Chapter THIRTYFOUR- A WERE-BEAR ALLIANCE
Ace POV
I blinked and heard snoring. I saw Rachel with her head on my chest and one of her legs draped over my hips. I chuckled and felt a thump as one of the pups kicked. I swear her belly grew overnight. Rachel was in her fourth month of pregnancy, so I knew the pups would be getting ready to make their way into the world soon. I smiled as the other twin joined his brother in a kicking contest. I placed my hand on Rachel's belly and smiled. I gasped as a white light flashed before my eyes. The vision became clear.
I was sitting in our bedroom holding two bundles in royal blue blankets. I looked down at the two pups in my arms, and my breath hitched. Both twins were identical, with curly jet-black hair like me and lightly tanned skin. The only difference was their eyes. One twin had my greenish-blue eyes, while the other had dark blue eyes like my Grandfather, great-Grandfather, and Uncle. I blinked as the vision faded, and I was returned to the present.
I saw Rachel sleeping soundly and gently removing her limbs from mine. I got up and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. After finishing, I quickly jumped in the shower and washed my body. I heard the bathroom door open and turned to see Rachel running inside. She made it to the toilet, and I heard her sigh in relief as she relieved herself.
After Rachel had done her business, she walked over to the sink to wash her hands, brush her teeth, and wash her face. I opened the shower door as Rachel's breath hitched, and she stared at me.
"Are you going just to stare or join me?" I chuckled.
She quickly stripped off her silky nightgown and joined me in the shower. Rachel stepped under the water. I heard her sigh and grabbed her sponge, lathering it with soap as she began to wash her body. She turned to the side as I just stared and smirked at how beautiful my mate was, with her belly swollen with life. I watched with interest as her belly rippled from the pups moving, and she giggled.
"They like the warm water," she said as I smiled and walked toward her. I kissed and licked Rachel's mark as she moaned and tilted her head back.
"Ace..." she panted as her breathing quickened.
Rachel turned in my arms as I captured her lips in a searing, hot kiss. She moaned with pleasure as I lifted her by her legs, and she wrapped them around my waist.
"Ace," Rachel groaned as I eased my cock inside her soaked slit.
Rachel moaned as she bucked her hips and bounced slowly. I planned on giving Rachel several orgasms before we started our day. Rachel and I emerged from the steamy shower an hour later, her whole body covered with love bites and marks.
I chuckled as Rachel towel-dried her hair and sighed joyfully. I wrapped a towel around my body and headed toward our bedroom with Rachel behind me. I walked inside my closet and skimmed through my suits as Rachel walked to hers. I put on some boxer briefs, royal blue dress slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a royal blue vest and jacket. I sat on the bench in my closet, putting on my socks and black shoes.
After tying my shoes, I walked to my mirror, applied hair gel, and ran my fingers through my curls, rubbing in the gel and styling my curls. I brushed the sides down and looked in the mirror at my appearance. After checking myself out, I walked out of my closet and into the bedroom as Rachel exited hers, wearing a royal blue pencil skirt with a loose-fitting white blouse.
Her makeup was natural-looking, and her blonde hair flowed in waves. Apollo growled in my head as he drooled over our mate and howled joyfully.
Rachel was glowing, and her baby belly was in complete focus. I admired my mate's beauty, and a smile crept onto my face. Rachel must have felt me staring at her because she turned in my direction and smiled at me. I walked over to her with a steady stride, wrapped my arms around her waist, and pulled her in for a kiss. It wasn't a lustful kind of kiss. It was a kiss of love and affection. She moaned and pulled back, looking into my eyes.
"What was that for?" she asked as the blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I'm just thankful for you and glad I didn't push you away," I said. I shook my head when I saw tears about to spring from her eyes.
"No, little flower, you will ruin your make-up," I said, gently brushing my thumb against her lashes.
"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," she said, kissing my lips again.
I was making out with Rachel. I felt someone trying to push a mind link through. I groaned with frustration and let my block down.
"Hold on, little flower," I told Rachel as she nodded.
"Yes?" I answered.
"Alpha two SUVs just pulled up to the gate, and the man in the back says his name is Espen Arud."
"The leader of the Black Paw Clan needs to talk to you," Rafe said in the link.
I blinked a few times, wondering who the leader of the Black Paw Clan was, as I'd never heard of them.
"Alpha?" Rafe called in the link.
"Let them pass," I told Rafe.
"Yes, Alpha," he said, and I closed the link. I sent a quick link to Carlito and Julio so they could meet our unknown guests downstairs.
Espen POV
I was going to the Blue Eclipse pack with Björn, my second in command, and Bodvar, one of our guards. Like the wolves with Betas and Gammas, I have a loyal second in command and bear guards. My clan has a few healers and hunters. Björn was in charge when I was not around.
