Chapter 7 #2
“Mostly, I think they are testing our defenses. They haven’t hurt anyone from my pack so far,” Grant says.
“How is he getting the rogues to follow him, though? What is he offering them or telling them?” Raven asks.
“I’ve been wondering the same thing. Could it be his strength? He is a lot stronger as a gods touched shifter and shifters prioritize strength over all else, right?” I ask.
“Pretty much,” Kira says bitterly.
“Hey, those shifters were morons. You have more strength and power than any shifter I have met before.” I wag a finger at her.
“Beth is right. You helped pull us all out of tight spots on more than one occasion.” Raven pats Kira’s shoulder. “You’re a lot stronger than anyone gave you credit for.”
“The wolf isn’t the only thing that gives a shifter strength, Kira,” Greyson says. “I emphasized this within my pack when I was alpha. Hard work and loyalty give you strength as well. It’s stupid that some packs still emphasize physical strength above all else.”
“Okay, guys, I get it. I’ll call my parents on the shell. There may be some hysterics, though, since I never even sent them an Iris message.” Kira grimaces.
“Thank you, Kira. That would be helpful.”
“On second thought, I’m going to call Kelsey first so she can warn them about what to expect.” Kira holds her hand out to me.
I pull the shell from my bag and hand it to her. “Are you sure about this? You don’t have to do this in front of everyone.”
“No, if I don’t do it with you all here, I’ll lose my nerve. Just no one look at first. I don’t know how or where I will catch her.”
“That’s fair,” I chuckle.
“Kelsey, daughter of the Dark Moon alpha.” She blows out a breath.
“What the fuck?” a voice similar to Kira squeaks as the mist forms. “What is this? Holy shit, Kira, is that you?”
“Hey, Kels,” Kira says, dread filling her tone.
“What is this? How am I talking to you through weird mist? Where the hell have you been for the past three years?” Kelsey spits her questions rapidly.
“Whoa, slow down, Kels.” Kira laughs. “A friend let me use her communication device. You know electronics attract terrible monsters.”
“A friend? You have friends at college? That’s so exciting. I’m so happy for you.”
I glance at Raven, widening my eyes. Kira really didn’t have friends before we ambushed her at the academy? How is that possible? Kira is the absolute best.
“The shifters in your pack suck, Kira,” I growl.
“Ohhh, who is that? Your friend? Can I meet her?” Kelsey claps her hands excitedly.
“I did have a reason for calling, Kels,” Kira says. “I didn’t want to shock Mom and Dad with the shell call.”
“Kira, who is your friend?” Kelsey asks.
“Kira has many friends,” I say. “I’m Beth and that’s Raven. That’s Raven’s mate…”
“Alpha Greyson?” Kelsey asks, shocked.
“No longer Alpha Greyson but yeah. My brother, Grant, is the alpha now.” Greyson waves a hand at Grant who sits completely frozen, staring at Kelsey.
“What in Hades is up with you, Grant? You keep staring at people. It’s creepy.” I pick up a pillow from the couch and throw it at him.
He doesn’t even react, and the pillow smacks him directly in the face. One of the enforcers takes a step forward with a low growl.
“Relax, fluffy, it was a pillow, not a sword. I can show you the difference if you’d like.”
Kelsey bursts into laughter. “Oh, I like her. She called an enforcer fluffy. This is amazing.”
“Kels,” Kira says, snapping her fingers. “Is Mom there?”
“C’mon, Kira, I want to see Beth show the enforcer the difference.” Kelsey pouts.
“Nah.” The enforcer holds his hands up. “I’ve heard stories about you, I’m good.”
Greyson grabs the pillow from the floor and smacks Grant across the face with it. “Dude, snap out of it. We’re on a time crunch to save the damn world.”
“What?” Kelsey squeals. “My big sister is saving the world?”
“It’s not the first time,” I tell her. “When the moon disappeared? We saved Artemis and restored it. Also, when people were going missing on the road and all the craziness last week? We stopped that too.”
“Wow, Kira. I can’t wait to rub it in everyone’s faces that ever treated you like shit that you’re a badass.” Kelsey bounces in her seat.
“Wait?” Kira holds up a hand. “You knew about that?”
“Remember when I was getting in fights all the time but wouldn’t tell anyone why? You didn’t want to tell anyone so when I heard them talking shit, I whooped their asses and refused to say why.” Kelsey shrugs.
“Gods, Kels. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner.” Kira wipes a tear from her eye.
