Axel's POV
Plans were in motion and within the hour we were heading out. Yeh we could have waited until tomorrow, but then it could have been too late. My mother's army could be at our door, slaughtering half my pack just to get Athena. Neither Jake nor I were going to let that happen. Jake had contacted the alpha King William to let him know what was happening. As thrilled as I was to know they were going to help I honestly didn't see the point. They were too far out it would take them a full day of travelling just to reach my mother's location and then they would need to rest. Which again could mean it's too late. My worries were slightly eased however when Jake told me they would be teleporting to our location. Though it had me wondering if my mother would pick up on another witch's power only thwarting that idea being as she is the high priestess. That was until Angel explained her father had the gift and would be the one opening the portal.
I had left Hector watching Athena while she slept, he was pissed that he was staying behind but understood why. Though I did actually fear Athena's reaction, not that I'd tell her that. We had been in wolf form for the last twenty miles, and they were starting to tire. Shifting back, we gave our wolves a rest, they would need all the strength they could get for the fight ahead. If what happened to Jake's pack was anything to go by this wouldn't be easy. Yes, we had the numbers, but how many did they have?
"Boss! We have a problem" Johnson bent over resting his hands on his knees as he gasped for air having just run through the bush. His face red like a tomato making me wonder how long he had been running.
"What the fuck are you doing here? You're meant to be keeping watch" I growled making him fall backwards.
"They... they found the vamps. They text us to say something was happening only when I called them back the phone didn't connect" he was shaking as I snarled. I was so fucking angry. This was our chance, our opportunity to take them by surprise and there it is out the fucking window.
"Axel a word" motioning for Johnson to stay put I followed Jake to where Alpha King William was waiting just out of ear shot. "Something is off. I have been with you since you got off the phone back in your office. How the hell did he know we were here?" Come to think of it how did he know? I certainly hadn't told him.
"Shit! We're being played and about to walk straight into a trap aren't we? Fuck! What the hell do we do now then?"
"What he told you wasn't a lie. That warehouse is flowing with power, I can sense it. I can also tell Vanessa is there. I think your vampire associates have compelled him to lure you there. Maybe as a diversion maybe not, it's impossible to say for certain. He's human so doesn't have an aura I can read. The only way to undo the compulsion is with a witch and I'm afraid that's a luxury we can't afford right now. Your mother would pick up on them quicker than I could say I told you so"
"If it is a diversion then they could be heading to my pack house right now and we've left them unprotected" my hands began to heat as my anger grew. I had one thing to do. Protect my pup and mate and I couldn't even do that right.
"Do you really think I'd leave my daughter and pregnant granddaughter unprotected? Of course not. They are being watched over by the two people I trust most in the world" he chuckled which pissed me off more but what surprised me was how calm Thor was. I knew it was because he could sense his mate. Vanessa was close. We had come this far and couldn't turn back now.
"You sent Rita and Marie, didn't you?" Jake just slapped the alpha king on the shoulder while shaking his head with a smirk on his face.
"Don't forget about Nick, he insisted he go with them. Ever since those two remarked and mated they have been inseparable even after all these years" I had heard so much about them but had yet to meet them. "I may be getting old, senile even but I'm not stupid. Where my family are involved, you can be damn sure I'd only send my best to look out for them" Taking a few deep breaths the heat in my hands began to fade, I didn't need to lose control now for all it would do was doom us all.
"Two silver wolves, a hybrid and a gamma wolf aren't the best line of defence for Athena. I'm sorry Alpha King but I suggest we send some back" he may be Athena's grandfather, but to me he was just someone using their power and title to throw around decision's. Decisions it should be me making.
"Look young man I don't like you and if you think you're the best man to be making decisions for my granddaughter, then I think you got that wrong a long time ago. From what I hear you knew she was your mate and still sort after her twin. I find it outrageous that she even gave you the time of day after what you did. Had I known before you successfully marked her I would have had your title stripped from you" how the fuck did he know what I thought and how dare he trudge up the past like that especially when he didn't have a clue what the fuck was going on.
