Her Forever

Theon

Almost six hours of driving. We stopped to fill with gas but continued on. If you had to pee, tough s**t, we kept going. Thaddeus was growling, Damian being uncontrollable and wouldn’t let her go. Damian was just as unpredictable as Thaddeus. I could feel the rage building the closer we got back to the Red Moon pack.

As we just turned down the last dirt road, the dust flew into the air behind us, with the white passenger van riding our tail. Looking in the review mirror, the vampires were stoic as I continued to look in the review mirror. The ones in the front had their nails grown longer. The forest was too quiet, the birds in the trees were missing and the small forest animals were not even scampering in the woods driving by.

“I don’t like it,” Thaddeus growled. Trinity whimpered in his arms. The fever she sported for a few hours finally broke. Her drenched hair finally drying while I petted her hair.

“I don’t either, the entire area is a miss. The vampires behind us can feel it too.” The phone we carried to keep in contact with the van behind us rung, breaking us from our serious tone.

“Theon,” I spoke.

“Fresh b***d, and a lot,” Suron spat out through the phone. “Be prepared for a m******e. It’s that much.”

Gripping the phone, I still sighed with some relief. Our parents and sister were completely fine. I could feel their bond still as strong as ever, even Marco. “Our parents are still alive.”

“Thank the gods,” Suron let out a breath. “I think I would have turned around and headed back, no offence,” he chuckled. “We are with you, your highnesses. Has Trinity awoken?”

“No.” The disappointment in my voice echoed through the phone. She needed to wake up. Who knew what mess we would have to deal with once we arrived?

“There,” Thaddeus barked. Hanging up the phone, our vehicles breached the trees. What laid before us was much more that I had ever imagined. The entire courtyard, painted red. Wolves were being carried up to the pack house steps. B***d dripped down each step while their arms and legs dripped the crimson liquid. Small animals, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks littered the area, scorched to a crisp. The stench was awful, making me scrunch my nose up in disgust.

“Looks like a sorcerer had some fun,” Thaddeus’ voice rattled. The shifter bodies and bodies of animals were being pulled into large piles, being set on fire to clean the mess of bodies. So much b***d, so much metallic smell wafted the air. It was sickening, the bloodshed. Warriors we had less were few as they walked around the yard.

Dad was walking towards us, stepping in front of the truck. He was holding mom, passed out in his arms. No scratches were on her body, but her dress was torn in several places. Hair was disheveled and her hand covered in b***d, probably from the foreheads she had been touching.

The vampires stepped out before we could, bowing before our father with their arms across their chests.

“An honor to be in your presence, High King. We are here to lend you our services.” Dad only nodded, still wary of the species. It had been many years, but we knew his feelings. His feelings were just, our mom was kidnapped twice by vampires, so who wouldn’t?

Thaddeus came around the truck, holding his arms out for me to take our mate. Finally, I had her in my arms. My nose went to her hair, her head in the crook of my neck. “Wake up, mate,” I whispered in her ear. “Please come back to us.” Dad looked at Trinity and back at mom.

“Looks like our mates are tired,” he grunted.

“No, Trinity passed out six hours ago. She’s been sick. We can’t feel her wolf.” Dad shook his head.

“You can’t feel her because she isn’t there. There is no wolf.” Thaddeus and I looked at each other and back to dad.

“Get that b***d inside. Stacy and several other she-wolves are waiting.” Wasting no time, vampires grabbed coolers using their strength and vampire speed getting it into the pack house. Some slipped on the pooling b***d in the dirt, but easily recovered once seeing piles of bodies laying in the foyer.

“What do you mean, there is no wolf?” Thaddeus pulled on dad’s arm. “Where’d she go? Eva was there just this morning.” Dad didn’t let off any emotion, curling his fingers around mom.

“Eva is no longer a wolf, she is…” Loud horn honking rang through the trees. There were cars, trucks, hell, maybe even tanks coming this way. It wouldn’t be long before they got here. “Hide her,” dad ordered. I gripped Trinity, running into the pack house. Thaddeus stayed beside our parents to mind-link me any new information.

