Alphas United: The Battle Before the War

Chapter 4

“We have intruders.”

“Who? How many and from where?” Alicia barks quickly, as she starts jogging to the front door.

“10. Groups of 2, all around the coven grounds.”

“You have security?” I ask the man as we start to run outside. I didn’t see anyone, and I’m pretty good at spotting that stuff. 

“No, we use magic to alert us when someone crosses. It’s usually kids or someone hiking or getting lost. Not this time. It’s your kind,” he pants.

We make it outside, and everything is calm. “Is it your men?” Alicia huffs turning back to me.

“The only men I brought with me are right here,” I answer and she knows I’m telling the truth. 

“We can help,” I offer.

“No, we have this handled. This is for Toni. They need to learn that they only got the best of Toni yesterday because she hasn’t developed her craft. Our coven has 13 elders. 13 members that have perfected their craft, and they’re going to see what that looks like!” she booms.

With a flick of her hand, a large bell tower located about 100 feet away starts ringing. Moments later men and women are running out of houses. 

“It’s only 10," Alicia yells. "Myrtle, Jessop, Felix,” Alicia motions. 

“Alicia and the three she called over form a small circle, holding hands. Two women and two men. I pull Lauren close into me, wrapping my arms around her and she grasps my waist as we watch. They start chanting something I don't even recognize as words. The long weeds start to sway, and I feel a slight breeze. then the trees. The wind picks, causing fallen leaves to swirl up, and small trees start to sway gently. Within a few seconds, the tall weeds and all the trees that surround this secluded street start to sway harshly. Lauren’s hair is flying up wildly, and she struggles to control it, but there's no use. 

Everyone's eyes are squinted to protect from the harsh wind and debris. This is wild! I hear screams and hollers in the distance, and they’re getting closer to us. After 15 seconds or so, I see the cause of the screams. Men are levitating about 2 feet off the ground. They’re struggling to get out of this wind levitation thing that's holding them up. I would be scared shitless if I were them. 

I know what witches are, and I’ve always known that they existed, but I’ve never seen them in action. This is… something else. Wow.

All ten men came from different directions but are now levitating in a line in the driveway with all of us. Alicia and the three responsible for all of this stop the chanting and let go of each other's hands. The men drop to the ground; not one of them landing on their feet. The wind stops abruptly, the leaves that were swirling around fall, and the trees quiet and still. I instinctively pull Lauren behind me. Even though these guys are wildly outnumbered, the need to put me between her and that threat is instinctual. 

They all jump to their feet quickly and start to lunge towards the witches before them. Seems like a stupid thing to do, if you ask me. After that levitating bullshit, I'd be on my best behaviour.

“Gentleman,” Alicia smirks, and the two men, Felix and Jessop, raise their hands. All 10 of the men are stuck where they are. Their feet are planted on the ground and they can’t move, and they’re trying to too.

“Tell me, did any of you have anything to do with the attack last night?” Alicia asks. No one says anything, but one man scoffs. 

“You. You were there?” She asks, anger laced in every word. A look of panic flashed in his eyes before he quickly hides it.

“I didn’t say that,” he rebuts, trying to sound tough... but also innocent.

“You didn’t have to, but just for that attitude, you’ll be first,” she booms. His fear is no longer hidden as his eyes widen, and his mouth drops open.

She raises one hand and slowly starts to close it into a fist. His face contorts to agony, and screams of panic and pain rip from him. She clenches her fist tight, and then her hand suddenly flies down to her side. His chest rips open and his heart comes flying out, and slamming to the ground. His lifeless body then falls to the ground.

A small whimper leaves Lauren’s lips, and I wrap her in my arms, shielding her from the view. She buries her head into my chest, and I hold her close. She doesn’t have the stomach for this stuff. 

-They deserve this, Lauren- I remind her through mind-link. She nods into my chest and keeps herself buried safely in my arms.

The panic is evident on the other guys faces now too. Most try harder to get their feet to move, while two of them resort to begging. Their hands are together, “Please! Please!” I hear their pleas, and Lauren squeezes a little tighter. 

“Myrtle,” Alicia gives a nod, and they both raise their hands.

“No… wait… If we don’t go back… they’ll attack,” one man says in a frenzy.

“Then we’ll rip their hearts out too,” Alicia says gravely. 

“If you want to survive this, leave them. Get away from them, or you’ll die too,” one man says pointing to me, and suddenly his face scrunches up, and a gurgling sound rumbles up from him. I see Alicia’s hand fly down to her side, and just like the last, his chest rips open and his heart falls to the ground. 

Myrtle and Alicia together, then one by one continue until they’re all dead. The screams and pleas were gruesome to listen to. I hate that Lauren had to hear this, but there was no way of getting her out here. I would have had to walk through these guys to get to one of the vehicles. 

“It’s over baby,” I whisper. I grab her face in my hands, lifting her eyes to mine. “It’s over,” I nod, and she returns it, her eyebrows pulled together. Her eyes are red, and welled up with unshed tears. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. Are you okay?” I whisper. She nods, and a tear falls. I use my thumb to wipe it for her. 

