Mark of the Goddess

Chapter 6 - The Power of the Mark - Part 1

Tesla’s POV

Vampyres were supposed to be extinct along with the Fae. No one has seen or heard of vampyres for centuries. How is it that there is one right in front of me? I snarled at him as he held up his hand. 

“You better watch your tone, wolf. Least I let my pets out to deal with you,” He hissed at me. I looked back at the tunnel, realizing that nothing else had come out. Vargs were trying to get out of the hole, but kept ramming into an invisible force. I looked at him with confusion. 

“Don’t worry, dear. They are safely locked away. For now,” the woman spoke as she held up her hand towards the entrance. Definitely a witch. I didn’t stop growling. 

Skald! Tally! Don’t come here! I REPEAT! DO! NOT! COME! Too dangerous! I yelled into the pack link. Need lionesses! NOW!

“Contacting your pack are we?” The man said as he took a step towards me. I took a step back. Alpha Vargs, infected were-beasts and now a witch and a vampyre. This night better not get worse. The man looked me over to a moment. His eyes seemed to brighten as he looked at my chest. “The Mark of the Goddess.” His voice was almost a whisper. The woman whipped her head towards me and her expression was similar to his. 

“So much power, just standing in front of us,” she spoke as she took a step towards the man. “Do you know what this means?!” I certainly didn’t but now I was more concerned. 

“Shift wolf!” The man demanded. “Show me your other form!” I snarled at him in defiance. “Do it or I’ll have these Vargs force you!” His grin was almost demonic as it contorted his face. I didn’t shift but I stopped growling at him. With the way they both spoke about this mark on my chest, they wouldn’t dare hurt me. Right? So instead, I sat down and held my head up. Doing the best I could to show that I was unafraid of him. 

“She’s a strong one. I like her,” the woman cooed as she looked at me with disgustingly lustful eyes. “She will be fun to play with later.” I growled but didn’t show my teeth this time. 

“Shut up, Alira!” The man snapped. She just giggled. Bat-s**t crazy, that woman. At least I had the name. 

“Listen, I don’t want to hurt you, wolf,” the man said as I felt dark energy seep from him and began to surround me. Was he trying to use magic on me? If so, it wasn’t working. All it did was creep me out. He took a step towards me, but I quickly rose and took a step back. I wanted to run, but I knew that he could break my neck in a split second if he really wanted to. Alira burst out laughing. 

“Your tricks don’t work on that one, Allure,” She laughed out. Good. Now I have both of their names. I sarcastically thanked them both for that in the depths of my thoughts. Allure hissed at her. 

“Do you not understand the seriousness of this?! Is this all a game to you?!” He turned to Alira as he hissed out his words. She giggled at him. 

“Yes and yes,” She answered as I began to take a few steps back. I had to get away. A witch and a vampyre together just screamed bad news. Every fiber in my body was screaming at me to run and run far away from here. Allure looked back at me.

“And where do you think you’re going?” He hissed. Within a blink of an eye he vanished and was right in front of me. Grabbing my throat. Lifting me off all my paws. I writhed and struggled against the cold touch of his hand. I tried snarling at him, but was only getting out gurgling sounds as he squeezed my throat. “I will have you, whether you like it or not.” I felt myself shift back to my human form as my vision started to become clouded. 

“So this is what you look like. A beauty such as yourself, shouldn’t be out here all alone.” He brought me closer to his face. Turning my head from side to side. Looking at my neck. “Well, well. Unmarked.” I saw the disgusting grin on his face. 

“You better not take her to your bed!” Alira spat. “She will not take my place! I will bleed her dry, if you even think of it!” Allure chuckled. 

“Don’t worry, dear sister. She’ll already be drained before you can get to her.” My stomach turned at the realization that these two were not only siblings, but they were sleeping with each other. Another realization, this vampyre was part witch and that means Alira was also part vampyre. I am really screwed right now. I have no way out of this. Or do I? 

I’m close to Allure’s face as he took in my bare body. As his head bowed to look at my legs, I swung my fist up into his throat. Caught off guard, he released me and coughed as he fell to his knees. I coughed as I fell to the ground and didn’t chance anything as I turned and shifted into my wolf form once again. I mentally told my body to go faster. The sounds of Vargs yipping and snarling came from behind me now. Sliding to a stop, I looked around. Get a barring on my surroundings for just a few seconds. I am too far away from the Pride’s borders. Even if I was closer, there’s no way I was going to lead almost an army of Vargs and infected towards those that have risked a lot by letting me live in their territory. I had to lead them away, lose them, and then back track later. 

