Page 29

Alpha's Fight

Ozyn

A s battles often went, it took a long time to organize the troops. First, we had to get permission for five dragons to fly over Sweetwater and Northarbor while the rest of our force drove beneath us. Obviously, the police and the Supernatural Defense Force had to be involved to give us the clearance, whatever that was. Second, we had to argue about who was flying with whom. Of course, I would be flying with my mate, if he ever decided to look at me with something other than fear or disgust in his eyes.

You scared him , Papa, Balon rebuked me like I was a child.

Really? You couldn’t have warned the wolf first? Gedith challenged, though I sensed he was amused by the situation.

Hasn’t he asked you anything about dragon hoards or what our magic does? Ryoko was the most skeptical of his brothers and also the most protective of me at that moment.

Have you asked him about his wolf soul? I replied. I felt so much guilt for what I put my mate through. If only I’d taken the time to explain instead of rushing ahead, determined to get my way.

Noted. Are you sure about this mating? Ryoko would be in so much trouble if Deke could hear this. It would crush him to know one of his new sons doubted his suitability as part of our family.

Yes. We are fated mates. There has been little opportunity to discuss our differences with attacks and my recovery. We have time to learn about each other better. This was just a silly mistake. I tried to brush it off like I hadn’t given Deke a huge fright.

Dad is watching, Nhil warned.

I turned to see Deke observing us. He had already told Blake about the eggs, much to our Alpha’s delight. He thought the incident was hilarious!

In truth, part of me stung because Deke had believed I could harm the babies we had made together. They were a symbol of our love, of the trust I had in him as my mate. To hurt them would be to hurt myself. They were a precious part of myself I had shared with him.

Perhaps sensing my upset, Deke pulled me aside. “I’m sorry. I should have trusted you.”

Unable to let go of the pain I felt, I agreed. “You should have. They are perfectly safe with me.”

Papa, Nhil admonished. You know you’re in the wrong here.

I can hear you, Nhil! Deke said in wonder. Had they formed a bond? Checking, I realized I wasn’t using my magic to connect them.

Hey, Dad. Sorry about Papa. He’s a hothead sometimes. Nhil was grinning.

I agreed with Nhil. I was at fault. Would it have been a problem if I had taken a moment to talk to Deke about my plan instead of just acting? No. All this could have been avoided.

“They really are safe,” I repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. “I would never risk the babies.”

“I know, Ozzy. You aren’t the same feral creature who came roaring through the portal, or the dragon who pinned Chase against the wall. I understand how you feel. I should have had more faith. It scared me, is all.”

Balon, in his wisdom, had some advice for me. Never go into a battle angry.

He was right. I had to let go of what I was feeling, considering it was a mess of my own making. All I had to do was talk to my mate. We had only been together for a few months, and for much of that time we were both healing. There were still plenty of things I could do as a dragon that he didn’t know about. Things he would discover over the years to come.

“Alright,” I conceded, voicing my thoughts. “It wouldn’t have hurt for me to take a moment to tell you about the treasure stomach and how we use it.” Deke raised an eyebrow at me. Unwilling to apologize more, I changed the subject. “Let’s get ready to go.”

Most of the pack wanted to come along with us. In the end it was decided Chase, as Second, would stay behind with Larken to defend the pack in the event of another attack. Roan would guard Kade and his brood, while Aldrin and James would help Dalton and Ingal. Vale was staying with Chase to assist his friend.

Their allies from the Greenbriar pack were sending people to guard those left behind while the Alpha from the pack, Leith, went with them along with his Head Enforcer, Reggie.

Micah was staying behind, much to Nhil’s frustration. Now he had a fated mate, whether they’d bonded or not, Micah was trusted near the omega area to guard it. Melody was running point on its protection while Axel was in charge and wanted the dingo shifter with her team.

As prince of the elves, Teárlach was coming with us. Safi would represent the fae and Toth the demons. Thyme’s husband, Oak, was meeting us outside of the aviary territory to be the voice of the coven. Logan, the alpha from the Northarbor pride, was bringing some of his shifters. He was done with the attacks in his city and how they affected not only the pack, but all shifters.

Balon asked to carry Alpha Blake, so he could arrive in style. It should have been me as the former king, except I refused to carry anyone other than my mate. The boys all wanted a chance to carry their dad, still I held onto Deke. We were still on shaky ground after the earlier… misstep.

Tate could fly himself, yet he wanted to try riding a dragon, so he and Hiroshi went with Nhil. No one really wanted to take two omegas, though Tate was indeed a delta, into a battle. They feared Hiroshi hadn’t been properly trained to fight. I worked my magic to ensure alpha influence would not work on them.

