Saving Tragedy Chapter 112

**Ashton's POV**

I should probably update Rose, but I felt too on edge to talk with her, knowing that her concerns would only send me in to overdrive... 

The wind howled aggressively through the trees, the rumble of our engines biting through the otherwise still night like a predator on the hunt. 

But that's exactly what we were... highly trained predators. 

I had always hated the quiet before a war, and tonight, the tension was unbearable. The road stretched on, but the path to Sawyer's pack, to the heart of his territory, was closing in with every mile we covered at record speed. The trees blurred by in a patchwork of shadow and moonlight, but my mind was elsewhere, focused on what lay ahead.

We had to make it there first... 

Our cars would be cutting it close for time compared to the train, depending how early Jacob had planned to set off from the caves. 

If they made it there first, it would be game over. It would probably be a war that lasted days as opposed to hours and we didn't need that. Not with Sawyer and his family being on the line! 

Sawyer, Millie, and Elsie — my heart tightened at the thought of them. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity, the weight of their capture bearing down on me like a plague. I couldn't afford to let the worry consume me though — not when we had this much at stake. 

"You good?" Hunt mutters, as I breathe out heavily, almost agitated at being spoke to despite none of this being his fault. 

"Yeah as good as I can be, we just have to get to Sawyer's pack before Jacob makes his move." I respond curtly, eyeing the others who sat in the back of our vehicle, two of them staring out of the windows on their sides whilst the guy in the middle fumbled on our radio - hoping for a nearby connection. 

The convoy of warriors behind us had remained, each of them trusting in my direction to reach the final destination. 

Everyone hated the build up, preferring to jump ahead straight to the fight, and therefore our emotions were none other than a mix of anticipation and rage, each of us knowing that the moment we reached Sawyer's territory, it would become a war zone. 

But I wasn't worried about Jacob's army. Not anymore. My pack, and the allied forces that had rallied to us, were far more disciplined, far more dangerous than any ragtag group of rebels Jacob had cobbled together. 

We were going to win this, there was no doubt in my mind, but at what cost?

I glanced at Hunt in the passenger seat beside me. His jaw was clenched, his eyes scanning the trees outside, alert to any sign of danger. His quiet presence spoke volumes — the man was ready for whatever came next, by my side as always. 

He had been by my side through countless battles, both him and Sawyer, and tonight, we would be brothers in arms once again.

The landscape began to change, the dense woods thinning out as we neared the outskirts of Sawyer's pack territory - probably just over an hour out as the sky began to brighten ever so slightly. 

I could feel it — the change in the air, the shift in the atmosphere. We were closer now. My pulse quickened, a mix of urgency and fury flooding in to my veins.

Jacob could be preparing to leave by train any minute now with the sun on the rise... we have to move! 

I pulled out my phone, heart pounding in my chest. The signal was weak at first, cutting in and out, but then — finally — a fucking connection again. 

I punched in the number for Sawyer's pack office. I needed to speak to the wolf he'd left in charge while he was away, the one who had been running things in his absence. 

It rang twice before the line clicked, and a deep voice came through, crackling but clear enough to make out.

"Alpha Sawyer Kingston’s office, this is Clark, next in line speaking," the voice said. "Who is it?" 

“Clark, it’s Ashton Silver, I don’t know if news has reached you yet but Sawyer, his mate and his newborn daughter have all been captured. Jacob, your ex Alpha has managed to escape and we have strong leads to believe that he is behind all of this.” I tell him quickly, before hearing frantic drawers opening and closing in the background of the call. 

“Fuck! Are you serious Alpha?!” He responds, clearly flustered now at the news and realising that he had been left in charge in Sawyers absence. 

"I need you to listen carefully," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the gnawing worry that clawed at the edges of my own mind too. "He has Sawyer, Millie, and the baby and we believe that he plans to arrive at your pack - to make an example of them. But you don’t have to panic, we're already on our way, about an hour out. But you need to start evacuating the pack immediately! Prepare your border patrol and remaining guards. Get the children and vulnerable members to the safe houses. We don't know exactly when they're coming, but they'll be there by morning we know that." I inform him, as scribbling is heard. 

There was a long pause on the other end. I could hear Clark’s breathing, the shift in his tone as he absorbed the weight of what I was saying.

