Damien

Liam slumped to the ground as Nethercote held up a syringe, taunting him. "Dirty fucking vampires," I thought. The lack of Cage mirroring my anger infuriated me.

Liam remained down. He'd dropped to his knees, and his expression showed this was far worse than the fight with Kol. That had only involved a wolfsbane-dipped dagger; this was an entire vial.

"Maddox, Liam's hurt. We're on the training grounds with another Sire. If I don't make it, get Liam. Get Missy to the packhouse with Azalea and Felix, then come get Liam. DO NOT TELL MISSY." I needed a contingency plan. Felix would be occupied getting Azalea to safety. Jacob and Sean were coordinating warriors and pack members, and Austin had gone to help Lyssa. Maddox was my best bet.

"I'll be there as fast as I can," Maddox replied.

"I'm going to let this knee heal, so finish him off," Nethercote instructed the vampires, who again closed ranks to protect him.

"I don't think so," I growled, charging in and body-checking the first vampire to reach Liam. He went flying into the others, knocking them down like bowling pins.

I wielded an axe in each hand, and the vampires' screams filled the training grounds as my blades found their mark. I punched one in the nose, flattening it against his face. Using my axe's curve, I hooked it behind his head, pulled him close, and headbutted him, crushing his skull. I dropped his lifeless body. I felt hands on my shoulders as the vampires closed in. A swipe of my hand sent a vampire's arm flying. He screeched but continued fighting. I kicked another hard enough in the chest to send him sprawling. They were becoming hesitant, and I was thinning their numbers one by one.

"I think I'll take my leave now," Nethercote said nervously. "Finish up and find me when you're done."

He started to retreat into the treeline, but I wouldn't let him escape. Remembering Michael's earlier demonstration with my new weapons, I stepped back, pulled an axe behind my ear, and hurled it. It whistled through the air, embedding itself in Nethercote's back, pinning him to a tree.

"Wait there for me," I growled. "I won't be long." I looked at my best friend, still hunched on the ground.

"Are you okay, Liam?" I asked, praying he wasn't dead. It was a lot of wolfsbane, but he was an Alpha; he was Liam.

He answered with labored breaths and grunts. He wasn't speaking, but he was alive. All I could do was kill everyone in front of me and hope I got him to Azalea in time. I knew what healing did to her, so I hoped this wasn't enough to kill her either. Only these vampires and their Sire stood between me and Liam's safety. I could handle that.

I charged the remaining vampires, hacking and slashing. They swarmed me, but it only brought them closer. I buried my blade in a vampire's forehead; her head wouldn't come free, so I lifted her body and smashed it into another vampire. I swung her body, felling vampires until it finally broke apart among the bodies piling at my feet. I had one axe left, freeing a hand to grab and hold them while I worked with my blade.

As they attacked, I chopped off anything that came near. The ground was littered with limbs and heads amidst the bodies. I could hear Nethercote struggling against the axe, gurgling as he struggled for breath. Finally, I held the last vampire, who begged for his life.

"Please," he pleaded. "Don't kill me. They made me do it."

"You'll have to sort that out with whatever deity you worship," I told him.

I raised the axe and chopped down hard. The blade parted him like butter, and his body fell apart, spilling its contents onto the ground.

"It's finally your turn," I told Nethercote. He would pay. They all would.

I stalked toward the Sire, who feebly pushed against the tree, trying to escape.

"Did you really think you'd get away with this?" I asked, not expecting an answer. "Do vampires think they can slaughter us in our homes?"

Any response was lost in his inability to breathe. I reached him, slammed the axe into Nethercote beside its twin, and felt it rip through him into the tree. A horrific sound of pain and terror escaped Nethercote. He clawed at the tree, tearing chunks out of it. He looked desperate, but not for long.

"You thought you could take everything from me," I roared, grabbing his chin and the back of his head. "Now, you'll watch as I take everything from you."

With a sickening pop, I twisted his head completely around. His eyes widened as he looked down at his back. His head was backward, the skin ripped and bloody. He mouthed words, but nothing came out. I ripped off an arm and threw it to the ground.

"You took my wolf."

I tore off his other arm, holding it up.

"You tried to kill my friends."

I pulled off his leg. His eyes were panicked. I twisted hard, wrenching his leg from its socket.

"You came to my pack. You endangered my children."

His final limb came free. He'd bled so much, a crimson pool soaked my shoes. I was covered in blood. His body trembled, and I was done. I needed to get Liam help. I seized his hair, pulling his face up.

"I hope it was worth it," I growled as I tore his head from his body.

With one hand, I pulled my axes from his body; his trunk fell into the pool of blood. I placed Nethercote's head on his torso as a warning. They should know it would end in death. I walked toward Liam, and saw someone running toward us, carrying someone. They reached Liam first; it was our Luna. She knelt, pulling Liam's head into her lap. I heard his groans. I didn't know if he'd last much longer.

Once I reached them, Azalea said, "I'm here, Liam; just hold on."

