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Chapter 33 – Mist
“FUCK YOU!” Randall spat out as I delivered another rib-shattering blow to his side.
“We can do this all day! As I’m sure you recall, I have a healer who can heal you over and over again if your wolf gives up.” I taunted the piece of shit hanging in the cell before me.
“Tell me, Randall, did you feel the bond break when Victoria died?” I asked and delivered a bone-crunching kick to his leg.
He screamed in pain before he dropped his chin to his chest and let out a delirious laugh. “I’m sure you’ll feel the same when the master gets his hands on your mate and pup.”
“Azazel? Your master is Azazel. And you whored your daughter out for him to try and steal my DNA through a pup.”
“She understood what was at stake.” He yelped as I bent his finger back.
“And what exactly was at stake? Are you stupid enough to believe that Azazel would allow wolves to live if he could perfect his hunters with my DNA?”
“He took my mate. The only way to save my mate was to get him what he needed. Ares, please.” The sound of his begging infuriated Apollo and Zeus was raging behind me in the cell, waiting for his turn.
“Which mate would this be? The chosen mate? Or your fated mate, who also bore you a daughter?” His face contorted when he understood what I was asking. Apparently, Zeus had not told him about Hazel yet.
“What do you mean?” He asked knowing that he had been caught and Hazel did not die on the ship.
“HAZEL IS MY MATE!” Zeus roared and Zion was clearly in control now. “YOU HURT MY MATE!”
“You remember Hazel, don’t you? The sweet little she-wolf blessed by the Moon Goddess. The one you abused and repeatedly cut with silver to keep her wolf weak.”
“Blessed by the Goddess?” He asked.
“Oh so now you’re interested.” I laughed. “Did we forget to tell you that Hazel is elemental? Or did your mighty master fail to discover it while he had her caged up on the ship with my great-uncle?”
“Don’t worry Randall, I have no intention of killing you anytime soon.” Zeus sneered. “You’re going to suffer the way she has. And if I discover my mate was sexually abused in any way at your pack, I will line up every willing warrior to rape you over and over again with any wooden club, bat, or object they choose.”
“The master is coming for you.” He bravely tugged at his restraints. “You will not have your wolves to help you. YOUR DAYS ARE OVER, ALPHA KING!”
I turned to Zeus and smiled. “Can you believe the balls on this guy? Still making threats while he’s hanging in my dungeon.”
“I can fix that for you, My King.” Zeus bowed his head and smirked as he stepped out of the cell. He stopped at a small table outside the cell and selected a small knife. A moment later, Randall let out a blood-curdling scream as Zeus held Randall’s balls in his hand.
“I don’t think you’ll be needing those anymore.” I told him as Zeus shoved his balls into his mouth to muffle his agonizing screams.
A few hours later, Eudora and I left the last wooden house in the woods that belonged to one of our deceased warriors. My mate looked exhausted, and I knew werewolf pregnancy fatigue was starting to get to her human body.
“Twin lycan pregnancy fatigue.” Apollo reminded me and scooped her up.
“Ares, I can walk.” She looked up and noticed my eyes had darkened. “Apollo my sweet guy, I love you.” She said as she relaxed in my arms and allowed Apollo to carry her. I chuckled thinking of how she insisted on walking when she thought I was carrying her but had no resistance to Apollo carrying her.
“That’s because she loves me.” Apollo teased.
We entered our chamber and found Yia-yia in the nursery dressing a freshly bathed baby. Eudora laid down with Lukas tucked into her side and I linked Selene to please send dinner up to our room for my mate. We had been so busy visiting all the families, we missed dinner with the others.
“Selene is going to send up some dinner for you. I’m going to go downstairs and meet with my father and brothers, make sure no one is planning Balthazar’s murder.”
“But he’s immortal.” She smiled.
“It’s going to be hard for my father and grandfathers to give her up.” I let out a sigh, knowing it was going to be hard on me too. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to respect the wishes of the Gods.”
“She’s not dying, she’s going to be with her mate. It’s not like the family doesn’t own private jets and helicopters.”
“I’ll be sure to remind my mother when she starts crying. Get some rest after you eat, I’m going to have a quick bite in the kitchen before I return. If you need anything, there’s a guard outside the door.” I linked the others to meet in my office and went downstairs.
“Has anyone seen Demeter?” Grandma Syble asked as I entered my office.
