Mitch looked upwards. "Did I get it all, there's no lightning which I will take as a good sign although I don't know why I don't get doves? Anyway, why are we all stood around gossiping, when we have a fight to prepare for?"
Chapter 2 3
The pack that had remained behind, prepared well into the night. They were joined by Vlad, Bastian and Darius along with several of Vlads trusted vampires who were going to patrol so they could sleep. The night had seen people or animal, or vampires running perimeter checks the wolves. Denissa and Jenny had stayed to add their help and were joined by some of the stronger witches. All of the pups were safe as were the older pack members, Connor had gone with the others along with several of the other pack soldiers. They were the reserves should they be needed, or should the pack fall the numbers would continue and the pack would rejuvenate.
The information from Cane was that the Order intended to remove Morgan using whatever force necessary, although that was before they knew that she was with wolves. The Order had at least one explosives expert, the male members were trained in combat, and they had a weapons stash that was pretty impressive. They weren't sure what tact Lucifer would take, but the pack had a three phase plan.
Phase one would start at 5am when two female soldiers would be posted on the gates, there would be two males hidden out of sight.
Around the gates, outside of the pack boundaries seven other wolves would be waiting, there were four other entrances into the land and all of these had discreet hideouts where four wolves would be posted. Nicky would be at the one furthest from the main gates, this was where Morgan's grandfather would be if Denissa's vision was correct. Two teams of four wolves would continue perimeter runs seeking out any explosives, Darius was the only member with knowledge of explosives and he would remain in the house and go to any sights to deal with any little presents left by the Order. Darius needed to remain inside unless needed as would Vlads other vampires, leaving the safety of the house during the day would be dangerous with the sun high.
When Lucifer arrived, Lucky and Morgan would lead the females out showing solidarity while hopefully giving him the impression that the women were in charge.
During phase two, Ben and Bastian would lead the wolves and Bastian's police officers into the middle, surrounding Lucifer and his men while the females left to join the families. Nicky was hoping that he would have returned with Morgan's grandfather at this point. Though the Order knew Jenny was with the pack and Morgan they didn't know she was a witch and therefore had no understanding of her powers. Hopefully this would result in them surrendering; if not they would move into what Mitch called PHASE THREE, taking them all down. Personally Nicky was hoping they moved to phase three.
Theo and Cane had managed to locate Lucifer's men in a motel not too far away. Nicky was tempted to find them and take them unawares, however the risks of innocents being caught in the crossfire was the only thing that stopped him. That and not knowing Lucifer's whereabouts, Nicky knew that while he was still alive Morgan would remain at risk.
Theo had managed to isolate the energy signatures of some of the men, everyone used energy and Theo could see a person's signature and not only see where they are but where they went. This meant that in the morning he would be able to see the signatures from long distances, allowing him to take some out sooner while the rest of the pack prepared.
Nicky was almost looking forward to ending this, when it was over Morgan would be safe, she would be free. Bastian had discussed the situation with his superiors, it was agreed that all people involved in the Order would be arrested with no deaths unless there was no other option, then all bets were off. Well Nicky was pretty certain there would be no other option, certainly not when dealing with Morgan's father, brother and Lucifer, they would all be taken out permanently regardless of who it pissed off.
Everyone was now bedding down for a few hours sleep while the vamps took the patrolling. Morgan and Nicky were staying the night with Ben and Lucky, Cane was also with them as he refused to stay behind or leave. Nicky found Morgan sat in the garden staring at the sky.
"Penny for them Pixie."
"Huh." She looked so pretty sat under the moonlight, her blonde hair glistening in the darkness. "I will give you a penny for your thoughts."
He sat behind her stroking her soft silken hair. "I can't help but worry about tomorrow, what if someone gets hurt, what if you get hurt? God everyone here is willing to stand there tomorrow and risk their lives for what. I have lived with the Order for so long, I know what they are capable of. If someone gets hurt I won't know what to do? I have been training with Lucky for so long but what if I freeze. I have this new family and I am terrified that one of them will get hurt."
He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Breathe little Pixie, just breathe. Listen we have fought harder than this, granted we don't like to fight on our land but we will and we will win. In every battle there are casualties, which is why Emma is ready to go at the hospital. Hopefully there will be no casualties and if the Order has any brains they will surrender and job done." He nuzzled her neck, she was in him and around him, he didn't know where she ended and he begun.
"But it isn't that simple is it Nicky, not everyone will walk away from this will they? There is no way Lucifer and my father will walk away and if they did, I know you wouldn't allow it."
What surprised Nicky was her tone; she wasn't upset or angry just resigned. "Does that upset you Pixie, that I would willingly kill them?"
"I wouldn't be upset with you; I know that if they are alive they will keep coming after me. But I would be upset for you."
He was still nuzzling her neck, running little kisses up and down her soft skin. "Why upset for me?"
