Blessing of Luna (Wolfgods Book 1)

by Blaise Ramsay

  Kain’s reply was short. “Fire at Gabriel's gym. It could collapse at any moment.”

  Charlie grabbed his keys, not bothering to ask permission. “Get in the cruiser, I'll give you a ride. Dame, you ride with Jill and Rob.”

  Jill took out her keys, handing them to Damien before jumping into the passenger’s side. Rob sat in the back as they follow his dad's cruiser. Its sirens blaring down the snow-covered streets.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The ambulances and paramedics were already on the scene by the time the group arrived.

  Gabriel, Dolph, Ray and Scott were all being seen by the EMTs while Holt stood with Cade. Both were scowling. The flames of revenge burning in their eyes.

  Kain ran up with Charlie, Jill and Damien. “Holt, what in the name of Tenebris happened here?”

  “It was some of their goons. Humans seeking to be turned that set this place ablaze. They will pay for this Kain.” Holt clenched his fists at his sides as he fought to hide the fangs grinding against his teeth.

  Kain's eyes scanned the landscape. He appeared worried. Chase, his beta was nowhere to be seen. “Chase?”

  Cade and Holt shook their heads.

  “He...he didn't make it, old friend.” Holt said, putting his hand on Kain’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  Damien's heart sank as he watched his friend lower his head, the pride that defined him shattered in a single moment.

  “I see. Knowing Chase, he gave his life to get everyone out safely.”

  “Oh, Kain.” Jill wrapped her arms around Kain's waist, hugging him close to her to offer some comfort. “I'm so sorry.”

  Kain smiled at her, kissing her forehead before walking away to be alone.

  Concerned himself, Damien followed Kain into the woods behind the burning gym. The alpha had fallen to his knees on the cold ground.

  “Kain, I'm sorry about Chase.”

  Kain looked over his shoulder. “It is nothing for you to be sorry for. Casualties are a part of war. It's our existence.” Kain rose to his feet, his posture straightening back up to the strong figure Damien had begun seeing as a mentor. “But that is not all you wanted to say, is it?”

  Damien never understood how Kain seemed to know what he was thinking.

  He took a deep breath. “No. This morning. I was worried about you.”

  Kain's hand on his shoulder made Damien raise his eyes to meet Kain's own. “You were worried about me?”

  Damien nodded his head. “I know it's none of my business, Kain.”

  “Give it time. Mature a bit more and I give you my word I will tell you. You have a strong heart and soul, Damien. As a lycan you would be an amazing alpha. Watch over Jillian for both of us.”

  Kain stepped around Damien to head back to the others, stopping briefly. “Thank you for your concern, my friend.”

  ****

  Kain and Damien arrived back at the site of the flames to see Holt trying to comfort Gabriel as he knelt before his gym. One of the homes for his pack, as it collapsed in the snow.

  Rob ran up to Damien, struggling to catch his breath. His eyes wide in surprise. “Is it true? God, D, tell me it's not real. Tell me she's lying?”

  Damien got the hint. Jill told Rob and his father what was going on while he was away comforting Kain. “I wish I could say it was a lie but it's not. It's true.”

  “So, Chelsea...Chelsea is really a?”

  “Afraid so.”

  Rob stared at Kain who stood behind Damien as if he was ready to protect him. “And... Alex, Jill, Gabriel and Holt? All werewolves?”

  Kain winced, a growl rumbling in his throat.

  “Lycans, Rob. They don't really appreciate being called werewolves. I know. I didn't understand there was a difference at first either.” Damien responded.

  Rob started backing up from Kain. Jumping away from Jill as she walked up beside him.

  “Rob, they aren't monsters. Nothing you think you know about them is true. I've spent time with them.”

  “D, dude, I'm sorry. This is just too much. I swear I won't tell anyone but I can't get mixed up in this. My parents would freak if I called them to tell them my best friend was dating a…lycan.” Rob said, his voice shaking with nervousness.

  Damien's heart broke. His best friend from childhood. The one who talked about chasing around cryptids for a living, ended their friendship when he actually met one.

