Chapter 7 #2
“Understood.” Patrick held out his arms and tilted his head back.
His knees bent, then he launched his body skyward.
His human form disintegrated in an instant and a massive golden eagle emerged.
With a few flaps of his wings, the bird melded with the darkness, and Patrick’s clothing collapsed in a heap on the ground.
“It will take Patrick twenty minutes to reach the feline village. Even in lion form, it’s going to take an hour for Zion’s soldiers to get up here,” Raphael pointed out, drawing Gabriel’s attention. “Will Alex talk to you? We need to stall.”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Gabriel took a deep breath and focused on the task awaiting him.
He was furious. Thanks to Alex, Gabriel looked like a gullible fool.
He had been arguing for political neutrality and fair treatment for all hybrids while the fucking wolves surrounded Eagle Village.
Gabriel usually faced conflicts head on with a calm, analytical demeanor. But wolves were savage by nature. The only characteristic they responded to was strength. He approached the perimeter fence and signaled for the guards to open the gate.
Allowing his anger and frustration to build, Gabriel stormed up to Alex and punched him in the face. “What the fuck is wrong with you!” he yelled.
Caught off guard by the violent aggression, Alex stumbled back a step. He recovered in an instant, however, and a menacing growl rumbled in his throat. His hands folded into fists and he charged toward Gabriel.
Gabriel twisted sharply, avoiding the first blow as he threw another punch. Alex was ready this time and easily ducked. Gabriel countered with his left arm, catching Alex in the eye. The wolf kicked Gabriel’s legs out from under him and followed him down to the ground.
The two males rolled across the forest floor kicking, bucking, and punching.
They were soon surrounded by excited wolves who shouted encouragements to their alpha.
Alex was bigger and stronger than Gabriel, yet Gabriel was agile and fast. Alex could have shifted and ripped out Gabriel’s throat, or Gabriel could have shifted and escaped into the sky.
This wasn’t a lethal fight and they both knew it.
“Had enough?” Alex asked as he pinned Gabriel against the ground.
“You’re a lying sonofabitch,” Gabriel sneered, thrashing in the wolf shifter’s hold. “I defended you. I trusted you. Get the fuck off me!”
Alex heaved himself off Gabriel, then held out his hand.
Gabriel snarled and got up without assistance. He wiped away blood from his nose with the back of his hand while Alex rubbed his bruised jaw.
“You’ve got a mean left hook,” Alex admitted with a chuckle.
Gabriel was not amused. “I compromised the safety of my village because you promised you wouldn’t attack!”
“I haven’t attacked,” Alex pointed out with a smirk, then he shoved Gabriel back. “And I never promised you anything. I told you I had no plans to attack and at that point the statement was true.”
“You just changed your fucking mind?” Gabriel took the indignation down just a bit. Alex hadn’t seriously hurt him, so the chances of prolonging this conversation were relatively good.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” Alex said, arms crossed over his chest. “You’re the only one who doesn’t have their head shoved up their ass. But I don’t have a choice. Zion owes me more females and you’re going to figure out how to get them for me.”
“I don’t respond well to threats,” Gabriel insisted, gaze narrowed with displeasure. Patrick needed more time to gather reinforcements, but the wolf wasn’t making this easy.
“It won’t be a threat next time. You have one week to deliver my third of the females.” As suddenly as the wolves arrived, they retreated into the forest.
Gabriel stood there staring out into the darkened trees. What the hell was going on? Why climb up half the mountain side just to issue an ultimatum? This made no sense.
“Why would they leave?” Raphael echoed Gabriel’s confusion as he walked up beside him. “They were positioned to do some serious damage.”
Raphael wasn’t wrong, but there was a definite pattern to Alex’s attacks.
His first raid—which had been particularly brutal—had been necessary to take over the lupine village.
The attack on Eagle Village had been a response to Raphael’s raid on Alex’s mountain fortress, and the focus had not been taking out enemy males. It had been capturing females.
“The difference between Alex and Elias,” Gabriel summarized. “Elias wanted blood. Alex just wants females.” He might see Alex more clearly than the others, but Gabriel was done defending him.
“Well, he can’t have ours. So, what’s our next move?”
