Chapter 29

OLIVE

As Amber, Alice, and I make our way to the conference room, Eddie’s voice rings out, calling Amber’s name. He’s jogging to catch up with us.

Amber lets out a sigh, dragging her hand down her face. “Oh, goddess.”

Alice, ever the friendly one, spins around and greets Eddie with a bright smile. “Hi, Eddie! How’s your day going?”

“I’m good. Thanks for asking, Alice.” Eddie returns her smile, then turns to Amber. “Can we talk for a sec, Amber?”

With a huff, Amber agrees. “Fine.”

“I’ll catch up with you guys inside,” I say, waving them off as I continue on my way.

Alice stays behind with Amber, her hand gently stroking Amber’s arm in an attempt to soothe her.

As I walk away, I catch snippets of their conversation, mostly because Amber isn’t exactly quiet.

“Eddie, nothing you say is going to change my mind. I’ve made my decision. It’s not going to work. You’re a hybrid.”

My heart aches for Eddie. I thought Amber had moved past this, but maybe I was wrong. I hear Eddie pleading with her to give him a chance, to get to know him, before I step into the conference room.

Ezekiel is already there, sitting at the head of the large conference table. There’s an empty seat to his left, reserved for me, and Max is seated to his right.

The others—Daisy, Dinah, Idris, Beta James, Alice, and Amber—are also present.

Ezekiel starts the meeting. “We need to plan an offensive attack. We can’t just sit around waiting for another attack to happen.

“Idris, you’ve spent time in Asmodeus’s kingdom. What can you tell us?”

Idris leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, his face serious as he thinks about our common enemy.

Dinah is leaning against Idris, her fingers tracing up and down his arm. I can’t help but watch the newly mated couple.

They’re a perfect match. Dinah is fiery and fierce, while Idris is more laid back.

Idris towers over Dinah. He must be at least six foot nine, making Dinah’s petite five foot three frame look even smaller. Even Ezekiel looks small next to Idris. He’s a mountain of a man!

“To get to his kingdom, we’ll need a powerful witch to open a portal,” Idris says, looking at his mate with pride.

Idris winks at Dinah, causing her to blush. I never thought I’d see Dinah ~blush~!

“Once we’re there, we’ll have to deal with the demons patrolling the borders. They’re efficient and it would be nearly impossible to sneak past them,” he adds, his tone somber.

“Are there any underground tunnels or passages?” Daisy asks.

“Not that I know of,” Idris replies.

“What about sewage pipes? Maintenance tunnels?” Max chimes in.

Idris shakes his head.

“We have to find a way,” I say. “We just need to think outside the box.”

“Why don’t we pretend to surrender and then ambush them?” Amber suggests, shrugging.

“They’ll see that coming,” Beta James interjects. “It’s too obvious.”

Amber rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. “So, what’s your brilliant plan to defeat an army of demons on their doorstep?”

“I have an idea,” Zeke says.

Zeke outlines his plan. It’s going to take a lot of practice.

To pull this off, we’ll need to be perfect. We’ll need to work together, in sync. Any slip up could cause the plan to fall apart.

As the meeting wraps up and everyone starts to leave, I pull Zeke aside.

“I need your help to contact my father,” I tell him.

He raises an eyebrow. “And how do you plan on doing that, Little Wolf?”

“I think if I can find a state of peace, I might be able to reach out to him.”

“When do we start?” he asks.

I glance at my wrist, checking the time: six o’clock. “We start now.”

***

After stepping out of the bathroom, I towel dry my chestnut hair. Zeke suggested I relax before we begin.

When I walk back into the bedroom, I stop in my tracks. Zeke has prepared the room with lavender scented candles and the soothing sounds of rain—my favorite. I see some oils next to him on the bed.

Zeke is sitting against the headboard, a wolfish smile on his face. He’s wearing boxers that perfectly showcase his muscular thighs.

He pats the space between his legs. I walk over, swaying my hips and giving him a devilish look.

“Ah, ah, ahh, Little Wolf. No naughtiness just yet,” he says, wagging his finger at me.

I huff and flop down between his legs. He guides me down so I’m lying on my back, my head resting between his thighs.

He places a pillow under my head and gently brushes stray hairs from my face.

I can’t help but wonder if this is how he’d be with our own pups—gentle and loving, despite his strength.

I see his eyes darken slightly.

“I can sense your arousal, Little Wolf,” he smirks.

He pours some oil onto his hands. “Close your eyes... Relax and try to connect with your father... No more dirty thoughts.” He winks.

His hands move over my shoulders, down my arms, and back up, giving me a soothing massage.

I feel my body relax, but I still can’t sense a connection. I keep trying, thinking of my father, hoping for a connection. But it doesn’t happen.

Zeke hushes me before I can start to frown. “Ease up, don’t push so hard. I think you need to be in a dreamy state to pull this off. Breathe... relax,” he advises, his voice a soothing balm.

I take his words to heart, letting myself unwind and simply savor the gentle massage my mate is giving me.

After what seems like an eternity, I open my eyes, frustrated at the lack of connection.

My eyes go wide as I take in my new surroundings: a chilling, pitch-black void.

I’m floating, spinning and flipping in mid-air—gravity doesn’t apply here. I stretch my hand out in front of my face, but the void is so dark I can’t see even a hint of myself.

I scan the area for any source of light, any hint of what I need to do to navigate this bizarre place.

Off in the distance, I spot a tiny glimmer of a star-like object that splits into several other specks of light.

They whirl and twirl as if they’re playing tag in the void. They divide and multiply at a startling rate until they’ve spread across the void like a star-filled sky.

They flicker and pulse as if they’re waiting for something, some kind of command.

I shut my eyes and think of my father, of the only thing I’ve seen of him—his fiery eyes that hold a fatherly warmth.

