Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Zaira's POV

"Samantha!" I exclaimed in surprise, trying to free myself from the tight grip. The pressure only increased, however, and pinned me against the rock hard chest. Many women might complain and get angry about such an overprotected mate but I smiled. With the gentleness of an omega wolf, I turned and gave him a quick, fleeting kiss. "Please."

He grumbled, but then reluctantly let go of me.

Grinning, I ran and flew into Samantha's arms. "I missed you so much," I whispered while hugging her tightly. My ribs, like every other part of my body, were completely healed now and I felt energized again.

Samantha hugged me back and stroked my hair. "Oh love and I you first! Are you all right? Does he treat you decently? Or does he hurt you? If so, I'll kill him right now, no one will hurt my little one!"

My heart leaped at her words. "No no, I'm fine, very fine."

She leaned back and cupped my face in her hands, eyeing me controllingly. "Secure? The Silverstorm pack always sticks together, no matter what, we've got your back."

"I know that," I said, unable to keep the tears from stinging my eyes.

A dark growl sounded from just behind me. "She is no longer part of the Silverstorm pack."

Before I could turn and calm Aramis down, Samantha shot out with a peppery retort. "Oh yes, and who says that?" Fiery as she was, she placed her hands on her hips defiantly.

"Me," Aramis growled.

"Well, it's a pity it doesn't mean anything to me, Zaira will always be part of the Silverstorm pack." She wanted to pull me towards her, but Arami's arm shot out in a flash and lifted me behind her.

Samanthas narrowed his eyes. "Zaira, is he dominating you?!"

"Grrr!" Aramis bared his teeth and his claws came out. His body went into a fighting stance.

"Isura!" I circled him and stood in front of him. My hand touched his cheek to draw attention to me, but he kept staring at Samantha. He wanted to respond violently to her blunt challenge, two Alphas against each other . I bit his chin, hard. "Aramis, stop this moment! If you hurt Samantha, you'll hurt me."

Now he turned his searing green eyes to me. "She said I'd hurt you."

"I know," my heart had skipped a beat at her horrible insinuation. "But we both know that's not true, right?" The past didn't matter anymore, I forgave him. I put his hand on my neck right where the mark was.

The corners of his mouth slowly lifted. "Right." Then he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the mark.

"Oh my goodness!" Samatha gasped. "I got that all wrong!"

I turned to her, grinning. "I thought so too."

"Then I have to apologize to you, Aramis." Samantha said after clearing her throat and brushing her fiery red hair back. "But I won't take back the pack thing, Zaira will always be a member of our family ."

This time, I intervened before Aramis could reply. "And that fact makes me happier than you could ever imagine Samatha, I will always carry the Silverstorm pack in my heart. But Aramis is my family now."

I felt Arami's rapid heartbeat against my back as he held me tighter.

"Of course." A warm smile lay on Samatha's lips and I saw the joy she had for me. "Mates belong together." As if on cue, Isaiah walked through the door.

"We should start now that everyone is here." Aramis announced and Samatha, now snuggled up to Isaiah, nodded in agreement.

Countless hours of discussion followed. All the Alphas who had agreed to fight alongside us, at the command of Xenos - the king of the werewolves - were present and gathered around the enormous table.

It was the very same ebony table at which Aramis and Ares had spent days strategizing and plotting. The map was still spread out on it and now Aramis and Ares explained their war plan to everyone involved, who had to do what and where it was. It was an extremely clever and cunning plan they had devised and I so hoped it would work against the hundred thousandfold army of Hell Warriors. We were all together barely half his size and mortal apart from Aramis and Ares. Even though the angels could live forever and not be affected by time, like us werewolves or gis, they were not immune to the dark energy of the demons either. Perhaps they would last longer against the might of the Hell Warriors,

Illyria was also among the angels. She had pulled me aside before the meeting this morning - Aramis, of course, followed me. "I was so scared for you, Zaira. Luckily you're fine again!" she had said, hugging me tightly. I wanted to believe her, but Arami's words were still ringing in my head and I couldn't deny that I didn't entirely deny his suspicion Now she stood across the room, listening intently to Arami's instructions while I played the night Reah nearly died over and over again.

Something about that night felt wrong, I missed something, but just what?

Aramis and I hadn't told Reah our hunch about Illyria, we hadn't told anyone.

I glanced sideways at Reah. She was standing next to me, healthy and alert, her long dreadlocks hanging down to her waist and touching the strip of exposed dark brown skin between her top and pants. She had painted stripes and designs in gold paint on her skin and now the traditional Gi body paint adorned her body. She caught my stare and gave me a questioning look. I shook my head.

I was so glad she was alive, she was like the sister I never had.

She touched my arm briefly and gave me a reassuring smile before returning her focus to the map. She must have thought I was scared about the upcoming fight. Of course I did, but I didn't let that fear guide me. I was determined to fight so hard until all of Semeera and Anifeira would be safe and we could all live in freedom and peace. I was determined to spend centuries with Aramis.

"Inform all your soldiers and give them individual instructions on what to do," Aramis ordered the Alphas. "If we all stick together, we'll have a chance, Serdas won't defeat us again!"

