10. Aurora

CHAPTER 10

Aurora

I close my eyes as I sit at the lake's edge. I can feel precisely where Sebastian is, and if I concentrate hard enough, I can almost see what he's seeing. A gentle breeze blows and shifts, and in the winds I smell Dimitri and Andre approaching. Thankfully the Strigoi that attacked had only been scouts. Although by tonight, they will know that their scouts were killed and that I was now a threat. Heh, they don't know the half of it. I'm sitting here, with my head thrown back, enjoying the breeze with my eyes close. I'm still trying to figure out what gift I received from Sebastian when Dimitri decides to interrupt my thoughts.

"Princess, we should get moving. The Strigoi won't attack during the day so we can move quickly, and the village won't get attacked." He spoke with truth and logic—he's learned not to fluff things with me. After all, they raised me to be a no-nonsense kind of girl. Give it to me straight, and I'll respect you more for it.

"Fine, D." I roll my eyes. "Have Andre fly ahead and tell Elena what happened with the Strigoi. Also, tell her I'm going to need that map she said she had." Standing up, I stretch and crack my back. Faint pink lines cross my ribs like tiger stripes from Sebastian's grip on me last night, and I can feel D studying them. "Don't stare, D, it's creepy." I smirk, looking at him as I head towards Sebastian to help him finish packing up the site.

The sneaky male has a golf cart hidden nearby, so we load up everything in it. My eyes drift back to Dimitri. "D, please drive the cart back. I wish to stretch my legs before getting trapped in the truck with three stinky boys." I playfully pinch my nose before turning back to look at Sebastian.

"Race ya!" I shout as I run and shift in motion. My great, white Lycan glides swiftly and soundlessly through the woods heading back to the village. To my surprise, Sebastian is on my heels. Guess I gifted him with my speed. That may come in handy in the future. We weave in and out of the trees, almost playing tag as we approach the edge of the forest.

Suddenly stopping, I look about… hmm, something isn't right. The scent, it's wrong. Raising my muzzle in the air, there's a scent of blood carried in the breeze. In the distance, I stop and prick up my ears to listen closely and discern what I hear around me when suddenly I hear Andre screaming for help. We run towards him without a thought. The village center looks like a scene from a horror flick. Several wolves lay dead, and there are just as many ash piles. Sebastian takes off looking for his mother as I prowl the village. I catch the scent of a single surviving Strigoi hiding out in the meeting hall.

Without a second thought, I leap onto the roof and let loose a warning howl, so no others will approach. Sadly, it has the opposite effect, and the surviving wolves begin to gather. We listen to the screeches of the trapped Strigoi. The sun will destroy it if it comes out, so I think the smartest thing to do is let the sun in. My talons begin to rip at the metal roof, opening it up like a can of tuna. Light begins to flood the hall. I stick my head down into the hole I created and see where it's hiding. It's blocked in a corner, trapped by the beams of light I let in. Now was the time to fry it. Quickly, I leap to the other side and rip off the roof directly over its head and watch its body burst into flames. The Strigoi's screams fill the air until its body is frozen in mid-scream with no more sound coming out.

Satisfied that I ended the threat, I leap down and the villagers drop to one knee before me. All except the Alpha, that dumb ass decides to walk up to me. "How dare you bring this threat to my people! Many have died because of you!" he snarls at me, pointing a finger. "I hope they rend the flesh from your bones and drink your blood like wine." He stands there all cocky, thinking his title will protect him. Over his shoulder, I see Sebastian, Dimitri, and Elena. I didn't want to do this, but I cannot let him poison my people anymore.

I shift back and stand before him, my eyes that of my wolf. "It's amazing how you have short periods of time that you have balls—no brains, but balls. I'd almost respect that if I didn't scent the terror oozing off of you." I narrow my eyes at him. "Not one of the Strigoi fell by your claws. No, you hid in your cellar waiting for the sun to come up so you could claim the glory to the survivors." I shake my head and circle him. "You forget your place in the hierarchy. You forget that Alphas have no power while a Royal still lives." I smirk at him then point a finger in his direction. "You are a leader with a handed down title from a weak bloodline." Jabbing a finger in Sebastian's direction, I continue. "My mate's bloodline is older than yours, from the old country where our kind comes from." I circle him with my eyes narrowed. "You, you're a thin-blooded, American Lycan no history, no lineage. I'm ending your rule today," I say, baring my canines at him. "Step down and submit... or die. Your choice." I give him my back and close my eyes. Sebastian feels what I am doing, and he locks onto the Alpha, watching his movements closely. I see every move through Sebastian's eyes without having to turn.

