“You are an extraordinary person,” he said at last, deciding to let them figure it out on their own. “Don´t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
The alarm bell sounded from outside before Cora had a chance to argue. Danny was on his feet and out of the room in an instant, his nose leading him on top of the wall where the two Anders packs and Kate had gathered facing the main entrance to the town.
“What´s wrong?” He asked when he noticed how the sky had lit up in places. It looked like a night he had witnessed as a kid hiding away from his parents in a dark playground, where stars had fallen from the sky, catching on fire and evaporating before hitting the ground. But it wasn´t dark outside; it was the middle of the day.
“They are almost through the magic barrier,” Mark answered, nervously chewing at his nails. Lynn slapped his hands away from his mouth as she tried to make sense of what was happening, her external monologue amusing to her friends´ ears.
“This doesn´t seem plausible. I followed her instructions to the letter. The runes are in place. There is no way any Magic crossed the barrier to destroy them. And they couldn´t have been destroyed from someone on the inside either. We have the sites monitored twenty-four/seven. I suppose they could have someone with them strong enough to break through but it is highly unlikely, this is already powerful stuff. Unless...”
“Unless what?” Jen asked.
“Unless the charms are connected to Cora... She is weak...”
“So the charms have weakened too,” Jason finished for her.
The brightest spot of light opened like a portal and seven men came through. Another one burned alive as the proverbial door closed and the light disappeared, leaving the Magics trapped inside the barrier.
“Get somewhere safe,” Steven ordered his family. The Queen was not expendable. “Danny, stick with them. The rest of you,” he turned to his pack, “with me. Kate?”
The blonde nodded and gestured at her second to follow. Together, the six Werewolves jumped from the top of the wall intercepting the seven witches before they had the chance to reach the town´s gate. Mark with his backpack and Lynn with her ever-present satchel stayed at the top of the wall, ready to assist where necessary. Not all of them had the foresight to proceed with caution though. Kate´s Beta, restless from being cooped up with the rest of the Baman army for weeks, charged ahead of everyone and before a full minute had passed since he landed on his feet, his brazenness cost him his life. With an outstretched Magic hand, ice started forming on the ground, reaching the man in an instant and turning him into a frozen statue. A single kick finished the job, the Werewolf´s body dissolving into millions of sharp pieces. Kate, enraged at the loss, attacked the Magics like a bull seeing red, overtaking even Steven who growled at her in warning. Frost started gathering on the ground once again but before it could reach her, a vial landed in front of her feet, breaking and filling the air with the smell of alcohol. The liquid inside it quickly expanded and melted the ice, leaving dead grass in its stead.
“Good thinking,” Lynn said to Mark and watched as the Magic tried in vain to renew his attack. His stunned demeanour was enough for Erin to jump on his back and grab him by his hair, tilting his head back enough to allow Ian to swiftly remove it from his shoulders. Lynn let out a gasp and buried her head in Mark´s shoulder. Sometimes she couldn´t stomach her friends´ brutality.
Down at the field, the Werewolves were still fighting against the odds; five of them against six remaining Magics. Steven and Jason were back to back surrounded by three of their opponents who obviously thought that with the Alpha and his strongest Beta out of the way the battle could be easily swayed. They circled around the two shifters, casing their prey and contemplating the best approach. Steven and Jason waited them out, not sure what their powers were and what an abrupt movement could cost them. Erin´s sudden scream sent goosebumps up the two men´s arms but Steven caught Jason by his sleeve and wordlessly ordered him to hold his position.
“She´s okay!” Ian yelled. “Five more to go!”
