Protecting Them (Only His Series: Book 3) *NEW VERSION*

Chapter 23

Alex's P.O.V

~At the Bayou~

Outside Charles's cabin, he had gathered all of the Alphas of the packs intending to join the Crescents and had set up the ingredients for the ritual to bind them to our pack. They were going to step down and recognize Hayley as their Alpha, and I love that thought. Victor was standing next to her while Charles waved a smudge-stick of sage over a bowl before turning to Hayley and the other Alphas.

"Wolves are bonded by what is most important to us. The earth of our territory. The blood of our packs," Charles said and walked towards the Alphas, as I rushed up to the bride and groom to be.

"We have a problem," I said to them.

"What's wrong?" Victor asked, concerned and I looked around.

"Too many ears," I stated. I looked over at the Alphas, who were each pouring a handful of grains into the bowl to symbolize the merging of their packs. "But, I need some of your blood." Victor gave me a puzzled look. "It's - it's a stall. I'll explain later." I watched Victor put two and two together in his mind.

Victor led me away to Charles's cabin where Marcel was safely inside. We poured his blood in a small vial then gave it to Marcel before Victor stepped outside to try and call Daniel. Klaus texted me a few seconds later, 'It was all a distraction. Stay in the Bayou, I'll call if I need you.' I groaned and threw my phone against the wall in anger.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Marcel asked.

"Klaus just texted me, it was all a fucking plan to keep us distracted while Finn goes after them. Not mention Elijah isn't answering any my text or Klaus's calls-"

"And neither is Daniel," Victor stated as he came back in. "I've called and texted him, but there's no reply."

"That's it! I have to get there even if it is a six-hour drive," I exclaimed and went to leave the cabin.

"Whoa, wait!" Marcel said, speeding in front of me.

"Get out of my way Marcel," I growled.

"You said so yourself, it's six hours away. Finn's already there," Marcel reasoned.

"I can't just stand here and do nothing!" I freaked out.

"Alex!" Victor grabbed me by my shoulders. "Listen to me! Elijah is never gonna let anything happen to those kids today! So take a deep breath, and come help us build the army that'll help keep them safe tomorrow," Victor explained, trying to calm me down, and I looked at him anxiously.

"I can't lose them," I confessed.

"You won't," Victor reassured me. After a moment, I slowed my breathing down and nodded in agreement before he led me out of the cabin.

~

Victor and I rushed back to where Hayley and Charles were. I stopped Victor for a moment, then heard Hayley say, "Gia, you don't have to do this!"

"I'm sorry, but I do," Gia replied and I sped over to them in time to stop Charles from killing one of the vampires.

"No!" I said and Charles looked at me confused. Marcel intervened and broke the neck of the vampire trying to attack her.

"We just need to keep them at bay until Finn's spell breaks," Marcel explained to us.

"It's a hell of a spell!" Hayley exclaimed and I snapped the neck of the vampire attacking Charles.

"Get the Alphas to the cabin. Alex and I will hold them off," Victor told them. Marcel followed behind Charles, Hayley, and the other Alphas.

"Try and keep my guys alive," Marcel said to me and I nodded.

"I'll do my best!" I shouted and punched a vampire in the face before snapping the necks of two of them in a row with both hands.

"This is not the thing I'd thought I'd be doing today!" Victor yelled as we kept kicking and punching the vampires coming towards us.

"Yeah, well, welcome to my world!" I exclaimed and threw a vampire so he was impaled in the stomach with a wooden pole. I turned around and saw Gia standing behind me. Blood surrounded her lips and I looked at her with sympathy. "I don't want to kill you Gia." Before I knew it her eye began to flutter shut and Marcel sped up behind her and caught her before she fell. I looked at him confused before we all realized every vampire had collapsed.

"They broke the spell," Marcel said. He grabbed Gia's body bridal style and began to walk away with her.

"Mom!" "Victor!" I heard Charles and Hayley shout behind us. I turned around and Charles brought me into a hug, as Hayley did with Victor.

"Are you ok? Are you hurt?" I asked him frantically.

"Mom, I'm fine," Charles reassured me and I sighed in relief before looking at Victor and Hayley.

"You two need to get married as soon as possible," I told them.

"Agreed," Victor answered and I sighed.