Fight for Me

A few days later

Nicholas sits behind the large mahogany desk working through the intel his spies have gathered. The same desk he was used to always seeing his father sitting behind ever since he was a pup.

It feels odd to him, taking his father’s place. Especially since he wants to be nothing like him. He just wants to be alone, and be reminded of the times he would be in such a comfortable silence with Layla. He is so desperate for the slightest reminder of her, that he has blocked all mind links, for those brief moments of peace. Something he only felt when he was around her.

“This is crazy.” The sound of Anthony’s agitated voice gets his attention as he looks up. “There have already been so many casualties. Why won’t people believe that we’re trying to stop all this. That you’re trying to help.”

Nicholas looks at his brother’s frustrated gaze, -like a child that wants to be heard. But what gets his attention is Tristan, sitting on the sofa in the far corner of the room, deep in thought and as silent as he came here.

Nicholas was surprised when Anthony and his warriors showed up here, merely two days after he sent his message out to his brothers. He didn’t think they would show, he didn’t expect them to. Considering he was suggesting a suicide mission that will most definitely get everyone killed if they don’t win. And not to mention, -will get the council on their backsides, ready to dish out punishments as they usually see fit. But when Tristan showed up a few days later with his own army, Nicholas couldn’t help but feel nostalgic at the thought that his brothers do in fact trust him. But the guilt still ate him alive every second, that he might lead them to their deaths. He still feels that it’s probably for the best he hasn’t heard from Maxim yet. He does after all have a new pup he needs to consider in these trying times.

“You know, with that serious look on your face, you really do look like him.” Anthony says in a low sarcastic tone.

Nicholas looks at him with a raised, questioning brow.

“Like father.” Anthony clarifies, suddenly getting Tristan’s focus on Nicholas as well.

He sees his brothers staring at him, as if waiting for his response, or to accept his role as their father’s reminder or replacement. But his fists clench on the desk at the annoyance of the thought.

“Enough.” He says in a loud tone, followed by deafening silence. “I am nothing like him.”

“I see what you mean.” Tristan finally talks. Though, the playful smirk his brothers always expect from Tristan's commentary is nowhere to be found on his indifferent expression.

But Nicholas can’t see reason to chastise Tristan on his sarcastic comment. He understands that his brother is still in grievance for Melinda’s disappearance. Nicholas now understands what it’s like to feel the longing of the mate bond. He understands the need to always be near Layla, to know where she is, to know that she is safe. And in not knowing any of those things, he can barely control himself in wanting to destroy everything in his path until there is nothing left but her on this planet. But he can’t, because he promised he wouldn’t go looking for her. Yet.

“We need to stay focused. We need to fortify our perimeter on this place.” Nicholas speaks his warning, sure that they would understand.

So many people out there still don’t trust them, -trust that they are in fact trying to stop the war and not trying to fish out possible traitors for the wolf council and their armies to slaughter.

“Look. It may just be the three of us, but with our warriors put together, we already stand a very good chance.” Anthony says with the usual hope he has in his spirit.

“A chance at what? Winning? Find whoever is at the centre of this?” Tristan looks at both his brothers with a solemn look. “It could be father.” He finally voices the one concern they have been avoiding all this time.

But Anthony jumps in. “We know he has a part to play in this. But he can’t seriously be behind all of this.”

Though, Nicholas remains quiet, certain that his brothers aren’t ready to accept the possibility that they were raised by a man who might very well have orchestrated all their lives to be his generals in the apocalypse he is to force onto the world. And Nicholas has a prickling suspicion that his father also has something to do with whoever is after Layla.

It infuriates him. He doesn’t want to hurt Layla, ever. And to think that his own blood might very likely have a hand to play in all the pain she already had to endure all this time, on her own. The mere thought makes him and his wolf seethe in anger, -ready to show his father what a true monster he really can be.

“We will do what we need to, when the time comes.” Nicholas finally breaks the brief silence in the room.

“But Nicholas.” Anthony practically whines. “We don’t even know where to find him. His whereabouts are being protected by the council.”

