Wolf Party III

By Alice Sweet

Welcome to the world of werewolves.
Less than a year has passed, since the Alpha’s wife, Aubry faced a gruesome monster, who forced her to take her loved one’s life. Now with a heavy heart, she faces a new danger without his protection.
The ancient barrier which once held the vampires in place has been broken releasing a power unlike any she has ever seen before. Where the world’s most perfect killers, werewolves are sent out for blood. Aubry meanwhile, must hold onto her sanity, among the continued challenges for her young head. While vampires, bent on revenge, are swarming her lands, and a handsome new stranger appears, tempting her to trust, yet another beast, in exchange for a grim solution.
In the meantime, her closest confidant, and strongest supporter, hides his true self, threatening her last chance at survival.

Be prepared, darkness comes....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alice Sweet
• Release date: Mar 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463473054

Alice Sweet

Alice began writing as a hobby, short stories and poetry mostly, inspired by reading a myriad of authors. Eventually she found her own niche and moved on to writing full length manuscripts. Currently, Alice writes and lives in Maryland with her three wonderful children, and her loving husband Jeffrey.

Book preview

Wolf Party III

Darkness Comes

By Alice Sweet

Copyright 2019 Alice Schneider

Smashwords Edition

Discover other titles by Alice Sweet at Smashwords.com or http://www.alicesweet.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-Book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

I would like to dedicate this book to my grandfather, gone too soon.

Other books in this series include:

Wolf Party

Wolf Party II

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Lights

Chapter 2 Challengers

Chapter 3 Discovery

Chapter 4 Foolhardy Attempts

Chapter 5 Heat

Chapter 6 Death's Island

Chapter 7 In Her Mind

Chapter 8 Home

Chapter 9 Vampires

Chapter 10 Wrath

Chapter 11 Freedom

Chapter 12 A Year Later

Chapter 13 Returned

Chapter 14 Truth

Chapter 15 Alter

Chapter 16 Visitors

Chapter 17 Plans

Chapter 18 White Lights

Chapter 19 Tick, Tick, Boom

Chapter 20 Love

Chapter 21 Empty

Chapter 22 Complications

Chapter 23 Old Gods

Chapter 24 Proposal

Chapter 1

Lights

The night air snapped and crackled with something new. The meeting of polar opposites, as the two men approached their respective borders. The first, long, lean and pale, reached his boney hand out, hesitantly, touching the dancing lights, which appeared as he reached out into the night air. The second, burly, his features hidden beneath a mass of hair, began sniffing the air wildly. This was the line in the sand, set forth long ago to keep them both in place, still hallowed but now altered.

It used to contain a plague that had nearly killed every living thing, so very long ago, and now… it was broken. The burly male sniffing the air paused, as something caught his attention, something familiar. A White Lighter, faint but definitely there, he inhaled again, stepping closer, confirming it was a male and a… female. He tightened, shaking his head, no not a female, it could not be, they were…gone.

He knelt, eyeing the barrier, the glowing line that shimmered to life and then dissipated as he slid his hand along the stone in front of him. This place held a memory of the female for whom the magic had broken, fading, but still lingering at this point, as if it too wanted to hold her there.

He brought his gritty finger to his nose, before wincing at the pungent smell of his ally, and then shifted, up wind, and took another deep breath, freedom, true enough, sweet and delicious. This female was new, bright and blinding, the kind that broke barriers and shot through men’s hearts without batting an eye, he was sure of it. He remembered how the White Lighter females wielded their sexual power in their day. This would explain a great deal, were he not certain that this was impossible. White Lighter females were gone, dead, long dead, of this he was confident. This had to be some sort of trick.

He would now have to hunt her down and extinguish that light, so that their neighbors could return to their lands permanently, restoring the balance. He nearly cursed whatever sort of magic she possessed, it must be powerful, and given the other scents, strong males, at least two who might prove problematic, not to mention the male White Lighter. He was most certainly her mate, blood bonded, as the similarities were unmistakable, unless he was kin, but again unlikely. He himself knew, he had tried to turn a few females in his youth but they like all the others never survived the turn, their bodies gave out before they could finish. She must be some sort of witch, recently made and powerful, hopefully not wise enough to see him coming. There was no room for mistake, not this time. There was too much counting on this line to stay just where it was, strong and true.

