Author's Notes:
I know you thought I forgot about you, but I didn't. Just got a little sidetracked and my muse said 'suck it' for a while. She's back and here's another chapter.
*The characters in this chapter belong to their respective authors, CH, & AB.
**I OWN NOTHING**
Chapter 60
EPOV
My maker takes a distraught Jessica down to the cubby. She is in no condition to fight this battle. Moments later, her sobs turn into screams as put her in silver chains to keep her restrained. He knows that once the fight begins, she will feel our bloodlust as we are her bloodline and the urge to join us will become too much. Add to this her need for vengeance against the one who committed unspeakable acts against her, and she will get herself killed. No one but Sookie can defeat Breandan and she must face him alone.
Godric returns, deathly quiet as the rage permeates from his aura and mind. When our eyes meet, I feel his resolve strengthen as he buries the beast once more to give us his wisdom in these most vital moments.
Slowly, our nest begins to gather in the living room. I become curious as to what is keeping the dogs so I search them out.
I walk into the kitchen to find Herveaux and Tray Dawson sitting at the dining room table speaking in hushed tones with an unknown were. Although I have every intention of killing Herveaux before this day is done, Dawson and I have become rather close since my reunion with Sookie. Of course, that was her doing. I found that we are of similar mind frames when loyalty and strategy are concerns. While Herveaux is the current Pack-master of the Southern portion of the state, Dawson rules in the North. Dawson is my go-to when dealing with out-of-state Pack-masters due to his no-nonsense attitude and my aversion for the dog whose obsession with my wife just signed his death warrant.
Dawson observes my approach first and gives me a nod, which I return. Herveaux sees this and releases a low growl.
"Why not me?...and why him?...he may be better than most fangers, but he's still a fucking, arrogant dickhead...once we get rid of this threat, I'm going to find a way to put a piece of wood in that bloodsucker's heart…" I did not need to hear any more of his fantasizing about my death. I plan to pull Dawson to the side to ensure he can handle the doubling of his pack numbers as well as the extra workload he will receive once I make him shareholder in the construction company I will soon completely own.
"Gentlemen...and Herveaux. Thank you for your assistance in this conflict. Where are we with a plan to defeat the enemy that is at my lover's door." Of course, I get the stink eye from the dog.
Dawson, like the natural-born leader he is, jumps right in. "With the witches we have, it would be good if we could shield the true number of weres from the intruders. If Alcide and I could get the rest of our packs through the wards without detection, then we would have the advantage of more numbers."
"Since you have even more friends in high places, maybe they can swoop in with an assist?" His tone was condescending, pissing me off to the point that my eyes turn blue.
"Go ahead. Lose your temper and show Sookie who the truly crazed animal is. It'd probably scare her to death." he taunts. Who would have thought that this dumb mutt's ignorance could be the thing to calm me at a time like this? I begin laughing so hard that all speaking and movement within the farmhouse ceases.
"Eric. Eric!" Dawson calls and I gather myself once more.
"My apologizes. I may have a way to get your packs inside undetected until we want them seen. I will let you know when we are ready. Send them a message to gather by the willow tree near the stream. As for other assistance...they will step in when they are needed. And I strongly suggest you watch your tone and thoughts when they are present. They are very...protective of their Mistress and me, by association of course." My eyes cast towards Herveaux and he rolls his eyes, taking my comment lightly. I guess you cannot teach an old dog a new trick.
"More telepaths! I'm tired of my mind being invaded by strangers. And how are we to tell our wolves to watch their thoughts?" He can be a decent leader at times, but for the most part he is just a whining bitch.
"Our packs have no ill will towards any who we tell them not to. I believe the warning was directed more so to you than anyone else. And I, frankly, agree." He gives Dawson an incredulous look.
"Let's be real about this. You have been harboring a torch for Sookie for years, yet you have a problem with telepathy. That, by the way, is totally stupid. How can you claim to love someone yet hate what makes them special?!" Herveaux inhales deeply to bellow a retort, but Dawson cuts him off.
