Chapter 30: A different kinda love and welcome change.

Chapter 30

It was chaos.

Wolves transforming, shots firing, enemies and allies going down all around us, shouts and screams filling the air and yet we continued. Determined to win this small battle; fully prepared to die for the ones we loved.

I darted across the compound, dodging fallen bodies and oncoming enemies, jumping over discarded weapons and sidestepping men engaging in hand to hand combat. I had one thought on my mind.

Get to Adrian.

I could see him lying unmoving on the concrete flooring not far up ahead and I was frantic to be by his side. It had been almost ten minutes since he went down and I had yet to ascertain what had happened. Five feet away I was tackled to the ground by an assailant and we went rolling on the concrete surface until we came to a stop with me pinned beneath him.

I watched in horror as he raised his weapon; a very sharp object that was a mix between a dagger and a machete and for a second I thought it was all over, but just before he could do the damage his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed atop me.

His weight almost suffocating. I felt the warm trickle of what could only be his blood, running down my neck and I pushed him off my body and jumped up from the ground.

I didn’t even spare him a glance as my eyes refocused on my fallen lover. I ran to him, almost tripping over my own feet in my haste and dropped to my knees by his side. I saw no blood at first glance and so I rolled him over to continue my inspection. The first thing I noticed was the tranquilizer dart firmly planted in his chest. His pulse was weak which I assumed had to do with the fact that hit so close to his heart.

I pulled it out; managing to catch a glimpse of the initials on the offending object before I discarded it and pulled his head into my lap.

“Adrian.” I called, slapping his cheeks lightly in an attempt to rouse him.

“Babe come on, wake up.” I tried again.

No response.

A body went down beside us, felled by a bullet to the gut and I turned my attention back to Adrian. If we stayed here, right in the middle of the battlefield we quite possibly wouldn’t live to tell the tale and so as quickly as I could, I pushed up from the ground, tucked my hands under his arms and pulled, desperately trying to get him out of harm’s way.

“Victoria, let her go!” I heard the shout when I was halfway across the compound with Adrian and wouldn’t have stopped moving if it hadn’t been for the heart stopping terror I heard in that shout.

I spotted Carson first, not too far from where I was standing. He stood frozen, arm raised as if to ward someone off and I followed his gaze to where Victoria stood; a knife held to the child’s neck.

Stephanie; Jessie had called her.

“Holy Fuck.” The words fell from my mouth as I took in the scene.

The woman was actually going to do this. She’d hurt an innocent child.

“Call off your men or she’s dead!” Victoria screamed at him and I dropped to the ground once again, checking Adrian’s pulse and pulling his lap into my head.

There was no doubt what would happen now. Carson had to save that child’s life and with no real opening to take out Victoria without risking the child’s life, he would call off the others.

“Come on babe, wake up.” I pleaded with Adrian who I was sure couldn’t hear me even if he wanted to.

I ran my fingers through his hair, over his brow and to his cheek. He looked as if he were only sleeping. If shit hit the fan and we had to make a run for it, there was no way we’d get Adrian out, which meant that if we somehow got that opportunity, Adrian and I would be staying here…certainly not the way I had imagined dying.

By now a few people around us had ceased fighting, watching Victoria as she stood there with the child. Further away however, the fighting and the killing still continued and I suppose it would not cease until the others also caught wind of what was going on.

“What’re you doing?” someone I recognized as a member of her own pack asked in surprise and my eyes widened, as did Victoria’s.

“How dare you question me and who told you to stop fighting? Take them down!” she bellowed and it was an interesting sight when a member of a pack disobeyed their Alpha.

Of the small group of people who stood there, only three of them did as she ordered and I ducked out of the way when what looked like a sharpened piece of wood came plowing through the air toward me from across the courtyard.

I had to strain to hear what was being said, while glancing down occasionally at Adrian to see if he’d finally awakened.

“You said this would be a battle of reprisal. To take down the pack responsible for your father’s death, but the longer this goes on, the more innocents I see being dragged into this. This isn’t what I signed up for.” The guy continued and I was surprised to see a few more nodding.

“Do you know what it means to stand against your Alpha?” she asked, her anger seemed to know no bounds and I could practically see the guy’s fear. What was interesting though, was that he didn’t back down and neither did the others.

“We will fight with you Alpha. You are our leader and of course we swear allegiance to you but she is a child.” A woman of Victoria’s pack was saying. I looked down at Adrian, then across the compound, making sure to commit to mind all the possible exists. That’s when I spotted Grady; stuck in pretty much the same position as I was. He knelt by Thomas’ side, clutching at his mate’s hand while they spoke.

