Two Warriors, Two Battles: Battle for Love

By Beth Jackson

Gabriel and Manuel are pack warriors and meet their fated mates Esme and Lola unexpectedly on a night out with their friends, yet true to form things don't go quite to plan... Esme and Lola are both from an unconventional pack that has unusual views on mates and restricts the rights of women. Esme already had to fight to be given permission to go to university, will she be willing to give that all up for her mate? While Lola has some adjusting to a new way of life to get used to... In fighting for their mates, they end up fighting for the freedom of a whole pack. Can the two warriors battle for their happy ever afters they are so desperately seeking?

• Language: English
• Publisher: supernovel
• Release date: Aug 28, 2023

Book preview

CHAPTER 62 – Jake

Hearing Alpha Jacobs mindlink got me fired up. I was ready for this. This dickhead had been pissing me off since we had arrived here. The way he had spoken to Lola and her family was unforgivable. He was no Alpha. He should be punished for the way he runs his pack. That is not the actions of an Alpha.

I am impressed in Manuel for keeping his cool. Though I can only imagine the internal battle he must be fighting with his wolf to stop him coming forward, as I know Rey will be desperate to come forward to attack the Alpha for the things he has been saying about Lola.

As for Mateo, well, he is funny as fuck, but I swear he was trying to get himself or us killed. When you listen to how he speaks and how Gabe speaks, there is no denying where Gabe gets his sense of humour from. It was almost like having Gabe here with us when he spoke up, but I still think he probably should have kept his mouth shut in that moment. Pissing of a psychotic Alpha when he is already enraged is probably not the smartest move, but Mateo thought he’d give it a go anyway just for the hell of it, to see what happened.

Though the look of shock on Alpha Jace’s face was a fucking picture, I have to say. I don’t think many people stand up to him, so having someone talk to him like that probably came as a shock. What made it even funnier was the fact Mateo just calmly sat down on the sofa after, like he was done.

Right now, we are all on edge, the atmosphere in the lounge is one that could be cut with a knife. I don’t know what to expect, from what Alpha Jace has implied, I am expecting to be shifted off to dungeons or holding cells real soon.

Can we not just be free to go? Leave you to continue the shit you do. You just let Lola go and have the life she deserves and be done with it? Mateo asks.

Fucking hell does this guy not know when to shut the hell up?!

And why would I do that? Alpha Jace says.

Because it is more hassle than it is worth having a load of prisoners. And you know that people from our pack will be coming to look for us real soon. As we are due home tomorrow. So, they will no doubt be involving the Werewolf Council. Do you really want them sniffing around here, big man?  Mateo says with a smile.

Alpha Jace walks to him and stands in front of him. What?

Right step back, I don’t want your stale cigarette breath blowing all over me, Alpha. But think about it. We go missing, our pack are going to come looking, as we are pretty important pack members oddly enough. And like I said, they involve the Werewolf Council, and you are in for a whole host of shit then aren’t you? You want them here? Looking round and asking questions? Wanting to know why you doing the things you are doing? Because I would guess the answer to that would be a big, fat, fucking hell no. Mateo says with a shrug.

He may have been a dickhead for speaking up, but he is making a fucking good point here. Could his lack of filter be the thing that actually saves us?

You could still report us to the Council, so it makes no difference, does it? Alpha Jace says.

Dammit.

Hmmm true that. But see, we have better things to do with our time Alpha and just want to be able to go home and let my nephew start his new life with his mate. That sound acceptable to you? Mateo says.

I can see Alpha Jace seems to be actually thinking about this. He walks over to his Beta, and they are muttering between themselves over near the door so we can't hear them. When suddenly a group of well-built guys walk in, kitted out in black cargo pants, boots and t-shirts. I am guessing these are their warriors.

I looks across to Lola, she looks scared. This isn’t good.

They warriors hunni? I link her.

Yeah. Think Alpha plans to have us all put into cells Beta Jake. She replies.

Don’t worry, our warriors are coming so they won’t get chance. If needs be shift and run for the hotel. And just call me Jake, yeah? Or J, that’s what the others do?  I reply.

