"I don't know how to fire a gun!"
"Just aim and pull the trigger. Shoot towards the tree tops it will give us cover!” He demanded. He knew the shooter was in the trees. Most likely they were using infrared or night scopes.
Within seconds the loud bursts of his 9mm echoed in around them. The noise caused Lea to wail in fear. As Shea fired in sporadic bursts from his semi automatic, he knew she’d caught on quickly to using the gun. The crash from behind them of what sounded like a body falling surprised him. Shea had managed to shoot the sniper.
Shea still had the baby in her arms and as Mica tried to hold onto him, he prayed they would make the lake before it was too late. The need to find out how badly she was hurt had him driving at dangerous speeds. However, he grew up playing on these machines as a kid and he controlled the four-wheeler like a pro, even after the moment of surprise from being shot at.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Frank heard the howl of Victor to warn of the attack. He stepped to the door and felt Ajei's icy hand on his arm.
"No!” She stated in such a fearful voice he had to pause.
"Ajei...it's my pack!"
"Victor needs to do this. You said you wanted him to regain his role as Alpha, now is that time!"
"For god sakes woman he can't fight them alone!"
"He won't have to.” She told him. As if she’d already known, he heard the response calls of the others. Not only the Feral wolves but their allied members Frank had within the woods surrounding the community.
They were following Victor into battle. They had made the choice to see him as a leader and he smiled at his mate.
"You knew this all along?'
"Yes, but the outcome will still be grave for the Ferals. There is nothing we can do to prevent what was meant to be.” She said sadly.
"How bad?"
"Over a third of the clan will die tonight, many of them women and children. But as I said before, the shift in the tide of this war rests with Scott and Mica. If they chose the wrong path, then all the Ferals could die.” Her eyes were lined with tears.
He felt the rage within him grow. He was not about to stand by and let the invaders massacre woman and children.
"I'm going to help. Ajei go get the children ready and hide in the attic loft.” He knew there was access from the small attic to the roof where they could escape if need be. His youngest son and his two youngest daughters were here with his mate. Shea was at Jake's and a new fear flooded him. He couldn't bear the thought of losing any more of his family.
"Shea!"
"Shea will be fine. So will we, I have some power still!” She said and he felt the chill in the air again.
"Who is here?” He asked.
"Mike, he never left...he’s feeding me his spiritual essence to give me strength. I've dispatched as many nature spirits as I can but it still won't be enough. Mike's spirit is strong but it won't be enough to feed the power we need to save them all."
Frank knew this night would be one no one here would ever forget, he just wished he could change the outcome.
"I love you Ajei!'“ He said and kissed her before he stepped out the door.
"Come back to me safe Frank.” She said and as he turned to look at his mate. He saw the eerie ghostly form of Mike standing beside her. Part of his ethereal form slowly trailed into her body. It was the creepiest thing he ever saw.
* * *~~~ * * *
Greg had seen the carnage that the Feral Alpha inflicted on Alaric and he wasn't going to stick around to get killed. Something had gone wrong with his plans and he knew that there was no way his friends could have survived if Victor was still alive. His Intel revealed that there were only seven Ferals left. Somehow that seemed more than deadly enough for him. Yes, the odds were against the other pack, he thought. The Dickson attack force was at forty-nine werewolves and five snipers. But that still didn't help him gain any more courage. The ferocity with which Victor attacked Alaric was proof enough that they may not win this incursion.
He’d have to rethink his plans. Somehow he needed to get Mica away from her mate. His goal of becoming alpha was now accomplished, thanks to Victor having killed the Alpha for him. If Greg couldn't have Mica no one could he now decided. He wouldn’t stand by and let another have her any longer. As his plan formed in his mind, he raced into the forest that surrounded the place.
