Crossing Paths With The White Wolf
Chapter 43

Markus POV

'Alpha?' Evergreen's mind link pushes me awake.

'Evergreen? What's happening?' I said while thinking, 'This had better be an emergency!

'Guardian Moon has activated their lockdown measures. I've patched into their cameras and their gates were rammed down by SUVs. They're making their way to the Packhouse,' he said.

s**t. We've been trying to replace these lab guys before they found Nat. It looks like we failed. There's no one else that would be attacking Helios. He had no enemies and, as a newly sanctioned pack, he was protected by the council for a year. No pack would be stupid enough to try to take on a pack under the protection of the council. It would be like declaring war against every sanctioned pack in the United States. I looked down briefly at my still sleeping Celeste. I wasn't going to like her going but I knew how much Helios and Nat meant to her. With her offensive power, there was no way I would convince her to stay behind. I would just have to set some rules.

'Crescent Moon Warriors, our ally, Guardian Moon, is under attack. Meet me in front of the Pack house. The rest, head to your bunkers or the Packhouse, we're initiating emergency lockdown until the threat is eliminated.' I sent out a pack wide message as I got up and out of bed. Celeste was hot on my heels as I rushed to the closet for clothes.

I turned to my pregnant mate and pleaded, already knowing what her answer would be but needing to give it a try. "Please stay here."

"Markus, no. I can help." Celeste begged.

"It's a few men in SUVs, Celeste. We outnumber them by a lot."

"Then there's no harm in me going, my love," she said as she slipped a shirt over her head and a pair of pants.

I sighed and pulled her to me. "We do this my way, OK? Shield up at all times, stand behind me and give me your fire without you burning, so they think it's my power. Like we practiced. No running off on your own. I would die if something happened to you." She nodded her big eyes at me and kissed me. I groaned, sometimes I wished she wasn't so damn good. We met Dad and Marie making their way towards our suite.

"Go son, we'll watch the kids. Celeste, take care of my grandson in there," he said as he gave her a quick hug.

'Alpha, they've launched a rocket at the packhouse. Most of the packhouse is intact, but Helios and Sebastian are unconscious. They were too close to the blast. There are rogues running through the broken gates.

's**t, OK. We're on the way! I told him and cut off the mind link, grabbing Celeste's hands as we hurried down the last flight of stairs. When we got to the first floor, I was glad to see most of my pack already waiting there for me. I felt the pull of a mind link. 'Markus? We're outnumbered. We need your help, Nat sounded like she was in pain and in a panic.

'We're aware of the situation. We'll be there with help momentarily. Hang in there, Nat. Are Sebastian and Helios OK?'

'They are hurt but alive. I'm trying to heal Sebastian first, but the damage is intense.' She said.

'I will be there shortly. We'll make sure you have space to heal.

'Thank you,' she half sobs and my heart breaks for her.

I address my warriors. "These guys have been through hell and back and now they are being attacked. Their only enemy is the very same people that tortured half of them. Their actions against shifters cannot go unpunished. We will show them what it means to be an ally and friend of Crescent Moon. They are not alone. Shift and let us run," I said, and there were growls of agreement before the loud sounds of cracking bones engulfed the air. My warriors began to run while Celeste, Gabriel and I stayed behind. "Go Gabriel, meet us at the gates. We're taking a short cut," I smirked at him. He nodded, shifted and ran.

I turned to the love of my life. "Remember Tuli, stay behind me and don't let them know the fire belongs to you. Climb on my little monkey." I said, turning my back to her. This should be simple enough. We have practiced it in our training. If she fed me her fire, and attached herself to me while she channeled her shield, it looked like I was the one with all the power. I wouldn't have her become a target. I felt her baby bump on my back as she pressed her stomach to me. I hoped I would not live to regret this. I began walking towards the river as I felt Celeste's fire flowing from her hands begin to cover my body. I could feel her concentration as she made sure she refrained herself from being engulfed in fire as her shield surrounded us.

I love our Aztec goddess - Atlas purred proudly.

"Ready Tuli?" I asked her as I readied for the jump.

"Let's go help our friends," she said as she kissed between my shoulder blades and gripped me tighter.

We landed right in front of Helios. Natalia was healing Sebastian and I saw Theo checking over Helios. I'm hoping both look worse than they were.

I turn my attention to the fight and begin instructing my pack of the places that need the most help. There's more of them than I thought there would be, but we still outnumber them. I gather some of Celeste's fire and begin making a dent in the numbers. These people need to die so all shifters can be safe.