~James' POV~
It was 11:30 and all pack members were at their stations, getting everything ready for the pending war.
Lisa and Trish had gathered all mothers, pups, youths, and the elderly inside the house. Natasha had put a spell around it and when the war started, all she had to do was activate it. It was a barrier, an invisible wall meant to protect the ones in the house. She said that only the strongest of the strongest could break through it. As long as Crow didn't lay his fucking hands on it, the barrier would stay intact. Alex was out on the field, preparing the warriors with Jackson. Making sure everybody knew their positions.
Alvin went with the omega, Elizabeth, to make sure that the clinic and the tents had all that they needed. The other omegas had a job to protect the different medical stations.
We don't know when Crow was coming, or who he was bringing. All I knew was that this would be a war, that not many would rise from alive. My job was to make sure that the casualties weren't my own. At least to the best of my ability.
I stood and watched as everyone ran around getting ready. The air was different and everyone could feel it. They felt the weight of what was coming and we all knew, whether it had been told or not, that this was not a regular fight. Many said goodbye to their families and kissed their children in case it was the last time.
I walked outside and saw a car driving up through the gate. It was Natasha.
The car circled and stopped at the entrance as she stepped out.
Natasha walked towards me. She looked like hell. What the fuck happened?
"Tell you men to close the gates," she said and walked straight past me. I passed the message to the guards through a mind-link and saw the gates come together. The last time I told them to close the gates was when Avery had just found out the truth. She had already been through so much, and I hoped that after today, she could finally breathe again.
I walked inside and looked for Natasha.
"What happened to you?" I asked her when I saw her sitting at a table in the kitchen.
"Avery knows," she said.
"Knows what?"
"She knows that we're sisters." I leaned back against the chair I was sitting in.
How the fuck could she know? I looked at Natasha in confusion.
"She's been having dreams. Dreams where she's met people, talked to them. They've guided her. One of them was Alena. My grandmother," Natasha explained with a sad smile.
"She told Avery everything. It was when she was still in the dungeon, she had been told to keep it to herself." She continued. I knew there was more to be said, so I stayed silent.
"When we got to the other location, I didn't tell Avery what had happened there many years ago. But she found out for herself. At first, she simply heard my mother's screams. And then, that night, she dreamt of the day when my mother was murdered." My eyes grew wide as Natasha told me everything that had happened.
"I woke up this morning to objects being moved around the room, James." I felt my entire body slump down on the seat. My legs turned into jelly and my heart felt like it had stopped.
" Avery's fear and anger towards Crow caused her magic to resurface in the outer world. She is much more powerful than I imagined, and" she paused. A flicker of hope and pride showed in her eyes.
"And what, Natasha?" I asked her impatiently.
"And I think she might even be more powerful than our father." Natasha finished. Lifting her head and meeting my eyes. I felt my chest heave out. My mind was not believing what Natasha had told me.
Avery had her powers. This was amazing. My mate was getting her identity back. The one that was stolen from her.
'Our powers are in our core, they cannot be removed'
Blade repeated what he had told me once before. I scoffed at his proud tone. He wasn't proud because Avery had her powers back, he was proud because he had been right.
Natasha gave me a big smile that reached her eyes.
I felt so happy, a happiness that couldn't be explained. I had carried around a pang of certain guilt for Avery being stripped of her powers. And now that she had them back, it was as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders.
"With power come consequences. She must learn to control them." Natasha said, her face turning serious.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
"That's what her big sister is for isn't it?" I said and Natasha laughed. I couldn't think of a single time that I had seen Natasha this happy without being around my uncle. Both Avery and Natasha lacked the love of family. They had it from other people, yes, but none that were blood-related.
Not that it mattered to any of them. But I did believe that this would fix something that was broken long ago. For them both.
Blade started growling in the back of my mind. My body tensed and I flew to my feet. Natasha's eyes locked with mine and we both knew what was happening.
A loud howl was heard from within the woods. And it didn't belong to one of ours.
I and Natasha went out of the kitchen and out the door. I walked down on the gravel and closed my eyes, concentrating on my other senses.
"It's time." I said as I turned to Natasha. Lisa was standing by the door. Her hands were behind her back and awaiting an order.
"Is everybody inside?" I asked her.
"Yes, Alpha,"
"Good, close the doors."
Lisa closed the door but before the shut completely she turned to me.
"James for the love of the goddess, be safe." She said.
I nodded my head and the doors closed.
Natasha went up to the house and lifted her hands, but before she could activate the spell, the door opened and Alex walked out.
He didn't say a word but moved towards his position. Natasha continued with her spell and a purple shadow lifting up from the ground all the way around the house.
"It's done." She said and turned to me.
Natasha was on her way to the warriors. I grabbed her arm and made her turn around.
"You have a daughter and a mate. You have no obligation to fight in this war. I am giving you an out Natasha. Think carefully before you decide." Natasha looked at me with a raised brow.
"You're an amazing Alpha, but sometimes you can be a real idiot. We're facing my father. He killed my mother and plans on taking my sister. I appreciate you giving me an out, James, but if you had allowed them, every single person in that house would fight beside you. Do not ever tell Carlos that I told you this, but there is no better Alpha in any pack than you. Now let's go kill a wizard." She said, her voice filled with determination. Natasha stormed off towards the fields and everyone was lining up.
The warriors were lined up in their positions. All of them awaiting orders.
I turned my head and looked at Natasha who was standing across the field. She gave me a nod and I turned my eyes to Alex. He winked at me. He was ready for the enemy to walk out and I turned my eyes to Amber. Her eyes were glowing, showing that Stella had surfaced.
That wolf had some serious revenge cravings, and she was strong, alpha-strong. I was worried about my sister getting hurt, but in all honesty, besides me, Stella was the strongest wolf out of all of them.