What is it? What caused the break? Asked the bony man.

Nicolai remained silent.

Is it true? Was it one of your kind, Nicolai? He pressed once more.

He shook his head and gestured to the wave in the distance, It’s coming, again.

The lean man glanced backwards and then stepped out of the danger zone, commenting, It’s slower than before.

Nicolai nodded, Yes, it is. Then he stood next to the other male, and observed the wave rise to meet them, slamming into the golden line before flickering, and fading.

What if the wall fades entirely?

Then we will both have something to worry about. He replied sourly.

Will it kill us all?

At least those on this continent I imagine, he replied coolly, the water still holds it …but that is not what you should be worried about.

You think it’s real then? The thin man asked attentively.

He nodded, turning to leave, I’d bet my life on it.

Any ideas of who did it then?

Nicolai nodded, his eyes glowing red for a moment, I’ll handle it.

The other man called out, desperate for answers, just as he was when he first heard the news, You are certain that it was not one of yours?

He nodded, and then crossed the line, which again shimmered for him, as he headed towards the salty smell of the sea, on the horizon.

***

Aubry, you got a minute?

Oh, um, yeah, Aubry replied putting down her paintbrush, and wiping her bruised hands thoughtlessly.

Um yeah, Jess began, clearing his throat nervously, as he eyed her hands curiously, twitching as he did.

She waved his concern off wordlessly, glancing back at her newest piece, not bad given her still healing hands from the challenge only twenty-four hours previous. When Jess finally glanced at the painting though, his twitching ceased, turning into a distinctive tremor before finally gushing, unbelievably, You knew?

She shook her head, What? Knew what?

Grace…she died last night. He said pointing at the painting, which now eerily seemed to be staring at Jess’s trembling finger.

What? Aubry asked bewildered.

Yeah…that’s-

She died? How? Vampires...? She questioned, referring to their latest problem.

He shook his head his trembling increasing threefold, She…She…She….

She what, She snapped callously.

He twitched, and then froze as if afraid to move, unable to respond, when a familiar voice came forth aiding his charge, She took her own life.

Aubry turned to look at Casmir, and growled, Why? Aubry had become increasingly erratic with the nonstop challenges, of which Casmir had been lining up every three days since her coronation, twelve months earlier.

To top it off, Lance her stepson, by all rights, had been missing for nearly two days, and it was weighing upon her greatly. His hunting practices were not as reliable as her family’s, but he usually resurfaced a few days after each nest cleared. They were killing off dens of vampires, which began flooding in after she freed her family from them, breaking the seal that kept them contained, and spurring on an infestation of epic proportions on their lands. Hundreds of dens in less than a month had been discovered, to the point of human’s beginning to notice, missing persons and deaths, many of which were deemed unknown causes. This was especially unsettling because according to the last known information from Casmir, the Americas had a protection of their own against such things. However, so far, the only thing that managed to prove true was that these vampires could not travel in the daylight like they could in their former home. If that was the protection that they had spoken of, then she feared for the future of her kind. Vampires were stronger, faster and apparently much less keen on feeding from blood bags as her kind had become accustomed to doing.

Currently, she had sent her best, Colt, Lucy, Warren and Lucy’s husband Randolph, off with Rorrick, looking through the plethora of information they had already uncovered, on how to fix the seal, so that the vampires could return to their former home for good. She was unable to join them to follow up this particular lead, for fear of leaving her boys unattended, with the overwhelming number of challenges for her head the last of which she had almost lost. Her guilt over not being able to help further ate at her, Rorrick was a great help protecting her sons once it became apparent that all of their lands were infested with his former brethren. Were things not so insane, she would have followed even this tiny thread to its bitter end just like the rest.

Meanwhile, Hedrick one of her only remaining stronger allies, aided them in procuring the documents before heading to the island where communications were unexpectedly lost. It turned out that a group of vampires had landed there, this one led unfortunately by an elder Vampire. Aubry tried to discourage Hedrick at the time, asking him to wait so that the family could go with him, as she had another challenger scheduled for morning, but it seemed he was determined to handle it himself. Aubry swallowed the feeling that perhaps he had intentionally faced the vampire, whom he had manage to kill before dying, in order to join his family in the afterlife. An idea which she still had trouble wrapping her mind around, though her heart seemed to know the truth already, and were it not for her sons then she too might have gone the way of Hedrick.