As he crested a small knoll, his paws dug into the soft moist earth as he tried to keep his traction on the wet ground. He heard the sound of the rifle, felt the burning pain in his side as he toppled to the ground. Greg's fear of what he’d witnessed had made him forget the standing orders to shoot anyone trying to flee. Most packs didn’t look the same. The snipers would naturally assume he was a Feral fleeing the small community. After all he too had a black fur coat just like the Feral clan. Nearly all the Dickson wolfs had the more traditional coat of mixed greys and browns. Now one of his own had shot him. He struggled to get to his paws and another shot rang out. It was the last sound he heard.
Chapter 30
Mica side burned, the hot trickle of blood that flowed down her side was slowly receding. The metallic salty taste of blood was still in her mouth and she could smell its strong scent from Scott's bare back. As Scott crested onto the small dirt road that led to the lake Shea wrapped her free arm around her to help support her. Lea had stopped wailing and Mica only wanted to hold her. Fear was present in her, but so was rage, someone had taken a shot at them, could have killed her child.
This was her father's doing again and she’d demanded Victor not to kill him. Even after all of this, she still felt a semblance of loyalty to the man. She silently swore to herself to make sure he never did this again. Somehow the man had to be made to understand she loved Victor. That she had his child and was never leaving him. No matter how badly her father hated the fact, she was now a Feral.
The machine came to a stop just before the path that led down to the old dock where the boathouse used to be. Shea and then Scott slid off the machine and with his help Mica was gently pulled off as well. He’d left the headlights on and now he guided her to stand in the light.
"I need to see how bad you're hit!” He told her. His voice revealed how afraid he was for her.
"Do you think we are safe here?” Shea asked as Scott gingerly lifted the side of the long oversized shirt he’d given Mica to cover up with.
"Yes, you're more than safe here." a woman's voice said from the edge of the woods and instinctively Mica growled at the person.
"Easy now, we are kindred spirits Mica.” The voice said and she watched nearly ten people come silently from the tree line. All were dressed in black military fatigues
The woman was a striking gorgeous blonde who stood nearly as tall as Scott. Her piercing cold grey eyes looked her over as Mica did the same to her. Built like a tank, she could easily out muscle Victor. She walked with such an air of grace that Mica naturally assumed she was a good fighter. The ten dark figures had absolutely no scent, and that un-nerved Mica a lot.
"This is my sister Anna, she will help." Scott said as his fingers touched an extremely tender spot on her side and then on her ribs in the front.
"How bad is it Dmitri?" Anna asked, walking fearlessly toward them.
To Mica’s surprise Scott answered her. Telling her it was a through and through shot and that she was already healing. Scott's name was really Dmitri. She knew this wasn't the time to ask questions. Her pack was under attack and as she eyed the new comers over she saw all carried guns, body armour and night vision goggles. This was a time for a leap of faith if ever there was one. People were dying and these folks may be able to help.
Looking at Shea, who held the most precious thing in her life within her arms, the plan formed and she turned to Scott.
"I'm going back!” Mica declared.
"Like hell you are!"
"I have too, it's my pack. I'm Alpha Bitch and they need me."
"You need to protect Lea!"Scott told her.
"I will, but I also need to protect the rest of my family."
"Victor gave me orders to protect you."
"Yes and if you want to follow those orders you will join me, but if you don't then stay here!"
"A stubborn one. I can see why Victor chose you." Anna said.
Mica turned her attention fully to the near Amazon built woman. "I need your help. I don't know you, but my pack if being killed. It's made of mostly kinfolk and they don't stand a chance in hell against my father's forces. Please help me." Mica pleaded.
"What about the baby and the girl?" Anna asked.
"I know someplace safe they can hide. It's not far from here and she can make it there on the four-wheeler."
"All right, but how the hell is your pack to know we are on their side, and how do we tell the difference between the Ferals and the attackers?” She asked as Scott stared dumbfounded at his sister.
"Firstly the Ferals are all black furred. The allied pack is almost completely brown in colour and the Dickson look like a traditional grey wolf."
"Oh, okay."
"So are you in?"
"On one condition."Anna said. A small smile slid over her lips.
"What?"
