Chapter 62 - The Alpha’s Goddess

~GUNNER'S P.O.V~

Was Callie really about to say, mate? I don't know how I feel about this, I've been so possessive over her, not wanting anyone to touch her, yet here we are battling the idea of another mate. The entire situation revolving around Callie has been confusing. However, I think this was the icing on the cake. Second-chance mates were unheard of, yet she found not only one, but she found three mates, all within a few months. That has to be fate... or destiny... or whatever you call it... right?

At this point, I was mindlessly walking behind Callie as she dragged my hand in the direction Blaine was standing in a moment prior. As we passed the living area where I knew he was, curiosity hit me to my core. What was he like? What would the bond be like since I didn't have a mate pull when I saw him earlier? And most importantly, am I okay with this? I have so many questions, but this isn't the time or the place. That bombshell was dropped at the worst time. But I knew she wanted, no need for me to know. This must have been all she could think about. I know what the mate bond is like, and I also know her. She is unbelievably strong for fighting their mate pull for me. It made me happy she didn't accept him immediately on account of me. Especially if she has been here for a week, like Lovette said, compared to the time it's been for me. That couldn't have been easy, I would know.

The weird thing is, why were a sister and a brother bestowed as our mates? I don't think me, and Leonidas are mates, but his sister was my mate at one point and Callie is my new mate. The circle is freakishly weird.

However, we all knew Callie was special and this, truthfully, wasn't a surprise. We have run into many different unexpected situations these last few months. At this point, anything is possible. Alpha wolves don't take to sharing easily. The jealousy that burned in my veins, that possessiveness, was gone when I thought about Leonidas with Callie. It's not like the feeling that I feel when I think of anyone else touching her. It was a strange thought to not feel this overwhelming feeling of jealousy and possessiveness. Maybe I am okay with her having a third mate? The only issue I face now is the idea of not being good enough.

Was I not good enough, that she needed more than what I could provide? It's not like she wished for it, it is not her fault that fate chose him as well to be her mate, it was just the way things had played out.

Maybe this was the current Moon Goddess's way of protecting Callie, by making it to where she had more than one shot at having a love so strong, like a mate’s bond, to keep her shielded and protected. That way, Callie would never have the life that she had.

I would always be there to protect, love, honor, and cherish Callie no matter what. I made that oath when I accepted her as my mate, which means, ultimately, in the end, I will accept that Leonidas is also my mate's mate. It will be strange at first, but if this is what our destiny is, then it is what must be done. Her having multiple mates was purposely done this way for a reason.

Hmm, there it is, I made my decision without even realizing I was weighing my decisions. Acceptance. It's a weird feeling, accepting that I will forever share my mate with another man willingly.

I shook my head to get my thoughts out of the direction they were heading. I need to focus on what's in front of us. The last thing I want is to be distracted and harm comes to my mate because of it. I know she can handle her own, but it's my primal instinct to protect what is mine.

I look around at my surroundings. The fighting had ceased, and the witches we brought with us were now standing strategically around the property to encase all of the 'enemies' or 'hostages', not sure what to call them all, but they all remained in a frozen state.

We must work fast. There is only so long they will be able to maintain the magic that is bounding the attackers. Plus, on top of that, we have no clue when Jakus will release the other half of his army.

"When do you think the second round of fighters will be released?" Callie asks as if reading my mind, breaking the silence among the three of us.

"I'm not sure. We did not train for this. He knew it would happen but he did not care to train us so we could stay alive. We were only pawns in his game. He doesn't care if we live or die." Blaine responded.

This man is the definition of evil. He was so vicious and malicious when it came to lives, human lives. He kidnaped, tortured, killed, and used so many people to his advantage. He has no care for the life they once lived or the life they currently live, even if it was half-life. How could someone be so evil?

"Okay, I will have to take my chances. We need to free the ones currently under control before moving to the ones that are not being controlled. I, unfortunately, can only do one at a time. I realized that when I helped you. I may be powerful, but this magic is some of the most powerful magic I have yet to face. I am still new to this magic stuff. It will take focus to bring them back. Therefore, I can only help one at a time. We need to start with this batch so that my casters can have a break from using their own magic. Then we can move on to the next group and pray to the goddess that we can help them before they are commanded to attack." Callie retorted.

I love it when she takes control of a situation like that, showing her true leadership qualities. You would think, as an Alpha Wolf, that it would upset me, since I am born to be the leader and, as an Alpha Wolf, we normally do not take to others controlling situations easily. But this was different. It makes me turn on by her dominance and power, not inferiority.

'Mate sexy when she takes control.' Timber speaks. He has been so silent this entire time, allowing me time to process this newfound information to sink in for us both.

'Damn right, she is.' I said back to him.

