Chapter Fifteen

Ethat's POV

The sky loomed above us, and we knew the Goddess herself wept for her fallen children. Our pack was diverse but every member was just as much apart of the pack as everyone else. She wept for us all, even as the cover of her tears rained down on us hiding our own ,it did nothing to hide our pain. The solemn silence carried our grief through the courtyard as we watched pyres burn brightly for our lost one’s. The embers danced into the air as watched their souls ascend. Sixty-four members were lost the day of the attack. Sixty-four unsuspecting Mothers, Fathers, Brother, sisters, and friends to a unprovoked desecration of a sacred ceremony.

“I know that no words can heal the heavy hearts amongst us today, so I won’t say much. It has been my honor to call you all family, and I will not rest until the debt of blood has been repaid. It won’t bring them back I know this but to protect what we have left it is my duty to make sure I bring the ones responsible to justice. What they took from us cannot be replaced, but it will be a avenged. You have my word as Alpha of Bloodmoon.” I spoke the words to the crowd. Lightning and thunder cracked across the sky as the Goddess gave her blessing of my vow.

A Bright white light beamed down from above until it took the form of the bright white wolf glowing at the front of the pyres. Neoma’s eyes shinned the brightness of the moon as she tilted her about up to the sky. Almost instantly the pack began a united shift almost simultaneously the courtyard filled with wolves, each ones eyes shining brightly as we turned our snouts to the sky. The moon goddess initiated the howl and everyone followed. The sound was the most depressing yet vigorous sound to stretch out across our land as we sang and howled our pain in perfect tandem. The howls lasted 10 minutes as we felt the moon goddess in our presence grieving with us. I don’t believe any pack living or dead saw this much of her. We all prayed to her and knew she was there, but to make an appearance not once but twice within the same week just confirmed my suspicions that she was fed up. She guided our Fates yes, but she couldn’t interfere, for fear of tapering with free will and all.

The goddess herself was cursed , for eternity watching her children die at the hands of hunters, at the hands of each other, she never tampered past the point of altering free will, With her amongst us right now, it gave us all hope.

When the howling ended the goddess turned to face me. She starred me down her eyes glowing almost to bright for me to hold her gaze.

“Ethar, you released the darkness in hopes of saving your mate. In the days to come your will need to keep a clear head if you hope to fulfill your vow you made to your people. As much as I want to remove the curse , I can not, but I will leave you with a gift. I will restore Etgar’s memories of his past lives, with this gift you have a chance to overcome the darkness and break the curse yourself. It can all end with you. Always stay true to your mate and your brethren above all else.” She mindlinked , and I knew her words for me alone. I bowed my head and we all watched her ascend in to the heavens from which she came.

After the service I left Iliam and Zion to deal with the families of our fallen as they dispersed life insurance payments to everyone who held pack policies of the deceased. I needed to go see Seb she was not at the service and I heard that she had fallen I’ll , no doubt still reeling from the loss of her mate. I’m not entirely sure how the mate bond breaking affects non-wolf members but just losing someone you loved dearly took a toll on a person no matter what race you were.

I reached the townhouse on the edge of the town where they lived. I knocked on the door, and when it opened the sight was one for sore eyes.

“Hey Alpha.” She greeted me. I can tell she had been crying but there was a genuine smile on her face that warmed my heart. She hugs me before leading me into the house. An awkward silence fell over us as I watched her put on a tea kettle from the kitchen table.

“I didn’t see you at the service, I also heard you were ill and I wanted to make sure you were alright.” I explained breaking the silence. Before she could respond the kettle whistled. She grabbed the kettle and filled two mugs and handed one to me.

She sat down across from me at the table and spoke. “I was going to attend but I had been feeling a little under the weather so to speak.” She says taking a sip of her tea.

When I sipped from mine the aroma hit my nose first raspberry leaf, fennel, and camomile. My eyes grew wide as I realized what she made. She chuckled as she saw surprise on my face.

“Can’t keep anything from a witch like you Ethar , powerful in your own rite. Well I can make you something else but this is all I can drink for right now.” She chuckles out and her hand went to her belly and I knew my hunch was right.

“Your pregnant. Oh Seb that’s amazing. Under the weather my ass, your freakin carrying a witch pup. Oh thank the goddess.” I exclaimed, getting up from my seat, walking around the table to hear the heartbeat myself. I couldn’t contain my excitement, when I put my ear to her stomach I heard the little thump and nearly choke on my breath as sadness suddenly creeping in. I stood up to face her and she had the same sadness creep in to her as well.

“Did he know?” I asked her hugging her tightly as she sobbed for a second.

“I suspected , but I never got the chance to tell him.” She admits

“His heartbeat is strong, Roy would be so proud. You are relieved of your post as of today, and you will be moving into the mansion immediately. I can’t have you at the edge of town all by yourself Seb.” I tell her as we parted from the embrace. She nodded her head in agreement. “I will send someone to retrieve you and your belongings okay, take care of my nephew for me. And yourself.” I tell her before leaving out the door.

