by V L Moon
Trenton's fury leeched from his skin and hung in the air, giving it a bitter aftertaste that coated Damian's tongue and throat. His wolf snarled, and it took Damian's superior level of self-discipline to control and calm his beast’s aggressive nature. He envisioned stroking down that long black pelt and burrowing his face into his wolf's neck.
“Soft, always so fucking soft. You’re like a great big puppy still suckling on his momma's tit.” Trenton's vile accusations had no effect on Damian because he had the one thing Trenton didn't.
Alexa.
With all of the bravado of her nature, the flame red wolf strutted around the bar and grabbed the bottle from Trenton's hand. “That'll be deducted from your dues, which by the way are short this month.”
Damian's eyes widened. He knew they had the money for Trenton. Why was Alexa goading him? Making him mad was one thing; messing with his money was sheer stupidity. Alexa knew better. It was the slight flicker of Alexa's eyes toward the back exit that told Damian what he needed to know. The sweet scent of the female wolf trickled over the surface of his tongue, teasing his wolf until it once again curled up into a ball and lay calm against his flesh.
The same couldn't be said for Trenton. Consumed by greed, his anger washed away his ability to assess his surroundings. Alexa was magnifying his rage to protect the female wolf. The bottle of Jack smashed to the floor as Trenton cursed. He snatched the brown envelope from Alexa's hand. Damian hoped the bastard would just turn and leave, but no such luck.
Grabbing Alexa by the arm, Trenton bowed her spine back as he tried to bite over her mouth. An act played out in wolf form to show dominance in the pack. Damian growled and an echoing growl resonated from behind him. He didn’t take time to look. Instead, he shoved at the calming effect on his wolf and vaulted over the bar. He went chest to chest against Trenton.
“Get your filthy mouth away from what's mine.” Damian's eyes flared, glowing with ferocity. His skin trembled from his wolf's need to tear and shred the bastard limb from limb. Trenton reared up, his features distorted by the rage burning inside of him. Blood smeared his mouth where he'd broken the skin on Alexa's face.
Damian couldn't bear it. The thought of another male being so disrespectful drove him and his wolf closer to the change. Damian wanted to take him right there; rip out his throat and watch as he bled out over the wooden floor of the bar. His wolf bayed, hungry for the taste of blood and flesh, but it was Alexa who rose to the challenge. The sound of her fist connecting with Trenton's face ricocheted around the room. Trenton lost his shit.
“You bitch! You dirty whore, fucking bitch, I'll so enjoy making you pay for that.”
That growl came again from the shadows. Alexa’s gaze flicked to the back of the club and then back to Trenton. She smiled; her calm exterior a solid wall against Trenton's volatile nature.
“I bet you'd like to think that; you’d like to make me pay just like you enjoyed making my mother pay when you paraded a new younger wolf in front of her. But, they paid, too, didn't they? The 'dirty whores' paid mercilessly at the hands of your anger. But, you can rest assured daddy dearest, this bitch bites back.”
“The next time you think to lay one fucking finger on me or what's mine, you best remember that and know this. I will be the one exacting revenge for what you did to my mother and every other female that’s been a victim to your hand or mouth.” Alexa spat, the blood from her face mixing with her own saliva to coat Trenton's face.
Damian waited, waited for the roof to lift from the evident anger boiling on Trenton's face. The alpha's fists clenched and unclenched as his anger rose, filling the air with a blanket of heat that made it difficult to breathe. The weight of his power hung there just above them, waiting to crash over them in a blistering bath of rage and dishonor for the complete and utter disrespect they held for who and what he was. Damian saw, in that second, that everything they were…the pack, their wolves, even his own blood…it all meant absolutely nothing to Trenton. He was a man consumed, ruled by power and money.
His power hung there momentarily like a threat, but the contemplation of what was in that brown envelope proved too much of a temptation. Trenton wavered, and with his hesitation, the threat dissipated. It trickled down from the air more like molasses than fear, and that was when Damian's wolf whispered in his head.