“She wasn’t at dinner, and she’s blocked out the mind link.” My mother responded and looked at Xena. Those two were thick as thieves and if anyone knew, it was Xena.
“It seems she’s avoiding me.” We turned to find Alpha Balthazar had entered the office with Pappoús.
“I’m sure she’s just surprised and maybe a little confused.” Xena tried to explain.
“Yes, well, I’ve waited two thousand years for her, what’s a few more days.”
“Maybe she doesn’t like long hair?” Wylder shrugged.
“Don’t be stupid, his hair is gorgeous.” Xena retorted and thwacked her brother on the arm.
“Then maybe she’s jealous it’s better than hers.” Wylder said as he ducked a second swipe from Xena.
“I can cut my hair.” Alpha Balthazar chuckled.
“Nah man, it’s fine. It gives her something to pull.” Wylder roared with laughter and this time my mother pulled on Wylder’s ear.
“Are you planning to return to Cyprus with her?” Poseidon asked.
“I do not know. She may choose to reject me. Her wolf seems to be afraid of my beast.”
“Damia is a force of nature, I can’t believe she would be afraid of her mate.” My mother said and released Wylder’s ear, which was now as red as his hair.
“Damia.” He smiled. “Named after the force of nature Goddess. Sounds about right. Our beasts are not like yours. They do not connect and communicate as yours do. The beast of a lycan is more feral. While they understand everything, they communicate through emotions, touch, growls, snarls, and roars. They do not speak to us as your inner wolf does. The beast understands territory, dominance, power, hunger, death, mating, and procreating. The wolf that lives within us is our feral dark side.”
“Now that you’ve found your mate, won’t that make you vulnerable during the war?” Mateo asked.
“No. The curse will not be broken until we have fully mated.” Balthazar answered.
“You don’t have to fight tomorrow night.” I offered.
“My beast recognizes your son as his king and Balthazar means to protect the king. It has taken two thousand years, but I know I’m right where I need to be if the Moon Goddess has finally granted me a mate.”
“That sure is a lot of patience!” Wylder looked impressed.
“My brother will not play fair. He will not simply march into the territory with hunters and hope to beat you. We can count on all of them to be armed with poison-dipped silver bullets. He probably has no idea Miller told you about that. But we can also count on the unexpected from him, whatever that may be.” Ambrose said.
“What if he’s not ready to attack the Moon Realm yet and attacks another pack tomorrow night?” Aunt Anabeth asked.
“That could also happen, but we’ve prepared the other packs with wolfbane dart guns, and many have built impenetrable bunkers for the new moon phase.” I replied.
“And you’ve prepared the bunker here for everyone in the Moon Realm?” She asked.
“Yes. We have two. One is beneath the training arena and the other is below the pack house. There’s also a hidden passageway that leads out to a cave near the lake, in case there’s a need to evacuate.” I told her.
“Moon Realm East also has a big bunker below the pack house. I will secure everyone in after lunch before I return for the war.” Poseidon told us.
We spent the next hour discussing and reviewing plans for tomorrow. We planned to start in the morning with the funeral services of our lost warriors, followed by a pack meeting to discuss the plan, then lunch, and finally secure our pack members in the bunkers with food for the evening. When we finished, I thanked everyone and slipped into the kitchen for something to eat before I joined my mate upstairs.
I found Grandma Dori in the kitchen sipping her cup of strong black coffee.
“Grandma, when this is over, I’m taking you to Little Havana for some of their Cafecito.” I told her as I recalled the strongest coffee I’ve ever had.
“Is it stronger than Turkish coffee?” Balthazar asked as he entered the kitchen.
“Well I’ve never had either but I’m willing to try anything once.” Grandma Dori smiled. “Honey, have you eaten? There are plenty of leftovers.” She asked as she started preparing me a plate.
She offered Alpha Balthazar some and he declined, instead, he asked for a cup of black coffee.
“Just the way I like my coffee too.” She smiled as she set down the cup. “You know I’m only nineteen hundred years younger than you, if Demeter doesn’t realize the gem she has, I’m single.” She winked at him, and we both burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Demeter appeared at the back door, looking like she had just returned from a run.
“Oh, dear. Demeter sweetheart, there’s plenty of leftovers, help yourself. I forgot I needed to return that…um… thing to Raven. Excuse me, boys.” She smiled as she walked out with her cup of black coffee.
