Chapter 46

Gunner's POV

"We will be landing in Iceland in approximately 10 minutes. Please put your trays up and lock them in place, and make sure your seat is in the upright position. The pilot will now turn on the fasten seatbelt sign."

There was a ding noise and the seatbelt symbol lit up. I did as the flight attendant asked and looked around to make sure everyone else was following directions. That's when it hit me, I was only hours away from seeing my mate again. To lose her after just finding her, and then after all this time not even seeing her or touching her, in this realm at least, I couldn't wait any longer.

"So much for not needing a mate huh?" Maddox grumbled in my head.

"It was never in the plans. We were supposed to avenge my mother's death. That was my only plan." I thought. "Funny how life works out sometimes huh." I chuckled to myself.

"There's still something that's been eating at me though." Maddox said.

"What's that buddy?" I asked.

"How the hell did she outrun us!?!?! And your damn butterfingers couldn't grab her?!" Maddox asked.

"Royal bloodline, half lycan, take your pick." I shrugged.

"Oh right. Forgot that little tidbit." He mumbled.

"I don't know how you could forget that! It's the whole reason we're in this situation." I chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah I know." He grumbled.

"Go rest up. This is only going to get worse before it gets better." I said. Maddox shook out his coat and then retreated to the back of my mind.

After what seemed like forever and 3 years, the plane was finally landing. Once landed and docked, we deboarded and grabbed our bags. I led the group outside where more busses were waiting to take us to Alpha Isaac's pack.

"Listen up everybody!" I called out to get everybody's attention. "Load up in the same order as we left in. If the person that you were sitting with before is not here now, please let me know. I will be around to every bus to check. LOAD UP!"

Everybody started to head to their bus and loading up. It took longer than I was liking to get everybody on the busses and to check to make sure that everybody who left the pack house was still here. Last thing I needed was for someone to go missing on my watch. After making my rounds to each bus after everyone was loaded up and checking that everyone was accounted for, I headed to the lead bus and told the driver where we were going.

The trip was only about 45 minutes but long enough to let me thoughts wonder. Alpha Nik said that they would be about a day behind us so I knew we weren't going to be able to move from the pack lands till then. Least I would have enough time to shower and eat beforehand.

We pulled into the gate at the southern border of Alpha Isaac's territory. I sent a quick text to his Beta to let him know that we had arrived. He replied that there would be a red car to escort us the rest of the way. I relayed the message to the driver to follow the red car and he just nodded.

We arrived at a compound just outside the town limits. As we started unloading, some of Alpha Isaac's men were directing people on where to go. Everybody was handling this very well. Nobody seemed to think that they might not possibly be heading back home. I shook the thought out of my head and went off to find the Beta.

"Hey man. How's things been?" I asked as I shook his hand.

"Better. Much better. We have a lot more training at younger ages now and people are taking it seriously. We had one attempted rouge attack but they didn't make it very far past the line before a few of ours took them out. Teenagers actually." He said.

"Teenagers took out some rouges?! That's awesome man! You guys are doing something right then. That's good to hear! Well not the rouge attack obviously but that you guys are able to defend yourselves better." I quickly corrected myself. That could've been bad. "Where's Alpha Isaac? Is it possible to meet with him?"

"He's actually been waiting for you to arrive. Alpha Nik informed him that he would be behind you guys although he didn't say why." The Beta said.

"Yeah he had a last-minute job to do. It's all good. No worries. Well better not keep the Alpha waiting any longer. Shall we?" I motioned for him to lead the way and when he started walking I followed behind him.

We got in his SUV and headed for the pack house. During the ride I was looking out the window and looking at all the people just walking around like there wasn't a war on the horizon. Kids playing at the community park, high school kids laughing at the café, couples walking hand-in-hand. It's like they didn't even know what was about to happen.

We arrived at the pack house and the Beta took me into the Alpha's office. He knocked twice before I heard Alpha Isaac's voice from the other side of the door to come in. We entered and when Alpha Isaac saw me, he jumped up and was hugging me before I could even respond.

"Gunner! So good to see you again! Although I wish it was under better circumstances." Alpha Isaac said gesturing for me to have a seat.

"Ditto. I hear everything here has been going well?" I asked trying to avoid the subject of my mate for as long as possible.

"It has, and it's all thanks to you." He said pointing towards me.

"I just gave you suggestions and some tools. It was up to you to use them or not. So don't give me all the credit sir." I said holding my hands up in mock surrender.

"Very good point. Anyways, down to business. I have enough ships lined up to take all of us across all at once. Your friend Charlie is going to be putting a protection or cloaking spell of some sort on the ships so no one will see us coming until we are on land again." Alpha Isaac told me.

"Good to know. If that's the case, then we should send the trackers off first, have them track a good mile out to make sure the coast is clear before we start unloading everybody else. I haven't been in contact with my mate so I can only assume that no news is good news?" I shrugged.

"You know what they say about assuming?" Alpha Isaac looked at him over the rim of his glasses.