“We will take what's ours and rule. We will partake of that foul and rancid flesh and rip and tear it limb from limb for what he’s done to our family and pack.”
Trenton turned on his heels, spitting out blasphemous curses as he left. Damian and his wolf agreed. Trenton would be made to pay, and soon.
~*~*~
Chapter Thirty-One
~*~*~*~
Thunder Bay, Ontario
They had spent their day holed up in a hospital basement. While Copi enjoyed the smorgasbord of blood in the blood bank, Sage had attempted to explain the mechanics of the preternatural world. She had been grateful to grab some fresh air and stretch her legs after the sun set. Regardless of the reasons for her escape, Sage found herself feeling grateful for Copi’s company.
He listened. He absorbed Sage’s varied explanations of the vampire world; the existence of angels, both celestial and fallen, as well as the multitude of other beings roaming the Earth. To say he’d been overwhelmed was an understatement. However, as the sun started its decline toward the horizon, Copi had seemingly come to terms with the varied array of creatures that existed alongside the human race.
When she suggested a walk, he agreed to accompany her. If she was truthful, she felt safer with him there. His stoic presence and sheer size would give Khurn or anyone else cause to hesitate before attempting to attack. His scent alone would have most wolves running for the hills with their yellow belly tails tucked well between their legs. It was the safest she’d felt in a long time, and to cement the fact, Copi’s hand at her back offered Sage the strength she needed to get off her ass and scout out the bay in the hopes of finding a boat.
“If I can secure a safe passage to one of the islands on the lake, the water should help keep me hidden and throw Khurn off my scent.” They walked side by side, ignoring the startled looks from the locals still milling around.
“We’d make one hell of a hot couple, if I wasn’t gay and totally in love with my partner.” Copi laughed. “Odd, given you’re so damn little.”
Sage’s laughter bubbled to the surface. It had been a long time since she’d had reason to laugh. The concept felt almost alien to her. With a swift dig in his ribs and a quick smile, Sage pushed Copi along the street leading up toward the water’s edge. “Just walk, you goof. You’ll only make them stare more by making me laugh.”
The sudden surge of power and the array of different scents caused Sage to balk. She staggered back into the shadows dragging Copi with her. His large hands gripped her small frame, righting her before she could fall.
“Do you smell that? God! So much power. It has to be an alpha,” Sage whispered. “We have to leave. Now. If we’re caught crossing another pack’s territory, it could get really nasty, really fast.” She grabbed Copi’s hand to guide him through the back streets of Thunder Bay.
“You do know I’m probably older than you and more than able to cross the road on my own. Right?” Copi chuckled and let Sage lead him regardless of his jest. With the bay in sight, Sage edged her way closer.
Power heightened her senses and with it, her fear of being caught. Her earlier shift into wolf form had helped to heal some of her minor injuries. However, there was still something pulling at her insides, making her bleed. Not to mention, her leg would take a much longer stint in her wolf form before it healed to the point where she didn’t limp.
Sweat peppered her brow. With Copi beside her, she’d grown careless in her observations. Especially when every corner, every dark alley and shadowed doorway could hide a potential threat. She knew in her heart that Khurn wouldn’t let her go. He’d meant it when he’d said he’d hunt her to the ends of the
Earth and make her suffer if she ever dared to leave. A shiver of fear ran through her body, seeping in her bones.
“Easy there; you’re safe. I promise. I won’t let anyone hurt you, Sage, but you need to breathe. You’re projecting. Even a novice like me can taste your fear,” Copi whispered and gripped her arms. Sage hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath. She hated feeling so vulnerable. She missed her family so much. She missed their strength, the love they shared and the way her Uncle Jorn ruled as alpha and Summus. Most of all, she missed Tobias.
