Flames of Fury

Magnolia

It’s almost physically painful to be sitting on the sidelines while my people, my family, fight to get everyone out of Shadowmoon. It’s more frustrating when I have to wait for answers, wait for other people to get those answers and then report to me.

Who was attacking us? Why? Is everyone out? Is everyone safe?

I don’t need to be in the thick of the fight to know the answers to the two former questions.

I know who.

I know why.

The only question that really matters now is what am I going to do about it? I almost laugh out loud at myself because I can practically hear Ro and Varian growling in my mind, correcting my inner thoughts to say ’what are we going to do about it?’

I paid a heavy price the last time I tried to solve something on my own, and looking at Cole and Calla in my arms now I know it’s not a price I can afford to pay again.

Ember sits across from me in an oversized armchair, she rests her chin on her knees which are tucked up to her chest with her arms wrapped around her legs. The sweatshirt she wears is pulled over her knees and legs effectively cocooning her. After being in the Hollow for so long I can empathize with how large the Grove feels, it can be comforting to curl up and confine yourself into a smaller space.

“We knew this would happen.” Ember says to me softly, almost apologetically. “We knew he’d come for us.”

“Mm,” I nod slowly without meeting her eye. “I just didn’t anticipate him going after the pack.” That’s the thing that’s most frustrating about Ian, he’s always one step ahead of me. Just when I think I’ve got him figured out or finally have the upper hand, he knocks me on my ass.

“I don’t even know where to start,” I admit to her. “I feel like I just got done apologizing and explaining myself to literally the entire colony. Now I have to go back and explain to everyone, Grove and Shadomoon alike, why the pack is here and why they’re my responsibility too. Oh and by the way my name isn’t Syble, I’m not some random member of the Grove, and – surprise! – I’ll be the Luna of Shadowmoon. Oh, and I’ve already had your Alphas’ babies.”

“What about our babies?” Varian’s voice rumbles from behind me. He looks exhausted. His clothes and skin are covered in ash, dirt, and blood, but it doesn’t stop me from leaping out of my chair, babies and all, and pressing myself into his chest.

“What took you guys so long? What happened? Tell me everything.” I demand.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ro fists the back of my hair and angles my head so our mouths fit together perfectly when he leans down to kiss me. “Sorry we took so long, Princess. We,” He scratches at the back of his head, hesitant to finish his sentence. “We had a few members to bury.”

My eyes screw shut and my lips pinch into a hot slash of red against my face. Feeling my heat, the guys each take one of the babies from my arms.

Immediately I drag my thumb and middle finger over my brows, repeating the gesture almost ritualistically as I pace the room. I can’t sit or stand still any longer, my nerves are like livewires flailing about and sparking angrily. Flames ignite between my fingers as I run them through my hair, gripping the roots in frustration and in a weak attempt to ground myself.

“Start from the beginning, every detail.”

“Well you were here when Incandis barged in,” Ro tries to lighten the tale by shooting me a salacious grin. “When we got to Shadowmoon he and Xander started teleporting pack members back immediately while we tried to put out the fires. It was overwhelming, though, we couldn’t keep up. So we focused on getting people out.”

“We killed most of the attackers,” Varian picks up where Ro left off. “But we captured one alive and Incandis brought him back here for interrogation.” Both of my Alphas growl at the mention of a captive being here in the Grove, in the cells beneath where we stand.

“He can’t hurt anyone, he can’t hurt Mags.” Xander says to them like he knows exactly why they’re growling.

If Ro and Varian hear him they don’t acknowledge it, instead Ro continues recounting today’s events. “Once the attack was over we did a sweep of the grounds, putting out fires and checking for anyone still trapped or needing help. We recovered twelve bodies, mostly warriors.”

“Mostly?”

“Seven were warriors, then there was the mate of one of the warriors, and another was a twenty-three year old female. Sarah.”

“That’s nine.” I gesture for them to keep going because, yes, I’m keeping count. Ro’s eyes dart to Varian for a fraction of a second but I see it. I see his hesitation, I feel his reticence. Whoever the other three victims are, he’s nervous to tell me.

Varian shakes his head nearly imperceptibly while I focus on reading Ro’s face but I catch the disturbance of his hair, the way his eyes harden in warning before looking back down at Calla.

They’re not nervous to tell me. No. That’s not it.

They’re afraid of my reaction. They’re worried about what I’ll do with the truth.

Tell me.

Mags, they’re no one you knew. Let it go. Varian implores me with his eyes, begging me to just accept a number without the details.

Don’t lie to me. Don’t punish me more. If I’m truly your mate then that makes them my people too. I’m shouting through our link by the end.

“The other three victims,” Ro begins slowly, softly, “were all females in their mid twenties. Light blonde hair, almost white. And… all due with pups in the next couple of weeks.”

His words hit my ears like a gunshot, leaving a lingering ringing that silences everything else in their wake. My world tilts off its axis and I fight to keep the bile in my throat from rising any higher.

“That goddamn son of a bitch,” I whisper under my breath to no one in particular.

“Who?” Ro asks, not putting the pieces together quite yet.

