“I don’t know. It’s strange, but I have this sensation in my core. I didn’t understand it, but it’s like something is missing,” she said to him.
He narrowed his eyes and then looked at Scor.
“This is all so new to all of us. Perhaps it’s just the process. That it takes time to make it stick to bind us fully,” Scor said.
“I feel bonded to each of you fully, but yet something is missing.”
“I think I know what you mean, but not why. Give this time, Avi. The gods have put us together and we must accept their decisions,” Scor said.
“It’s more than that.” She stepped back and walked toward the window. “What’s happening with the investigation into that Trolytes guy? Anything new?” She asked, changing the subject.
“They are finding some connections to the Shay Alphas. We believe that they are working with him. That perhaps he may be the one behind the attacks, or at least be a minion for the one responsible. Not quite sure, but we’ll begin strategically attacking momentarily, actually,” Viper stated, joining them.
She looked at him. “They’ll be wolves running out of fear, and who will need a safe place to be protected and to live. I’ll need to talk with Alusia and my friends to make plans for them, and set up locations for them to reside.”
“No,” Viper said, and she was shocked.
She looked at him, squinted, and then at Bider and Scor.
“They are not welcome on our land or our cousins’ land. We’ll come up with another idea, a different location.”
“Why?” she questioned Viper.
“There are too many things going on, Avi. Too many unanswered questions, and attacks coming from us at various directions, bringing no clues as to who this enemy is. We have to be strategic and smart. We must protect our families, the ones who are loyal to us,” Viper explained.
“What makes you think that they won’t be loyal?” she asked.
“They aren’t faithful to any pack. They’re mixed, and only show loyalty to those who give them what they need to survive.”
“That isn’t true at all. Have you met these people? Have you spoken to them and heard their stories, their sacrifices? Or have you just walked right by as you fight and kill anyone who stands in the way of what you want and desire? These are the victims of the same evil that is trying to destroy all of wolf society!” she yelled back at him.
“Enough!” he ordered, and she was shocked. Both at his command, and his dismissal of her opinion as he commanded as an Alpha would. No one else mattered but his agenda.
“Let’s settle down. I’m sure we can come up with a compromise,” Bider said to her.
“The compromise is coming up with a different location for these wolves to live that is not on our territory,” Viper said firmly.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Just for the record, Alpha, I too am one of those wolves who do not belong to a pack, who was forced to run out of fear of being forced into mating someone that wasn’t my mate. You think about that. That I have mixed bloodlines of Shay and Merker. That if I wasn’t involved with your family, and if we didn’t meet and know we were mates, I would be the hunted. I would be forced into mating one of the members of Shay pack in their desperate attempt to remain a pack and build upon it. Think about that, and about how many other women, and even children would be forced into that, as well.”
She went to walk past him, but Viper grabbed her, lifted her up so she straddled his waist, and he pressed her against the bedroom wall. She gasped, held onto his shoulders and was aroused once again by this hardcore soldier of a wolf and his cold-hearted ways.
His teeth were clenched, his jaw tight, the muscles in them throbbing as he held her gaze, eyes aglow. “I would kill any wolf or man who attempted to take you, or take from this body, understood?”
She stared at him and squeezed his shoulders, then cupped his cheeks. “I am lucky to have you and your brothers as my mates, but what about the others? They have no one to protect them, Viper. That can’t be all right with you,” she whispered.
He growled low. “Is this one of the times I need to learn to bend my rules and the regulations for my mate?” he asked, sounding sarcastic, yet resistant to it.
She licked her lips, and moved them closer. “We can figure out a way together, mate.” She pressed her lips to his and kissed him tenderly.
“Together,” Bider said, and he and Scor pressed closer and she smiled softly. She stared at Viper. “I don’t know why, but arguing with you makes me…wet,” she said, and Scor chuckled. But Viper pressed her harder to the wall and began to kiss her. They weren’t making it out of the house as soon as they had planned after all.
* * * *
“Trolytes is a killer. He works for whomever is willing to pay him the most money,” Loki told the group of wolves gathered before her.
There were all the Keuric and Saint wolves, as well as Kurtis and his brothers. Alexandra, Alyssa, Luna, and Avi stood next to one another and listened.
“How do you know this, and do you have any leads on where he might be?” Preston asked.
“Right now, we are gathering bits and pieces of information. Trolytes tends to not show any allegiance to one pack, however, we have confirmation that he has been in communication with Shay Alphas. We also confirmed that while Buschool was on route to assist in rescuing Avi, he was intervened by someone,” Loki said, and then glanced at Alexandra.
Alexandra then looked at Avi. “Black magic. I believe that Delia is involved with this.”
“Buschool is being held captive by her?” Avi asked, and looked at Alexandra for answers.
“We’ve been working hard on trying to find a location. We have wolves picking up scents and getting closer. We hope to hear something at any moment,” Kurtis added.
“I want in on this,” Avi said to him.
“You will not be going on any hunts or missions, and definitely not to go find a vamp being held by a witch like Delia,” Viper stated.
She turned to look at him with annoyance and anger in her eyes.
