The God of War - Editing

Max POV

The words came out of Aphrodite’s mouth in a rush. Ares took control, pulled her with so much force to his chest, and sniffed her neck. “I won’t let anything happen to you, my love.” His words had desperation, and I didn’t know who was after her. Which pack would be bold enough to try to take her from us?

“I need you to be strong, Ares. They cannot take us apart this time. There are so many packs outside. They will hurt many people if you don’t act fast.” Many packs? Was it a war knocking on our door? Aphrodite’s words had certainty, as she had already seen it, and perhaps Ares sensed it too, as yesterday he was on edge.

I shook my head at the back of Ares’ mind. No, Ares was obsessed with Julie yesterday. They were not here because they wanted Aphrodite’s power. They were here after Julie. Either way, we would fight to protect what was ours.

Ares took a deep breath, and his eyes flashed brighter looking at her. “We need to go get you and everybody to safety. They are close now.” Ares told Aphrodite, and I felt in my bones people being crushed.

“Ares, give your command on the mindlink first to the warriors on patrol. They are closer to danger. And then wake everybody up on the pack’s mindlink.” I was glad. Ares had not blocked me. I knew I had to follow Ares’ instincts now. I always had, but we always prepared together to go to war. We talked about strategies beforehand, and this was new even to us.

Ares concentrated and delivered his message to everyone, as I had said. We knew by the time we were back to the pack house. Everybody would be ready. But I felt I had to give my command to Terry. “Terry, there is a war coming to our borders. I want you, Karl, General Carson, and Ger in the war room. Ares is in control now and will get there soon.” Terry was already up, and I could sense the chaos coming from the village.

Ares and Aphrodite ran outside, shifted quickly, and started running towards the pack house. I mindlinked my dad, too. My parents would be safer in the pack house, and I was pleased to discover they were already on their way there.

Ares got his shirt to Aphrodite and shorts for himself on the back porch before heading to the war room. We got to the pack house very fast, and the people that could not fight were getting into the pack house to find the safe room. There were warriors everywhere helping the elders and the small pups.

Ares held her hand, and they walked together to the war room, where everybody was waiting. Everybody looked at Ares as soon as he opened the door, and I was glad he did not feel the need to project his aura against them. We needed everybody strong now and not fearing their Alpha.

Ares looked at the table with our map, took a deep breath and put his hand on it. Aphrodite’s hand squeezed his like she was concentrating too. “They will attack in the further borders. You will need to spread your men General. You must lead a quarter of the wolves to the Southern border and the Head Warrior the other quarter to the Western. My Beta will take the North.” Ares was confident in his commands to his men. He knew precisely where the warriors needed to be positioned, and I could feel everything inside me as he spoke.

“How about you, Alpha? Where would you like to lead?” General Carson asked Ares, and his mood shifted, and I knew before he spoke that he would not fight this time.

“I won’t be fighting today. They are here for my mate, and we will cross the East border here.” Ares pointed to the map where they would flee, and I didn’t understand his actions. I knew we needed to protect our mate, but so was our duty to protect our pack. Their safety depended on us.

I could feel the tension in the room. They had never fought before without their Alpha. It never mattered if was a little fight or a war; Ares was always there for them.

I felt Aphrodite calming the room, and they were feeling peace. There was no chaos in the room anymore. She held both sides of Ares’ face and looked into his soul. “No, Ares, you need to go! Many will die if you don’t fight. Remember, that is not why we are here. We are here to protect everyone, not ourselves.”

Ares shook his head. “I can’t lose you again.” Again? What was Ares talking about? She was always ours. We never lost her.

“You are strong, my God of War. Together we will be invincible this time.” This time? So many questions poured around my brain, but I knew it was not time for answers. It was time for action, and Ares had to fight.

Everybody watched their love display, but General Carson came forward. “The Luna is right, Alpha. Many will die if you aren’t out there.” Everybody knew it; it was not time for Ares to be selfish. We would not have a pack to return to if we did not fight.

Aphrodite smiled and kissed Ares. I felt she was too manipulating his wants. “You heard your General, Ares. We will do what we must to protect the ones we love. I will protect those who can’t fight. Now shift and go out to the place there is more danger. You know you are needed the most there. You are very powerful. You will see when you get there.” Her pink eyes sparkled with love, and Aphrodite’s sassy face never disappeared, even in a moment like this.

Ares embraced her, and Aphrodite whispered in his ear. “Return to me, my everything. I need you.” He passionately kissed her. “I always will, my love.” His voice was confident, and I knew today was not our time to meet our creator, and we would return to our mate.

Ares opened the door, and Connor was already waiting for his Luna. “Keep her safe. Protect her with your life. That is your job as her guard.” Karl approached Ares and waited for his command. “You too, Gamma, do not leave her site.” Both nodded, accepting his command.

