Chapter Ninety-three: The mergers gift

I wake up feeling like I’m floating. I forgot how comfortable sleeping on a bed really was after being on a sleeping bag for so long.

I sit up and look to the window which shows the dawn creeping up on the horizon. I look down to see the jacket lying next to me, where Lukas would usually sleep. I smile sadly down at it, remembering when he was last wearing it.

I stretch my muscles and then get up and head towards the shower. I look around the bathroom to see nothing had changed or has been moved. I brush my teeth and take a much needed, long shower. I step out and wrap a towel around my body. I towel dry my hair before grabbing the hairdryer and finishing it off.

After drying my hair, I walk out the bathroom and across the bedroom to the walk in wardrobe. Oh….how I’ve missed most of my clothes.

I opt for a high waisted pair of denim jeans, and a simple red crop top. I pop on a pair of trainers to make sure I can move about easily when needed.

I walk back to the bed and pick up Lukas’ jacket and place it over my shoulders, tying the arms around my neckline. It’s a slim denim one, but with his build it looks massive on me, but I don’t care. I need him with me with the day I’m about to have.

I leave the room without a second glance, not knowing if I’ll be coming back here anytime soon.

As I walk towards the stairway, I send a mind-link out to the pack. “Today, as you all know, will be the start of the long awaited battle. We will be summoning the dark one, and I’ve no doubt he will bring the darkness with him. Make sure those of you who are able to fight, say goodbye to your loved ones. Be ready for the call, because it will come no doubt. Those of you who are not fighting, make sure you’re aware of your role. Look after your elderly, ill or children.”

I cut the mind link off, hoping that everyone is going to be ready for when it’s go time.

I walk down the stairs to the guest floor and knock on Nurias door. I get no answer, so I knock a bit louder. Still nothing. I try to focus and I don’t feel her aura in her room, which is strange as it’s so early. I head down the stairs to see if I can find her in the dining room.

I walk through the dining room doors and all I see is Jorge clearing up a plate.

“Hello Luna. I hope you’re well this morning. Would you like some breakfast?” He says after bowing courteously.

“Is Nuria about?” I ask, forgetting my manners. “Sorry, good morning Jorge. Have you seen Nuria about?”

“Why, yes Luna. She’s just left for the new-comers area.” He gives me a good look and probably notices the weight I’ve lost. “I’ve got some eggs benedict being readied, if you’ll give me a few moments to…”

I cut him off. “I’m sorry Jorge, I don’t think I have time to eat.” I say, brushing his offer off.

He sighs. “Luna, I cannot force you to eat, but as you’ve just said when you mind-linked everyone, be ready. Luna, you will be starved and you and your wolf, no matter how strong you are, will not be at your strongest without food in your stomach.” He argues resolutely.

I smile at him, knowing he’s right. “Very well. Please bring it out and I will eat. I have to be quick though, I have a lot to do today.”

He nods and immediately picks up what he was doing and fast walks into the kitchen. It’s not long before he comes out with a dish smelling absolutely divine. He places it down in front of me and my mouth instantly salivates. I waste no time and devour the meal in front of me, not noticing Jorge leaving the room and heading back into the kitchen. I finish up the breakfast and stand, ready to start my day properly.

Jorge exits the kitchen and looks over at me with a smile. “I suspect you’re feeling a bit better, Luna. Please do let me know if I can be of any assistance today. A lot rests on your shoulders.”

I nod my head and thank him, leaving him to prepare the dining room for the rest of the pack house members to eat their breakfast.

I break into a sprint to reach the cottages that were assigned to the visitors. It doesn’t take me long to find Nuria already bringing in more of our newfound allies.

“Nuria!” I shout, grabbing her attention.

She looks over to me and smiles. “Hello Sleepyhead. You’ve not slept past dawn for a long time.” She says.

I roll my eyes then blush. “I slept with his scent wrapped around me.”

She smiles slightly, but then gives me a serious look. “I’m about to bring in Troy, the last one we approached. I don’t know if he’ll be able to tell me who else is left, if he managed to convince any others I mean.”

