Chapter THIRTYSEVEN-BATTLE PART ONE
One Week Later: January 27th
Staci POV
The girls and I spent time with our pups in the family room. Sorina even joined us. It was nice to see her out and about. Liam seemed to be hogging his mate from us ladies as we teased her.
"So, Sorina, how are things with Liam?" Monica asks as we stare at Sorina.
"I um... I had no idea werewolves were big," Sorina blushes.
We all giggle as Sorina looks at us and smiles. We explain a little about werewolves, especially men, and how we have such high libidos.
"So, I take it the vampire King is missing some stamina and inches," Monica says, waving her pinky finger.
Sorina laughs and covers her mouth as she blushes a deep shade of red. We all wait with bated breath as she looks up and wipes her eyes.
"He's lacking for sure and quite obnoxious. Abaddon thinks too highly of himself," Sorina says and shrugs.
Sorina was very informative about his army and generals during her short time with Abaddon. From what she has seen, Sorina says Abaddon is the type who doesn't like to get his hands dirty.
"Your pups are cute. I can't wait to have some of my own," Sorina says, quickly covering her mouth as a lone tear escapes her eye.
"What's the matter?" I ask as she looks up at me.
"I... I don't think I'll be able to give Liam pups," Sorina says and sniffles.
"You, will the goddess has a plan for everything."
"Just give it time," I say, gently patting her hand.
"I mean, if vampires can have kids with other vampires and supernatural."
"Why can't a wolf and a vampire," Marcie says as she changes Julio.
"I just never had the chance to understand wolf and vampire anatomy," Sorina confesses.
Ace coos and looks at Sorina intently as she stares back at him. He smiles and kicks his little legs.
"Well, aren't you a little charmer," Sorina says as Ace babbles.
"His Father's kid," I say and giggle.
The girls giggle and agree that Ace is just like his Father. I look up at Sorina as she looks around at all the babies and smiles. I see her hands frigid as if she is nervous about something.
"Would you like to hold Ace?" I ask as Sorina's deep brown eyes look at me.
Sorina smiled and held her hands out as I gently passed Ace to her. She cradled him close. Ace cooed loudly and kicked his legs, making Sorina smile.
"He smells sweet and citrusy," Sorina says.
Ace put his fingers in Sorina's face as she giggled. He scrunched his eyebrows and looked at Sorina like Antonio does when concentrating. It was cute and made Sorina smile.
It was still snowing outside, and the sky seemed darker as the sun hid behind the clouds. Ricardo and Alicia came for a visit last week and decided to stay due to ice on the roads. The weatherman said we might get some heavy snowfall tonight and tomorrow morning. I was about to grab Ace from Sorina and get him ready for his afternoon nap when someone frantically pushed at my mental block.
I let my wall down as a frantic voice filled my head.
"LUNA! WE ARE BEING..." the voice cut off, and I felt a bond break as someone was dying. Warriors and omegas started rushing around.
I yelped and held my chest. Loud sirens started going off around the castle, and screams filled the air.
"What's going on?!" I asked frantically.
"We are being attacked! Get everyone into the safety bunkers!" Marcie shouted and grabbed her son.
I grabbed Ace as Sorina helped Monica with the twins. I knew we had safety bunkers on each castle floor, and the one we were heading towards was near the dining room.
"Here," I said and stood before the wall. Two armored statues were on each side of a giant painting of the castle on the wall.
I pulled on the sword as a panel slid open on the wall, and I typed my code in. The door opened with a hiss as everyone ran inside. We made sure the omegas and other staff made it into the bunkers. The bunkers were big enough to fit more than fifty people and stocked with supplies, food, and water. There was also a full bathroom inside.
Monica and Marcie rushed inside. Sorina handed Monica her daughter, and I gave Ace to Marcie.
"Staci? What are you doing?" Monica asked.
"Being the Luna. This vampire is here because of me, and I'm going to make sure my pack is safe," I said with determination.
"Be careful," Marcie said, holding my son closer to her chest. I kissed his forehead as tears glistened in my eyes.
"I love you," I said, rubbing his hair as he cooed.
