Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - Were Love Conquers All [Were Trilogy 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (30 page)

* * * *

Charity felt the pain penetrate through her blood. Devlon, Davis, and Storm were so evil, so strong in their desire to rule and conquer, she nearly faltered. She couldn’t believe what the Goddess was doing to her. Why would she allow this? Why would she go so far as to let Charity suffer such pain?

Charity turned her head and saw her mates as well as her spirit sisters. They were holding hands with Feldman and Dravo. The realization hit her suddenly as flashbacks entered her mind. She remembered the first time they made love to her and the first time her mates bit into her shoulder, breaking her skin, absorbing her blood and marking her as their mate for eternity. Then she remembered the time in the office after they thought she had been taken and how upset they were with her. They possessed her body in every way. Their wolves demanded submission, and their love for her filtered through her blood. They filled her womb with their seed and impregnated her. She was sure of it. But then she recalled the moments during their love making when she felt dizzy and nearly blacked out. Charity saw what the Goddess had with help from Bethany, Maximus, Dante, and Luther already shared her powers. They were one. Just about every capability she had, they now had running through their veins. They just didn’t know it. Her eyes filled with tears of joy and immense love for her men and for their followers. She closed her eyes and sought their strength.

“We can do this. We can fight the evil together. You have the powers that I have. Join hands, my mates. All Alphas join hands with your mates and feel the power of good. Believe in all of our love combined.”

Charity felt the connections. She absorbed the love between Antoinette, Jacob, Luke, Troy, and Brad. She felt the love between Lexi, Saber, Andre, and Paul. She felt the love between herself, Maximus, Luther, and Dante, and of course the love and connection of Dravo and Feldman combined. There was a light of goodness from the spirits of wars past. The troops of Venificus, McFay, Crimson, and Kellmore, combined with smaller packs, emerged among the trees and through the forest walls. The force field was completely surrounded.

Charity chanted then felt herself gain some strength. She pulled her wrist from Devlon’s grasp.

She raised her other hand up, palm facing her spirit sisters, Feldman, and Dravo.

Their power began to penetrate the force field, and the Goddesses revealed the purpose of this moment. She was not alone in the battle against evil. She was the leader, the Chosen One, but one glance toward her mates, her spirit sisters, and friends and she knew she could succeed. Her confidence grew, and so did the combined powers of her and her friends.

“No!” Devlon roared as the force field exploded around them and both Storm and Davis fell backward onto the ground.

“This can’t be happening,” Devlon screamed in frustration as he shifted into a horrible-looking beast. His fangs dripped with drool, and he looked hideous.

“This is happening. You’ve lost Devlon. It’s over,” Charity stated firmly as her mates, her friends, and the army of soldiers walked closer. “You cannot escape, Devlon. Your time has come,” Charity chanted as she raised her hands.

“No! I will not lose.” He roared again as he raised his hands, and both Storm and Davis did the same.

Antoinette and Lexi took position beside Charity. Dravo, Feldman, and the men took position behind the women.

As Devlon, Storm, and Davis shot their hands forward with all their power, so did the women, as the battle to defend the world raged on.

The skies rumbled with thunder. Spirits of the Venificus, Crimson, McFay, and Kellmore gathered around them. Alphas, vampires, sorcerers, fey, and numerous other mythical creatures appeared in the sky, on the grounds, and beside the Spirit Sisters.

It was a moment of reckoning for Devlon. Charity offered him and his partners one final chance of redemption. In the distance the darkest gathering of souls howled and chanted in anticipation of their possible meal.

Devlon hadn’t a clue.

“Devlon, I offer you, Davis, and Storm one final opportunity to change your ways and to recede from the power of evil. This will be your final choice. Join us or suffer the consequences of your past and present actions. What choice do you make?” she asked as the wind blew stronger and the gusts shoved Charity’s hair forward then backward.

There were immense vibrations of pain and death that waited in the darkness behind Devlon and his partners.

“I will never stop hunting you. I will make you mine and destroy the unborn cubs growing in your womb.”

Charity glared at Devlon. “Your time has come. You’ve lost, and none of your threats mean a thing. You chose the wrong people to challenge. Admit your defeat,” Charity stated firmly.

“This is not happening. This is not over!” he roared as he lashed out at Charity. The men growled, but Charity smirked.

“You have lost, Devlon. Look around you. Feel the love and power we have as one against you. Love conquers all.”

With those final words, Devlon leaped toward Charity, only to be yanked back by invisible restraints.

Devlon, Storm, and Davis screamed in terror as they fell to the ground, where all of their power was sucked from their bodies. The black clouds of darkness appeared to touch down on the earth and swept the men up into their onyx-colored arms. They disappeared, and the sky turned bright. The abundant sunlight filtered through and surrounded them with warmth and happiness.

Everyone released their hands and hugged.

* * * *

“I love you,” Charity stated as her men embraced her, each taking a moment to kiss her thoroughly. To the side of them, her spirit sisters were embraced by their own mates and loved just as thoroughly as well.

Dravo and Feldman stood back, smiling, then waited for their turn to embrace their friends and share the moment of celebration.

Epilogue

The estate was buzzing with excitement as all the workers prepared for the party. It was another Venificus celebration. But this time all the packs gathered from every location around the world. The music played continuously throughout the day as everyone gathered around, celebrating life, unity, and the elimination of discrimination. Never in all time had so many different creatures and spirits filled one location. Never had there been such a peace and unity like there was now with the reign of the Chosen One along with Her Mates the Royal Venificus.

Charity looked out around the yard on the beautiful, warm spring day, appreciating all her friends and loved ones.

