by A. E. Via
“No one touch him!” Justice ordered.
Alek was glad he could only see the pain in his brother’s eyes and not feel it. He could feel nothing but Wolf and fire. And anger… so much anger.
Run! Alek shouted.
“Aleksei!” Bell hollered as Wolf turned and dashed into the woods, aiming for maximum speed to keep anyone from following.
He felt Wolf put up their shield to mask their scent. It could be dangerous if his siblings chased him. They had to get to the top of the mountain before it was too late. Alek was jostled as Wolf navigated the trail they’d come to know well. Alek could hear his mate shouting his name and the farther away he got, the harder it was for Alek to keep pushing. He felt that loss, that pain like nothing he’d ever experienced. Belleron! Alek cried. If he was going to survive he needed his mate. Now, he couldn’t help but feel that he’d just sealed his doom. Alek’s spirit sunk to his feet.
Alek stay with me!
He couldn’t, he was devastated. He’d run. His mate had expected him to stick up for him but all he’d done was undermine him in front of everyone again. Then, when tasked with a serious responsibility, the first where they’d have to unite with the vampires, Alek had tucked tail and run. It didn’t matter that he was trying to keep them from getting burned by the flames of the Underworld. He’d turned his back on his family and his mate. How the hell was he even an alpha?
Stay with me, Alek.
Alek grunted and yelled out in agony when Wolf was knocked backwards and thrown into the base of a tree with the force of five shifters.
Fuck! Alek hissed.
He’s too strong, Alek. I need you with me. Wolf got to his feet fast, sprinting past their secluded cabin, taking them to a place they hadn’t been to in years.
Alek struggled to link his mind with Wolf like he needed him to in order to hold the monster back. Again, Alek was torn. He didn’t agree with any of what had just happened. Wolf had taken the surface, manhandled his mate, and completely left Alek out of the decision. They weren’t in accord and it didn’t look as if they ever would be. A fucked-up-in-the-head-multiple-personality-dysfunctional alpha. Maybe it was time for him to die.
No! Come on Alek—fight, push. I need you!
The beast knocked them to the ground again, working extra hard to defend against them both and seize control, taking out any and everything around it. Wolf howled in agony at the feeling of ribs cracking, as he was thrown into the air again and slammed into the cold earth on his right side. Alek wished he could let that pain take it all away instead of enduring the piercing sting in his heart. His soul was numb. Hopeless. Getting up took more effort from Wolf this time as Alek battled with his own shit inside. He didn’t want to keep going, didn’t want to be trapped in that dungeon beneath the ground, but at least there he could die alone in his misery.
Alek took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to connect with Wolf. His animal’s mind was so full of pride and resentment that it was a difficult place for Alek to inhabit. He preferred his isolation instead of being subjected to Wolf’s toxicity. Alek’s mind was naturally full of love, understanding and empathy. While he and Wolf didn’t always agree on most things, one thing that was important to both of them was keeping the fury of Hell away.
Alek tamped down enough of his own sadness to link his mind with Wolf and thrust them the last few hundred yards until they came to the trap door buried beneath years of falling leaves, withered branches and dirt.
Get ready to shift, Alek.
I am. He could feel Wolf’s distaste at his sullen mood but he didn’t care. Alek knew his job. He would have to be the one to unlock the door and get them inside before havoc was again unleashed upon their lands.
With the ease and grace of a gazelle, Wolf shifted them in mid-stride—the pain non-existent this time when they were linked—causing Alek’s naked body to skid along the forest floor. The moment Alek was human again, urgency slammed into him, and he almost turned to run back to his mate, but the cracking of two more of his ribs brought that idea to an agonizingly, screeching halt.