“My trackers are closing in on him.”

“Oh come on Nicholas.” Tristan scoffs. “It will take them months to search the entire Blood Hill Forest. By then, the world as we know it would already have burned to ashes.”

“Do you really have to be so pessimistic?” Anthony nags.

“Alpha.” The office door swings open, revealing an anxious Tyler. “I’m sorry for barging in, but you were blocking off all links.”

“What is it?” Nick stands up, already walking to the door and knowing he is needed somewhere else.

“They are here.” He says in disbelief as he follows Nick down the hallway.

“Who?”

“The lions.”

Nick stops in his tracks for a brief second, taking in Tyler’s information, before he continues to rush down.

He makes his way to the castle's gathering hall and comes face to face with approximately fifty men and women standing in still formation. Soldiers, ready for their orders.

But there is a tall, tanned man with long curly hair, neatly styled behind his ears standing in front of them all. If not for his position in this formation, his aura makes it clear that this is his army. He is their ‘Protector’.

Nicholas approaches the man, and stops when there are just two steps separating them.

Though, neither of them speaks, as they openly stare at each other. The features of the man’s face look oddly familiar to Nick. And comparing them to the only other lion he has been acquainted with, he can’t help but seek a connection.

The tension thickens the air as neither says anything. Their suspicion and disappointment in each other visible on their faces.

The Protector flashes his silver eyes, stating his identity and power. But Nick just flashes his own golden eyes, as a warning and acceptance of this lion’s intimidation.

“Are you just going to stare at each other?” Anthony asks, clearly confused.

But he quickly gets interrupted by two deep and annoyed growls from the two men who still haven’t taken focus off each other.

Anthony just rolls his eyes as he looks for answers and help from Tristan and Nick’s head members. But none of them seem willing to get between the two brooding men.

“So, you’re the alpha that is standing against the Wolf Council?” The Protector finally speaks in a raspy tone.

“And you’re the lion Protector who wants to join us.” Nick states, as he concludes that this must be the lion protector who suspiciously approached Maxim, a few months ago.

Different shifters never really got along with one another, and even less so with wolves specifically. The fact that lion shifters had previously reached out to them was suspicious enough. Though, Nick had considered the possibility that perhaps they might just be extremely desperate.

But Nick can’t help wonder, how or why the lions would have reached out to them before any news of berserkers was even made public yet.

“That depends, on how far you’re willing to go.”

Nick stays silent as he waits for the man to explain himself.

“Will you burn this world to the ground, to rid it of its evil? Or will you spare the demons and force them into repentance?”

Nick sighs, knowing he might disappoint this man.

“I do not care much for justice. And I have no desire to be anyone’s hero.”

“Then what are you fighting for?”

“A better future. A peaceful one.”

The protector stares at Nick’s face, as if searching for lies. But he suddenly breaks into laughter as he closes the gap between them and opens his arms.

Nick smiles at the man’s acceptance of his answer as he too reaches out to the man.

They both grab each other behind their necks and bow, just enough for their foreheads to touch. -As is the custom greeting of lion shifters. A symbol of comradery.

“You speak as if you are an old man in desperate need of retirement.” The protector says.

“With my reputation, you should understand why.”

He scoffs. “I thought you wolves age far slower than the rest of us. Or does that not count for your fighting spirit?”

The man finally notices the odd looks he’s getting from the rest of the wolves standing behind Nick.

“Where are my manners? Let me introduce myself.” He joins his men in their strict stance. “My name is Kesh Lan, Protector of the Kesh Lion Pride. And these are our warriors, here to join the fight against those who wish to bring harm onto this world with their ill will.”

They all give a single stomp of their feet loudly onto the ground and slam their fists onto their chests as they gently bow their heads in unison.

All are in awe of the disciplined practices of the lions. They have heard stories of their prideful but tribal ways, but have never seen it so ostentatiously. Even their uniformed attire of white and gold speak for their royal elegance.

“We are honoured to have you fight with us.” Nick breaks the silence. “Come with me, Protector Kesh Lan. We must speak.”

