Saving Tragedy Chapter 125

**Ashton's POV**

The low rumble of the car engine filled the silence between us, broken only by the rhythmic swipe of the wipers against the windshield as they cleared the thin sheen of rain clinging to the glass.

The roads were dead at this hour — close to four in the morning — but the weight in the air still hung thick and heavy, the night not quite ready to loosen its grip on us just yet.

We were nearly home.

Hunt sat behind the wheel, his knuckles tight around the steering wheel as his sharp eyes scanned the dark stretch of road ahead — but I could feel his impatience radiating off him like a live wire.

Neither of us had heard a single fucking word from the girls since we'd left Sawyer's territory hours ago.

Not from Rose. Not from Lydia.

Nothing.

That alone was enough to have my wolf gnawing at the edges of my control — already spoiling for a fight after the shitstorm we'd just crawled out of.

But this?

The silence?

It was eating away at me worse than anything.

I should've called her.

I wanted to call her.

But I couldn't trust myself not to lose my fucking mind over the phone if I heard her voice.

Not after what she'd pulled earlier.

Not after I'd told her to get the fuck back inside — and she still had the nerve to hesitate.

The only reason I'd sent that single text instead of calling was because I'd known if I heard one ounce of defiance in her tone, I would've snapped.

It wouldn't have mattered that I was hours away.

It wouldn't have mattered if I didn't get to check in on Sawyer at the hospital. 

I would've driven all the way back home in that moment, just to drag her ass inside myself! 

I could still feel the rage simmering low in my chest at the memory of the guard's phone call — his voice strained as he'd informed me that both Rose and Lydia had been refusing to listen to orders.

Like a pair of fucking toddlers.

I clenched my jaw, my fingers twitching against my thigh.

"You think they're asleep?" Hunt finally muttered, breaking the silence.

I snorted under my breath, my eyes still fixed out the passenger window.

"Not for fucking long they won't be."

Hunt's mouth curved up into a dark smirk, but there was a flicker of worry buried beneath it.

Same as mine.

We were pissed — no doubt about that — but that didn't mean the fear hadn't been there too.

It still was.

We'd been out in that hellhole for the last twenty-four hours, fighting tooth and nail to make sure Jacob's fucking scum didn't rip through Sawyer's pack the way they had planned to...

Meanwhile, our women had been back home — safe.

Or at least, they should've been.

But they couldn't just sit still and wait.

They never could.

"I don't give a shit if she's asleep," I muttered, dragging a rough hand down my face. "She's gonna hear what I have to say, whether she wants to or not."

Hunt huffed out a quiet laugh, but I could tell by the way his fingers flexed against the wheel that he was right there with me.

Lydia was in for it just as much as Rose was — they both were.

I hated snapping at her.

I hated fighting with her at all, if I was honest.

But when it came to her safety — to Tommy's safety — she didn't get a fucking say.

I was the Alpha.

What I say, goes. 

I get the final word. 

She knew that.

She just liked to push me to the edge sometimes — just to see how far I'd let her go before I dragged her right back in line.

But with this, she'd gone too far. This wasn't a silly test or game. They could've gotten hurt! 

"You think they'll try to play it sweet?" Hunt mused, his tone wry.

I could already picture it — those wide, innocent eyes, the little apologies slipping from her mouth...

It wouldn't work.

Not this time.

"Not a chance," I muttered, my jaw grinding. "I won't fucking fall for it."

Hunt snorted again, clearly not convinced — and if I was being honest with myself, neither was I.

Rose had a way of worming herself under my skin no matter how pissed off I was.

But she wasn't talking her way out of this one.

Not tonight.

Not after I'd spent the last few hours imagining what could've happened if another prisoner had managed to escape or worse, a stray rogue had infiltrated the pack. It only takes seconds for a wolf to rip them all apart before the guards could intervene! 

I had placed the whole damn pack on high alert during my absence only to have their Luna out sunning herself? It was a selfish decision on top of everything else! 

I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second, forcing the thought away before it could drag me any deeper into that pit of panic.

They were both fine.

They were safe.

Thankfully nothing bad happened - although it damn well could have! 

And soon enough, they'd both be facing the consequences of thinking that they knew better than us!

The pack was coming into view now, tucked away behind the shield of tall wood trees, with more security posted than I'd ever seen at this hour around our borders. 

Good.

At least they'd followed through on that much. 

The pack was a fortress in my absence, nobody got in or out unless I said so. 

The guards stiffened the second they clocked the car approaching, but as soon as they caught sight of me through the windshield, they were already waving us through without a second's hesitation.

My presence alone was enough to send them scrambling — as it should be. An Alpha had to be respected, and thankfully, I more often than not, was. 

"Alpha." One of them gave a sharp nod as we rolled past, his voice carrying through the crack in the window.

I gave a grunt in return, but my eyes were already fixed dead ahead — on the dark shapes of the first pack houses at the far end of the track.

I could see the faint glow of few lights still on as we drove through the main town before eventually reaching our gated community. 

We drove on, climbing the hilled driveway, as my humble abode finally came in to view with guards still plastered around the gardens and perimeter... 

The living room light was still flickering behind the curtains which was odd as my eyes darted towards the time in the car once more. 

Are they still awake? 

Good! 

I wanted Rose awake! 

We drove through the gates as they opened for us, driving across the stony path to get closer to the house where the guard from the phone call earlier awaited our arrival. 

They would no doubt be exhausted too, having not moved from their position since I had given the strict orders... 

Hunt killed the engine as we pulled up outside the house, not bothering to properly park the car, but neither of us moved to get out right away.

The tension crackled thick in the air between us — both of us wound tight and ready.

We watched the guard descend down the steps, approaching my window, as I forced myself to open the door. 

"How were they?" I test, as he bows his head briefly out of respect for me first. 

"We thankfully didn't have to use any force with them Alpha, but we did warn them that you gave us permission to! They took their time, but they did get the boys inside eventually..." He provides me with an update, as I shoot daggers through him. 

"Should've just hauled them in there!" I state, pissed off, not at him but at Rose for taking longer than necessary to follow a direct order. 

I watched as he pulled at his collar, nodding; "They sure did test us sir! But they went inside and haven't left since." He concludes, as I sigh out heavily. 

"Very well. Thanks for your efforts. You and your team are dismissed for the night - go home and get some rest." I nod, as he bows his head once more and looks somewhat relieved. 

After he hurried off, I let out a low, humorless laugh.

"They took their time going in... of course they fucking did." I breathe, as Hunt clicks his tongue in disbelief. 

I shoved the door more open without another word, climbing out before slamming it shut behind me. 

The bitter night air hit me like a slap to the face — cold and sharp — but it did nothing to cool the heat still boiling beneath my skin.

Hunt came up beside me, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

"You ready for this?" He tested. 

I huffed out a breath, rolling the tension from my neck.

"Been ready since the second she fucking disobeyed me."

I didn't wait for him to follow — didn't give myself another second to think.

I stalked up the steps, twisted the door handle, and stepped into the house.

The second I crossed the threshold, the scent of her wrapped around me — soft and familiar beneath the lingering tang of burnt popcorn. It begged to calm my wolf, tested me in every way, but I held on to my anger. 

I wouldn't let this one slip... 

My pulse kicked harder against my ribs, my wolf rising beneath the surface like a shadow.

There was no going back now.

It was time to face my defiant little Luna.

And she was about to learn the hard way that disobedience always came with a price...