"Like my daughter said, she's not pure Lycan She's part dragon and unfit to rule!" He charges at me, and just before impact, I regain my Lycan's form and sink my talons into his chest straight to his spine. I hold him there, feeling his heart beating against my forearm. Blood pulses out and around the hole in his chest and down to my elbow. He's in such a state of shock that he just stares into my pure mercury orbs. With one quick flick of my wrist, I end him, ripping out his spine in one fluid move.

I shift back, his spine still in my hand. My arm bloody to my elbow as I turn to face the gathered crowd. "You are my pack, my people. I will fight for you and protect you. All I ask is that you train hard in the old ways." I raise my clean hand and wave at Elena to come forward. "Elena and her family have faithfully served my family for countless generations. I ask her to serve me now. Watch over our people; guide them in the old ways. Her word is my law. Those that stand against her will die by my talons." I address the survivors who all nod and bow their heads, showing I've gained their respect and loyalty.

I turn to Elena, "Train them well in the battle skills. War is coming, and I'll need every strong Lycan at my side for the final battle." I pace back and forth. "Gather the rogues and the ones the old Alpha exiled, bring them back into the pack and give them purpose." I kiss the top of Elena's head before moving towards my shocked mate. I hold out my hand and offer him the spine of the old Alpha. "For you, my love. Do with it what you will." I walk off towards his hut, listening to his mother comfort the survivors. I've chosen well, she knows these people, and she'll do right by them. In the meantime, I need to clean up and pack. We have a road trip ahead of us.

I drag out the guitar and amp I found in Sebastian's room and sit on the front porch to tune it. Usually I like playing Ax7, but today is a little different. Instead, I start playing Megadeth's "She-wolf," letting the notes carry through the compound. My head is down, my eyes closed, and I'm lost to the music. In my head, I'm singing the song. But somewhere around the first chorus, I hear several voices join in singing the lyrics.

I smile as I look up to see its Sebastian and several other young males. One joins in with his guitar, playing the backup rhythms for the song. We jam out, and I bask in the glory of how my mate and his wolf are staring at me while he sings. I stand up and start walking around playing the song, and eventually, it turns into a full-out performance for the pack. The young male playing back up approaches as we bounce back and forth toward the end of the song, taking turns playing the lead rhythm. It's a thing of beauty when you can be in sync with another. I see Elena approaching, and she smirks at me. I look to my new buddy and change it up. I hit the opening riff of "Of Wolf and Man" from Metallica. Peter—I find out his name—is grinning from ear to ear as the pack sings the lyrics as we play.

Elena stands there enjoying the pack's flow; they are alive and acting as one, as a pack should. I breathe new life into them. Slowly I move toward Elena, still playing along with Peter. "Can I help you, pack master?" I smile at her as I thrash through the cords, and everyone begins to howl along with this part of the song.

"Princess, you have performed many miracles for your people." She smiles. "You freed them, and gave them a purpose. We are blessed to have you." She pats my shoulder as I hand the guitar off to my mate, who starts up an early 90's tune. "I stuck a new author's book in your bag. The female main character reminds me of you." Okay, that got my attention.

"Oh, is she a wolven badass like me?" My smile spreads wide like the Cheshire cat—or is it the cat that swallowed the canary? Either way, it isn't an innocent look.

"Definitely not. It's a mob book. She shoots this girl..." She waves her hand in front of her, then adds, "just wait ‘til you read it. With the way you handled the last two threats, she's right up your alley." Elena has that innocent as fuck look going on, so I know she's up to something. Now I really need to read that book.

I shelve that thought at the moment and turn to look at my people. My people … I never thought I'd be saying that. I was kept separate, raised off-grid for over two hundred years, all because of my bloodline. Now I have a pack, a mate, and other mates I must still find. I feel like I'm playing an advanced game of manhunt, well, a literal manhunt.

I stand here watching everything unfold and ponder what my parents would think of me at this moment. Am I too brutal? I mean, my death toll is rising, and I haven't traveled more than four hundred miles in the last week. I'm mildly concerned as to how high it will reach before the final battle. I've killed a woman, an Alpha's daughter, and the Alpha. So only three in the last week... not horrible, maybe. Dimitri once told me I was going to need an army to take back the castle. A pack's loyalty is to its Alpha. So, unless I'm sure of the Alpha's fealty, he cannot live. I must ascend to take over the pack. Many cogs in the machine, so many pieces to the puzzle, but I clearly understand how they fit together.

Then it dawns on me. Sebastian's gift is battle strategy. I never had the ability to plan things out to this level previously. This is freaking amazing. Speaking of that hunk of a Lycan, he walks straight towards me. "You look deep in thought, love. Everything okay?" He smiles and sits next to me, taking my hand in his.