His situation had once been similar to hers not so long ago; he had been an Alpha overseas. Now here as the leader of her people in the Americas, she too must face the constant onslaught from males deeming themselves strong enough to lead in her stead. She had taken on the title as Omega, in respect for her late husband and father of her two boys both of whom who would be slaughtered if she failed to hold onto in her current position. Werewolf politics were as cut throat as they were perilous, but still she had been successful, often taxed, with her young family in tow, she would just have to be tougher.

Casmir had in fact proven indispensable now that he was the only full werewolf male strong enough to command challengers to wait the allotted time before each challenge. Meanwhile the remainder of her family, Trevor and Jess were on rotating guard duty, along with only the most trusted White Lighters that she personally created, so that her two little boys could remain safe. Meanwhile, she mended and waited another three days, to kill off yet another challenger, just to prove her moxy to the clans.

She would soon have to face the families again when the celebratory harvest time came. The island had already been reclaimed and restocked with new bloods to ensure their festivities were uninterrupted. She had high hopes that this season’s holiday would be a pleasant one. As per the ancient rules, no challenges would take place there, but as she had already learned, vampires could set foot on the island, making it unsafe for her boys. That was a valid fear, as her children were still quite young and the vampires, even the young ones, were very powerful. If they became organized, they might in fact have a real war on their hands, all the more reason to see to it that these creatures were returned to their lands.

As things stood now, the remaining vampires were only a couple hundred strong, all settling on their own, and turning dozens of hungry new bloods to protect them. That presented easier targets for her kind to dispatch, but as Lance had pointed out, they were not as good at masking their feeding habits, alarming the humans, who would undoubtedly regroup and hunt them all to extinction, if the past were any indication of that possibility.

So many worries weighing on her shoulders and Casmir knew them all, as he closed in upon her, offering, I can see to the arrangements.

No! She erupted, tensing, when she realized her error.

Casmir on the other hand did not even wince; he already knew how she felt, her inner turmoil so intense that he dare not step closer for fear of his own reaction. He gave her space, just as she instructed, remaining close but not too close as to irritate her. He was pleased by her knowledge of their continued connection, relieved in fact, which only pained her further, so he tried not to remind her of it when he was near. Therefore, instead of reaching out to comfort her, even if she desperately needed it, he remained motionless.

If he were a stronger man, he might call for Trevor, her closest male friend, to comfort her, but she even denied Trevor’s comforts as of late, as if she too were frightened of her own reaction, which worried Casmir more. She did not think about anything other than her own worries, and such was unhealthy, too much time without joy, without bliss of any kind; would end poorly especially when her heat finally came on. It was her own stubbornness, keeping her heat at bay, something even he had never seen before. This was probably a good thing though; as strong females could actually kill weaker males like Trevor during their joining, not to mention the aftermath. Should he live, she would undoubtedly regret their union and Trevor would never again look to another woman, in essence ruining their delicate relationship. Meanwhile, if it were he who took her, he would survive it, but much as Trevor, he wondered if he would want to, as she was not looking for another mate at the moment. She was still mourning the loss of her former mate, the previous Alpha, and he, like her friend would be cast aside for fear of a repeat at the next heat. Yet, the thought of another male taking her was so infuriating that he might go insane, or so he imagined.

He tried not to take it to such a place, as dark thoughts, seemed only to hinder their connection, and contribute to her pain, when she was already struggling. She snapped him out of his thoughts, asking about her god children, named after her and her first husband, and with whom the new blood in question had been their nanny, How are the children?

Little Dean, and baby Aubry are fine; Ophelia and Ely were with them when Grace took her life.

What happened, she asked swallowing, almost afraid to hear the answer.

She left a note on her night stand, and then walked into the hearth in her chambers.

She just walked in? She asked disbelieving, Is their footage?

He nodded, Ely is transferring it as we speak.