“I’m okay. I’m okay,” she nods. “I don’t want to see it if I don't have to,” she says, pleading with her eyes and I nod. 

I wrap my arms around her, and mind-link my guys.

-Let’s get this cleaned up, and quickly. Luna doesn’t have the stomach for this, and I don't want the coven to know that.-

 I don’t want her looking weak. She doesn’t want that either. She might break down when we get home, but we both know the importance of appearing strong. She’s holding it together well. I hold her for a few minutes in my arms, while I watch my guys piling up their bodies. It’s easier for us to walk past a pile without her looking as opposed to 20 feet of dead bodies strewn out along the gravel driveway. 

Alicia comes over to us, and I shift us slightly so when Lauren loosens her grip to face her, she still sees nothing.

“Your guys are proving to be helpful,” she motions her head, looking over at my guy's finish up. “I hope that wasn’t too gruesome for you,” she adds.

I c**k one brow, “I don’t tend to shy away from a fight. When I have my woman with me though, I’m not letting her out of my grasp when there’s a threat nearby. Not unless I’m taking care of that threat. You seemed to have it under control though,” I smirk. I chose my words wisely. Her tea, and all. 

“Yes, that we did,” she smiles, and her eyes move to Lauren. 

“Mate bond is stronger in Alphas,” Lauren teases gently, giving me a playful squeeze. She’s playing it cool.

“You don’t have to pretend that was easy. Your aura is completely different. That was hard for you. That’s okay. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. All the primal strength you have in you as a she-wolf, and you don’t use it do you? Why?” she asks, amused. 

Lauren looks at me, nibbling on her lower lip, thinking about how to handle this. I know that with the effects of the tea to keep my mouth shut. There is no denying it. 

“Hurting people doesn’t come easy to me,” she answers truthfully. Alicia smiles wide. 

“She's lovely. I’m bewitched, I tell you,” she chuckles.

“Thank you,” Lauren smiles.

“She is lovely,” I agree. “And I’m bewitched too,” I smirk, looking down at her. 

“Truth serum… he’s telling the truth,” she smiles and pats Lauren’s arm and makes her way to a few others.

“Like you didn’t already know that,” I scoff.

“No truth serum needed to know how you feel about me,” she smirks.

“Actually, since you’re under truth serum and all…”

“This is not fair,” I chuckle, and she giggles, but proceeds. She’s looking up at me, and I start moving to our Escalade. She starts walking, but she’s distracted, and this is my time to get her out of here. Even with the bodies moved, there’s blood everywhere, and there's still a few hearts that haven’t been picked up. So I play along. I have nothing to hide, but if she’s distracted, I’m going with it. I’m surprised, she’s acting so playful given what she just witnessed, but I’m not questioning it. 

“Tell me, do you actually think I look beautiful in the morning, hair a mess and everything?” she raises her eyebrows. She looks like she thinks she’s caught me in some big lie.

“Yes! You’re always gorgeous, I love your messy hair and even your morning breath. I also love that you usually wear one of my t-shirts to bed… which is hot, plus easy access,” I smile, and she giggles. I keep walking, and I need to keep her distracted. 

“What else ya got?” I ask.

“Is there something you want to do to me that you haven’t?” She asks, and mind-links me.

-sexually-

“No… Is this an opening question, is there something you want?” 

“No, just making sure you weren't hiding some weird kink from me,” she smiles, and I open the door, my hand on her back, I guide her in.

“Don’t look to your right, gorgeous,” I say, and lean over her, buckling her up. 

“You totally distracted me,” she says with wide eyes.

“I did,” I hold back a smile. “Give me a minute, okay. I’m going to give orders and offer Alicia the opportunity to come over while we make a plan,” I say, holding her gaze. She nods and gives me a small smile.

“Thank you,” she adds quietly.

“My pleasure,” and I lean in for a soft kiss.

I jog up to my guys, “Thanks for cleaning up guys. We’re going to get ready to take off,” I say and jog up to Alicia. 

“We’re going to go and discuss everything and make a plan of attack. Did you want to come with us? You can bring whoever you want?” I ask. 

“I’m exhausted. That took a lot of me. My witches don’t need to be involved in the plan. I just want them in the background, watching, if that’s alright? It's been a rough 12 hours for most of us.”

“Yeah, fine by me.”

“ How’s your Luna? Better?” she smirks.

“Uhh… yeah?” I say, almost like a question. 

“When I touched her, I placed a calming spell on her. I’m glad she’s feeling better,” she says, sounding pleased.

“Well thank you. I appreciate that.” That makes more sense. 

She smiles, “Let me know when you’re heading out and I’ll send a few warlocks.”

“Okay. Guy’s, let’s go,” I called out. We all start to head to our vehicles, and I hear a poof. My head snaps back, and I see the pile of dead bodies in flames.