'We also need to put out orders. Tell the pack what's happening and what to do.' Timber pipes in again. Right, I need to keep them informed. Damn, all this shit has thrown me off my game. I shouldn't need my wolf to tell me what to do.

'I am what makes you Alpha, you need me to help your instinct kick in.' Timber says, stating the obvious. He is right, however.

"Okay, let's start with the group on the battlefield then," Blaine stated while turning in circles to look around at all the frozen bodies all around the land.

"I will gather them up, put them in a line so that once one is released, the next is right there." I finally chose to say.

Callie quickly turned around to face me. She reached up, placing her hand on my biceps.

"I love you, Gunner."

A smile spread across my face. Of course, I knew she loved me, but hearing it brings joy to my heart.

"I love you too, baby. Let's get to work, we have a lot to do." I pulled her flush into my body, her body molding into my own. I kissed her forehead before releasing her so we could get to work.

She nodded her head before turning away to start on the first victim of many. I take that as my queue to round up the frozen victims for her to easily access each of them.

There were people spread out all across the land. I sure hope this does not take a while, because we don't have time to spare.

'Everyone, please grab a victim or possible enemy near you. Since we aren't sure who is being held against their will and who is not at this point, please do not hurt them. Once you have someone, bring them to the middle of the compound. Everyone we are fighting against is being seen by your Luna in case of any magical bondage that may be holding them hostage. She can only do it for one person at a time, so we need to bring them to her.' I mind-linked the pack members that were brought to the mission so that the task is done quicker. It will help cut back on time, so none is wasted.

'Yes, Alpha.' I heard them all reply simultaneously.

'Also, this is only half of Jakus's army. Once this half of the army is treated by Callie, we will move to the camp where Jakus keeps them so we can help the rest of the hostages. Everyone understands?' This way, my pack understands the assignment and they are up to date on the situation as well.

We all knew that going into this, the plan might change. Especially since we had no idea what we were walking into. But this was not what I was expecting.

How had this gone unnoticed by the elders or hell even the royals? Weren't the royals, King and Queen of all werewolves for a reason? They monitored and kept all the werewolf population safe, or at least as safe as one could, so how could this not have been a red flag? How long has Jakus been kidnapping people that nobody truly noticed the pattern?

We can't change the past and bring back those who were lost from all of this, but what we can do is better the future, so that history does not ever repeat itself. We will fix this. Callie, me, and hell Leonidas too. We can't right all the wrongs, but we can create a better future for the world to have.

I grabbed the person closest to me, taking them to the line that had begun to form near Callie.

A scream pulled me out of my thoughts and back to reality. I looked up fast, my eyes scanning the area to find Callie again. My panic eased when I saw that it was only her starting to work her magic on the first person in the line. The scream came from him as he hollered in pain, just like Blaine did when we were inside when Callie broke his bond with dark magic.

The man continued to scream more as the magic fought to hold on. Ultimately, the magic is either going to kill its victim or release them from its hold. We are hoping for the latter. We didn't want to kill anyone, but it was a risk we had to take. There was no other way to save them, but also allow us to live.

I looked back at the castle, wondering if Leonidas was okay. Maybe if this was under control I could return to the palace and help him. I'm surprised that he is still holding his own against the most powerful Warlock, at least he was the most powerful. I'm beginning to think he may no longer be the most powerful. Callie is super fixated on completing her goal. I didn't want to interrupt her, so I let my Beta know what I was going to do.

'Hey Lak, I am going inside, y'all have this under control, I need to find him and end him.'

I'm not ready to tell him about Leonidas, mostly because I haven't had time to process it completely myself. But I also wasn't lying. I do need to find him and end him. Him meaning Jakus. But I also have the urge to check on Leonidas. Maybe I was tapping into Callie's feelings, or maybe they are my own. Hard to tell right now. Laken is about a hundred yards from me. He looked up to meet my eyes when he heard the link. Nodding in understanding.

'Yes, Alpha.' He responded while he dragged the person he had by the arm to the line.

'Keep your eyes sharp, protect Callie, and be safe. Link me if anything happens.'

Laken once again nodded his head in understanding. I quickly dropped the next wolf I had collected off at the line and turned to head toward the castle.

Seeing him up close and fighting alongside him is a way I can know if I can trust him. He is Jakus's son, after all, no matter the back story. Callie may trust him, but I have never even met him. I don't know the man. I need to see if he can be trusted.

I can tell the intentions of a bad person from a good person just by battling alongside them.

A bad person will do anything possible to win, including fighting to kill. Whereas a good person will do anything possible to stop them without actually having to kill them.

While fighting, you can tell who is who. Hell, you can by watching as well if you know what to look for.

I walked up to the broken door to the castle, breaching the threshold of the inside once again. The halls were now empty from any lingering people that were there the last time I was inside. All of them must be in the shelter at this point. I walked down the empty corridor to find the location where the fighting was coming from. I could hear crashing and banging coming from down the hall. They must be down there.