Right, if we allow you to leave, do I have your word that no reports against our pack will be made? Alpha Jace asks.

Are you allowing us to leave, and letting Lola leave too with her family? Alpha Jacob asks.

What?! Her family? Why would they be leaving? he asks.

Because I don’t trust you not to punish them. And believe they would be better at our pack with Lola Alpha Jacob says.

Shit he is pushing his luck here……

You don’t need to do that, Alpha, really, that is a lot to ask Eduardo says. But I will link Luis our son, just in case so he can be prepared.

I haven’t said I would allow that, Eduardo, so don’t be getting excited. Are you giving your word if I let you go that no reports would be made against our pack? Alpha Jace demands.

Yes, you would have our word that no new reports would be made against your pack I mutter.

But that means you have to let us all go with no problems, Alpha Mateo quickly butts in. No shit, right?

Do you ever pipe down dick head? Alpha Jace snarls at him.

I am happy Mateo had butted in when he did, as he had taken the focus away from what I had said. I had given my word, but it was the way I had done it they were hopefully not paying attention to. I had said no new reports would be made against their pack, so the one that had already been made and was currently being set up and investigated was not relevant to my word I had given him.

But the fact that Mateo was busy pissing him off seemed to have distracted him completely. And I am happy with that.

So, are we permitted to leave? Alpha Jacob says.

I believe that will be the case Alpha Jace says.

Just as the front door is kicked in by our warriors….. shit…. Looks like we should have held off on them coming to help……… or at least let them know of the ongoing negotiations…..maybe a slight oversight …. dammit….

CHAPTER 63 – Manuel

Our warriors teams came running into the building from three different directions.

What the fuck?! Alpha Jace demands And you weren’t invading?! You sure of that former Alpha?!

No, these are merely our protection, bodyguards if you like, and considering you were about to illegally detain us, I would say we were within our rights, wouldn’t you? Alpha Jacob says, I’d like to say calmly but I am sure there are nerves to his voice now.

No, I don’t think so former Alpha, I would say you came here to cause trouble. So, I suggest your fucking men stand down or there is going to be more than trouble Alpha Jace says, his voice full of authority right now.

I glance to Jake, who is looking a little less confident than he had done earlier, I have to say. I normally would be fine in this situation, but the fact Lola is here, and she is in potential danger is my main concern right now and I can't shift that thought from my mind. That is going to be the thing that affects my usual ability to fight. I know it is. If I know she isn’t safe or I know I can't protect her, then I won't be focused. If I am not focused, I am putting myself and the others at risk.

Lola baby please, as soon as you get the chance, run for the borders and to the hotel. Link me to let me know you are ok. I can't focus on the fight knowing they could hurt you. I link her.

I can't just leave Manny. I need to be here for you and my family. She replies.

Carino please, for me. I will be able to focus better if I know you are safe. I will do my best to keep your family safe then too and bring them to you. And also, then I want you to call Lilah and ask her to contact an officer from the council to come immediately so they can see what is happening over you marking me, so they can see your Alpha in action being unreasonable. I link again.

I see Lola chewing her lip anxiously the way I have learnt she does when she is nervous, then she pauses for a second before looking at me briefly and nodding a small, slow nod.

Good, hopefully we could keep these idiots fighting long enough for someone from the council to get here, as I imagine they had some of their officers nearby to observe after our report we made anyway.

And knowing Lola should be safe, that was my main concern. I could focus and be the warrior I needed to be, the warrior my pack needed me to be. I had to do this for her, and for her family and the rest of the pack. But also, for Gabe and for Esme, for their chance at happiness too.

Jake, Alpha Jacob, I have asked Lola at first opportunity to run for the border and to the hotel. So, I know she is safe. As I can't focus on fighting when I know she is at risk, they will be out to get their hands on her and punish her. I need to be able to focus on fighting at my best, so knowing she is safe is the best way to do that. Plus, then I told her to contact Lilah to ask her to contact the Council immediately, asking for an officer to come here as soon as they can to catch Alpha Jace in action so they can see exactly what he is like. Hopefully help in their reports against him. I link both my Beta and my former Alpha.