  Rob turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped forward.

  Damien stared at his father, wondering if he would react the same way Rob did. His body burned as the pain hit him at the realization that his father may abandon him over a technicality after all they'd been through.

  Damien tightened his jaw against the burning flames inside of him, his hands rolling into fists at his sides. “Dad, I can understand if you don't want to ever see me again but I'm in love with Jill. I can't be without her.”

  “Dame, nothing's changed. Your mother and I knew you were different after your accident. It scared us so bad, we nearly walked away. Then you looked at us with the same eyes you're giving me now,” Charlie took his son in a hug. “You were our child. Just as confused about what happened as we were. You're still my son, Dame. I may not understand what’s going on, but I will stand by my son. I'll try to help in any way I can.”

  Damien had to fight back his emotions as he hugged his dad closely to him. He didn’t know what to say so he just stood there.

  “Thank you, Charlie.” Kain said, sighing.

  “Alex, you sly dog. You should have just told me.”

  Kain chuckled. “Would you have believed me?”

  “Hell no, but it beats the alternative. Now tell me what I can do.”

  “For now, old friend, just keep the townspeople calm. Keep them out of the surrounding woods. Make sure they don't let anyone they don't know in their homes. We'll end this as soon as we can but we don't yet know what our enemies fully intend to do.”

  Charlie nodded. “I’m pretty sure as police chief, I can find some way of justifying a curfew. Now get out of here. We’ll wrap it up. I’m sure you don’t want any unsolicited questions.” He snickered, waving the group off.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The events at Gabriel's gym the night before lingered. Holt had called all of them to come back with him to his tent so they could talk.

  The air in the room was thick with sadness and despair as each of them tried to offer comfort to each other. Jill leaned her cheek against Damien’s chest while he petted and kissed her hair.

  Gabriel sat next to Kain, trying to offer comfort to his friend where he could. Silence lingered until Holt walked in accompanied by Nathaniel and Vincent.

  “So, this him? The Purifier? What a pussy.” Nathaniel smirked at Damien.

  Damien got up on the floor to get in the alpha’s face. He'd been called a pussy way too many times and wasn't about to let a complete stranger talk down to him.

  To prevent a fight, Jill stepped between the two men. “Watch what you say, Nathaniel. Keep in mind, more than one of us here has wiped the cage floor with your sorry ass more than once.”

  Nathaniel’s angry eyes met Kain's as he growled at Jill. “Whatever. Personally, to me, you're just another dumb bitch who needs to be put in her place. He's just another human.”

  The lycan’s words were cut short when Kain slammed his fist into his jaw so fast, he stumbled to keep from falling.

  “I have had enough of your tongue, Nathaniel. The next time you open your mouth it better be useful or you will be the one put in his place. You are only here because we need the extra body. If you are not going to serve a purpose then leave. I will not hear you disrespect Damien or his mate again, is that clear?”

  “Fine. Whatever, Kain.” Nathaniel snapped, rubbing the blood from his lip.

  Jill's gentle hand on Damien’s chest guided him to sit back down as well. “Easy. As you are you don't stand a chance against another lycan. Let Kain, Gabriel or me deal with him. He hates Kain
and would do anything to start a fight with him.”

  Damien honored Jill’s request and backed off.

  Usually jocks like Nathaniel didn’t bother him, he could hold his own in a brawl. However, against a lycan, he knew he stood no chance and it angered him.

  Holt sat down in the circle. “Yuna and Galeck's reinforcements arrived this morning. They are formidable but even with their help, we are still outnumbered. Unfortunately, we've exhausted our allies so this is all we have. The females with pup or mothers that have them have been moved into the mountains. The soldiers have chosen to stay. We have but one option; to end things quickly.”

  “Lilith. We have to take her down.” Lune spoke up from his spot in the corner. “We take down the queen, the rest will fall apart. By their nature, vampires focus more on getting underlings to do their fighting for them. I got word that Desdemona refuses to get involved. She's come here to make sure the coven doesn't collapse and to rebuild after Lilith's war is over.”