Alek dropped down at the opening, scurrying to remove the combination padlock and yank the door open. Stale musk, sweat and terror rushed up to greet him, welcoming their return in the manner fitting of a prison. He hurried and closed them inside, but was unable to latch the door as he was thrown off the ladder, landing chest-first onto the hard concrete. Alek stumbled into the first set of steel bars. Tears rushed to his eyes while pain attacked every part of his body. That thing was trying to tear him into pieces, barreling his way through bones, organs and muscles to get out. Doing any and everything necessary to take the surface. Alek got them behind the first barrier, the door clanking shut loudly behind him. Alek imagined it was what any jail cell doors would sound like. Into the next barrier, Alek hollered out for Wolf’s energy as he scrambled to put in the combination to open the final set. Wolf snarled and fought inside, pushing enough energy to give Alek just enough oomph needed to shoulder open the last door and kick it shut. He dropped to both knees, calling on Wolf to shift… but it was too late. Alek let go of a soul-agonizing, painful wail into the darkness as fire and brimstone descended upon him. His only comfort was that he was ten feet underground and no one could hear his screams.
YOU’VE DAMNED US ALL, it told them.
Alek and Wolf retreated far into the depths of their mind where the heat and flames couldn’t reach them.
Bell stood at the edge of the tree line, hollering Alek’s name until his throat was raw, but his beloved never answered. Never came back. He didn’t know how long he’d stood there staring at the burned foliage and singed tree trunks where Alek had once been. A blazing path lit the way he’d gone, but the heat was so consuming that no one could follow. What in all the gods was that? What just happened?
“Belleron. Come back inside. You shouldn’t get too much sun exposure too fast,” Wick said softly. “And I think you might want to talk with Justice.”
The sound of the AZ’s name had Bell spinning and glaring in his direction. Why had he run off his brother that way? How dare any of them step in and intervene when he’d had the situation under control. For the most part, anyway. The spectators had made it worse. Enough to agitate Wolf. Now he was in charge and gone with Alek.
Bell didn’t want to converse with any of them but he needed answers, and talking to Alek’s family was the only way to get them. Returning to the great hall, Justice sent the other officers away to console the anxious pack, leaving just him, Wick and Alek’s siblings around the table. Bell sat rigid with his hands clasped in front of him, his mind reeling from all the possibilities to explain what’d just happened outside. And each one made less sense than the last.
“I think we should go after him. He needs us. He needs comfort,” Farica weighed in as soon as her ass touched the chair. “This is what started all this mess.”
“I can’t allow that. I have no clue if it’s Alek or Wolf… or…” Justice sighed. “I can’t take that risk, Farica. It hurts me to say this just as much as it’s hurting you, but no one is to go after him. Alek will come back when he can.”
“No,” Farica gritted. “My wolf is the comforter, let her do her what she does. I can reach him, I can get through. I know it.”
Justice closed his eyes, appearing stressed and tired. His mouth was in a tight line as he repeated his order. “No one follow him.”
“Justice. If I may.” Mac tilted his head. “I can go with her. Just us. Maybe too many will be perceived as a threat, but not just the two of us. If Wolf is still in control then he’ll be able to sense my righteous wolf and allow him close.”
“Alek’s wolf didn’t sense a damn thing in any of us. Not your comfort or any other gifts we have. I didn’t feel Alek’s heart, only Wolf’s defensiveness and anger. That beast can hardly stand us, and I have the bruised back to show for it.”
“I felt something else.” Wick placed his hand over his mate’s and linked their finge
rs together. “I felt evil.”
“Stop,” Bell forced out between clenched teeth, feeling his anger spike the more they discussed Alek in his absence. “Someone explain, now.”
They all glanced around at each other as if none of them wanted to speak up first with the—what he assumed was—not so flattering information about his fated.
Mac looked the most torn up. “I guess Alek didn’t get around to the um… details about his wolf… or what he… um—” Mac stopped, chewing fretfully on his lip, then started again. “He’s different… he um…”
Bell could understand Mac’s hurt. He was only a year younger than Alek, but still his baby brother. However, “I need someone that can put a complete sentence together,” Bell insisted. His frustration peaking the longer he sat there in his ignorance.