Wolves and lions, fey knights, cheetahs, dragons, and tiny fairies, never mind other mythical creatures, gathered around one another, as if this was how it had always been. There was no discrimination, no arguments of who was better than whom. Politically, socially, and morally, the world had become a better place with no room for evil or corruption. It was Utopia in its finest form.

Lexi’s three boys came running over to her. They rubbed Charity’s now very round belly and placed their cheeks against it. They listened as the babies kicked then kissed her belly before running off to chase some other young wolves from the packs.

Charity laughed.

“They are too much. I hope you don’t mind them doing that to you, Charity. No matter what Saber, Paul, and Andre tell them, they can’t seem to stop worrying and loving your babies,” Lexi stated.

“I don’t mind at all. I kind of get a kick out of it.” She chuckled as she rubbed her belly.

“I think the cubs do as well.”

They laughed some more.

“Who knows, maybe when they’re all grown up, they might fall in love with one of your cubs,” Antoinette teased as she attempted to adjust her position on the lounge chair. To Charity she looked awfully uncomfortable. She would have the babies by later today, but she just didn’t know it yet. Charity smiled.

“What?” Antoinette asked, trying to hide her discomfort.

“You don’t think it’s possible?” Lexi asked as she rubbed her own belly, knowing that she would have another set of cubs in another few months.

Charity locked gazes with her spirit sisters.

“It would be so wonderful if our packs merged one day. I love living here now and being around Dravo, Feldman, and the other pack members. With all the spirits around and the goodness, it’s heaven,” Antoinette replied.

Charity had been thrilled that they decided to move closer to the Venificus estate. They had become so close and looked to one another for support and friendship. Plus, each of their mates had merged their security business with Caliber and now dominated the world of security. Mostly their clients were human.

“Are you ladies going to lounge around in the sun all afternoon?” Maximus asked as he and the other men joined the women on the patio. They gave each of their women some loving then took seats around them.

Lexi’s boys came up the stairs again and jumped on top of their fathers. The men wrestled with them a bit then held them in body locks.

“Awww, come on, Dad. That’s not fair,” they complained until Saber, Paul, and Andre kissed the tops of their heads and let them loose.

Again the boys got down then walked to Charity and touched little hands to her belly.

Before anyone could reprimand them, they took off in a run toward more trouble.

“I swear those two are going to make me lose my mind. They’re always getting into some kind of trouble,” Lexi complained jokingly.

“They’re boys, and they’re just like we were growing up,” Saber replied.

“Just what I wanted to hear,” she added sarcastically, and everyone laughed.

“Maybe this next set will contain a girl. What do you think, Charity?” Lexi asked as she smiled toward her.

Charity gave a big smile. “Perhaps. We’ll just have to wait and see,” was all she said, and the men moaned in response. The women laughed, knowing that their mates never liked hearing the noncommittal answers to questions the spirits had yet to reveal. Sometimes the spirits revealed information that was meant only for them.

Maximus, Luther, and Dante moved toward Charity. They each bent down and kissed her lovingly, one at a time as they caressed her belly. The cubs kicked and moved around in response, making her giggle.

“We love you,” Dante whispered.

“I love you each, as well,” she replied.

The men stood up and talked about going out for a run with the others.

“Don’t go far Jacob, Luke, Troy, and Brad,” Charity told them with her eyes closed, and immediately the men halted. Charity sensed their stares but refused to open her eyes.

Antoinette gasped.

“Oh my. I’m going to have the babies today?” she stuttered.

Charity peeked open one eye and squeezed Antoinette’s hand.

“Everything is going to be just fine. The babies are fine, and you have everything you need right here. Enjoy the next few minutes and relax.”

“The next few minutes!” Antoinette exclaimed in fear.

“What do we do?” Brad asked.

“You relax and let nature take its course. We won’t be far,” Luther stated as he placed his arm around Jacob and led him from the patio. The others followed.

* * * *

“Charity?” Antoinette said her name in a shaky tone.

Charity opened her eyes and looked at both Antoinette and Lexi.

“Maybe if we take her mind off of it, she’ll relax?” Lexi offered.

“Take my hand,” Charity stated, and all three women linked hands as they lay back in their lounge chairs that were side by side. Lexi lay in a lounge chair on her left and Antoinette lay in a lounge chair on her right.

The vision filled their thoughts.

Charity could sense Antoinette’s fear, which was completely natural. She feared that her cubs may have something wrong with them, considering she was part sorcerer and had vampire blood running through her veins. Charity showed Antoinette the cubs, indicating one girl and three boys, all of them healthy. Charity sensed her relief and then Lexi’s concern for her litter. She revealed to her that Lexi would have three girls. Lexi laughed inside and wondered how her mates were going to handle that. The women giggled as well.

“What about you?” Lexi asked. Charity smiled then revealed to them her cubs. One girl and three boys. They sighed. As she felt her sisters’ feelings of contentedness, the Goddess revealed more to them. The three women sat in awe as the future of their packs was revealed before them.

Lexi’s three sons would be mates to Charity’s daughter and Charity’s two boys would be mates to Antoinette’s girl. Their packs would fully join and expand, uniting their union and a bond created and strengthened by love.

The realization hit them hard as tears filled their eyes, and they realized that love truly does conquer all.

Antoinette gasped as she sat upright, releasing Charity’s hand and stopping the vision.

“What’s wrong?” Lexi asked.

“Her babies are on their way.” Charity smiled then stood up from the chair.

Charity took one of Antoinette’s hands, and Lexi took the other. They helped her up as each of them called to their men through their mind links.