Hope

The look of pure terror on Leon's face would have been delicious if I weren't such a kind wolf. I hate fighting, violence and death. But this, this is necessary. This is killed or be killed. This is the difference between carrying out the destiny the Moon Goddess intended for me or ending up in a life of servitude.

That would be unacceptable.

I let my aura pour out of me, strengthened by my anger and firm resolve. I could see the wolves of the council struggling. They could fight all they wanted.

They would submit.

Power was never something I thirsted for. I am a content wolf. A simple wolf. But right now, seeing these men who thought themselves invincible fall before me.

This power feels good.

Too good.

I pull back for a moment, to remind myself why I'm doing this. Who I'm doing it for. I don't want the power to consume me. To corrupt me. Vengeance is a petty thing and I refuse to lose my humanity over it.

The wolves in front of me submit, as I knew they would. They practically suffocate under my aura. They are trapped on their knees. All they can do is await their fate.

And what an unfortunate fate it will be.

"Really, Leon. I should be thanking you." I say as I circle him. "Thanks to your stunt, every wolf on this earth will know not to mess with me once they hear how we took down the Werewolf Council. We may add some flare to the story, you know for posterity. But we will make your deaths quick and as painless as possible. Well, most of you. I'm sure my mate will take his time with you, Leon." I say and am met with a growl of approval from Connor. It feels like a warm caress across my body making sparks soar over me. I'm grateful this is almost over. I'm ready to be alone with him again.

Connor begins to toy with Leon, snapping at him, nipping at him, drawing blood but nothing too deep. His claws rake across Leon's chest and he cries out in pain while his cohorts grimace and quake in fear.

"It's amazing you managed to piss him off so thoroughly in such a short amount of time." I muse. "Connor is normally incredibly even headed. His temper, almost non existent. Well, not when it comes to me I guess. When it comes to me, he will kill without a second thought." I say and Connor howls in agreement, tearing Leon's arm from his body.

He cries out in agony making me grimace. I go stand next to my dad, his large body shielding me from the gory act that my mate is committing in my honor. I don't need it, but I know his wolf won't rest until he's vindicated me, until his proven his strength and dominance. He's setting the example of what happens when you dare to challenge his mate. Our warriors watch in awe as their Alpha tears the man apart, just slow enough that his wolf has time to heal him to keep him from dying, but not enough that he doesn't feel the pain. Eventually, Leon fades from blood loss. Connor picks up his hand and brings a hand as a kind of trophy, his wolf showing that he can protect me. I smile and run my hand over his head.

The other wolves of the council are quickly dispatched of. I released them from their submission, as the boys wanted a chance to practice their fighting skills. The older wolves really stood no chance against our pack, even without using any of my gifts. It was clear they had coasted on their reputation for far too long and had no right to claim supremecy over any wolf. A surreal feeling of relief floods over me as the last wolf is finished. It's quickly replaced with unease. Everyone shifts back to their skin, pulling on shorts and congratulating each other.

Connor rushes to me, pulling me tightly into his arms inadvertently smearing me with Leon's blood.

"What's wrong, Hope?" He asks pulling away to search my face. My eyes lock on his emerald orbs and a surge of affection runs through me. He feels it and smiles, before leaning over to kiss me firmly.

"It can't be that easy, can it?" I ask, concern coloring my words. I reach up to hug myself, suddenly feeling cold.

"It's over, baby. You're safe. Soon word will spread of what happened here, what you're capable of, and no one will dare to fuck with us." He says firmly, wrapping me up in his firm embrace again. I soak up every ounce of warmth his arms can offer me, trying to avoid looking at the bodies and blood soaked ground. I doubt I will ever be able to look at this place without remembering what happened here.

"Let's get you home." Connor says quietly, swinging me into his arms and carrying me home. The boys stay behind to clean up, hollering and cheering at their victory. Our border patrol wolves are so proud to have been apart of the stand off, doing their duty, standing beside their alpha and Luna. I hope this doesn't make them thirst for violence in the future.

"They'll be fine. Dean and Kade will have a talk with them." Connor says, obviously poking around my brain, but I smile tiredly not able to muster the annoyance to scold him.

"You did well. You had excellent control of your gifts." Connor says proudly with a warm smile that I return.

"I think emotion helps fuel them. That's why I have a hard time just training with them, but I seem able to use them when I need them." I say yawning making Connor chuckle.

"It still takes a lot of energy obviously." He says affectionately, pecking a kiss to my forehead as I burrow into his chest. He hums in delight at the movement.

"It's not like I've been sleeping much either." I point out and Connor grunts in response.

"Well, that ends now. When we get home we're showering, eating and going to sleep." He proclaims firmly and I whine.

"Can't I just shower and then sleep? I'll even sleep in the shower if you'll let me." I say and Connor laughs and pulls me closer to his chest.

"Just a little food, sweetheart. Your appetite hasn't been great either." He implores and I know I'll give in to him, only because I know he has my well being at heart.

We walk into our house where my mom and Liz are preparing a feast for the warriors. They come over to me, still in Connor's arms and kiss my head where there's no blood and smile.

"I'm so glad that's over." My mom says relief evident in her face.

"Me too, mom. I love having you here." I say tiredly and she gives me an affectionate smile.

"We'll be right back down, just going to clean up." Connor says and carries me to our room.

He sets me down in our bathroom and turns on the shower when I go to pull my clothes from me. He lets out a low warning growl and I look at him confused before he comes over to me, lifting my shirt over my head.

"Let me take care of you." He pleads and I see his wolf just below the surface, inspecting me closely. I simply nod and allow him to do whatever will put him most at ease. Once we are in the warm water and he's lathering soap along my body he finally breaks down, soft sobs wracking his body.

"Connor? What's wrong, baby?" I ask my face a mask of concern as I cup his cheeks, brushing away the mixture of water and tears with my thumbs.

"God, Hope. When he said he was going to take you away. It just about killed me, sweetheart. I've never been so scared in my life. All I could think of is what if you didn't have these gifts? What if I didn't have a strong pack at my disposal? Is this what other healers and their mates went through? It just fucking breaks my heart, baby. It kills me. It kills me to think of the pain, the torment all the healers before you went through, only because they were given a gift." He chokes on a sob and I wrap my arms around him, letting my own tears fall.

He's right.

Just the threat of being taken, imprisoned and used had me terrified. I can't imagine having to actually live through it. Having my mate separated from me, or worse murdered to break me into submission. It's heart wrenching to think about, and all of the self pity I once felt vanishes. The Moon Goddess gifted me with the tools to protect myself and those I love. I'll never resent those gifts again.

We are able to calm each other and stand under the warm water just holding each other for a long time, enjoying the feel of our bodies touching. After awhile we dress and go downstairs to eat. It's a lively affair, everyone joyful that the threat has been neutralized and our pack is safe again. No one can sense the pain Connor and I feel. The empathy for those before us. I'm grateful for that at least. After many hugs and smiles we sneak back into our room. Connor locks the door behind him and we both strip down naked before climbing into bed. Connor wastes no time pulling me flush against him, tucking my face into his neck and breathing in my scent so deeply it actually makes me giggle.

"I love hearing that sound." He murmurs quietly, his voice low and rumbling, tempting me into sleep.

"I love you." I say making him chuckle and kiss my forehead.

"So cheesy." He teases making me smack his chest playfully. He laughs in response and threads his fingers through my still damp hair gently.

"I love you too. More than anything in the world. Now get some sleep because tomorrow we need to start planning."

"Planning what?" I ask sleepily, my eyes drifting closed.

"Our vacation."