With Alpha Kol’s permission, Aaron sent the members of his pack along with the members of the Dominio pack later that day. They went out in threes following his instructions. The reason was because he knew the packs outside might not want to follow the words of the members of the Domino pack to join forces; however, with the presence of the members of the retribution pack among them, their messages would be accepted in a different light. The retribution pack members will help convince the other pack Alpha to join forces in the coming war once they learn about the enemy from them.
While at home, he tried to prepare himself.
“Am I overthinking this, or is Ivan an even bigger dick than I am on my dick days recently?” Damor asked, stepping into the study and shutting the door behind him.
His presence and words moved Aaron’s attention to him. “Ivan had changed a lot, ever since he had ventured into the past of the wise ones, just moments of their execution. It was sure to happen. Whatever he must have seen had shattered the part of him that made him empathetic before.” Aaron said. He stared at Ivan through the window as he conversed with the teenagers out in the open field.
“I don’t like this,” Damor said. “I do not say it because I want to be the only asshole in the pack family, but as a concerned brother. This isn’t Ivan, at least not the Ivan we know and love.”
Aaron smiled, and this made Damor frown at him. “What?”
“It’s nice to let your love side show for Ivan.” He replied, still holding onto his smile.
Damor rolled his eyes. “Oh, shut up. You know what I mean.”
“I know we might die tomorrow or the day after; those emotions shouldn’t be kept locked up for much longer.” Aaron replied, holding onto his first conviction.
Damor grunted and stormed out of the study.
Aaron might have taken what Damor had just told him lightly, but he was just as worried about his brother as Damor was. He had changed since learning about the death of Xoe, and most times he felt as if it was the fragments of his brother left. It hurt watching him change so much and he could do nothing but hope that a part of Ivan that had the biggest of heart, the biggest hope, was still in there somewhere.
….
“Bad time?” Zera asked from across him, and he turned from the window over to her, and a small smile came into his face.
He stretched his hand to her, and she walked into it. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “How’s Zion?” he asked.
“He’s asleep.” She answered, “He wanted to see you before he slept, though. I told him you would be the first face he would see when he wakes up tomorrow.”
“Thank you, and I promise I will be.”
She ran her small, soft hand over his face, making him shiver, and said, “Good. And those you sent out?”
“Out of the ten, five responded positively, and the other five plan to take their chances.” He answered. “Those that responded positively will join the pack tomorrow, so we await their arrival.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And do we have the space?”
“At this point, we will make space if we have to.”
“Anything to win this war,” he said without hesitation. “I want to win; I don’t think I wanted to beat anything as much as I want to beat this.” He admitted it and placed his forehead against hers.
“And we will win.” She assured him and kissed his lips.
A knock came to the door, and they pulled away from the kiss.
“Who’s there?” Zera asked, but having picked up the scent, Aaron already knew who it was.
It was Sesi. And he didn’t know how Zera would take her appearance, and he couldn’t pretend as if he could predict how her reaction would be.
The answer didn’t come; instead, the door opened, and Sesi stepped into the study.
Zera stepped away from him, and he hoped her emotions wouldn’t win over the needful.
Sesi held an agitated look on her face even as she stayed silent, and he couldn’t blame her.
After learning about their situation, Sesi had asked if he wanted her to come and though he wanted that, he had to consider two things. One, Zera’s reaction and also the fact that she was mated to Alpha Manon and there was no telling he would want to involve himself in this. So, he told her to do what she believed was best. Seeing her here now told him she believed coming and standing by her family was what she believed was best. He was happy to see her, and she looked so good. Manon was doing a great job of maintaining her aura. He’d shake his hand when he sees him.
Zera took a step towards her in silence and though her heartbeat was steady, he picked up Sesi’s heartbeat and it had taken off at an unsteady pace because of her action. However, Zera came to stand before her and wrapped her arms around her for a tight hug.
Aaron’s gaze blurred up immediately, and he had to blink back the unshed tears at the sight. Zera pulled away, and Sesi’s eyes were already glassy.
“I never thought I’d see you again,” Zera said, and there was a smile on her face as she turned to Aaron. “You knew, didn’t you?”
He pressed his lips, feeling trapped by that question already.
Sesi spoke up when he failed to. “He told me to do what I believe is best, and standing by my family in the face of an enemy is the best thing in my book.”
“And Manon?” Aaron asked, wondering how she had got to leave without her mate raising a brow.
“He will be coming in tomorrow; I hope we still get tomorrow.” She answered. “This isn’t your war, but the war of every alpha still leaving and breathing.”
“These words were ones I never thought I would say, but here I am. Welcome home, Sesi. I am so happy to see you,” Zera confessed.
“Damor told me Lionel had awakened the blood of the hunter in his veins.” She trailed off, and turning to her, Zera nodded.
“Yes,” she nodded. “He’s with Daniel, training on how to control his powers. We do not know if he would join the war, but we hope he can, as we need all the help we can get.”
“We will win this war.” Sesi spoke with much conviction in her voice.
“Oh, I didn’t come alone.” She said, “I met a man on the way who told me he knew you and was also heading here, and I believed him. He said his name is Davine.” She told them.
Zera turned to Aaron, and he just shrugged, clueless himself. They came out together, and just like Sesi said, Davine stood in the living room alone, staring around.
“Davine,” Zera called out, and he turned around to find her.
“Zera,” he smiled.
“What are you doing here?” she asked and stepped closer to him, confusion still clouding her face.
His smile grew weary. “Well, I took Quincy home to meet his grandma, and he will be with her until the holiday was over, and she told me there was a war coming, and it was almost here. She told me I needed to be a part of it, or there would be enormous casualties. So, when I got back today, I washed myself and came.” He answered.
“Oh,” was all she said.
“Am I in the wrong place?” he asked, and his eyes dimmed a little.
“You’re at the right place, and your mother is right; we will need your help and the war is already here.” Zera answered.