Bodies laid on couches, bare floors and kitchen counters. There was not a space open for another person to lay. The stairs had wolves in sitting position trying to stop their bleeding. The ability to heal had been weakened severely and mom’s healing could only help so much.

Trinity wiggled in my arms, continuing up the stairs to our room only to find more bodies laying on the floor. “s**t,” I hissed. I had nowhere to put her and I would not leave her either. Trecking back down the stairs to the second floor, I went to find her mother’s room. Surely her father wouldn’t have let anyone in that room. Knocking a few times, I heard a hissing noise.

“Folen sir? It’s me Theon,” he hadn’t let me call him dad yet so I’m covering my bases. I’m going to be on his good side because gods know Thaddeus is going to push his buttons, having his hands down her pants at the Luna ceremony.

The door opened with a creek. He stood tall, his eyes sunken into his face. “What happened?” Gesturing me in, I sat on the couch, holding Trinity to my chest.

“Evangeline, she’s changing and its got me worried sick.” Glancing over, it didn’t look like Evangeline at all. Small white hairs that framed her face from her red glowing locks were now painted the same color red. Her skin, once filled with a few wrinkles, was gone and her ears now pointed. A full-blooded human took on all the Elven genes and made her completely an elf. Trinity’s mother looked healthy, vibrant. So why was Folen so upset?

“She looks great,…” I trailed my voice. “Beautiful, what’s the problem?” Folen rubbed his forehead, kneeling beside her bed.

“There is a war going on outside. I’ve seen the m******e, but I couldn’t leave her. I couldn’t let her sit.”

“Folen, no one blames you for anything, for not fighting. You had to take care of her. She was human and helpless.” Folen shook his head again.

“What if she doesn’t want me anymore? Gods, she’s so beautiful, and I’m riddled with scars from my own battles. Besides that, she may want to be free from this world, go try to have a normal life without me. Evangeline doesn’t want all this to wake up to bloodshed.”

“Guess the bond makes you a love sick puppy no matter what species,” I muttered.

“What?” Folen snapped.

“Dude, she waited for you, took care of your daughter for all those years, tried to protect you. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” I didn’t have time to worry about his relationship problems, not when we had a damn military pulling up.

Honks and squeals of tires were heard outside. Laying Trinity gently on the couch, I ran to the window to look at the commotion. Eight large black SUVs rolled up into a circle surrounding the destroyed yard. Alpha Big Paw stood next to Seth and mom who was now standing on her own.

“The Kitsune,” Thaddeus mind-linked. “He’s here.” Holding my breath, everyone waited until one door opened to the SUV. Six bear shifters piled out, one by one, holding large machine guns. I wanted to scoff. What kind of Kitsune is this having damn bears loaded up with guns? More bears piled out of the SUVs until a stretch limo pulled up.

It was completely white, with black windows, not a speck of dirt on it. One bear ran up to the limo, pulling the door open. One shiny black shoe stepped onto a black mat, rolling towards dad and mom. It wasn’t until he had stepped out of the limo completely, buttoning his white business suit jacket, that I knew what we were dealing with. This dude had his own half-shift going on himself.

Dad’s half shift was a hell of a lot scarier. This was just freaky as s**t. He had a damn fox head on his shoulders and a bunch of tails and s**t coming out of his a*s.

“The f**k is that?” I mind-linked Thaddeus.

“I don’t know if I should hug it or not. It’s like this is the premier to the movie, ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ with George Clooney.”

I burst out laughing, as well as Thaddeus, who was standing beside dad. Everyone in the yard looked to Thaddeus, who quickly sobered up.

“I’m glad I amuse you,” the smooth voice of the Kitsune played. White fur mostly covered its body. A few areas really had the orange signature of your typical fox. “I am done playing games. I would like to see Trinity now.” The Kitsune moved some rings on its long furred fingers.

“Who are you?” Dad spoke harshly. “Don’t believe we have met.” The Kitsune had a slow chuckle, walking towards the King of Shifters. Theoretically, dad should be able to have him listen to his Alpha command, but this Kitsune must be serious news. Dad wasn’t even attempting it.