Who the hell was I going to send to get her . I had no Beta, no Head Gamma, and Seb was relieved of her position to the Luna brigade,, some of the packs who pledge them selves were coming back today I would ask for volunteers to help me out around here until I fill the positions.

“Can you spare any leaders at all willing to help out.?” I posed the question to Loufy and my cousin Aya , also to Alpha Gresham of Greenwood Pack, and Toto as we sat at the round table.

“Francis can stay in place of your beta if he chooses, I will ask him now.” Toto says as his eyes glaze over mindlinking Francis.

“Agatha is healer if she chooses she can stay, although you would be getting two for the price of one her and her lover Cas can’t be separated.” Gresham offered.

“Cousin we lost many men during the attack and need to rebuild our forces for the next battle. I’m sorry but I need all my men back at the pack.” She admits, I nod to her in agreement letting her know I respected her decision.

“The twins Eli and Elijah can assist you until you find a suitable replacement as Head Gamma, there knowledge of battle and defenses will prove useful to you. “ Loufy added

“Francis is on bored he will be here tonight.” Toto responded.

“Okay great thank you all for your contributions. Now I pose one more question, it might be a silly one but what do we call this new alliance, I can’t keep referring to everyone as the group and to refer to us all by our names creates long winded conversation.” I asked, each member chuckled no doubt at the thought of us coming up with some superhero squad name to call ourselves like the avengers, or justice league.

This alliance was the first in supernatural history of its kind. It was special for a lot of reasons, I think to name it was the right thing to do, it would go down in the history books I knew that much for sure.

“What about Goddess Treaty, or The Treaty if any of the non wolf folks don’t agree with the first one.” Gresham said, referring to Loufy and Tali not being wolf packs.

“I don’t mind it.” Loufy voiced.

“Okay Goddess Treaty it is , now for the first order of business Toto if you would like to explain your finding.” I said.

“Right.” He agreed as I sat in my chair he stood up to address the Treaty.

“On our way back to BloodWood Creek we came across a rouge camp that moved in close just beyond our border. After speaking to their leader he assured us he meant no ill will when they settled near our border , they came not to attacks us but seeking protection.” Toto explained

“Not to long after the attack at the ceremony their camp had been attacked by what he described as hell hounds. As they charged the hounds could be heard yelling “For the Alpha Ethar” as they attacked. I assured their leader the attack was in no way sanctioned by the Alpha of Bloodmoon, and he said that other settlements were on the move to find sanctuary after being attacked by the Bloodmoon’s Hell Hounds.” He finished and sat awaiting a response.

“So they are a framing you. There are no shortage of rouge settlements some as large as small packs, it would be smart of the Jagter to get them on their side. The enemy of their enemy is their friend.” Loufy inferred.

“Precisely.” I answered

“ Do you think their leader can get a message to the other settlements.” I asked turning my attention to Toto

“Yes Alpha , but we can’t bring them within the borders . I already know what your thinking, the thought crossed my mind as well. However they are not exactly our friends nor do they live by our rules, they are no better then the mob, they still hold young she-wolves as slaves for goddess sake. I cannot not put my pack at risk for these barbaric excuse for wolves.” Toto voiced. He was right, there ways were still in the dark ages, murdering and pillaging, kidnapping, slavery. We couldn’t put our own women and children at risk. The goddess words reach the for front of my thoughts. “…stay true to your mate and your bretheren above all else.”

“You mean to tell me , that you guys are the civilized bunch. A wolf is wolf, your all pretty primitive if you ask me.” Loufy groaned, as I pondered the decision

“Toto’s right Loufy, they’re rouge savagery is well known. Toto get their leader to relay this message. They have permission to settle just outside our borders, in exchange for our protection they will abide by pack law during they’re time with us.” I commanded and Toto nodded in agreement.

“I’m opening a link channel to all the members of The Treaty, you can relay messages this way from now on. We keep the information on a need to know basis. You all can get going send your candidates to me and I will fill them in on their new position.”

“Stay vigilant, stay safe. If anything feels amiss report it no matter how small , with the Jagter every detail matters." I mindlinked the treaty as they bowed and left the room.

“Come in.” I call out as Iliams scent hits me through the door.

He walks in sitting down at the table his head in his hands as he begins to think about how to voice his concerns. He turned to me and spoke.

“I need to mark her Ethar, the constant blue balls haven’t subsided since she kissed me.” He chuckles

“So why haven’t you?” I ask him cocking my eyebrow while he pondered. It couldn’t be because of me.

“I don’t know she’s been really touchy lately the slightest thing seems to piss her off.” As soon as he said it our eyes darted to each other’s and we jumped to our feet.

“She needs to turn!” We both said in unison.

“Jinx.” Iliam says directly after. I rolled my eyes and gave his chest a smack.

“Let’s go, I hear new vamp sex is amazing, it’s your lucky night brother.” I tell him smirking as I see him grin wide.