so badly to tell them about Dorin. But Gunner had said no, and I had to trust him. If they knew it would only weaken us and I could not bear the thought of them falling because of me. I was not even certain that we would make it, that any of us would see that many more days. For the first time since I fell and became what I am, I envied humans. I envied the ignorance of what was truly happening all around them.
As the rest of the wolf leaders assembled around Jack, I saw them all start to discuss the upcoming war. The inevitable thing I felt as if I had brought it on. I leaned towards Finna.
“I thought Jack was the leader?” I asked.
“The wolves have many smaller packs spread out everywhere; Jack is the pack leader of all of them.”
I saw Moxy dart in as a black blur and stop behind Jack. She was very protective of him and I could tell. Their bond was more than that of leader and mere follower.
“It is his daughter,” Gunner said as he joined us and held his sword out in front of him.
“I did not know they could breed.”
“Oh yes. They breed like dogs,” Ari said as he laughed and Finna hit him as the circle of people turned and stared at us. I cleared my throat and hoped they did not hear him.
“Behave Viking,” Gunner said to him as Finna pushed him, almost knocking him over.
“It was just a joke.”
“Yeah, like Dorin,” Finna said and I looked down as Gunner spoke up.
“They look to be done.”
I looked up as Jack walked towards us and the rest stayed behind, all except Moxy of course. She stayed with her Dad. He stopped about 5 feet in front of us.
“You have our support, fully. I will not say that they are all happy about it and quite honestly it is more to fight the son of Lucifer, than being by your sides.”
I looked at Moxy as she stared a hole through me.
Jack then looked at me. “We need your new, shall we say, appearance… to help us.”
“Help in what way?” I asked and Gunner turned to me.
“We need the vampires to fight alongside us.”
“What? Do you think I can make that happen?”
“Well, you do smell like them,” Moxy said behind Jack and he turned and held his hand up to her. She crossed her arms on her chest.
“Halo, I do understand that Dorin is no longer among you and that leaves but one who can appeal to them. Perhaps you can bridge that gap, because I know that we wolves cannot. It is an old rivalry that will not settle easily.”
I stared at him and then at all the people behind him as they watched me very closely. “What makes you think they will listen to me?”
“I don’t know if they will, but it is worth a try. We need them. We need everyone to fight. Without them the odds are much greater and I can sympathize with you Halo. I cannot imagine having to choose between blood and survival, but this is much bigger than any of us and if you truly are meant to protect humanity, as Hellhounds were created to do, then you will at least try.”
I looked at Gunner who glanced at me and then back to Jack. I almost felt as if I was on my own.
“Fine. Who am I talking too?” I ask
“Oh, a strange pair, Hunter, and his queen, Vanessa.”
“Queen?”I asked and Gunner nodded to me. “She is Vlad’s daughter, born vampire and maker of all vampires.”
I threw my hands up. “Okay well that sounds simple enough. So what? I stroll on in and say hey, I am Halo, a Hellhound and half vampire? Oh and yeah, I mothered the son of Satan.”
Jack laughed and so did Moxy as my sarcasm seemed to amuse them. Gunner did not crack a smile though.
“I will be with you. They fought at our sides while you were in hell …with him.”
I swallowed and looked back at Jack who was quietly speaking to Moxy.
“Okay, where do I go then?” I asked him.
“What, you can’t feel it?” Moxy asked me with some sarcasm in her voice.
“Give me a fucking break, okay? It has not been the best few weeks for me.”
“Moxy,” Jack said as she took a step towards me. “Go, lead the pack back to the warehouse and welcome in the other leaders. Tonight we rest,