Out from the corner of his eye, Steven saw Kate´s claws dripping blood and Erin removing an oak branch out of her shoulder. He dimly heard Lynn ordering the soldiers that had gathered on the town´s wall to watch the skirmish to remain there, not knowing how many more Magics had broken through the barrier and not wanting to compromise the safety of the town. He thanked his lucky stars for allowing her a position in his pack, her rationality and composure an advantage in every situation. Before he could finish that thought, the Magic facing Jason seemed to finish weighing his options and sent two thick vines crawling on the ground, twisting around the Beta´s ankle upon contact. Jason fell down with a yelp and tried to find purchase on the ground, digging his claws in the soft dirt to stop the limber twigs from dragging him away. Steven tried to reach him but a loud noise erupted in his ears. Seemingly the only one affected, the Alpha bended over and brought his palms up to block the sound as the noise increased in volume and made his eardrums burst. Lynn acted quickly, releasing in the air the same potion she had once used on Jason during training. With the Werewolves´ hearing down to human levels, the noise the Magics emitted inside their minds couldn´t be picked up, the frequency too high for them to perceive. Steven straightened up and, without missing a beat, he forced his hand inside the Magic´s chest who, confident that he had incapacitated the Alpha, had approached at arm´s length. Steven tore his heart out and crashed it in his palm, the battle fever running hot in his blood. Running to Jason, he cut with his claws the vines that had almost suffocated the Beta and helped him unwrap them from around his torso. Jason, seething, turned to the Magic that had attacked him only to realise Kate was quicker as she snapped his neck with a sickening crack and let the man fall to the ground like a rag doll.
The three remaining Magics formed a line and started chanting in an unknown language, palms skywards and eyes closed. The Werewolves lined up across from them, a chill running up their spines at the strange words. Kate, once again without thinking, lashed out at them, provoking them.
“Is that it? Parlour tricks are all you´ve got? They won´t save you!” She made to move towards them but Jason reached an arm out and stopped her, picking up on something that his dulled sense of hearing barely allowed him to interpret.
“What the hell is that?” Erin said when the deep purring sound coming from within the Magics´ chests picked up in intensity. Before their very eyes, the witches shape-shifted and three enormous black panthers took their place, too tall to be natural, their height reaching up to the Werewolves´ necks.
“That´s new,” Jason murmured and growled back at the beasts standing in front of them.
“Uh... Boss?” Ian said hesitantly as the first panther waged its tail and dug its front paw in the ground, polishing its sharp claws.
“Nobody moves,” Steven said softly as if trying not to spook the animals and watched them as they circled him and his friends, cautiously sniffing the ground. “Their heart is on the right side,” he informed the rest after a moment of careful listening. Lynn´s potion had started dissipating but he was still experiencing some difficulties with the background sounds.
“The left one has a limp on its left back leg,” Kate observed.
“And the one next to it seems to favourite its right side,” Jason said.
One of the panthers approached close enough to probe Ian´s calf with its snout, crouched low and hackles raised.
“They don´t appear to have kept their intelligence,” Erin said after observing the scene.
“No, they don´t,” Ian agreed and locked eyes with his Alpha before digging his claws in the animal´s nape. The beast wailed in pain and rose to its back legs taking Ian with him and tossing him several feet away. The Beta controlled his landing at the last moment, touching the ground in all four and letting his sharp teeth show. “It´s on,” he said and charged ahead, throwing his elegant form a little to the left to avoid the panther´s blind swinging blow. He landed on the
animal´s back and tested his claws again against its thick skin going this time for its neck. It bucked, trying desperately to overthrow its enemy but Ian held on tight until, with one last ear-piercing screech, the huge beast fell dead.
Ian turned to see how his friends were faring and found Steven with a set of scratch marks starting on his cheek and going down his left arm. The Alpha´s hands were tight as a vice around a Magic´s neck. Steven -or maybe their two healers- had somehow found a way to make the panther transform back to its human form. The man was trying hopelessly to free himself from the Alpha´s clutches but -before long- he ran out of air, the light in his eyes switching off without a single drop of blood spent. A few feet over, Kate and Jason had teamed up against the last animal but Ian missed that fight, the large animal already dead in front of their feet with its loose tongue hanging out of its mouth like an excited dog´s. He witnessed Kate trying to fist-bump Jason though, only for the Beta to roll his eyes in dismissal. Ian fought to hold back his snort at his friend´s antics and his eyes finally sought out Erin who was sitting on the ground watching him with an extremely amused smirk on her lips.
