“I can understand your frustration,” Helena attempted a more mellow tone as her face loosened. “Believe me; I would love to torch them, just like I did to Redfield’s clan. But, now is not the time to make rash decisions. A million things could go wrong, Raul. Even if you go in unnoticed, the noise alone is enough to get you in trouble, not to mention all the mess you’ll cause. No. We need something a lot quieter than an all-out attack.”
“I’d suggest a kidnapping, but those bastards don’t sleep. We can’t surprise them in their apartments,” Dean concluded, dragging his gaze away from Helena as he pursed his lips.
“Well, no, but we can pick them up from the street,” Helena suggested, raising an eyebrow. “If they live among humans, then they socialize with them. They go to their bars, their clubs…”
“Don’t say ‘restaurants.’” Ray interrupted with a chuckle.
“I wasn’t going to,” Helena gave a huff of exasperation. “Now, I see how you can stand Julia. You just love to be funny.”
“So, you’re saying we should stalk them,” Raul groaned, casting a fierce glare down at his brother over his shoulder. “Isn’t that dangerous? Kidnapping someone in the middle of Manhattan doesn’t sound like a walk in the park to me.”
“Bear with me,” Helena urged as her voice returned to its normal standards. “Use the pack. Take, I don’t know, fifteen, maybe twenty wolves with you, and go back to New York, tonight. It’s Saturday; they’ll want to go out. Vampires may be unpredictable in general, but they love darkness. Most of them will try to use the alleys to get to their destination. Mask your scents. Grab as many as you can, and the rest of them will come to you.”
“We lure them out, instead of flushing them out. I think it’s great,” Raul praised, nodding at the same time. “I’m not sure about ‘as many as you can’ part, though. The more we kidnap the more chances we have of being noticed. What if someone escapes? We can’t chase them.”
“Good point,” Helena commented. “Two or three would do just fine.”
“We miss you,” Dean confessed, admiring her indomitable spirit as he stared down at her pinkish eyes. Even in blindness, their beloved witch would not abandon them, and still offered them her valuable input. “I’d love it if you came along. You, too, Cliff,” He added, lifting his gaze to meet her boyfriend’s.
“Hell, yeah, count me in!” Cliff exclaimed as his eyes glinted with excitement. “What time are we leaving?”
“Eight o’clock would be okay,” Raul stated, glancing at Helena and Cliff, one at a time. “Let’s go hunt some bloodsuckers.”
Chapter Eighteen
Understandably, Dean had his reservations about the whole project. This would be much more complicated than a simple reconnaissance mission. They would be in unfamiliar territory, attempting to do something they had not done before. Worst of all, they had to work among nosy humans. If anything, they all had to be on their toes, and even that might not be enough. The vastness of the area in which they had to attempt this endeavor, did not allow them to maintain complete control. They needed large numbers; numbers they didn’t have. However, Dean did not voice his concern. Damian had made a wise choice in selecting a crowded neighborhood. They could not do much else to lead them away from the bustling city. By kidnapping a few of their adversaries, the Paxton pack stood a better chance of facing them in the kind of battle they had known for hundreds of years. Their plan might be somewhat perilous; yet it was the only action they could take.
Spirits were high as the pack gathered around in the Bradford’s yard that night. Shifters teased one another, and made crude jokes in their usual fashion as if they were going away on a holiday, not on a mission against their natural enemies. Regardless of their sense of humor, though, Dean was savoring each and every moment of this. The shifters were, once more, united in their common interest. The disputes in “Joe’s” diner were long forgotten. Now, all they were concerning themselves with, was their fight against Damian’s clan. They were brothers in arms, ready to kill or get killed for one another.
, however, their plans of abducting a few vampires that night were woefully overthrown. Minutes before their departure, while Dean gazed out at the blackness of the hill ahead of him, he caught a glimpse of two, separate pairs of red eyes as they crossed the woods. One moment they were behind the trees, and the next they were both visible, never far from each other as they closed in on the Bradford estate. The skin on his face tingled with fear. He wasn’t afraid of them in combat, but he knew how sinister they could be, particularly when someone had interfered with their plans. The two vampires sprinted up the hill outside the Bradford’s yard as Raul sauntered towards his brother. In a split second, one of them blurred close to the Alpha, not leaving him a chance to speak.