"Not to mention that you are currently involved with one of her friends. How is Amelia supposed to focus on her part in this war when she has to worry about you trying to bury your bone elsewhere? While others, such as myself, have no one. You are acting like an egotistical, douchebag human. And you've got the nerve to speak to this man, who has made you rich and powerful like some common trash. You're lucky he has Sookie. I would have killed you the first time you look at her sideways!"
Tray releases a breath after his rant, which continues on in his head. Before a word could be spoken by either of us, he jumps up sending the dining room chair crashing to the floor. He storms out the back door, not looking back as he begins making calls.
"What the hell crawled up his ass?!" Herveaux asks.
"Your true feelings have been known for quite a while. I guess people are tired of your whining. You are a Pack-master for Goddess sake. You are supposed to be the example for your pack." He is itching to reply with a snappy comeback, but we are interrupted by one of the Fae guards coming to report that they are ready to move.
"Get your forces ready." Having handheld this fool long enough, I exit the kitchen without waiting for his insignificant response.
SPOV
Pam and Tara are seething as the three of us deal with the revelation that Jessica was hurt. I can feel their rage and need to avenge our sister. Each of us knows what it is like to be violated.
For Pam, it was in 1902 when her dominating personality hit the nerve of a 700 year old, woman-hating abuser who thought he could bring her down a peg. It took Eric two nights to fly from San Diego to Moscow to free her. She refused to speak to him about what happened and he didn't push her. She doesn't realize that I know and I plan to keep it that way.
With Tara, the traumas that she faced during our first lifetime didn't evade her in our current one. Instead of vampires, she became the favorite victim for the local rednecks of Bon Temps. However, her strength and determination not to give anyone control over her feelings is what kept her from succumbing to the sort of self-loathing that always accompanies such abuses.
As for me, I will always carry around the memories of the atrocities that were committed against me by others. Bartlett, Bill, Neave & Lochlan, Debbie Pelt; all of my experiences with them are forever engraved on my soul. Those events notwithstanding, I know that my purpose is to protect and avenge those who are looked upon as weak.
"Remember the promise you made to me Pam." I say without looking at her. My eyes are glued on Eric as he ushers the remaining members of the two packs through the foyer and living room.
As he walks into the room, looking into to eyes of every person who has vowed to lay down their own lives in this war, silence envelopes us as we wait for his words.
"You all know why we are here and the promises that you made in being present. You all know what is at stake if we lose and what we mean to gain when we win. What Sookie and I want you to know now is that we will never forget or let your actions be forgotten this day." His words reach deep into our nest and allies as each of them makes peace with whatever deity they believe in.
"Må salar min far välkomnar modiga och tomheten i glömska ta tag i vår fiende för evigheten." (May the halls of my father welcome the brave and the emptiness of oblivion take hold of our enemy for eternity.)
In what could be considered a grunt, the group collectively agrees. Before the group can disperse, Eric blinks in front of Alcide and leans in close to say something that he made sure no one else would overhear. Alcide just rolls his eyes and follows Tray out the back door.
"It is time." I close my eyes and focus on eclipsing the now three werewolf packs from the view of our enemies.
"Amelia, Rachel. Please begin to interrupt the wards and let some of them in." They move to the center of the living room, which is now an empty space surrounded by seating since Pam smashed the table in anger over what happened with Jessica. Tara was quick to remove the debris so we wouldn't have to worry about it being used as weaponry if the enemy were to breach the house.
The chanting begins and like clockwork, about a third of Breandan wolves rush through the wards. The heavy dark clouds in the sky serve to explain the sudden fog that begins to spread over our land.
Pam and Tara move to the front windows to keep watch. Rachel and Amelia focus on their control of the magic protecting us from a complete onslaught. Eric and Godric move outside and perch on the roof to oversee the fighting.