Ares started to navigate the corridors of the pack house, holding Aphrodite’s hand firmly. And I could feel the others leaving to the other door to assume their positions and lead the warriors to the places Ares commanded.

The pack house was chaotic; people were afraid. We trained for it, but the war never came to our doorstep. Ares was moving quickly in front of everyone to put Aphrodite inside the room. And she pushed him aside.

“No, Ares, I need to help. I am their Luna, and I must make sure everyone has reached safety first. I will support the warriors and calm the chaos. I have powers remember?” She caressed his face, and I felt calm too. But I wanted her to get inside before everyone else. I was on edge about it as much as Ares. “Now, let’s give Max a moment with Julie. She was panicking, and I had to numb her for a while. I want him to comfort her.”

I was finally back in control, and it felt better now that I knew I would have a moment with Julie in my arms. They were here for her. Aphrodite’s pink eyes looked at me, and I rushed out. “I think they are here for Julie, Aphrodite.”

“I know it. I felt that, too, now. Don’t worry about it. Ares is stronger, and everything will be over soon.” She gave me a quick kiss and winked at me. “Take care of her now, handsome.” And looking at her face, I could see it changing as soon as she gave control to Julie. I could feel fear coming like waves.

“Aphrodite said they are here for us. I am scared.” I tried calming her feelings through our bond and held her in my arms. I inhaled deep her calm scent to give me the strength to let her go. “Don’t be little one. Ares won’t let anything happen to you. You trust us, don’t you? We will fight, and everything will be over soon. Let Aphrodite be in control, Julie. She knows what she has to do.”

She nodded her head on my chest like a small child. She was hurt by a monster but had never experienced the brutality of war and what they would do to the Luna and her pups if they broke inside the pack house. I could never let it come to it.

I kissed her sweet mouth a few times and left her there, hoping Aphrodite could take care of Julie’s feelings. Looking behind, I knew it was only a goodbye for now.

As soon as I got outside, Ares took control and shifted running to the South. Aphrodite told him to go where it was the most needed, and if he took it South, that meant it was there.

“Son, I left your mother at the pack house to help Julie. Where do you want me?” Father’s voice came on the mindlink. He was retired but still a young Alpha, and sure his wolf would not be able to sit back if they were attacking his land.

“Go to the Western border, father. Ger will need your help there.” I knew I didn’t need to give him further instructions. He was an Alpha himself and had been to many wars.

The Southern border was far, but I could already hear the fight before I was halfway there. The enemies had arrived, and they were many. The night was dark because of the New Moon, but it was clear, and I would sit here and be amazed at how fast we could run today and how at that point, we could already hear the howls. Our powers were impressive, and inside I could feel how overjoyed Ares was about it.

“I am not feeling good about leaving the little one behind, Kid. I have strong feelings that we should leave our land.”

“You heard her, Ares. We do not have a choice here, buddy. If we leave, we will no longer have a pack. Everybody might die, and they trust us to keep them safe.”

When we got to the Southern border, the fight was already heated, but I could not smell a scent other than the Blue Moon’s. I knew if Aphrodite had not seen it coming, the guards on patrol would have been killed without even having a chance to fight.

“I can sense that nasty Witch in our territory, Kid. We will kill her slowly as soon as we get our paws on her.” Ares’ voice inside my mind was vicious, but I, too, wanted a taste of her blood now. The lack of scent must be the Witch’s potion, and she could enchant anyone there.

We saw four wolves trying to take Pluto down, and Ares went for it killing them all quickly. “Thank you, Alpha.” Pluto and Terry were happy with the help.

I could see they had invaded from John’s pack, and even if they did not have a scent, I sensed they were from the Shadows Pack, and I would kill John even before the Witch.

“They are from the Shadows Pack, Pluto. All of them are fighting today. There is no longer an Alliance. Kill them all. Leave John with me. I want his head.” Ares knew my thoughts and advised Pluto that they could not sense anything, but we could help. “You didn’t have to ask, Alpha. We will bathe in their blood tonight.” Pluto took a left turn on the border and a right to cover more area.

We knew we had to find John soon and kill him for this side to stop. Ares was anxious, and his feelings confused me for a minute. It was like he needed it to be finished too quickly. My heart was going too fast, and it was like I could not slow it down. Ares was vicious in war, but this was another level.

“He is not here, kid. John is not here.” Ares was on edge and desperate. There were no Alphas where we were, and we could not find the Witch, and suddenly it was like Ares was losing control. Our eyes flashed, and an electric current crossed our veins. He stepped back and roared much stronger than the other time with the rogues.

The wooden borderline shook like an earthquake, and all the wolves from the Shadows Pack lay dead on the ground like magic. His powerful roar did nothing to our men. They were all in position looking at Ares.

“They have her, Max! They have our little wolf.” But I soon discovered why Ares acted like that. They had our mate.

OMG, this chapter left me on edge. Can Ares be mistaken?