Nebraska put her hand to her chest. Even though her face remained calm as she had been taught, even if the world fell on him, she had an anguish that taked her breath away. When she had been queen, this attitude had been masterfully reformed
– What’s wrong my queen? – Hades’s voice reached his head and she cursed herself, that was what she wanted to avoid.
– Nothing – she answered suppressing her emotions.
– I can feel you trough our bond, you are worried –
– Hades, I’m fine – she tried to smile mentally but it was impossible, she was nervous, she had never had so many important people for her with their lives in danger – It is normal that I am is somewhat uneasy given our situation, but I can deal with that –
Hades was slow to answer but when he did his voice was filled with warmth.
– Quiet my queen, I will return to your side –
This time she was able to smile.
– You better Hades, I have something important to tell you –
– That you have something to tell me means that it is more than important, I am not running there now because our enemy is almost in front of us –
Indeed, the smell of Liam and the rest of the iron command was felt just under two kilometers away, they were moving at high speed and it was not long before they stopped just a few meters from the Hades troops. Nebraska clenched her fists growling. She, with half of the wolves that took care of her, were kept in human form and the beta of Layan and Saisen were standing in front, Everyone, from their position, could see the body of a huge wolf in the distance.
Liam must have completed his transformation. Its size was even twice that of Hades or Layan and they were already considerable enough. Its fur had darkened to the point of looking like coal. His eyes had turned red, as if he were insane but Nebraska knew perfectly well that he was very sane.
Behind him the bodies of several wolves almost crawled. Their eyes were white and moved by inertia. Their mouths were bubbling. There were all sizes and even the puppies had not escaped his control.
Liam raised his head and gave a loud howl that splintered wood from the distant trees. The wolves behind him tensed and stretched their paws like pawns. Instead, Hades’ part was unfazed. If it weren’t for the protective mental connection Nebraska had woven, they would be puppets now. Instead, she staggered and Saisen had to grab her arm.
Unaware of it, Nebraska vomited a mouthful of blood. She cut the connection with her husband for a few seconds so that he would not detect her state, although from the bond she would know that something was not right. The control shock wave may not have affected her troops but it was because she was absorbing it. And it had been really strong. She could have the blood of the five alphas in her body and she was not weak but she had to distribute her strength among almost 2000 wolves, that was her weak point. Straightening up, she closed her eyes and concentrated, she couldn’t allow this to affect her.
Liam raised his head and realized that his howl hadn’t worked and growled. He clawed at the ground and searched, shaking his head. There was only someone who could do something like that.
In the distance, at the end of the herd he saw her. The she-wolf that had escaped under his nose and he believed to be dead. In her condition it would not have been able to survive. But she was there, upright and magnificent and beautiful, facing him. That’s why he always wanted her. No one was better to be by his side, to submit to him.
He growled loudly and the hair on his back stood on end. He looked aggressively at all those who stood in his way, especially at that wolf that had soiled his beautiful body. He took one step, two, engulfed in rage. He would kill him, tear him apart, and then tear off the mark on the omega’s neck and make it his own. And without thinking it more he lashed out at Hades.
His puppets followed him running towards the wolves. Hades and Layan got ready and ran. They were aware that a two-on-one fight was unethical, but this war had long since lost protocols. The two groups collided. As planned, the least amount of casualties had to be sought, but that was getting complicated.
Enemy wolves, even cubs, clamped their jaws around their opponents’ necks, turning into killing machines. It wasn’t long before it turned into a field of blood. The Alpha Union Pack had no choice but to defend themselves, leaving their enemies severely crippled and some on the brink of death.
Hades and Layan confronted Liam, blocking him from where the queen was, and his wolves fought with those who tried to reach her. Liam for his part did not skimp on attacking them. He used his great strength to manage to grab the necks of the alphas, but they managed to slip away and hurt his body with bites that closed only after a few seconds. Layan managed to reach his neck and bite him but the wolf flailed, crashing to the ground, nearly crushing the alpha.
Hades moved quickly to yank his ear up or he could suffocate. Only when the hundreds of kilos were separated was Layan able to pull away with several wounds on his torso and limping on one leg. He was by far the strongest enemy they had ever fought with in their entire lives. Not even in the Great War, when he was also in the front row on Saisen’s side, had it ended like this. Thanks to his power, the wounds were healing rapidly. That is why he was considered the strongest. With that ability they would have to rip out his heart so that he would die definitively.
Hades for his side avoided the attack that Liam gave him and stood next to Layan.
-This wolf is taking you too much,- Layan joked panting.
-I don’t want to hear that from who was almost crushed,- Hades growled at him and watched out of the corner of his eye as the situation unfolded near his wife.
-Hey use that, it’s time- the alpha told him.
-But don’t tell anyone,- Hades exchanged mentally, after ordering him across the bridge that Nebraska had created that no one should approach where they were.
He closed his eyes as his friend backed away, knowing that if he was around the alpha’s concentration would be disturbed. Liam, seeing them almost still, lunged at them. Hades opened his eyes and disappeared from view. Liam stopped in his tracks somewhat confused when he felt fangs at the back of his neck forcefully tearing and ripping the skin. He shook his back but whoever was attacking him disappeared again. Hades landed on the bark of a nearby tree and took it forward reaching his leg, fracturing it with his teeth. He disappeared dodging the bite that was coming. It appeared against his eye and buried his paw in it, disappeared. Layan saw from a distance how the body of the immense wolf was attacked by practically a shadow, in a violent and aggressive way.
That was the power of Hades and of which he never spoke. He was the fastest alpha of all. Its movements could not be followed and when it hit the target it only left a ripped piece of meat behind. The only mistake in his ability was that he had to have a point of reference, he was guided by instinct, not by sight and anyone within ten meters could be affected. Still it was a difficult scene to watch.
Nebraska’s body was bathed in sweat. She kept the bridge active, the network so that Liam’s control would not affect the allied wolves, but she had noticed that the real problem was that if they did not exterminate the source of everything, the war would not end. She knew Layan and Hades were fighting him while the other alphas led the fight, but they were losing ground. He had even been able to see Siran with some injuries. When Sara saw him, she would collapse.
She had to do something urgent, she had to try to regain control of the puppets before they created more deaths in their ranks. She felt a hot breath near her neck and dodged it to see how Saisen already turned into a wolf attacked the cub that had gone for her neck. The ancient alpha did not kill him but had to hit his head hard to knock him unconscious.
Nebraska gritted her teeth. Even the cubs were ordered to kill. A puppy should not know what that was so young.
-Saisen I am going to enter the mind of the invading wolves, my body will be defenseless, cover me- he sentenced.
-Queen, please be careful- he said on guard.
The omega this time closed her eyes tightly and plunged fully into the subconscious, weaving a larger web moving it like silver threads to the mind of the victims. Saisen from outside could see her hair starting to ripple and her body was surrounded by a slight glow and she moaned under her breath.
Nebraska delved deeper, reinforcing the barrier and entering strongly into the minds that she must recover. It was not as difficult as she imagined. Little by little the wolves closest to her stiffened and fell unconscious to the ground. Thus she managed to recover 5, 10, 15 wolves until …
– I found you my beauty – a voice echoed in her mind.
-Liam-