VIVIANNA #2
Orion looked up at me with silver eyes, letting me know Okami was present for this battle.
He grinned up at me like he was a kid at a carnival.
The others had more resolute expressions on their faces, readying themselves for our encounter.
Guards lined the walls and were staged by the gate, which was shut with a large timber locking it.
“Did we get my mother and Astrid?” I asked Darius, knowing those gates wouldn’t open again, even if his answer was no.
“My men signaled it was done, but I haven’t had verbal confirmation since we are on radio silence at the moment,” Darius said.
Closing my eyes, I pulled my wolf to the forefront and melded with her but didn’t shift.
Hovering in that middle ground, we pulled from our well of power and thrust it out into the world.
Following Orion’s suggestion, I put my intention of blanketing the island in my essence at the forefront of my mind.
In my mind’s eye, I could see my energy wash over the ground like ink blooming in water.
When it reached the town and touched the members of my pack, it glowed in recognition, reassuring those who were radiating fear.
Others were gearing up for a fight, anger swirling around them.
Those my energy soothed, letting them know I had things handled.
I knew the moment my power hit Vadik. He was a stone wall that I crashed into, causing my energy to flow around him.
Sensing me, he lashed out with his own alpha energy, causing me to grit my teeth as I held my own against his assault.
His intention was to rule over me, force me to submit to his will, but I had other plans.
Shifting my attention to the rest of his men, I bowled over them with my essence, and they dropped to the ground, heads bowed in submission.
Vadik’s anger was palpable as he slammed his power into me, causing me to grunt in pain, feeling as if he’d punched me right in the gut.
“Viv.” Bentley yelled as he caught me.
Oh, it’s on, motherfucker. That was a bitch-ass move. I’m not gonna play this game with you in the metaphysical world. You’re gonna march your cocky self here to deal with me face-to-face, ya prick.
I don’t know if Vadik understood a word my wolf said or just felt the meaning in our energy, but he quickly shifted and began heading my way. Pulling back my power, I opened my eyes and was met with Rik and Darius’s shocked gazes, Bentley’s arms still wrapped around my waist.
“He’s on his way now. It’s time to claim our place in this world, boys,” I announced.
Knowing what needed to happen next, I headed off the wall with my mates trailing after me.
The tension that hung in the air told me they could sense what my intentions were, and they weren’t happy.
Walking up to the gate, I looked at the two guards standing at attention, their nervous gaze watching me as I stopped in front of them.
“Open the gate,” I demanded.
They didn’t move, but their eyes drifted to Darius behind me.
“Vivianna, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Rik bellowed.
“Have you lost your goddamn mind, Viv?” Darius snarled. “Don’t you dare open that fucking gate.”
“Love, don’t you think we should talk about this? We came up with a good plan to keep everyone safe. There is no need to put yourself in danger like this,” Tav pleaded.
“You all shame our mate with your doubt,” Okami admonished.
Koit turned on him, teeth bared. “You know nothing, demigod. Viv is everything to us.”
You gotta be shitting me. Now they decide to act up? Is this why the guards are ignoring a direct order from their Dama?
I growled, low and menacing, causing everyone to stop, but they still didn’t move out of my way. Seems they still view Darius and Rik as their alphas.
Guess it’s time for an educational moment.
Unleashing my energy on the guards, I spoke loudly for everyone to hear while they crumpled to the ground.
“Here on this island, in this pack, I am your FUCKING DAMA. When I give an order, you will respect my wishes or you will suffer the consequences. Now is not the time to pick the wrong side, because I will gladly hand you over to the enemy and let them deal with you. Now I will ask once more—open the gate.”
Scrambling to their feet, the guards waved two other guards over to help them lift the obscenely large beam.
Marching forward, I gripped both of the doors and yanked with all my strength until it was plenty wide enough for me to step out.
I was greeted with the sight of Vadik and his army waiting for me on the other end of the drawbridge.
