“It appears we are out of time,” Vasile said, raising his voice so that everyone could hear him. The room went silent, and all eyes turned toward him. “We are in your debt for coming and defending our pack.”
“We are all pack,” the king of the warlocks said. “Pack is family. Family. They are the people we are willing to lay down our lives and bear our swords for.”
There was a rumble of agreement throughout the hall. Vasile nodded. “You are right, Cypher. We are pack. We don’t have to beCanis lupusto be pack. And I will fight proudly beside you all.
“Andora was not able to give me details, but from what I could gather from her tone, this will be bloody. Fight dirty if you must, for your enemy is not honorable and will not give you a fair fight. Strike to kill, not to capture.” He felt Alina tense beside him. His mate could be ruthless, but she had a gentle heart. Then he felt her pull her shoulders back and raise her chin. His Luna was entering battle mode.
“The people coming for us have captured many of my pack,” Alina said. “They have my grandson, my daughter-in-law, our Beta’s mate and child, and our healer, her mate, and their son. Our enemies have no morals. They care not who they hurt. They lost their chance at mercy when they dared to lay hands on those in our care, those who are our future. Our young, who we hope will be better than ourselves. Our pups, who we raise to see value in all life and to defend those weaker than themselves.
“We will raise our swords, our arrows, and our claws to fight this foe, and we will win because we are the only thing that stands between their evil and the rest of the world. And if any of us should fall in this battle, you go to the Great Luna knowing you gave up everything in order to help those who need you and cannot help themselves. May the Great Luna bless our sacrifice and fight alongside us in battle.”
There was no victorious cheer or battle cry. There was too much at stake. Vasile directed Gavril, Drake, and Wadim to take anyone who might need weapons to the armory to be outfitted. Then the alpha and his mate headed for the pack’s sleeping quarters. He’d be awakening his warriors from their slumber, not merely asking them to give up a good night’s sleep, but quite possibly their lives.
By the time they had roused the pack, the Order had showed up in force.
Chapter 11
“I was under the impression that the stronghold of the pack was, well, strong. But seeing as how the most precious members of the pack—the children—have been stolen right out from under us, and we are now being attacked, I feel it must be renamed. How about The Giveaway. Or maybe The Keep Nothing Out? Has a nice ring to it.” ~Zara
“Ithought the whole point of this place was that it was safe,” Zara said as she followed Wadim to the weapons room. A week ago, they’d had the little munchkins stolen right out from beneath their noses, which seemed far from safe, and now they were being attacked by the monsters who had taken them.
“It seems our allies are falling faster and faster.” Wadim sounded more defeated than ever. “Alina said Vasile told her that someone had warned the Order that we were coming to Phoenix. That means it was one of our own—the good guys.”
A chill ran down Zara’s spine as she glanced around at the people gathering in the armory as they entered. Most of them she didn’t know. They were all different races of supernaturals, not just wolves and not just from their pack.She didn’t like not knowing who she could trust. She thought the whole thing about the pack was that they were family, like the warlock king had said. They were one and would always have each other’s back. At least that was the impression she’d gotten from Vasile, Alina, Wadim, and the others. And Jen sure as heck made it seem like if you were one of the pack members, then you were solid. Who in their right mind would turn their back on that and betray such loyalty?
“People who aren’t in their right mind, Z,” Wadim answered, having heard her inner monologue.
Wadim led her to an empty seat, and she sat down beside him. The room filled up with the female wolves who weren’t battle trained and the fae warriors who had been positioned there by Nissa, who Wadim had explained was a high fae like Peri. Alina was the last to enter. Her face was lined with worry, but her shoulders were pulled back straight, and her chin was held high. She bore the weight of her burden as an alpha female with grace and poise. Zara had to admit that following Alina into battle, even into the depths of hell, wouldn’t be a difficult thing to do. She commanded that kind of loyalty. And those who knew her, and the kind of integrity she had, happily gave it.
“If you have been asked to stay in this room, it is not because you are weak. Do not mistake needing protection as being prey. You are precious just as every member of our pack is. Please trust Vasile and I to do what needs to be done to protect not only our family but others who need us as well. We will let you know when the threat has been neutralized. As your alpha female, I am ordering you not to leave this room until the all clear has been given.” Alina’s voice was strong and as bold as her steely gaze. She met the eyes of every person present, and when they landed on Zara, the young woman instinctively dropped her own. When she was sure the alpha female no longer stared at her, Zara raised them again.
“Those of you who have just gotten out of bed, I will give you a brief recap while you gear up. Alston, the high fae who now stands with the Order, has the pups.” Her voice seemed strained, but Zara was in awe of how the alpha female appeared to be holding up, even with her grandson in danger.
There was a low murmur of growls, but it was quickly silenced when Alina raised a hand to get their attention once again. “As you know, Jen, Jacque, Sally, and Costin have gone, at the request of Alston, to Arizona where the Order has made their headquarters. An army of elves, fae, and vampires that are loyal to the Order are currently marching toward us and could be here at any time.
“Nissa, Vale, Riven, Talia, and some of the other fae have managed to use their magic to keep them from flashing into the Keep. Your alpha is currently working out the best strategy to defend the stronghold. We cannot dwell on what we could have or should have done.” Alina glanced down and Zara followed Alina’s gaze. The alpha she-wolf's hands were shaking. She clenched them into fists, lowered them to her sides, and then looked back up at her pack. “Everyone who can fight, will. There is no time for pretty words. We either fight or we die.” With that, the fae standing next to her grabbed her arm and the arm of Rachel, who was standing beside her. Gavril, Rachel’s mate, placed his hand on the fae, and then they were gone.
Zara had asked Wadim why Gavril, an obviously strong male and old, which meant he had to be a good fighter, had not gone with the others to Arizona. Wadim had smirked at her and answered, “Gavril doesn’t leave his healer’s side. Ever.” He’d told her a little of their history, and after spending so much time alone together in hiding, she imagined it would be hard to be separated. She didn’t want to be separated from Wadim, and they’d only been together a short while.
Gradually, fae warriors began flashing wolves from the room. When one appeared next to Wadim and placed a hand on his shoulder, Zara’s eyes widened.
“I have to fight,” Wadim told her. “I don’t want to leave you, but you aren’t ready to do battle yet. You haven’t trained.”
Zara knew his words were true and not meant to hurt her, but she hated being helpless. She didn’t want to be protected inside while those she cared for were fighting for their lives. She wanted to be next to her mate, fighting alongside him. She wasn’t weak.
“I don’t think you’re weak, Z,” he said, answering her unspoken thoughts. “You’re the strongest woman I know, but you aren’t a battle-tested warrior yet. Trust me, please.” His gaze was earnest as he stared down into her eyes. His hands cupped her face, and his thumbs ran gently across her cheeks. She had grown to love his touch, but only his.
Finally, she nodded. “I do. I’ll wait. But if you die, I’ll be pissed.”
His lips twitched up in a crooked smile, and his eyes smoldered at her. “You’re kind of hot when you’re pissed.”
“Then do something besides dying to piss me off,” she said dryly.
He leaned down and bit her lip gently before kissing her. “As much as it pains me to say it, if I die, you will join me. We’re a bonded pair. Even if the bond isn’t entirely complete, we’ve performed the Blood Rites.”
“I wouldn’t want to be here without you,” Zara said, completely serious.
“I don’t deserve you, my sweet Zara, but I wouldn’t give you up even to save the world.”