Alcide, Tray, and Jacob head out back to give orders to their packs. Jacob's pack was the smallest of the three packs. The other two packs were about the same size. With them all put together, we had about 100 wolves along with the other supernaturals on our side. The fairies are to stay in stealth mode until they were summoned to join the fray. The shifters shift and patrol the immediate area surrounding the house itself.
Within 15 minutes, the first wave has been decimated. We only lose three wolves from Alcide's pack. I make a mental note to contact their families in person, regardless of what their 'pack-master' says or thinks about it.
The next wave comes through consisting of about 40 weres, the trolls, and the fairies. That leaves Breandan and the three daemons outside the perimeter.
The thunderous steps of the trolls shake the farmhouse down through its foundation. I know that both Eric and Godric want to jump in, but I want them to wait as long as they can before doing so.
Unfortunately, that doesn't happen because several fairies pop onto the roof. The clash of metal and their heavy footfalls of their fight are heard over our heads.
"I love you Sookie, but the beast is calling and I don't know how much longer I can stand here and do nothing!" Pam yells at me as she paces in front of the window. An arrow breaks the glass as one of the enemy fairies tries to take Pam out. She roars and vamps to the door, but I grab her arm.
"NOT YET! I need you close. You will get to feed the beast once the daemons show themselves. Please be patient." I beg her.
"You of all people know that is not in my vocabulary...but I will try." I kiss her cheek and go back to monitoring the fight. When our wolves start dropping at a faster rate than previously, I order our fairies to enter the battle. Their appearance turns the tide in an instant.
Breandan moves within the wards, as his victory is no longer guaranteed, and he sends the daemons in with a wave of his hand.
Just as I am about to take Pam and Tara outside with me, a lion flies through the front door, destroying the entrance in the process. Due to its injuries, it shimmers and shifts back into its human form. Jessica's screams intensify, distracting me from tending to the falling shifter.
"Tara! Go check on Jessica. There's bagged blood down there. Make sure she feeds and stay with her." Knowing this was not the time to argue, she vamps down to the cubby. I turn back to the person crumpled against the wall to find Pam leaning over a broken Sam Merlotte.
He's in severe condition with almost every bone broken and protruding from his skin. He coughs up enough blood to make Pam step back, so I get down onto the floor with him.
"Sam?! Can you hear me? I'm going to start healing you. Just stay with me." I raise my power and focus it on his internal organs. At least one of his lungs must be punctured as he struggles to breathe.
He grabs my hand, much too weak for my liking, and looks into my eyes. "It's okay Cher. My time has come." His mind is going dimmer and if he doesn't stop delaying me, he will die.
"Nonsense! I can save you. Don't speak. Let me do this." I command and try again, but his shakes his head just a little.
"No. I want to die Sookie. I have lived a long life and now it's time to go." I don't like this one bit.
"Find Luna. Bring her in now!" I send to Pam and she immediate disappears.
"What about Luna and Emma? Fight and stay for them!" I plead.
"They will be fine. I love them, but I could never give myself to them fully because of…" he drifts off.
"NO!" I yell as I send a burst of my light into him. Kind of like a defibulator, it shocks him back to awareness. Pam returns, dragging a lioness with her. As soon as it looks at Sam, she shifts back.
"SAM! Talk to me!" Luna yells as she falls to her knees on his other side.
"You know I love you Baby. Being with you and Emma were some of the best years of my life. But I have to go now." He breathing is becoming more labored. As I move to begin healing him again, he turns his gaze onto me and squeezes my arm with the little strength he has left.
"This doesn't have to end like this! I can heal you and you both can leave right now." I say.
"She's right. Let her help you stay with us." Luna begs.
"No. I'm tired. I need to rest." His determination is all-consuming in his mind. I grab Luna's wrist so that she can see it for herself. We both have tears streaming down our faces as we finally accept that we have to say goodbye.
"I love you Sam. I thought we'd have longer together." She whispers as she nuzzles into him.
"Don't worry. He will be here in my stead." She looks at him confused, until she realizes that his gaze is now on her belly.
