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Ashes

Nixon

We are down to the final wave. Orion has the upper hand in this fight, and he damn well knows it. He’s taunting us from the balcony overlooking the carnage. We’ve sent in six waves of warriors. This final wave will consist of the strongest warriors we have and the alphas. We need this last push to work in our favor.

“Are you ready, Nixon?” Alpha Kane asked from my side. I was biting my nails from my nerves. “Here’s some good news. Orion is there, which means Bexley must be with Aviry. And knowing her, she’s probably on her way here right now.”

“No,” I said as I turned and looked at Kane. “No, I need her not to be here. The plan was to get her back to the packhouse where it’s safe. I don’t want her anywhere near this son of a bitch.”

“I know Nixon.” Kane squeezed my shoulder. “But your mate embodies the word stubborn. She makes her own decisions, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Who am I kidding? Of course, Aviry would do her own thing. But I’m just hoping that my dad was able to talk to her about it. He can be very persuasive. I doubt even she would say no to him. Then again, to Aviry, the bigger you are, the harder she gets to knock you the fuck out.

“Jared, get the final wave of men ready.” Alpha Kane said.

There are only four alphas here—Sam, Kane, Jared, and me. Xavier is in charge of protecting the packhouse. Victor stayed behind to help heal the victims from the attack.

We were able to reverse the paralysis thanks to him. Cay is healing just fine now, but he’s still on bed rest. He was willing to fight me to be here, but dad convinced him to stay for Aviry.

When Cay found out what happened, I swear he nearly took my life. The only reason he didn’t was because of the blood bond. And he was sure to tell me that after attacking me. He set back his recovery, but to him, it was worth it.

“Thirty seconds, men.” Alpha Kane said. “Nixon, are you ready.”

I nodded. It’s time to put an end to this shit. What was supposed to be a quick assault turned into an entire out war. Based on Orion’s lies, I assumed he wouldn’t have many warriors. But I was wrong.

Orion has employed rogues and mercenaries. And they are ruthless in this fight. Each Alpha was able to recruit a hundred warriors each from their packs. And even with that amount, Orion still has the upper hand. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Ok…” Alpha Kane shouted. “We are the last front men. Don’t expect any miracles. We are in this alone. With that being said, fight like hell. If Orion wins, there is no telling what he’ll do. So let’s not find out.”

“I call Orions head!” Alpha Sam shouted.

The warriors all shouted in unison. There are around two hundred men left, not including the alphas. I would say we have the strength of ten men each. We have men still on the field fighting with all of their might.

This is the final wave…after this…

“CHARGE!” Alpha Kane shouted.

I was pulled from my thoughts. I shot out ahead of the group with the other alphas. The field was a bloody mess. Bodies and screaming injured men. Some from our side, and Orion’s. And there he was, the devil himself, looking down at us with a shit-eating grin.

“OMMPH!” distracted by that asshole, I was tackled to the ground.

I’m not giving my wolf control until the last second. Why? Because I can’t control that asshole. He’s a bloodthirsty wolf, and he doesn’t identify friend from foe. He targets whatever he wants, damn the consequences.

I threw my right fist into the face of the son of a bitch that attacked me. Hard enough to make his neck snap to the side. His body fell limp, and I rolled from underneath him. I won’t release my wolf unless it’s necessary. Without Cay here, I won’t be able to stop the carnage my wolf causes. That’s why he’s sedated now. A sleeping beast waiting to awaken.

All around me, men from both sides were fighting. You can’t tell who is winning from this vantage. Everyone was preoccupied with fighting. But like how mosses parted the great sea. The field parted, and a shorter man than myself, dressed in black, walked down the middle.

His eyes were locked on me. And mine are on him. This was going to be a battle to the death, and I intend on winning. There is no way in hell a little man like this…

SWOSH!

What the fuck? Where did he go?

“Looking for me?” A voice called from behind me. Before I could turn around, the back of my shirt was tugged...SLAM!. And I was lying on the ground groaning in pain. There was a medium-sized crater beneath me now.

“Fuck!” I groaned. I tried rolling over to sit up and face my attacker, but he beat me to the punch….literally.

Slam slam slam. Left-right left. His fist slammed into my face at an incredible speed. I reached up, ready to strangle his neck. But it was like reaching for a ghost because he dissipated in the air.

“Too slow, alpha dog,” My prey chuckled from above me.

I looked up to only see free space. I kicked my legs up and stood. I did a three-sixty turn trying to find the speedy fucker.

BAM!