"We will follow you unto death," Xenos swore with a fierce expression he seemed unable to shake for a second. He stood with his legs apart, his arms folded across his chest, his muscles bulging and bulging. He was quite a bit broader and even more muscular than Aramis, his dominance palpable with every breath he took and considerably strong considering he was not a god but a mortal werewolf, yet he could not eclipse Aramis' strength and power and everyone in the room knew which man was in charge and Xenos didn't seem bothered in the least, his loyalty to Aramis almost palpable.

" Zeris atek Zeris. Arya had silently entered the room through the door and now stood before us. Tall and proud, like the gi warrior she was, she stood with her bow and arrows slung around her torso amidst angels and werewolves, not the slightest to forgive mine.

"Arya, what are you doing here?" I asked, widening my eyes in wonder.

"Demons have now attacked Gi tribes as well and I understand that Aramis are not linked to Serdas. I don't agree with my tribe, I fight with you." She pressed her lips together while waiting for Arami's answer. Her body, like Reah's, was also covered in various patterns, but white in color and not gold.

Aramis nodded to her. He then threw his arm in the air, his hand clenched into a fist, and roared, " Zeris atek Zeris! "

Then Xenos and Reah followed until everyone in the room followed Arami's example and slammed their fists in the air while shouting, " Zeris atek Zeris! - Blood for blood, I translated in my head before raising my fist in the air and joining in the roar.

The air was charged with tension and anger. Excitement as we were facing a war and anger at Serdas who started the whole mess. But there was also pure determination and a wild fighting spirit. Since the common hall was also on the 3rd floor, all guests didn't have to use the terribly long spiral staircases, but could just walk down the corridor to get to their pack, who were all staying here in the palace.

In the past few days I had finally understood how the palace was built. There was a training room in the basement, which I had never seen and, if it was up to me, never will.

Well, sports and I, let's just say we're not best friends.

On the 1st floor was the beautiful entrance hall and just one floor above were all the guest rooms. After that we went to the community floor, the 4th floor was the floor of the angels and the library and at the top were the gods.

"Arya, how are you?" I asked, stopping her from walking out of the room with everyone else.

"Good," she replied.

I had to smile at her short answer, that probably hadn't changed. "I'm glad you changed your mind after all."

She nodded, then after what felt like a few minutes, she ground out, "I'm sorry, I didn't believe you."

"No thing. I don't blame you, after all we hid from you who we are." I said while Aramis came up behind me and played with my hair and Arya nodded again. "You still have to fill in all the plans and information about the war be set." I looked over my shoulder at Aramis suggestively.

Without taking his eyes off me, he said, "Xenos will go through the plan with you and fill you in on everything."

Xenos, who happened to be standing right next to us talking to Reah - or rather, listening to Reah - lifted his head and stared at Aramis. I had already noticed in those few hours that Xenos was very taciturn, saying no more than he absolutely had to - Reah and I secretly called him Grimmy . But what made me sit up and take notice the most was the icy darkness that spoke from his eyes. It was the same chill that had surrounded Aramis when we first met.

Aramis grinned at Xenos. "Otherwise you'll forget how to speak."

Oh, if looks could kill.

I slapped my hand over my mouth, but the giggle erupted and I burst out laughing. Reah broke into my laughter as well, while Xenos crossed his arms and burned us both with his eyes. "I'm going to grab you both and throw you headfirst into the coldest lake there is."

Aramis let go of my hair with a snort and pulled me to his chest instead. "You don't even come close to my kryptonite."

Reah laughed, but I could hear the underlying pain in it. She missed Leav, her mate. I had figured that out myself since that horrible night in the library, and Aramis had confirmed it for me. I reached out and squeezed her hand.

"Thank you sis," she said, squeezing my hand as well, but her eyes were still dull with pain.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and tapping my wrist. "Tick tock, time flies Grimmy ."

Xenos then growled at me angrily.

I batted my eyelashes innocently. "Don't look at me like that, Reah came up with the nickname."

"Ahh, Zaira!" Reah cried out indignantly and punched me lightly in the arm. I stuck my tongue out at her.

"No one uses that name ever again," Xenos growled.

"Of course not... Grimmy ," I said sweetly, Xeno's sea-blue eyes twinkling.

Then Reah threw back her head and burst out laughing. Xeno's grim expression eased a notch and he gave me a tiny smile, so small it might not even pass as a smile.

Aramis rubbed his cheeks against my temple. "You did well, Vinea ."

I grinned, 100% sure Alpha Blake was wrong and Samatha was right. I would never again doubt the importance and value of omegas.

"How do you think they'll exchange more than five words?" I asked Reah as we left Xenos and Arya alone and the three of us stepped out of the meeting room.

"I'm sure there aren't even three," Reah whispered conspiratorially to me.

"Oh no, they're going to keep quiet about each other and compete to see who can scowl longer," I said, and we laughed again.

Aramis rolled his eyes as he walked alongside us and groaned in frustration. "Women."

However, I didn't miss the amused glint in his eyes and the tenderness that crept in as he met my gaze.