Loki knew that they would bash heads on numerous things. She could see this coming from a mile away.
“That is not your decision to make. Buschool is important to me. We’re close. He has been by my side for a couple of years. He was coming to rescue me, too, but was taken because of me.”
“We had your rescue covered. Certainly didn’t need a sneaky untrustworthy vamp to assist us,” Viper said.
“He is not sneaky or untrustworthy. At least not to those who show respect and don’t try to insult or assault him, Viper.”
“Insult him? He has the wool pulled over your eyes, mate. You are not going, that is the end of this,” Viper said, and then they moved on to discuss possible locations, and before Avi could argue, Kurtis got the call. They had a location and they would need to move swiftly. Evening was approaching, and the night offered them opportunities that could rescue the vamp and also catch Trolytes.
“We need to organize the teams and go in with caution. That witch more than likely has the place booby trapped,” Preston said to them.
“Let me contact someone who can assist. I’ll have them there before you step foot close enough to set off alarms,” Alexandra said, and Loki squinted at her and she knew who she was talking about. Obviously, Alusia shared some information with Alexandra that could help right now.
“What friend?” Saunder asked her?”
“I’m not at liberty to say, but a trustworthy one, with capabilities you’re better off not knowing about. Excuse me a moment,” Alexandra said, and walked out of the room.
“Come on,” Alyssa said to Luna, and Avi and them headed out, too.
“Okay, so here is the information and the coordinates of the location. It won’t be easy to get to, and you will need guidance and to take caution. She’s a very powerful witch indeed,” Loki said, and the men gathered around to listen.
Chapter Five
“I thought he was suppose
d to be so strong and that he would bring Avi to us,” Trolytes said to Delia.
“Oh, he is pretty strong, but he let his heart lead the way to battle instead of his head. The wolves will do the same, and when they come for him, they will die. Then you can grab Avi and bring her to wherever the master instructed,” Delia replied.
“The master should keep her for himself.”
“Not going to happen. It is all in the plan. Let this one take the fall. Bring her to him.”
“Maybe,” Trolytes said.
Buschool listened. They were being very careful not to name the master they spoke of, or who they were bringing Avi to when they caught her. He wondered if it was the ones responsible for all the violence and the destruction of were packs.
“What do you mean maybe?” Delia asked.
“Just that maybe Avi is worth more than what the master is giving us. Like perhaps I could entice another to offer more for her.”
“Don’t be a fool. He’ll kill you. Just deliver her to the wolves. When the others arrive, kill them all and we’ll be on our way.”
Who was arriving? Had they set up Keuric and Saint pack to come find him? He didn’t know what was going on, but it seemed to be the recipe for disaster. He hoped for Avi’s sake that her mates didn’t come in blind like he had when searching for her.
* * * *
“What is that?” Bider asked, and suddenly they were surrounded. Their soldiers began to fight, men shifting to wolves on the rough terrain of the woods. Roars of pain and death echoed through the sky and Viper, Bider, and Scor pushed onward to get to the old house. Wolves came out of the woodwork, expecting them. It was a set up; he yelled to their cousins, Rule, Temerec, and Law. “Kill them all. No mercy!” He roared and then shifted with his brothers. A claw to the back sent him flying right into the rogue wolves. He countered additional strikes and then ripped out the throat of one, only to have another tackle him to the ground. He fought for his life, and to get back to his mate. Viper roared and tore one of the wolves from Bider’s back, giving Bider the opportunity to rip out the rogue’s throat, then turn and kill another. They seemed to just keep coming and coming as they made their way close to the house. A smell, and a sensation of evil thickened the closer they got. They caught up to Rule, Temerec, and Law just as the Trolytes appeared along with ten other men.
“Give it up, Trolytes. It’s over!” Law commanded.
The wolf chuckled. “No, I believe the fun is just begun,” he said, and jumped through the air, along with his men and shifted into wolves. Bider, his brothers, and cousins, counterattacked and began to once again fight and kill the enemy in their paths. As some of their other soldiers died trying to assist, Bider wondered where these other wolves were coming from and how come they just kept appearing…
* * * *
We need to push forward and get into the house,” Law said to Bider.
“Go. You three go ahead and we’ll take care of these,” Bider told him.
Law looked at his brothers. “Let’s move,” he said, and they jumped through the crowd of wolves as more soldiers came to assist their cousins, and they killed their way into the home. The sensation of power, evil, attacked their senses. They pushed through though and fought only a few more wolves on the way into the house. They went into the basement that seemed to be protected by the wolves and made their way down the creaky, old stairs. The sounds of bubbling potions, mystical lights, and a darkness difficult to see through met them.
“Perfect timing.”
It was too late when they saw Delia. The witch raised her hands in the air and then threw them forward. Law, Rule, and Temerec went flying backward against the stairs and the wall. The all grunted in pain, and the witch chanted and carried on saying some sort of craziness as Buschool the vampire yelled for them to cover their ears. They shifted back to men, losing their ability to stay as wolves when suddenly pain attacked their bodies. Their bones felt like they were being crushed, but nothing was in front of them. Delia’s face looked angry and menacing as she moved her hands, obviously using a spell to kill them slowly.