Thomas looked even worse that he did only minutes earlier and my mind began turning with all the possible ways we could escape. Thomas needed medical attention ASAP. It was when I glanced at the person stooping beside Grady that I realized where our aid had come from.

That girl was a member of Marcana’s pack which meant she’d managed to send out a few of her troops after all. I found it strange that she would send out a group so young and they all were.

When I’d seen them earlier I’d been surprised to see that we were being aided by what looked to be young adults, closer to teenagers by the looks of it, but they were experienced in combat which is what we needed. I’d never known Marcana to be so daring but if I ever made it out of this alive I’d make it my duty to make sure she knew how much I appreciated it.

“Grady!” I called across the compound, hoping he could somehow hear me above the sounds of battle.

“Grady!” I tried again

And again.

And once more. I couldn’t very well leave Adrian here to get to Grady. I looked around desperately for a way to get my message across but upon seeing no such medium, I shouted again.

He finally heard me on the third shout and his head snapped to my direction. Eyes wide with surprise and worry.

“Get him out of here!” I screamed to him, throwing my hands this way and that to get him to understand what I was saying.

I pointed to Thomas and then to the only exit that was still unblocked and tried to relay the message again.

“Get him out!”

The girl at his side was the one to pick up on what I was saying and I watched as she grabbed Grady’s arm, screamed something at him, then they both tried to help Thomas up. It didn’t look like a particularly easy task and I winced when Thomas fell to the ground once more, unable to support his own weight.

I looked down at Adrian torn between helping my friend and staying with my lover. I watched with a heavy heart as Grady and the girl knelt by Thomas’s side once more. This time something told me he wouldn’t be getting up again. If I didn’t offer them my help Thomas might not make it but if I left Adrian lying there he would be an easy target.

I sent up a silent prayer to anyone who cared to listen and turned my attention back on Adrian’s unconscious form. I’d come to rescue him and there was no way I’d be leaving him at risk. Not even for Thomas.

It hurt me to make that decision but that was it. Carson and even more members of Victoria’s pack were gathered around her, watching  the scene while the battle went on around them and I jumped up from the ground again and proceeded to pull Adrian across to the small space between the two buildings; smaller than an alley but bigger than a gap.

It was just as I was about to prop his head onto my lap once more that someone chose to attack. The woman’s crazy battle cry had my heart pounding triple the usual rate in my chest as I turned swiftly to face her. She was nimble, shifting towards and away from me as she threw her punches and I wondered briefly why she didn’t just shift and finish the job.

I wasn’t in the best state; having fought more than my fair share before I’d managed to get to Adrian’s side. I was almost beyond exhausted so if she shifted, I didn’t stand a chance and I didn’t have the energy it would take to shift either.

I jumped back, away from her angry blows and she stumbled forward, allowing me the opportunity to grab her outstretched arm and twist until she screamed out under the pressure. She was still fighting me.

Even while I held her arm, twisting and turning, she tried kicking out at me with her right leg. She caught my shin and I stumbled taking her with me and this time as I continued to twist her arm I heard a sickening snap just before she was screaming in agony.

I dropped the now lifeless arm and watched as she fell to the ground writhing in pain.

“We accepted you as our leader out of respect for what your father once was, but this is nothing but a coward’s battle.”

“You can’t hurt the child!”

“You said you wanted those responsible for his death, what did she do to you?”

“Please Alpha, let her go!”

“Victoria, this has gone too far. Your father attacked my pack, I had no choice but to retaliate.”

As I looked, more and more of her pack were gathering around, forgetting the war to watch the spectacle.

“You can’t question me, I’m the Alpha!”

“A pack cannot be expected to follow a leader who doesn’t put their interests first. This is more than revenge, you only want power!”

“You’ve allowed our men to go out there and die for nothing, let the child go!”

“That’s it, you’re all out of line and you’ll all be punished for your insolence!”

I stood there feeling utterly exhausted and just sick of it all. Around me I watched men and women go down. I saw men running with deadly weapons, wolves tearing at human flesh and fists flying. I heard the endless screams of pain and terror, the firing of shots and the growling of the fierce beasts.

This was chaos and it was time it all ended. With a quick glance back at Adrian, I darted across the compound to where a discarded weapon lay tempting in the soil and scooped it up, dropping to the ground and rolling when I had to in order to avoid any incoming projectiles. Then when I was where I needed to be, I pointed the gun and pulled back the hammer.

This needed to end now, too many good people had lost their lives because of one girl’s foolish desire for revenge. Too many men and women fought for a lost cause in her father’s name and an innocent child was not about to die by her wicked hands. I aimed carefully, my focus intent and my mind filled with only one thought; don’t miss.

