Pennies For Peace

chapter 19

I laughed again as Loren fluttered to perch in one of the trees, and Marie chuckled nervously as she started to pick up some firewood. I helped her as I answered her question, "Yes, Marie, he talks. His name is Loren. He's a Möteth."

She gasped, and snapped her head up to look at Loren. She immediately bowed her head and announced, "I apologize, Loren. I did not know that you were of the noble Möteth. I ask your forgiveness, wisest of birds."

Loren chuckled, as I looked on in amusement, and responded, "Young Marie, your mistake is forgiven, because it is understandable. My kind are rare, and we are not seen by many. Some even think us extinct, sadly."

I shot Loren a sympathetic smile, and he nodded back. When I looked back at Marie, the wood was in her arms, and she was looking at Lara curiously. It was then I realized that Marie didn't know about my heritage, and she might not react well.

"Marie, I-" I began, but she cut me off.

"Laney, is that a wand?" she inquired, and I nodded with a sigh. Realization crossed the young vampire's face, and her eyes widened. Suddenly, she gasped, "You're a witch!"

"Half witch," I corrected patiently, "My mother was a witch, but my father was a werewolf."

Marie was silent for a moment, looking down at the wood in her arms, before she murmured, "Makes sense, I guess."

Confused, I requested, "Sorry, can you repeat that?"

Marie met my gaze and replied, "I said, it makes sense. You're tolerant and welcoming to all species, because you, yourself, cross the racial lines. Add that to the fact that all four species willingly follow you, even if they aren't sure why. Then there's my brother..." She trailed off, raising an eyebrow, and grinned.

I thought about what she said, and shrugged. "You have a point," I conceded, before calling Loren down and accompanying Marie back to camp. When we arrived, several people immediately noticed me, including a visitor.

Immediately, I was cautious, and I sent Marie to deliver the firewood with a warning tone. She didn't argue, and hurried away. Calmly, I approached the stranger, and he waited for my approach.

As soon as I was close enough to hear, he announced, "I bear a message for Alpha Laney from Alpha Zeus Danielson."

I stiffened immediately, as did several others, and I growled, "I'm Alpha Laney. What is this message?"

The messenger straightened further and announced, "Alpha Danielson requests a meeting with you. He wishes to make a deal."

Ignoring the mutterings of my pack, I barked a laugh and taunted, "I wouldn't make a deal with that pup if he begged me!"

"Then you leave my pack no choice," the stranger told me, and I stiffened with the sense that something was wrong. Dread filled me as he continued, "Alpha Danielson will not stand for such an abomination as the alliance you have created, and many others agree with him. Because you refuse a deal, you have refused the chance to save your... Gathering. You will all die before the seventh sunset."

And, with that, he shifted and sprinted out of camp. A few warriors went to follow, but I ordered, "Let him go." Surprised gazes turned to me, but I was numb. "Gather those unable to fight, and those able to fight will take them to a safe place."

"Who will defend the camp?" Stefan asked, stepping forward. I turned a dead gaze to him, and I could see his worry.

It increased when I repeated, "Those able to fight will escort those that are unable. Get them somewhere safe."

"What about you, Laney?" Christina asked, stepping forward. I gave a weak smile, and she shot a scared glance toward Leo.

"I'm going to finish what I started," I told her. Several murmurings rose around me, and I finished, "I'm going to hold them off, as long as I can." I shifted my jacket on my shoulders, allowing my wings to unfurl, and pulled Lara from her sheath, at the same time forcing my eyes to glow and my teeth to sharpen. I looked straight at Stefan, who now stood beside Marie, and ordered, "When they arrive, the camp will be empty. Everyone, myself not included, will be gone. I will hold them here, and allow you as much time as I am able."

"Laney, no!" cried Marie, as she ran forward and threw her arms around my waist, "You'll die!"

I paused, absorbing the horror and fear on the faces of my pack, my coven, my family. I gently pulled Marie's arms from around my waist, and knelt so my head was below hers. I met her gaze evenly and confirmed, "I know that, Marie. But if I do this, there's a chance for you to live." Then, pouring every last drop of my Alpha power into the words, I murmured, "Go. Survive. Be free."

Immediately, every being that had associated themselves with me was running. Packing what they could, gathering those unable to fight. Within minutes, the camp was deserted, and I flew above it, watching as my people ran for their lives. I traced a pattern in the air with Lara; an invisible symbol that would protect them until they were all safe.

I watched them until they were out of my sight, flapping my wings to stay aloft. When they finally reached the end of my line of sight, I could feel the colors draining from my wings, until they were gone. A short glance showed them to be resumed into their original coloring: top of the feather is black, and fades to white at the tips.

I looked down, seeing the abandoned camp, and caught a flash of movement in the surrounding forest. I looked closer, and saw the dozens of wolves surrounding the abandoned site.

It was time.

I dove from the air, and attacked.

Every wolf fought back, tooth and claw, but I injured them all until they didn't fight. I didn't want to die a killer, even if I already was.

I was injured rarely. A scratch on my arm, a bite on my leg.

Then my wing was hit.

I dropped like a stone. I couldn't fly with one wing.

I wielded Lara defensively, casting spells and just using whatever magic I had.

Then they got Lara, and snapped her like she was little more than a twig.

I couldn't stop the short scream of agony, a part of me was gone.

I was going to shift...

But there was no point.

I set into a defensive stance, but none attacked.

Zeus came forward.

He laughed.

He pointed a gun at me, and I snarled.

He laughed again, and asked, "Any last words, little mate?"

I snarled, "Burn in hell, coward."

His face twisted in anger.

He pulled the trigger.

There was a bang.

Then everything went black.

** Third person POV * The Running Alliance **

Everyone felt it, when Laney's Alpha power stopped. She never would've let them stop unless they were safe, so everyone knew what happened. Everyone was filled with grief, some more than others.

The one that hurt worst was Stefan.

She was his beloved, his second chance, and he'd lost her... Just like the first. Just like Bell. Like his parents. They were all just... Gone.

For a moment, he almost ran back, to beg the wolves to end his miserable existence. At least he'd be with Laney then. But he was stopped when he saw Marie run up to him. The tears streaming down her face reminded him of why he was still alive in the first place. For her. For his little sister.

When Marie reached him, he held her close, and tried to ignore the pain he felt. He had to be strong, for Marie... And for Laney.

She would still want her people to survive, even if she didn't.

So he began, gently nudging the werewolves, vampires, witches, and nymphs back into motion. He got them to run, and he made a promise in that moment.

I'll protect them, Laney. I'll finish what you started.

Little did he know that an angel was smiling at him, an angel with black wings, that faded to white. She was proud of her mate, and she was willing to wait forever until he joined her.