Chapter 41-

James:
I tear through every man I can get my hands on. I only see one face as the blood of humans and vampires alike runs down my black fur. My men fight alongside me as the small army descends on us. My heart breaks each time one of my brothers howls out that we have lost another man. My men are brave and strong. They are fierce and skilled fighters, but we are up against mounted vampires and humans with their swords and armor. Shane and Paul fight on each of my sides. Shane with his large frame takes them out quickly, between the two of us we have killed dozens of the enemy. When I look up to locate my target, I see Marcus has climbed up on top of the lodge. Of course, he wouldn’t want to fight me on the ground, what a fucking coward. I start charging towards him anyway, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family and my pack, and I’ll start by killing him it’s been a long time coming. Thoughts of Rebecca and Adam rush into my mind and fresh rage runs through my body. It’s not that I would trade them for what I have now. Ember is mine and the best thing that has ever happened to me. When I think of Rebecca, she has always been my childhood love, but I don’t imagine growing old with her. I never think of what the future or even now would have been if she weren’t taken from me. I wouldn’t trade Ember for her, and I know my mate wouldn’t want me to stop loving them. It’s just another reason that she owns me now body and soul. My family is my heart and Ember is my future. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been with her but that doesn’t take the hurt away from losing Rebecca and Adam the way I did. The loss of their life will always bring the shame and failure I still carry with me, I can’t fail my family again. I keep fighting my way through the crowd and am almost to Marcus when I look up and see him aiming a bow directly at me. I go to run but my body stops when an arrow pierces my chest and then another one hits me in the side. I drop to my knees and growl out in pain. I try to push myself up, but a strong shoulder lifts my weight, I recognize my brother dragging me behind the cover of trees and safe from more falling arrows. I see Shane climb up the roof of the lodge as we disappear behind the foliage, but I see Marcus stumble backwards and jump down from the roof. “Don’t let him get away brother.” “Don’t worry Alpha I saw Shane going after him and as soon as Tanner gets over here, I’ll get him.” “Where is Ember? I thought I told you not to leave her?” “She’s safe Alpha with the others but I heard the howls and knew I needed to be up here. Looks like I was right. Phoenix would have lost it if you died, we can’t have that now can we.” I laugh, my brother is quick to make my feel lighter even with all the chaos going on. “It would take much more than a few arrows to keep me from my queen.” “Alpha let’s get you patched up.” I see Tanner drop down in front of me and I nod for Lucas to go. “Find that fuck, with doc here I’ll be up and moving in a few.” Lucas sets off towards the lodge taking down vamps left and right. I feel like I can take a breath now that my brother has joined the fight.
Ember:
I look over every square inch of the bunker and I can’t find my baby. Fear grips my heart and I have an awful feeling I know where he went. He was so angry to hear the howls earlier and before Lucas left, he was so worried about his dad. I know my son; he is strong willed and is quick to act without much thought of the consequences. He reminds me of another one of my red headed children. I go over to one of the guards at the entrance and ask if he has seen my son. “No Luna but…I was talking to Seth.” He points at the other guard standing across from him and I nod for him to continue. “After Beta Luca left to join the other warriors, I left my post to use the bathroom and it seems Seth also left momentarily to help his mate calm their child, you see she tripped and had a bloody nose…she was crying Luna.” I see Seth look down at his feet. “Yes, Luna I’m sorry I was only gone a minute, and everything was locked so I went to help Michelle with Lauren.” “It’s okay, thank you for telling me.” The sinking feeling in my stomach only grows I know my son left to help his dad. If I leave now I might be able to catch him before something else horrible happens. He will probably go home first; he was so mad about not bringing his axe with him to “protect me” when we first came to the bunker. If I’m quick, I can still catch him. “Irvin, Oriel!” I shout to my children who are still looking for their brother. “You are in charge while I’m gone. Apollo escaped and I have to go find him.” “Mom no!” Irvin says in the sternest voice I think I have ever heard him use. “Dad said it wasn’t safe to leave. I’ll go. I can bring him back.” “Irvin no honey. You need to be safe here with your sister.” “But mom if something happens…” “I’ll be fine honey. You stay and protect Oriel. I love you two.” “Mom the pack is weak without it’s Luna.” “Yes baby, but I am nothing if my children are in danger, now stay.” I nod to the guards, and they open the hatch, I am happy to hear it close behind me. One child in danger is more than I can handle right now. I run faster than I have ever run in my life. Thankfully we aren’t too far from our cabin. I completely ignore the sounds of fighting and the bodies blurring as I run. I drop to the ground, but I didn’t trip over anything. Suddenly my chest is burning and it’s so hard to breathe. I push back up to my feet, my body feeling like I’ve just fallen off a cliff. The pain quickly subsides as I move forward. I only can pray that was not a feeling either of my mates is experiencing. As afraid as I am for them my need to have Apollo safe and in the bunker overwhelms any fear I have for my mates. They are strong and able I trust them to keep their promise and come home to me.