"You are a great friend, Sam. I will never forget you." I tell him as I lean in and kiss his cheek.
"Make sure the Viking knows that." He tries to laugh out, but the pain spikes and he starts to tremble. Then, he slowly goes limp as his soul exits his body. I can almost see it, but it's gone much too fast.
Luna collapses over his body and I rise to give her space. I move to stand by Pam's side. She is staring at something in particular outside. I follow her gaze to a daemon wielding black staff with fire blazing from its tip.
"Is that the one responsible for this?" I ask her as I point towards Luna and my now dead friend. She only nods.
"Go free your beast all over him." She snatches her sword from the corner and begins to head for the door. I grab her arm just before she steps onto the porch. "Be quick about it and come back here." It's not a request, but an order that I mean to my very core. She bows and vamps out to kill Sam's murderer.
EPOV
With a final swing of my sword, I decapitate the last of five fairies that attacked me and my maker. I turn to look towards the cemetery just in time to see my child viciously attack a daemon wielding a flaming staff. I take one step to intervene, but I am stopped by a hand on my shoulder.
"No, my son. She is more than capable of handling whatever is going on down there. Trust your child and mate." I turn to look at him; however, we both become distracted by the humongous troll towering over us on the east side of the house. The beast raises his fist to crush the entire farmhouse and that is when I make a decision.
Our goal was to keep our powers a secret for as long as possible so that our enemies would be caught unawares when they attacked us. Though we were not expecting such beings as trolls to be in league with Breandan, we had to be prepared for anything. After the attack on the palace, I took the initiative to consult Thor on defeating other creatures that I may not have encountered in the past. His tutelage was most helpful as I now knew exactly how to defeat the one I face at this particular moment.
I propel myself into the sky to meet the troll's raised arm, driving my sword deep into its wrist. It reels back and stumbles away from the farmhouse, which was exactly what I wanted it to do. It tries desperately to shake me off. I blink and hover near its right eye, leaving my weapon in its flesh. I conjure another sword and use it to take out said eye.
The troll's screams of pain echo throughout the area. Its uninjured hand swats me across the yard, sending me crashing into the shed. I rise quickly and grab the hoe that just so happened to be lying next me in the debris. Armed once more, I blink to its other side and take out the left eye.
Now blind, the troll is stumbling wildly around the yard. It steps on several weres and fairies before finally falling onto its back. I am quick and conjure a double-sided axe to kill it. It takes about four swings before I final cut through its spine, severing the head from the body.
Our fae fighters watched how I took the troll down and focus their efforts on dispatching the remaining two before they can think to attack the farmhouse. Having defeated the largest of our foes, I immediately look for my child. I do not see her right away because I am now in the backyard. A quick glance towards my maker, who is slicing through fairies like they are gnats, tells me that he is fine. I begin walking toward the front of the house, killing weres as they lunge at me.
As I round the corner, I witness my child twirl to dodge a hit from the daemon's staff and take his head in the process as he left that part of himself unprotected. She picks up its head and begins walking back toward the porch. Two wolves begin to lunge for her as her back is turned, so I blink behind her. I kick one into the trees surrounding the property as I bring my axe down on the other's neck.
She turns around to face me, surprise written all over her blood-covered face and in our bond. I send her my pride and love. She nods and then vamps back into the farmhouse.
I do not know why she came outside in the first place, but I cannot lie and say that I am not happy to see her back into the safety of its wards and the vicinity of Sookie.
Blinking back to the roof, I join my maker to survey over the land which is now littered with the limbs and corpses of both friend and enemy alike.
Our weres had broken into three factions and were each corralling the remaining enemies into smaller groups. Within minutes, the last of Breandan's forces were dead and the collect howls of the wolves could be heard from miles past the Bon Temps city limits. With wave of my hand, a gesture for my maker to go before me, we jump off the roof into the backyard to meet with the pack-masters.
As soon as we touch down, John comes running out of the back door.
