Actaeon Island (Deep South of Australia)
Ethan POV
Everything was dark as the feeling of free falling consumed us. It seemed like we were falling down a dark hole with nothing to grab on to. Alice's hands tightened around my neck as I made eye contact with Ryder. We knew what to expect but experiencing it was a different story, just as quickly there was a light forming underneath us growing brighter and brighter. With one last glance at each other he quickly reached into his coat pocket pulling out a spelled object one of many that belonged to the stealth team. Crushing it in his palm it activated and in the process slowing our descent. If we were to hit the ground at our current speed it would be dangerous to Alice and Emma. As a bust of energy surrounded us a bright light blinded us. The portal ended and we were now about ten feet above ocean sand and descending fast. Quickly we both braced for the fall and sand flew everywhere with our impact.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Alice coughed struggling to catch her breath as she must have inhaled some of the sand.
"You okay?" I questioned gently, I keep forgetting how vulnerable she was in this form, and it now seems like Emma is in the same boat.
She slowly nodded in response as I placed the ex-alpha alongside Emma. Then glancing back at Ryder to make sure the coast was clear I quickly moved Emma to lie on top of Jake, it was too cold, even the sand was freezing but he would be very warm since he was a wolf. I picked up Ryder's jacket he had placed under her and covered them both. She should be warm enough now. Glancing over to a shivering Alice I quickly shrugged off my own passing it to her which she quickly accepted with shaky hands, she must be really cold. Walking over to Ryder I questioned softly trying not to alarm Alice.
"You think they know we're here?" However judging from her eyes going wide I knew I wasn't soft enough.
"We passed through the barrier, Ambrose for sure would know." Ryder confirmed looking around as Alice struggled to her feet shifting into her angel must have taken a lot from her. Looking slightly panicked she questioned.
"Wait you said they. Whose they? I thought there was only Ambrose the one who council leader Demetrius mentioned before we jumped. Who else is here?" She questioned worried looking between Ryder and me for an answer however before I could response Ryder turned to her and spoke bluntly.
"Welcome to the Vulcan Clan of Dragon Shifters, the last remaining on earth."
Alice just continued staring at him blankly as the information flew over her head. I know what she was thinking. All the dragons died out not long after the war, how can they be alive?
Ryder turned towards the forest taking a few steps forward. Clearly he wasn't going to explain anything else to her, too preoccupied with making sure their surrounds were safe.
"It happened right after the mermaids disappeared from the surface world. The witches had sent Cain to eliminate the dragons since they sided with us, meanwhile Ambrose one of the few remaining light witches came to warn us. He had left the witch council to join us as an ally. Right before Ambrose's guardian angel abandoned earth he told him to help us protect Emma. The angel said she was humanity's salvation. We are to protect her at all cost, even at the lives of our council leaders, reason why they fought alongside us against Cain.
We needed a backup plan. If ever the witches were to come close enough we needed to make Emma disappear. That's were Ambrose got this idea. He proposed that the last of the Vulcan Clan live in hiding with him. They would create a safe haven, hidden from humans and the supernatural. Even though Ambrose was strong, Emma would also have a clan of dragon shifters protecting her. The leader of the dragon shifters Draco also agreed and for almost two hundred years they lived here in hiding, until now."
Alice stared at me with wide eyes and a gaping mouth in shock. She just couldn't believe all this. Just then Ryder came back walking up to us.
"You hear that?" Ryder questioned looking towards the forest with a concentrated look. Alice too turned trying to listen in for whatever was concerning Ryder but she heard nothing however as I focused I heard it. The flapping of wings and it was coming closer and closer.
"They are coming." Ryder confirmed as his eyes darted to the sky above the forest.
. . . .
Actaeon Island: The Vulcan Clan of Dragon Shifters
To the humans Actaeon Island was a nature reserve of the great Australia. On a hot day it was 14 Degrees or 57 Fahrenheit which was quite cold. Harsh winds and lessen hours of sunlight Actaeon was a great difference from the warm and sunny Tobago.
The supernaturals never thought much of the little speck but what they didn't know was that it has been the home of the very last clan of dragon shifters, the Vulcan Clan. Together with Ambrose one of the few light witches left, they had created a safe haven for the right hand.
A very powerful magical barrier surrounds the island. So powerful that it can even block out the witch council's magic hence the reason they have not been detected for almost two hundred years. No supernatural presence can be sensed from Actaeon island just in case any supernaturals got too near. It also cloaks them from the humans and stops any outside supernaturals from entering.
The barrier itself is extremely powerful, impossible for a normal witch like Ambrose and so it came at a price. In order to create something so powerful that even the witch council themselves couldn't sense it Ambrose used his life force. Joining himself with his magic the barrier was a part of him. If destroyed he would die too.
At the center of the island lay a fortress with high brick walls that wrapped around a castle. Though there was modern technology inside, the castle itself was built almost two hundred years ago by the dragons with wide walls and tall ceilings to accommodate an indoor shift. Ambrose also didn't have to worry about getting cold as after all dragons can breathe fire and he used his magic at times to keep warm. Hence despite the clan's high body temperate they always kept the castle warm for Ambrose. Something they would now also need to do for Alice and Emma.
