Goddess of Love (2 page)

Palidor felt the same anxiety.

“We have contacted them, so their warriors are on guard. So far no one has seen them. There is more to be worried about here. Our investigation into these rogue packs that keep popping up around the world indicate that they are growing in numbers. The princess has been notified, and she has sent members of her packs out to further investigate. We’re hoping to get some indication of why this is happening,” Brutas said.

“We’ll do our best, sir,” Palidor stated.

“Palidor. Please be careful, and do not underestimate the power of these wolves. You’ve seen their destruction firsthand, but our Fae sources tell us that the packs are very strong and very evil,” Langly, another commander, added.

Orion and Palidor locked gazes.

“The Fae? What kind of evil?” Palidor asked, feeling that sensation deep in his core instantly become alert. Something was up with this situation. One look at Orion and he knew his brother was feeling it, too.

Brutas and Langly looked at one another and then back at Palidor and Orion.

Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

13

“You don’t sense it, do you? I mean with your bloodline and with the Chosen One as your mother?” Brutas asked.

Palidor was immediately on the defensive. A lot of times people assumed that he and his brother had their mother’s powers, too. That wasn’t the case. They each had their own special abilities. Sometimes Palidor felt as if he was capable of even more, but had yet to touch his powers fully.

“I know exactly what you mean, Palidor. I feel a bit on edge
myself,”
Orion stated through their mind link.

“We are not our mother, Brutas. Believe me, if she were aware of this threat, or the presence of some evil coming this way, she would surely get word to all of us. It has been and continues to be the Venificus way, to ensure safety and security to all creatures of this realm and beyond. We’ll be careful, and take what the Fae have warned about, seriously,” Palidor stated firmly, and both Brutas and Langly bowed their heads and thanked them for coming.

After all, even though Brutas and Langly were commanders of the Brothers of Were, Orion and Palidor were royalty, and they were sons of the Chosen One as well as the Venificus Alphas.

“I’ve got that feeling in my gut, Palidor. I don’t like this
sensation.”

“I know, Orion. I don’t like it either. But there’s nothing we can
do about it. We need to do our job and hunt down these killer wolves.

You saw the last villages they took out. The destruction, the murders
of all those innocent men, women, and children. Never mind those
men they took as prisoners.”

“That’s what I don’t understand. Why take prisoners when it
seems like all they want to do is destroy and kill like robots?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out. Let’s gather the men, and
head out. Just stay close.”

“I will. Let’s do this.”

* * * *

14

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

Ariella danced along with her friends. They were enjoying the day in the forest. She hoped that this little adventure would cheer her up and help to ease the craving for more that was building inside of her.

She thought about visiting Batya, Charity’s daughter in Dallas. They had been friends forever and a trip to her college and the city nightlife would surely ease the adventurous need burning inside of Ariella. Her Fae senses were in overdrive at the moment. She wanted to play, to tease, to have no cares, and just have fun. Yet, her wolf spirit told her to be on guard. She almost felt like growling. Fed up with the confusion she felt, she grabbed her friends and expressed the need to run and enjoy the sunny day. They were all for it despite the warnings proclaimed right before they left. More than likely the Venificus were being overprotective.

* * * *

The whispered giggles and then bursts of tiny laughter could be heard in the gentle wind. It grabbed the attention of Orion and Palidor as their team of men hunted the set of rogue wolves. They learned of their hiding spot days ago, and awaited orders to hunt and capture the rogues. They were hoping to find out what exactly they were after or if they were just troublemakers. It seemed like a lot of challenging forces were causing an uprising. Everyone thought it had to do with the Goddess of the Circle and the reformation of the Security Ring.

With all the changes and challenges of good over bad intentions, surely some feathers were ruffled, or in this case, Alphas and social classes amongst the wolves challenged. That brought defiance and indignation.

As they came across the previous packs of wolves, there had been no choice but to eliminate them. The Brothers of Were, had been forced to take their lives. Some even expressed a strong sense of evil
Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

15

when they fought them. Orion and Palidor didn’t like that one bit, or the fact that they felt it, too.

The wolves were not a normal breed. They were distorted, extra large, vicious, and evil. Everywhere they went, they killed violently, ripping innocent people to shreds and leaving nothing but heartache and destruction behind them. Getting the cleanup crews to remove the evidence had caused an increase in the hiring of many different types of creatures. The Were didn’t dominate the professional world as they always had. It seemed that change was coming and with that change, came further problems. Lack of loyalty to the growing circle of elders members, uncertainty of who really was the main ruler of the Were authority and when an uprising would occur. It seemed inevitable, as more individuals questioned the authority that was established so many centuries ago.

They both missed working in the city and with the Antiterrorist Task Force. They longed to get back to that, but something indicated they might never return to the civilian-type position again.

Palidor and Orion had gone through one of the villages recently, and spoken with survivors. Women who lost their mates to the evil rogue wolves were in tears and heartache. Over a dozen stated that their men had been taken alive, but were brutally beaten first. That didn’t sit right with Palidor or Orion. Why were they taking prisoners?

Palidor knew that numerous types of rogue packs existed across the world. Most didn’t follow pack laws, or those rules of the circle.

But none had been so violent, so destructive to kill like these recent rogue packs. If they decided to go after humans next, it could be quite the problem. Considering that wolves worked and lived among the humans in all aspects of professions, and outnumbered them, it would still be difficult to explain the existence of the so-called mystical creatures. Wolves were very careful to keep their existence hidden, and only few humans knew of them. Him, Orion, and other members
16

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

of the Brothers of Were, were trying to figure out who was the leader, and what was their agenda.