I sighed in relief. If anyone could keep him alive, it would be her.

Azalea

The sun was setting, and the pain within me had subsided. I felt stronger. Seeing Liam in pain was awful, but I knew I could heal him.

"This feels like when Kol stabbed him with wolfsbane, but worse. Did that happen again?" I asked Damien, tending to Liam.

"Yeah," he replied gruffly. "Nethercote used a syringe. He collapsed almost immediately. A Sire appeared with a large group, and when Liam asked for a one-on-one fight, the vampire agreed but then used the wolfsbane."

"A Sire?" I asked, looking around frantically. Another Sire with Warwick meant massive trouble.

"I killed all the vampires and the Sire, Lea. We're safe, for now."

Relief flooded me as I placed my hands on Liam. It was time to heal him. I'd never figured out how to use my power without touching someone since Kol and Liam's fight. Liam was grunting.

"I can do this," I whispered.

"Azalea," Liam said softly, pulling my hand to him. "Don't. It could kill you."

"You have to let me," I insisted. He wasn't stopping me; he was in pain, and I could help.

"You can't…" he argued.

I kissed him to stop him, pushing energy into him as I tasted his lips. I closed my eyes, picturing my aura washing through him, blanketing him in healing energy. Unlike before, I felt no pain or fatigue. When I pulled away, Liam's eyes were clear, worried.

"Are you okay?" he asked, looking me over as he rolled over.

"No pain," I promised. "I don't know why, but this time was different."

He looked at the darkening sky, where the moon was rising. "Do you think?"

He'd told me about the Harvest Moon Legend. "I don't know. I am the right age."

He pulled me close, kissing me. My anxiety over his survival finally abated. I healed him so easily, it was miraculous. Damien cleared his throat, reminding us we were on a battlefield.

"Sorry, Damien," I apologized, my cheeks flushed. Liam stood and helped me up. Missy appeared, launching herself at Liam.

"You're okay!" she shouted, her voice muffled against his chest.

"I'm fine," Liam consoled her. He hugged her tightly. "Azalea got here just in time." His eyes met mine lovingly.

Missy released Liam and looked at me with concern. "Are you sure? You aren't tired?"

"No," I shook my head. "I'm okay, and so is your dad."

"Sorry, Beta. I couldn't keep it from her," Maddox apologized sheepishly.

Damien narrowed his eyes but clapped him on the shoulder. "All that matters is you're here. Thank you for coming, even though I didn't need you."

I looked at my mate, bracing myself for the fight ahead. "Liam, we need to use the watch to end Warwick. He's here."

"I don't need the watch. I'm going to tear him apart," Liam told me. His eyes darkened. Gavin was pushing to get out.

"Let me go with you. I can heal you," I demanded. I wouldn't let him leave me behind; this was my pack too. "We need to finish this together. Alpha and Luna."

Liam looked torn. I felt his indecision and worry for my safety. I felt the same about him leaving, so I wasn't letting him lock me in the packhouse.

"Fine," he agreed.

"You can't make… Fine?" I started to argue before I caught what he said. "You'll let me help?"

"Yes," he sighed, turning to Azeron. "At the first sign she's tired or in danger, take her to safety. Don't break my trust again. I let you live once; I won't if she gets hurt."

"Understood, Alpha," Azeron said, moving closer to me.

"I'll go if Lea is in danger," Missy told Liam, her voice determined. She stood before us, covered in blood and dirt but fearless.

"Missy, I want you away from this. This isn't your fight," Liam told her. She shook her head.

"This is my pack. I am the Alpha's daughter. This is my fight. I won't let them take anyone else I care about," she said.

"Alright," Liam acknowledged. "Stay with Maddox. I know you're strong, but he'll keep you safe." Liam felt the same pride for our daughter as I did. I wanted her safe but understood.

"We have to find Warwick now," Damien said. "I can't tell if these attacks are random or planned."

"At Lyssa's, the last vampire said he was there to kidnap the kids. But they'd already been attacked. Adding that to Bygrave's mate coming after me, I think it's mostly random vampires doing what they want. Then small units were sent to do specific tasks in the resulting confusion," Maddox interjected; his expression was serious.

"Did Austin get the children to the packhouse? Is my mom okay?" Liam asked.

Missy and Maddox exchanged a somber look; Maddox shook his head. "Austin is gone. We got there too late; he died in front of us. Lyssa is in her house's safe room; she was too injured to move. The kids should be at the packhouse."

I couldn't believe it. My chest felt tight; war was upon us. Austin was one of the first wolves to accept me, and I'd grown to love him and his mate. Abigail was probably devastated, and Austin wouldn't comfort her.

"We have to find Warwick and kill him," I snapped. "If we don't, he'll slaughter the whole pack. I tried reasoning with him, but he's beyond that."

"You won't have to look far," Warwick's voice came from the trees. Liam and Damien blocked my view, but it didn't matter. He'd come to us.