"Yes I know. I will try to contact her tonight. Maybe being closer to her, it won't be so hard. I don't know, with her being half lycan let alone of royal blood line, I'm in new waters here. Not sure how it all works exactly." I rubbed my hands down my face.

"It's new waters for all of us, but what I can tell you is that it's nice to know that she's on our side. Knowing just that little detail, assures me that history will not repeat itself. That this fight we are about to engage in, will be worth it. The lives we are about to lose, will not be vain. It'll all be worth it." He sounded like a grandfather the way he spoke, so serious.

"I just feel like I'm sending thousands to their death for my own personal gain here. Is that normal?" I asked him.

"Son, it is not for your own personal gain. Yes, she is your mate and because of that, you have more personal reasons for this. But regardless of relationship, this would happen either way. It worked in our favor that you two found each other before she was taken. Had she not found her mate, then more than likely we would not even know about the war brewing and what was coming. Thanks to her, and you for that matter, we do. We got the advanced notice, if you will, that our ancestors did not get, and for that, I will forever be grateful!" He said.

He had a point. If we didn't establish the bond before she took off, then who knows if she would've been able to connect with anyone and give them the location and details. Yeah, we knew something was going to happen with her research and such, but nothing to this magnitude, and we definitely wouldn't know what kind of numbers he had on his side. The innocent people would've never have gotten out safely and would've been slaughtered along with everyone else.

"I guess when you put it that way…" I trailed off as a shrugged my shoulders again and ran my fingers through what little hair I had. "Anyways, Alpha Nik and my dad, his Beta, should be within the next day or so. They had a last-minute job to do. Security reasons prevents me from knowing the details."

"Understood. Do you want to have everyone meet tonight and you address them or we wait till Nik gets here and he does it?" Alpha Isaac asked.

"I would prefer if Alpha Nik did it sir. Just to prevent some overlap between him and myself. Plus, with him being Alpha, he will be taken more seriously than I would be." I responded.

"Fair enough. Tonight, we will feast then!" Alpha Isaac said excitedly while standing up and motioning for me to join him.

"Nice to see the Viking ways are still around." I chuckled. It was an inside joke between Isaac and me. My last trip here I would joke around with him about being as old as the Vikings and that he founded this land and named it to keep others away. Alpha Isaac laughed and slung his arm around my shoulders as we walked out the door.

We headed to the compound and Alpha Isaac called for all his men to meet there also for the feast. It definitely eased a lot of the warrior's minds. We didn't have an exact time as to when we would be setting sail, but we knew it was close. All night while others were enjoying themselves, mates finding each other, all I could think about what my mate.

What was she doing? Is she ok? She was just badly injured, would she be able to fight this fight? Would I have to grab her and run? What if I had to choose between her and my warriors? I was no deserter. I wouldn't be able to choose between them. Would I? Just then a hand on my shoulder yanked me out of my thoughts and I looked over my shoulder at the owner of the hand.

"Ben? What are you doing here?! Thought you wouldn't be here till tomorrow? Everything ok? Was the package delivered?" I asked.

"I couldn't stay with her longer like I wanted to. I was afraid if I did, that I wouldn't leave. So dad called in a favor and got us a private jet out of Canada." Ben said.

"I'm sorry man. I know it's hard. Wish I could promise to get you back sooner rather than later." I stood up and gave him one of those "bro-hugs", for lack of better term.

Ben patted my back a couple of times when he said, "I know man. It's ok though. I'm here now. Let's focus on this and her being back there, is just giving me more motivation to get this over with and get back."

"Same motivation I had that got us here, so I completely understand." I said turning back around to face the crowd of people. I saw my dad and Alpha Nik off to the side talking to Alpha Isaac, even with my wolf hearing, I couldn't hear what they were saying. Just then I felt my dad form a link in my head.

"Call them to order." Was all he said while making eye contact with me.

"But I'm just a beta dad. Shouldn't Ben do it?" I asked with a questionable look on my face.

"Trust me." Was all he said while nodding his head once and then cutting the link and turning back to the Alphas.

I looked at Ben and told him what just happened and even he was confused but both of us went to the front of the room where there was a stage like platform. I asked him to stand up with me thinking his rank would pull more attention.

"ATTENTION! EVERYBODY! QUIET DOWN." I hollered out and every head snapped in our direction and all the talking just ceased to exist. I'm pretty sure I heard a feather hit a blade of grass outside it was so quiet in the massive hall.

"Ok I got their attention. Now what?" I mind linked my dad and looked towards him for direction.

"Follow your heart." Was all he said before looking back towards the Alphas again.

Fuck! I didn't prepare any type of speech or anything. I told Alpha Isaac that Alpha Nik could do this shit.

"Fuck my life dude, what do I do?!" I mumble to Ben still standing next to me.

"What your dad told you to do I guess." Was all he said back with a slight shrug of the shoulders.

