111. Klaus

CHAPTER 111

Klaus

As we ascend the stairs, each step is a deliberate movement, executed with precision to minimize any sound that might betray our presence. The musty scent of aged wood fills the air, mingling with the faint aroma of dust that hangs in the stale atmosphere of the castle.

My heart pounds in my chest, the adrenaline coursing through my veins heightening my senses. Every creak of the stairs beneath our feet reverberates through the silence like a thunderclap, urging us to proceed with caution.

As we reach the first floor, I peer cautiously around the corner, my senses on high alert. The dim light filtering in through the windows casts eerie shadows along the corridor, obscuring any potential threats that may lurk in the darkness.

A faint sound reaches my ears, a soft shuffling that sends a chill down my spine. With a series of hand signals, I communicate to my companions the presence of someone nearby, prompting them to prepare for whatever may lie ahead.

In a seamless display of coordination, Arnulf begins to shed his clothing, his movements fluid and silent. With a sense of anticipation, I watch as he transforms into his avian form, his majestic wings stretching out before he takes flight, disappearing into the darkness beyond the doorway.

With Arnulf scouting ahead, we wait in tense anticipation, our senses on high alert as we prepare to navigate the unknown dangers that lie in wait within the depths of the castle.

We wait patiently, hiding in the darkness of the hallway in which we're standing. The top landing is a little crowded with all of us standing here. Still, we should be all together waiting then to hastily charge out into the hallway into the unknown. After what seems like forever, Arnulf comes back to us, landing and shifting back to his human form. Aurora assists him, and he gets dressed quickly before he begins to speak to us. "It appears that there is a much stronger Lycan presence on this floor. At least two dozen, if not more. Aurora, do you think you can make them submit? Klaus?" Arnulf's eyes dart between mine and Aurora's.

"If we combine our Alpha powers together, without a doubt we can drive them to their knees and make them submit to us and our will. The real question is, though, will they be loyal enough to be trusted to live, or is it more humane just to kill them now and end their suffering at Vladimir's hands?" I rest my hands on my hips, looking back and forth between my sweet mate and our even more delicious Omega. I know in my heart of hearts, Jayce does not like us killing without provocation. But I also know that Aurora will kill without question to keep what's hers safe and do it for the greater good. My eyes drift over to Arnulf, who is the newest of our group, to see exactly where his heart and intentions lie.

Aurora simply nods then looks between Jayce and Arnulf. "Out of all of my mates, the two of you are the most in touch with your emotions and feelings. I would love to be able to save everyone." Aurora sighs then begins again.

"Realistically, though, it may not be the best decision to make at this time. On the one hand, I see the possibility of expanding the bloodlines available to the Lycans in Klaus's clan." Aurora holds up her left hand.

"On the other hand, I see possible dissension in the ranks and potential uprisings in the future." She raises her right hand and makes a see-saw motion.

"The possibility of traitors in our midst just like it was with the American Lycan pack. Extinction should never be an answer, but in times of war, we must do what is best for the greater good," Aurora says with great finality. Her word is law, and her law dictates the masses' safety over the preservation of a few. For a moment, I see a sadness creep across her visage, and just as fast as it's seen, it flickers away into that stone-cold-killer gaze.

As I step forward and clasp Aurora's hand, a surge of adrenaline courses through me, heightening my senses to a razor-sharp edge. The cool touch of her skin against mine sends a shiver down my spine, a tantalizing reminder of the bond that binds us together.

Turning to face the others gathered on the landing, I meet their gazes head-on, my eyes locking with each individual in turn. There's a tension in the air, palpable and electric, as we stand on the precipice of something momentous.

With a silent exchange of glances, I convey my unspoken trust in Aurora, my mate. Beneath the surface of her skin, I sense the simmering energy of her beast, coiled and ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. It's a potent reminder of the power she wields, both formidable and awe-inspiring.

Yet, despite the urgency of our mission, we must proceed with caution. We cannot afford to reveal our trump card too soon, lest we tip our hand and alert our enemies to our presence. And so, we stand poised and composed, a picture of unity and determination.

Drawing in a deep breath, I straighten my posture, allowing a surge of confidence to fill me. With a subtle shift of my body, I puff out my chest and square my shoulders, projecting an air of strength and resolve.

"Jayce and I will shift everyone else will remain in your human form with swords at the ready. I will attempt to use my Alpha powers first to make them submit. If they do not subjugate themselves before me, recognizing me as Alpha, then we slaughter them. If they do submit, we will take them to the lower level, and Aurora will seal them into the room that the Strigoi had once been in." I leave no room for argument when I finish my statement.

As I catch Aurora's smile out of the corner of my eye, a surge of warmth spreads through me. Her silent encouragement gives me the resolve I need to face the daunting task ahead. With a playful smirk in her direction, I convey my determination to her before turning my attention back to the group.

Every movement is deliberate, every glance purposeful as I convey the seriousness of the situation. Gone are the days of carefree abandon; now is the time for action, for leadership. I can almost feel the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders, a tangible reminder of the task at hand.

With a steady gaze, I lock eyes with each member of our group, silently seeking their support and assurance. And one by one, I receive it, their unwavering determination reflecting my own.

With the unspoken acknowledgment of my comrades, a sense of clarity washes over me. The time for hesitation is past; now is the time for action. Together, Jayce and I begin to shed our clothing, preparing to shift and face whatever challenges lie ahead.