And I wouldn’t have if not for what happened next.

I watched in horror as a man broke away from the rest of the group. I’d never really believed it when someone said ‘it was like something was happening in slow motion’ until I experienced it for myself.

I saw him breaking away from the others and I watched him somehow make his way to her side without anyone giving any indication of his actions but it was as if I was frozen watching it take place. I found myself lowering my weapon as I watched the man reach around her and snap her neck. Just like that the threat was over. Just like that the child was free.

The man lowered her body gently to the ground and turned to the group. It was as if the others who continued fighting felt their Alpha’s passing because gradually the fighting slowed, then eventually ceased all together. Before long the courtyard was silent as we all watched the man standing beside Victoria’s lifeless body.

A member of her own pack had ended her life. The silence that descended was as a result of what it all meant. An Alpha’s defeat meant that a new Alpha had now emerged. Victoria’s killer; provided he wasn’t challenged had in just one second of anger become the new leader of the pack and I wondered fearfully what his next move would be.

I didn’t think I had it in me to fight for much longer. If he commanded the others to continue the battle I would fail Adrian and all this would have been for nothing. I let out a breath, my heart pounding and I glanced over to where Adrian still lay unmoving, then my eyes went to Thomas and Grady who were so focused on each other that I didn’t think they realized what had just happened.

Carson didn’t look particularly shocked by the change in circumstances but I saw his eyes narrow as he watched the new Alpha. It was the most nerve-wracking moment of my life but when the man began to speak I found myself gradually relaxing.

“Victoria has fallen. We cannot accept the leadership of someone who would risk her pack for foolish gains. An Alpha should be someone every member of the pack can look up to, someone we can all trust to do right by us and someone we would feel proud to have be a voice for us all, not someone who would hurt an innocent child or submit us all to punishment simply to prove a point." he went on.

"I came here today to aid my Alpha as every member should be loyal enough to do, but she let me down, she let us all down, but if you’ll have me I’d like to change that. It’s time this pack is led by someone we choose, not someone who feels as if they are entitled.”

The cheers that went up were an indication of the loyalty these people had for Victoria. She had fallen and they had gladly received another as their leader without much thought.

“On behalf of my pack, I apologize to your pack for what happened here today. We were led blindly into battle but that was no excuse for not having the nerve to stand up for our own beliefs.” The new Alpha addressed Carson who nodded but still looked at him with distrust.

“Thank you, but in light of the present situation I would like to request aid for my men. Many of them have been hurt. We’d also appreciate transportation for our fallen comrades so we may bury them with dignity on our own soil.” Carson sounded like he always did; an alpha in charge and it was a relief to hear his words.

It was too easy. One minute we were in full on battle with the enemy and the next we were negotiating transportation? It was too easy but anything to get us out of this place was welcome.

When the new Alpha gave his assent, I was already making my way over to Adrian, loading him onto a stretcher and sending him off in a vehicle with a few of the others who were hurt. Then I went to give aid to Thomas who had finally fallen unconscious with a worried Grady still attached to his side.

Lives lost, a battle undecided, people left with grief and many injured and for what? I ran my hand through Thomas’ hair then patted his cheek before closing the door of the vehicle. Then I looked around the compound at everything that was left to be done.

There really were no winners in war.

……………………………………………

“I didn’t mean to shoot him, I was aiming for Victoria.”

“I told you he didn’t deserve a weapon. If it had been a gun Adrian would have been dead and then where would we be?” Rivers called from across the room.

“If I’d had a gun I would’ve nailed her. The trigger on that thing was sticking.” Grady supplied and I rolled my eyes.

“I know him better than he knows himself and I would never give him a weapon; not even to save his own life.” Thomas spoke up from where he lay on the cot and we all laughed.

Grady blushed scarlet then glared at his partner in annoyance.

“I just can’t believe you guys defied Marcana to come help us. What’d you think she’ll do when you get back?” Laken questioned Kat; who was apparently a good friend of theirs from Marcana’s pack.

“She’ll probably just give us some pack service or something; you know Marcana; she’s got a soft spot for everybody. Plus we didn’t lose anyone so there’s not much for her to lecture about.” The girl in question shrugged.

“You guys must be pretty good in combat if you managed not to suffer any casualties out there today.” Adrian said then, pushing up from his own cot without difficulty.

“Yeah well our pack puts a lot of emphasis on defense. We all grew up with that as our main objective so it wasn’t a big deal.”

The pack horn sounded just then and we all looked toward the door. It was time for Jessop’s trial.

“I better go.” Laken said then and it wasn’t long before the others trailed out behind them leaving Marcus, Rivers, Thomas, Grady and Adrian.