Sighing loudly Ambrose reclined near the fireside with a cold shiver as a young maid brought his afternoon lemon tea. Setting it down on the coffee table she moved to the dying embers adding more wood before leaning forward and blowing on it. Fire escaped her mouth in a controlled manner rushing towards the wood. Standing up the young shifter left after re-lighting the fire.
Aged winkled hands reached for the tea cup as Ambrose started sipped his tea recalling the first time he saw Emma. She was just a child. It enraged him knowing the kind of pain and torture they put her through just for power. He made an oath to the werewolf council that when and if the time comes he will protect her even with his life. He wasn't alone in that sense, the leader of the dragons Draco did the same under the name of his clan. They have been waiting for almost two hundred years now but so far nothing. The clan leader now is Draco's son, Deacon who was still quite young at twenty five. Amborse however was quite aged and didn't have a chance at children. He would have to contact the council asking for another light witch to take over after him when the times comes however he couldn't shake the feeling that their wait will soon be over. He had left some of his blood with the council. He knew they would use a blood spell to teleport her here and his blood will allow them through the barrier since it was a part of him.
Just then Ambrose felt a slight pain at the back of his mind. Someone was trying to break a spell of his however as the pain increased drastically turning into a migraine in the matter of seconds he knew exactly what was happening. Someone was passing through the barrier, there was more than one , there's five of them. Just as quickly the pain stopped and he stood hurrying to Deacon's room yanking open the doors.
"The barrier has been breached, five persons just passed through!"
Deacon was lying in bed with a thick novel in hand. Upon Ambrose busting in, he set aside the novel sensing the urgency in the older man.
"You are sure they actually passed through?" Deacon questioned skeptical, after two hundred years of nothing he was beginning to think the wolves didn't need them anymore.
"No they just passed through in a matter of seconds effortlessly, it must be her. Anyone else would have died trying." Ambrose spoke firmly. He didn't like that Deacon doubted him.
Deacon now stood as his eyes clouded over. Dragons were similar to wolves in many ways. They had a higher body temperature, long life span and a pack/clan mind-link however they didn't have soul mates.
Suddenly ten of his strongest warriors were outside his room.
"Come in." Deacon commanded.
As they entered Ambrose hurried to put on a thick winter coat that Deacon handed him.
"The time has finally come. The hybrid is here along with others most likely her protectors. Let's go."
All twelve of them walked towards Deacon's open balcony doors. Clothes ripped as they shifted into their true form each of different shades and colors. The first five flew up as the other five shifted joining them too large to all shift at once. Deacon was last shifting into his pure black dragon before lowering himself so that Ambrose could climb onto his back. Reason why Ambrose put on the extra coat, it was cold enough with his old age but flying completely exposed was suicide. Deacon's scales were like an open flame under him, dragons were naturally hotter than werewolves.
"Let's go." Ambrose spoke before Deacon took flight followed by the others.
. . . .
Actaeon Island: Beachfront (Where they landed from the portal)
Alice continued to stare at the clear skies while wrapping her arms around herself. Despite Ethan's jacket it was still quite cold. Despite the beautiful beach and white sand, this place was cold, like really cold. The waves were rough as harsh cold winds blew all around her seeping straight into her bones. She once again glanced at the council members. They stood unbothered surely a result of their high body temperature. Just then her thoughts were interrupted by the flapping of wings and no, it didn't sound like birds. Whatever it was, it was massive and defiantly not alone also it was coming right at them. That must be what they were talking about.
After a few more seconds they came into view. Massive fierce beasts unlike anything she has ever seen came towards them. However as she took in the relaxed stance of both the council members she quickly realized that these creatures must be dragons, the same ones Ethan just explained. 'So that's what a dragon looked like, scary.' She thought.
The largest landed first and the others followed right after. Too shocked by the massive black beast before her she didn't notice the old fragile looking man that slide off its back until he started towards them after dropping a pair of shorts on the ground. Why would he drop pants on the beach? She thought confused but it was quickly cleared as right before her eyes the largest and what she assumed to be the leader started shifting back into his human form. She quickly looked away as rough muscular hands grabbed the clothes off the ground. Quickly slipping it on Deacon followed behind Ambrose, with his eight pack on display and the shorts ridding dangerously low on his hips.
"Welcome to Actaeon Island." The old man said looking at both Ryder and Ethan before looking at Alice. With a soft simile he continued.
"We have been waiting a long time for you." Me? Okay I think he is confused. No wait. He thinks I'm the right hand. Emma and Jake were a little distance away closer to the shore as we had walked closer to the forest so they must have not noticed them.
"Is this all of you? I sensed two more passed through the barrier."
Ryder chuckled before Ethan spoke slightly amused.
"She's not the right hand. She's over there." He pointed to the unconscious couple who were cuddled together with Emma's head on Jake's arm. If someone didn't know any better they would just think the lovers fell asleep on the sand.