"Do you think the wolves will want to ally with us?" Björn asked, playing on his Android.
"I'm sure their Alpha will accept the alliance once he hears my information on Alpha Simon and those two idiots who are risking their lives for a useless cause."
"Besides, the Blue Eclipse has more resources at their fingertips than Alpha Simon does," Björn nodded. I heard Vebjørn say we had arrived at the Blue Eclipse territory.
I was amazed at how much land these wolves possessed. Of course, we lived in a forest, but with the city expanding and destroying the woods to build, our home was being destroyed, and wildlife was scarce as it was. Once we arrived at the gate, I saw four wolves step out from their guard posts and walk up to the SUVs.
"State your business, bear?" the deep accented voice said.
I knew wolves had super senses and were on alert. As bears kept to themselves and out of everyone's business, this was important for the clan. I rolled down the window to speak to the man with a strange accent. He was tall for a wolf, about 6'3, with hazel-colored eyes, lightly tanned skin, and jet-black curls.
"My name is Espen Arud."
"I'm the leader of the Black Paw Clan, and I need to speak to your Alpha about an urgent matter," I kept my voice calm and precise.
The last thing I needed was to anger the wolves and start a fight by coming unannounced to their pack lands.
"Hold on," he said as his eyes clouded.
I knew wolves could mind-link but watching it up close was interesting.
"The Alpha will see you now," the wolf said as he nodded for one of the warriors to open the gate. Vebjørn drove through. I could see the land. The territory was massive, and the pack members lived in cottages made of wood and stone.
"Espen, the land is vast," Björn said as his eyes sparkled.
"Yes, it is," I said as Vebjørn approached a massive castle.
"What?!" Björn shouted.
I looked ahead with the same thought as Björn. The castle was huge, painted white, with royal blue and gray trimming. The steps were stone, and the garden had fresh flowers blooming. The center fountain with the wolf in the middle was a nice touch.
As we exited the vehicle, I looked inside the fountain and saw the koi fish swimming and eating breakfast. We approached the steps and walked up. I saw two men standing at the top. The first guy was about 6'4, with short, light brown curly hair and golden-colored eyes. The second guy was about 6'3, with jet-black hair and silver-gray eyes.
"Espen?" the first man asked with that strange accent.
"Yes, that's me, and who are the two of you?" I asked as they eyed me.
"My name is Beta Carlito, and this is Gamma Julio."
"We are here to escort you to the Alpha," he said as I nodded.
"This is Björn, my second, and Bodvar, one of our bear guards," I told them as they nodded. Both wolves led us inside the castle. I heard Björn whistle as Bodvar looked around.
"Nice place you have here," I said as we walked toward a set of steel doors.
"Thank you. This castle has been in the Silva family for many generations," the Gamma said as he pushed a button, and the doors opened.
We had to lower our heads once we stepped inside the elevator. I watched as the Gamma pushed the button for the fourth floor and felt as the elevator ascended.
"So, what brings were-bears to a pack full of wolves?" the Beta asked, and I eyed him.
"Well, I have some information that your Alpha might find useful, and I also wanted to see about allying with him," I said as they looked back at me.
When the elevator stopped, the doors opened to a long hallway full of doors and portraits. We lowered our heads again as we stepped out into the hallway. I saw the pictures of different men and women.
"Those are the previous Alphas and Lunas of the pack, and this is where all of our offices are located," the Beta said as we followed him to a wooden-colored door at the end of the hall. Once we stopped in front of the door, the Beta knocked.
"Come in," I heard that strange accent again, except that this voice was more profound and richly filled than the rest.
The Beta opened the door and nodded for us to go inside. I saw a man leaning against his desk as he stood to his full height. He was about 6'6 with short jet-black curly hair and greenish-blue eyes. I heard the door close.
"Alpha," the Beta and Gamma bowed, and the Alpha excused them.
I watched as they sat at the round table in the office. I saw a woman with blonde hair and deep green eyes to my right. She was sitting at a desk as she smiled and waved at us.
"Espen Arud," he said with his strong accent.
"That's me, Alpha," he walked forward with his hand extended, and I shook it.
"My name is Ace Silva, Alpha of the Blue Eclipse pack."
"That's my Luna Rachel, and you've already met my Beta and Gamma," he said as I nodded.
"This is Björn, my second, and Bodvar, one of our bear guards," I said as he smiled and nodded.
"Please have a seat."
"Would you like any refreshments?" he asked.
"Three black coffees and some muffins, please," I said as he nodded. I watched the Alpha's eyes cloud.
"Refreshments will be here shortly," he said once his eyes returned to their standard color.
