Saving Tragedy Chapter 102

**Rose's POV**

I barely felt the weight of Tommy in my arms as I hurried inside, my heart hammering from the inside of my chest... 

My mind was spinning, my skin rising with goosebumps as I made an extra effort to keep calm in front of our son. 

Tommy's small hands clung to my shoulders, and I could feel his breath on my neck as he whispered another question.

"Why is Daddy mad, Mom? Is it because Zander was beating me at wrestling?" He suggests, as I shook my head almost instantly. 

I swallowed hard, trying to hold my voice steady for him. "No, of course not sweetie. Daddy's never mad at you for anything! He just has some important pack stuff to fix." 

That much was true, but everything else felt like a knot in my throat, impossible to untangle. 

What did it mean for all of us that Jacob had now escaped? 

What did it mean for Sawyer and his pack? 

Ashton's cells were impenetrable — designed to hold the most dangerous, ruthless prisoners. 

And Jacob... Jacob had managed to get out. 

There was no way he had done it alone, anyone with eyes knew that... so who the heck helped him?! 

The door clicked shut from behind us, muffling the tense voices still outside. Lydia was close behind me with Zander's hand held tightly in hers, her face pale but her steps steady. 

Millie trailed in after us with her stroller, manoeuvring it swiftly around the obstacles of our home. 

"Go on, boys," Lydia said gently, as I placed Tommy back on his feet. 

Lydia swiftly steered Zander and Tommy toward the far couch in the living room. "Why don't you show Zander your new car game that Daddy got you, Tommy? I bet you two can figure it out together." I add, pointing to his array of gifts from this morning displayed in the corner of the room. 

"But—" Tommy started, his little brows furrowing in protest, knowing that something was going on amongst the adults around him. 

"Go on, it's ok," I said softly, brushing a hand over his hair. 

He pouted but finally shuffled towards his unwrapped presents with Zander by his side. 

I stood there for a moment, the sudden emptiness in my arms making my anxiety return back to me in tenfolds.

Lydia placed a hand on my arm, grounding me. "Rose," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Sit down, you need to breathe."

I let her guide me to the sofa on the opposite side of the room, moving us out of earshot of the kids as Millie sat down with us too. 

"How are you so calm?" I breathe, turning wide eyed to Lydia who sighs heavily and shakes her head with a shrug. 

"I'm not, but if I focus on keeping you calm then it will help to distract my own fears..." She whispers back, as I close my eyes over briefly. 

Hearing Zander's exaggerated "Oooh's" and "Ahhh's" as the pair of them rummaged through all of the gifts Tommy had received for his birthday, I was thankful for the brief break to sort through my thoughts. 

"How has he fucking managed this?" I finally whispered, my voice trembling. "How could he have escaped? Who the hell would want to help a monster like him?!"

Lydia's silence was measured. "I don't know," she admitted after a moment. "But Ashton will figure it out - you know he will." 

I lifted my head, turning to find Millie, her brows furrowed in concern towards something she didn't quite yet know the whole extent of... 

"I fear for your pack Millie - Sawyer will be worried too!" I swallow the lump of concern resting in my throat, as Millie nods slowly at what I was saying. 

"He's strong... the three of them are... let's just be hopeful that he will be caught by the end of the night. He can't be far!" Millie attempts to reason, as I can't help but take absolutely no comfort from her words. 

Jacob wasn't just a criminal — he was a monster. A manipulator. Someone we couldn't risk having out in the open. 

"Could it be someone from your pack maybe? What guards did you bring down here with you - anyone strange or acting off? Perhaps one of them still holds loyalty to Jacob as the original Alpha to your pack and used this as their chance to help him?" I begin to ramble out possible scenarios, as Millie pauses to think on what I was asking her. 

"Mmm... I don't think so, they all seem pretty grateful for Sawyer taking over when he did. From talking to the pack members since becoming the Luna, they used to be miserable under that man's rule... but maybe it's worth bringing up to Sawyer just incase, you have a point with what you're saying." Millie nods, as I nod along with her input. 

She's right, who in their right mind would want to go back to the way Jacob used to run things? It was dark times for that entire pack until Sawyer stepped in for them... 

A sudden giggle from the living room broke through my thoughts. Tommy's laugh was sweet and carefree, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me as he quickly forgot about what was going on around him. 

I glanced over to see him and Zander leaning over the game in question, something to do with remote control racing cars that Ashton had insisted on buying him, as Tommy continued chattering away about how the pieces fit together and about how the track works. 

He was so innocent. Too innocent to understand what Jacob's escape meant for all of us. About what that man had put us all through during the early stages of my pregnancy with him... 

As if on cue, Tommy turned toward us, his big brown eyes wide with curiosity. "Mom? When will Daddy be back to play the game with us?" He motions with a point to the half built track between them. 

I froze, panic tightening in my chest. What could I say? I didn't know what Ashton's plans were, but I knew one thing for certain; he wouldn't have any time right now to play a game with his son on his birthday... 

"I think maybe tomorrow Tommy, he's working on some important stuff right now but I'm sure he will play it with you as soon as he can." I explain, my tone trembling slightly as I felt terrible. 

It was our son's birthday after all... 

Lydia stepped in, her voice warm and soothing. "Boys, why don't you two play for a little while longer and then we can make some hot chocolate with marshmallows?" She chimes, as their little faces light up in excitement. 

"Yes!" They yelled back in unison, high fiving one another as they immediately returned their focus back to the incomplete pieces scattered around on the floor. 

I bit my lip, fighting back the sting of tears. Lydia's calm assurance had settled Tommy and Zander, but it unfortunately still hadn't reached me. 

"Thanks Lyd..." I whisper, as she moves to take my hand in hers, offering it a reassuring squeeze. 

"We will face anything together, we always have!" She states firmly, as I push out a small smile. 

"Yes, and although I only know parts of the past, I'm here to help wherever I can too!" Millie offers, placing a hand on my shoulder closest to her too. 

Like clockwork, the baby began to cry from within the stroller causing me to flinch at the loud noise, clearly on high alert. 

Millie instantly snapped up to her feet as she rushed to scoop her up in to her arms, shushing and cooing at her to calm her back down... 

I felt my eyes water, but I refused to let it become anything more, especially with my son being in the room. 

Jacob was out there somewhere, and if he had help, then it meant that people still valued him as an Alpha... 

But who would betray us to help him? 

Right now it seems that someone within Ashton's ranks had sided with the man who had caused so much pain and destruction across the country... but why?! 

The war might have ended five years ago, but in this moment, I realised that it was still far from being over.