"Ho.."
"How did I know? Because I can read the minds of those under my rule. You would do well to remember that. I know your bond to Vanessa is growing just as I know that when you see her your first instinct will be to claim her. But I warn you, should you so much as try I will have your bond to Athena severed and then kill you" Thor's hackles were standing high at the threat. He wanted to challenge him for Vanessa, so forcing him deep down was something I had to do. I knew he was mad and would hound me over it later but at least he would be alive to do so.
"Don't like me fine, if I'm being completely honest, I really don't give a fuck. But I love Athena and she loves me. If you can see into my thoughts, then you know exactly how I feel about Vanessa. Yes, my bond is drawing me to her and yes, every nerve and fibre of my fucking body is calling for me to claim her. But I haven't given in, I don't want her. I don't love her. What happened with her is something I will never forgive myself for and I wish that Athena hadn't either. But for whatever reason she chose to. She chose to let our bond happen and for that I will work my fucking arse off for the rest of my life just to thank her. So, stop with your threats and help me end this fucking nightmare"
"Right now, dicks have been measured can we just get down to the problem at hand. I'm all for skinning him until his memories become clear again, but the smell of blood is likely to attract the wrong crowd. Especially given that we are technically bordering the no go zone" Jake, I was starting to like. He didn't care who you were, if he had shit to call, he would no matter who was present. Both the Alpha King and I just nodded; Jake was right we weren't far from vampire territory. And it's not like they care whether they trespass into wolf territory or not as long as they find the source of blood.
Athena's POV
Waking up I stretched across the bed hoping to roll into one of my mates, but the bed was cold and empty. Their scents were weak however Hector's was stronger, he couldn't have been gone too long. Getting out of the bed I walked to the door only to find I couldn't open it. Each time I twisted the knob nothing happened.
"Hector why can't I get out?" I mind linked him feeling rather pissed off that I'd been locked in. I wasn't a child I was a bloody adult.
"Because there is fighting going on and you are not getting involved. Your pregnant Athena and its safer you stay in there where no one can get to you" my heart rate spiked as he cut the link. If there was fighting, going on it only meant one thing; Axel's mum was here.
"Hector let me out I can help you know I can. If you keep me side lined, I won't forgive you"
"Yeh you will. Busy now bye"
"HECTOR!!! No sex for a week" I shouted through the link forcing it open again. Hector in turn just chuckled knowing I couldn't deny him even if I tried, though I could feel his frustration threw the bond. Whoever he was fighting kept getting the upper hand.
He wasn't going to help me that much was clear, so instead I turned to Venus. She assured me it was my grandfather that locked me in here, he had used a sacred form of magic to do so and to break his barrier spell I just needed to add my blood. I thought it would be more complicated than that, but Venus took just enough control to extend a claw sharp enough to split the skin on my hand. Shifting more than this would put our pup at risk. Fisting my hand, I watched as the blood dripped onto the door knob. A red mist evaporated the spell having lifted. Huh I thought to myself maybe it was just that easy.
'Blood magic, its rare and not many can do it. I think that's why he used it, your too young to know of its existence. Once a spell of this kind is in effect only a blood relative can break it.' was all Venus said in the matter.
Finally leaving the confides of my room I crept down the hallway only to pick up on the sickly scent of a vampire. Venus was on high alert, sharpening my senses to give me a better chance. Being pregnant was certainly not going to help me. I couldn't shift so would have to rely on the combat skills I learnt in training while hoping they wouldn't land a blow to my stomach. I had my gifts yes, but I didn't exactly know how to control them. They just kind of happened unless Venus used them.
"I can smell you" her raspy voice came from the next corridor. Knowing it was a woman not a man relaxed me slightly. A woman I knew I could take. Until she stepped in-front of me that was. She was easily double my size in both height and muscle. Her wild red eyes met my own as she sized me up. She just chuckled while shaking her head. Doing as I was taught; I watched the way she moved towards me. Taking note of the slight limp she had with her left leg. She clearly injured it at some point so if I could use it against her, I should be fine.