Once we were all seated at the table, an older couple knocked at the door, and two kitchen omegas arrived in the office.
"Dad, Mom, hey," I heard the Alpha say and looked at the couple.
I felt the immense auras they were putting off, and my beast whimpered a bit before he straightened up. The older gentleman resembled Alpha Ace with the eyes, except his hair was wavey. They were the same height and had lightly tanned skin. The older lady had long, blonde curly hair and crystal blue eyes.
"So, this must be the Luna that Alpha Simon was talking about," I thought as the couple talked to their son and sat on one of the couches.
"Thank you, Lucy and Helga," the Alpha told the two kitchen women with the food cart.
Once the omegas served everyone and Alpha Ace escorted them out, he took a seat, and that's when I got down to business.
"Alpha Ace..." I started to say as he held his hand up and shook his head.
"Just Ace," I nodded in understanding.
"I came here because, first off, Alpha Simon, the vampire lord Ozul, and the leader of rogues Alpha Prax are planning on attacking you."
"I don't know when, but he plans to bring the Red River pack into the mix," I said, hearing the Luna gasp.
I heard growls and saw all the wolf's eyes had turned onyx black. I sighed and continued.
"Secondly, I want to form an alliance with you and all the surrounding packs."
"I voided my alliance with Alpha Simon because of his greed to attack and take your Mother as his prize," Ace and his Father growled together.
"I have no place in this fight, and my bears don't deserve to be put into a situation that doesn't concern them."
"I understand you have the better resources I need for my clan."
"Alpha Simon was my sole provider, but with the constant late shipments or never coming, I got tired of relying on him, so I came to you hoping we could be friends," I said and waited for his response.
I watched the Alpha's eyes cloud, indicating he was mind-linking with everyone in the room. I waited a few minutes for his eyes to clear before he spoke.
"Espen, what does the Blue Eclipse pack get in return if we decide to help you and your bears?" he asked as I looked at Björn. Björn nodded, indicating that this was the best idea to go with.
"If it comes down to a fight, Ace, my clan, and I will help you."
"My bears and I are proficient with weapons and fighting. We are stronger in our bear forms than our human ones."
"I have over two hundred members in my clan, and for your part in helping us, we will help you," I said, watching the Alpha think about my proposal.
"It will be hard with us living eight hours away from your pack, but we..." he raised his hand again.
"I just recently acquired some land a few miles from the territory I was going to use to expand Blue Eclipse, but if you are willing to move your clan closer to us, it's yours."
"More than enough acres for your people to roam freely and be safe from humans," my eyes widened in shock. He would give us more land and help keep my people fed.
"Where do I sign?" I asked him and watched a smile spread across his face.
"I only deal with banks and construction, but my Grandfather has a few friends in the shipping business."
"What exactly do you need?" he asked as I read over the documents.
"Well, everything from food and clothes."
"It's rough trying to care for two hundred members, and food is scarce because humans have expanded into the territory that we reside in."
"Plus, we can't build for the families because the forest is getting denser with the humans cutting down the trees and moving into the area," I said as the Alpha looked at me.
"I will talk to my Grandfather and see about getting you some food and clothes for your clan."
"I will talk to one of my construction companies about building some homes for you all. Since some of our wood comes from the Redwood pack, we have a long-standing alliance with them."
"How does that sound?" I nodded and shook his hand. I signed my name on the dotted line.
"Would you like to see the territory?" Ace asked. I looked at Björn, and he nodded. Bodvar was quiet, but that was his usual behavior.
After the paperwork was settled, Ace led us out of the castle as he and his friends went behind trees to shift. When the Alpha came from behind the tree, my eyes widened with amazement. His wolf was massive, and his fur was snow-white. When I saw his Beta and Gamma again, I was amazed. I'd never seen a silver or gray wolf before.
I've only seen the traditional black or brown ones. Once the wolves shifted, we took off into the forest at a slow-paced jog. Ace said it was a thirty-minute jog to the territory he wanted to show us. My beast grunted in my head as the wind swirled around us, and we caught the scent of the fresh air. I would've shifted and let him run free, but we had business to handle first.
I was in awe at the vast land when we arrived at the territory. A clear lake was on one side, and trees covered the area with fresh green grass. I looked again and saw a family of deer and rabbits scurrying about as we approached.
"Espen, do you see that? Deers!" Björn shouted in a loud and deep voice as the deer's took off into the forest. I smacked the back of his head as he chuckled and shrugged.
"What do you think?" I heard Ace say as he shifted back and put on shorts.
"We will take it, Ace. This is more than enough land," I smiled and explored the land more. My beast was excited and was ready to run free.
"Soon, buddy," I said and sighed with relief at getting this fresh start for my clan.