Chapter 38
Scott sat at a booth in the early morning rush of the small coffee shop waiting for Alaric to show up. For the past month he fed him information. Giving him regular updates to the things going on inside the Amalgamation. Answered all of the man's questions regarding the welfare of Mica and Lea. Now as he slowly turned his coffee cup sitting in front of him, he knew tomorrow people were going to die. People he’d come to see not only as friends but also as family. It made this meeting so much harder for him than he’d thought it would be.
The door to the quaint little cafe opened and he watched Alaric and his Beta Mitch walk in. As always the two scanned the people in here and scented the air. The pair made their way to the table and a waitress scurried over to take their order almost as soon as they were seated. Alaric, Scott knew, still didn't completely trust him. It didn't bother him in the least. As long as he achieved his goal with these meetings. He didn't trust Alaric either knowing full well the man would never allow Mica to mate someone outside the Alliance.
Once the waitress brought the men their orders and left again, Scott slid the fat envelope towards Alaric. The alpha looked at it then back up to him. "What's this?"
"It's the plans for an attack against the Alliance tomorrow night." Scott told him and felt a lump in his throat.
"Tomorrow night!" Alaric had said it so loud everyone in the coffee shop turned and looked at them.
"Nice to see you take bad news calmly." Scott growled.
"Why they hell didn't you give me word of this earlier.” He now half whispered this time.
"Oh this comes as a surprise to you. You're not a complete idiot are you? You had a hit take out Frank's pregnant mate.... what the hell did you think they were going to do. Bury their heads in the sand!" The man was irritating Scott now.
Running his hand over his jaw, Alaric looked over at Mitch.
"We need to get this to the Alliance right away. Take it to them now.” He ordered passing the other man the envelope and a set of keys.
"How are you getting home?" Mitch asked.
"I'll flag a cab; this needs to go now." Alaric demanded and got up so the other man could get out. Mitch headed toward the door of the cafe with an almost urgent stride, actually pushing a customer walking in out of his way as he left.
Turning his full attention back to Scott, Alaric seemed to relax a little and he smiled. "You have done a good job Scott, now I have one last thing for you to do."
"Oh what would that be?"
"Make sure you bring Mica and Lea to me.” He stated.
"And if she doesn't want to come?"
"I'm sure you can figure out a way to get her to follow you."
"All right, you just remember our deal. Mica is to be my mate!"
"I haven't forgotten Scott."
"Good, now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back before they wonder where I've gone."
* * * ~~~ * * *
It was too damn early for this, he thought as he stifled a yawn. Mica and he’d spent nearly the entire night making love and he hadn’t slept very much. Victor sat in his beat up old truck in the parking lot. He’d watched as Scott took a furtive glance around before entering the cafe. Within ten minutes, he saw the black hummer pull up to the curb in front. A low deep growl came from him as he saw Alaric and another man get out and both looked around cautiously then disappeared inside.
It wasn't long before the other man came rushing back out with an envelope in his hand. As he peeled away from the curb in the vehicle, Victor could tell he was panicked. Not even five minutes later Scott came strolling out. From here Victor saw the smile on his Beta's face. He walked with a casual stride and as Victor started the truck, Scott slid in beside him. "Did they take the bait?"
"Oh hell yeah." Scott told him.
"Good, now as they're looking to re-enforce the Alliance home turf we can concentrate on the Dickson pack. Great work Scott.” He said. Victor waited to watch Alaric hail a cab and leave before he pulled out of the parking lot and headed for home.
This had been Ajei's idea, using Scott as a mole. The man was already fully trained at infiltrating and acting. He was the best candidate for the job. Mica of course didn't like the idea. She’d worried that Scott could get himself killed. He still very well could, like any of them tonight when they invaded her familial territory. He knew she was loyal to him, to the Feral's, but he also knew that this battle would hurt her the most. She’d chosen him over her other family.
They had much to do before tonight's attack, but he already knew what the outcome would be. Shea had told him, they would lose members yes but the loss to the Dickson pack would be overwhelming.
"So Mica is joining the battle I heard." Scott said as they drove.
"Yes, she insisted."
"And you couldn't talk her out of it?"
"Nope, not even close!"
"She's a stubborn one!"
"Yes, that she most definitely is.” He chuckled.
"Let's hope that Shea is right with her vision."
"If she's anything like her mother, it’s bang on."
"Did her father tell her yet about this Mires wolf?"
"No, he’s going to wait until after the battle. He wants her mind on this and not on her arranged Mating." Victor told him.