Ryoko offered to fly both Safi and Teárlach. The flight was too far for Safi’s damaged wing, so he had to be carried. The elf prince refused to fly on a dragon, shifting into his owl form instead. He would be useful for the battle. I spelled his clothing and that of the other bird shifters, Mateo and Sebastian, so they could remain clothed and not need to dress quickly. They also could keep a few weapons on themselves, very useful for later.

Jasper was insistent he go too. He said their goddess demanded it. His mate, Dakota, was reluctant to stay behind. In the end, Dakota went in a vehicle, while Jasper flew with Gedith. It was apparent where Kade got his spirit. In appearance, he wasn’t much like his papa, I was told he’d had his face altered after an injury, but in attitude, they were very alike.

The van Dakota took was filled with enforcers. With our other allies, we presented quite the force. We were in for another shock when we assembled by the gate, ready to leave.

Hernandez was there with officers from his department, some I recognized from previous run ins. Most were sympathetic to shifters. Next to him stood a mixed squad of SDF officers. There were at least two vampires, shifters, an ogre, a gargoyle, and a few magic users.

“Alpha Blake, we are here with a statement from not only the mayor but the government, too. They have given your challenge to Michael, Alpha of the Northarbor aviary, the green light. Full backing from the police and the SDF here.” Hernandez stepped closer. “Look, we want this done with the least amount of casualties as possible, okay?”

“Of course. The dragons will follow my word. We are giving a show of force. Once inside, I will pronounce the challenge. Once done, all fighting will cease. None of us will be fighting to kill, even me.”

Was it just me, or did Blake look directly at me when he said that? I had to admit to being disappointed there would be no roasted birds in my future.

You can still singe some tail feathers , Deke soothed.

Ah, my mate was back on my side once more.

Deke climbed onto my back like he was made to be there. Perhaps he was. The Luna had created him with me in mind with a helping hand from lady fate.

I’m really sorry about earlier , I said to him using our private bond. It was difficult to express my regret at the situation I had caused. I was still frustrated that I had failed to use my words rather than acting first.

My mate patted my neck fondly. I know Ozzy. It’ll be as funny as Blake thought it was in a bit.

Once I regurgitate the eggs?

Yeah. Once I can see them for myself.

We watched the others get into place. I used some magic to connect my mate with my boys, aside from Nhil, trusting their bond was still working. It felt good to have Deke on my back once more.

Deke nudged me. “Watch Blake. He looks green.”

Sure enough, Alpha Blake was sitting on top of Balon, looking unwell.

Balon, fly gently, our Alpha—

If he pukes on me, I’m gonna roll him off.

Clearly Balon meant for Deke to hear his statement, because my mate stiffened. I thought he was going to climb down for a moment.

Don’t worry, mate, I will catch him.

Maybe Blake should drive.

Think of how it will look to the aviary when your Alpha flies in on the back of an alpha dragon! Nhil tried to put a positive spin on what was likely to be an unpleasant flight for our Alpha.

“Ready? Let’s move out!” Hernandez called, leaping into his vehicle and starting the journey. He led the caravan of cars and trucks through the back streets of Sweetwater towards the bustling city of Northarbor.

The aviary was on the opposite side of Northarbor from the pride who preferred the woodlands. They had chosen the cliffs overlooking the sea since the city was a harbor town that had grown over the centuries as industry and magic combined to advance technology. The port was still busy with supply ships and fishing vessels both using it.

Trucks from the coven and pride joined us part way through the city along with a unit of Northarbor’s police force. They were also frustrated with the constant attacks disrupting the lives of the people of the city.

I flew a lazy path over the line of vehicles, circling back to watch the progress of my sons. I was so proud of them. They had come to help with the eggs only to see the pack at their most vulnerable and they didn’t even question stepping in.

There was a moment of deja vu when we drew close to the compound of the aviary. In so many ways it reminded me of Glorin’s castle. It had the same oppressive energy to it. When I flew higher, I saw why.

“It is a cage!” I roared out in my draconic voice for all to hear. A bolt of panic shot through me, soothed only by Deke’s reassuring touch.

We’ll figure it out, he said.

Shouts went out. This was growing more complicated. Our plan was to fly directly in and open the gates for the others.

“There’s a hatch!” Gedith yelled over the wind.

Circle back. Let our passengers off, I told them.

They did as they were told, shifting once everyone was on the ground.

“What did you see?” Deke asked Gedith.

“Like I said, there’s a hatch. They must use it for getting in and out when shifted. Otherwise it’s full of a fine mesh, likely warded.”

“I say we just peel the lid off,” Nhil muttered, looking at his nails. “We can’t go in unless we control the roof access. It’d be too easy for them to trap us. I don’t think it’s big enough to have us shifted inside either.”