"Thank you. Everyone. I know this was completely volunteer based and that you are all here on your own accord and for that, I thank you. I know some think that this is for my own personal gain, I would like to take this chance to explain some details that have been misread, misunderstood, however you want to say it. First off, yes Cheyenne, also known as Alida, is my mate. We found each other just shortly, and by shortly I'm talking less than an hour before she was abducted. She is not the only reason why we are here. Which leads me to the second detail. There was a war waging on our kind long before we even knew and the enemy just needed his final piece before acting. His final piece was my mate. Little did he know that she would side with us rather than him. Because of the mate bond being made before she left, along with other things that I will not get into at this point, she is able to connect with me. Due to this, we were able to get details for this fight, and turn the tables in our favor. Because of her, we will make sure that history will not repeat itself."

I didn't even have to say anything else, at that last bit warriors threw their hands up and cheered. There were war cries coming from every corner of the room.

"What did I say? That was in no way, shape, or form, motivational at all!" I looked at Ben. Just then a slap on my shoulder caused me to jerk my head to my other side.

"It's not that it wasn't motivational, it's that you just gave them the hope. You just gave them hope that we have a chance to win this." Alpha Nik said with a smile, and I looked over to my dad who was standing as tall as he could with his chest puffed out and just had this proud look on his face. Think I even saw a tear in his eye, nah it was just a speck of dust. I'm sure of it.

"Now what? Do I curtsy and walk off stage left?" I asked.

Alpha Nik laughed at the thought of me doing what I just said and shook his head. "Not unless you want to make a fool of yourself. Now all you do is go stand next to your dad while I address them."

"Right." I said as Ben chuckled and slapped me on the back as I went and stood off to the side with my dad. Oh, and by the way, yes it was just a speck of dust in his eye, in both eyes actually.

The rest of the Alpha's came up to stand behind Alpha Nik and I watched the crowd of people sit up straighter and quiet back down, giving all their attention to Alpha Nik. The amount of power radiating off the stage right now was unbelievable. Not a single person dared to speak.

"I hope you all are enjoying your feast, but remember, tomorrow it's down to business. There is a threat out there that is looking to take out our kind as whole. Not just one pack here or there, but all of us as a whole species and we can't allow that to happen can we?" Alpha Nik started.

"HELL NO!" The crowd answered in unison.

"The enemy thinks this is going to be an easy win for him but we're here to show him that's not the case. If he wants to take us out, he's going to have to fight for it!" Alpha Brock stepped forward.

"FUCK YEAH!!!' The crowd shouted.

"Everybody here has a reason to be here. Whether that be their mate or family back home. Whether that be pride of their kind or maybe just as simple as self-pride. No matter the reason, remember why you are here but most importantly, do not forget where you came from. As we enter the battle grounds, stay focused, determined. Remember your training. You would not be here if you were not ready for this. Now I can't promise that every single one of you will make it back home. I wish I could. Us Alphas are prepared to suffer every lost link we are about to endure. Please know that your death will not be vain!" Alpha Isaac was the one to speak this time.

The crowd erupted in war cries again and then, almost like they were directed, all at once they stood up and all saluted the line of Alphas standing before them.

"Everyone enjoy the rest of your night for tomorrow, we head out and we're taking hell with us!" Alpha Trent was the one to chime in this time.

The cheers continued for a minute before things calmed back down and people went back to eating and conversing. All of us on stage went back to our seats also.

I knew I still had to try to connect with my mate, so I decided to turn in early and headed for the room that was assigned to my dad and me. I quickly took a shower and then laid in bed and tried to form the connection.

"Babe? You there?" I called out.

"I'm here. Listen we have an issue. Although it shouldn't hinder us, but please let everyone else know that vampires might be involved. I have not figured out if they are with the King or not yet. But get the word out now!" She was going 90 miles per hour and I almost missed what she said.

"Vampires!! What the hell?! How are we supposed to fight them and the King?" I asked.

"Rip their fuckin heads off and don't let them get their arms around you! That's all I know for now. Keep the plan moving. With this development, we need to act fast." She said.

"All the warriors are here. We are shipping out tomorrow to arrive at nightfall. Charlie is putting a spell on the ships so we won't be seen till we step on land. We will send one tracker from each ship to clear about a mile offshore before we let anyone else off the ships." I told her.

"That's a great idea. I will try to be out there myself." She said.

"Please not by yourself. Not with vampires in the area." I begged.

"I know I'm stupid sometimes but not that stupid. Come on Gunner, give me some credit would ya?" She laughed. She was actually laughing. What is wrong with this girl?!

"Ok I'm going to inform the others of our new issue but to proceed as planned." I said not wanting to cut the connection off, but knowing I had to, to get the information passed around as quickly as possible.

"Do it quickly. I will see you soon." Was all she said and she ended up being the one to cut the link off making me wonder what she could be doing at this hour.

"No time to think about that right now. Move!" Maddox chimed in pulling me from my thoughts.

"Right. Sorry." I jumped out of bed and threw my door open and took off running down the hall.

I headed for Alpha Nik's room after mind linking him to get all the alphas there now. When I threw his door open all the Alphas snapped their heads in my direction.

"What's the emergency Gunner?" Alpha Nik asked.

"Vampires." I said.