Scott shook his head and turned to look out the window as they drove.
"What?" He asked, he knew something was on Scott’s mind.
"She's not going to like it."
"Yeah I know. Mica said the same thing, but it's the way it works."
"I have a funny feeling she will refuse." Scott added and Victor glanced again at him.
"Why?"
"Because she likes a guy named Ryder."
"Frank had mentioned him. He said it was just a crush."
"And if he's wrong?"
Victor knew how Mica felt about the Alpha choosing the mates for the pack, and he had a feeling Shea also thought a lot along the same vein. It was a worry that needed to wait though, as the battle needed the attention tonight not the woes of a young woman losing her childhood crush and mating another.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Frank sat in his chair staring at the wall. His heart ached in ways no man should ever feel. Two mates and two children were now dead and gone. His tears streamed down his cheek. Ajei had given him a renewed lease on life after Cassandra and his son had died. Now his pregnant mate was gone, their unborn child never getting a chance to know life. His children were without a mother, him without a mate.
Even killing the man responsible didn’t help ease his grief. The bastard had missed, Frank wished he hadn’t. He’d rather be dead then his mate. Ajei was the one who held his pack together, his pillar of support. Without her, he didn’t know if he could go on. He had to for the children, but it would be a long road. One he didn’t want to take.
He thought of his first mate, her pretty eyes and addictive laugh. She was so alive and full of mischief. Their son, Zander was just a baby, hadn’t even gotten a chance to take his first step, never got to grow up, to love and laugh. His heart ripped more apart at the thoughts of him and Cassandra in their last moments.
She would have been terrified. Alone as the waters crashed through their home, as it destroyed everything in its wake. Defenceless to save their son or herself as Mother Nature wrecked havoc on the small village. So many had died in those few moments. Lives snuffed out like a candle.
Ajei at least died instantly, he found it a hard thing to be thankful for. She hadn’t suffered or known the same horror Cassandra must have. He bowed his head, buried his tear streaked face in his hands and sobbed. More would die, hell was coming to the Dickson pack and he’d make sure they suffered for this.
Tonight they would know the wrath of his people’s totem spirits. The shamans had been building up for this. The women were angry, needed to avenge their Alpha Bitch and Shamanic leader. The spirit’s demanded blood for blood and they would have what they wanted. They were prepared, a
nd as he prayed for the safety of his adopted pack and blood brother he felt an icy chill fill the room.
The icy touch on his arm caused goose bumps to ripple along his skin. Frank felt the soft touch on his cheek, the caress of ethereal arms around him. Ajei was never really gone, her spirit would always be with him.
* * * ~~~ * * *
The woods were eerily silent even with the number of wolves lurking slowly towards Dickson territory. Victor could feel the tension building within his pack. They were eager for this. As they came to the edge of the small forest Scott, Frank and Anna stood beside him. The only kinfolk in on this fight were Anna’s Flock members. They were fully trained and all of them were well equipped for this battle.
Unlike the Dickson pack, his own would give fair warning. It would give the women and children time to run. The standing order was to leave them unharmed, only males were to be taken out. Kinfolk included if they fought back. Any who ran were also to be left. Their target was Alaric, his beta and the rest of the Dickson Lycans.
Victor arched his head in the air, howling out the warning. It was followed by Frank and Scott’s, then the rest of the fifty plus wolves joined in. It was an incredible sound. The air reverberated with their battle cry and the power of the spirit’s that came to join the fight. Silently the ethereal animal spirit swept into the residential area, their mere presents were enough to have Victor’s fur standing on end.
The screams began, that was their cue and his pack swarmed the area. Frank Scott and he made for Alaric’s home. Victor had already known the way and his pack mates knew Alaric was his to fight. The Dickson pack came out in full force, a howl from their side was heard, their battle cry. It would be too little too late.
The savage fighting echoed into the night air. The screams of horror could be heard from every direction and as Victor rounded the last house just before Alaric’s, he saw Shea’s Great Bear spirit. Instead of attacking the enemy, it was keeping a small group of women from going to aid several Lycan’s as they were surrounded by his own pack. The women looked horrified, none wanting to get too close but seemingly not wanting to leave either.
Victor’s heart ached for them. He knew what they felt like. To lose a loved one was never easy. His wolf side forced him to push his human emotions away. This was war. One which needed to happen in order to stop the slaughter of his own people. The silver streaked face of a wolf came into sight. Alaric. Victor snarled and the other wolf snarled back, both Alpha’s knew one another by instinct. Their musk was heavy and so was their preternatural presences.