"I finally found everyone. They dealt with heavy forces, but they were able to defeat most of them and make it to the safety of the palace. Right now, they are inside and worried about us." He is slightly out of breathe, which means that he may have had to use his own supernatural gift of finding what cannot be found to seek out the location of the rest of our nest.
"Good job, John. Get with Jacob so he and his pack and get back to the Cullens and eradicate the rest of the enemy." John nods and walks over to Jacob. They stroll towards the demolished shed to talk without interruption.
Godric and I stand and watch as both Tray and the traitorous mutt rally in their packs. I take this as the best moment to speak to Tray without anyone else listening.
"Dawson. Do not be alarmed. We need to speak and no one can hear what needs to be discussed. Yes, this is Eric. Continue to act as though nothing is amiss."
"HOLY FUCK! When did you become a telepath?!" he asks.
"It is a long story that I will share with you another time, but we must discuss Herveaux. I overheard a phone conversation between him and Amelia before the battle. He propositioned her to use magic to separate Sookie from me and the children." I tell him. His anger rises, but he keeps his cool as he gives his wolves instructions.
"What does that have to do with me, Northman?" He is dreading what I might say and I cannot blame him.
"I need you to become the sole Pack-master of Louisiana. What he tried to have her do and his plan to try to kill me as soon as both you and Jacob leave with your packs are actions that constitute a blood offense against me. We both know that he is too obsessed with Sookie to concentrate on being the leader he should be. He has already forsaken Amelia and abandons the pups he made with bitches inside the pack. Those actions alone should have him removed, but both Amelia and his pack have stayed silent on those issues. This is now beyond them."
I lay all my reasons on the table. The honesty we share has always been the glue to keep us on good terms. I will continue to honor that especially when I am asking him to take on even more responsibility.
"I don't know about this." He thinks back cautiously.
"I know that I am asking you to take on more, but you will not be alone. There is dissent already present within his pack. They do not like how is leading them and they discuss this with your pack regularly. They hope for leadership such as yours. Give it to them."
I know I have him with that last statement. It is the reason why he remained a lone wolf for so long in the past. His last pack was led by greed and power. He swore he would never be a part of something such as that ever again and he keeps his word. He runs his pack with fairness and always shares the wealth.
"Fine. I will do this because we can't afford to be seen as weak. Especially with packs from the other states headed this way." That is a bombshell we will discuss later, but it seems that his contacts finally came through with some Intel of their own.
"Good. You will need to witness and take command immediately."
"I'm aware of that. Let me go so I can inform my second."
I remove myself from his mind as he walks over to the wolf that was seated in the kitchen with him earlier in the evening. He pulls the were by the arm and they retreat to the front of the farmhouse.
I turn my back to those that remain and face my maker. Godric looks at me, wondering what is going on before they widen in shock. I blink away just as the wrist wielding a stake that would have impaled me through my back is caught by my maker. Everything stops. The birds and creatures of the surrounding forest had just returned, thinking it was safe once more, only to scatter in fear again as I reappear behind Herveaux.
As the bones in his wrist and hand shatter, the stake falls to the ground and the dog onto his knees.
I call my child to me and she appears seconds later. Also feeling the call and worried for my well-being, Sookie comes out onto the back porch. Amelia and Rachel are not far behind. When she sees the scene, Amelia begins to run to us. Sookie catches her by the arm and holds her just at the door.
"Why did you try to stake me? Have I not been fair and generous? I have not interfered in your pack affairs and have given you and your pack millions of dollars for your protection services and work on numerous building projects. I thought we had an understanding."
He does not answer, only growling as Godric increases the pressure on his arm. I turn to address his pack.
"I know you all are unhappy with his leadership. Speak you minds now and fear no retribution from him."
A few moments of silent hesitation pass before a brave soul finally speaks.