“Wolf Mountain,” he smirked, revealing white fangs and teeth. “Come now, or two humans die.”
“Two humans?” questioned Dean in disbelief, escaping on a sigh, as their foes rushed back into the darkness.
“I hope they are all there,” Raul grumbled, his face twisting in an expression of rage as he turned around. “Boys!” he shouted, putting his hands on his waist. “They’re trespassing again. What are we going to do about th…?”
“Hold on,” Kate’s feminine voice rose above the Alpha’s as she strode out of her cabin, her gaze fixed on her mate. “Don’t forget who you’re dealing with. This could very well be a trap.”
“A trap?” surprised by her theory, Dean cringed. “They said it themselves, Kate. They’ve got two humans. What should we do, let them die?”
“They could be hiding anywhere along the way, for all we know,” Kate rebutted as her quick footsteps closed the distance between them. “We hurt them last night, and they’ve got Bethels. What if he’s waiting for you out there?”
“What are you suggesting?” Raul questioned in a bass-deep voice as he shifted his gaze to her.
“We teleport,” Kate’s answer came fast as if she had been expecting the question. “If there’s anything wrong, then we teleport right back. Take my hand,” she added, reaching her arms towards the Alpha and her mate.
“Kate, you’ve hardly been able to teleport yourself,” Dean pointed out, his baritone filled with tension. “How can…?”
“Trust me,” she interrupted, her voice stiff as she clutched his hand in hers. Out of nowhere, he found himself in a dilemma. Could he really do as she wished? In any case, he couldn’t deny that she had a point. Dean and his brother could well walk into a trap. So, he closed his eyes, and held her hand as a plume of yellow smoke shot up from the ground before them. He felt a tickling sensation on the back of his neck as the smoke surrounded them. The shifters’ voices around them began to fade as a gust of wind blew through their hair. A beacon of hope lit up within him. He had experienced this with Helena, and every sign so far was telling him that he had made the right choice.
The moisture on his forehead suddenly increased as two, female moans filled his ears. Puffs of yellow smoke were still in the air as his eyes snapped open. Dean threw a few, frantic glances around him, feeling his heart racing in his chest. The vampires had not lied to them. They were on familiar ground, just beyond the scorched patch of earth that Helena’s masterpiece had left behind. Two young women, one of them a brunette, were tied to a tree across from them; yet, the vampires were nowhere to be seen. Still, before any of them could speak, two figures entered Dean’s line of sight, breaking out of the forest to the left as they blurred towards their prey.
“How did you get here so fast?” The one on the left asked, stopping right behind the brunette.
“I helped them,” Kate replied as she slowly turned around to face them. “I’m Kate Brooks. I’m the one your wizard is after. Let those girls go.”
“Not going to happen, witch,” the same vampire grunted as he thrust his arm up to the brunette’s head. “You killed two of our own yesterday. The humans die. Tonight,” He went on, pulling her hair as he tilted his head down. Dean clench
ed his fists, watching as his fangs lengthened, dangerously close to her neck. “We wanted you to see this.”
“Cut the rope; let them go you fucks!” growled Raul, his face contorting in rage as a yellow glow spread over his eyes. “Do it now, or I’ll rip your fucking skulls off!”
“Take me,” Kate interjected, taking a short step forward. “It’s me you want. Come on. Let those girls go, and take me instead.”
“Kate; what the hell?” whispered Dean, averting his gaze from the girls and vampires to look down at her, shockwaves ripping through him like bolts of lightning. His mate whirled her head around as a ferocious snarl rose up in his throat.
“It’s the only way,” she winked at him, turning his bafflement into a mix of curiosity and frustration. By then, his beast was dying to get out. Everything in him rebelled at the thought of letting his beloved Kate go anywhere near those vampires. But, much to his annoyance, this was completely her decision.
“Marcus, the witch is right,” stated the other vampire, finally opening his mouth. “The boss would be thrilled to have her.”