"It doesn't matter what you say, it would hurt you to know that you had killed my father."
"I will live Pixie, if it means you are safe I would be fine." He knew the truth in his words; he was not that concerned about taking a life if it meant protecting her, she was the priority.
"You however need to remember that no matter what happens tomorrow, you do not put yourself in their hands for any reason and I mean it." She turned to kiss him, and he noted she hadn't answered his question. It didn’t matter what happened tomorrow she wasn't going anywhere near them.
Sleep eluded Nicky and Morgan so they were ready when the wolves on the far side signaled that a car had pulled up. There were three people reported to be in the car, two in the front and one in the back, the one in the back was tied up. Rather than engage the wolves waited, they didn't want to show their hand too soon.
Nicky had to wait until the Order was too busy to realize that he had taken their bargaining tool, for this must be the grandfather. Nicki had asked Cane earlier why the grandfather was still alive, he was surprised to learn that all males were considered sacred even if it took years to convert them to the Order, they would wait. He was amazed that a woman's life meant nothing yet a man's; well a man could slave for them for as long as it took to convert him.
Within the hour the two in the car were getting out for smokes while laughing at how dumb shifters were. Ben was in the kitchen smiling as the information was cascaded through the pack. Further reports were coming in from two of the other entrances. Theo had done a sweep through and saw signatures which he followed until he found where some of the Order's men were snaking up to the boarders.
As Theo crouched in wolf form to take them out Nicky was listening to his progress through the telepathic link. Theo snuck up behind one of the men shifting back to man at the last minute, before plunging a tranquillizer dart in the man's neck. Theo then carried the man on his back into pack land sending his co-ordinates out. A few minutes later two other wolves met him and took his unconscious passenger while he moved on to the next one. The aim was to incapacitate not kill unfortunately.
Theo went back out, as a soldier he was an amazing sight but as a wolf he was the fiercest by far, his scars and tattoos were visible on his wolf making him dist
inctive. Theo was silent and deadly; he took out three more men in the next fifteen minutes each time using the tranquilizers. When he returned to the house he reloaded and started heading back out, it seems Lucifer wasn't completely stupid, he realized the wolfs superior hearing meant using radios was out of the question, but he hadn't taken the time to find a solution which meant he had no idea what was happening among his men.
At six am Lucifer arrived at the gates, all of the females were wearing bullet proof vests, this was the part of the plan that Nicky knew Ben was unhappy with. Both accepted that it was the best plan, but it went against everything the pack believed in to send the females out alone. However Ben trusted in Lucky and his female warriors, he knew Lucky had trained many of the pack females, Nicky also trusted Lucky to protect Morgan and this was what concerned Ben the most. If it came to it, Lucky would sacrifice herself for another, she also refused to back down from anyone including Ben. In fact Nicky had not been surprised when Lucky walked out of the door and Ben turned to Bastian.
"If any of them harm her in any way or any of the other women all agreements are off, I will kill them all." Rather than respond Bastian nodded.
As the men left to drive the women to the gates, Nicky shifted to wolf and headed to the other side of the land to locate Morgan's granddad. He could smell men sneaking up to the boundaries, he could also smell the other wolves nearby he had to trust them to do their thing.
As he came towards the car in the lane he slowed and backed up so he could come round the vehicle from the back. Coming closer he could smell gasoline; the two men were stood some distance from the car while Nicky was watching them from the bushes next to them. There was a can of gasoline on the floor next to them and each had a lighter in their hands. Nicky watched them, he would have to shift to man to dart them the problem was that he could only dart one at a time. This would provide an opportunity for the other person to set the car on fire; he wouldn't have time to get Morgan's grandfather out of the car.
Looking around Nicky stepped back into the forest thinking, he could send for one of the other wolves but everyone should be where they were needed. Looking up and around him, he saw one of the wild wolves slide up to him, he followed its line of sight and saw two other wild wolves across from the car, but out of the man's line of vision. As Nicky looked at the wolf next to him it was now or never, he nodded at the wolf.
As Nicky shifted to man, he took the tranquillizer from his pocket; the wolf pawed at him and stepped closer to the path. He used the woods to camouflage him, as Nicky moved forward the other wolf followed his steps. On the other side of the path a second wolf looked at Nicky who nodded as a plan formed in their mind.
At the same time both wolves pounced each hitting their target, knocking both men to the ground their teeth bared in threat. Nicky stepped forward to find each man had a wolf sat on their chest with its mouth wrapped around their throat, they weren’t going anywhere now.
As Nicky stepped forward he saw one still had the lighter and was desperately trying to spark a flame, but his shaking hands stopped him. Nicky kicked it from his hand, but he didn't stop and linger. He stabbed them in the neck with the tranquillizer patting each of the wolves gratefully. He was already running behind schedule so he needed to move quickly.