"Ok, yes, no problem! You got it, Alpha, I’ll get to it right away!" Clark finally responded. "We'll start moving them now. We'll get them to the safe houses for your arrival - assuming that you get here first." He gulps, as I instinctively press down on the gas. 

"We will! Make sure the children are prioritised. I don't want anyone left behind either. Tell everyone to stay calm and to follow the evacuation protocols. We'll hold them off for as long as we can when they arrive, but I'm not taking any chances." 

"Understood. We'll get them out, Alpha. Don't worry." Clark confirms, as I disconnected the call with a harsh tap of my finger and took a deep breath. 

We were running out of time, but at least we had gotten through to Clark to give them some heads up. 

He'd work to start taking measures to keep the pack safe now… 

I turned to Hunt, meeting his eyes. "They're getting the pack out to the safe houses at least. That’s one less thing we have to worry about doing when we get there." 

Hunt nodded, his expression hardening with resolve. "We'll get there first. We can't let Jacob get his claws into Sawyer's pack before us." 

I checked the time again, with the sun seeming to rise quicker by the minute, giving us less time to make it there before Jacob and that damn train! 

I tapped the screen on my phone again, scrolling quickly until I found Ruth's number - having a sudden thought to tell her, someone I know and trust with my life. 

Her face flashed in my mind — kind, yet strong, sharp, and always calm under pressure. 

When the phone picked up, I didn't wait for pleasantries.

"Ruth, it's Ashton," I said quickly, not wasting a second more. "Listen to me. Jacob's escaped, and we're on our way to you. He has Sawyer, Millie, and Elsie trapped with him and so we need to move fast on this."

I could hear her sharp intake of breath on the other end. "I just got off the phone with Rose," Ruth replied, her voice filled with anxiety. "She's terrified. She told me all about Jacob's escape but I had no idea about Sawyer and his family!” 

"Listen, Ruth. I need you to get the children out of the old house and into the safe houses. Take food and water with you too. We can't risk Jacob's men finding them there - he will no doubt head straight for his old home when he arrives.” I warn, showing through my tone that I was serious. 

That this whole thing was serious. 

There was a pause before Ruth responded, the weight of the situation settling over her words. "Yes, we just got an alert from Clark, the children are already packing a little bag each. I'll start moving them out when the vans arrive. Oh Ashton, this is so scary!” She breathes, as I sigh. 

"I know, just do your job, and we will handle the rest. Everything is going to be alright.” I attempt to console her, but my tone says otherwise… 

Ruth was quiet for a moment, her mind working furiously as she processed everything. Then, her voice was steady once more. "I'll make sure they're safe. I'll get them out. I won't let Jacob get to them. Stay safe yourself, Ashton!" She warns, like a mother who had always cared for me. 

"Ok good, and I will, you don’t have to worry about me!" I said, my voice tight. "I'll handle the rest on my end. Just move quickly, Ruth. And don't wait for anyone. Get them out of there now."

"I'm on it," she replied, her determination clear. "Be safe, Ashton. Don't let him take anyone else."

"I won't," I promised, my teeth gritting as the fury surged through me once more. "We're finishing this today."

I ended the call, my gaze shifting back to the road ahead. 

“How close are we now?” I question Hunt, who hums at the map. 

“About forty five minutes.” He states, as I nod, claiming a small ounce of hope that we could do this. 

I could see the faint glow of lights in the far distance — Sawyer's pack territory on the horizon. 

We were close. So close. But still not close enough for my liking! 

I barked orders into the radio, calling for the convoy to tighten up and to move faster. 

We couldn't waste any more time. Every second that passed was a second closer to Jacob's army getting to Sawyer's pack first. 

We were going to have to outmaneuver them — catch them off guard before they even realised what was happening - just as they had done to Sawyer on the train! 

This was revenge! 

I could almost feel the weight of their footsteps, hear the whispers of their plans through the trees. But we weren't going to let them win. Not on this. Not ever again.

I slammed the gas pedal down if at all possible, the engine roaring as we surged forward into the breaking daylight, the rest of the army close behind me. Time was running out, but as long as we kept moving, we had a shot at taking them out swiftly and efficiently.

And Jacob?

He had no idea what was coming for him.

That was what he deserved…