“That’s a very good question, Raphael,” a warm female voice reached their ears half a second before the woman stepped out of the darkness. “And I’m in a unique position to give you an unexpected option.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Gabriel snarled. He was still edgy from his conflict with Alex. The last thing he needed was a mouthy female.
The woman held out her hand, whistled a multi-tone melody, and ordered, “Come to me.” One of the swarmies zipped into view and gracefully landed on her palm. “I believe you’ve already met my eyes and ears.”
Raphael snarled and lunged toward her.
Six armored guards rushed out of the woods and surrounded her. Their lethal-looking weapons reinforced their silent warning.
“My name is Natalie Morgan and I’m here to assist you.” She released a nervous laugh. “That might seem hard to believe, but it’s the truth.” She tapped the nearest guard on the shoulder. “Lower your weapons. They’re not going to hurt me. Are you, gentlemen?”
“Where did you come from?” Raphael wanted to know. His arms were folded over his chest, and his expression was still highly suspicious.
“Earth, originally. The ship is in orbit above this village as of a few moments ago.”
Gabriel’s heart lurched in his chest. “You have a spaceship, here and now?”
Natalie sighed and shook her head. “We both know you can’t leave the planet, but I have a proposal that should please you. Give me fifteen minutes of your time and I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
Driven by urgency and anger, Patrick soared through the night sky.
The strong, steady rhythm of his wings propelled his eagle onward.
Would tonight’s betrayal be enough to penetrate Gabriel’s stubborn determination to trust the wolves or would he champion their cause to the bitter end?
Patrick understood Gabriel’s position. He was driven by an inherent need for equality.
Unfortunately, Alex was ruthless enough to take advantage of Gabriel’s compassion.
They might want the same thing, but the alpha wolf was ready to sacrifice his new ally to get it.
The feline village came into view, a shadowy outline in the moonlight. Of the three hybrid villages, this was the largest and most easily defensible. Their perimeter wall was higher than Eagle Village, the guard platforms more frequent.
Patrick announced himself with a sharp cry, circled around the main gate twice to make sure the guards understood that he was no ordinary eagle, then he glided toward the ground inside the perimeter wall. He released his shift and manifested his human form, landing smoothly on the ground.
Four feline guards surrounded him, but their approach indicated curiosity rather than aggression.
One of the guards stepped forward and handed Patrick a blanket.
The gesture was meant to ward off the cold rather than cover his nudity.
Shifters were left without clothing so often that no one thought anything of others walking around naked.
“Which brother are you?” the blanket-wielding guard asked.
“Neither. My name is Patrick.” He wrapped the blanket around his shoulders as he explained, “I need to speak with Zion. Eagle Village is under attack.”
“Why should I give a damn?”
Zion’s distinctly rumbly voice drew Patrick’s attention to his left. The pride leader strode across the clearing tall and imposing even in the moonlight.
“Gabriel wants out,” Zion reminded. “Raphael didn’t have his permission to join the alliance in the first place.” Each word was harsh and bitter, the cat’s resentment obvious.
Before Patrick could begin his defense, Gabriel’s telepathic voice sounded in Patrick’s mind. The wolves left with nothing but threats. Have you reached the feline village yet?
I’m standing with Zion now.
Ask for a meeting, Gabriel instructed. The sooner the better.
Understood.
There was a brief pause, then Gabriel said, We have a visitor. I need you here now.
I’m on my way.
Patrick looked at Zion, unsure how the cat would react. “The wolves just scurried away like the cowards they are, but Gabriel would like to meet with you as soon as possible.”
Zion narrowed his eyes and just stared at Patrick for a long, tense moment. “I’m not fucking good enough to ally with one minute, but I’m the first person he runs to for help?” Zion shook his head, illustrating his disgust. “Even you can see the hypocrisy in that.”
“Tonight was a wakeup call,” Patrick admitted. “That’s why Gabriel wants the meeting. Despite his hope to the contrary, the wolves will never change.” And who the hell was this mystery visitor? Gabriel indicated that the wolves left.
“I’ll make time for him tomorrow morning, but he comes to me. And I’ll accept no half measures. He’s either in or out. Period.”
“I understand.” Patrick handed the blanket back to the guard and then released his eagle. The transition was smooth, nearly instantaneous. He spread his wings as his legs disintegrated and he took to the sky once more.