“I don’t think I can stand to witness another trial.” Rivers commented from his spot across the room. “Why couldn’t they just put it off till tomorrow? We just came back from battle.” He continued in annoyance and though I said nothing I had to agree.

I was beyond exhausted, there was no way I was about to go stand and watch a trial.

“The families of the deceased are calling for an instant hearing and really, can you blame them? Jessop played a huge role in all this. If he hadn’t divulged pack secrets and given aid to Victoria we probably wouldn’t have been in this mess.” Thomas spoke, then I watched as he pushed up from his cot, his face contorting with pain. Grady was right there with him; a hand on his good arm for support.

“I’m expected to be there.” Was all he said and with a shrug Grady followed him out of the room and to the courtyard.

“It was too easy the way we won today. I feel like there’s only a matter of time before everything blows up in our faces again. Three raids already since I’ve been born into this damn camp. I just wanna leave.” Rivers spoke again. He looked miserable.

“We’ll leave whenever you want, just say the word.” Marcus said softly and when Rivers shifted in his lap and rested his head against Marcus’ chest with a sigh I felt as if I was intruding on their intimate moment.

I turned to Adrian and found him watching me and I offered him a small smile. “How’re you feeling?” I asked him, reaching up to push the hair out of his face. When he grabbed my hand and held it I felt something melt in my heart.

I swallowed, looked down at our joint hands then back into his eyes. ‘”You know when I was out there for a second I thought we might not make it and I wouldn’t get the chance to tell you I’m sorry.” I told him.

His brows furrowed. “I threatened to kill you and you’re sorry?”

I shook my head. “It wasn’t fair for me to ask you to choose between me and your job. It was selfish.” When he made to interrupt I shook my head once more.

“I don’t care what you do anymore I just want to be with you. I love you and I can’t stand to be without you…it’s been hell.” I finished, overwhelmed by emotion. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m done Lucas.” He said and I froze, my heart lodged into my throat.

“I’m done with that life. I’ve been trying to hold onto it for so long because it’s all me and my brothers had for a long time. It was our crutch I guess. Something we built, something we could call our own, but it’s not the right way to live anymore. It’s time we grew up and after everything we’ve been through, I’m done putting your life at risk. I never should have in the first place.”  He finished and with the way he was looking at me I had to look away lest I embarrassed myself in front of him.

This is what it had taken for us to get to this point. After all the shit we’d gone through. The breakups, the heartache, the fights, the tough love, the complete dysfunction, distrust, disloyalty, every bad thing our relationship had housed, everything that love couldn’t fix in the past and it had taken something as terrible as the thought of each other dying to get us to a point where we were finally on the same page. It had taken fear to get us to change.

I shook my head and a chuckle burst forth. “We’re the most dysfunctional couple anyone would have the misfortune of meeting.” I said dropping my head unto his shoulder and when his arms came around me, for the first time in a long time I felt so utterly and completely happy and whole. I didn’t even try to hold back the tears that burst forth and soaked his clean shirt.

After everything we’d been through I loved him so much I’d go through it all again just so long as he was with me.

……………………………………………………

It was exactly two and a half weeks later that Grady and Thomas as well as Scottie and Jessie had their mating ceremony and all were in attendance. It was the largest pack gathering I’d seen in a long time.

Three different packs coming together to support the Beta and the others taking part in the ceremony. It was the first time I’d actually seen Scottie so nervous but as expected Grady was completely at ease in front of his audience.

Beside me sat Adrian decked out in a suit that did sinful things to his body and in his lap sat the gorgeous little girl we’d both become completely enamored with. Little Stephanie.

She reminded me of my baby sister, only this little sprite had such a way of wrapping someone around her little finger that I had a feeling she’d be spoiled rotten by the time she was in elementary school and Adrian would be the one doing the spoiling because as the days had passed we’d grown more and more attached and we’d discussed adopting her.

Adopting a child. Wow we’d actually come that far. From a breakup I’d thought would have been permanent to adopting a child.

We were going to be fathers. If someone had told me this a few weeks ago I’d have laughed them to shame but it felt so right and I was happier than I had been in a long time.

“Put me down Adri!” Stephie suddenly exclaimed, now standing on Adrian’s thighs, her shoes soiling his pants, she fidgeted in his arms.

“Why, where are you going?” I asked her then and she turned to point to the stage.

“Marky!” she shouted then and a few heads turned our way.

She meant Marcus of course who stood to the edge of the stage helping Rivers in his role as Carson’s assistant for the ceremony.

I watched as Marcus gestured for Adrian to bring her to him and not long after that, he was lowering Stephie to the ground.