“What about the wards?” Blake asked, concerned. He wouldn’t want to risk us being hurt by the magic.

“Our scales are immune to most magic. It takes a lot to harm us. We can try peeling the roof off, each taking a section to make a large hole. Big enough for two dragons at a time.” I was confident we could do it.

“Okay,” Blake agreed. “Give it a try. We’ll start on the door to create a distraction.”

We took to the air while the force below us started ramming the gates with an armored truck both working on a way for them to enter and causing a distraction. The force beneath us was divided.

The seams of the cage were poorly constructed. I sent a thought to my boys. They each took a section in their talons as the shifters under us screamed in fright.

Pull! I ordered. As one, we all yanked on a section of the wire roof. It was barely wide enough for a sparrow to exit, the mesh was so fine.

Immediately, it came free, allowing a burst of bird shifters of various types to fly free. We tossed the metal aside. The birds left unharmed because I got the impression that these were prisoners taking their chance to escape. Any who came at me to fight caught fire, only enough to make them fall, not to burn them to a crisp, though it was tempting.

I hear you up there having fun, Deke laughed. The door is nearly down. As soon as it is, I want you all to land, okay?

Yes .

Moments later, there was a mighty crash as the gates gave way to pressure. The vehicles all rolled through and one by one, the occupants exited, waiting on Alpha Blake to call out.

Skirmishes broke out as the aviary enforcers tried to fight back the invaders. Together with my sons, I hooked a few mercenaries in my talons and tossed them into the surrounding trees. They took the opportunity to flee rather than return to what was descending into a brawl.

Blake climbed onto the roof of a vehicle, his voice amplified with magic from the witch with us.

“Michael, Alpha of the Northarbor aviary, I challenge you to a fight for leadership of your pack. You are a disgrace to shifters. We want our omegas back!”

Gasps ran out through the remaining aviary shifters. Clearly they had not known about the theft of the shifters.

I shifted and landed among our forces, my boys doing the same.

“You are not fit to lead us,” a hulking man growled out. “I accept your challenge.”

A member of the SDF stepped between them. “Clear the area,” they demanded. Everyone moved back, allowing a circle to form. On one side were the birds, the other the pack with their allies.

Blake jumped down to stand next to the SDF agent.

“This is a sanctioned fight. You will not fight to kill. The fight will be conducted in your human forms. First to shift forfeits.” They waited until both Alphas nodded. “Ready? Fight.”

I was grateful this was not a drawn out process. Both Alphas circled each other, taking measure of their opponent.

Michael was the first to dive forward, a flash of silver in his hand. A knife!

Lazily, Blake stepped outside of his reach, his wrist snapped up, his own weapon in hand. He struck, slicing a long line down the bird’s arm. He squawked in pain, sounding very much like the eagle he was supposed to be.

They continued on, Michael clutching his arm and looking for a way to strike out. Apparently bored, Blake went on the offensive. He punched and kicked out, each movement finding its mark on Michael’s increasingly battered body.

“You,” kick, “are done,” punch, “harming the ones I love,” another kick, “for being loved by our goddess.” He rammed into the man with his shoulder, sending the hulking figure flying to the ground.

“For years you’ve been a plague on your people. You are the reason your betas haven’t changed. You are the reason there are so few young in the aviary. This place is dying because you can’t admit you’ve lost your way!”

Blake stood over the man. He placed his boot on his chest, not budging while Michael tried to buck him off. The other Alpha tried to stab him. Blake kicked his wrist, breaking his grip on the knife. It landed too far for either to reach. Blake stamped on the Alpha, making him wheeze.

“Time and time again you have attacked my pack. You tried to take my children! This ends now. Admit it, I’ve beaten you!”

Blake kneeled over the fallen alpha’s chest, pinning him in place. He fought flailing arms to take him by the throat.

“Yield!” he roared.

Michael shook his head even as he tried to claw Blake off him. He was losing the battle and he knew it.

Then he shifted. It happened in the blink of an eye. His clothes had been loose, so they fell off him. Eagle talons dug into Blake’s arms, drawing blood, ripping flesh. Blake let go with a cry. The other Alpha flew free only to shift and charge back towards Blake.

Deke screamed, feet already in motion, charging to protect his Alpha. He took Michael to the ground, landing a knife in the Alpha’s neck.

Alpha Michael died a coward’s death. He had lost as soon as he had shifted.

Hiroshi rushed to Blake’s side to heal him. With Oak helping, they soon had the Alpha fixed up.

The SDF agent spoke to the crowd. “Alpha Michael forfeited the fight by shifting. Your new Alpha is Alpha Blake of the Sweetwater pack!”