I push though our front door and rush up the stairs screaming Apollo’s name over and over. He almost runs into me with his axe in hand. “Apollo what were you thinking?!” I grab him and drop to my knees in relief. I can’t hold back the tears that stream down my face. Relief instantly washes over me knowing my baby is safe. “I have to help my dads. Our people are dying, they need every warrior mom. I won’t be a coward!” “Oh Apollo. No one has ever or will ever think that of you. Your dads needed to know that we were safe so that they could focus on fighting without worrying about us.” “I’m strong mom.” I see angry tears form in my beautiful child’s eyes. He has such a strong sense of duty and honor; I know he will be a great man someday. “You are strong my son, so strong but sometimes the wisest thing is to save that strength for when it will be the most useful. Bring your axe back to the bunker. It will make your dads fight harder knowing that their sons are protecting their pack.” I see the fight raging in his eyes, but he nods. “We need to be quick my love.” “Yes mom.” Just as I turn the nob to leave the house and return to the safety that waits for us, I hear feminine laughter. “Oh, Ember you are so foolish. If you were smart you would have stayed tucked inside that bunker. You guys must have moved it since I was here last. I was just about to give up my search, but you are oh so predictable.” I slap my hands over my ears as someone who I once considered a friend blows a high-pitched whistle in my house. “Ava? Why are you here? Come with us. We were on our way back to the bunker. I will help you.” “Mom?” Apollo looks at me in confusion as Ava bursts out in laughter. Its only then that I notice a girl not much younger than Apollo enter from the kitchen. I see Ava in her, they share the same dark hair and blue eyes. They are both willowy and beautiful. I start putting things together, she led our enemies here and was looking for me. Why? Does she still hold me accountable for Ian’s crimes? “Finally realizing I’m not your friend Ember? Not everyone on the planet is in love with you, I know that must be hard for you to understand. Well now you will finally be put in your place, you can be queen of the ashes while I rule with someone far stronger than your wolves you slut!” I look to Apollo, and I want him as far from this shell of a woman I once loved. I know she won’t let me go without a fight, one I’m willing to give her, but only when my son is safe and away from this hateful woman. I can’t put it past her to hurt a child when she has sunk so low. “Listen to me Apollo be strong and go to the bunker. Do not fight anyone on the way there. You run as fast as you can, promise me.” I know he doesn’t want to obey but he sees the seriousness in my eyes. “Yes Luna.” He nods and runs out the door. I see Ava lunge for him, but I block her and throw my head into hers as hard as I can. I smile when I see the blood pouring from her nose. “Don’t ever touch my children, any of them. So much as look at my children and I’ll kill you do you understand!” As Ava stumbles getting back up, I know this is my chance to run so I move out the door following the way Apollo just went if I run fast enough, I can try to catch up to him. Just as my feet begin to carry me a fist comes flying into my gut and I’m knocked backwards, all my breath rushes out of me. I gasp and try to get back up only to be knocked down again. This time a weight is holding me down. I struggle but big hands wrap around my neck and black spots cloud my vision. “I have plans for you Ember. You are the star of the show.” The evil voice fades and I can’t keep my eyes open anymore; I’m surrounded by night.