"Everything was fine at first. We all had to get used to working alongside vamps. He encouraged it and we all began to prosper. Then when he became pack-master, it all changed. He became more aggressive. It's like he has to prove that he is the alpha all the time!" This is an older man, in his late 50s with grey fading into his brown mane at the sideburns.
Another cuts in. "He attacked my younger brother like he was a full-grown male when what he needed was to be shown how to control himself when preparing for a run. He had a broken leg and was forced to stay and heal."
This time, a female pushes through the crowd. "We all remained silent when you took Danielle in front of the pack last year during the Blood Moon. You chose to marry outside the pack and you told us that she agreed with you continuing your bloodline and adding to it. But then, you started to do the same with Sandy and Trina on the moons after that. Does your wife know about the pup that Trina is carrying now?"
All eyes shift to Amelia as she falls to her knees at Sookie's side. My wife pulls her friend in her arms and picks her up, not wanting them to see her as weak. We can all tell from that reaction that she did not know.
"WHAT THE FUCK DOES IT MATTER IF SHE KNEW OR NOT?! I am Pack-master and she is not a wolf. She can't bear me pups. Plus, she is in love with Tray. I did her a favor!" Herveaux yells as he tries to yank away from my maker to get to the female that had just spoken.
"It matters because the respect you show your mate is the same that your pack is to exhibit. And the fact that they show it more than you is just another reason why you are no long fit to be Pack-master." I announce.
Tray Dawson is definitely a man of honor. He and his second, Paul, had just returned from around the farmhouse when the pack began to speak out against Herveaux. Paul left his side and gathered their remaining pack to accompany Jacob's back to the palace.
Tray walks with purpose pass us and up the porch steps. He looks Amelia directly in the eye as he speaks the words he has been holding in for several years now.
"You know how I feel about you and how I would treat you if you were mine." Pointing at the soon-deceased mutt, he goes on. "He only cares about his own affairs, whether they be taking pleasure in the females of his pack or coveting the mate of another." Gasps and whisper spread throughout the pack. "All I know is that I will love and care for you as you deserve."
Amelia looks at Sookie, who nods that he speaks the truth, before jumping into his arms. He picks her up and then turns back to the group.
"These packs were divided from the beginning to give both me and Alcide a chance to demonstrate that differences in leadership aren't a bad thing. Unfortunately, he has forgotten what it means to lead. That doesn't mean that it's a lie. If you join your pack with mine, we will be one. Louisiana is under threat. Packs from rival states will be here within three days to try and overtake us. We can't have weak leadership. Let us unite the Louisiana packs and give those fuckers the fight of their lives!"
The pack that was formerly under Alcide Herveaux's leadership howls their affirmation as they all move as one to join Tray's pack. Herveaux's protest falls on deaf ears and within minutes, they are all gone. Godric, Pam, the dog and I are all that remains outside.
Sookie steps down from the porch. Pam holds the dog down by his other side as I move to stand by my wife.
"After everything we've been through. You throw away our friendship, your pack, your relationship with Amelia, your kids, your business, and your life. Why?" Sookie is standing in front Alcide, tears streaming down her face. She knows that he tried to kill me and for that, she wishes him a painful death that she wants to dish out herself. However, she is sad because of the friendship she thought she had in him.
I can see the many times they talked and laughed together. Those carefree moments she vows to share with his kids. But all too soon, the memories of her telling him that she will never love him and that she will always be mine begin to outweigh the happy times.
"If he is gone, you will be free! You can love another. One worthy of you." He pleads.
"And as I've said many times before, you are not that man." Sookie pauses and looks into my eyes. She tells me to make it quick and I nod in return. Walking back up the stairs and into the house, she turns back before the back door can close to take a last look as her once-upon-a-time friend.
"Goodbye, Alcide." She says so softly that you would have to have supernatural abilities to have heard it. And with that, she is gone into the house.
"NO! SOOKIE, COME BACK! SOOKIE! I LOVE YOU!" He screams causing both my maker and child to increase their grips on him.
"I warned you before the battle began this night. You confessed your love for my wife for the last time."