  “I will worry about, Lilith. She's hurt Damien more times than I choose to forgive.” Jill replied, pissed. She was the best choice. She couldn't be killed and Lilith would be the strongest vampire on the battlefield. Her true power had yet to be revealed. “Then’s there’s Rayes and Stoker.”

  “Holt will handle Rayes. He has history with the bloodsucker for killing his brother,” Kain supplied. “That means I will handle Stoker. He is a coward when faced with an opponent of equal or greater skill. It is unlikely he will not put up much of a fight.”

  With most of the power players covered by the more experienced lycans, the field would be more even than initially anticipated.

  Damien didn't like the idea of doing nothing but he didn't know what he could do. His phone vibrated in his pocket showing his father on the screen. He stood up to go take the call, excusing himself.

  When he didn't return for a while, Jill began getting nervous.

  Kain watched the tent door until Damien walked back in, the color of his face gone. He leaned into Jill's ear, telling her his dad had called. He had to get home but she shouldn’t worry.

  Lune's eyes met Jill's as Damien grabbed his coat to head out to his motorcycle. A look towards Kain had both Lune and Jill rising to go follow him. The clear look of stress on his face combined with the suddenness of his departure raised some red flags.

  ****

  Damien pulled up to his house, shutting off his motorcycle.

  Taking of his helmet, he teeth clenched in frustration. His chest felt heavy as he unlocked the front door to his house, sighing at the fact he'd lied to Jill.

  Hesitantly he pushed the door open. He set his jacket and keys down on the table in the foyer. His head lowered as he walked into the living room.

  “So obedient when you don't have your little hound on your heels, aren't you?” Stoker sat in Charlie's favorite chair by the fireplace. His chin resting against his clasped hands. His legs were crossed, sitting like the vampire nobility he represented.

  “I did what you wanted. I came alone. Where’s my dad?” Damien tried to hide the trembling in his muscles as Stoker rose from the chair.

  “He's in the basement. Oh, and don't worry, he's still human. You and I have a lot of catching up to do, don't we? The night is young. I'll have all the time I need to make up for the insult you've shown me.” Stoker's hand landed hard across Damien's face, knocking him to the floor.

  Damien shook his head against the dizziness, raising up to his hands and knees only to have Stoker slam his head to the floor.

  “Only this time, you won't be healing from any of your wounds. Of that you can be assured.” Stoker spoke low and angry.

  Despite their clear difference in power, Damien had to chuckle. He could hear the small pops and smell the putrid scent of burning flesh.

  “Find something about your imminent death funny, Pierce?”

  “Not really. Just the fact that you seem on fire. I'm taking it my dad didn't invite you in?”

  Stoker grabbed Damien by the throat, raising him off of the ground. “Oh, it stings. It stings like hell but it's worth paying you back for burning my face. Those wounds took me killing a couple of humans to heal.”

  Stoker dropped Damien back to the floor, crushing his knee under his foot. Damien fought hard to avoid giving Stoker the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain. He hissed through his teeth, the pain excruciating.

  “Impressive. A human would have wailed in pain from having their knee crushed.”

  Damien rolled over to his side, sarcastically speaking. “Wow Stoker, that’s twice you’ve complemented me. One may start to wonder if you’re actually beginning to like me.”

  Stoker growled, kicking Damien in the ribs. “Let’s get something straight, I hate you, Pierce.” He grabbed him by his collar, dragging him into the kitchen.

  “You’ve taken everything from me. You about got me thrown out of my own coven.” He threw Damien against the oven and put his foot on Damien's hurt knee to keep him in place.

  Damien tried to breath against the agony in his knee. “Last I checked, I’m not the one who ran headfirst into your fist. Oh and the tree branch you tried to skewer me with, that was on you too.”

  Stoker rested his hands on the island. “You actually think you’re funny, don’t you?” He rummaged through the drawer of knives Charlie used. “These will do.” Stoker said as put two large steak knives in his pocket.

  Seeing the knives, Damien felt a knot in his gut. “Yeah, well, you know. Imminent death and all, might as well enjoy some humor.”