My jaw clenches together and I half-heartedly fight the snarl tugging on my lip, “Ian.” His name drips like acid from my tongue. “Who else could it have been?” It’s a rhetorical question but I pose it nonetheless.

“The women that died,” Xander begins but trails off when I meet his eyes. I think I understand what he’s getting at so I finish his thought for him.

“They all looked like me. Young adult, blonde, pregnant. They weren’t casualties – they were targets.”

There’s a long stretch of silence where no one moves or says anything as they watch me pace around in thought. Eventually I move to sit back down in my arm chair, resting my elbows on my knees which bounce with irritation. My head hangs below my shoulders and my hands are clasped behind my neck.

Ro and Varian come over and sit on either arm rest but neither says anything to me, they just hold our tiny babies in their massive arms and wait for me.

It’s Xander that finally asks the question. “What do you want to do, Mags?”

I scoff at the question, because there’s a dozen ways to answer it depending on who will be on the receiving end of the “what” it is that I’m doing.

I want to do a lot of things.

I want to flambé Ian and every one of his followers. I want to see pictures of everyone that died in today’s attack so I can make sure I picture their faces as I avenge them. I want to know how everyone in the infirmary is doing. I want to tell my colony and the Shadowmoon pack that they’re finally safe.

I lift my head up with renewed focus and determination. “I need answers, now. I want everyone, and I mean every single person who spent even one minute helping with today’s attack, in the war room immediately. Then tonight we’ll serve dinner in the ballroom so I can address everyone in one place. I want the entire colony and all of Shadowmoon in attendance. In fact, get my mom and Accalia to handle that.”

Xander levels a look at me that says ‘yeah fuckin’ right.’ “The war room I can do, but…”

“No, I know. You’re right. I’ll talk to my mother. Get Incandis to help you get everyone in the war room. I’m going to go find my mom now.”

Xander walks over towards Ember and holds his hand out, “I’ll take you down now, if you’d like.”

Ember looks at me like she’s asking for permission before standing and taking his hand, both of them disappearing the moment their skin makes contact.

“You guys at least going to take a shower before we go downstairs?” I turn and face Ro and Varian who look at me now with blackened eyes.

Varian’s voice is as smooth as silk. “If we shower, you shower. And if that happens now…”

“...after that Alpha Female display, making your demands…” Ro continues.

“...then we’ll never make it downstairs in time for the meeting.”

“Or possibly even dinner.” Ro finishes their back and forth by nailing me with a wicked smile holding promises of delicious, vulgar intentions.

***

We find my parents in their suite along with Accalia and Raine. I’m relieved that they made it out unscathed. I’m momentarily surprised that they didn’t come looking for us sooner, but after a second thought I realize my father must have told them that everything was handled and to go relax as much as they can.

We haven’t spoken to Ro’s and Varian’s parents since we last saw them in Shadowmoon two days ago, and at that time tensions were high. I don’t know how seeing them now will go over with the guys, and I don’t know how our parents will react to us having had the twins and not formally announcing anything yet.

In my defense, it’s been less than 24 hours and I’ve kinda been a little busy. I think they’ll forgive me.

“Hello, sweetheart, how are you feeling?” My mom greets me as I’m walking in the door, but when she catches sight of my shrunken belly her forehead creases with confusion.

Before she can ask me about it, Ro and Varian walk in behind me holding Cole and Calla.

Immediately my mom and Accalia gush, “oo-ing” and “aw-ing” at my sleeping bundles of joy. They take the twins out of Ro’s and Varian’s reluctant grasp, earning themselves small growls from the Alpha fathers.

The guys lead me to a couch and pull me down into their laps, replacing the babies with me in their arms, like they can’t stand not holding onto one of us.

“Magnolia, when did they arrive? Why didn’t you tell us, darling?” My mother scolds me with no real heat behind her words, completely captivated by her granddaughter.

“Yesterday evening. It was rather sudden.” I try to be as vague as I can.

“It was perfect.” Varian purrs, nuzzling into my neck.

I’m sure if I looked at my parents right now their jaws would be on the floor. I’ve never been overtly affectionate with a guy, let alone two. At least not publicly. And definitely not in front of my parents.

“We’re so happy to see you three reunited,” Accalia directs her words at us but her eyes are glued on Cole. “And we’re so happy to see you, too. Yes we are.” Her voice goes up an octave and gains a sing-song quality to it as she now speaks to her sleeping grandson.

I can feel Varian’s snarl before I hear him growling at his mother’s words.

“We didn’t come here to discuss how you almost cost us our family.” Ro snaps angrily.

“Actually,” I say a little too quickly and a little too loudly, “mom, I need your help. Would you and Accalia be able to organize a colony-wide dinner in the ballroom tonight? Including all of Shadowmoon?”

“Tonight?” She confirms.

“Yes, please. We have a lot to address with both factions.” My gaze settles on my newborns.

“That you do. Consider it done, my darling.” I knew I could count on my mom for this, she loves planning events. If anyone can get it done, even on such short notice, it’s her.

Ro and Varian happily collect Cole and Calla from their grandmothers and together we leave them to get started on the dinner while we head for the war room.