A kick to my torso had me flying back a few feet away. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kaan, the leader of the mercenary group that will annihilate your entire team.”

Kann bowed at the waist. “And I’ve been instructed to kill you myself, Nixon Lancaster, Alpha of the Blood Moon pack.”

“Try it, you bastard,” I growled as I stood again. “I’ll be sure to bury you right next to your master.” I spat blood on the ground and cracked my neck. I can take this guy on; he has some strength, but he’s relying on speed. If I can just

SLAM! Kaan crashed into me again using his speed. CRACK! He swung his right fist right into my nose. It’s broken, but it will heal quickly. “He’s not my master.” Kaan snarled. SLAM! Another hit to my jaw. “He’s just paying me to kill you.”

I tried kicking him off, and I threw my most brutal punches in multiple combinations. But Kaan was quick, and he dodged each hit. He chuckled as his eyes began glowing fire red, and his teeth became and sharp. “Wha—”

BOOM!

A giant black wolf knocked off Kaan. No… not just any black wolf, My dad.

The sweet vanilla tendrils snatched my head to the side. “Aviry…” I whispered.

“NIXON, GET UP!” My dad growled through the mind link. He was snarling and snapping above Kaan; even under my dad’s wolf, he was dodging each blow. “We have to kill it before it fully shifts!”

“What the fuck is it?” I asked as I darted over to my father and what was once Kaan.

He was now shifting into something unfamiliar to me. His eyes were still the same fire read, but his ears were morphing into sharp furry peaks. His nose was elongating into a snout, and whiskers were growing on the sides of his face. The weather was decent, but where we were standing, I could feel the heat increasing.

“He’s a kitsune. A fire kitsune!” My dad shouted back. “If he shifts, he’ll burn everything in sight; you have to kill it and do it now while I have him distracted.”

A kista who? I asked myself. “What the fuck is that? I’ve never heard of that dad.”

“They are rare creatures,” Dad replied. “A fox demon! Now kill it, Nixon!”

Without further hesitation. I slammed my foot down on the head of the kita..kitsu..whatever the hell it is. The beast growled and howled. “Not so fast now, are you!” I reached down and snapped the things head to the side, snapping its neck.

Kaans, body jerked a few times and stilled. I looked up at my dad’s wolf, who was huffing. I reached out to pet his head, but he jerked back and howled in pain. “I looked down to see smoke-tipped claws plunged into his chest.

“DAD!” I shouted.

“A life for a life.” Kaan rasped with his crooked neck.

My dad wolf snarled and bit into Kaan’s face crushing his skull in between his powerful jaws. And then fell on his side, whimpering in pain from the infliction.

“Dad…dad! It’s going to be ok. It’s…it’s not that..” I looked down at the wound. A black substance was gushing out and on to the battlefield. “HELP!” I shouted, “MEDIC!” I screamed even louder. The chances of them getting to us in time…

“NO!” I shouted. “Give him control. I can get him back to the packhouse. I can apply pressure…” I closed my eyes tight, trying to figure out the best way to save him.

“This can’t be happening right now; this can’t be…” I pulled on my hair.

“Nixon…” A hand caressed my face.

I opened my eyes. “DAD…” I cried. I stripped off my shirt and put pressure on his chest. “Dad…Dad please…we need to get you to the..”

“Nixon.” He said, caressing my face. “There’s nothing you can do.”

“DON’T SAY THAT!” I growled. “You can heal—”

“The kitsunes smoke is a poison.” He coughed up black blood. “It won’t heal.”

“MARK!” I turned around to see Alpha Kane charging toward me. They are close friends. My dad introduced me to Kane when I first became an alpha. When dad left the pack to me, he asked Kane to look out for us.

“Kane…” My dad’s voice faltered as he coughed up more blood. “I…can feel the poison spreading. Listen to me. Find Bexley and tell him he’s responsible for using the canister now.” He coughed up more blood.

“Wha..what are you talking about.” From underneath the shirt, I watched my father’s skin turn gray from the infliction. It began to spread over his body. “Dad…” I cried again. “MEDIC!”

“Listen to me!” He growled and coughed again. “Find Bexley. He’ll know what to do..” The grey poison was reaching his neck, inching up to his chin. “Nixon…I love you and Cay very much. Tell Aviry…tell her I..” The grey coloring passed over his lips to the tip of his nose. “Love her….” And with his final breath. My father’s dark brown eyes went grey.

I reached down to embrace his body, but it disintegrated into ash in my arms. “DAD!” I cried out. “NOO!” I roared.

And like a key to cage…my beast was released.