Monica walked forward and hugged me as best she could, tears staining her cheeks. Alphons and another warrior ran inside the door as I stepped back.
"Keep them safe," I said and turned to Sorina to wait for her to go inside.
"Sorina?" I called her name, and she shook her head.
"I'm coming with you," she said as I shook my head.
"Liam needs you safe," I said.
"Abaddon won't stop until he has you, and I can't keep running from that demon," Sorina says as I sigh and nod.
I pressed my thumb on the keypad as the door slid closed, and my son and friends were safe inside the bunker. I heard heavy footfalls approaching behind us, raised my hand as a fireball formed, and turned, ready to throw it.
"Luna," Juliano's voice called out. I put my flame out as he stopped before us.
"Why are you not in the bunker," Juliano said and looked at Sorina.
"I'm not going to hide while my mate and pack fight for me," I said, not realizing I had released my aura as Juliano bared his neck.
I released Juliano as he looked at me and nodded.
"The Alpha will skin my ass for this. But follow me," Juliano said, leading us outside toward the battle.
We made it outside as the cold air blew and the sky was dark. Snow crunched under our feet as I looked up and silently prayed to the moon goddess. Juliano went behind the tree, and I heard bones breaking. Sorina and I waited.
Juliano wolf's Jackson stepped out and bowed. I went next and shifted into Solaris. Sorina gasped and lowered her head as Solaris barked.
"Beautiful. Like the snow," Sorina said.
We quickly followed Jackson. We saw the snow-covered with blood and bodies as the screams and howls grew louder. Vicious snarls and hisses echoed through the air as Solaris growled, and the scene before us made me gasp.
Antonio POV
"Alpha! They keep coming."
"They outnumber us three to one," Rafael shouted through the mind link.
We had been fighting off the vampires and rogues since the alarms sounded inside the castle. The vampires and wolves kept coming in waves. I fought alongside my Father and Uncle while Carter and Marcelo took the West side.
"Someone is helping them!" I growled through the link. I heard a massive howl as wolves entered from the North.
"I know that howl," Ares looked as we saw over a dozen wolves on the snow-covered hill.
"Alpha, Crescent Moon, just entered the territory," Liam mind linked.
I watched as Crescent Moon charged into the fight as Seth's wolf ripped vampires in half. Ares wasn't paying attention because he was fighting off a rogue when he smelled a vampire behind us. A vine sprouted from the ground and stabbed the vampire in the heart.
"What the hell?" I said as Ares growled.
Ares-scented strawberry shortcake was coming in our direction. He growled and saw Solaris charging into the fight, followed by Jackson and Sorina. Ares growled at Jackson as he bared his neck and whimpered.
"Stop it. He was following my command," Staci linked me as Ares huffed.
"What the fuck, are you doing, Staci?!" Ares growled as her wolf rolled her eyes.
"Helping our pack, what does it look like?"
"We don't have time to argue."
"Let's do this together," Staci said as I sighed.
"Fine, but you stay by Jackson and Sorina, always," I growled as Ares huffed.
"Deal," Staci said as Solaris's eyes glowed and the air picked up.
Solaris was a natural at using the power of the elements. She used the snow-covered ground to her advantage as ice shards stabbed incoming vampires and fireballs burned them to a crisp. Vines sprouted from the ground and took care of the Blood Moon wolves and rogues.
I heard a whimper and looked to see Solaris getting knocked back by a wave of water as Ares growled. Jackson and Spade took protective stances before Solaris as I recognized the two wolves.
"James and Todd," Ares growled. Ares heard a clap as a figure moved from behind the two men.
"THOMAS!" I roared. Thomas wasn't the only one here. We also scented Ford amongst the shadows as he smirked.
"The Luna is stronger than I give her credit for," Thomas says and cackles.
"No matter, she will still pay with her life," Thomas said, making Ares snarl.
Solaris rose and growled at the two men she saw as mentors as they lowered their heads. Thomas smirked and told them to attack as Jackson and Spade growled and launched for the two men.
