Oh For Mates Sake
Chapter 58

I looked at Nadine anxiously waiting for her to speak. Her brows were knitted together for a few moments before the creases faded away. The glaze from her eyes disappeared and she let out the breath she was holding.

"What is it?" I asked and watched as her eyes flashed down to me.

"You need to come with me." She said softly as Kai scoffed. He shook his head and moved in next to me.

"No offense, but I don't trust anyone here. This pack is whack." Kai snorted as Nadine growled at him.

"Don't forget who came to her aid when she was fighting earlier. You know... when you were no where to be seen." Nadine's voice was lethal and icy, but she slowly inhaled and nodded her head. "Although, I understand how you feel. The gauntlet probably seems weird to you, but it isn't intended to be malicious. It is to prove the strongest is leading the pack."

"Yeah, we don't have to do that sort of crap since a proper Alpha is always the strongest," Kai retorted hastily.

"Feel fortunate that you have never lost your Alpha without having their heir old enough to take their place." With her words he instantly pursed his lips together.

"Your gauntlet is just a nice way to say challenge for the Alpha title. Not to check who is the strongest, but for the one who wants to be the leader."

I cleared my throat and patted Kai's back.

"I think this is all going off topic. Nadine has not given us a reason not to trust her. And she isn't saying you can't come with me?" I glanced at her, and she nodded her head with a small smile on her lips.

"Don't worry. I am ready to shred anyone at a moment's notice. Clover's safety is of the utmost importance. I'd gut Demetri here in a second if I thought he was trying to hurt Clover, no offense." Odell glanced at the centaur who simply shrugged.

"None taken. I think that is normal, Odell. How about you Kai? Would you attack Conner to protect Clover?" Kai chuckled and looked at me with a small smile. "I would even fight against Sion to protect you. Not that I would have to... and it would be a death sentence." He ran his hand through his hair as a sheepish grin spread across his face.

"But would you protect Sion if she attacked him? Because I would still be on her side." Odell said with a crooked smile.

I watched as Kai's brows furrowed together. Kai is my officer now, but he was first Sion's. He has been with Sion longer, so naturally he would be more protective over him. I honestly didn't think it was a fair thing to say.

"Kai, you don't have to-" I began to say, but he answered.

"I would too." He smiled at me as I looked at him in shock. "From the moment I met you I felt a responsibility towards you. I was separate from my wolf for so long and I have him back now because of you. In a way, it was like a type of rebirth for me. And when that happened, my loyalties have shifted to you. I think I was always meant to be your officer."

I didn't know what to say. I was honestly really touched to hear his words. I mean... I never had that before. Not that I would ever want him to fight against Sion, even on my behalf. Still, it was nice to hear.

I have heard that some wolves have a natural connection to others. Some have thought it was because their wolves knew the other in a past life.

Most believe there is another type of connection.

Just like the mate bond. There is the chosen mate bond and the multiple different fated mate bonds.

Then there is the officer's bond. There are the chosen officers, but then there is the other level.

Some believe some officers are fated to their Alpha. This is why a lot of officers come from former officers. The bond carries down.

The word officer isn't heard in our minds. Our wolves don't say officer like they do mate. Which would be sort of funny if they did. It was more like a feeling or the need to protect. While the other has the feeling of safety and is naturally comfortable around them. And just as the Alpha is strong, because he has to lead the pack, the officers are strong so they can protect their Alpha.

I always felt comfortable with Kai... maybe this is why. Even his wolf, Aces, was open and comfortable with me. When I first met Demetri, I was comfortable with him as well.

I felt the burning in my nose, as I blinked away the tears. I know this may seem silly, but it was like I wasn't seeing it before. I finally realized that even without Sion, I would never be alone. For someone like me, this was like a poor person being told they won the lottery. I won the emotional lottery and finally I could feel the connections inside of me.

I composed myself nicely. I didn't need to get all emotional right now. Not when I already had so many things weighing on me. I cleared my throat and looked at Nadine. "Lead me to what you want to show me." I watched as she smiled.

"There is no need for that now." She looked up and I followed her gaze. I saw Logan running our way. Behind him were Gia and Conner. Gia looked all healed up, which was a relief. Then another small group followed behind them and leading them.. was Doug. My eyes widened in shock as Logan rushed towards me.

"He's alive!" He pointed behind him as he caught his breath. "The lucky bastard lives."

My eyes were on Doug's. What was he thinking? How was he alive? He was dead, wasn't he? His eyes were fixated on me as he got closer. I took in a shallow breath as he approached. I pursed my lips together and braced myself for however this was going to unfold. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," I said quietly.

"Hey..." Doug's voice was soft and gentle. He gave me a small sad smile, but I could see there was pain behind his eyes. "I know it was an accident. Honestly, I am lucky to be alive."

"How are you alive?" Demetri asked, and Doug's amber eyes began to water. I felt my chest constricting as he took in a staggering breath to talk. I listened as he swallowed. He was in a lot of emotional pain.

"My wolf gave his life for me. He unlinked himself from me, allowing the vampire side to take full control. "

I gasped, cupping my hand around my mouth. I killed his wolf. My chest squeezed together in 1 pulses as I felt my whole body tense.

"I am so sorry Doug." His eyes softened as he looked at me.