Nick nods towards Tyler and Ben, who are quick to get the new lion warriors settled.

Nick, his brothers, and Kesh Lan step into one of the downstairs offices, as they make themselves comfortable for the discussion to be had.

“We never thought other shifters would join us.” Anthony says, struggling to hide his excitement.

“It was never the plan.” Kesh Lan says with a smirk. “But someone convinced me.”

“Someone you trust.” Nick says, trying to confirm his suspicions.

But Kesh Lan breaks into laughter again, seeing Nick’s reserved expression. “I wouldn’t exactly say trust. But his faith in you had me wondering.”

Anthony and Tristan look between the two men with confusion, trying to figure out what this secret conversation is about.

“Brother?” Nick asks Kesh Lan.

“Cousin.”

“And he is well?”

“Are you really concerned of his well-being? Afterall, did he not run off with your mate?”

“We were never mates.”

“No, you weren’t. In fact, he practically begged me to help you save your true mate.” He starts shaking his head. “Honestly, it’s quite a confusing situation. He had to explain it to me a few times before I could make sense of it all.”

“Uhm.” Anthony intervenes, hoping to remind the two that he and Tristan are also in the room and need some clarifying. “Can one of you perhaps fill us in on what you’re exactly talking about. Who ran off with Nick’s mate?”

Kesh Lan looks over at the two lost alphas and smiles mischievously. “It turns out that my cousin had run off with your brother’s ex-lover.”

“What?” The brothers look at Nick, but he just rolls his eyes in annoyance, hoping he wouldn’t have to explain this to them step-by-step.

“Mike.” Nick says with a knowing look, hoping they can piece it together themselves. But their continued lost looks had him elaborating a bit more. “And Rebecca.”

A brief silence fills the room as Anthony and Tristan stare at each other, before quickly looking back at Nick with wide eyes and realization all over their expressions.

“Wait.” Anthony says. “You mean to say, that Mike, the lion shifter, and Rebecca,……….?” He taps his two index fingers together as a means to finish his question.

“Rebecca, and Mike?” Tristan questions too. “When did that happen?”

“Wait. Mike is your cousin?” Anthony asks Kesh Lan.

“Well actually, his name is Kesh Mikem. But, yes.”

“But, he was captured and experimented on in that torture prison.” Anthony pauses, but not getting a response. “Why didn’t you help him?”

But a low growl comes from Kesh Lan as he frustratingly combs his hands through his long locks.

“Mikem is not a man of rules. He does what he wants and goes where he wants, when he wants. By the time we realized he was missing, the tracks had already run cold. We lions do not have the bond that is shared among you wolves. We did not even know if he was dead or alive. And we could not dwell on it. By then, more lion prides had reported rogue attacks, -berserk attacks.” Kesh Lan sighs deeply. “Mikem is actually the one that told us about these toxins turning our creatures into berserkers.”

“And he warned you of the upcoming war.” Nick confirms again as he finally understands how the lions knew of this, long before berserkers became public knowledge.

Kesh Lan nods, trying to hide an expression of disappointment, though quickly picked up by Nick.

“Then where is he?” Anthony says in excitement. “I didn’t see him outside. Is he coming with another lion pride, perhaps?”

“No.” Kesh Lan says with a sad smile. “Mikem-,……..Mikem thinks we abandoned him. He refuses to return to our lion pride. And he does not want his new mate to be put in danger with this war.”

Nick furrows his brows in confusion. Regardless of Mike’s actions, he can’t help but wonder about Rebecca’s. He knows she would never run from a fight, from any fight.

She’s probably giving Mike hell about this. But that is his problem to deal with.

“He only came home to beg me to help someone dear to him. And he said I should trust you, -her mate.” Kesh Lan finishes as he points to Nick.

“You’re here because of Layla.” Tristan voices out.

“Then why did you first reach out to my brother, Maxim, and not me?” Nick questions.

“You’re a hard man to find, Alpha Nicholas. You’re not on your pack-grounds very often.” Kesh Lan chuckles as he looks around the place.