"You help us with the Hybrid serum.” She stated.
"No...Mica!" Scott said suddenly.
"It’s my choice to make Scott."
"I see you’re still using your middle name." Anna said and that actually made Mica feel a little less suspicious of the other name Anna called her brother.
"All right, I will help you, but not my child she will have nothing to do with any more experiments!"
"Fine, it's a deal then?"
"Yes."
"Men show yourselves!"
As Mica watched another ten men dressed like the first came from the woods surrounding where they stood. They too moved silently, Mica would never have known they were even there.
"Paul, Alex and Chris go with the girl and the baby. Guard them with your lives!” She ordered and the three made for Shea. Shea backed away.
"It's all right they will only protect you. I give you my word as a she-wolf!" Anna stated. Shea looked towards Mica with questioning eyes. Mica knew the girl didn't trust these outsiders.
"It's okay Shea. Now you need to travel along the shoreline, about three and a half miles. You'll see a small cave entrance. You should be able to hide there and defend it as well." Mica explained.
One of the three men took his protective jacket off and helped Shea to put it on. It fit her like a tent.
"There, now let's tuck the baby inside and zipper it up.” He said his grey eyes looking very softly at Shea and the baby as he helped her to do as he asked.
"Thank you." Mica said and Scott took her by the hand.
"Mica...are you sure?"
"Scott, the pack needs us.” She told him and shifted.
Shaking herself she watched the look of shock on his sister's face as her brother turned into a huge wolf. His fur was nearly identical to Mica's own. Mica trotted over to Anna and began rubbing herself all over the other she-wolf. Scott caught on and together they covered all of the twenty scentless armed soldiers with their scents. They had marked them as part of the pack, making them known to the Feral clan as being on the same side.
Arching her head back into the air Mica howled. The long drawn out wolf song telling all she was still Alpha Bitch and not going to back down.
* * * ~~~ * * *
He was alive, he wasn't sure how he’d survived Victor's attack, but he had. Alaric feebly made his way into the forest edge. He was headed towards the Hummer. As it was he who had drawn out the attack plans, he knew where his snipers lay in wait. Avoiding them was easy. Victor had spared him, but given the severity of his wounds he wasn't sure if it was intentional or not.
Still in shock at having seen his only child alive, he knew he had to call a retreat to save her. Within the cover of the trees he held his head up only a little ways. The pain seared over him from the effort. The long drawn out howl sounded distressed and he knew he’d lost face with his pack by retreating, but it was the only way. He prayed it wasn't too late. Alaric had no idea how long he’d been unconscious for. Mica could already be lost to him again.
The sound of full automatic weapons exploded in the distance. Alaric was again bewildered. His men were not carrying such arms. No Intel had come to him that anyone within the community had access to such weaponry and now he knew his pack was in grave danger. They would not be able to defend themselves against such an onslaught. As Alpha his duty was to protect his pack, now he knew he’d led them to their deaths.
There was nothing he could do for them. He slunk painfully away from the sounds of the slaughter and made his vehicle. Without waiting to see the outcome Alaric shifted into his human form. Gingerly he dressed and left his pack to their own fate. If anyone survived they would ensure his fall in the Alliance. No Alpha should ever leave the battle or his pack, but now he needed to survive. Mica was alive and she had his grandchild. Somehow he’d take them back, get them away from Victor and they would be a family again.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Knowing his mate and child were on their way to safety had made it easy to concentrate on the battle. So far he and two other Pack members had dispatched of six invaders. They seemed to be targeting the kin folk first. He realized Alaric was going to try and annihilate the Feral bloodline by taking out the weaker members first. He sent the other two werewolves to warn the rest of his community. Victor began going door to door to tell folks to find shelter in the basement of the hall.
Everyone in one place would be easier for the attackers, but it would also be easier for his pack and allied members to defend. Several times he heard the retort of high powered rifles, and the sporadic burst of a semi automatic gun fire had blared out into the night a short time ago. The occasion single shoot could be heard throughout the community too. Not all of his kin would go down without a fight. Now as he neared his Beta's home his neck hairs prickled. The scent of Dickson wolves was strong in the air.
