“They’re surrounding the estate. They’re coming from the woods,” Charity whispered but remained with her eyes closed and absorbed in the vision.
In the upper floor in a safe and secure area, Lexi’s children were being guarded. She stood there with them as the doors burst open and men reached for the children.
“Lexi’s boys are in danger. Go to them now!” she yelled as Luther and Dante ran toward the door. Maximus and Charity followed until Charity heard Lexi’s screams, and then she heard Antoinette’s. Storm and Davis were in the house. She immediately clenched Maximus’s hand.
“We need to move fast. Antoinette and the baby are in trouble.”
Growls filled the hallway as Venificus, McFay, and Crimson wolves fought against the invading enemies.
“Grab his hand!” Charity yelled to Luther and Dante. They did as she said, and she closed her eyes. They immediately disappeared and popped into the room where the children were being guarded.
* * * *
The moment they appeared in the room, the men realized they were caught in the battle. Saber, Andre, and Paul had shifted into wolf form. They were fighting against Devlon’s men. Charity watched a moment in shock as the fight began before her own eyes. She looked around the room spotting Lexi.
Charity ran toward Lexi and the boys.
“They’re okay. I was able to get to them in time. Feldman is tracking Devlon now,” Lexi stated as her sons cried.
“Where is Antoinette?” Charity asked.
“I don’t know. Why?”
The feeling of danger overwhelmed both Lexi and Charity.
“I need to get to her. Storm is going to kill the cubs.”
“Wait!” Lexi stated, but it was too late. Charity disappeared.
* * * *
Charity searched the house. She felt Antoinette’s presence, just as she felt her mates’ strength and power as they defeated the rogue weres. In the distance outside, she heard the roars of fighting and the victory of her mates’ soldiers. They were destroying Devlon’s men.
Outside of the house and through the woods, she sensed Antoinette and Storm. Immediately she appeared just a yard or so behind them. Storm was dragging Antoinette with him. His arm wrapped around her neck as his hand lay over her belly.
“No, please don’t hurt them. Please. I will go with you. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I am with you, Princess. Buy me time and I will make the move.”
Charity had sensed Dravo’s presence, and when she heard his voice in her mind, she was relieved. They needed to protect the cubs. She also sensed her mates. They were angry that she had gone off without them.
She called to them through her mind.
“Let her go, Storm. It’s over and you have lost.” Charity called to them. Antoinette’s eyes widened in shock, obviously at seeing Charity appear out of thin air, but also alone.
“I don’t think so, Princess.”
Storm pushed Antoinette down just as Davis the Wizard appeared along with Devlon.
They raised their hands, and immediately an invisible shield covered them and Charity.
Charity gasped in shock. She felt their evil power combined and nearly fell to her knees. She could see Antoinette on the ground and Dravo next to her. Their fear and uncertainty was apparent.
Charity attempted to control her breathing. She raised her shoulders and inhaled, noticing the difficulty she had doing such a simple thing.
It was silent where she stood. Now Storm and Davis just stared at her with evil smirks on their faces. Where did Devlon go?
“I am right here, my princess,” he whispered from directly behind her. She couldn’t move or turn from her position. She was literally frozen in place. But she felt every touch, every whip of breath against her neck as Devlon inhaled her scent.
His hands caressed her shoulders and arms. He pressed his body against her back as he whispered against her hair.
“You smell pure and intoxicating, my princess. You feel it, too. I know you do. I can sense your arousal and desire for more of me.” He continued to manipulate her thoughts. She noticed Storm and Davis raising their hands again and staring with such intensity toward her.
She remembered that day on the woods when Devlon first attempted to capture her and mate her.
“Ah, yes, that was a special day. I underestimated you then. These last six years have given me time to learn more about you and what will make you happy.”
She thought about her mates. She called to them and to the others to come to her.
He gripped her shoulders roughly. He pressed her down to the ground then shoved his knee between her shoulder blades, and leaned his face against her neck.
He inhaled against her neck. She sensed his rage at obviously smelling her mate’s scent all over her. He was too late, and she was confident that her mates would stop Devlon from claiming her.
“They can’t help you. They aren’t worthy or even half as powerful as I am.”
Charity felt the tingling sensation then the worrisome thoughts that perhaps she wasn’t strong enough to fight Devlon. Did he have the power to control minds? Was it Devlon that was sending her these negative thoughts to weaken her? She felt his hot breath against her neck. The bastard was not going to do this to her.
He chuckled next to her then wrapped his arms around her body.
“You can’t fight me, Princess. But you can join me. Won’t you come sit beside me on the throne and rule the world with me? I can’t wait to sink my teeth into your neck and taste every inch of your body while I come inside of you. My seed will fill your womb, and we will create a pack of future leaders, just you and I.”
Instantly she sensed her men, Lexi and her mates, as well as Feldman and Antoinette’s mates. Their troops followed suit behind them.
“Do not look to them. They are weak. With me is where you belong,” he stated firmly then licked her neck as he rubbed his pelvis against her back entrance.