“Alright,” Marcus smirked, tilting his head back up as he reached into his pocket. “Release her,” He urged, staring at Kate as he pulled a small knife out.
Dean exhaled hard, barely containing his wolf as her confident footfalls led her away from his spot. There was nothing he wouldn’t like more, than to allow his beast to take charge. He couldn’t be reasoned with, bargained with or feel any kind of remorse. The wolf was governed by pure instinct, and his instinct was shouting within him, commanding him to not allow this. However, there were more factors to take into account other than his nature. The two women were still around. Shifting would put them in harm’s way.
“Go!” Kate cried as the brunette was cut loose. “Where is Bethels, anyway? Why doesn’t he show his face around here?”
“You can ask him yourself. You’ll see him soon,” responded Marcus, glaring down at her as the two humans exploded forward, across the burnt-out part of the forest.
“Okay, let’s get this over with,” she suggested, holding both of her arms out, palms facing upward. The two vampires reached and grabbed her wrists as Dean shook his head in despair. Flexing his muscles, Marcus attempted to spin her around. His smirk was wiped off his face as he noticed that she remained bolted to her spot. Kate glanced up at him, and then at his comrade as a sarcastic smile spread across her face.
“Fire,” she uttered, in a low, deep voice as her hazel eyes dimmed to a dark-brown shade. In a split second, two flashing balls of fire sprang up from her palms, just before she gripped their forearms. The awful smell of burnt flesh mixed with scorched fabric spread out into the air as the flames shot up their limbs. The vampire’s agonizing cries resounded in the wilderness as the fire rushed down their chests and up their necks. Kate had to yank her hands out of their grasp as the blaze engulfed their fingers. A much stronger gust of wind rustled through the trees, scattering their ashes across the forest floor as her smile widened to a grin. Dean couldn’t believe his eyes. Shocked to his very core, he stared at her as his brother hesitantly put his hands together. Kate turned around, upon the sound of his clapping. As if she had just given the performance of a lifetime, she bowed before them.
“I’ll be damned,” Raul chuckled, bobbing his head in admiration. “She just lit them up!”
“You bet your ass I did,” Kate joked, settling her gaze on her stunned mate. “What do you have to say now, Mr.? Was that good enough for you?”
“It was amazing,” Dean commented, still trying to grasp what he had witnessed. “How did you pull it off?”
“A little bit of witch blood, and a little bit of Helena’s advice,” Kate explained, taking him by the hand once more. “Which reminds me; I still haven’t found a cure for her. Let’s go back.”
Her feat might have stunned him, but, at the same time, it had proved to him beyond a shadow of a doubt that Marianne McIntyre’s powerful descendant had awakened. And, much to his content, she was committed to their cause. No longer was Kate just an observer of their struggles. Being true to her word, she had joined them. Naturally, Dean began to wonder what else she was capable of. But, finding an answer to that question didn’t matter. All that did matter was that they now had a mighty weapon in their arsenal: his mate.
Chapter Nineteen
Silence and puzzled eyes greeted Dean, Kate and Raul as the smoke cleared. For some reason, Ray was not focusing on their faces. Instead, he was tossing glances at his brothers’ bodies as Julia brushed past him.
“What happened? Were you guys too late?” asked Julia, looking up into Kate’s eyes.
“Nah, we got there right when we were needed,” Raul claimed, patting his brother’s mate on the back.
“You still have your clothes on,” Ray remarked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “Why?”
“That’s because we didn’t have to lift a finger,” Dean explained, his face radiating joy. “Kate did all the work. We just…” he paused; “stood by and watched.”
“You…?” Julia whispered as her lips curved into a confused smile. “You took them out?”
“Yeah,” Kate gave a firm nod. Her simple gesture sent waves of enthusiasm among the pack. Each and every shifter thrust their arms up in the air as cheers and “woo hoo’s” ripped through the atmosphere. Dean’s eyes swept the raised fists as a sense of pride washed over him.
“Thank you, thank you,” Kate responded in a loud tone of voice as Julia wrapped her arms around her. “I’m very proud of myself, but Helena is still blind. Now, if you will excuse me, I still have work to do.”