Jenni was screaming and her front door had been kicked off its hinges. Victor smelt blood and fear, Jenni's. Rage had consumed him as he’d found more than one home had been invaded and his kinfolk slaughtered. Now his cousin's wife was being attacked and the sounds of her screams echoed out into the night air. Bursting into the house he saw her pinned to the floor still in her nightdress. One of the Dickson pack was in his human form and held her down. The smell of his intent was thick in the air as well.
Two wolves had Jenni's son Gable cornered. A wolf lay on the floor, several bullet wounds perforated its lifeless body. He had been shot by Jenni, Victor saw her gun lying on the floor just out of her reach. Gable was bleeding from several bad wounds and the pre-teen was defenceless against the wolves attacking him. Victor's blood boiled in his veins as the terror showed in the young boy's eyes. He completely lost it.
* * *~~~ * * *
Frank saw the house burning, heard Jenni screaming at her son to get help. Gable stood there and looked to be in shock. The boy was bleeding badly from a half dozen bite marks and his eyes glanced around bewildered and lost. As Frank rushed towards them, Jenni pointed her Colt at him. Her body was littered in bruises and her nightdress torn. He came to a dead stop and watched her look at him, her hand shaking as it held the gun.
"Frank...is that you?” Her voice was raw sounding and scared.
He shifted back into a man so she’d know it was him, she lowered the gun. The tears streamed down her bloodied face.
"You have to help. Victor's still inside!” She rasped out.
"Shea!" His heart raced in his chest. Ajei said she’d be safe, but could she have been wrong. Losing his daughter after he placed her here to keep her safe would destroy him.
"Shea left to go see Mica. She had a vision...Jake went looking for you...please Frank!” She sobbed
"Take Gable to the hall—” His words were cut short as heavy gun fire retorted
through the small community. It was fully automatic weapons fire. There would be no way in hell anyone would be able to get out of this if the Dickson's had come with such an arsenal.
His head turned to the burning house. The putrid smell of burnt flesh assailed his nose and he feared Victor may already be dead. Somewhere in the flames, smoke and heat was his blood brother.
"Go, when you get there send someone to bring Ajei and the kids to the Hall!” He ordered and rushed to the house. Making the door, he could barely see in the dense smoke billowing out of it. A form of a man lay on the kitchen floor, unable to make out if it was Victor or not, Frank got on his hands and knees he crawled towards him. The density of the smoke was not as bad down here and he reached the body. Frank knew without a doubt that whoever it had been was dead, as he was missing his head.
Another body of a wolf lay nearby and its fur was not black. It had been shot in the chest and looked to have died instantly. The sound of the crackling fire as it raced up over the walls and across the ceiling was unnerving. Even down close to the floor Frank coughed and struggled to breathe. The fumes would have easily overtaken him if he had of rushed inside. He could hear another cough coming from the next room.
The flames had started to eat away at some of the furniture, the curtain disintegrated in the flames that consumed them. The table and chairs as well as an antique hutch had been tossed about the room. Victims of what looked like a struggle. Barely making the small open door well to the living room, he saw the head which belonged to the naked man on the kitchen floor. It looked as if it had been torn from the man. A look of absolute horror was still in his dead eyes. The wound around the neck was jagged and clawed.
As he carefully crawled into the living room Frank figured the fire must have started in here. The thick dense black smoke was nearly floor level and he had to get down on his belly to avoid inhaling too much of the toxic fumes. He coughed harshly as his throat now felt as if it was on fire and had to pause before he could continue. As he slid along on his belly on the hardwood floor, he felt something slick and sticky. The smell of blood filled his nose. He strained his eyes he could make out the remains of one of the Dickson wolves, there wasn't much left of him intact.
The Lycan Wars- Revised Edition Page 20