Jax was released. My emotions were spiraling out of control, fuck that, I’m spiraling out of control. I just lost…I just lost…

My dad, Mark. He’s gone, the man who took me in and led me down a successful path. He’s just gone. His presence was bigger than life itself. And he’s just…

A ferocious growl pulled me from my thoughts. Jax was ripping through the battlefield. His thirst for blood was increasing with each kill. All I see is blood spraying in the air. It could be an ally. It could be an enemy. I don’t care anymore. It seems that everyone in my life is doomed to die.

First, my family was slaughtered by the same bastard that I welcomed into my home. My pack was attacked, and now my people are wary of me leading them. I already had some approach me about the removal process. Aviry was taken, Cay was beaten, and now Mark, my father, is gone.

My option of taking the easy way out of life will also claim Cay’s life. So I’m cursed to walk this earth with all of this shit. I can’t deal with this anymore.

I don’t want anyone else to die in my arms. Is it possible to stay here in my mind imprisoned, allowing Jax to roam the lands? No. This menace is a terror. There will be more blood on my hand’s thanks to this demon wolf.

“I heard that,” Jax growled. “I hear everything your thinking about.”

“Leave me alone.” I sighed.

I was replaying everything in my head again. Where did I go wrong? Mark would still be here if it weren’t for me. Why did he have to come a save me? I would’ve handled it. Who am I kidding? I couldn’t even keep up with his speed. I would surely be dead, and then Cay would follow suit.

“WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Jax Growled. “YOU DAMPENING MY KILLING SPREE!”

Why…why am I so weak? How the hell am I going to tell Cay? Holy shit, Cay. Cay will be devastated. I had a hand in both of his parent’s deaths. He won’t think about the blood bond when he finds out. He’s going to kill us both. I deserve death, but I can’t let Cay do this to himself.

“NIXON!” Jax snapped. “You’re needed on the field.”

“No, I can’t go back out there!” I pleaded with my wolf.

“I respected Mark for taking responsibility for you. I won’t let you throw that all away. His death needs to be avenged, and the only way you can do that is by taking out Orion.”

“I can’t go back out there!” I growled. “Everything that I hold close to me is falling apart. I’m not strong enough—“

“CUT THE SHIT!” My wolf snapped. “Open your eyes and see what’s happening around us. I’ve killed off most of these bastards working with Orion. Kane and Bexley are here trying to figure how to active this damn soda can thing. And this damn blood leech won’t get the fuck off of my back.”

“Jax, I said leave me—” I paused and looked up at my wolf. And for the first time, he looked concerned. But before I could ask what he meant. A loud sound whizzed and popped off, looking through Jax’s eyes. A light completely blinded us.

“SHIT!” Bexley exclaimed. “Snap out of it, man. Orion just released the poison. We have to get this shit open!”

“Cay, get him under control!” Kane shouted.

“I’m trying! He’s blocking out the mind link.” Cay looked down from above Jax, who was growling right back at him.

“Nixon, listen to me.” Cay pleaded. “Kane told me everything. I saw dad Nixon. I know he’s dead. But we have to keep going. Aviry is still out there. We can’t lose her too,”

I mind-linked Cay, “I’m so sorry about dad Cay. I didn’t know that thing would kill him.”

“Oh, thank fuck, you’re responding now. Listen, we can worry about that later, Nixon. Right now, focus on Aviry….Focus on our mate!” Cay growled.

“Your wolf took out a huge portion of these bastards. I need you to find a proper time to grieve our father. It is affecting your wolf. We need you both focused on taking down Orion.”

“That damn blood guard,” Jax growled. “I’m going to rip his head off for riding me like a damn horse.”

I chuckled. “Let’s just end this shit quick. I want Orion dead now.”

“Nixon, listen to me!” Cay said through the mind link as my ears rang. “We have to go now. Aviry and Mia are ahead in the fog; it’s going to take time for this to spread to them. Let’s end this shit together, Nixon.”

Cay (POV)

I can’t just lay in bed and do nothing.

I had to follow my heart. And my heart and my wolf are saying go get your fucking mate Cay. So I did. Because I was in the hospital, I had no idea where to go. But one person here does. I ran up to Kasey. I was begging on my knees for her help.

When that didn’t work, I ripped a page out of Aviry’s book. And broke down the door. I had to calm Kasey down and explain the situation. She apologized profusely and finally gave me the location.

When the others were a good way ahead of me, I shifted and ran out into the woods. I ran faster than ever, running straight into a wandering group of women, men, and an injured Tanner. The Man holding him spoke first.