She nodded back, We should pay them a visit.

He gave a small bow, a sick pleasure twisting in his chest at the use of the word we. She caught his pleasure, snapping, Now is not the time.

He winced, for the first time, I apologize. It was unintentional. I did not mean to offend…

She hissed, Don’t apologize; it’s nothing, just keep it in check.

Of course, I am sorry. He replied tensely, trying to conceal his own feelings unsuccessfully.

She nodded, and then came forward patting his arm, as if to say, it is all right, asking, though she did not want to know the answer, What did the note say?

He replied, tensely again, knowing how she would respond to the truth, It simply said, I thought I could live without him. I was wrong.

Aubry gasped, unable to hide her overwhelming emotions at the woman’s frank declaration. Tears suddenly began to stream down her cheeks and she unexpectedly shot forward and threw her arms around Casmir, hugging him. Surprised by her actions, even more than Jess was, he wrapped his arms around her cautiously, as Jess backed out of the room, to give them privacy. Aubry began to weep uncontrollably then, her own misery of losing her former mate still as potent and raw as they were twelve months earlier when he died in her arms.

Theirs had been a kind of love that made even his own heart hurt, as she felt it so deeply that it made his own thoughts of enjoying her comforts fall away, nothing but time could heal such a wound. It reminded him of the woman with whom he had once loved and lost so very long ago. Aubry’s eyes began to glow white as she continued to cry, connecting with Casmir’s memories for a split second, with their embrace.

Casmir’s mind was filled with worry; as the thought of losing Aubry pushed his mind full circle from the pain of past loss to their current predicament where he might yet again lose the woman he cared for so very much. There was already another challenge in the wings awaiting response. This one was again another worrisome male who followed the news carefully and knew of Aubry’s substantial injuries during the previous fight. The male had tried to force his way into her chambers while she lie unconscious, following the tiresome battle.

He nearly killed the male himself, had he not challenged her so boldly in public he would have finished him off for trying to break the rules. He still felt a sense of satisfaction when he thought back to the moment when the man demanded his name though. He had simply responded, Casmir, the male paled, as well he should have.

Then he asked him, almost fearfully, Why have you not taken the thrown?

I have no need for such things.

And the woman, you protect her? He clarified.

No need, he replied uninterested in the direction the conversation took.

The male asked then, And when I take her life?

Then I shall take yours, he replied just as casually.

The man tensed, understanding the true danger now, Then why allow the challenges to continue?

It is your right, just as the others who foolishly wish to kill my Omega.

Aubry winced then, muttering as she listened to his thoughts, standing in his arms, You should not have told him that.

Perhaps it will slow the challenges. Casmir offered.

Aubry pursed her lips, No, it will likely cause others to become bolder in their attempts.

Then let them be bold, he challenged uncharacteristically.

She smacked his chest, I did not ask you to threaten him. Now they may not follow the rules at all…and I cannot have them come after my sons again.

He replied, pleased that she was showing him a side that she rarely showed others, I was merely speaking the truth, and the others know better than to try for the boys again, the legions who took your lights will see to their demise if they do. His words were calm, in spite of the anger bubbling in his chest as he thought of the newest challenger.

She could feel it in his embrace now and asked, Why the anger?

This challenge is unnecessary, you know, he offered once more, before adding truthfully, I understand your desire to crush all who oppose you, as there was once a time when I too wanted for such a thing, following my loves death. It was cathartic and how I came to be legend as you well know, but it was also some of my darkest hours, and not something I would want for you.

Aubry breathed in slowly reminding him of the main reason why she continued this seemingly endless stream of challenges, eyeing Casmir, I have to protect them, referring to her sons again.

The boys will not be harmed, not as long as I am alive. He clarified solemnly.

Aubry sniffled, and then hugged Casmir tightly, Thank you Casmir, perhaps someday they will need your protecting, but not yet. I still have a bit more fight left in me.

He conceded as usual, As you wish.

Then she smiled at him, Thank you for making me feel better.

He nodded pushing her hair out of her eyes gently and she batted at him, That’s enough, pushing herself from his arms, I am not some feeble woman who needs taking care of, she rebutted feigning seriousness.