Moon! We are at Varg den. Skald whimpered in the pack link. 

NO, Skald. We have a serious problem! I have to go farther away from the Pride territory. There are two hybrid vampyres here. They are controlling the Vargs and Infected. Go back to the Pride house. Round up everyone that you can and try to tell them this. I don’t know how long I’ll be, and all of you must be prepared. The bears. The avians. Everyone! I cut the pack link after I told them this. Those two dogs were a hell of a lot smarter than any other pet and I trusted them to find a way to tell everyone. I concentrated on the bond I shared with my two friends and sent them as much energy as I could without passing out. With the remaining ounce of energy I had I ran away from the Pride’s borders. 

~~ 

Eldwin’s POV

We circled around the entrance to the Varg territory. The sounds that were erupting within echoed out to us. I looked at Alex and huffed. Vargs weren’t a problem and we had a lion on our side to take care of any infected. Skald and Tally whined as she paced back and forth. They were obviously distressed, but as for why, I can’t be certain and I can only hope for the best. Tesla’s intoxicating scent was still fairly fresh and I wanted nothing more than to find her and hold her. Skald snarled in frustration as he backed away from the entrance and looked around. It was odd seeing a dog with so much sense of self awareness. It truly was incredible. Tally tried her best to console Skald. She licked at his muzzle, just before they both went completely still. 

Lionel Junior was watching them and depending on Skald and Tally’s movements. Obviously, I had no choice to follow his lead on this. Next to Tesla, he knew these two dogs, better than myself, along with Alex, Thomas and Armond. 

Something is going on. I said through our pack link. 

Yeah, It looks like they want to go against their alpha. Thomas said matter of factly. 

They can’t and mostly likely won’t. Armond said as he sniffed around the entrance. Skald dared not take another step forward. Instead he was walking backwards. Tally still trying to comfort him. Just then they both froze and their eyes glowed silver. Both of them turned in unison and started to head back towards the town. I tilted my head in confusion. Looking over at Lionel Junior, I saw that he was just as confused as I was. We all followed the pair back the way we came. 

We ran until we were in front of the Pride house. Both dogs sat a few feet away from the doors. I was the first to shift back. Looking around at my confusion, I went for my clothes that I had discarded earlier. As I pulled on my clothes I watched as the other men followed my actions. 

“What the hell is this about?” I asked as I button my jeans. Lionel Junior shrugged. 

“I have no idea. I’ve never seen this happen before,” He said as he pulled his shirt over his head. 

“Leaders! Come forth!” A voice came from Skald and Tally’s maws. I looked at them in shock. 

“H-have they always been able to talk?” I asked as I pointed at them.

“Never. Only through the pack link they have with Tesla,” Lionel junior said. 

“Leaders! Come forth!” The pair repeated. Their voice sounded like many voices speaking in unison. Lionel Junior ran inside the Pride house, roaring orders at whoever was inside. I watched as he came back out, but his eyes were looking at Skald and Tally in confusion and shock. I watched as all the other guests piled out of the house. Lionel walked to Lionel Junior.

“What do you think you’re doing? Calling us all out here like that,” Lionel almost snarled. Lionel Junior said nothing and only stared at the pair of dogs. Lionel looked in the direction that his son was looking at. I too looked back at Skald and Tally. 

“Leaders! We speak for the Marked One. She granted us the power to speak a warning.” The pair  spoke. Whispers started to emerge. “We will repeat what our alpha has seen.” The pair paused for a moment as we all listened and waited. 

“Skald. Tally. We have a problem. Do NOT come for me yet. Stay on alert.” Their voices changed to a woman’s voice. That voice was filled with caution and fear. That voice was coming from my mate. Another pause. “Skald! Tally! Danger! Help!” Her voice was almost panicked now. My heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest at her panicked voice. “NO, Skald. We have a serious problem! I have to go farther away from the Pride territory. There are two hybrid vampyres here. They are controlling the Vargs and Infected. Go back to the Pride house. Round up everyone that you can and try to tell them this. I don’t know how long I’ll be, and all of you must be prepared. The bears. The avians. Everyone!” With that, the two dogs eyes, stopped glowing and shook themselves off. 