I nod. “Be careful, we have a few vampires here already but they’re all loners. I remember he said he knew of a few covens. I’ll wait here for you to be sure there’s no trouble.”

She nods and opens a portal, disappearing through it. I stand about for what seems like forever before I hear the usual sound of a whirling and a portal appearing. Nuria steps through first and I see Troy come in after her.

After them, I see Troy’s companions, but I also notice several others join them after. I could count roughly thirty being pulled through the portal. The last one steps through and I see the portal close straight after. I look at Nuria.

“Are you ok?”

“Never better.” She smirks.

I look to Troy who is bending over, his hands on his knees. “Welcome, Troy. I hope you and your clan have been well?”

He recovers in no time, which I had expected of a vampire after travelling. He nods with a sincere smile, stealing glances over at Nuria. “Yes, all well thanks, what a ride! As you can see we’ve brought a few others. There’s two other covens that have agreed to come as well, I can direct Nuria to get them if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, however let me just run by you all a few temporary rules that are in place and I can then show your people and….friends their new place to stay.” I request, and he complies.

I gather them in front of me and run down the list of rules that the pack has set. No one disagreed or looked like they’d be a concern, so I started directing them to the remaining cottages. Some of them hang about before heading over and they start speaking to one another in general conversation.

“I think it’s time to get the remainder so we can provide lunch and then start out plans as one.” I whisper to Nuria whilst the others are conversing with each other.

She nods and calls on Troy. He jogs over.

“It’s time to go.” Is all she says to him and he waits patiently for her to open a portal and head out.

They disappear and I take the time to speak to our new visitors, trying to actively take interest in the new vampires I had not met before. However, I was starting to find the task tedious as my heart was fluttering thinking that I’ll get to see and hold Lukas soon. I can feel Athena getting ready in the back of my mind as well, mentally preparing for the fight to come, the fight where we will give our all. Blaine, Estelle, Albion and Nina join me an hour or so after Nuria left.

It’s just about lunchtime when Nuria returns, with both covens in tail, resulting in about fifty vampires travelling through her portal at once. I examine Nuria who enters this side first, and I can see she’s slightly breathless but has expressed that she is fine. She does look much better than the one time I remember she mentioned it took a lot of effort, but I speak with her once everyone is through.

“I know you’re fairing much better than you was before, but please be careful. We need you at full strength tonight.”

She looks at me in understanding. “I know Ali. I’ll be careful, don’t worry. For now, I just need fuel.”

I smile, knowing she’s hungry after all her work this morning. I gather the two covens that just pulled through and repeat the rules that we’ve set for them to abide by on pack lands. When finished, I don’t hear any issues or complaining, so I point each set of five to a cottage and advise them how to enter or where they can find food, which we’ve sourced for them all.

I see Jorge and the Omegas in a clearing handing out lunch boxes to those who eat normal food, and I see him direct a few omegas with some cooler boxes which no doubt hold blood bags for the vampires. I send him a quick mind-link.

“Thank you Jorge, it’s appreciated the effort you and the omegas are giving to our guests.” I give it a moment before I follow up. “I don’t suppose there’s anything in there for us?” I ask, referring to the pack members and Nuria who have been working here all morning.

He looks in my direction and nods, and I gleefully head his way. He picks out a few of the lunchboxes for me to take. “Don’t worry Luna, I know you’re all here. Of course I brought enough for everyone.” He says with a smile.

I place my hand on his shoulder in a polite gesture. “Thank you Jorge, I’d have no idea what I’d do without you.”

He smiles in response and I turn to give my ranked members and Nuria a lunchbox. We sit down and eat where everyone else is located.

“It’s so nice that you join in with the tripe for food.”, Lorna, one of the witches we met said not far from where we’re sitting.

I smile at her. “You are all my guests. It wouldn’t be fitting if I went and sat in the big house whilst all of you were out here.”

I think a bit more on it. “Plus, you all welcomed me into your homes or villages. It’s only right I join you out here. We are, after all, going to be fighting on the same side. What better way to get to know one another?”