I know; you are like no woman I have ever known. He added truthfully, trying to remain calm as best he could, at seeing her smile, a first, in a long time.

She batted at him again, and then straightened herself ceremoniously wiping her damp cheeks on a cloth next to her easel, Let me know when Ely and Ophelia get here, Ok?

He nodded and then turned to leave eyeing the painting that she had completed as he strode from the room. In the background a ghostly male figure could be seen in the distance. Perhaps her husband had called for Grace, and she did not have the heart to deny her husband’s pleadings a second time. Aubry as usual did not even notice that she knew the truth before the others. She seemed consistently unaware of the fundamental truths about herself and those closest to her. She was a gifted enigma, and once the doors where closed behind him, he thought, like no woman I have ever known.

***

It had not taken long at all to locate the female with whom many identified as the Omega’s right hand; she was on the island a retreat for the Americas. The American clans met quarterly to celebrate the ancient holidays, binding their blood and strengthening their clans much as his people did in Siberia. As he made his way ashore, however, he could smell new blood in the air here, and it was not werewolf but vampire. As he crossed the threshold of the dead on the water’s edge, he cracked his neck feeling the power of the place begin to flow into him, ensuring that he was welcome, and ready for challengers. White Lighters had a great deal of energy already, but they could use the energy around them when they were in need, or in this case when expecting trouble. He had luckily been trained in the method as a child, by a vampire of all things.

A crack in the foliage caught his attention and he took a step forward as the familiar scent of his own kind permeated the air. Nicolai announced in the direction of the sound, I have come to speak with the Alpha’s second Lucy.

A voice called out from the greenery, Who is calling?

Nicolai of Russia, he announced.

The whispers began instantly, and then a voice called out, She is not here.

Where might I find her then?

A male, dressed as a porter, stepped out, his eyes level but his knees trembled, She is not here, he repeated, though his now quivering lip gave him away.

Nicolai shot forward then, catching the male off guard by his speed, and the porter stumbled backward before a group of fully changed emerged from the foliage. They were stealthy and well prepared for intruders it appeared, as they should have been, but when a growl emerged from within him, warning them not to attack, they did not back down. Preparing for a possible fight, he blinked, and is eyes changed as they always did, sending the group into a full-blown panic, and they backed away shoving at one another to put space between them and this newest invader, with startling fear in their glowing gazes.

He had expected hesitation, but not this; this was pathetic, even for sheltered werewolves on the ceremonial island, they should have been braver. It was no wonder that the vampires had survived and spread so thoroughly on the mainland, if this was what they were facing there; then the vampires would soon overrun them. He stepped forward then watching as they continued to back away when a female, and her two companions, stepped out behind him calling, Over here big boy.

He turned slowly, and the female’s eyes grew wide at the sight of him, her hands rising slowly as she instructed the men surrounding him, Back away from him…slowly.

Nicolai narrowed his gaze not understanding the apparent overt fear of these people, as he asked, Are you Lucy, the Alpha’s second?

She nodded with deliberate caution, and her two male companions stilled, as if expecting a fight, Yes, you came here for me?

He nodded his senses heightened in the supercharged environment, and he listened as the others backed away, far into the foliage, as to give them more than a considerate amount of room. Perhaps his title was intimidating, or there was something more, the fear of angering this female, or the curious looking male at her side, not the male to her left who was a wolf but the other male, the odd one. He was more than curious, he felt wrong, and Nicolai could not seem to take his gaze from him once he had it, causing the female to speak up once more, demanding his wondering attention, I am here now, what do you want of me old one?

He stopped staring at the peculiarity before him and clarified, I am Nicolai of Russia. I have come for your leader.

She narrowed her gaze, Aubry…wait…you have come for the Omega?

He nodded, and then watched as the odd male to her right cracked his neck as well, Yes, I have come for her blood.

The wolf male at her other side huffed, Get in line.

Lucy hissed at her mate smacking his arm, Randolph, with a look which, said, silence you are making me look weak.

Then taking the opportunity, Randolph blurted out, in spite of his companions’ urgings, She will take your head first, and if she doesn’t, I can assure you, the remainder of her line will take yours or die trying.