One of the star’s lights pulses brightly before I notice the object is getting closer and larger.

As it comes to a halt in front of me, I realize it looks like it’s just a source of light.

But I can feel in my gut that this is some kind of entity. The entity has no face or body of any sort, but a feeling washes over me...

I get the sense that, if it had a form, it would be tilting its head to the side, sizing me up, deciding whether or not I’m worthy of its assistance.

I must have passed the test because, before I know it, the entity has formed a mirror of sorts. But instead of seeing my own reflection... I see my father.

“Dad?” I ask.

“Livi? ...How... how did you?” he stammers, completely taken aback.

“I’m not entirely sure, to be honest, but that’s not why I’m here. Mom... is she... is she okay?” I ask, my heart swelling with hope and fear simultaneously.

“She’s in danger, Livi.” I hear him sigh. “I’ve done what I can to keep her safe and comfortable, but my father’s wickedness knows no limits.”

His eyes well up with tears, thinking of his suffering mate.

“How do we defeat him?”

“He’s the most powerful being I know, Livi. He’s lived thousands of lifetimes, honing his control. Only someone equally matched or more powerful could defeat him.”

“How would I know if I stand a chance?”

“The hellhounds. They obeyed your command. Asmodeus was not happy. For the first time in a long time, I saw a hint of fear in him.

“Hellhounds will only obey a royal, however, they will only obey the most powerful royals.”

“What are you saying?”

“You have a chance, Livi... But be warned he doesn’t fight fair.”

“What can I do to get the upper hand?”

My father suddenly looks panicked.

“I’m sorry, Livi. I have to go.”

“Please wait! How can we win?” I plead.

“The answers have been inside you all along, Livi. You just need to see that,” he says almost frantically before the light in his eyes fades.

The mirror-like object turns to darkness.

The mirror reshapes and starts glowing brightly once more. The light entity before me twinkles with delight before zooming back into the rest of the light entities.

I feel a pull at my mind before I’m shot through the void at such a speed, I lose my breath.

The motion stops abruptly, and I gasp, trying to catch my breath.

Slowly but surely my body starts to register my surroundings: the soft sheets against my skin, the plush pillow under my head, and the warmth radiating from my mate.

“Little Wolf?” I hear as a hand gently strokes my face.

“Mmm, yes?” I sigh, happy to be fully back with my mate.

“How did it go?”

I slowly sit up and turn to face my handsome mate. I try to fake sadness before suddenly beaming.

“I DID IT!” I squeal with excitement, pouncing onto Zeke.

“I actually did it! I spoke to my father.” I start to grow more serious now as I recall the dangerous position my mom is in.

“My mom is okay...for now. He’s doing everything he can to keep her safe. But we need to act as soon as possible if we have any hope of getting her out of there.”

Zeke nods with determination. “We start tomorrow.”

***

The next two weeks are spent working from dawn till dusk training. All warriors within the pack are briefed on our plan and have ramped up their training tenfold.

Zeke’s hybrid guards are teaching Max’s pack warriors new ways to disable other species that will be invaluable against demons.

Idris has proved extremely useful in his dealings with the demons too. He’s a very effective killing machine. Had Zeke or I been alone when we encountered him, we’d be dead, no question.

Dinah spends most of her time ogling and drooling over her mate. I’ve had to snap her out of her daydreams several times.

We’re exhausted, to say the least. Every evening Zeke and I return to our room soaked in sweat, our bodies aching…

Well, mine does at least. Nothing ever seems to tire Zeke. He seems to have an endless supply of stamina.

Though, it does have its perks when he tends to my aching muscles in the tub, massaging me so thoroughly and with just the right amount of pressure.

I stand in the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror. The realization that we will be leaving in the morning for an all-out war hits me. I can’t help but think about the what-ifs.

~What if our plan fails?~

~What if I lose some of my friends?~

~What if I lose my mom?~

~What if I lose my mate?~

Raven pipes up, ~No more morbid thoughts. Our mate is strong. He will protect us.~

~But what if I can’t protect him?~

~No. More. Morbid. Thoughts,~ she growls.

She’s right. I need to stop dwelling on the negative. I should be savoring these final moments of tranquility with my partner.

Raven hums in agreement with my thoughts.

Exiting the bathroom, I’m ready to join my partner in bed... but the bed is vacant.

~Where did he go?~

Suddenly, I feel powerful arms wrap around my waist. Zeke pins me against the wall, his solid body a barrier between me and the cold surface.

“I sense your turmoil, Little Wolf. We can’t have that.” His smirk is playful, almost predatory, as he spins me around so my back is against him.

His large hands find their way to my pussy. I part my legs, inviting him to continue.

He begins by circling my clit with his fingers while his teeth and tongue tease the mark on my neck. I hum in approval, pressing my round ass into his hard cock.

As his fingers slide into me, a growl of desire escapes him, triggering a rush of wetness down my thighs.

His rhythmic movements make me gasp. I need more and I need it ~now~!

“More. Please,” I plead between moans.

Without wasting a moment, Zeke turns me to our right and bends me over the chest of drawers.

I lay face down, my ass wiggling in anticipation of his next move.

He grabs a handful of my hair, tugging gently—just enough to assert his dominance—before driving his cock deep inside me.

A moan of pure pleasure escapes me as I feel completely filled by my mate.

He starts with slow, teasing thrusts. I can feel my climax building, but I need more to reach the peak.

“Harder. Fuck me harder,” I moan.

Zeke growls in response, increasing his pace and slamming into my pussy.

The chest of drawers shakes with our movements, and I’m pretty sure the entire pack house is aware of our activities.

My walls tighten around his cock as we climax together.

He carries me to our bed, laying me down gently before climbing in beside me, holding me close as we drift off to sleep.