"We can talk once we are inside the fortress it's too cold out here." Deacon interjected looking squarely at Alice who was still cold even though Ethan's floor length warrior jacket dwarfed her and even slightly trailed behind after all she was 5'2 while Ethan was 6'4. Both Ryder and Ethan then walked over to the couple. As Ryder noticed the lack of space between the two his right eye twitched in irritation. He shot a deathly glare in Ethan's direct, who pretended that the sand was suddenly very interesting. Rushing forward Ryder quickly scooped her up adjusting the jacket so that you can barely see her face as Ethan threw the ex-alpha over his shoulder before they both started walking back to Deacon.
Both Ambrose and Deacon along with all the other dragon warriors peeked at Ryder's little bundle in curiosity. Emma was already tiny but wrapped up as she were she looked even smaller and more vulnerable. Ryder's eyes flashed gold and his arms tighten pulling her closer to his chest. He didn't like all the attention she was getting from these males, it made both him and his wolf territorial. He purposely stopped behind Ethan using his body as a shield and blocking the little crowd's view of her before speaking loudly and slightly annoyed.
"Let's go."
. . . .
Tobago: Crescent Wolf Pack
Demetrius POV
The smell was suffocating and the smoke thicker than a forest fire. The three council members stood only a few away from the massive fire while using spells to control the blaze and smell. It was utterly disgusting, the smells of rotting flesh burning but they did well to not let it near the pack house sending it out into the ocean. The last of Ivan's team returned throwing the last remaining corpses into the blaze. Normally clean up was the stealth team's job but this time the council thought it best they dealt with these creatures personally before returning to HQ. Just then Mathew returned.
"It's done. I chained her with sliver and took all precautions. She is in your black hawk." He spoke while knelt to Demetrius.
"Okay go check on royal Lucas then help Ivan's team retrieve the rest of Lucas's team." Demetrius ordered.
"Yes council leader." Mathew spoke with his head bowed before hurrying off.
"Why are you even taking it back with us, you should just destroy it here. We have already kept two of the weakest in order to experiment but if something goes wrong we can't have it waking back up. It's too strong." Aries pleaded as Roderick supported him with a nod.
"Didn't you see the way Ryder reacted to her? Don't you find it weird? Aren't you curious why?" Demetrius questioned.
"Yes he did act quite weird, protecting the creature. Do you know why?" Roderick questioned.
"Yes, these creatures were once werewolves before they became what they are now. She in particular was Ryder's mate. That's why he never found her. She was already dead in a sense." Demetrius stated as two loud gasps were heard. Aries and Roderick looked back to Demetrius in shock.
"Mates?" Roderick questioned.
"Yes, that's why we are taking her back with us. Not for experimentation but to give her a proper send off, as a council warrior's mate. It's the least we can do for Ryder." Demetrius spoke sadly. It was regretful.
"Then we will need one hundred roses." Roderick spoke as the other two looked at him confused.
"It's something Ryder once told me. He wanted to give one hundred roses to his mate each a different color, his first gift to her simple but beautiful." Roderick continued regretfully.
"Okay we'll get it for her send off." Demetrius confirmed.
Just then Ivan returned. Demetrius had sent him deep within the forest to retrieve Cain's corpse. Cain was blasted with Alice's divine light. It was a special power that all angels had. The light will purify everything it touches nothing on this earth could have survive what Cain got. If not for that one blast things would have ended very differently.
"Council there's a problem." Ivan knelt speaking with a worried yet confused tone.
"What's wrong?" Demetrius questioned taking in his dirty filled appearance. Ivan must have had to dig Cain's corpse out of a crater, an angel's divine light was no joke.
"I... I didn't find him..." Ivan spoke defeated.
"What?" Roderick questioned not understanding, while Demetrius shared a meaningful glance with Aries. What they saw before during battle now made sense. Why Cain could join with his dark magic. On contra there was one evil the divine light couldn't fully purify, demons.
"Our theory was right. Cain is dealing with a demon." Aries spoke to Demetrius as Roderick looked on in shock and Ivan gasped loudly.
"How is that possible?" Roderick questioned.
"It is, if he knew where the gates of hell were." Demetrius spoke.
Just then Matthew returned looking just as defeated as Ivan was.
"There's a problem, two actually." He spoke quickly before continuing.
"We couldn't find them, Lucas's team is gone."
"What do you mean gone? Did the creatures kill them?" Aries questioned.
"No, they weren't killed but taken. Worst it's like they just disappeared into thin air, we can't track them."
Three sets of eyes went wide. Cain was missing and now Lucas's team. It didn't take much for them to connect the dots. Cain had taken them to create an even stronger army of those creatures.
"What the next problem?" Demetrius questioned.
"It's royal Lucas, he's gone too. However no one saw anything, it's almost like he left on his own." Mathew confirmed what the council had feared. It was indeed someone close all along. Lucas was the traitor.
. . . .
A/N: Congrats mikrikuklitsa18 guessing right!!
Sneak Peek: Things will start heating up soon with the love birds. Next chapter you will find out what's really up with Ryder's wolf also Ryder finds out Emma has a mate.
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