank you to my sister Julia for giving me the confidence to carry on.