Chapter 48

Chapter 48

“If I may, I would like to attend to my mate.” Layana spoke up after Elder Keenan took his leave. All eyes shifted to Layana whom they had forgotten was there for a moment.

“Absolutely Head Mistress Layana. Thank you again for your help today. You and the covens greatly aided in the victory of this war. I know Andrew is more than pleased that you did.” Alpha Johnathon said allowing her to take her leave also.

Kissing the side of Timber’s head, she closed her eyes briefly before they both looked up at Elder Petroff. Raising his eyebrow in question, Alpha Johnathon stared at him before Timber spoke.

“Elder Petroff. I. We cannot thank you enough for what you and your people did for the werewolves today.” She started with, smiling. Although Elder Petroff knew she was stalling on what she really wanted to say.

“Luna Timber. You and Alpha Johnathon owe me, or any of us anything. But your gratitude, accepted. We owe you a great deal of thanks for killing the corrupted King and Queen. Now that you are the next to be Queen with her death, I assume you plan on doing things… How should I say this? A little more peaceful and diplomatic than she did?” He spoke calmly, but with a hint of warning, soliciting a small growl to erupt from Johnathon’s chest.

“He is right, Johnathon, behave.” she spoke gingerly, smacking his chest playfully with the back of her hand.

“Now about that other little thing that happened today?” Timber questioned, giving him a little smirk.

“What little thing?” Alpha Johnathon said through gritted teeth as his eyes darkened thinking the Elder of the Faes was not appropriate with his mate during a species war.

‘Nothing like that my love. He was a perfect gentleman as he fought alongside me.’ she cooed through their mind-link in hopes to calm the beast within that gets so possessive of her.

“Yes. Well, maybe we should take a walk? Or go to your office for that… little chat.” Elder Petroff said, not wanting ears to accidentally listen in on this sensitive conversation he was about to have that is held dear to his people.

With a nod, Alpha Johnathon agreed. Touching his arm while his other arm was still snaked around Timber’s waist, he teleported all of them to his office. He was more curious to find out what had happened now that it was out there.

~~~~~

‘Layana, baby where are you?’ Andrew reached out through their mind-link.

‘Leaving the Alpha and Luna. Are you ok, love?’ She replied lovingly, as she walked towards their room in the pack house. ‘Where are you?’ she asked, not smelling his scent in their room.

‘I’m helping with the clean up at the Western Border. We finished the rogues already and are now getting our own to bring back with us for their departure celebration later tonight.’ Layana heard a sigh move across the link.

‘What’s wrong Andrew?’ She questioned, hearing something was off about his mood.

‘Layana, there are just so many bodies. Even if they are rogues, they weren’t at one time. They had families, children, mates.’ His compassion for life rushed through her mind, hitting her in waves.

‘We knew there would be casualties of war Andrew. Were there many that were friendlies?’ She inquired hoping their numbers were low.

She saw how fierce their warriors were. Not just from the werewolves, but the vampires and those from the Fae kingdom as well. She also knew that in any war, there would always be those that gave their lives fighting their loved ones and what they believed. Even if those beliefs were corrupted.

There were a few witches that had met their demise today that she knew of. Thankfully it was less than a handful. But the few that gave themselves over to death were still seen as heroes in her eyes.

‘Not as many as I would have thought on the Western Border. About fifteen maybe? But that still is fifteen too many, Layana.’ She could hear his erratic emotions filtering through him. His pain, sorrow and anger was great, even if he wouldn’t dare show it in front of others to see.

‘I’ll be back soon. I need to check on the covens and then, I’ll be waiting for you baby in our room when you are done. We can go to the celebration together. Please come back soon. I love you.’ She said, knowing he will need this time to mourn his friends and pack.

Thankfully the Western Border was not as far as the Northern Border. But it still took time to get back to the pack house from there. Thankfully Alpha Johnathon would transport Andrew and himself there and back.

Layana was hopeful he would do that again tonight. Even though she spent the night fighting with him at the Western Border, she still missed and craved his presence near her.

‘I love you too, beautiful mate. See you soon, love.’ he replied back, sending his love and desire for her through it. The feeling alone made the need to clench her legs together, as her core grew heavy at the sensation.

~~~~~

Alpha Johnathon sat in his chair with Timber sitting on his lap. He liked to keep her close, especially if there was an unmated male near. Elder Petroff sat across from them, hands folded neatly in his lap while sitting with his back straight. He was a proper gentleman from the outside perspective.

Smirking, Elder Petroff just sat there waiting for them to ask what was on their minds. Alpha Johnathon also sat there watching him intently. His elbow resting on the armrest as his chin rested on his fingers.