* * * *
“Why can’t you destroy it? How can we get to her?” Luther demanded to know as he and his brothers prepared to shift. The power of the force field around their mate was like nothing they’d ever felt before. The closer they approached the more pain they felt.
Maximus growled and ran toward it, but Dravo and Feldman grabbed him to stop him.
His roar echoed through the woods. Maximus couldn’t stand around and do nothing to save his mate. She needed him and his brothers. They loved her and Maximus was determined to do his part and help to save the were packs. It was everything Charity had worked for all these years. She had been protecting the Venificus and the other packs to ensure a future for the weres. He stared at the force field, debating about attempting to run through it.
“You can’t. It will kill you instantly,” Feldman yelled.
Maximus stared at his mate as he caught his breath.
“How do we get to her? He’s touching her, and it’s driving my wolf insane,” he yelled. Now Dante and Luther stood beside him. They were partially shifting, growling, and moaning as they stood there helpless while another wolf, an evil wolf, touched their mate.
Feldman felt the wolves’ torment, but he also felt the power of the Princess.
“Antoinette, Lexi, come here please,” he ordered. Then he held Dravo’s gaze. Even the vampire’s eyes glowed with anger and fear for his princess. They were all connected to Charity. They needed to get together and be one in the fight to save the Princess and the world.
The women stood between Dravo and Feldman.
“We must try to destroy the force field. Devlon, along with Storm and Davis, is restraining her with their combined magic. We must use ours together to break the barrier.”
They nodded in agreement.
“Will it be safe?” Jacob asked with concern for his mate.
“Yes, you just said that touching the force field will instantly kill Maximus,” Paul added.
“Touching it, yes, but destroying it with good mag
ic, no.” Feldman replied.
They looked toward the circle and saw Charity fall to her knees in pain.
“She needs our power to fight the three of them. She will not survive if we don’t make the move now,” Feldman demanded.
Lexi grabbed Feldman’s hand. Dravo grabbed Lexi’s hand and then Antoinette’s hand.
They closed their eyes and focused on destroying the evil and penetrating the force field. Their efforts did not go unnoticed by Devlon.
* * * *
“They are trying to fight it. I can feel their power, but it is nothing compared to ours,” Devlon proclaimed with confidence as he pushed Charity’s sleeve up her arm and revealed her creamy wrist.
His teeth elongated as he growled. His hands turned into paws as his nails dug into her skin. He could smell her blood, so pure and magical. He drooled with anticipation of the taste. Once he sucked on her flesh and her blood moved into his body, the transformation would begin. He would gain her powers, her abilities to foresee the future, to fight any living creature and rule the world. He would know who his enemies were, all those who wanted to defeat him before they could even get the opportunity. Soon he would be the most powerful being. He would be the God.
* * * *
Charity felt the pain penetrate through her blood. Devlon, Davis, and Storm were so evil, so strong in their desire to rule and conquer, she nearly faltered. She couldn’t believe what the Goddess was doing to her. Why would she allow this? Why would she go so far as to let Charity suffer such pain?
Charity turned her head and saw her mates as well as her spirit sisters. They were holding hands with Feldman and Dravo. The realization hit her suddenly as flashbacks entered her mind. She remembered the first time they made love to her and the first time her mates bit into her shoulder, breaking her skin, absorbing her blood and marking her as their mate for eternity. Then she remembered the time in the office after they thought she had been taken and how upset they were with her. They possessed her body in every way. Their wolves demanded submission, and their love for her filtered through her blood. They filled her womb with their seed and impregnated her. She was sure of it. But then she recalled the moments during their love making when she felt dizzy and nearly blacked out. Charity saw what the Goddess had with help from Bethany, Maximus, Dante, and Luther already shared her powers. They were one. Just about every capability she had, they now had running through their veins. They just didn’t know it. Her eyes filled with tears of joy and immense love for her men and for their followers. She closed her eyes and sought their strength.
“We can do this. We can fight the evil together. You have the powers that I have. Join hands, my mates. All Alphas join hands with your mates and feel the power of good. Believe in all of our love combined.”
Charity felt the connections. She absorbed the love between Antoinette, Jacob, Luke, Troy, and Brad. She felt the love between Lexi, Saber, Andre, and Paul. She felt the love between herself, Maximus, Luther, and Dante, and of course the love and connection of Dravo and Feldman combined. There was a light of goodness from the spirits of wars past. The troops of Venificus, McFay, Crimson, and Kellmore, combined with smaller packs, emerged among the trees and through the forest walls. The force field was completely surrounded.
Charity chanted then felt herself gain some strength. She pulled her wrist from Devlon’s grasp.
She raised her other hand up, palm facing her spirit sisters, Feldman, and Dravo.
Their power began to penetrate the force field, and the Goddesses revealed the purpose of this moment. She was not alone in the battle against evil. She was the leader, the Chosen One, but one glance toward her mates, her spirit sisters, and friends and she knew she could succeed. Her confidence grew, and so did the combined powers of her and her friends.
“No!” Devlon roared as the force field exploded around them and both Storm and Davis fell backward onto the ground.