"Just a lot to process. I've done so much, yet it's just the tip of the iceberg." I rest my head on his broad shoulder and take comfort in his presence. "Oh, and I figured out that I gained your gift of battle strategy. That is a most excellent gift to receive." I smile, and he starts laughing.

"Great, I made the perfect weapon even more dangerous!" he says, still laughing and smiling, so I know he's just teasing me. "But on a serious note, good decision on killing the Alpha. He would have promised backup for the war then left us to drown. He's always been a self-serving asshole." Fan-fucking-tastic. I didn't read him wrong. I'm not sure if I'm more happy or relieved at this point.

"That's exactly what I was pondering. You know I'm going to have to challenge and kill the Dire Alpha to secure his pack for the war." My face is dead-serious, not even a slight sign of joking in my tone. Sebastian's face drops, the joking smile falling from his lips.

"I know, love. If I could bear the weight of all this death for you, I would." He kisses my cheek and hugs me. Giving me the love and support I need. It's not his fault he hasn't yet realized I'm not some Disney Princess that needs saving. I'm like Selene from Underworld ... but a wolf instead of a leech. I'm a trained killer; it's all I've learned since I could walk.

"Killing doesn't bother me, love. I know in a sense it should, but it doesn't," I say, shrugging my shoulders. "It's a means to an end. I don't know how many of the Strigoi still enslave any of our people." Slowly I stand and start pacing back and forth. "I fully intend to do everything within my power to free our people and take back my mother's castle. If I have to slaughter every Alpha between here and there to get the army I need... then so be it." I stop right in front of him and look him in the eyes. "They are either on my side or in my way." The last line is accented by my Lycan, making her presence known.

Dimitri and Elena walk up halfway through my little tirade. Elena wears a look of concern, while Dimitri just looks smug. "Now there's that fire I've been waiting for! You are ready, Princess. You are ready to become a mother fucking Queen." Dimitri picks me up, hugging me tightly. "That fire will spread in the hearts of your pack-mates; our strength will become theirs. It's both a blessing and a curse, how a pack works." He releases me and backs away. "One strong Alpha can influence the whole pack either to greatness or to ruin. I know, little one, you will inspire greatness, just like your mother did with the entire nation." Dimitri cups my cheek and smiles. "If any of the old-timers live, they will see your mother in you and follow you without question." He bows slightly and backs away. "Say your goodbyes, it's time to go. We have a long trip to our next destination. Only twelve hundred miles to go." He smirks and walks off, heading to the truck where Andre is throwing what looks like mine and Sebastian's bags under the cover in the bed of the truck.

I look back at Sebastian, and he seems like he's in a bit of a shock. "Are you okay, love?"

He double-blinks and then locks eyes with me. "Most of your plan is solid. But are you sure killing off Alphas and dominating packs is the way to win the war?" he asks, puzzled. Then adds, "I mean, the Dire pack alone is like four to five hundred strong. If they revolt, we have one hell of a battle ahead of us." He makes a valid point.

"I look at it this way: the Dire Alpha has four sons, odds are at least one will be the one. Worst case, I take two of them as mine. They will stand with their mate. Thus, it's in their father's best interest to play nice, or he dies. It's really pretty black and white..." I start cracking up because of the unintentional fur color reference. Thankfully Sebastian gets it and starts laughing.

"Please try not to kill everyone off, hmm?" Sebastian's request is filed in the maybe pile.

I'll divert him with boobies later since they seem to distract him. My plans are solid, well, for the most part. Then again, I like flying by the seat of my pants. I like to change it up on the fly, so my enemies have no clue what the fuck hit them. I wink at Sebastian and take off running towards the truck. "Shotgun!"

I am so excited about the gifts that Elena has given me. There are several books in the bag, all of them some form of reverse harem romance. She chose mostly new authors because she liked giving people a chance. She had strongly suggested that I read the mafia book first. Granted is only MF but she said the female is one to learn from. Elena said her main character was like me, a badass bitch that takes no shit. I've got to respect that.

She also said the books would give me a good idea of how to handle multiple mates and what may happen once I find them all. It's kind of starting to feel like a horrible episode of Pokémon… Gotta catch 'em all. Gotta hunt them all down? I mean, really. What happened to the days of the males pursuing the females? Wait, I know what happened. I'm supposed to be fucking dead or not even exist. But those mother fucking Strigoi found me. Do I have some fucked up magical lo-jack on my ass or something? I open up and start reading the first few pages of the book and damn, this will get good; I can just tell.