Before this night was over either Alaric or he would die. Victor was ending this one way or another
* * * ~~~ * * *
Mica waited for their return, pacing back and forth in the kitchen. Tonight she was supposed to join the battle, but now it was too dangerous for her to go. Again, she felt the anxiety of her choice. Victor meant everything to her but guilt washed over her again for the millionth time at the events that transpired and she’d been helpless to stop any of it.
The waiting was agonizing. The Valtor women were all at the hall, guarded by seven of Anna's best men as they guided the spirits to aid in the attack. Mica looked out the window for the hundredth time in the last hour. There was still no sign of them and Jenni looked up at her from the kitchen table.
"You know you need to relax. It’s not good for the baby.” She told her with a smile.
"I know, I can't help it." Mica told her as she sat down for only a second then stood and headed for the stove to put the kettle on for tea.
She’d only found out this morning that she was pregnant. Victor was tickled pink. Then Victor, Frank and Scott overruled her being part of the attack. Mica too, knew it would not be a good idea and told them that they were right.
"So if it's a boy, what are you going to name him?" Jenni asked, Mica could tell she was trying to take her mind off of everything else going on.
"Mike.” She told her with a smile.
"It's a good name. Victor likes it, I assume?"
"Well I never actually asked him about names yet. We only found out this morning."
"I'm sure he will be ecstatic with the idea of giving a boy his brother's name." Jenni said as she got up and made them both a cup of Chi tea.
Jenni had her own problems to worry about. Yet here she tried to make sure Mica was okay. It was the way Jenni had always been. Mica loved her for it and had to wonder if she’d ever let anyone else into her heart now that Jake was gone.
"They're here!" Jenni said snapping Mica to attention as a set of lights panned across the kitchen window. Mica heard the sounds of the vehicles as they pulled into the driveway.
They rushed to the door just as the men were exiting the truck. Mica ran to her mate. He was a tattered, beaten mess and she saw by the pained look in his eyes that they had indeed lost members.
"Are you all right?” She whispered as he limped towards the steps.
"I'll be fine.” He said unable to look at her in the face.
"How many did we lose?"
"Fifteen." Scott said as he walked from the passenger side and looked at her as she helped Victor.
Once they were in the kitchen Mica couldn't wait any longer she needed to know. "My father?" Mica asked, her voice trying not to quiver. Somehow she knew he was dead, but she needed to hear it from them.
Victor couldn't look at her; he turned and both he and Scott shared a look. Mica felt the tears; she fought desperately not to cry in front of them.
"He didn't suffer Mica. It was quick." Scott said his voice was low, and she felt her stomach lurk.
"Mica!" Jenni exclaimed as she fled to the bathroom making the toilet just in time.
"Oh god honey!" Jenni whispered. She knelt beside her on the bathroom floor and held Mica's hair out of the way as she gagged again then vomited more.
It hurt in a way that she’d felt only once before. The night her dad had ordered Victor killed and she’d thought him dead. The feeling of heartache consumed her. As she washed her face, her hot tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Mica you should come and lay down" Jenni told her and Mica looked up at her.
"No, I'll be okay. He was my father, but he had to be stopped.” She sobbed quietly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'll be okay.” She said as she stepped out of the bathroom on wobbly legs.
Victor stood there waiting for her. Tears rimmed his eyes and he still couldn't look her in the face. She knew it had been him who had killed her father just by the way he was acting.
"I love you Victor, please look at me” She said with a sob. She needed her mate, needed the comfort of his embrace.
"Mica, I...please!” He whispered. She crushed herself against him, wrapping her arms around him.
He hesitated for a moment before he wrapped his large strong arms around her. She let the tears run freely; she was not ashamed of her grief. Time would heal this hurting in her heart. Together, Victor and her would rebuild the Feral pack and they would grow as Mates. Soon the Alliance would fall; one by one the packs within the enemy would be dealt with. Most of them Shea had told them would have a change of heart after the Dickson pack fell. It would be the catalyst towards peace; it was at an unfortunate cost but a necessary one.
"I'm so sorry it had to happen this way." Victor whispered against her hair as he cradled her. She knew he meant it, and as they held each other tightly Lea let out a soft coo from her crib in the bedroom.
"Come on, our daughter wants to see her Daddy." Mica murmured as she wiped her tears away. This was her family and they needed her as much as she needed them.
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Lycan Wars- Revised Edition
The Lycan Wars- Revised Edition Page 26
