Chapter 81

The alphas were sat around the guest dining table, chatting amongst themselves as Drax and I entered, my other mates already there waiting for me to arrive. I was nervous, but I knew I had to be strong, I couldn't show them that I was afraid. I couldn't show them that I had doubts.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice." I say, my voice strong anf confident. "As you know we are all under grave danger from the Warlock Balthazar, he aims to take as many of us out as he can and enslave the rest. We can't allow this."
"Before we continue, I'd like to ask how you expect to fight with us with the current state you are in? Surely you won't be putting your children at risk." One of the alphas asked, his black eyes and hair slightly unnerving.
I look down at my stomach and smile, "I won't be putting the twins in any kind of danger, I have a csection booked for a few days from now, so they'll be born before we launch our attack."
"Twins?" Asked another alpha, his eyes wide. "I haven't heard of a successful set of twins on a hundred years."
"I'm aware that it is difficult to carry them, but I've done it and my children are both healthy." I smile as warmly as I could, but I wasn't expecting the conversation to point towards my children when their were more dire things to be talking about. "Look, I appreciate you all coming but we must get onto the problem at hand, how are we going to defeat Balthazar?"
"what would you propose?" A long haired alpha asked, a scar running down his right cheek. "We've come here to listen and hopefully to help you in this war."
"we need an army to put in bluntly, a well trained one." Drax mentions as he stands beside me, showing me that he would support me. "We will be going up against vampires, warlocks and even our own kind. We have to be ready."
"Then we have to train every day for the next few weeks, we can't go on as we are now, we all need to learn to work together first." Alexander suggests, though I could tell by his tone of voice that he really wanted them all to get along. "If we are going to do this we can't afford for anyone to have second thoughts. So if you don't want to fight, speak up now."
the room went completely silent, no one speaking up to say that they didn't want to go and fight on our side. It was a relief that we were all on the same page and everyone knew that they had to do this for the good of their own pack.
I had hope that we could actually do this, that we will be able to win.
we could defeat Balthazar and make the world a safer place for our kind.
"Now that is cleared up, let's get down to it shall we? We have a lot to discuss." I say, taking my seat at the head of the table.
My mates were close to me, keeping me close even though the others had agreed. I guess they didn't know who to trust yet. I couldn't blame them, one of us was already missing. I just hoped that Dean could hold on for me, for us.
I hope that he is ok, I hope that the threat will come again and Balthazar was bluffing. I know it seams unlikely. But a girl can hope, right?
we spend hours in that meeting room, food and drinks being brought to us by the omegas as we came up with a plan of attack. It wasn't much when everyone parted ways for the night, but it was enough to know that we had a chance. All we had to do was work together.
some of the alphas were nervous, while others were ready for the war that was coming, I wasn't entirely sure which I was, all I knew was that their was no way to avoid this.
it was fight or die.
it was survive or become slaves.
I wouldn't be able to live as a slave again, I wouldn't be able to survive. I've seen what life can be like without pain and suffering and that is what I want for myself. It's what I want for my children.
I'll never be a slave again, I'll fight and die to make sure I am free.
I slept quite a lot the next few days while my mates sorted out the finer details for the attack, but I wasn't sure of everything. It all seemed rushed, but I guess we had no choice about that. We could either attack within the next few days or risk being attacked and killed or captured. Something I knew that we couldn't risk.
I had my c-section today, and we would finally meet the twins, but something was missing, or should I say someone. I just wish that Dean didn't get captured when he did, I needed him by my side. He was my mate and his presence brought me comfort.
I rolled out of bed and showered, it took longer than normal, but I needed to feel clean. It was strange being pregnant, you never quite feel like yourself, and when the babies kick it feels a little surreal.
I know a woman's body is meant for this, but it's still so strange, I'm growing people inside of me, two healthy little babies are developing in my womb.
I put on a large purple and yellow sun dress, one of the only things that fit me right now and walked out of the room, deciding that I would go bare foot. It wasn't like I could get my shoes on anyway.
I walk into the kitchen to see a few of the new alphas and Zane talking whilst they have breakfast, my presence causing them all to turn and look at me.
"hey sweetie, did you rest enough?" Zane asked as he stood up and pulled me into his arms.
"I think I have more than rested, I'm ready to help again." I say slowly, tired of feeling left out and pushed aside.
"you have the babies coming today, maybe you should focus on that. It's a big deal twins being born." Alpha Damon from a neighbouring pack said with a smile, he was one of the nice ones I had found.
"yeah, we can focus on the battle tomorrow." Zane agreed, and I knew he would. He was the most excited to see the kids. "I can't wait to meet them." he adds, rubbing my large stomach.
Alexander walks into the room seconds later, his smile tight and worried, "it's almost time Annalise." He says, walking up and pulling me into his arms.
"don't worry, everything will work out fine." I promise them, holding both of my mates close to me. "Where's Mathew and Drax?"
Alexander chuckles, "they are going to meet us there, don't worry they won't miss the birth." He guides me towards the door. "I know you are hungry but you can't eat until afterwards."
"that's a stupid rule." I frown, my stomach growling angrily.
"I know love, it won't take too long, I promise." Zane smiles down at me, his eyes constantly dropping to my stomach.
I could tell that they were all excited, and I couldn't wait to get the twins out of me, but I couldn't help but be worried as well. What if Balthazar attacked whilst I was giving birth? What if something happened whilst I was under the anestetic?
I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something were to happen to any of them. Including the packs that had come to help. We had to work together if this was going to work, but a lot of it also relied on my ability to take down Balthazar. I couldn't let them down.
we walked to the doctors office slowly, my waddle not allowing me to walk at a fast pace, it never did. I was so large, especially since I was carrying two babies instead of one.
"I hope you are ready Luna." Said the doctor as we walked in.
"as ready as I can be." I smiled, climbing up onto the bed.
"I'm going to inject you first and then place a mast over your face. When I do I want you to count backwards from 10. Can you do that?"
"yes." I nod.
I feel the injection but it doesn't really affect me at first. I lay back and wait for the mask, my nervousness increasing.
"we'll be right here." Drax says as he shuts the door. "When you wake up you'll see the beautiful babies."
thw doctor places the mask over my face and I begin to count.
10
9
8
7
blackness consumes me.