“Go on sweetheart I’ll watch you from here.” He said and she was off, running on her tiny legs, darting between chairs and people until she was beside Marcus who scooped her up in his arms.

She squealed in delight, interrupting the ceremony yet again.

She’d be a handful for sure and I couldn’t wait to call her mine.

“I want to talk to Carson about the adoption again.” Adrian turned to me to say and I shrugged. I was fine with whatever he decided though Carson’s initial rejection was still fresh in my mind.

“I think we’ll just have to prove to him we’re right for her” I explained and he nodded in agreement.

“I’ll find a way to convince him.”  Then pushed up from his seat. “On that note there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

“Come on.” He tilted his head in the direction of the compound and I got up.

“Where’re we going?”

“Just somewhere we can be alone.” He smiled and with narrowed eyes I followed his lead.

We ended up walking down the sidewalk, leaving the ceremony behind and taking in the night air. Minutes passed and neither of us broke the silence. The night was warm and peaceful something that felt great after the weeks of disaster we’d experienced since coming here.

“Is there a reason we ditched the ceremony to come walking the streets?”

I think it was the first time since I’d known him that I’d seen him actually look nervous. Adrian Corsetti, was fidgeting. Though I was seeing it with my own eyes I wouldn’t believe it in the morning.

I raised an eyebrow.

“What would you say about us getting married?”

I chuckled at his words. I could have sworn he was joking but the look on his face had me staring at him in surprise.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Why not? What’s so wrong with getting married?”

I stared at him for a second.

“Adrian it’s like Carson said, our relationship is too unstable, one minute we’re in love, the next minute we wanna rip each other’s throats out, we’re not marriage material, plus where’d we even get married? Last time I checked it’s not legal where we come from.”

“Fuck what Carson said, just because our relationship doesn’t match up to what they see as love doesn’t mean we’re not good for each other. That’s’ just the way we are. No matter what happens we always find each other...isn’t that what’s important? and we can easily find somewhere where it’s legal.”

He was using his ‘this should be obvious’ voice and I shook my head.

“What’s getting married gonna prove though? We already love each other more than most married people out there anyway.”

“I want my ring on your finger.” He said simply and I chuckled.

“We’ll be the only couple in the world to get a divorce every couple of months.”

“Yeah but we’ll be the only couple in the world who gets to say our vows over and over again and be sure that no matter what happens we’ll always find each other.” He whispered and moved closer. My heart warmed at his words.

God I loved him

“Lucas Corsetti…hmmm at least my name will finally put fear in the hearts of the ordinary man.”

Then he captured my lips and the rest was history.

………………………………

It was much later that night when it happened. Something that would change our view of the world forever. The mating ceremony after party was in full swing, three packs integrated and enjoying each other’s presence in the comfort of the forestry. It was during the music, dancing, shifted wolves, food, laughs and love when we all felt the presence.

It was subtle but intrusive and I felt myself drawn to it along with the others. The music was soon forgotten, the talking and laughing dying completely as we all turned to the source. I watched as a powerfully built man with a small child and an equally built woman stepped out from behind the trees. There was something about them that was…different…strange.

“We sensed your pack a few states back and thought we’d introduce ourselves. We’ve been searching for new allies for a while now. You are the first welcome souls we’ve come upon.” The woman spoke; her voice calm and soothing yet loud and commanding.

It was Carson who finally made a move. He stepped forward, close enough to them that he could see them better but far enough away that they couldn’t touch. I watched as he sniffed the air, stepped closer and sniffed again, looking as confused as we all felt.

“What are you?” he asked suspiciously.

The man smiled then, his eyes glittering in the darkness, but it was a kind smile; as if he’d finally found a friend.

“We’re vampires.”

“I knew it! And you thought I was crazy!” I heard Grady say to Thomas; sounding beyond excited.

The rest of us stood frozen as we looked at the three otherworldly folk standing before us. Adrian stepped up next to Carson, his eyes narrowing.

“Vampires don’t exist.” He said, but he didn’t sound so sure.

“Well then…consider us your proof.”

~The End~

AUTHOR'S NOTES

IF YOU LOVE VAMPIRES AS MUCH AS I DO CHECK OUT MY NEW STORY 'A Vampire's Marine'.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF THIS AWESOME PACK THEN CHECK OUT MARCUS AND RIVERS' STORY 'Shifter and The wolf'

Thanks for being so supportive guys..it's been fun but the journey doesn't end here so stick with me and let's enjoy more of these amazing guys and awesome charcters..Feel free to comment, vote, like and fan...check out my profile for more stories!

I love ya! <3

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.