The last he remembered before he did exactly that was a possessive growl, a moment of erotic bliss that made him see stars, then the overwhelming sensation of being claimed… or was that… love?
Justice had been adamant about them getting everything perfect for the blood drive, and Macauley was more than proud at how beautiful their pack lands had been decorated to receive their guests. It was a collective effort, and everyone had pitched in to make the coven leaders feel welcomed. Adres had been forced to remove his wards around the territory to allow the coven leaders to enter, now that the threat level was minimal. However, for security reasons, Adres had insisted the young pups stay tucked in their cabins for tonight. They were all a little anxious, as it was the first time that vampires had been invited to their territory for a social visit.
Seven medically equipped bloodmobiles had been brought onto the grounds last week and were already taking donations from not just their pack but from neighboring ones as well. Justice had started with his territory first to get the momentum going. Once Wick’s team was finished collecting there, the seven vehicles would travel across the country to other packs, collecting shifter blood. Anyone over the age of maturity—sixteen in their world—could donate.
They stood outside of Justice’s home with their personal guards and betas behind them. Justice didn’t want to appear as if they were prepared for an attack, so the pack enforcers and legion had been spread throughout the territory to keep watch. Macauley could sense the unease from not just his mate but his siblings too. He didn’t know why everyone was hoping for the best but expecting the worst. The vampires were not going to attack them. Not when they were on the brink of starvation, and they were their only hope.
Macauley felt as if he was the only one who was excited.
You seem nervous, Justice. Farica opened their link and sent her calmness towards them.
Justice released a long sigh. I just hope they don’t think we waited too long. For years there has been famine and—
Your name will be remembered forever, Justice, because of this very moment. Taleb said as he stood tall beside his two lovely mates.
Their little brother’s statement had them falling silent and thinking about their futures. Once they fulfilled the prophesy, would their time be over? Would there finally be peace? Macauley was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the engines of multiple vehicles rolling down the mountain.
“Azriel and Asa, the leaders of the End’s Shadow coven, have arrived,” Wick informed them. He had a communication device tucked into his ear so he could keep in contact with his legion.
Macauley remembered Asa and Azriel from the war room. He remembered their courage and honesty as they’d pleaded for their people’s survival. When their vehicles slowed to a stop, a hulking man in an all-black suit got out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door. Asa and Azriel looked beautiful as they took each other’s hands and waited for their coven officers to join them. Macauley blinked, unable to believe what he saw. The men he remembered had been frail and malnourished, but now their bodies had filled out, and their skin and long hair appeared healthy and luxurious.
Was their shifter blood really responsible for such a dramatic transformation? Macauley glanced at his brothers at the same time they glanced towards him. He guessed none of them could believe it. The solution had been within them all the time.
Justice was right. They had waited far too long.
More vehicles with blacked-out windows—most of them older models—slowed to a stop in the wraparound driveaway. No one got out of the other vehicles, and Macauley could smell traces of fear and nervousness.
Something is wrong. They are afraid of us, Macauley told Adres, not wanting to cause alarm to his siblings. Not yet.
Adres stepped away from their lined formation at the same time that Aleksei’s eyes turned coal black, and Wrath fell in step beside him.
“Greetings.” Adres motioned for the other leaders to get out of the security of their vehicles and join them. “It is okay, brothers. No one will harm you here. I won’t allow it.”
It was hard to hold in their gasps of shame when more vampires filed out of the vehicles, most of them appearing worse for wear, and in similar conditions as Asa and Azriel had been when they’d been captured. Only the coven leaders wore suits that were an ill-fit on their malnourished bodies, while their officers stood behind them in tattered slacks and bulky sweaters to combat the cold. Macauley could see them sniffing the air, their nostrils flaring at the rich scent of their blood.
My gods. What have we done? Farica whispered. Have we really been that blind?