Fighting For A Goddess

The Alpha Council

“Don’t let Jade or Aidan out of your sight,” Xander instructed. They had just finished their morning training.

“Yes, Alpha,” Elijah responded as Logan nodded.

“And don’t hit on her,” Max added, leaning against the doorframe of the gym.

Logan nodded again, but Elijah just smirked.

It was Sunday morning, and Jade was headed to the coffee shop to work her shift. She’d already showered and dried her hair the way Monica taught her. She was standing in front of the mirror in a lacy light pink bra and panty set. She was still getting used to wearing such sexy underwear, but it was quickly growing on her. She slipped on a mauve cotton midi dress with short sleeves and a pair of black flats. She swiped some clear lip gloss over her full lips and put on a bit of mascara. The muted purple dress made her green eyes pop.

Jade was pretty shocked when she woke up this morning and all of her bruises had faded away. The faint purple bruising was only noticeable if you looked very closely at her neck.

Last night was without a doubt the best sleep of her life. Max had put a bed in his office, which was just on the other side of Aidan’s new room. Having Max on the same floor made her feel safe.

Jade picked up her bag and walked into Aidan’s room. He had just taken a bath in his new space-themed bathroom and was dressed in a cute NASA sweater and jogger set. He was struggling to tie his new sneakers. Jade kneeled down beside him and helped.

“Let’s bring a few of your new books so you don’t get bored,” Jade smiled at him.

Aidan picked up two books and Jade put them in her bag. She held out her hand to Aidan and they walked out to the elevator.

When they got to the kitchen, Xander was making a protein shake. He locked eyes with Jade and gave her one of his killer smiles. He was in a pair of gray sweats that did nothing to hide his impressive package. Jade’s gaze dropped down before she quickly pulled her eyes away.

Xander chuckled.

“Good morning. You both look amazing,” he smiled.

“How’d you sleep, little man?” he asked. He reached out a hand for Aidan to give him a high five.

Aidan held Jade’s hand and took her with him as he walked over to high five Xander.

“Wow, Jade. You look great,” Xander said lowly.

“So do you,” Jade responded, sounding flirtier than she meant to. Xander raised an eyebrow at her. He reached out and ran a thumb across her throat.

“Your neck healed very quickly,” Xander said mostly to himself, his brows furrowed together.

“Yeah,” Jade said a little breathlessly, Xander’s touch felt electric. She quickly stepped away and pulled Aidan with her.

“We’ve got to go, I'm going to be late,” she said as she pulled her keys out of her bag.

“Whoa there gorgeous, you’re not going anywhere without us,” Elijah said as he stepped into the kitchen.

Jade looked back at him confused. Max walked in and Logan followed behind him.

“Excuse me?” Jade asked, believing she must have heard wrong.

“Elijah and Logan are going with you,” Xander stated.

“No, they’re not,” Jade responded. Xander couldn’t help but notice that shy little Jade was getting bolder by the minute.

“Awww that hurts my feelings,” Elijah clutched dramatically at his heart.

“Elijah, knock it off,” Max warned. He walked over to Jade, “They’re idiots, but I’d trust them with my life. You and Aidan can’t leave the house without one of us in this room going with you. Right now, Xander and I have to handle some business. Otherwise, I would be going with you.”

“What about Eric?” Jade asked. Eric walked in with a cocky smile.

“I would love to go with you, angel. But, I have to handle some things here,” he responded, clearly pleased that Jade requested him.

Jade just nodded her head and glanced over at Elijah and Logan, looking unsure.

Max reached into his back pocket and pulled out a brand new iPhone. “It’s all set up for you. If you need anything, just call.”

Jade stared at the phone. “Max… I can’t accept this,” she tried handing it back, but Max pushed her hand back.

“You’re taking it. And you really don’t have time to argue. You have a coffee shop to open in 10 mins,” Max pointed out.

“Shoot!” She put the phone in her bag and leaned in and wrapped her arms around Max.

“I’ll see you, later,” she whispered softly.

“Do I get a hug goodbye?” Eric whined. Max turned and glared at him.

…………..

Xander and Max agreed today would be Jade’s last day at the coffee shop. It was an unnecessary risk. They only allowed it because the Elders and 8 neighboring Alphas would be coming to the packhouse today.

They all sat around the conference table. There were 12 Elders, one of whom was Xander’s dad, Alexander Grayson. All 8 of the Alphas had also brought their Betas. The room had never been this packed. Xander nodded at Max, he stood and walked to the front of the room.

“Thank you for agreeing to this emergency council meeting. I discovered some disturbing news a few nights ago.” Max paused as the discussions in the room all died down and their attention fell to Max.

Max was 3 years younger than Xander, but he’d always looked up to the natural authority Max carried. Even though Max was a gamma, he could easily take on any of the Alphas in this room. Max knew it, they all knew it. He’d been a scrappy kid, an orphan. But, by the time he was 14, he was a formidable warrior. After he turned 16 and got his wolf, Max became even stronger. Xander had never butted heads with him before Max met Jade.