Nicky pulled the door open, the man was blindfolded, yet rather than move and fidget he sat so still. If Nicky hadn't been able to hear his heart beating he might have thought he was dead. "Hey, my name is Nicky and I am here to help, can you hear me?"
The man nodded. "Good, I am going to remove the blindfold." Nicky stepped back but only gave the man a second to adjust his eyes before he continued talking.
"I am sorry but we don't have time so I am going to talk real quick. I am here to take you to Denissa (he saw then man's eyes widen at her name), the thing is I need to be real quick. The Order has found your granddaughter who I intend to marry, and while I am with you they are preparing to fight the bastards, so I am anxious to get there asap."
"Go without me, protect my family please." Even though his voice was croaky Nicky heard him.
"That not happening so we need to move, I am going to take you on my back, but to do that I need to shift to wolf form."
Although Nicky felt his pulse quicken, he just nodded. "Are you injured anywhere?"
"It doesn't matter let's go." As Nicky shifted the man climbed onto his back, immediately Nicky started the run back to Morgan.
*
Morgan was absolutely terrified, as they got into the cars to take them to the gates she felt physically sick. There were four cars each containing four women and a driver, who just happened to be Bastian, Mitch, Seb and Julian. On the floor of each car were a variety of weapons. Although each female had the vest's on those that had trained with Lucky were also kitted up with weapons, in fact Lucky looked like she was going into a war on her own. Morgan had two concealed knifes, a gun and Lucky's Taser, she was wearing Zachariah's necklace for luck.
When they arrived she felt faint, could she really do this? "Hey little Pixie, I have a gift for you. Don't let the fear get to you. You are not the victim who ran away; you are the survivor who is facing them now. Just hold them off until I get there, Ben and the others are closing in so don't worry."
Lucky walked to the gate with Morgan next to her, and there was Lucifer with her father and brother flanking him.
Lucifer did not waste any time. "Morgan it's so good to see you, I see you have found some new friends."
His smile no longer scared her and neither did his immense presence, she now saw him for what he was, a bully and a coward. He was so overweight that he was not quick to move, but when he needed to hurt someone he put all of his weight into it and this was what caused the damage. Today he was wearing some light colored trousers with a large bullet proof vest of his own. He had grown a beard, but with his long greying greasy hair it served only to make him look old.
"Lucifer please leave, you don't want to do this. If you leave now no-one will get hurt."
He smiled again at her, that sick and twisted smile, the one that made his eyes appear evil and nasty. "I can't do that Morgan, you were promised to me and I will collect on my promise. Now why don't you be a good girl and come with me?"
She watched him look around at the women before he spoke again.
"I am surprised; I thought wolves had honor and integrity. Clearly your men are weak. Where is your mother Morgan? I see she has deserted you again. You poor thing come home where you belong."
Lucifer raised voice his so that all of the women could hear. "The Order will offer protection to any who seek the support of strong men, we would not presume to leave the females to fight alone, we take care of our women unlike here."
Morgan felt Lucky smile. "Really do we look like women who need your protection, we do quite well and certainly do not require your version of care." Lucifer turned to her.
"I take it you lead these females. You do realize that with your insolence you invite the wrath of Lucifer. However, I am more than aware of pack hierarchy; I would like to meet with your Alpha."
"Mmmm, afraid not he is tied up at the moment so unfortunately you will have to deal with me. Now from the way I see it, we have a little problem, you want Morgan and she doesn't want you, correct."
Morgan listened to Lucky and it was amazing, from the way she was talking you would think she was talking about the weather; she was so strong and confident.
Andrew nudged Lucifer." She's the one who took Steven down."
"Really, why would you do that, Steven is a good man he wouldn't hurt a fly."
Lucky laughed. "It's simple really, I have always wanted a Taser and he had one so I took it."
Lucifer was watching Lucky intently, even though she seemed to be buffing her nails. Morgan saw him look at the distance between them, he was about to move forward towards Lucky, Morgan stepped slightly in front of Lucky.
"I would rather die than let you take me, so there really
is no point to this Lucifer, you have nothing I want."
"Really, is it true that you're running with wild animals? I thought better of you. Where may I ask is that spineless brother of yours? After all of your lessons why do you not denounce God?"
He was spouting this crap, and he actually believed what he was saying. Morgan knew he was planning something and Nicky wasn't ready. "Lucifer please explain to me why you changed your name?"
"Our lord decreed it, he came to me in a dream and told me to take his name and spread his word."
Now it was Morgan's turn to smile. "Oh, because I thought it had something to do with a wolf," she saw he was flustered by her words, "you see if that was the case it wouldn't make sense for you to be so close to wolf territory without any leverage."
As he laughed Morgan could see he now had several teeth missing and what was left had that yellow decaying color. "Do you honestly think I don't have leverage, well you will see what my leverage is after I have spoken to your Alpha. But let me tell you now the longer this goes on the more severe your punishment will be."
The Wolf With The Silver Smile (The Silver Series) Page 20