  Taking a hold of Damien, Stoker pulled him out behind the house. In one fluid motion, he hurled him out into the yard.

  Damien landed with a sickening crunch against the fallen branches and leaves. A groan rose in his throat as he rolled over onto his back on the ground. The pain in his knee killing him.

  Stoker stood over him, glaring. “It’s apparent to me that you need to be reminded of just how weak you are, Pierce. Your dog was a fool not to turn you. Who knows? You may have stood a chance against me if she had.”

  “You’re a real dick, you know that Cromwell? Bit of a pussy too.”

  Stoker smirked, seizing Damien and forcing him to his feet. He shoved him so hard against the faded blue siding of the house, it caved and splintered.

  Damien's nerves were on such high alert he felt nauseated.

  Stoker raised one of his arms above his head. “So I’ve been told but really it doesn’t mean much coming from someone who hides in a pack of wolves for safety.”

  The sudden sharp cold of metal through his hand made Damien yell out in pain. The warmth of his blood trickled down his bare arm making him shiver against the cold of the wind.

  Stoker took Damien’s jaw in his hand. “That cry of pain is so much better than the arrogance. Let me hear it again, won't you?”

  He repeated the action with Damien's other hand, ramming the knife through the flesh and bone to the handle.

  Damien's breath grew heavy as his blood dripped down his arms.

  “There, see. Is it so hard to respect someone more powerful than you? After all, you're still only human. You’re weak and vulnerable. I was wondering how long you were going to hide behind Kain's shadow. He seems fond of you. Maybe I'll send him an eye in the mail.”

  Stoker ran his sharpened nail down Damien's shirt, tearing the fabric. “Now where shall I put the next hole?”

  Damien's heart raced fast enough to make him dizzy. Jill didn't know what was going on, neither did Kain. He could get killed and neither one of them would know.

  Stoker leaned into Damien’s ear, speaking through clenched teeth. His anger apparent in his words. “Let's see, I could pierce your heart and end this quickly. However, I think that would be too merciful. I want you to feel the agony as I tear your limbs off for what you did to me in our last meeting.”

  Stoker's nail traveled down to Damien's stomach stopping at his lower abdomen. “Here. It should paralyze you long enough
for me to torture and drain you before your heart gives out.”

  White sparks flew across Damien’s eyes as the sharp pain of Stoker’s hand pierced his lower stomach. It had gone so deep, he could feel the vampire’s nails against his spine. His eyes bulged out of his skull, his breath caught in his lungs from the agony.

  Memories ran through his mind all at once. He thought of Jill. Her beautiful body, hot with sweat after they made love. The gentle smile on her face unhindered by the fatigue in her eyes.

  The thought that this may be the end of his life made Damien angry and saddened he hadn’t taken her sooner. Then he thought of Kain. He didn’t know why but it felt like he had a deep connection with the lycan alpha. Much deeper than anyone, even Damien knew.

  He dropped his head, gasping. His knees shaking to hold him up to avoid slicing his flesh worse from the knives.

  “You see, Pierce. You really are weak. Parading strength behind your little mongrel. Had you taken the offer of immorality, you wouldn't be hurting like this. I commend you on being silent but I know this hurts. There's no reason not to show it.” Stoker grinned a wicked grin as he pulled his hand from Damien’s stomach.

  Damien coughed against the pain, his vision blurring. His strength began to fail. His body grew cold from blood loss. Jill...I'm...I'm so sorry.

  Stoker guided his head up. “Good. Stay silent. I'll take your blood in peace.”

  Lune leapt over the brush behind the house. He growled as he threw his full weight into Stoker, sending the vampire flying into the wooden shed behind the house. The front of the small building shattered into pieces.

  Jill came around the side of the house after Lune. “Damien!” Her heart stopped at the sight that met her eyes. “Luna, no. Oh please, no. No, no, no.”

  She pulled the knives out of Damien's hands, using her body to hold him as she lowered onto her knees, pulling him close to her. “No! Damien, please! Don't leave me!”

  Lune positioned himself between Jill and Stoker who stood up out of the splinters of wood. His black blood dripped from the wound in the side of his head.