Oh For Mates Sake
Chapter 79

Sion

My eyes were fixated on the demon. The closer I got to it, the further away I got from Clover. It burned me up inside that she wasn't by my side. She was capable and strong, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that she should be protected at all costs. This transformation into Anubis had brought out something new in me. I had become a possessive beast, one who would do anything to keep her safe.

Anubis and I are one, but we also aren't. It is like I took on a new personality that wasn't my own. His presence is a looming shadow in the back of my mind, menacing and sinister, threatening to break out at any moment. I haven't said anything to Clover about this, but maybe she already knows? After all, it is her light inside of me that stops the darkness from taking over. Her light is strong, flickering brightly even in my darkest moments and reminding me of who I really am.

I need her. She is my obsession. She is carrying our child. It is so da.mn hard to just let her walk towards a fight. I desperately want to wrap her in a cocoon of protection and hide her away until the fight is over. However, I can still rationalize that this is the best decision. The sane part of me knows I can't smother her. I know I need to have faith in her abilities. We each have a battle that we need to win.

The weight of worry and overprotectiveness pressed down on me like a boulder, suffocating my resolve. But I couldn't let it stop me. I had to trust my mate. I couldn't fight worrying about her the whole time. The overprotective side of me clashed against me. I had to will myself to move forward. The memory of my dead parents and fallen pack members drove me forward. I would avenge them today.

As I approached the demon, I felt Anubis's power surging through me. I couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration and fear all at once. This was my first time fighting as a death god, and I didn't know what to expect. But I was ready for whatever was thrown my way. I have accepted this new side of me and knew I needed it for this battle.

I kept my eyes ahead, taking in the beast before me. I could feel its heat radiating off of its body, the flames licking at my skin. The claws sparkled in flames as lava-like saliva dripped from its mouth. I felt my skin begin to sizzle and my body was now constantly regenerating my skin. I halted and turned my head to look at Logan and Conner.

Their skin was boiling and charred. Their faces were contorted in agony from the excruciating pain, but they didn't dare make a sound. I couldn't allow them to come any further. They couldn't help me with this fight.

"This is as far as you two can go. Stay back." I told them and their determined gazes told me their answer. This is why I loved my officers. They didn't know the word fear. Their loyalty and devotion knew no bounds. They would die just to stay by my side. Who could ask for better friends, better family? I hated to do this, but they left me no choice. I would protect them the only way I could. They'd give me hell for it later, but at least they would have a later.

"Conner. Logan. I order you both to stand down. Protect our Luna... protect our future Alpha." I watched the emotions on their faces change. From anger to complete shock.

"Are you saying..." Conner gasped as he winced in pain. Even in pain, I watched as a smile reached both of their lips.

"Surprise. We planned to tell everyone after this was over, but given the circumstances, I needed you two to know. I am ordering you to leave to protect my mate and child."

They both nodded, understanding the gravity of what I had just told them. Their faces were a mixture of happiness and concern. I know they hated to leave my side. This is why I gave them extra motivation. I could have just commanded them, but this way was better.

"We won't let anything happen to her," Logan said, his voice firm and unwavering.

"Don't think about her at all. Worry about your own fight because if anything happens..." Conner stared at me and I gave him a small nod in understanding.

"I'll see you when this is over." I watched as they both turned around and sprinted in the direction Clover had gone, leaving me to face the demon alone. I watched them until the haze began to blur them out of sight. Then I turned my attention back on the demon in front of me.

The fire demon seemed to be sizing me up and looked at me confidently. The fool had no idea what it had just awoken - a dark force that was about to explode like a volcano, wreaking havoc and destruction. It was finally time for me to shift. I let out a primal roar, my body transforming in a cloud of shadows. My body grew, a light layer of black fur covered my skin. My clawed fingers came into view, and I straightened my back, showing my full monstrous size. I felt my power coursing through my veins. I was no longer the human Sion. I was Anubis... a death god.

The demon's eyes shone with a new, wicked glint. It shifted on its feet, and I could see there was now a sense of unease. The flames around the beast grew higher, as if it was trying to scare me off. The beast let out a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the earth, its eyes blazing with an infernal light.

"Things will go differently this time. You killed my parents and members of my pack. This time, I will claim your life." I growled, my voice echoing across the field.