Timber looked between them waiting for someone to say something but neither of them would. It was like a pissing contest of dominance to see who was going to stare at the other the longest. Smiling friendly like she does, Timber cleared her throat before speaking.

“Elder Petroff.” she started hoping to get his eyes to break. But they never wavered, soliciting a slight eye roll on her part. “All supernaturals are aware of the Fae’s fierce fighting style.” starting with a compliment hoping she would gain his attention off her mate. He glanced her way, nodding his head for her to continue, which earned him a brighter smile from her.

“But what I witnessed in the late night hours was something uniquely surreal.” she said, hoping he would elaborate on what he knew she witnessed.

“Well you see Luna,” he started now looking at her attentively. “The Fae people, hide many of their… special talents, if you will. Some of those talents are only gifted to Elders, like myself. Others are family specific and are passed down from generation to generation.” Peaking Johnathon’s interest, releasing his resting position to one a little more straighter.

“And what exactly did you do that caused my mate to be so inquisitive?” Alpha Johnathon asked, now curious himself.

“Outside of my wings coming out, you mean?” Elder Petroff smirked when he saw shock flash over Alpha Johnathon’s face. It wasn’t there long, only, but a quick second, but it was seen.

“I thought Faes didn’t show their wings in their fullest anymore? Only fairies and sprites?” Alpha Johnathon questioned.

“Well, technically that is true Alpha. Although I do not flaunt my wings in front of… people, I do stretch them out from time to time, taking in a nice leisurely flight in the warm night air. This was an emergency situation however, in which I felt the great need to help protect and help your Luna.” Elder Petroff said calmly and nonchalantly.

“And what exactly did you feel was so threatening towards my mate that you were willing to spread your wings for? Not that I am ungrateful for stepping in to assist her, if that was indeed what she needed at the time, of course.” Alpha Johnathon inquired further as his eyes darkened thinking his mate was in danger and he was not there to protect her. Pulling her closer by the waist, he kissed her temple.

“The Lycan Queen Shamira. I was not aware that your mate had elemental gifts as powerful as she does, otherwise I may have stayed out of it and let her deal with Queen Shamira alone. I myself know the importance of having a mate and the need to protect them. So, I used one of my talents to call forth a blackhole that would suck any energy she released into it. However, what was done was done.” He stated calmly, moving his hand back and forth between the Alpha and his Luna when speaking about mates. The tone in his voice was matter-of-fact like, as of one discussing how to plant a crop of veggies, not someone explaining heroism.

“Well, I am grateful to you still for trying to protect my mate Elder Petroff. But? Where is your mate? Was she not here?” Alpha Johnathon questioned in curiosity as to why he had yet to meet her.

“My mate was killed some two hundred years ago, Alpha Johnathon. I have not been lucky enough to find someone as perfect as she was since then, like you have.” A sorrow was heard in his voice although his face stayed stoic as if it was nothing.

“I am sorry to hear that. Again, thank you for what you did for my Luna. I don’t think I would be able to control my beast as easily as you have seemed to if I had lost her. Losing my first mate, I thought I had lost my mind and soul, until the Mood Goddess blessed me with Timber.” Alpha Johnathon spoke with compassion for the Fae Elder. Squeezing Timber’s side as he spoke before kissing her with need.

“I was not always in this much control, Alpha. There was a period where I destroyed everything in my path because of it. But, I thank you for your words.”

Alpha Johnathon gave him a short smile and nodded, while Timber gave a sad weary smile at his words. She didn’t know what she would do if Johnathon died, but she also knew Bane would not be able to help him mourn her if she did. Bane would probably take over and go on a feral rampage killing everything and everyone in his sight before being taken down himself.

Remembering the day they found her when Kronin took her and how he looked. His eyes were large with grand dark circles around them like he hadn’t slept in days. His eyes dark, feral looking as if only the beast within had no life left.

When he looked at her the first time upon finding her… it was only then that his beast calmed enough to allow for life to come rushing back through his orbs. She never wanted to think of her mate, the love of her life being like that again.

“The celebration for the dead will be later tonight. Let’s help the borders cleaning up the aftermath from the war and bring our honorably fallen back here in time for it.” Alpha Johnathon said as he stood holding Timber close. Elder Petroff smiled, nodded and followed them out of the office.

“Oh! Where did the rest of your Kingdom come from? They were not there when the war broke out?” Alpha Johnathon asked as he stopped in the hallway looking over his shoulder to the Elder of the Faes.

“Oh that. Yes, well. I called them and they came.” was all he said and nothing more was said as they walked back outside to help clean up the aftermath from the war.