James had his fireballs ready, and Todd had a water spear in his hand prepared to pierce Jackson in his heart. Time seemed to stand still as James and Todd looked around, confused. They tried moving their frozen limbs but couldn't.
"What the fuck," Thomas shouted as Jackson and Spade tore into James and Todd as their screams filled the air.
Thomas and Ford tried to run off but ran into my Father and Uncle as their wolves snarled. Dad and my Uncle launched at them and ripped them apart as their screams echoed through the cold air.
We returned to the fighting after Solaris took care of a small army of vampires headed our way. Jackson and Sorina were doing a great job watching her back. Spade was not too far from us, tearing rogues apart with ease.
Ares felt the snap of someone dying as the pain hit us like a ton of bricks as Ares howled. This bond felt like someone important. Someone we knew too well.
"Where is Uncle Ric?!" I shouted and heard a whimper by the big oak tree. Ares turned his head and saw Conrad Jr rip out my Uncle's heart.
"UNCLE RIC!!" Ares howled in pain and growled viciously as Conrad Jr turned to us with a sinister smirk.
I watched my Uncle's body fall to the ground as vampires surrounded him, sinking their fangs into his body and neck.
"NO!!!" I roared as Ares charged at them with my Father and Solaris, Spade, Jackson, and Sorina at our side.
"That little shit is mine!" Ares growled.
Conrad Jr POV
Thomas and Ford were useless. Abaddon and I stood on a snow-covered hill as we watched the Blue Eclipse and Crescent Moon pack rip our warriors apart.
"Fucking useless!" I shouted as Cobalt raised his hackles.
"I want that fucking Ricardo Silva!" I shouted.
"He's all yours. Do as you please," Abaddon scoffed at me.
"Give me two of your best vampires then," I smirked as he rolled his red eyes and signaled for two of his warriors.
"Help the Alpha," he commanded as the vampires nodded.
We quietly passed the fight as the two vampires took to the trees to wait for my signal. I got Ricardo's attention as his wolf growled at me, and I smirked. I watched his wolf start charging at me, and I signaled to the vampires to take him. The two vampires fleeted toward Ricardo's wolf and grabbed him by his head and body. Ricardo was thrashing and biting at the vampires as I approached them.
"My Father said you were a strong Alpha," I clicked my tongue.
"Tsk, tsk, it's a shame that he didn't get a chance to kill you, and now I am," I said, smirking as his wolf growled at me.
"You know, you aren't much of an Alpha," I told him as I partially shifted my hand, punched a hole through his rib cage, and grabbed his heart.
I watched the life fade from his eyes as I ripped his heart out. I dropped his bloody heart on the ground as his wolf shifted back, and the vampires dropped his lifeless body.
"You can feed from him," I told the two vampires as I heard a growl and turned the Alpha, charging at me with a smirk.
Ricardo POV
Raiden was ripping rogues apart and taking down vampires left and right.
"Hello, Ricardo," Raiden turned his head to Conrad's brat of a son and growled as he let out a cackle.
Raiden growled and charged at him as two vampires swooped down from the trees and grabbed our head and body. Raiden thrashed and tried to fight them off, but their grip was firm.
"My Father said you were a strong Alpha," he clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk, it's a shame that he didn't get a chance to kill you, and now I am," he smirked at me as Raiden let out a vicious growl.
"You know, you aren't much of an Alpha," he cackled.
Conrad Jr.'s hand shifted, punched his way through our rib cage, and grabbed our hearts as Raiden howled. We felt it when he ripped our hearts out as the light faded.
Antonio POV
Solaris froze the two vampires as my Father and I tore their heads off.
"He's mine!" Ares growled as Conrad Jr stared and smirked at us.
"Come to avenge your pathetic Uncle," Conrad Jr cackled as Ares let out a vicious growl.
I watched him shift into a shit-brown wolf and growl at us. My Father and Sorina protected our backs as Ares charged at Conrad Jr's wolf and knocked him into a tree. He got back on his feet and snapped his teeth at us. His wolf was smaller than us, and Ares huffed.
"He isn't much to fight," Ares growled through the link.
"If it weren't for those vampires, he wouldn't have survived," I replied.