“We’re just passing through, buddy. We don’t want any trouble.” His voice sounded familiar, and I recognized it as the hunter’s leader. It was the guy Denver wanted to rescue.

“Gail?”

Gail explained what was happening back at Orion’s packhouse. He told me they would need all the help they could get. The two men accompanying him, Thunder and Rain, wouldn’t stop staring at me with wide eyes. They refused to leave my side, so we took off toward the battle.

As soon as I arrived. My heart burned, and I felt a rush of guilt, anger, and sadness. I left Rain and Thunder behind. I had to get to my brother. I was running forward, slashing my way through enemies. I finally found him and Alpha Kane kneeling over my father. He was injured, and when I stepped forward, my father disintegrated into ash.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I cried out from him, Alpha Kane looked at me with wide eyes, but an explosion of black fur leapt into the air, wreaking havoc on those around him. It was Jax, Nixon’s wolf. He was out for blood. He was going to kill anything and everything.

My father’s death left a hole inside my heart. Both of my parents are gone. I had to push my feeling to the side for now. Aviry and Nixon needed me. I fell on my knees, shifting into my wolf. Arrow shot forward. We raced to catch up with Jax. We just need to touch him; then, we can begin calming his rage through our bond.

Jax dodges our first attempt. He snapped out at Arrow, ready to rip his throat out. Jax has always loathed the blood bond. He doesn’t like being leashed up inside of Nixon all the time. He does not like being controlled, and that’s the problem. When Nixon’s wolf manifested, they fought the bond. They never really found that connection.

That resulted in a lack of control. Nixon would have to fight with his wolf constantly to try and hold him back. He always said it’s not an easy thing to do. But for his wolf to be this enraged and bloodthirsty would mean that Nixon isn’t even trying to control his wolf.

And now it’s up to Arrow and me to get him under control. Jax shot forward, knocking into my wolf’s side, Arrow twisted on the ground trying to get up, but he wasn’t fast enough. Jax bit into Arrow’s hind leg. Arrow jacked out his free leg and hitting Jax in the face. Nixon’s wolf shook off the attack, barely fazed.

Ready for another round, Jax took a few steps back. Ready to charge. But the look in his eyes went from fight to kill mode. No matter the cost, even if both of us would die.

Nixon’s wolf struck out. He crept low, ready to lunge and tackle Arrow.

BOOM!

He was knocked to the side. A blonde wolf was struggling to hold him down.

“CAY NOW!” Alpha Kane shouted as he fought off an enemy. “CALM HIM DOWN!”

Arrow quickly released control. The blond wolf rolled off, and I ran over and jumped on the back of Jax. I linked my arms around his neck as he bucked like a bull.

“NIXON!” I shouted through the mind link. “NIXON, YOU HAVE TO GAIN CONTROL BACK.” But his grief was overwhelming. My heart was breaking for my brother. He blamed himself for our father’s death. But our father was a warrior. He knows the consequences of entering a fight.

“Nixon, please…”

Jax growled and continued trying to get me off his back. But I could feel the bond calming him down.

“Shut the hell up!” I growled back. “You guys are supposed to be a team…oomph!” My chest hit the back of the wolf. “You are supposed to work together. How dare you leave him in the dark on this!”

Jax growled again. “Listen, you stubborn bastard. For once, help me out. Get Nixon back here, and I promise to leave you the fuck alone after this. We can’t fight each other right now. We have to rescue Aviry!”

Jax roared up at the sky and landed with a big thump. He huffed and finally stopped bucking. I know he doesn’t like me. But at least I got him to listen to me.

It took some time until we were finally able to reach Nixon. And right in time, because a giant firecracker popped into the air, the light was blinding. I opened my eyes and watched as a misty tendril began spreading towards us.

Aviry

Something is not right.

I can’t put my finger on it, but something doesn’t feel right. I left Mark behind to help Nixon. I know I was supposed to stay by his side. But Orion is right there. If I can just kill him, all of this will end. Besides, Mark said the first to find him gets to kill him. I can’t wait to see his face when I drop Orion’s head in front of him.

But knowing boss man, he’ll be proud of me. I’ll always remember our first fight right before he agreed to be my trainer. He invited me to his gym, and he wanted me to wear boxing gloves and a mouthguard. He turned around to grab the items, and when he passed them to me. I socked him right in the jaw.

We both took some mighty blows. And I was grateful that he didn’t fight with me about wearing protective gear. I was a street fighter, not a boxer, and I wanted a street fight between Mark and me.