It took my words as an instant challenge. In a fiery flash of dust, it charged forward. It moved with a speed that would have seemed impossible to follow for most. I moved quickly and dodged its fiery claws as they swiped by. The fur of fire attacked my skin, the smell of burnt fur and flesh filled my nostrils. A cloud of black smoke burned my eyes as the demon's claws slashed towards me.

Clover

I walked towards the three women who stood there as if they had conquered the world. The looks on their faces made me want to choke slam all three of them. Taylor's body had a red glow around it. It looked like she had also taken demon energy. Hazel was different though. She seemed to have the ability to mask herself. There was a presence around her that was not of an omega wolf. And judging by her confident face, she was a lot stronger. An omega wolf that was given a demon changeling. How strong was she? I guess we would soon find out. Though I wasn't worried. I would be able to use my sheya power to control them. Of course, Breanna Snyde would know this, so why did she look so confident?

"Well, there is a face I had hoped I would never see again." Taylor snorted folding her arms over her chest. I glared at her. How did she get involved in all of this? I never quite figured her part out. Did she just hate me so much? As if she was reading my mind, her lips curled up in a smug grin. "I had hoped my cousin would have been able to deal with you. Oh well... I guess now I get to witness your demise."

Breanna Snyde was part wolf and part witch. It never occurred to me that she was related to Taylor on her wolf side. Well... why would it? I never heard them talk about outside relatives. As far as I knew, all her family was in the Sulfur pack.

"Well, we aren't really preparing for her demise, Taylor. Only her friends will die. I know of someone else who would want the little sheya." Call Me Bree gave me her sickening sweet smile.

"Someone else is approaching." Hazel growled as her eyes glowed, looking behind us. I heard the sound of feet pounding against the ground and turned my head slightly.

It was Conner and Logan. I looked at them, confused, as their eyes met with mine.

"We are here to protect our Luna," Conner said just as a guttural roar shattered the quiet in the field. I knew the sound of my mate. He didn't sound like he was in distress but was waging war. My eyes moved to the distance. I wish I could see him. I had hoped that Conner and Logan would be near in case he needed help. Knowing Sion, he sent them back to me. Maybe he needed this in order to concentrate on his fight. I turned my gaze back in front of me. The women still didn't look nervous. This had me a bit on edge. They were definitely up to something.

"It's a shame you had to show up at the Chance pack. You ruined Sion. We would have been great together. He would have been a great Alpha." Call Me Bree said, and I scoffed loudly.

"He is a great Alpha. And you could never have been great with him-" I listened as she clicked her tongue and shook her head.

"Such a waste of life. Darcia will make quick work of him."

"I wouldn't count on that. He isn't the same Sion that you know. He is much stronger." A smug smile reached her lips as she tilted her head to look at me.

"Whatever power you may have given him won't be enough."

"I wasn't talking about anything I had given him..." I shrugged. "It doesn't matter to you anyways. I didn't come here to chat. For what you did to Kai... to the Chance pack... to the Sulfur pack... for Denny and Jude, I am going to kill you." My voice was cold as I focused on what needed to be done. It was time for me to play judge, jury, and executioner. I took a step forward, as power began to surge through me. I was going to make them all pay.

Suddenly, the world began to shift and my body was shifting with it. I was standing in the air and now looking down at my panicked friends.

"Clover! Where did they go?!" Demetri shouted as I watched his feet dance around sporadically.

I listened as Call Me Bree chuckled as she hovered in the distance. "And now you can watch the fun. Safely in an area where you can't use your powers." So, this was her plan. "Clover!" Odell shouted.

"Will you shut up already? Da.mn." Hazel growled.

"Why don't you give Clover a show? Give her a going away present she will never forget." Taylor's ugly grin had me curling my hands into a fist.

"She can see us?" Conner asked.

"She can see and hear you. My cousin has the power of astral plane manipulation. Right now... Clover is in a place where she can't help you. All she can do is watch." Taylor turned her head to Hazel and nodded. I watched as she transformed into a dark blue monstrous creature. It was a nightmare.

Her eyes were filled with blood, and several wicked horns crowned her head. Her mouth opened wide to reveal rows of razor-sharp triangular teeth that glinted in the dim light. With a thunderous roar, she flung her head back, sending a fierce gust of air across my friends. I watched as my friends shifted quickly into their beasts. I frantically dropped to the ground and crawled, feeling for any cracks or crevices on the invisible solid floor beneath me. My hands waved violently over the invisible solid, searching for a weakness. I needed to get down there and help them.

I watched in horror as Hazel charged towards them, her long claws outstretched towards my friends.