"Clover, this was an accident. I'll miss my wolf, but you know what he told me before he left me? He told me to protect our bada*ss, Luna. Your power is what this pack needs, Clover. We will follow you.. our true leader." Doug said, making a declaration on behalf of the Nova pack. The wolves behind him nodded their heads as well.

"Good he is alive. Yay.. His wolf died; how sad. The pack wants their Luna, woo hoo. Oh, but wait. the Luna hasn't mastered her powers yet." Stilts jabbed at me with his cane. "Let's see if you can get your energy under control, eh?"

"Come on Stilts, give her some breathing room.

Demetri growled, and Stilts' eyes twinkled up at me. His lips curled up like the Grinch and I knew this meant nothing good.

"I guess you can wait. I'm sure Sion can hold out a bit longer."

"Is Sion in trouble?" I couldn't take anymore. I felt my energy surging inside of me, threatening to destroy the world if it could.

"Hmm, is he? You tell me? Can't you feel him?"

Stilts said in his snarky little voice. Little a*sshole.

I could feel Sion, but his power was fluctuating in massive waves. Was this part of training? Or was he really fighting? It felt like the surging was ongoing. He was exhausting himself. He was working hard... I had to too. I wanted to be ready with him. I was ready to fight too.

I started walking, without a word, up to the training ground. "Well, let's do this." I was keeping an eye on Sion's energy. It felt stronger near the field. As if he was right here. Of course... he was.

Just in another realm.

"Who is my opponent this time?" I asked, as stilts appeared in front of me suddenly. Okay, he couldn't run that fast, so he was able to teleport when he faded in and out.

"Me" he said with a half-smile on his lips. I shook my head. I didn't want to be responsible for killing anyone else or any part of them. He began to laugh as his eyes gleamed at me.

"Awe, you afraid you might kill me? You'd miss me that much, huh?" He cackled. Okay, I was feeling like it would bother me less and less. "You aren't there yet. Besides, I have a layer of protection from the goddess. I think it is cute you think you can though. Hey, getting your mind right is half the battle. Good job." He said in the most patronizing voice ever. Yep, the feeling had faded.

"Let's see what you can do." His voice was full of arrogance as he held his cane in front of him. His posture was very relaxed, and he almost looked bored. Which only further aggravated me. "Well? Are you going to just stand there? If so, let me know so I can break out the tea."

"Give him hell, Clover!" I heard Gia yell from behind me. Yeah, I need to wipe that look off his face.

I heard a sound in the distance and my eyes traveled to it. There he was... the minotaur from before. It was like the mental wall that was up before was no longer there. Easily, I sifted my voice into his mind, but it wasn't just my voice. I felt a part of him inside of me as I spoke to him. For a moment, the minotaur froze. Then one foot... then the other... and at a full sprint he charged towards Stilts.

It was as if Stilts was anticipating this, and he effortlessly blinked out of view, letting the beast run by. When he reappeared though, I was also ready. I felt the black energy swirling inside of me and the familiar tingle of the electric pulses as well. It felt like an extension of my body as I hurled it towards him. It was both exhilarating and shocking. I had never had this type of power before. A deadly combination spiraled towards him, and I watched as he swiftly raised his cane.

The lightning snapped at his stick and for the first time I saw him begin to strain himself. With a grunt, he pushed his cane back, sending out an invisible pulse. He was focused and occupied.. and this was my real plan.

While he was busy, mentally pushed my presence into his mind. The air was just starting to clear when I saw his eyes widen. A small smirk reached my lips as I inhaled a satisfying breath.

Drop. Your. Cane. I gripped onto the struggling force that tried to regain control. His hand began tremble and then I watched as the cane left his hands. It wobbled to a stop on the ground, and I released my control.

I felt my knees begin to buckle as something trickled from my nose.

"The lesson's over for today." Stilts growled as he hurried up to me. "You shouldn't have been able to.. too much." He muttered as he looked up at me. He held a handkerchief up to me with his lips pursed. "Wipe your nose. How are you feeling?"

I looked at him a bit confused as I took the fabric from him. I blotted at my nose and it left red globs on the white material. I glanced back at him as his eyes studied me.

"You broke through Shiva's glass... you broke the nembrant glass inside of me. Clover- that is remarkable." Stilts' words shocked me since I could see the sincerity in his eyes. "How do you feel?"

"My legs were a bit shaky, but they are already feeling better." I reached up to wipe my nose again, but the blood had already stopped.

"Clover!" I heard Demetri's voice as a group rushed up behind me.

"Let me see?" Kai said, tilting my chin and cautiously examining my face.

"I'm fine."

"Hell yeah, she is fine. She kicked your a*ss." Odell snorted and Gia giggled.

"She did," Stilts admitted calmly. "She has accomplished something incredibly rare. She destroyed an implanted nembrant glass." I watched as he frowned and then looked at the others. "They will be desperate to capture her. Right now, there isn't a fix or cure for nembrant glass. Which means

"Clover is invaluable to us all." Demetri's words were shaky as his eyes looked at me with fear. "We need to hide you."

"No, I need to help who I can. I need to save the Chance pack." As the words escaped my lips, the ground began to tremble. I felt the vibrations and through them I could hear a distorted roa.. Sion.