“The name is Izumi Kenji Haruto,” the Kitsune faked bowed, causing the bears to back away. “Now, give me Trinity or we will finish what’s left of your small militia. I’ve had my fun, but now I’m getting impatient.”

“She isn’t here,” Alpha Big Paw interrupted. Izumi chuckled. His throat bobbed a few times until the chuckle turned into a maniacal laugh. The bears in suits gripped their guns tighter, their suits flexing from the tension.

“Did you hear that, men?” Izumi waved two fingers, and a bear came forward. “Get her. She’s in the upstairs bedroom with her mother. Why don’t you invite her father down so we can do this properly?” Several bears followed the one up the stairs. Growling, I hovered over Trinity, Duke not enjoying being cornered in a room, but we had nowhere to go.

Immediately shifting, my arms stretched, my legs felt heavier while ripping my clothes, my head hitting the ceiling. My half form was as tall as fathers, and damn it hurt like a b***h to shift so quickly. Duke wasn’t playing games. We were to protect our mate at all costs, even if it meant enduring a s**t load of pain.

Folten grabbed his battling ax and knives in the corner. The door burst inward, showing three enormous bears. Once seeing me, they stepped back, only to regain their footing. Holding up their weapons, they aimed to fire, but Folten grabbed the first bear’s gun while I mauled the other’s faces. One gun went off, piercing my shoulder. Silver was inside the bullet. Not affecting me as bad as other wolves, the initial shock made me drop to my knees. The bears in front of us were long dead once my knees hit the ground.

“Stupid fuckers,” I heaved a breath. My body pushing the silver bullet out. Turning to check on Trinity, I see her body is now gone.

“TRINITY!” Duke howled along with me. The window being the fastest way down to the courtyard, we burst through the large window. Glass scraped our body, clinking around us as our paws hit the ground from four stories above. My heavy breath let out steams of smoke as I charged at the Kitsune.

I could hear my heart pounding in my ears, the b***d flowing through my body. Rage enveloped me like a blackened storm until my eyes found the Kitsune. Izume’s smirk fueled my anger. My giant body hovered over the smirking fox until my eyes shot lower. The fucker had my girl.

Trinity’s head lulled away from the Izume, only giving confirmation that it repulsed her even in her unconsciousness.

“Sit down, dog, you are making a mess.” Izume’s tails twitched and swayed as he sat down in a padded, elaborate chair made just for him. “You can come down now,” he called to Folten, who was at the top of the fourth floor. “I must ask you a question. No harm will come to your mate. After all, I don’t want her.” Folten was having an internal battle: save his daughter or save his wife. Folten’s parental instincts won out. He jumped silently to the ground, not even disturbing the glass below him.

Dad was flexing his fists, obviously upset that my mate was in the arms of another. Thaddeus must have shifted when I did, because now there were two half-shifters standing before a small fox.

“Come, come, wake her up,” Izume beckoned to my mom. Mom looked up at Dad who gripped his hand around hers.

“She will not,” Seth growled. Izume rolled his eyes, his fingers doing a wave. The bears went to another SUV behind the limo, pulling out a little girl and a female bear shifter. “Look, Queen Sadie! I found mama!” Mom gasped, realizing it was Naomi, a small little girl whose father was still locked in the pack house basement.

“I thought you left with the others!” Sadie cried. Mom tried stepping forward, but dad held her back. The little girl, oblivious to the dangers before her, held her mother’s hand. A black eye decorated her face. It wasn’t healing, which made me believe a small dose of silver was injected into her. The mother nodded her head, letting us know she was alright.

“Now wake her up,” the Kitsune cooed. “Or little Naomi will be a snack for a big, hungry bear.” One bear pulled Naomi to his front, a claw extended right under her neck.

“And this one is just right,” he snickered.

Mom looked at Dad. He wasn’t happy, but he knew what mom had to do. Her quiet footsteps, her bare feet hit the black carpet as she drew closer. My claws scraped against each other. Dad’s wolf was calling to mine and Thaddeus. Whatever plan our wolves were secretly working on must have been good, because they would not let us listen.

