Chapter Thirty-Five

The Beginning of the War Against Elena

It all made sense to Edgar now. The random vampire attacks, the murders, Elena staging her own kidnapping. She’d even fooled Harry into believing someone was watching him. Elena had probably thrown her own ring at the park when she’d learned Harry was there. She’d planned this Grande scheme of hers when they’d first met at the Blue Moon Ball. He’d trusted her and never questioned her motives. She’d used him. She’d learned about the prophecy, tricked him into believing she too wanted peace between the packs and bided her time until his heir was due to be born. He understood now why he’d never been attracted to her during their time together. She’d never been faithful to him. Alpha’s sensed infidelity and rarely mated with a Luna that wasn’t faithful.

She’d also known he wouldn’t go through with his threat of exposing her to the Elders. News of problems within their union would leak out. The packs would become restless and before anyone knew it, animosity between the packs would lead to violence. Edgar sighed. Elena had masterminded her plan like a cold-blooded villain. He’d informed the Elders of everything in a hurried meeting over the telephone earlier. They didn’t have any solution to his problem, and wished him the best during his war on Elena. However, they’d warned him that both Elena and himself were to present

themselves in the Court of the Elders as soon as he had his baby back. He’d present himself in Hell if he had to just to keep his child.

“I’ve called every wolf and witch that owes you a favor,” Harry said. They were on a private jet to Arizona.

“Thanks.” Elena was probably safely behind the bewitched gates of her Utopian hideout. “What if we don’t make it inside?”

“We will make it inside,” Harry assured him. “Elena is not invincible. She used magic that’s in existence to keep unwanted visitors out of her fancy village. We can also figure out the magic if we have enough time.”

Harry was right. Celine Dark had assured him she’d join him in defeating Elena. She’d also warned him about letting too much time pass before they found the baby. They didn’t want Elena to bond with the child. Alia was still recovering from the birth. Celine had given her a magical potion to speed up the healing but she’d also told Alia to let her body heal the natural way. Edgar hadn’t allowed Alia to join his “army”.

“Carlos sent a message. Alia’s recovery is going better than expected,” Harry said.

Edgar’s heart broke. He couldn’t imagine Alia’s heartache. She’d carried his baby for nine months and hadn’t even had a chance to hold it or see it after giving birth. Damn Elena! He wasn’t going to spare her once he found her.

“Elena’s been spotted inside The Evening Club,” Harry told Edgar.

“My baby?”

Harry shook his head. “Nobody’s saying anything about the baby.”

Where had she hidden his baby? Would she have left the baby behind? No. The baby was the main source of her power. Elena wouldn’t let anyone near his heir.

“I cannot believe she planned this from the very beginning,” Harry said.

“Would you have told me if you’d known?” Edgar asked, giving Edgar a death stare, daring him to lie.

“I’m sorry, Edgar. I know that by now you know that I had an affair with Elena. I truly believed she was a good person and that she’d sacrificed her freedom to live with you so there would be peace between the packs. I had no idea she would use me the way she did. I had no idea about this Utopian town or city or whatever it is she’d building.” He sighed. “If I had known her true intentions I would have never had an affair with her as much as I’ve always had a crush on her.”

Edgar was silent for a long while. “Elena has that effect over people. Maybe if I had been younger, and in your shoes I would have done what you did. How can I hold it against you?”

Tears formed in his beta’s eyes. “You really are the best, you know that.”

Edgar managed a wry smile. “So I’ve been told.”

Edgar peered out of the window as they began their descent. The other magical beings had already arrived in their numbers. They looked like little figurines as they waited for him. Edgar’s hope lifted. He knew in his heart he had to take his baby away from Elena before she bonded with it. He doubted his child could be so easily fooled. Still, he didn’t trust Elena. Wat if she manipulated his heir and scarred him/her for life?

“Any idea who Elena has on her side?”

“I suspect she may have hired a few underworld demons. She may have new vampires on her side as well. Other than that, I did see a military base inside when we were there so I suspect she has enough weapons to wipe us out,” Harry said.

“She has enough weapons to wipe out a human army,” Edgar said, “have you warned the others about her weapons?”

“Yes, I did,” Harry said.

“Good. They should all be prepared. I don’t want any casualties during this encounter.” Edgar shook his head and sighed again. “All this is so unnecessary.” He didn’t like war. He’d never wanted a war while he was the reigning Alpha but his Luna had brought them to this point.

He fastened his seatbelt as the plane landed and prayed his ancestors would be on his side as he led his army into war.

They alighted the plane quickly. Edgar had asked his pilot to land in a makeshift strip as close to The Evening Club as possible to save time. Celine had brought along witches so old, they glittered in the sunlight from all the magic they’d acquired. Looking at his team of mixed supernatural beings awaiting his instruction, Edgar had hope.

“We await your instruction, Alpha,” Celine said.

Edgar nodded. “As per my pack’s rules, I must first give the enemy a chance to right their wrong.”

“Go ahead,” Celine said.

Edgar stood in front of the gates. “Elena, I know you can hear me. All I want is for you to return my baby and we can put an end to all this.”

Dead silence followed for a few moments.

Edgar sensed the beginning of a powerful force field. “Jump!” he told his army moments before the force field sent dust flying all around them.

***