“Varg and infected?!” An avian female gasped. 

“Vampyre hybrids?!” A lion growled. 

“That’s impossible! Vampyres haven’t been around for centuries. There has to be a mistake!” A male bear almost roared. 

“ENOUGH!” Lionel roared at the rising concerns. Everyone’s eyes went on him. He walked over to Skald and Tally, dropping to one knee. He petted them and brought them into a hug. “That was my daughter’s voice. She was in the heart of a Varg den and survived. She would not have sent her two guardians away just to scare us!” 

“My father speaks the truth!” Lionel Junior shouted in agreement. “My sister does not lie when it comes to the safety of others!”

“I can confirm this as well!” A younger version of Barnaby spoke up as he took a step forward.

“If there are vampyre hybrids out there, then we need to take care of them now. They will use her to their advantage!” Lionel Junior almost snarled. 

“Then we must storm that den now!” I shouted out. My mouth spoke before my brain could react. I needed her. Not because she was marked. Not because my pack needed a Silva. I needed her because I have waited so long to finally find my mate. I will not let some vampyres take her from me. 

“No!” Nascha screeched out. A wave of power silenced us all. “Not all of us can leave the town unprotected. We have to make a plan!” 

“And leave my mate out there to be torn to shreds by those creatures!” I snarled as I stepped towards her. Nascha’s flock members quickly blocked my view from her. Alex and Armond held me back. 

“Whether or not she is your mate, we can not simply go off into the night and start killing willy nilly!” Nascha screeched. “And you call yourself an Alpha!” I snarled at her. 

“I have waited for eight years to find my mate, b***h! I will not lose her before I’ve had the chance to even see her!” Everyone went silent at my words. Just because we were all different species, we all knew the importance of a mate. That bond that was stronger than any other bond. That bond that tied two lives together for eternity. Lionel Junior stepped cautiously in front of me.

“I understand what you feel, Alpha Eldwin. As much as I want to back you up, we have to think of the safety of the town. Tesla would have come here herself, if it was that important. The fact that she didn’t means that she is trying to protect us all. She wanted to warn us, and somehow she did with Skald and Tally,” Lionel Junior spoke as his voice cracked. I couldn’t tell if he was upset, worried, or angry. Perhaps it was a mixture of all three. His words seemed to have calmed me down slightly, but I still wanted to just run out there and find her. I had to know that she was safe. 

I couldn’t help but pace back and forth. My mind wandered to places that it shouldn’t have. Finding Tesla injured or worse. Alex, Thomas, and Armond tried to calm me down but it didn’t help much. Tally came up to me and whimpered. I squatted down to her and started petting her. Somehow she was able to calm me far better than my own pack mates. Skald was having the same reaction that I was having. He kept looking in the direction of where we had gone too early. His whimpers were mixed with growls. I could tell that he was trying to contact her. It was odd how much I could relate to him. I remember doing that when I was a child. 

“We will send our elite patrols out and keep the rest here to protect the town. Nascha, Barnaby, Eldwin, send your best warriors that you have with you. We will eradicate those foul beasts before they have a chance to attack my town,” Lionel commanded. He didn’t bother saying our formal names. At this point I didn’t care. I watched Nascha nod to two of her flock members. They both bowed respectfully. I saw Baranby and, who I assumed was his son, silently argue. Linoel Junior walked up to his father as I turned to my own pack mates. 

“We all go. We have to bring her back in one piece,” I growled out. 

“We are behind you one hundred percent, Eldwin,” Alex said as Thomas and Armond nodded in agreement. I nodded back to them before turning back towards the groups. 

“Myself and my pack mates are going!” I announced. No one looked surprised. 

“I send my two best warriors. Meena and Sheen,” Nascha announced as she motioned towards the two women that she was speaking to just moments before. 

“I will go along with my cousin, Tawn,” The Baranby look alike spoke. “My father will stay behind to better protect the town.” Lionel nodded to him. 

“I have already sent out my elite Lionesses to meet us at the borders,” Lionel said as he looked towards his son. 

“I will also be joining,” Lionel Junior said as he bowed his head. For some reason I felt relief at his words. “My father will remain behind and defend the fort.” 

“My son will lead everyone to the area. Let’s get this done and over with,” Lionel said as his eyes filled with worry. 

~~