“This can’t be happening,” Devlon screamed in frustration as he shifted into a horrible-looking beast. His fangs dripped with drool, and he looked hideous.
“This is happening. You’ve lost Devlon. It’s over,” Charity stated firmly as her mates, her friends, and the army of soldiers walked closer. “You cannot escape, Devlon. Your time has come,” Charity chanted as she raised her hands.
“No! I will not lose.” He roared again as he raised his hands, and both Storm and Davis did the same.
Antoinette and Lexi took position beside Charity. Dravo, Feldman, and the men took position behind the women.
As Devlon, Storm, and Davis shot their hands forward with all their power, so did the women, as the battle to defend the world raged on.
The skies rumbled with thunder. Spirits of the Venificus, Crimson, McFay, and Kellmore gathered around them. Alphas, vampires, sorcerers, fey, and numerous other mythical creatures appeared in the sky, on the grounds, and beside the Spirit Sisters.
It was a moment of reckoning for Devlon. Charity offered him and his partners one final chance of redemption. In the distance the darkest gathering of souls howled and chanted in anticipation of their possible meal.
Devlon hadn’t a clue.
“Devlon, I offer you, Davis, and Storm one final opportunity to change your ways and to recede from the power of evil. This will be your final choice. Join us or suffer the consequences of your past and present actions. What choice do you make?” she asked as the wind blew stronger and the gusts shoved Charity’s hair forward then backward.
There were immense vibrations of pain and death that waited in the darkness behind Devlon and his partners.
“I will never stop hunting you. I will make you mine and destroy the unborn cubs growing in your womb.”
Charity glared at Devlon. “Your time has come. You’ve lost, and none of your threats mean a thing. You chose the wrong people to challenge. Admit your defeat,” Charity stated firmly.
“This is not happening. This is not over!” he roared as he lashed out at Charity. The men growled, but Charity smirked.
“You have lost, Devlon. Look around you. Feel the love and power we have as one against you. Love conquers all.”
With those final words, Devlon leaped toward Charity, only to be yanked back by invisible restraints.
Devlon, Storm, and Davis screamed in terror as they fell to the ground, where all of their power was sucked from their bodies. The black clouds of darkness appeared to touch down on the earth and swept the men up into their onyx-colored arms. They disappeared, and the sky turned bright. The abundant sunlight filtered through and surrounded them with warmth and happiness.
Everyone released their hands and hugged.
* * * *
“I love you,” Charity stated as her men embraced her, each taking a moment to kiss her thoroughly. To the side of them, her spirit sisters were embraced by their own mates and loved just as thoroughly as well.
Dravo and Feldman stood back, smiling, then waited for their turn to embrace their friends and share the moment of celebration.
Epilogue
The estate was buzzing with excitement as all the workers prepared for the party. It was another Venificus celebration. But this time all the packs gathered from every location around the world. The music played continuously throughout the day as everyone gathered around, celebrating life, unity, and the elimination of discrimination. Never in all time had so many different creatures and spirits filled one location. Never had there been such a peace and unity like there was now with the reign of the Chosen One along with Her Mates the Royal Venificus.
Charity looked out around the yard on the beautiful, warm spring day, appreciating all her friends and loved ones.
Wolves and lions, fey knights, cheetahs, dragons, and tiny fairies, never mind other mythical creatures, gathered around one another, as if this was how it had always been. There was no discrimination, no arguments of who was better than whom. Politically, socially, and morally, the world had become a better place with no room for evil or corru
ption. It was Utopia in its finest form.
Lexi’s three boys came running over to her. They rubbed Charity’s now very round belly and placed their cheeks against it. They listened as the babies kicked then kissed her belly before running off to chase some other young wolves from the packs.
Charity laughed.
“They are too much. I hope you don’t mind them doing that to you, Charity. No matter what Saber, Paul, and Andre tell them, they can’t seem to stop worrying and loving your babies,” Lexi stated.
“I don’t mind at all. I kind of get a kick out of it.” She chuckled as she rubbed her belly.
“I think the cubs do as well.”
They laughed some more.
“Who knows, maybe when they’re all grown up, they might fall in love with one of your cubs,” Antoinette teased as she attempted to adjust her position on the lounge chair. To Charity she looked awfully uncomfortable. She would have the babies by later today, but she just didn’t know it yet. Charity smiled.
“What?” Antoinette asked, trying to hide her discomfort.
“You don’t think it’s possible?” Lexi asked as she rubbed her own belly, knowing that she would have another set of cubs in another few months.
Charity locked gazes with her spirit sisters.
“It would be so wonderful if our packs merged one day. I love living here now and being around Dravo, Feldman, and the other pack members. With all the spirits around and the goodness, it’s heaven,” Antoinette replied.
Charity had been thrilled that they decided to move closer to the Venificus estate. They had become so close and looked to one another for support and friendship. Plus, each of their mates had merged their security business with Caliber and now dominated the world of security. Mostly their clients were human.
Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - Were Love Conquers All [Were Trilogy 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 22