“Do you hear that?” Orion asked his brother. It seemed that they were the only wolves to hear the sounds of tiny laughter. As children to royalty and sons of the Chosen One, they had many gifts given to them by the goddesses. They were struck by visions of events both future and past, they could see things others couldn’t, and something grew within their souls they had yet to identify but knew was important to one another and to their family. However, since Draco disappeared, that inner something had weakened.

“Listen. Do you hear that beautiful voice? Whoever it is, they’re singing, and it’s so amazing,” Orion whispered and then began to walk closer.

Palidor grabbed his arm. “Wait. It could be some sort of trap.”

Orion looked at Palidor. Their identical blue eyes locked.

“It’s beautiful, you are right. I wonder who she could be? Why would she be out in the woods like this? Our packs have warned everyone to beware,” Palidor said, as concern for the owner of the lovely voice filled his heart. But then came the anger. Were they denying a direct order from the royal family? Whomever they were, he would be sure to personally reprimand them for such disregard.

Suddenly, they heard the screams, and so did their men.

“Let’s move. Be ready, men. This could be a trap,” Palidor stated firmly.

Palidor’s heart raced with both excitement to fight and destroy the rogue wolves they hunted, as well as anticipation of finding the owner to that lovely voice. As the troops descended upon the open grassy area, they saw the set of four rogue wolves. Probably a scouting group that went out to case the area.

In the center were multiple women. A sniff in the air and he could sense the fear coming from three of the four, but the one in the center mocked the wolves.
Is she out of her mind?

Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

17

* * * *

Ariella, daughter of the Fae Goddess, Antoinette, stood her ground. The spirits had directed her to come here with her Fae friends and enjoy a day in the forest before the celebration this weekend. She sensed the evil magic brewing in the air, and although Charity, Antoinette, and Lexi sent out warnings, it seemed the Goddesses had other plans for her and her friends. As they frolicked and played, danced and sung, Ariella could feel something pulling her further and further into the woods. She sang a song, as the voice penetrated her ears and her soul, asking her to sing louder, to walk deeper away from her friends. There was someone or something of prominence out there, yet every bit of her Fae powers warned her of evil.

Now, here she stood, her friends behind her, cowering at the rogue wolves who seemed ready to devour them.

“There’s nowhere to run, little one. You’re destined to be my prisoner,” one extra large wolf stated as drool dripped from his incisors. He appeared so terrifying. She wasn’t sure that she had been following the right source of information in coming here. Could somehow, something evil have manipulated her mind?

“I don’t think so, wolf. I do not wish to go with you. Here is where I shall remain,” she replied as her friends cowered behind her.

The other wolves swiped their nasty, sharp paws at their skirts and dresses, tearing the material.

She was angry and offended. Didn’t these wolves sense her magic, her Fae blood? She was of the wolf, too, among other things, but surely they knew the rules.

They sniffed the air and growled low as they identified their scents.

“A tasty morsel you all would be, but he wants you whole, not tattered and bloody. Come with me now, and your friends will live to see another day.”

Who was he talking about? Someone wanted her?

18

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

“I don’t think so, wolf. Be gone. Leave us alone, or I will be forced to fight you.”

The obnoxious, narcissistic wolves laughed aloud, tilting their long snouts up into the air, barring their vicious teeth, egging her on to challenge them. She was a joke in their eyes. Standing at a mere five feet four inches, she must seem tiny and fragile to them.

Obviously when brains were handed out, these wolves hadn’t received them. Besides, these were modern times. Did wolves really still roam the woods looking to frighten women?

She tilted her chin upward, did a little magic spell, and conjured up a weapon. She pulled out the silver sword. Her long brown hair whipped over her shoulders, sending her magical scent around her friends as a barrier to protect them. The shield was invisible, but the moment one of these asses attacked, they would disintegrate upon contact.

“Such a feisty little Fae. He will have you. We will succeed in taking you to him. This is your last chance.” He stared at her with such evil, such indignation that she instantly felt into his soul. She gasped, at the realization that it was black. His evil blood circulated throughout his body, like wild vines strangling another struggling soul in desperation. Someone was trapped inside of him.

They growled and got down low on their back legs, preparing to pounce.

She was so caught off guard. Something inside of her ignited with fury and sadness combined. There was good inside this rogue wolf, but the evil, the black magic was stronger.

“Now,” he whispered and as the first set of two wolves leaped forward prepared to kill the women, they hit the force field and exploded. The last two wolves remained, including the one she stared at. Others approached from the woods, entering the clearing. She was outnumbered, but well prepared, and ready to fight if necessary. Yet, something inside her had to give them the opportunity to back down.

Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

19

“Turn away from the magic, wolf. Open your heart to good, and I shall help you.” She lowered her sword and reached her hand toward him. He and the other stared at her, but then an evil smirk filled his wolf expression. “You have no power to change us. We will prevail.

We will conquer. You will be his possession.” The wolf scratched at her arm, tearing the flesh, and as she cried out, the sound of growls filled the air around them. In a flash other wolves pounced on the two before her. She heard the women scream in terror, believing that these wolves, too, were rogue. But as Ariella looked forward, seeing two extra large wolves tear the throats from the evil wolves surrounding the two larger ones in front of her. She held the sword upright, prepared to use it if necessary as the two wolves who attacked continued to fight. As she watched in terror, she knew who they were immediately.

Orion and Palidor. Charity’s sons.

She was frightened for their safety, as Palidor continued to fight one of the wolves, while Orion was suddenly pinned down in front of her by two other wolves. She feared for his life as she took the sword, stabbing the one wolf causing him to roar in pain and then disintegrate to dust. That gave Orion the opportunity to kill the other wolf, and end the battle.

She felt terrible for having to kill that wolf. She knew he was being overpowered by evil, and lost in thought of choosing to assist Orion and Palidor. She was shocked at the outrage in Palidor’s voice.