We all get stuck in to different conversations during and after lunch. It’s nice to hear and understand the many cultures and people surrounding us. Not long after lunch I see Markus and Melinda peek over from a distance.

I see them and I wave them over. They hesitantly make their way over to us and keep their eyes on the crowds of strangers around us.

“Hello Markus, Melinda. I hope you’re both well. Please, join us.” I suggest to them, hoping they can tell no one is a threat here.

Markus eyes the people we’re standing around and nods his head in a respectful manner. Melinda smiles as if she’s meant for this moment and I cherish the fact that they’re both trying to overcome what was once drilled into their minds from history books or rules passed down.

Lots of stories shared and greetings crossed, I can see the sky start to tilt towards night time. I signal to Nuria to come over when she’s finished her conversation.

She skips over, looking as though she’s back to full strength.

“Are we ready? We should probably get things going.” I say to her discreetly.

She nods and says nothing else, turning her attention to everyone in the field in front of us. We decided this would be the best place to fight, and so we’ve recommended everyone take a look at the surroundings and know the layout, that way we’ll all have an advantage.

I start up a mind-link to all the wolves in the pack.

“Hello Crescent Moon wolves, this is your Luna. It’s now time to get ready for the war to begin. Please can those of you able to fight, come to the strawberry fields close to the lake, where you’ve all been briefed the fighting will take place. Those of you who cannot fight, please make your way to the bunker.”

We spend the next twenty minutes gathering everyone in front of us, pack members, witches, elves and vampires alike. I stand up on a make-shift podium with my ranked members besides me, along with Elijah and Nuria.

I look to the people in front of me. “It’s not long now till we summon the dark one, Erebus, Fedori, whatever you call him, but I have no doubt we’ve all heard of him. He will bring an army, and that army is difficult to destroy.” I feel Athena niggling in my mind but I try not to let it distract me. “Our mission is to defeat him, because if we don’t he’ll take out everything in existence. Please be ready, Nuria will try to summon him soon.”

I look to the thousands of people in front of me. Majority here are wolves, and I pray to the Moon Goddess that she sends us her strength.

Not a moment later, Athena speaks up.

“Can I take control?” She asks with resolve.

I step back mentally, allowing her to take over my body. I trust her with my life, but I’m stunned to say the least that she’s been quiet for the most part these last few months….I’m interested in what she has to say.

She clears her throat and starts to speaks loudly, enough for everyone to hear her. I see a few people who are not part of the pack through my eyes not understand what’s happening.

“Hello all. I’m Athena, Aliana’s counterpart. I bring a message from our Moon Goddess. Be brave. Be true. We are all part of this together. She has parted some wisdom to me, that will benefit us all against the dark one’s army.”

I hear some chattering amongst themselves but Athena carries on. “I, as some, but not all of you are aware, am a direct daughter of both Selene and Solaris.” A few gasps here and there are heard and I wonder what Athena is getting at. Not every knew I was a pureblood descendant of two originals.

“As we are a daughter of two originals, they have bestowed great powers to Aliana and I. But our type of power had not yet been defined. We are a merger Goddess. This means we can merge our power with anything we wish. And so my gift to you all, at least temporarily, is a piece of my power, to fight the dark ones off.”

I want to ask Athena many questions but she brushes me off. “I’ll tell you after.”

I feel energy come from within, and sways its way towards my hands. I feel a great power come forth, but I’m unsure where it’s come from. All I know is that Athena raises my hands towards the gathering in front of me and starts distributing this power. I can see wisps of light leave my fingertips and the light rains across everyone in front of me.

After seeing everyone get covered in this rain of light, Athena pulls back and goes to the back of my mind.

“What was that?” I ask her.

“A gift from Mother Selene. She reached out to me a while back and I’ve been gathering the power since.”

“Is that why you’ve been quiet?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“…Partially, yes. But now I’m here, and I’m here to get Ares and Lukas back.”

I can feel all eyes on my and I turn to Nuria.

“I think it’s time.” I say to her.

She nods and I see her walk towards a clear area behind us.

I turn to everyone in front.

“It’s time to be ready.” Is all I say and I see everyone move to their positions.