“That’s fine. You better call me as often as you can from now on. I’ll get Mom.” She jumps up and runs to the door. “Mom. You’re never gonna believe who I’m talking to right now. Come here.”
“Gods almighty, Kelsey, what are you yelling about?” The woman covers her mouth when she sees Kira through the mist.
“Hi, Mom,” Kira says and waves.
“What? What is this?” her mom splutters. “How?”
“It’s magic, Mom. Greek magic. I need to ask you something. Have you guys seen coordinated rogue attacks recently?”
“How did you know?” she asks. “I haven’t heard a word from you since you left for the academy. I tried to contact them, but no one would help me.”
“So they are on the East Coast too. Do you think he figured out god travel?” Kira asks.
“That hadn’t occurred to me until now and that would make this problem a hundred times worse. He could literally be anywhere and there’s only one shifter on the planet who has the potential to do the same.” I run a hand down my face.
“Me,” Greyson says.
“Kira,” her mother calls. “What are you doing with the former alpha and new alpha of the LA pack?”
“They’re friends. We have a rogue problem that’s going to escalate quickly, and Grant wants an alliance with the pack.” Kira shrugs.
“Friends. Well, Grant, call my husband over the normal channels and the two of you can share information about the rogues,” Kira’s mom says.
“Yes, ma’am,” Grant says, still staring at Kelsey.
“I’m assuming you know something about this rogue leader?”
“He got into something that made him more powerful. I’m not going to get into specifics because I don’t want others looking for what changed him. I’m not saying you will, but this is a Greek secret.” I cross my arms.
“Understood. I would be just as cautious if I knew of such a substance. You are wise for someone so young.” Her mom nods.
“Thank you. We have all had some complications since being exposed to the same stuff.” I shrug.
“You?” She turns to Kira. “Were you exposed as well?”
“I was, just a little, and it’s just made me slightly stronger than I was before.” Kira glances away.
“You need to come home. We need every single powerful ally we can get, Kira. The rogues have been escalating rather quickly. If you’re as powerful as he is, you are needed.”
“I can’t, Mom. We are in the middle of our own situation right now and I have to save Hephaestus’ hammer before the entire world ends,” Kira says softly.
“What?” She plants her hands on her hips. “We need you, Kira. You’re not going to help your actual family?”
“Not yet,” Kira says. “You won’t need me for a while and we are walking into our own war right now. If I don’t help get the hammer, the entire world and multiple realms attached to it will fall.”
“But we need you.”
“With all due respect, ma’am, we have been saving the world several times over the last few months, and this is the final task. We need Kira’s help or it won’t just be your family dying but everything,” I say.
“And while I understand your viewpoint, I still must insist my daughter come home immediately to help her family.” Her mother glares at me.
“Mom,” Kelsey says. “Kira’s a badass and is needed to save the world.”
“No, we need her here more. Someone else can help you save the world or whatever you think is such a big deal.” Kira’s mom shakes her head.
“You only want me home because I have access to more power,” Kira says. “Wow, Mom. What happened to you?”
“That is not the only reason I want you home, but you have a duty to your family to help us when we need you.”
“After I’m done here, we might have another conversation about me coming home to help, but I have to do this. I’m the only one who can help my father. I have to do this.” Kira clenches her hands into fists.
“We gave you everything and you won’t help us when we need you?” her mother says with a glare.
“You’ve never needed me. I was always a disappointment because I don’t have a wolf. Now that you know I have more power, I’m important? You want to run my life now that I have value, Mother?”
“Mom?” Kelsey nudges her arm. “Tell her that she’s wrong, that you’re not doing this because she’s more powerful and it’s because you love her and want her to be safe.”
My heart breaks a little more for my friend. Her species really values strength above all else and her own mother thought she was weak. Should we even involve ourselves in the shifter war? Thousands will die but maybe they have brought it upon themselves after the way they have treated my friend.
“You know what? We were friends with Kira before we ever needed her help saving the world. Before she was dosed with extra power. The fact that you only want her home is because you say you need her strength tells me everything I need to know about you. End the call, Kira. You don’t need this bullshit. You have us now.” I wave a hand.
“If I go home now and leave this to others, the whole world will burn, Mom. I have to do this, and then maybe I’ll come home to help with the inevitable shifter war.” Kira leans back into Draven.
She doesn’t understand. She can’t understand. If Kira leaves, we can’t complete our mission and everything will burn.