His smile and wicked sense of humor really lifted her up through the pack’s darker times. She wanted to go home, would have if it hadn’t been for the attack on her family’s pack. They had enough to worry about; they didn’t need her adding to their troubles. Plus, Sage had the sickening feeling Khurn had somehow been involved. How could she face them? She couldn’t. That’s why she’d run.
A different energy made her skin prickle, like ants crawling over her flesh. It coated her tongue; its erotic scent was a unique blend of earth and spice. The heady mix enticed her senses. Darting between alleys on either side of the road, Sage watched two wolves tie off their boat and make their way in the opposite direction. Her eyes cut between their retreating forms and the boat bobbing gently in the small jetty. If she could just get the thing running, she’d be home free. But, she’d promised Copi she’d call in a favor and get him to Rome. She couldn’t just leave him there.
Come on little wolf. A she wolf’s voice whispered through her mind.
“Did you hear that?” Copi snarled behind her.
“It’s a trap; it has to be. No wolf likes others wandering through their territory. We’ll wait and then trek through the woods. We can try to find a phone on the other side of city. After I’ve set you up with Tobias, I’ll have to leave. Will you be alright?” Sage was genuinely concerned for the hybrid. His story had been just as traumatic as hers, only he was new to the supernatural world.
“I’m more worried about you. How are you going to get across that lake? Sage, it’s just as dangerous for you. What will you do?” Copi questioned her as they changed direction and skirted up and around the back of the buildings to walk along the shore of Lake Superior.
“I’ll wait until I know it’s safe and then take one of the boats. There are islands on the lake. I’ll be okay; I’ll have the advantage of being able to see if anyone tries to approach. I just need some real time in my wolf form to hunt, heal and sleep. A few days, a week at the most. Hopefully, the lake will throw off my scent. It’s the only chance I have.”
“Come with me. I’m sure my scent would throw off most wolves. Let me help you. Ask your cousin to help us both get to Rome. Surely, whoever you’re running from won’t track you there,” Copi pressed. Sage could tell the male was genuinely concerned.
“They’ll find me. Khurn won’t rest until he does,” Sage replied, looking down at the pebbled shoreline. “And then, he’ll kill me, or make the others do it for him.” Tears mingled with the cold to sting her eyes. Maybe going to Rome with Copi would be better, but then Tobias would feel indebted to protect her and call in Jorn. There was already too much going on within the packs to add more to the mix.
Confused and fearing the worst, Sage drifted along the shore, following the faint sound of music. Beside her, Copi stilled. His eyes glowed and his fangs glinted as they slid down over his bottom lip.
Sage raised her nose to drink in the air. She whined as a wave of fury and power slammed into her, knocking her off of her feet. She couldn’t breathe. The noxious tide of anger drifted on the breeze, filling Sage with a sense of utter dread. She’d thought the two wolves they had encountered earlier were powerful, but this wolf. God, the rage. It sent Sage’s wolf cowering into the deepest depths of her mind.
“Hold tight, little wolf,” Copi snarled and gently eased her into his arms. The world passed her by in a blur as Copi used his speed to put distance between them and the toxic swell of energy that had threatened to engulf them.
“What the fuck was that?” Copi paced, turning the ground beneath his feet into a runway of mud and slush. Sage stayed silent, sniffing the air to ensure no one had trailed them. The valley surrounding them was edged by a sheer drop with only one route in and out. When no other scent reached her, Sage wilted and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. She was scared.
“I’ve never felt anything like it. My Uncle Jorn is an alpha, a Summus. He’s the head honcho with regards to the wolves. I’ve lived with him for years. In all of that time, I never felt power like that, and he’s the strongest wolf there is. Whatever that was down there; it was wrong. The power, the violence and such cruelty.”
Sage sagged, sliding onto the snowy ground. She felt drained, as though being within the unknown alpha’s grip had left her unable to shift. A sense of great sadness filled her heart. Silent mournful howls drifted through her mind. They reached out for the Omega to calm their sorrows and ease their pain. So many, too many.
