Alpha Adiera

Death of the Alpha

~ Luna Adiera's POV~

Terror.

Screams.

Death.

I knew he was dead. Tears flooded my eyes for my beautiful Alpha mate Augustus. I felt the snap of our mental link as well as the physical pain direct to my heart as he died. The howling and wailing started as our pack also felt the disconnection to our beloved Alpha Gus. I howled with the rest of my pack, then doubled over with a grunt from the pain in my chest and the burning at my neck where I knew my mate's mark was being forcefully removed.

No!

My hands went instinctively to my abdomen. Our baby would never know the love of his Father. Gus didn't directly refuse to let me fight by his side (bless him) but instead insisted I accompany the older pack members and the women unable to fight and the pups to the safe room underneath the pack house.

It was now up to us. I was now part of the last line of defence.

A loud *bang bang bang* on the sealed metal door snapped my head up drawing me out of my pained haze, and I quickly wiped my eyes as I shushed those around me with a hand gesture.

It was no time to lose myself to grief. I still had my pack family to protect.

"Open up by order of the New Alpha of the New Moon pack" sneered an arrogant familiar voice.

I couldn't help the low growl that escaped my lips. Alpha David Emmeratte. Our supposed ally and southern neighbour. He was an arrogant twit of a man who thought he was God's gift in all ways. He always kissed my hand whenever I had the unfortunate pleasure of his company - blech.

I avoided him even though he had Gus fooled into thinking he was a decent person. He made my skin crawl and I suppressed a shudder.

Lots of hushed scared whispers surrounded me.

My beta female guard Stella turned to me in a small voice and asked "Luna Adiera? What do you want us to do?"

I looked around and made eye contact with each remaining member of our pack. Determined stares met mine.

We looked at the CCTV screen where at least 20 warriors were waiting in the laundry area just outside the safe room. They walked with effort, some with aid from others obviously injured from a hard battle already fought. More men swarmed in to the other room as we watched, carrying gas bottles and blow torch equipment. They knew we could hole up in here for at least a month but they would not grant us the luxury of time to do it.

I was grateful that our pack allowed kids and women to train. At least 50 members were huddled in the safe room with me. 10 or so were pups too small for training being held in their Mother's arms or clinging to their legs. The rest were trained but due to age, being pregnant or with small pups unable to protect alongside our fit and healthy main warriors.

I spoke lowly to our small group.

"Junior warriors?" A dozen teens stepped forward

"Yes Luna?"

"Go and get yourselves some weapons from the back room. Knives, swords, bows, whatever you're comfortable with."

I was met with happy teenage grins.

"Yes Luna!"

"Anyone else that is happy to grab yourself a weapon please do so"

"Yes Luna!"

"Anyone unable to fight please over turn the tables on their sides and stay behind them. You will be able to ask for refuge if all else fails." Pride filled me looking at all their familiar faces. "It has been my honour to serve you as Luna" I then bowed my head to them.

They in turn bowed their heads to me.

They knew this was going to be my last stand.

I would go down fighting.

There was no way could I accept anyone less than Gus as my mate and Alpha.

.

Hearing the clunk of the metal door and the hissing of the now broken seal, I grabbed my long battle bow. Nocking 3 silver tipped arrows in my string I pulled it back to my chin and waited, breathing out slowly to help calm the pumping of adrenaline in my veins.

If we were going to meet Selene on the other side of this wheel of life, I was going to bring as many dishonourable wolves as I could with me.

-----------------

Not even waiting for the dust from the fallen metal door to settle, I squatted down and released the arrows into the guessed vicinity of our enemy. More arrows followed from other areas of the safe room. Grunts and a scream were the reply as I let loose with more arrows with a whispered prayer of connecting them to enemy targets.

A bellowing roar made me catch my breath!

Daddy?

I put my fist up stopping any more arrows being released in case they found friends instead of foes. Gripping my short sword, I advanced finishing off enemies already wounded. No one would be shown mercy from me today. My pack fellows feeling the same way, followed, as we continued out through the bloodied laundry making short work of the invaders.

My father and brother met my eyes as the dust settled as we made our way towards each other

"Hey Daddy! Wecome Alpha Zane!"

I embraced my father then my brother with a relieved smile. I couldn't care less if I was almost 22 and Luna to my own pack, I would always be my Dad's little girl.

"Thought you could do with some help Dee Dee!" Zane said with a big faced grin. I smiled even broader after hearing my childhood nickname.

"Thanks big bro, but how?"

"Alpha Augustus mind linked his beta to let him know what was going on and we came as soon as we heard" my father replied with a concerned frown.

Thank the Goddess Gus' Beta Ben was asking permission to bring his fated mate back from my brothers pack on our northern border side today!

My brother Zane is 24 and took over from my Father - Alpha Phillip when he found his fated mate aged 20. Dad moved out of the pack house into a little cottage with Mum so they could be away from the action but still close by.

"Where is Ben?"

"Interrogating Alpha David's men outside"

We heard a low groan, and we looked down at Alpha David clutching his arrow pierced thigh. Thankfully the 3 silver arrows embedded deep in the muscle, blocked him to be able to shift into his Alpha wolf.

"I hadn't taken you for a savage Adiera" he hissed glaring up at me.

I crouched to his level on the balls of my feet meeting his hardened blue eyes "Really Alpha Emmeratte? Well I didn't take you for a back stabbing piece of shite, but here we are." I shook my head took a breath and turned back to him "Why? Why attack our neighbouring pack? We've had peace treaties between our packs for decades. Gus thought of you as a friend."

He snorted loudly. "Alpha Augustus was days away from joining his small inconsequential pack with mine before finding you. If it wasn't for your damn family all this would be part of my territory now."

Days pfft... More like months away, but since when did facts get in the way of a good story?

He gave a dark look at my father and brother who glared back. All 3 growling and projecting their suffocating Alpha auras. Luckily as a fellow Alpha it didn't affect me much but my fellow pack members standing metres away bared their necks in submission.

I stood up and looked down at him in disgust.

"So you thought you would just help yourself to what you perceived you were owed regardless of having the offer removed from the table?"

"Alphas challenge other Alphas for their packs all the time." he shrugged and dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. Alpha David leered up at me, "since I'm the victor, you can now become my chosen Luna ruling at my side. You know, I've always admired you Adiera. You're beautiful, smart and fierce. Everything a Luna should be."

I ignored his empty compliments.

"So, you properly challenged Alpha Augustus for the Alpha role with unbiased witnesses then?" I sneered at him. "Please inform me of who so we can interview them and start the official take over procedures".

He looked away from me. Of course he hadn't followed proper protocol. I knew it and he knew it, so there was no point in him bluffing.

"I think I have a better idea." I lowered myself again meeting his cold eyes with my own. "I think I'm going to remove your head from your shoulders as a gift to congratulate Alpha Donald Emmeratte, your brother, as the new Alpha of your pack."

Alpha David gulped as his face paled.