Xander

'Done," Leila said opening her eyes.


We were some distance away from Antonio's border and Leila had masked our scent, buying us more time. We were already covered by the thick vegetations around but werewolves had heightened senses. It would be foolish to assume that they couldn't find us because we were not in sight.

'Ambushing the sorcerers will be risky. The chance of one of them alerting Antonio is high," I said. The thought occured to me on our way.

'We don't know if they are all together Alpha," Grey chimed looking around.


'True. You will check if Antonio is in his room, whether he's alone is of no importance. If he is, Leila will plunge the park into darkness and we'll begin."

I was aware that I should have gone over the plan with them before we left the pack but Sonia is still connected to Antonio and her loyalty to me is close to none existence. Hence, this event of planning next to the enemy's pack.


Reckless, yes. But, I was sure there was no eavesdropping. Hera would have alerted us about any hidden sorcerer.

'And if he's not in his room?" Regan asked.

'We all will sneak into the park and Leila will do her thing. Good old fashion ambush. That being said, this war isn't yours to fight, I don't want any of you dieing on me."

They all had grins on their faces, looking like Grey had infected all of them with his attitude.

As expected, Grey spoke 'Whatever you say Alpha."

Leila smiled and I snorted. It was amazing how every now and then the difference in how I was treated by both packs became so glaring in my mind.

'I'm serious. If you die, I'll get Hera and Leila to find a way to bring you back for some ass whooping."

'Yes Alpha," they chorused with smiles on their faces.

I caught Regan's eyes, he looked amazed and glad. He gave me a little nod and a small smile, he will love the pack. That was a given.

'Hera?" I called through the link.

'I'm here Alpha. Sonia and the man with her won't be a problem, we had a little chat."

Leila looked at me puzzled, 'which man?"

'We'll find out later."

Nodding, she focused on the link.

'We are heading into the pack."

I went over the plan with her as Grey disappeared into the thick bushes around us, beginning the action.

'Should I tail him?" Liam asked, staring at where Grey disappeared.

'No, it would make his attention divided. He has been here before, he'll be fine."

Nodding, Liam finally looked away and faced Leila. 'Leave some fun for us sis."

'I'm not a hoarder like you," she replied with an eye roll.

'I'm not a hoarder."

'What proof do you have?"

I watched the siblings banter with a fine smile on my face. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

‘This is a better reaction than what I was expecting,' Hala said making his presence known.

‘Yeah. I'm not sure if they are really this nonchalant about the whole affair or just putting up a farce for the benefit of the soldiers'

‘Me too. I can see Lea pacing, getting ready to create havoc."

My smile grew bigger as I watched my mate, I couldn't help it. Leila was so fucking brave and strong, it was just beautiful to watch.

I couldn't even detect that she was holding her wolf back, with a strong grip of I must add, by her facial expression. There was no clue at all on her face.

I will give you Antonio my love, I'll ensure that no one gets to him before you do.

Leila turned and sent a dazzling smile in my direction, I took it as a response to my thoughts. She could hear them.

'Alpha, I'm in. Antonio is not in his room, he's also not with the sorcerers. It's like he's not in the pack but the rigid behavior of his pack members tells me otherwise. Also, one sorcerer is also missing. Their leader."

****

Complete chaos.

The air was heavy with smoke, screams and pleading created a chorus that could only be heard during war.

Things had gone south the moment we entered the pack after Grey's message. There was no way we would have known that those sick sorcerers had already started controlling the minds of the pack members, turning them into mindless puppets.

A scream pulled me out of my thoughts. On reflex, I pulled out the heart of a wolf that thought ambushing me while screaming was a great idea.

The bond between Leila and I pulsed with positive energy. Leila was trying to calm me down, it was working.

We got separated a while ago in her darkness but I wasn't worried. All thanks to the mating bond.

'Any sign of Antonio?" I asked Grey through the bond.

'No Alpha, there's also no sign of the sorcerer."

Before Leila covered the pack in darkness, I had ordered Grey to look for Antonio using his scent.

'I found some sorcerers!" Regan announced.

Finally. We've killed enough innocent people.

'Those disgusting cowards, where are they?"

'Hiding underneath the throne room."

'Antonio has a throne room?" Leila asked.

'I'm sure it's supposed to be where decisions are made but there is a large gold chair here."

'The ego on that man," Liam spat, his voice filled with disgust.

'We're on the way."

Grey send a picture from his memories of the route to the room. Running swiftly, I skillfully evaded the attacks of Antonio's soldiers and also tried to not kill any of them.

Sure they were soldiers, that didn't make them innocent but the fact that they weren't in control of their minds at the moment didn't seat well with me at all. There was also the occasional normal pack member waving a sword at me with unfocused eyes and an unprotected body.

Those were the fucking innocent people.

I met Leila, Liam and Regan in the room, they stood close to a wooden hatch on the floor.

'The soldiers are keeping the enemies at bay. Damien is with them," Liam said.

'Let's kill them then."

'Hera?"

'I'm ready. I've already placed a protective shield in your minds."

I pulled the hatch open, revealing a stairs and golden light at the end.

There was also no reaction to my action.

With a nod at the others, I began my descend. Leila followed and Regan closed the hatch after he entered.

Whoever built this place had not only security but comfort in mind I thought, observing the soft rug that was under our feet.

I'm not sure they thought too deeply about security. The rug muffled any sound we were making.

Some distance down the well lit tunnel, voices were heard.

'I masked our scents before we entered, they won't see us coming," said Leila.

Hearing this, I pulled out my sword and drew a very willing Hala to the surface. I turned and saw the others in the same state, Lea watched me through Leila's eyes but her hands, they were glowing.

'Be careful."

With that, I ran forward. My sword sank into the neck of the closest sorcerer before any of them could realize what was happening.

I pulled out my sword and went for the next.

By the time they started defending themselves, bodies littered the floor and the rug was a darker shade of red.

'Wait! Wait!! I'll tell you anything you want to know!!!" The sorcerer in held screamed, his eyes on my drenched sword that was inches away from his throat.

'Where is Antonio?"

'I don't know…" I reduced the distance between his throat and my sword.

'I don't!! I swear on my wolf!! He only shares things like that with Ganymede!!"

'That must be the sorcerer he's comfortable with Alpha. The one that's missing," Grey said, 'Thank the goddess, I finally know the second person I'm looking for."

'You know what he looks like?"

'Yes Alpha."

Turns out this shrimp was good at something. Maybe I should leave him without limbs…

'Why?! Why can't I get into your mind?!!! What are…"

I silenced the fool with my sword.

Hala chuckled in my head, ‘Sympathy isn't for everyone.'

‘I agree.' I looked at the fool with disgust and dropped his body.

The other sorcerers were obviously stunned by their dead friend's words. One of them began to murmur.

'Kill them now."

'They're are beginning to cast spells," I said through the link.

There was only eight left. We took two each. I didn't want to know what the spell they were casting was for. There was no point in endangering ourselves like that.

The last sorcerer clutched onto me as I pulled out my sword. He coughed out blood and his grip got tighter.

'There is no cure…" more blood left his mouth.

'What does he mean?" Liam asked.

The sorcerer laughed, choking on his blood in the process. He fell to the ground, still laughing and died with a crazed smile on his face.

'Hera?"

'Alpha…"

I didn't like the silence after she called me. Something was wrong.

'Alpha…the control on the pack members isn't wearing of. It's supposed to wear off after they died…"

Leila's eyes widened.