I see them both glance to me and nod.

We need to push this dick to shift then. Jake says through the link.

I think so. I agree, though I think he has every intention of that anyway, to be honest.

I see Alpha Jacob looking at alpha Jace again. So, are you going to do the decent thing then, Alpha and let us go like we agreed? he demands, his voice now sounded more like his wolf, I think, a lower and deeper tone to normal. Was he letting his wolf, Miko take control? This could be fun…..

Wolves in charge Alpha? I link to check.

Miko is honoured you still recognised him, Manny. He looks forward to fighting alongside Rey again. Alpha Jacob links me. He is still in human form, but if Miko is in charge of him, I highly doubt it is going to take much for him to shift.

I look across to my uncle and my Dad and see they are fidgety. That makes me wonder if they too have their wolves in charge.

Dad, Uncle, you got wolves at the ready, I assume like Alpha? We need to be ready to fight. Hold them back as much as we can. I link them both.

Yeah son, Nero sat waiting patiently. Well, not so patiently is the truth. We should shift and run, leave the warriors to fight like planned. Dad responds though link.

Does he really expect me to run? I can’t leave the warrior teams…. I know that is what they had initially planned, so we were in safety and then they withdraw, but I am a warrior. I can't leave them behind to fight for us to be free and they get hurt.

I am a warrior Dad. I reply.

Alpha Jace is muttering still to his Beta and his warriors. We are standing around like we are waiting to fucking die right now.

Shouldn’t we just shift and go now while they have their backs to us? I link to the whole group.

They all look to me, then to Alpha and he nods in agreement.

Here it comes……

CHAPTER 64 – Jake

I was impressed with Manuel’s bravery at suggesting we just attack while they weren’t expecting it, while they had their back to us. It probably gave us our best chance and meant any back up hadn’t got here yet.

As soon as Alpha nodded, we all knew what was about to come. I just hoped it went our way and we didn’t lose anyone.

In a flurry of confusion and bodies, we moved forward.  I could hear as bones were adjusting and cracking into our wolf forms around me as we moved. Many years of practice allowed us to be quick in our shifting and able to do this while moving, so we were already fast on our way to where the group of Crimson Night men stood.

Lola run now, while we are distracting them, hunni. I link, unsure if Manny had given her the signal to go or not, but now seemed the best time.

She did exactly what I said while we blocked the view of the exit of the room, so the group of the men had no clue. I hope this meant she has a good chance of getting to safety now. She knows her pack and should know the quickest route off the packlands.

The Crimson Night men had now realised what was happening, seeing a pack of shifted wolves coming at them and were turning to react. Many beginning to shift on the spot, others running towards us, not shifting, which seemed odd in itself. This pack did not seem well trained.

And the Alpha, Alpha Jace literally stood, and walked from the lounge. I urged my wolf, Jaxx, to run after him to make sure he did not follow Lola. As one thing Manny was terrified of was them hurting her and he would be a risk to himself and to us if he thought she was at risk and was not safe. We did not want that.

Jaxx was quick on his feet and was soon behind the Alpha, who strangely walked down the corridor and appeared to shut himself in what looked like an office. Was he abandoning his men to hide in his Alpha office?! Wow, what an absolute dick!

I will be needed back with the others then, if the Alpha plans to fail his Beta, Gamma and warriors in there by deserting them and leaving them to fight this fight for him, while he hides in his office. Then I was of better use fighting them and making sure the rest of my men are ok.

First I need to make sure Lola is ok.

Lola, you ok hunni? Let me know once you are off parklands, please, or let Manny know at least so he knows you are going to be ok. So, he can focus on this fight here. Let Lilah know as soon as possible so we can get the council here. They need to deal with this sooner rather than later. Maybe then we can take your family back with us too. I link her.

Jaxx is trotting his way back to the lounge, alert to every noise and movement around him. He is taking this mission as seriously as me. He knows how important this is.   He is a model Beta Wolf, and I am lucky to call him my wolf.

Over the border now Jake, Sorry Beta Jake. Lola links, still running, so will update when at hotel if I can.