Tristan grabbed my arm, stopping me from walking out, and silently pleaded with me. “Beloved, please think this through. We are strong but vastly outnumbered with people in our own pack that might be working against us. Is this the best course of action?”
Hesitating, I looked up at him and opened my mouth to answer when Vadik spoke.
“Oh, little wolf, why don’t you come out and play?” Vadik called in a sing-song voice, sending chills down my spine.
My wolf snarled at the sound of his voice, pulling my attention from Tristan.
“Don’t make me wait too long, you won’t like what happens if I get bored,” Vadik taunted as he stalked confidently back and forth, naked as a jaybird.
“We already talked about this. I’m not going to hide while the rest of you put yourself in danger.
I know you think I’m more important, but I’m not.
Any one of you would be a better alpha than me,” I said, responding to Tristan’s question..
“He is here for me. If I meet him out there, I will be able to settle this once and for all.”
The rest of my mates snarled at this, and I knew Tristan had pulled them into our conversation.
“You don’t get to make those calls, Viv,” Rik snarled.
Darius stepped up, grabbing my chin so I was looking right into his eyes.
“We are mates, and what happens to you affects us all. If you die, you might as well kill us all for the good we’ll be after you’re gone.
Believe me, I’ve seen it firsthand, and I don’t plan on ever letting that happen to us. ”
“Goodness, little wolf, seems you’ve been busy. A little birdie tells me that you have seven mates. See, if you’d stayed with me where you belong, then you wouldn’t have so many overbearing bastards to deal with,” Vadik rambled.
“Fuck off. Like you would’ve been any better than them? You wanted to put a motherfucking shock collar on me.” I yelled back, his words getting under my skin.
“Tut, tut, little wolf. I know Sarma told you the whole story before your mate killed her. Let’s not pretend that you weren’t made specifically for me, the perfect mate to have at my side.”
How could he know that?. There was no one there but us. It couldn’t have been Juris, Okami killed him too.
Pull yourself together. He’s just blowing smoke. He must have known the first thing we would have done was torture Sarma, and he knows you couldn’t stomach doing it. Next logical thing to assume is one of your mates.
“You seem upset that I know so much, little wolf. Would you like me to introduce you to my little birdie?” Vadik snapped his finger, and someone walked up to stand next to him.
NO. This can’t be happening. She wouldn’t have betrayed me. It’s not true—there has to be an explanation.
Standing next to Vadik, calm and collected, was none other than the woman who claimed to be my mother. The whole thing had been a setup, and I’d fallen for it hook, line, and sinker. I’d given her an all-access pass to whatever she needed by answering her request to talk to me.
“Elena was instrumental in our plans, but she went above and beyond when she handed over this woman.” Vadik smirked as two of his men walked forward with Astrid.
Her face was black and blue, eyes swollen shut while blood seeped from her mouth.
“The old hag put up a good fight, but she was no match against my alpha energy once we weakened her. Amazing, the knowledge that a three hundred year old shrew contains. I can’t thank you enough for letting her become your advisor and privy to all the inner workings of this pack.
My plan had been for Sarma to have that job, but it seems she couldn’t deal with looking at your face. ”
I felt my heart break seeing Astrid’s limp body, quickly followed by it trying to jump out of my chest in raging fury. “Enough with the monologue. I don’t need any more convincing you’re a douche nugget. Did you come here to talk my ear off or to fight?”
“Why do you assume I want to fight with you? I’m simply here to reclaim what’s mine, Vivianna. The sooner you cross that bridge and come join me, the faster we can leave here,” Vadik explained.
“Not gonna happen. I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said with a shrug. “Feel free to leave at any time.”
“Know that this is on your hands, Vivianna,” Vadik roared at me.
He moved in a flash, pausing to meet my gaze as he snapped Astrid’s neck and then my mother’s.
A sickening crack echoed in the air, followed by a scream that ripped out of my throat.
Before I could even think, I was flying across the drawbridge on four legs, howling as I channeled my wrath at one man.
Digging my claws into the wood, I launched myself at the guards that got in my way by protecting Vadik, whose laughter fueled my rage.