“No!” they heard the scream of female’s voice, and through the pain, Law saw a woman jump through the air, hands raised and shooting some kind of power from them, causing Delia’s hands and arms to shoot back and release the invisible hold she had on them.
“How? How could you?” Delia yelled.
“Stay away from them. Give it up now!” the woman yelled, and Delia lifted her hands again and shot a strike of something purple and blue at Temerec, Rule, and Law. They fell to their backs and were paralyzed from the hit.
“You’re going to die today, Delia. It’s over!” the woman yelled, and Delia went to shoot again, when the woman raised her hands and shot her own kind of force of power at the witch, that sent her flying.
“They die and so do you!” Delia yelled, and as she moved her hands and a thicker, black and purple smoke appeared, the woman in front of them, a goddess with long brown hair, dressed in black camo, and appearing fierce and determined to fight Delia, stuck out her hands and countered the evil power. The witch held her hands forward and the woman protected Law, Temerec, and Rule from being annihilated, slowly and painfully killed by the witch. Delia cursed, and took off through some secret door in the wall.
Law locked gazes with the beauty before him, and when she realized Delia left, she made her own powers disappear. She was breathing rapidly as Bider, Viper, and Scor appeared.
“How did you do that? You saved their lives,” Bider said to her.
She looked at Law and it hit him. The scent of her, the sight, and he jumped up as she stepped back. He grabbed her and pulled her close. Temerec and Rule did the same.
“Who are you?” he asked, staring down into her gorgeous blue eyes, her hair turning blonde before them, like she was in camouflage.
“Alusia.”
“In here,” Viper said, and pointed to the doorway where Buschool was being held in the prison cell.
“Don’t touch it. There’s black magic around it,” Buschool said.
“Wait,” Alusia said, and started walking away from them.
“Who are you?” Rule asked her as she waved her hands over the bars and the door opened. Buschool stepped out and Alusia hugged him tight. Law felt his wolf growl low and he was jealous and angry.
“You did well, Alusia. You’re getting stronger and stronger,” Buschool said to her as she stepped back.
“Well, it seems enough is going on around our packs that it’s necessary. Thank the gods you’re okay, Buschool,” she said to him.
“You know one another?” Law asked, taking position next to her.
“She is one of Avi’s, Luna’s, and Alexandra’s good friends,” Buschool said.
Law reached out and touched her cheek. She stepped back.
“I need to go.”
“No,” Law said, and his brothers stopped her, too.
“I have to,” she told them.
“You can’t. We just met you. You saved our lives. You’re our mate,” Law said, and the others were shocked.
Buschool exhaled. “Another one. By the gods, it’s going to be one hell of a fight,” he said.
“Don’t go,” Temerec said to her.
She touched Law’s chest with her hand.
“I have to. Don’t worry, we’ll meet again when the time is right. I have to kill that witch. I’ve hunted her for far too long. I’ll find you,” she said to him, and then took off through the doorway the witch went.
“What in the world just fucking happened?” Temerec asked.
“We met our mate, and just like our cousins’ mates, she took off on us,” Rule said.
Bider chuckled. “Well, congratulations. Can we get the hell out of here? I hate this place,” he said to them, and they started to head back up the stairs.
“Wait, what about Trolytes?” Buschool asked.
“No longer a problem,” Viper said.
Law nodded. “Good job,�
�� he said, but his mind was on the mate he just met, and the concern that not only would he ever see her again, but who the hell was she, how did she have powers, and was she good or bad, and did he even care?
Chapter Six
Avi waited in the darkness for Buschool to arrive with her men. The moment he came through the door she went to him. He lifted her up and hugged her tight. It was instant. His face against her neck, the sound of her mates growling low, and that empty sensation in the pit of her stomach reacted. “Buschool,” she whispered. She felt his breath against her neck, his hands smooth along her lower back, and then the sensations. Desire, need, completion. She gasped and pulled back. His eyes glowed red. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” she asked him.
He just stared at her.
“How? No. NO way,” Viper stated, and slammed the door shut and began to pace.
“It can’t be. It’s a mind game. You’re controlling our minds after all we did to rescue you?” Scor demanded to know.
Bider stepped closer. He took Avi’s hand and she squeezed it. He then placed a hand on Buschool’s shoulder and tightened up.
“Oh,” she whispered, her body humming with greater need.
She was panting, as Buschool stared at her and she heard his thoughts, felt his desires.
“I’m not good enough to be your mate.”
“No. You are good enough. I felt a connection right away. We saved one another’s lives.”
“I can hear both of you,” Bider said.
“What?” she and Buschool asked and looked at him.
“What is going on? What is that vamp doing to you?” Viper asked.
“Touch me, Viper, Scor. Hold my hand and place a hand on me and one on him,” she said to them.
They hesitated. “Do it,” Bider commanded.
The second Viper and Scor touched Avi and then Buschool, it began.
“By the gods, what is that?” Bider asked.
“What? I hear you. I can hear your thoughts,” Viper said.
Hunters of the Gods 4_Belonging to a Pack Page 5