Finishing her sentence, she gently pushed her friend aside. Dean might have been glowing with joy, but her words acted like a wakeup call. The woman who had inspired her was still in the dark. Nevertheless, hearing about Kate’s feat was sure to lift her spirits. Without waiting any longer, he started off towards her cabin as his mate returned to theirs. Still, the sight that greeted him almost immediately, made him change his mind. Helena was already out on the yard, holding onto Cliff’s arm as they approached the small crowd.
“I always keep my windows open these days,” She said, a big smile gracing her face. “You must be very proud of her.”
“I am,” Dean admitted. “But, none of it would have been possible without you.”
“I simply gave her a push in the right direction,” Helena shrugged her shoulders. “Where is she?”
“She’s off to read her mother’s book. She’s been doing that all day long,” He informed her as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
“I have news for you,” she announced, changing to a more serious tone. “I received word from my people in Europe a few minutes ago. The Bethels were a very prestigious family in Ireland during the middle Ages. They were very rich; they had affiliations with most royal families in Europe. But, it all went wrong for them when Richard, Leonard’s great, great, grandfather, accurately predicted the death of a Gordon Hodgkin’s, a prominent lawyer in England. He got drunk one night, and told him. Needless to say, Gordon laughed at him. The story became a very popular anecdote, and a good tea party joke. However, when the lawyer was crushed under a pile of wooden planks in downtown Belfast about three years later, the entire family had to flee. It looked like an accident, but Hodgkin’s friends accused Richard of murder. He brought his family to the U.S. and they’ve been living in Colorado for centuries. According to my friends there, males can still foresee the deaths of their descendants; which means that Leonard already knows how he will die. Something tells me that Kate has got a lot to do with it. He’s obsessed with her. First, he tries to have her killed. When that fails, he offers her a fortune to keep her away from witchcraft.”
“Helena…” Dean gave a huff of exasperation. “Thanks a lot for the information, but please, don’t start speculating, alright? I’ve had enough of that lately.”
“Hey, guys,” Raul cast a quick glance over at the witch and her boyfriend as he
stepped beside his brother. “Martin just called me. He said a big limo was just seen entering Shandaken. It’s got to be him.”
The news didn’t come as a surprise to Dean. Marcus’s last words to Kate were “you’ll see him soon,” All the same, what he couldn’t fathom, was Damian’s absence. Indeed, they had not seen him again since the night he declared war upon the pack. Still, before he could voice his bewilderment, Kate’s voice drew his attention.
“Make way, everybody!” Her feminine voice rose above the chatter, the urgency in it somewhat confusing him. A mere glance over his shoulder though, was enough to send that feeling away. Her mother’s book was glowing pink in the dark as she pushed her way through the small crowd. The corners of his eyes tightened as his gaze followed her. “Dean, get behind me,” Kate urged, staring at the unfortunate Helena as she strode past him. “Cliff, you do the same with Helena. Hold her shoulders tightly.”
Intrigued, Dean trotted off across his yard, maintaining eye contact with Kate. A few paces later, he stopped, and then faced Helena as Cliff turned around. Lifting his arms, he put his hands on her shoulders as Kate dropped her gaze down on the book. She raised her right arm, and splayed her fingers, palm facing Helena
Cloak of shadow – black and vain
Hades’ hollow, dark domain
Leave this world – Let her be
The light she again shall see
A blinding glow shot forward from her hand as she completed the incantation. Helena’s head was thrown back as it struck her in the face. Not even Cliff’s grip was enough to keep her in place. The shockwave blasted them both back across the yard as Kate flipped her book shut. A painful groan fled Cliff as he tumbled down on the ground, banging the side of his face onto the concrete. Dean could not wait any longer. Rolling his fingers into fists, he rushed off towards the fallen witch, feeling his adrenaline pumping through his veins. Cliff gently curled his arm around Helena’s shoulders as he put his free hand down on the ground. He sat up as Dean fell to his knees in front of them. Reaching forward, he tipped her chin up.
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