As the fabric falls away, I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, heightening my senses and sharpening my focus. The air is charged with anticipation, every nerve tingling with the knowledge that we are on the brink of battle.

As I observe Aurora's reaction, a wry smile tugs at the corners of my lips, mingling with the tension that hangs heavy in the air. Despite the grim reality of our surroundings, there's a brief moment of levity as I catch her gaze wandering over my physique.

The scent of blood and death lingers in the air, a stark reminder of the violence that surrounds us. Yet, amidst the chaos, Aurora's eyes betray a fleeting sense of fascination as they rove over the planes of my muscular-toned body. It's a strange juxtaposition, the juxtaposition of beauty and brutality that defines our existence in this unforgiving world.

I can't help but chuckle softly to myself as I watch her, her gaze flitting between mine and Jayce's frames with a childlike curiosity. In the midst of all the death and bloodshed, she still finds time to appreciate the male form, a testament to her resilience and strength of spirit.

But my amusement is short-lived as I clear my throat, breaking the spell and drawing her attention back to my face. A faint blush colors her cheeks for a fleeting moment before she rolls her eyes playfully, her focus shifting once more to Jayce.

Her lack of shame brings another soft chuckle to my lips, a brief respite from the darkness that threatens to consume us all. And as my body begins to contort and reshape into the form of my Lycan.

As I glance to my left, I catch sight of Jayce mid-transformation, his muscles rippling beneath his skin as he shifts into his Dire Wolf form. The air is charged with tension, anticipation hanging thickly around us like a heavy shroud.

Despite the gravity of the situation, I can't help but admire Jayce's form, his physique sculpted and powerful. His movements are fluid and graceful, a testament to the strength and agility inherent in his lupine nature.

My senses are heightened, the scent of earth and pine mingling with the musky aroma of the shifting bodies around us. Adrenaline courses through my veins, heightening my awareness and sharpening my focus on the task at hand.

But amidst the chaos and tension, there's an undeniable undercurrent of desire that pulses through me. Jayce's playful smirk and wink plays in my mind only serve to stoke the flames of my arousal, igniting a fire within me that burns hot and fierce.

For a fleeting moment, I allow myself to indulge in the primal allure of the moment, the raw energy of the impending battle fueling the flames of passion that rage within. But even as desire courses through me, I know that now is not the time for distractions. We stand on the brink of war, and our focus must remain unwavering if we are to emerge victorious.

In typical Aurora fashion, she rolls her eyes at the two of us. It's as if she can't believe that we were ogling each other. After all, she's the one who gave us permission to be intimate outside of her bedroom, and besides, she started the ogling first. Jayce motions with his head towards the doorway as if provoking me to go first. Well, you don't have to ask me twice to go on the attack. We charge out side-by-side, taking the unsuspecting Lycans out quickly. Alpha power be damned; they had silver weapons ready with the full intention of using them. Aurora casually strolls out into the hallway and surveys the scene before her. She just leans against the wall, watching us rip our enemies apart. It's not like her to hang back, but then again, the larger half of the battle still rests on her shoulders when we find Vladimir.

Arnulf and the two last Dire Wolves that are with us come walking out into the hallway, drawing their swords and dispatching those that are still moving. The first room is a quick cleanup, thankfully. Part of me almost feels bad for them. A lot of them were young, untrained, and had next to no fighting skills. The other half of me knows that in the long run, this was safest for our family to do. After the dissension in the ranks with the American Lycans and all the problems they had caused us, we definitely learned our lesson. The worst part of all the betrayal was discovering we had an assassin living amongst my people. We can't take that chance again; we can't take the chance that we won't be so lucky the next time and that everybody survives the attack.

I motion with my clawed hand towards the back of the room, where there's a single door that appears to be closed. Aurora gives me a slow nod and sends Jayce and his two pack mates to investigate the door. A low growl rumbles deep in Jayce's chest. His hackles stand on end as his muscles bunch, and he lowers his body to the ground—he's ready to launch. His pack mates split up and draw their swords, one on either side of the door. We start stalking closer, and then I notice Jayce is counting off when to open the door. His tail taps the ground—one, two, three—and the door is suddenly thrown open; he lunges inside quickly into the darkness. His pack mates follow closely on his heels, providing backup for him. I rush over, only to find the entire room has already been decimated. Jayce and his pack mates have killed off another ten hidden attackers.

Today has been a day of many firsts. The biggest one that I take note of is that Aurora is not leading the charge this time. She's hanging back, watching every single move that everyone is making in her presence. Not to say that Aurora hasn't raised her sword several times to deflect the blows of those who tried to sneak up behind us, but abnormally, Aurora's not in the thick of it. I can count the number of times today that her eyes flickered and glowed as she reached out through the bond to the rest of our bond mates, checking up on everyone. In the background, I know she's issuing orders and strategically planning every move that everyone is making outside of the castle walls. I know the exact moment that our dragons start to battle with the Wyvern that are flying overhead. I watch the scales flicker, rising and falling on the flesh of her forearms. The urge to shift and fight is strong; the pull must be incredibly difficult for her to ignore. The internal battle that she must be dealing with having to restrain her beast until the time is absolutely necessary just speaks of her strength. I look over, and I watch my two bond mates that are here with me, each moving independently, both fighting with all that they've got. Our resident eagle is the lightest built out of all of us; he also carries the biggest chip on his shoulder—feeling he's inadequate.