“A young woman was attacked a few nights ago. Alpha Xander knows the woman and saved her from being assaulted. He took her back to the packhouse. I went after the assailants. When I caught up with them, I found this. Eric pulled out a petri dish and placed it in the center of the table.

“Demon blood,” an alpha even younger than Xander whispered.

“Yes. That’s the conclusion my wolf quickly came to as well.” Max continued, “I tracked them down. I killed one and then questioned the other. During my questioning, the demon revealed the name of the young woman they attacked. He claimed his master, King Abaddon, is coming for her. He threatened Abaddon would bring an army for her.”

Elder Grayson, Xander’s father, interrupted, “Abaddon is the king of demons. He led an army of demons to Earth 1000 years ago. My ancestor, Kane, The Great Werewolf King defeated him… that battle took place here on this soil. A demon hasn’t crossed over since. Perhaps you heard wrong, perhaps this demon was reciting history.”

“I wish that were true,” Max answered. Xander stepped up beside Max and addressed his father along with the other powerful werewolves in the room.

“Max encountered another demon. On the same night, Max, Eric, and I all went to the girl’s house. Max beat Eric and me there. He found the girl being choked to death by her father and quickly intervened. Later that night, Max discovered more demon blood. We’re currently holding the possessed body of Mr. Pierce, the girl’s father, in one of our cells.”

There was widespread commotion throughout the room. Several Elders had stood up.

“Please, everyone stay calm,” Eric spoke for the first time. The room quieted down, but several werewolves remained standing.

“We will take you down so you can see for yourself. This is not a confused demon, recounting the past, this is a new threat. It’s coming and we are ill-prepared for it. Unlike our great ancestors,” Max spoke.

“Alphas, I propose that all of your able-bodied pack members 18 and older attend mandatory daily training. Elders, you are the keepers of our histories, we will desperately need your knowledge to learn how to defeat an army of demons.” The room was quiet, but most of them nodded in agreement.

“There are countless other alphas and packs out there, we need to contact them, so they can also prepare,” Eric chimed in.

“Also, the young woman… she must be protected. We still don’t have answers as to why the demon wants her… but, we feel the best way to protect her is to reveal the truth of our existence to her,” Xander quickly added.

Several Elders looked at each other and began mind linking, their eyes glazed over.

Elders were capable of speaking telepathically. They were the oldest and strongest werewolves. In order to be an Elder, each of them had to take a blood oath with Hades. Elders were given special abilities, and their lives were extended. Some Elders were several hundred years old.

Xander’s father, Alexander, answered, “Is she mated to one of you?”

Xander hesitated.

“I believe she is my mate, but she’s not yet of age,” Max answered.

“For now, we feel it is best not to break protocol. If the threat to her becomes more serious, then we will reconvene. Of course, if she ends up being mated to one of our kind, then according to our laws, her mate is allowed to tell her.”

Max nodded, but he didn’t look happy. He glanced at Xander, his expression mirrored his own.

The council meeting lasted several more hours. Max took them down to see Mr. Pierce, his face was even more distorted than before. It was clear from one look that he was possessed. The demon didn’t acknowledge the room of alphas. His eyes were rolled back into his head and he was muttering incoherently. The atmosphere in the room was so bleak and sinister that even the most stoic alphas were ashen-faced after witnessing the demon.

Monica, Tess, Kim, and several other she-wolves had come to prepare a lunch for all the unmated Alphas. There was widespread disappointment among them when none of them ended up being mated to the visiting Alphas.

It was nearly 4 pm when the last of the council members left the packhouse. Jade would be closing up the coffee shop now and would be coming back soon.

Max pulled Xander and Eric into his office.

“There’s something I got out of Jade’s father yesterday that I haven’t mentioned yet. I was hoping I could tell Jade first. It doesn’t feel right telling dozens of people when she doesn’t even know yet,” Max began.

“What is it? What did you find out?” Xander asked impatiently.

“Jade is not their child. Demon Dad told me yesterday that Mr. Pierce was paid to take her in.”

Xander exhaled and ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse. I guess I’m glad that piece of s**t wasn’t her real dad, but who would let someone like that have their daughter?” Xander thought out loud.

“There’s more. He claimed he was a greater demon and his sole mission here was to keep Jade hidden. He was boasting that he was successful because no one knows what she is,” Xander went to respond but Max held his hand up. “It gets worse… I also found out the reason why Abaddon wants her… he plans to make Jade his bride.”

“WHAT?!!!” Xander stood punching his fist into the wall, leaving a hole. His Alpha aura filled the room. Unlike last time, Max couldn’t move.

Xander’s eyes had shifted black, his whole body shook as power radiated off of him, "NO ONE WILL TOUCH HER." Ares growled out.