“All of our wolves have a defining characteristic that coincides with our hearts, with the core of who we are. We were born that way.” Farica got up and stood behind Justice’s chair. She placed her hands on his shoulders and started a gentle massage. “As you can see. My wolf possesses a tranquil spirit and can typically soothe and heal with a mere touch or hug. Justice is the first born and his wolf is the strongest… or should be, but Wolf seems to give him a run for his money. Justice is the fair one. It’s almost impossible for him to be prejudiced or biased.”
Farica moved from her oldest brother over to Mac’s chair. “Macauley has a righteous wolf. Noble and good to the core. I do believe his animal spirit is the closest to Alek’s, and Wolf wouldn’t hurt him.”
“Farica. Maybe it’s not our place to tell this part of Alek’s story. Belleron is his true mate. He should hear this from him,” Mac argued.
“I have to leave the country in a few hours, and I don’t see Alek returning before then to inform me himself. So, please. Tell me what I need to know so that I can help him. I could sense something else in Aleksei besides Wolf. Is it his animal’s spirit or…?”
“No. Wolf’s spirit will always stay within him. We saw it just now,” Justice said. “Alek’s wolf is named appropriately. He’s the defender. Unimaginable strength and vigor when it comes to guarding the packs… or Alek.”
“And Wolf has never wavered in that regard. He shows up for Alek every time.” Mac nodded proudly. “Did Alek tell you his full name?”
“I already knew it,” Bell said. “Aleksei Hedon Kolya Volkov.”
“Yes. And do you know what it translates to?” Wick asked.
Bell considered the name for a moment, drawing on what he knew of Siberian heritage and culture. Which was not much. “No, I don’t. Not yet.”
“It means—”
“Farica, don’t,” Mac growled.
Bell hissed his disapproval. “Tell me.”
“Tell him,” Justice ordered.
“It means destroyer of the conquering people,” Farica said sadly.
Bell thought they were going to say it meant ‘plagued for all eternity’ or ‘demon spawn’. ‘Destroyer’ didn’t sound terrible… actually, it sounded kinda powerful.
“Our ancestors, our family were named the original conquerors. By the time my great- great-grandfather became Alpha Zenith, he changed our pack name to the ‘conquering pack’. Because, as the gifted ones, it was our duty to conquer any problems our shifters faced.”
“Is that the prophesy? Are you saying that Alek will destroy you?” Bell couldn’t believe that. He’d met Alek, albeit not long, but he’d kissed him, caressed him… tasted him. Drank Alek’s real essence, and the taste of malice had never crossed his palate. He couldn’t possibly destroy his family. It appeared everything he did was to protect them.
“We’re saying he already did,” Justice bit out.
Mac bolted to his feet, glaring at Justice, who didn’t remain seated long. “Why would you say that? None of you saw what happened that day.” Mac clenched his large fists at his sides as his alpha stared him down long enough to make him retake his seat.
“His wolf did what he was meant to do,” Taleb, the youngest of them spoke up.
“Wait. So his wolf brings destruction?” Bell asked hesitantly.
“No.”
“Then what? Death!” Bell hollered, losing his temper.
“Wrath,” Farica whispered, glancing around as if she’d said a bad word.
“He brings… wrath?” Bell leaned forward, staring into each of their faces.
“No. He is Wrath,” Justice answered.
Bell stood on the bottom step of the jet, gripping the rail with uncertainty as he stared into the darkness behind him. The White Mountain Forest was only a few miles away from the private airstrip at Conway Airport where he was ready to board with Wick’s elite troops, but it felt like a million. Alek was somewhere out in that dense woodland hiding from him, and Bell couldn’t stand the hollowness he felt inside. The hurt and longing battled against his honor and responsibility. If he could just speak to Alek and assure him he’d be back and they’d work through this, then his head wouldn’t be as fucked up as it was. He had no clue where he and Alek stood. They’d had a fight and tempers flared. Then Bell had seen a power in Wolf that he’d never witnessed, one he didn’t think possible to be possessed by a person/shifter/vampire and survive. The power of a god, or in Wrath’s case, a demigod. Bell closed his eyes as a vicious tremor shook his body. It wasn’t fear. He wasn’t afraid, or at least he didn’t think he needed to be. Wrath may be one dangerous, angry, vengeful son of a bitch, but he was inside his cherished, so he was able to be touched by love, understanding, and compassion. That person had to be him. Fate had spoken and said so.
