128

“I’m Alora Santo…Dennison. Daughter of Marina and Lord Varro. I know you can hear me, and I know that you’re aware that I’m your biological daughter. I am asking you to come to me and put an end to this stupid fight and mindless violence. These are my people and you harming them, harms me in ways you can never comprehend. Put down your hatred and come to the manor on the south side of the valley where I will be waiting out front for you. Please. If there is any kind of love for me as your child. We need to end this, and I have the wolf you are really looking for with me. I will not stop you from taking him, but I have a condition we need to discuss. I’m waiting.” I let go of the button when the last of my words fade out, fully shivering with the sudden high level of anxiety and nerves I invoked, yet strangely calm too. Contradictory but somehow a part of me feels like this may actually work. If he did all of this because of what I am, maybe he can stop it when he finally sees me.

“Do you though? Have Juan, I mean. Judging by the fact there are only three of you here…” Carmen tilts her head to me and nods at my scarce guard number. A flicker of serious doubt in that questioning look.

“Radar’s out there with Sierra and more of the Luna’s guard. If they haven’t subdued him then at least he’s in the open where Varro can pick him up himself. They’re all exposed to the frequency now so it shouldn’t be hard.” I snort a sudden flash of worry about Radar’s condition and Sierra’s safety, knowing that the longer they are out there, the weaker they get. My stomach in instant knots and I push it away, trying to focus on the here and now. I need to get out there to make sure Sierra stays alive.

“I recorded your message. Do you want me to repeat it every few minutes until they show up?” Carmen cuts in pulling me out of my own head. I guess she can sense the sudden doubt in me and her suggestion is smart for once.

“Hmmm.” I nod, absent minded for a second, pulling myself up to my feet and gesture for the guards to move first and let me out. “I can link you for now, but it seems the pack has lost that ability outside this house so we might too. Keep trying with the frequency, it’s disabling them slowly.” I pat her on the head with a light touch and move away, holding back the sudden urge to cry and swallow it down to put my fierce back in place. I feel like we’re losing control of this situation and cut off from Colton I somehow feel even more alone and vulnerable and uncertain about what to do. I wish I was as strong and capable as a Luna is meant to be but all I ever seem to be now is a useless lump who can’t do very much. My own wolf is not even useful and my gifts are limited due to pregnancy tiredness.

“Be careful out there. You may be Varro’s child but it doesn’t mean his creatures won’t take a pop at you. Remember how vulnerable you are right now. Don’t take risks.” Carmen scolds me with a soft tone but a serious glint in her eye and I can’t resist the sudden need to hug her. The girl has this knack for pulling out a need in me to show her affection when she’s being her bossy self.

Stepping back in an abrupt manner, I throw my arms around her neck from behind to semi strangle her with genuine love. All my emotions boiling up inside and I realize how desperately scared I am as I cling to the last one of my circle who gives me security. No meadow, no Colton, no Radar or the subs, no Sierra… and Carmen is needed here. My entire bubble is not going out there with me to face Lord Varro. I have to go it alone and stand on my own two feet to face someone that I am terrified of meeting.

“You’re getting weirder the longer I know you.” Carmen wriggles free from my embrace, her face screwed up with an ‘ewww’ expression, her energy warm even if her tone is harsh and I smile at the show of prickly from her. I have long learned that when she is being her most abrasive, it’s usually because she is at her most emotional. She likes me and my hug, even if she will never admit it. “You got this, Luna. Don’t disappoint me by going out there and making an idiot of yourself. I’ll pretend not to know you if you embarrass me.” A wry smile thrown my way which pulls a genuine one from me and I blink back the tears forming in my eyes, swallowing down all that turmoil. Loving this strange girl for all the cold and stiff she exudes.

“I can do this.” I say it aloud, more to myself than her because I truly have to believe it, and before I have any other doubts I turn on my heel and march out the door with my guards in tow. My head set on seeing this through and my purpose clear. I have to make Varro stop this before I lose my pack and maybe even my life if my mate falls out there. My hearts telling me Sierra is okay right now, Radar is there, and I just need a little time and space and for Varro to show up like I asked.

We make haste and within no time at all we are out in the cool night air, shadows dancing around under the moonlight and already wolves are fighting wolves. I can only see fast moving outlines and glowing eyes as a battle inches closer into the compound around me. I sense Sierra off to my left and turn to see her rolling around with Juan and Radar in a three-way fight and inhale sharply at the scene before me.

A gruesome and vicious battle of three, and it’s hard to tell which is which or who has the upper hand. Teeth gnashing, claws flying, and bodies joined. I instinctively step towards her and raise my hands and have to haul myself back again. Reeling inside and knowing my addition of gifts won’t do anything except hurt radar and Sierra too.

I’m tugged sideways by gentle teeth, knocked off my feet so I stumble in an awkward tumble and pulled into a circle of fur as my guards shield me. He stops me from falling and I’m supported against a strong solid body, I glimpse at what they saw as my night vision begins to kick in. My eyes scanning the scene before me as the true intensity of fear runs through me at a cold speed.

Vampires scaling the fences around us like a liquid flow of cascading movement, with wolves on their asses. The battle from afar has flooded this way and everywhere as far as the eye can see the dark ground is a flow of bodies and chaos, no space left clear as the invasion begins.

I press back against my guard, my body turning cold and my heart almost stops when faced with the true terror in my vision. Hundreds upon hundreds of these foul beings, swarming to the place I thought I could patiently await Varro.