The Prophecy Of The Wolves I - The Beginning
~ Chapter Thirty-Two ~

Liliana went upstairs and stared at her twins for a few minutes. She finally sighed and gently caressed their heads before lying down and closing her eyes. She thought of Artemis and sent out her message. ‘Please, Artemis. I am in desperate need of your help once again.’

It didn’t take any time for her to be summoned to Artemis’s sacred meadow. Liliana spun around in a panic and only slightly calmed down when she spotted Artemis and Apollo. She rushed to them and almost fell to her knees in front of them. “Please,” she begged. “We need your help.”

Artemis shushed her and gently wrapped her arms around Liliana’s shoulders. “Please calm down, Lina. Explain to us what’s happening,” she said softly.

Liliana took a few deep breaths before nodding. “Okay. So, we had a scout watching Atlas’s fort, and he just informed us that Atlas and his army are on the move.”

Apollo nodded. “But we were expecting that,” he said gently. “Something else has you freaking out like that.”

Liliana roughly scrubbed her face before saying. “Atlas has seven giants in his army,” she said in a trembling voice.

Artemis froze. “What?” She questioned in shock.

Liliana sighed. “Scott said he had seen seven giants in Atlas’s army.”

Apollo shook his head as he looked at Artemis. “We need to speak with our father about this. The gods need to help them fight now more than ever. They can’t defeat the giants alone.”

Liliana did sink to her knees, with tears rushing down her face. “So, if Zeus refuses to help us, we’re doomed?” She questioned in a hollow voice.

Artemis glared at her brother as she knelt next to Liliana and pulled her close. “Sh. It’s okay. We’ll speak with Zeus and persuade him to let us fight.”

Liliana looked up at her with terrified eyes. “What’s going to happen to my twins?” She asked in a broken voice.

Artemis sighed as she glared at Apollo again. “Everything is going to be fine, sweetheart,” she promised.

Liliana shook her head as tears poured down her face. “I don’t know,” she said sorrowfully.

Artemis helped her stand up. “Come with us. We’ll go see Zeus right now.”

Liliana nodded and went with Artemis and Apollo. They teleported to Zeus’s castle. “Oh, he is not going to be happy about this one,” Apollo muttered as they climbed the steps to the palace.

Artemis shrugged him off as she led Liliana through the vast, golden double doors. As they walked up to the throne at the far end of the room, there was a crashing boom of thunder followed quickly by lightning and then Zeus. “How dare you bring a wolf here?!” Zeus’s deep voice boomed from the throne.

Artemis bowed her head. “I’m sorry, father, but please hear us out,” she pleaded as she kept her head low.

“Why would I do that?” Zeus demanded as he sat down on the throne like he owned the entire world.

Before Artemis could explain the situation, Liliana took a small step forward. “Please,” Liliana said softly. “We desperately need the gods’ and goddesses’ help. Atlas has seven giants in his army, and we cannot defeat them without your help,” she swallowed past the lump of emotion that was suddenly clogging her throat as she fell to her knees in front of the throne. Liliana took a deep, shaky breath as she looked into Zeus’s eyes. “My precious twins are only a week old. Please help me save them. Please,” she pleaded with tears rushing down her face. “Please help me protect them.”

Zeus watched her for a few minutes before he sighed heavily. Then, finally, he stood up and walked over to her. Zeus knelt before her and gently put his hand on her head. “We will help you, nearós (young one),” he said gently. “Every one of us will be there to help you and your army defeat Atlas and his. Then, when his army approaches your border, we will be there to help you,” he promised.

Liliana sobbed as she threw her arms around the king of the gods and hugged him tightly. “Oh, thank you so much,” she said through her sobs.

Zeus hugged her back for a minute before helping her to her feet. “We will keep an eye on Atlas and his progress so we can be there on time,” he said gently.

Liliana sniffled. “Thank you again,” she said in a rough voice.

Zeus nodded. “Now go home to your family and prepare your army,” he said softly.

Liliana smiled in gratitude, said goodbye to Artemis and Apollo, and closed her eyes as she was sent home.

Liliana’s eyes snapped open, looking at the twins’ cribs. They were empty, so she figured they had to be downstairs with Autumn. She couldn’t stop the sob of relief that came out as she curled onto her side and stared at the cribs. Finally, she couldn’t help the relief that was flowing through her veins and had to let it out.