“The Kitsune can hear,” Mia mind-linked us. “He can read links.”

“Smart little wolf, aren’t you?” Izume he glared at Mia.

“Or so they say,” she growled back.

Mom’s fingers tickled Trinity’s forehead. Trinity jerked away from Mom. Izume held her tighter to his chest, making sure she could not fall from his grasps. Duke and Damian growled loudly, bears backing away slightly.

“Let go of the girl.” Mom looked into his bright yellow eyes. “I did as you asked.”

“I don’t think you are the one with the upper hand now, are you, Queen Sadie?” Mom let out a growl. You do not let mom growl at you, it means you are in deep s**t. Hell, dad and the rest of us stepped back. Mom’s claws grew long and thick.

“Might want to rethink that, fox.” Mom stepped forward, inching herself so her legs were now touching the overgrown fox. “Because I have powers you don’t understand, even if you are supposed to be clever,” she whispered.

The Kitsune’s eyes widened for a moment, he shook his head. Mom continued to keep her eyes on the fox. Squirming in his seat, he let out a terrible yell. The grip was loosened enough so I could grab Trinity by her arms. Pulling her away, mom continued to use a power that had evolved since the war.

Taking all the pain, the suffering to keep others healthy and pushing it back on to a single entity. Every single wolf she had healed, her body took their pain. Eventually, it had to go somewhere. Now she inflicted it on her current enemy.

“Quick! Get the child!” Mia screamed. With the wolves we had left, they jumped into action. Bears tried to retreat, but dad’s shift came quick and fierce. Bears fell with royals descending upon them. My arms gripped Trinity, using my legs to kick any willing bear to take her from me. Mom continued to stand pouring the negative energy on the Kitsune.

The only problem was that the energy would soon run out and the fox would regain his composure. He could not die from the released pain mom forced on him, but it was enough to cause a diversion.

Bohdi’s lightning weakened, she finally retreated behind the large oak tree along with Matthew and Ajax, whose sole purpose was to protect her.

Soon the bears were defeated, and all that was left was the fox. Mom’s body swayed. She was pouring too much energy into the cursed fox.

Dad swept in, grabbed mom, holding her tight. She was far above the ground, just as Trinity. Before Thaddeus could grab Izume, he had recovered, using an invisible hand to slam Thaddeus to the ground. Thaddeus tried to get up, only having his face smothered in the dirt soaked with b***d.

“ENOUGH!” Izume roared. Fire soaked his fur, red eyes beaming with fury. Once the blaze retreated, a snap of his fingers and Trinity was now gone from my arms yet again.

“Cute parlour trick,” he snapped. “But I still got my mate.”

“She’s ours!” Damian and Duke thundered. The ground shook and the remaining wolves left standing horrified. Our alpha voices still had no affect.

Trinity g*****d. Her face tried to move towards us, but the Kitsune lulled it back into his own tailored suit. “You know,” he stood up. “This was quite entertaining.” Izume’s gleamed with mania. “In all my years I have never seen such a performance, brava!” His shoes were now off his body from the violent spasms mom hit him with. I’d have to get her a fantastic Mother’s Day present.

“But now, I would like to speak to someone else. Folen, where are you, dad?” Izume mocked. Folen stepped forward, battle ax facing the ground dripping with the b***d of the Izume’s bears. “Now I know this is an old tradition, but I would like to ask, anyway.” He turned our backs to us, smirking as he did. Rustling in the trees made the wolves glance towards the darkness of the forest. The sun was setting, the moon was rising and now new dangers were coming.

More rogues, wolves and bears alike shifted amongst the trees. Our warriors g*****d quietly. This battle was far from over.

“Folen, I would like to ask to have your daughter’s hand in marriage. Choose your worlds wisely or your sleeping mate’s throat will rip to pieces.” Glass dropped from the fourth-floor window. A fox shifter, shifted into his human form, holding a knife glistening in the fleeting sun.