He blinked, surprised by the declaration, before continuing stubbornly, That… may… be, but I still must have it.

Lucy gave the other male a look which the odd man ignored. She then turned her attention back to Nicolai. As she too cracked her neck, admitting with consideration, Yes well you will have to wait for three days to get your chance.

I cannot wait that long, he replied bitterly.

She soured, That is the law, even for… foreigners.

He clarified, Is there another before me?

She nodded, Yes, and you must make the formal challenge before her, and then wait until the other male has had his moment in the sun.

He shook his head and cursed under his breath realizing that this was to be expected; all new Alphas with questionable strength had a good year or so of challenges following their ascension to the throne. This would be no different, well save that she was a female, and attempting to maintain an Alpha position to boot, admirable, but that would not be enough to keep her from her fate.

Can you take me to her? He asked surprising even himself as the words slipped from his lips.

She nodded, Yeah, I can take you to her, Lucy’s husband Randolph stepped forward then, and she shook him off.

Continue with the work, I will be back after I have dropped him off.

No, if he touches you, she smacked his arm again and he quieted, as expected this time, a look of worry on his face.

When the odd man said, I will join you, as well.

She turned to eye the man hard again, and he added still not pulling his gaze from Nicolai, I have to speak with my blood anyhow.

She pursed her lips, Fine, Randolph you stay and work on the problem, and Rorrick here will help me escort the newest challenger to the Omega.

Nicolai watched as the male, obviously her mate, tried in vain to quell his fears, before caressing her cheek affectionately. It was more than he could bare and Nicolai snapped, You will take me to her now.

Almost startled, Lucy’s eyes went wide for a split second before quelling her own fears, she turned back to him, and nodded bravely, Follow me.

He did at a distance, keeping a close eye upon Rorrick who watched him as well, his intentions unclear. What was this male? Not human, not werewolf, and not vampire if his heartbeat had any say, and yet his sense of smell spoke of all three, as if he somehow embodied all of them in one being. Was that even possible…. Or was this male a creature of magic, and this blood he spoke about, a vampire term, someone close to the Omega, or the witch queen herself. What powers did this thing have? Moreover, what did the witch have, who summoned it. He now had even more questions than answers and his anxiety grew, he was heading for danger, though just how much he knew not, but it was nothing, compared to the danger in store for them all if he were not able to complete his task. They would be ash in the wind, if he failed in halting the coming apocalypse, so marching off into the unknown once more was still the best choice.

Chapter 2

Challengers

The air was ripe with desperation as the male began to pace on the other side of the hall, his plans had all come crashing down upon him, this was a fight he could not win, and he knew it. A light-haired female with dark eyes opened the door and said solemnly, She is ready for you now.

He kicked the dirt floor beneath him and nodded curtly, Finally, though his posture gave another impression. He had messed up and he was going to make a fool of himself before all of the Americas, how could he have done something so…so…stupid.

The female smiled knowingly, as if she could read his thoughts and lead the male up the stone staircase to the main floor where the families had sat waiting for the next challenger to arrive. As the doors opened, it was a festive feel, men and women drinking and laughing, others gambling and playing music loudly. In the back of the room, two oversized chairs sat together on a raised platform, the larger of the two, sat empty while the Omega sat in the other her head leaning against the side of the larger chair, signifying her not long forgotten loss. It was a story of pain, one that he felt when he had heard of it a month beforehand.

She already looked defeated, the poor thing, and instantly a new feeling struck him, sympathy; this poor woman needed a mate, not a fight. Perhaps all of the challengers had received the same warnings from Casmir. It would explain why their hearts much like his own was no longer worried about the fight about to take place but the true danger from the man of myth who now protected the Omega of the region. He placed his hand on the back of his neck and rubbed it as a thought occurred to him, it was not what he had planned when he had offered the challenge, but it was one he would undoubtedly enjoy more than dying. He eyed Casmir who stood against the far wall his eyes cutting through him as soon as he entered. He just hoped that Casmir viewed her as family and not a potential mate, or else there was still a possibility of the challenge he truly feared.

As the female guard spread the group, to allow him to pass, the noise ceased entirely, and the tension rose, every eye in the