Conrad Jr.'s wolf charged at us. Ares jumped over his back and slid across the field. He charged again, snapping his jaws as Ares raised his paw and clawed his face.
We watched his wolf howl in pain as blood dripped down his jaw. Ares turned and kicked his hind legs out, sending Conrad Jr's wolf flying into a nearby tree as we heard his bones breaking.
"This is for Uncle Ric," Ares growled through the link as we approached this poor excuse for an Alpha.
Ares clamped his jaws around Conrad Jr's wolf neck, pulling hard as the flesh tore, and his head snapped off. Blood splattered on the snow and tree as Ares dropped his head near his body. Ares felt a hard ram to the side as we slid across the snow and hit a tree.
"What the fuck, was that?" Ares growled and slowly got up.
We got to our feet and looked to see a male vampire with glowing dark eyes and scars all over his body.
Dolus
"Who the fuck is that?" Ares said as the vampire snarled and charged. Ares side-stepped and barely missed his attack.
"He moves quick for a big vampire," Ares growled out.
Solaris and my Father came to my side and growled at him. His eyes glowed, and his fangs extended as he stared at us.
"Back off, Dolus!" I heard Sorina's voice.
"You're just another one of Abaddon's puppets!" she growled as the big vampire cackled and looked at her.
The four of us were fighting this big vampire when I caught the scent of more. I knew two scents as I quickly turned my head and saw King Magnus, Roman, and their warriors enter the territory from the East. I watched as they started killing off the vampires, rogues, and most of the Blood Moon warriors.
"Mother must have called him," Ares barked out.
"Antonio!" Staci shouted through the link as I felt her air power push us back, and the giant vampire slid by.
"Better pay more attention, wolf," he said as he charged again. Ares managed to slide under him and claw his stomach. I heard him grunt as he let out a chuckle.
"Sneaky, sneaky Alpha," he said with a smirk.
"What the..." he said before he could move a muscle. We saw vines grab his legs and wrap around his body.
"Release me, bitch!" he shouted.
"Now is our chance!" Ares growled.
Staci used her earth power to wrap him tightly in vines and utilized her water power to create ice and freeze him. My Father and I jumped on him. I clamped my teeth around his head as my Father grabbed his neck.
"Together!" I shouted in the link as we pulled in opposite directions, and his head ripped off. I jumped down, and so did my Father.
"Father!" I heard Magnus yell and turned to see Abaddon rip Roman's head off.
Abaddon POV
I sent Dolus to kill that fucking Alpha wolf since Conrad's little brat failed to kill him. I had to admit he was a fierce fighter. I watched him get back up after taking a hit from Dolus. No one has ever recovered from a blow by Dolus. I hissed as Sorina stepped between Dolus and the wolves. I could smell the wolf on her.
"She let that fucking wolf mark her!" I snarled as my eyes glowed.
The wolves took down my best warrior, with the two giant black wolves ripping off Dolus's head. I roared and was getting ready to charge into the battle.
"Hello, Abaddon," I stopped, turned to the voice, and saw the traitor himself.
"Well, Roman the traitor," I smirked as he growled at me.
"You know as well as I that Alaric was power-hungry and out of his mind!" he shouted.
I shrugged and used my speed to charge toward Roman. He was still quick on his feet and a fierce fighter, no matter that I liked to fight dirty. I pulled a blade from the holster on my hip and slashed at Roman as he tried dodging my attacks.
We traded blow for blow. I caught the scent of vampires and snarled. Roman had sent his warriors here to help this pack.
"Sending your warriors to help a bunch of mutts!" I growled as I punched him in the face.
"Says the vampire who calls himself a King and uses his warriors as puppets for an obsession!" he snarled back. Roman punched me in the gut as I bent over, gasping for a breath.
We fought back and forth until I got the upper hand and grabbed his throat. I plunged the blade into his side, and blood spilled from the wound.
"One thing about traitors is," I say, sinking my claws in his neck as the blood spilled and brought him close to me.
"They always die," I growled and ripped his head off.
"Father!" I heard his son shout as I smirked and turned in his direction. I dropped Roman's head on the ground next to his body.