“What?” She asked, shrugging at her mate´s questioning brow. “You seemed to have everything under control.” This time Ian couldn´t help the laugh that escaped him as he offered his hand to her and dragged her to her feet, both of them joining their Alpha who was looking at the forest troubled.
“What is it? What do you see?” Ian asked.
Steven shook his head, “Nothing.” He turned to Lynn and Mark who had abandoned their post the minute the last panther was incapacitated and had now joined the rest of their pack. “Is the barrier still secure?”
“For now,” Lynn nodded. “These,” she gestured at the fallen Magics, “seem to be the only break-ins. We sent some guards to check the perimeter. There were no other alarms.”
“Good job,” the Alpha said and patted every single member of his pack on their head, his palm slipping down to their necks fondly, basically scent-marking them and reassuring himself that they were alright. The Betas leaned into the touch but Lynn looked disgusted as her Alpha´s -dirty from blood, mud and who knows what else- hand soiled her red locks. She tolerated his caress though, understanding Steven´s need to anchor himself while her fellow healer remained unfazed under the whole treatment, neither a Werewolf to feel the significance of the touch so deeply nor as easily thrown off his game as Lynn.
“If Cora doesn´t heal completely soon, we don´t know how long the charms are going to hold,” Mark said voicing his concern and confirming Lynn´s earlier assumption.
“Okay, everybody go back and get some rest,” Steven ordered and his worn out Betas gladly retreated behind the town´s walls. “You stay.” The Alpha reached out and stopped Kate in her tracks.
“What is it?” She asked with faux innocence. “Do you need a comforting hug?” She moved in trying to kiss him but he ducked out of her way, easily sidestepping her.
“Your recklessness nearly cost us twice today,” he said through gritted teeth, not caring that everyone with supernatural senses could hear him. “You may be an Alpha, but while you are here you follow Jen´s and my command? Is that clear?”
“Yes Sir!” Kate mock-saluted.
“Is that clear?” Steven repeated, taking a few threatening steps forward and getting in her face. Kate immediately dropped the act and her face hardened, having lost her equal footing.
“Are you sure you are not just upset your bitch is still useless?” She sneered.
The man threw his head back and laughed, a deep clear sound that reverberated around them. “Useless?” He said and forced himself to sober up. “It looks like she does more than providing us with knowledge.” Steven gestured around encompassing the town behind them and the forest surrounding it. “What have you ever done for us apart from trying to get your way and throwing a tantrum when failing?”
“I should take my pack and leave then. Let´s see how you can win this war without us,” Kate snapped.
“Go ahead,” Steven dared her, tired with her whole attitude. “But we both know you won´t. We own you! You already broke your word once, you don´t have the guts to do it again. And even if we do fall, you think the Magics are going to leave the Bamans alone? You will be next. Good luck trying to find someone to help you then.” With that parting blow, Steven left Kate simmering and went in search of his family.
Back at the lair, deep below the dungeons, the royal family was anxiously waiting for news. Erin´s howl of pain earlier had made them jump out of their skin but Danny quickly reassured them since their pack bond allowed him to feel her.
“I can´t believe I´m hiding down here! I should be out there helping!” Jen said, pacing the room nervously for the millionth time.
“You know the Queen never fights her own battles,” Joe said absentmindedly, never tearing his gaze away from the door.
“Yeah well... That rule sucks.” Jen made for the door but Moira appeared suddenly in front of her with a judgmental look on her face.
“Sit down and wait for your brother,” the ex Alpha scolded her daughter, disappointed. “You know better than compromising both our Alphas and Royals in the same battle. Let Steven do his job.”
Jen´s shoulders slumped, accepting the fact that her mother was right but still worrying her head off. The door opened and Danny and Joe quickly assumed a defensive stance, ready to protect their Queen. John and Moira dragged their daughter into a corner and stood in front of her making sure that whoever walked through that door would reach her last. In walked Jason though, exhaustion deep in his bones, Erin and Ian in tow.