Jake is fine hunni, you are mate of my best friend. And good, be safe. Let us know when you are there, but call Lilah too, that is vital. I link back, so relieved she appears to have got off the pack safely.

As Jaxx enters the lounge, the smell of blood hits me immediately through him as his senses are heightened. That is never a good sign, people or wolves I should say are injured to the point of bleeding. A full on attack was ensuing and wolf on wolf battling was spread across the room. The remaining crimson night warriors who hadn’t shifted were now shifted, so the room was full of wolves in a full on conflict.

Maybe we should start retreating a few at a time like planned, especially if Alpha had gone to hide and I know now Lola is out of the packlands.

Planned withdrawal starting I order through the link to all of the men. Mateo and Javier withdraw when I come to assist, head for the door and toward vehicles as planned. Rest of you wait for the next withdrawal order after this. Lola over the pack border now.

Let's go help ‘em Jaxx I urge my wolf.

With pleasure boy. He responds. Anyone would think he was looking forward to a proper fight.

He is across the room in a flash, and by the sides of Mateo’s wolf Nyko and Javier’s wolf Nero.

Both a deep brown colouring, Nyko had a lighter brown undertone to his fur and amber eyes. Nero had a darker brown undertone to his fur and deep brown eyes. Both wolves are familiar to me as they were warriors when I first shifted at the age of 17, not to mention close friends of my family. I had trained with them many times and knew they were skilled fighters, but they were to be the first to leave this fight as arranged, which I knew would drive them crazy.

They were standing off against two deep grey wolves, both slightly smaller in build to Nyko and Nero, but still no less intimidating to most I would assume. But them as warriors and me as a Beta meant they did not bother us. Jaxx edged his way forward snarling as he did, snapping his jaws at the two to distract them from the wolves they had previously been standing off with.

Now their attention was on Jaxx, and Jaxx alone. A warrior wolf from our team came suddenly across the room to stand by my side. I instantly recognised it as Cade, the wolf of Ashton, a friend of Manuel.  He was snarling and snapping at the legs of one of the wolves and making a whole lot of noise while doing it. He was doing a good job of causing a distraction.

Mateo, Javier, go now. I link. Let me know once you are out.

Will do son. Mateo links.

As out of the peripheral vision of Jaxx I can see Nyko and Nero edging slowly from the room, while Cade is continuing to make a whole scene snarling, snapping and howling loudly at the wolves in front of us, making the other wolves turn to look, distracting them. He was good.

I know he does not normally fight like that, so he has improvised to cause the distraction for the others to get out, which definitely helped.

Cheers dude. I link him to let him know I appreciated his help.

Sounds like I am losing it right? He laughs through the link.

Just as he ends the link, one of the grey wolves lunges at him and goes to bite his lower leg. Jaxx realised immediately what was happening and lunged in front, knocking the grey wolf over quickly. Cade swiftly recovers himself and jumps onto the grey wolf, going straight for his neck. He stood no chance as I heard teeth hitting bone and artery.

The second wolf came for me, realising his fellow warrior was no longer saveable. I too went for his neck, but in a position which was not with the intention of ending his life. I wanted to wound him to bring him down if could. These warriors deserve a chance of freedom too, given a chance of being out of the control of their dictator of an Alpha.

The wolf swung his head from side to side trying to fight me, but Jaxx had a good tight hold of the scruff of his neck. He pulled him down, sinking his teeth lower into the flesh. I could smell the blood, and felt the wolf weaken. He wasn’t dead, but he was not up to fighting as easily now. Jaxx could sense that and knew his purpose had been fulfilled.

Jaxx looked up, the other wolves were fighting well. All our wolves seemed ok, no major injuries I could see. Though the smell of blood was overpowering in here. Miko, Alpha Jacob’s wolf was dominant at the front, taking down a wolf easily, he clearly hadn’t lost it.

I think it was about time for the next phase.

Next phase of withdrawal. Alpha and, Manny you make your exit as soon as you can. I will follow soon after, out of the large window Lola opened while standing there earlier. Warriors, you distract as much as you can, then you follow and withdraw either via door