As I got closer, I could hear screaming along with random clashing sounds.

"DAMNIT BOY, YOU ARE MY FLESH AND BLOOD. STOP THIS MADNESS AND JOIN ME!"

"I WOULD NEVER!"

"You already got the girl! I knew she had freed you. All you have to do is kill the boy! Did y'all take me for a fool? Thinking I didn't know? It was my plan. For her room to be near yours, curiosity could get her, and she finds her mate. For her to think she saved you, and that way you and her could spend time together, to create a trauma bond on top of your regular mate bond. Then get her to trust you. Having you do the hard part for me, the part that is so natural for you. Did you think I would make the same mistake twice? No, No, No. After I found out the goddess' identity, I began to look into ideas to capture her young. That way I could groom her into thinking she loved me. But then you happen to be mated with her, fucking it all up."

"Stop talking about her!" I heard Leonidas's voice scream. The doorway was now visible to me, revealing them. They were both standing face to face. Leonidas's chest puffed up and down in anger.

"BUT.." Jakus continued to speak. “...after she disappeared, I had to figure out a new plan. A better plan. One that was more strategic. I thought this one was one, but once again I underestimated her and those around her. So now I have to go with my last resort backup plan. I always had you as one of my backup plans. My lucky rabbit ear, if I needed to go that route." He said, reaching up to tug on Leonidas's ear. Leonidas's lavender eyes burned with rage as he pushed his father's body away from his own.

"Do not touch me!

"Tsk-Tsk, So much rage inside that body of yours, potentially dangerous my boy," Jakus replies.

"You will never win. I will die before I let you win." Leonidas retorts back.

"My backup plan is fail-proof this time. I will win. I plan to swap bodies with, well you. Obviously, it was my last resort, but it has come to it. It's a pretty smart plan, truthfully. I just didn't want to be in your body if I didn't have to. But the time has come and there is no other way."

"You wouldn’t!"

"Oh, but I would, and I will. I will stop at no end to get my Goddess. The best part is she would never know."

"Yes, she would!" Leonidas screamed out.

"No, son, she won't. I have perfected the spell of any flaws. The mate's touch will still be there, the feelings, your memories I will have, all of it. This isn't a last-minute decision. I corrected the spell so that if I needed it, the option was there."

Leonidas was shaking his head in disbelief, the last bit of hope that his father loved him and wanted to be a real father was now gone. I could see the liquid of the tears in the corner of his eyes threatening to fall.

"Toughen up boy, it’s not like you've had a life anyways. However, I have to complete part one of my plan if I want it to work. I have to kill her worthless wolf mate with someone else's hands, in case she uses magic to see who killed him. Then I will trade bodies with you, her other mate. Making you, I mean me, the only mate left. She will need me, want me. And best of all, she would never know. Then I will use my new body to kill my old body. Making her not only need me but be thankful and love me more. See, I told you, a pretty damn smart plan."

Leonidas's eyes were shining in defeat. ABSOLUTELY NOT. NO MATE OF OURS WILL SUCCUMB TO DEFEAT. NOT NOW, NOT EVER.

"Oh, but that is where you once again underestimate her. She would know. And you will never win!" I decided to speak out, making both Jakus and Leonidas look my way. Before running at him at full force.

"Perfect, part one made it so much easier," Jakus says with a grin on his face as he snaps his finger two times.

Suddenly I was thrown into the air. Completely taking me off guard. What the hell!?

As my back hit the wall above the ground, I looked up to see another man standing between us. When the fuck did, he get here?

"Who are you!?" I screamed at the man who appeared out of thin air.

"Your worst nightmare!" He screams back, making Jakus smile once again at the encounter taking place in front of him.

"DO NOT HURT HIM!" Leonidas screamed at the man, putting his hand in the air, making the mysterious man levitate, his body dangling midair as he gasped to breathe. Leonidas was choking him with his magic, the magic he inherited from his father.

"Ah, come on Leon, put him down. He is like family, no need to hurt family, am I right?"

"DO NOT CALL ME LEON, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT, AND DO NOT TELL ME WHO IS MY FAMILY!" He screams as his other hand lifts, making his father also levitate in the air as the magic squeezes off any passageway for air. I quickly stood and walked over to his side.

"You don't have to do this alone," I said as he broke eye contact with his father to look at me. Finally, I was able to see him. He is not my mate; he was only Callie's mate. He felt more like a long-lost best friend. Someone I would trust with my secrets; someone I could trust with my life. Someone I could trust with my mate.

"I am here, we can do this together," I said again. I know he is probably thinking like I was. However, he finally breaks eye contact.

"Together." He said as he released the man who attacked me a moment before. That way I could fight him while he fought his dad.

Leonidas may be powerful, but he needed to focus on one person, not two, and I could help. We can do this together.