“All clear,” the head Beta said and accepted a bone crushing hug from Danny.
“Are you okay?” Danny asked, patting his boyfriend down and making sure nothing was amiss even though he could sense he hadn´t sustained any injuries.
“I´m fine, I´m fine,” Jason soothed and, together, they walked out of the room letting the rest of their friends find their own way back into the world of light.
21. ARE YOU HAPPY?
Steven allowed himself a quick bath to wash away the blood and gore of the day. After a tour around the town with Jen at his side to make sure each and every one of their people was safe and sound, he found himself outside Cora´s room with his defences down and his expression open. He was helpless to resist, his body humming with single-minded passion and unable to shut down his brain until he knew for certain she still felt solid underneath his fingertips. The events of the day had made even clearer for him the almost visceral connection between them.
Cora was asleep but she stirred when she felt the bed next to her dip and a hand brushing away the sweaty locks that had glued themselves on her forehead.
“What´s wrong?” She mumbled sleepily.
“Shh, go back to sleep,” Steven said in a soothing voice and lay down beside her, bracing his head on his closed fist, his elbow supporting the weight.
“What was the alarm for?” She fought back sleep wanting to make sure nothing was kept from her that could deprive her of the opportunity to put her plan in motion.
“Don´t worry about it. We took care of it.” He kept his voice light and low, wanting to leave undisturbed the cocoon of tranquillity her sleepiness had knitted.
“You know Danny will tell me in the morning,” she warned, amused.
“It´s not morning yet.” He reached for her, caressing the area around her stomach wound with his index finger, drawing small, intimate circles and revelling in the tremors his touch elicited. “How are you feeling?”
“It hurts,” Cora admitted and grabbed his hand to move it away from the tender area.
A switch was flipped in Steven´s head without warning. Fact: Cora needed to be healed, both for her sake as for everybody else´s. Fact: She had -by her actions alone, never mind the whole bond thing- become pack. Fact: Pack members drew strength from each other. Putting two and two together, he rose from the bed gently, trying not to
jostle her around too much.
“I´ll be right back,” he whispered with a soft kiss on her forehead.
He returned moments later when Cora was in the verge of sleep again, his exhausted pack trailing behind him. He assumed his previous position on the bed and his four Betas followed his lead, wordlessly trying to make themselves comfortable. Danny took Cora´s other side, careful not to crowd her, only his knees and elbows touching her as he curled close to her heat. Jason slipped in behind him, chest to back, and threw his hand over him letting his palm rest on Cora´s lower abdomen, essentially embracing both her and Danny. Erin and Ian lay vertically at the foot of the bed, Erin´s long blond hair tangling with the witch´s bare feet while Ian held his mate close, his fingertips brushing against Cora´s shin. Mark and Lynn, always more reserved without the Werewolf instincts, looked at each other and shrugged. The redhead took off her shoes and got in behind Steven, tucking her knees behind his and burying her face in his nape. Mark, in lack of anymore space, mirrored Ian and Erin at the opposite side of the bed, his back lining up with the headboard and his fingers weaving through Cora´s hair.
The young girl watched these people that had come to mean -each in their own strange way- family to her with not a little amount of interest. She could feel the heat of too many bodies close to her and Erin´s hair was tickling her feet but she didn´t dare move. She felt the most content she had ever been in her life. Sleep overtook her; a deep, restful sleep the likes of which she couldn´t remember experiencing before. The cloud of pain lifted and her dreams that night weren´t of death and destruction. She would let them be, for now. And then, tomorrow, maybe they could finally talk.
The morning though brought with it many changes. For starters, the pack had vanished leaving only Steven still asleep next to Cora. The sheets were already cold so the girl surmised they must have been gone for a while. Then she realized something else was different; the pain was completely gone, a slight ache and soreness left in its place.
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