“Me too. My mate is probably hungry again, you know how it is growing twins.” I lifted my plate and scampered out of the kitchen to give them time alone.
The next morning, Demeter sat quietly next to Alpha Balthazar and neither said much during breakfast. Zeus was late when he joined us for breakfast, but judging from the redness of his knuckles, Zion was releasing his frustrations on Randall. We made our way to the cemetery as each warrior was laid to rest.
Alpha Balthazar and Ambrose did not join us. Instead, they waited for the arrival of hundreds of vampires at our southern border. Every vampire and coven my father and grandfather helped had volunteered. Most of the vampires, loyal to the Vampire King, on the continent, joined as well.
After the services, we held our pack meeting in the pavilion. I informed the pack of our plan and of the hundreds of vampires who had graciously agreed to help us fight against the hunters. I asked Doctor Kendra to ensure the medical staff was split between the two bunkers with all the supplies they might need.
I dismissed the meeting and made my way to the southern border to greet our guests. One of the vampires who was the head of his large coven informed us that Azazel tried to rally the few witches and warlocks still alive to help him. Sensing his unnatural aura of dark magic, they went into hiding, refusing to help in any way.
The tension filled the air as we prepared and moved people into the bunker after lunch. We split the warriors between the bunkers and armed them with dart guns and weapons in the event anyone was able to reach the bunkers. This also meant I had to split up the family to help maintain calm in the bunkers. Grandpa Crow, Grandma Dori, Ally, Xena, Chris, and Conner joined the bunker under the arena. Paola, Tymber, Hazel, Eudora, and Lukas were guided to the bunker below the pack house. Yia-yia and Grandma Syble both put up a fight, insisting they wanted to join the fighting, but my mother was not having any of it. They finally acquiesced when my father reminded them Lukas was the target, and he would need his elemental Grandmothers to keep him safe.
“The mind links won’t work down here because of the thick stone and iron that surrounds the walls. There’s a wired phone on the wall next to the door. No one opens the door unless they hear from us.” I reminded them and moved to my mate and pup.
“Please be careful.” Eudora whispered as I pulled her into my arms.
“It’ll be over before you know it, mi amore.” I kissed her sweet lips and then placed a kiss on Lukas’ head. “You should lay down for a nap, the stress can’t be good for the babies.” I rubbed her belly and kissed her again before I locked them in the bunker. Zeus led Earl and Chip to the main floor of the pack house so they could guard the stairs leading down into the bunker.
It was late in the afternoon and the moon was set to enter the new moon phase at a quarter to six this evening. Nearly five hundred vampires stood motionless around the center of the territory, armed with dart guns, scorpion whips, and swords. Ambrose stood in the middle of the field with Alpha Balthazar and flanked by my in-laws. I had instructed them to allow a hundred-foot distance between their front line and the tree line, to ensure their safety from my fire. This was going to be our kill zone.
Demeter and Pappoús took the northern metal box on the rooftop, which Wylder termed a Crow’s nest, instead of the bird’s nest. Pappoús was a master with his earth element and insisted on helping Demeter. Mateo gave him healing to help his energy and took his place in Poseidon’s metal box on the western wing of the pack house.
My father was in the southern facing box with my mother and refused to leave her side. Zeus occupied the nest on the eastern side with Aunt Anabeth. I was high enough on the roof to take flight and rain down fire.
Feeling the need to calm Apollo down, I broke into a run and jumped off the roof. I soared into the air and looked out over the territory. The lake looked calm, but Wylder stalked the waters deep in the lake watching for enemies to arrive by boat. I turned to the northern mountains, and they seemed vacant. The east appeared to be still, and the southern hills were quiet.
“Something isn’t right.” Apollo said and I felt it in the air as well.
“Mom, can you sense aura’s approaching?” I asked through the mind link.
“We’re about five minutes into the new moon phase. I can’t sense anything, but it doesn’t mean they’re not waiting until later in the night to sneak in under the full cover of darkness.” She linked back.
Five hours later, and there was still no sign of the hunters. I asked my father if anyone had called to report an attack and there was nothing. I was starting to wonder if Azazel had retreated due to the destruction of his hunters at the everglades camp when I noticed it.
Black mist. It had started forming over the woods around our territory. It drifted in like smoke and floated over the hills, cloaking everything in the shadow of darkness. It was a clear sign of dark magic, and I knew Azazel had finally arrived.