“He’s not coming,” Wick said, sounding as upset as Bell felt. “You know they can’t fly.”
Justice stood tall beside Wick, his hand lying comfortingly along the back of his mate’s neck, his fingertips just beneath Wick’s silk black collar. It was as if they had to be touching at all times. The intimate action made him ache for Alek’s touch again.
Justice looked in the direction Bell stared, his voice deep and rough with emotion when he said, “I’d allow my brother to go if he could, but it’s just not possible. If Wolf freaks out thirty thousand feet in the air, or worse if Wrath rears his ugly head again… he’d bring the whole plane down.”
Bell sneered, not liking how Justice was speaking about Alek. As if all the entities inside him didn’t make up who Alek was and exactly who he was supposed to be. And if that was indeed Wrath—and from the heat and intense chaos that had erupted when he tried to get out—then he was put there by someone far more powerful. Bell’s guess would be The Mother. All his theories were speculation at this point. He’d get his answers when he returned. He had to put Aleksei Volkov to the back of his mind—if possible—and try to focus on leading this mission and emerging victorious. Bell released a frustrated sigh and started up the rest of the stairs.
“We’ll be monitoring you on the live feed,” Wick called out. “See you when you get back, old friend.”
Wick gave a slight bow to his king, his best friend, their eyes meeting and holding for a moment. This was the equivalent of him going off to war. This wasn’t his first and surely wouldn’t be his last. But, like always there was never a guarantee of him retuning. But Belleron was a commander for a reason, and he wasn’t so easy to kill. He’d also protect his men with his life. Bell glanced at Justice. His bright blue eyes, different from his beloved’s, held sympathy and understanding. He must’ve known what his brother was going through with his mate leaving his side and his protection. Not fully mated.
If Bell died, he’d have only one regret.
DEATH! That is what awaits our mate. Without us HE WILL FALL!
Alek had the audacity to get upset when this was all his fault. Sure, telling Bell that before went over really fucking well. When he gets back, you and Wolf should tell him again how weak he is without us!
Wrath thrashed around behind the steel bars, hoping he was ramming himself hard enough that those weaklings could feel it inside
. Wrath felt nothing but anger and rage. How could they do this to him? Since he’d erupted out of Alek’s ribcage, the coward had been curled up in a ball around his favorite pet, licking his wounds. Usually, he came through Wolf, but Alek didn’t shift in time. Well too damn bad if it had hurt him. He should be hurt. They’d let Belleron go anyway when he’d warned them that it would be the end for them if they did. Now, they’d both conspired against him and had managed to lock him back in this goddamn hellhole. After all the years Wolf and Alek hadn’t connected, they’d managed to do it long enough to hold him back. If Wrath had his full powers he would’ve burned the whole damn compound to ashes and made them start over for teaming up on him. Unappreciative shifters. Sixteen years ago he’d saved them all and look what he got in thanks. Cast into a dungeon any time he tried to get out—which wasn’t often.
He only existed within Alek for a specific purpose, so he saw no need to take to the surface anyway. He was allowed back on earth with a strict caveat in place. One major stipulation was that he wasn’t allowed to terrorize the world. So he’d lain dormant for many years, content where he was. Anything was better than the Underworld, which was where he’d been for the last millennium, until he’d received an offer he hadn’t been able to refuse. Cohabiting with a shifter didn’t sound like the worst idea he’d ever been propositioned with. The legacy of the Volkov descendants was as old as time. Wolf was a warrior, and at first Wrath had been honored to meet his spirit, to work alongside it to protect Mother Nature’s shifters in their time of greatest need. But he’d never imagined things would turn out the way they had… and end the way that it would.
I thought you said you wanted to rewrite the Prophesy, Aleksei? LIES! All you’re really doing is following right along with it, Wrath fumed. With Bell we had a chance.
Alek was silent, and Wolf was rejecting him in every way he could wanting to side with Alek.