The despondency and grief were so vast they drew forth her wolf and sent her tumbling into a pit of utter despair. As an Omega, it was Sage’s duty to calm and appease her pack members during times of conflict, grief and pain. Her abilities were unique. Omegas were a rare breed, cherished and highly prized members of their pack. She needed to help, needed to contact the Summus and inform him that something was desperately wrong with one of the northern packs, but she couldn’t muster the strength. The peculiar sense of her energy being drawn from within her made Sage tremble in fear. She reached out to Copi, grasped the strange coolness of his hand as a ripple of pain made her insides clench.
“We need to get away from here. The wolves from earlier, the female…the keys to the boat are in her purse.” Sage staggered to her feet, her vision wavered as did the ground beneath her feet.
“Easy there, little wolf. You look beat. You need to see a doctor and get some rest. There’s something you’re not telling me. Exactly how bad are your injuries? What happened to make you run? It had to be bad for you to risk so much. I can sense your pain.”
Sage could tell Copi meant well, his honest concern for her was welcomed, but it did nothing to get them out of their fucked up situation. “No doctors. I told you; I’ll be fine once I get across the lake. But, I need those keys. I need to leave here; something’s not right.” Sage folded in on herself as her wolf cowered inside her mind. Uncle Jorn, please help me. Tobias. Please. Her mental call for help drifted through her thoughts.
“Don’t worry, little female. Sleep. I’ll be back with the keys,” Copi whispered. Sage was too tired to answer. Her eyes grew heavy as her body slipped into the realms of sleep.
~*~*~*~
Chapter Thirty-Two
~*~*~*~
Rome, Italy
Hidden beneath the blessed hall of St. Peter’s Basilica, a small stone plateau paved the way into a private crypt. The holy pontiff prayed over the ornately engraved shrine dedicated to the interment of Clariel’s and Celix’s bodies. The gloomy exterior portrayed the solemn mood of those in attendance.
Sadness permeated the air. The mantle of grief and loss weighed down upon Laziel’s shoulders as he gently wrapped Clariel’s slight frame within the arms of his beloved Celix. He joined them together in death as they’d been together in life. Celix’s wings encompassed them, ready for their final journey where they’d find eternal rest within the Creator’s heavenly embrace. A scattering of pearls littered Celix’s wings. Celestial tears; Laziel’s tears. Given unabashed, they bore the weight of his guilt as he brushed a finger over still features and whispered his last goodbye.
Cool fingers brushed at his tears. Warm, familiar lips traced their path. Lachi’s hand slipped around his waist to lead Laziel away from the casket. Arial and then Bastian moved forward to pay their own emotional and final farewells.
“I’ve got you, angel,” Lachi whispered against his skin and held Laziel tight, pulling him in that little bit closer.
“Pro
mise?”
“I promise. Always,” Lachi replied and took Laziel’s hand firmly in his own.
“They were so young. Too young. This war will result in much of the same before it reaches its end.”
Lachi growled earning a compassionate look from Gregori who silently blessed the deceased with holy water and whispered words of passing from the scriptures in his hand.
~*~*~*~
Sadness and grief shrouded the small room where the two Nephilim were being laid to rest. A year prior, Malachi would not have believed he would stand at the funeral of fallen Nephilim and vow vengeance on their killers. But, even he had recognized Clariel’s purity in the midst of his battle rage. He’d saved a life, given shelter to an enemy and the Lord of Hell had defiled his home and killed the innocent soul he’d offered protection.
The growl interrupted Gregori’s soft incantations. The human pope lifted his gaze once again to meet Malachi’s blood red stare. “Would you like to speak?” Malachi gave one negative twist of his head. A sharp jerky motion that belied the seething fury inside.
When the pontiff continued his prayers, Malachi turned his gaze to the two males facing the casket. Bastian and Arial stood as silent sentinels to the tragic lovers lain out before them. Their anguish clogged Malachi’s nose.