At the end of the battle, I had a broken nose and black eye. My rib was broken in two places, but I felt fantastic. Mark looked way worse off, but he shrugged it off and asked me if I wanted to go another round. Yeah, I won that fight.

Not wanting to kill the man. I finally went home. From that point on, I knew Mark was going to stay by my side. And during this time in my life, I had accepted that Mark was there for the stay. He is family. And that was true before any of this shit began. He won’t expect me to say it out loud, but I want to say it to him. I need to tell him that he’s a part of of my life.

“Push that feeling to the side and focus, Aviry!” Mia Growled. “Orion is just ahead.” Mia was barreling through the battlefield. Anyone who tried attacking had a random body part torn off by Mia. Nothing was going to stop her from killing Orion.

I looked through Mia’s eyes to see Orion still standing on the balcony. He was dressed for his funeral in his dark green suit, with a red tie. His jet-black hair was slicked back villain style, and that dumbass grin on his face was infuriating.

“Do you think it’s a trap?” Mia asked. “I mean, this is way too easy.” Mia dashed through a group of men that tried to form a barricade with their bodies. One attempted to latch onto Mia’s side. In which she didn’t hesitate in reaching back and ripping his left arm off.

The fool was left behind screaming in agony. Mia ran faster; we are almost there. She looked up again. Orion began descending the stairs without a care. I mean, if I saw Mia charging at me with blood covering her mouth. I would run for my life.

“It’s possible,” I said. “But I don’t think so. Orion is hell-bent on accomplishing his goals. The sooner he gets this fight over with, the better for him. We may be running to the right to him, but we were not going to be captured by him again.”

With Nixon far from Orion and Cay safe at the packhouse, Orion won’t be able to hold that over my head this time.

THUMP!

Mia snapped her head over to the side, ready to tear apart her next victim. She stopped her powerful jaws just in time to see Kia running beside her. Kia nudged her side again, and both wolves charged forward. This kill belongs to us both. Orion doesn’t have a chance. Just a few more feet now—”

WHIZ

A blinding bright white light pierced the sky. Mia came to an abrupt halt as she tried to cover her eyes. Everyone thing around us seemed to do the same thing. It was impossible to see. Mia tried opening her eyes. Slightly dazed, she shook it off; on her right, Kia was doing the same thing. But the haze wouldn’t clear.

“My legs feel numb, Aviry,” Mia said. She looked down at the ground, and a white fog was creeping along the floor.

“What is this?” she asked as she fell on all fours. “I can’t move.” Mia’s heart began to hasten. She looked over at whimpering Kia.

“Quick, Mia, give me control.” I urged. “This is Orion’s poison. We have to set off the canister. I have to find Mark.”

“I can’t, Aviry,” Mia said. “Something is preventing the shift.” And she was right.

That vacuum pressure that brings me back wasn’t happening. No matter how much we focused on shifting. Mia plopped down on the ground facing Kia. They both whimpered, feeling weak from the poison.

“There’s no need to fear, my dear.” A voice shouted from a distance. Not just some voice, Orion’s bastard ass. “You see, I tried to do this the natural way. But you both have forced my hand. If I can’t breed you, then I’ll just extract the DNA from the wolf.”

Orion laughed as he approached us. “I will take as much as I want, but daddy won’t kill you. Even if you bitches deserve it. At least as wolves, I won’t have to hear your mouths. And I won’t have to see your mother’s face when you are begging me to forgive you.”

“Now, while my men are loading you both up for transportation. I’ll be wrapping up this fight.”

BOOM!

A loud explosion sounded off from the back of the field.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Orion shouted. “DON’T JUST STAND THERE GO SEE WHAT THAT WAS.” Two men ran off in the direction of the loud noise. “The rest of you get your asses over here quickly and load them up.”

“AHHHHH!” A man’s scream pierced through the air.

Orion paused a looked back through the fog that was now dissipating in the air. Slowly Orion took steps back. Stumbling over two bodies, he stabilized and continued moving back. Two sets of paws landed beside Mia, and a brass tongue licked the side of her head.

Although Mia was unable to move her body, she could still move her eyes to the side. The scent of mint and chocolate mixed in the air. It was Cay and Nixon. Wait… no, they can’t be here. Not up against Orion. If anything happens to either one of them, he’ll kill them both.

Mia whimpered as both wolves passed by her, snarling and growling up at Orion. No, they can’t do this.

Together they shot forward, both wolves aiming at Orion, who let out a feral roar. Slowly Mia was gaining control of her limbs again; we need complete control. We need to defeat Orion while Cay and Nixon have him distracted from us.

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