That was how Cayden found her a few minutes later.

Cayden rushed to her side in a panic, thinking the worst had happened. “What’s wrong, my dove?” He asked as he sat on the edge of the bed next to her. “What happened?”

Liliana shook her head as Cayden pulled her into his arms. “They’re going to be okay,” she whispered while sniffling. “Our babies are going to be okay.”

Cayden frowned as he looked down at her. “What are you talking about, dove?” He asked.

Liliana wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “I spoke with Zeus, and he said that the gods and goddesses will help us with the giants in Atlas’s army. So we’re going to be able to defeat Atlas and his army.”

Cayden sighed in relief as he hugged her tightly. “Oh, thank the gods, they’re willing to help.”

Liliana sniffled as she looked up at Cayden. “I’m going to owe Zeus big time,” she said with a humorless laugh.

“I’m sure he’s doing this out of the kindness of his heart,” Cayden said softly.

Liliana shrugged. “He was so kind and gentle when we spoke.”

Cayden smiled and kissed her. “Now we have a lot of work to do, so let’s get you cleaned up, and we can get started.”

Liliana kissed him before they stood up and went to the bathroom. Cayden wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “Everything is going to be just fine,” he said comfortingly.

Liliana smiled as she rested her forehead against his chest. “Yeah. Everything is going to be fine.”

Cayden kissed her again before stepping away from her. “I’ll wait in the bedroom. Take a minute to collect yourself and freshen up. Then we’ll start preparing the safe houses.”

Liliana nodded and gave him one more lingering kiss.

Once Liliana was left alone, she washed her face and collected her thoughts before returning to the bedroom. Cayden proudly smiled before they left the house to prepare for the battle that was finally coming their way.

~ Two Weeks Later ~

It had been two weeks. Two weeks of waiting. Two weeks of preparations. Two weeks of nothing but tension throughout every single territory they had their army in. Liliana had been anxious and jumpy every day since they learned Atlas was coming for them.

Scott came into the pack house with sweat dripping down his face. “They’ll be here either by nightfall or sunrise. Depends on how much the traps slow them down.”

Liliana sighed as she turned to look at Cayden. “We need to get the others on the phone.”

Cayden nodded. “Let’s go,” he looked at Scott. “Get some rest, Scott. You’re a great warrior, and we’ll need you tonight.”

Scott bowed his head and went upstairs to get some rest.

Cayden and Liliana went to the office Cayden had at the pack house. Cayden sat down behind his desk and pulled Liliana onto his lap. They set up a conference call with everyone. Once everyone was on the call, Liliana cleared her throat. “Okay, now that we have everyone on the line. We have confirmation. Atlas will be at our borders either late tonight or early tomorrow morning. All depends on how long the traps slow them down,” she explained.

There was cursing through each person’s line before they agreed to ready their soldiers and get the others to the safe houses. As soon as they got off the phone, they called a meeting for everyone in their territory. When everyone assembled in the backyard, Liliana and Cayden stood on the stage, a baby in their arms.

“We’ve gathered you all here today because Atlas and his army are close. They’ll be here by nightfall or early tomorrow morning. We need everyone who will be in the safe house to gather any belongings you want safe. We’re unsure if any houses will come out of this intact. So, any belongings you want in the future should go with you. We want everyone to be gathered in front of the pack house before sunset. The sooner we get all of you into the safe house, the better. So, let’s move on,” Liliana said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

Everyone quickly went home to get their things as soon as possible. Liliana went to their house and ensured she had two separate bags packed for the twins. Once she was sure she had everything the twins would need, she grabbed the twins and made her way to the pack house. Liliana held her twins close as she walked up to the group that was waiting for her. Autumn smiled as she walked up and gently took Seraphina from her. “You have everything they’re going to need?” Autumn asked.

Liliana sighed as she hugged Elias closer to her. “I do. I have enough for them to last for a week. To be safe,” she said quietly.

Autumn nodded in understanding as she reached out and rested a hand on Liliana’s arm. “I will protect them with my life,” she promised.

Liliana nodded with tears in her eyes. “I know,” she whispered.

Autumn stepped closer and wrapped her free arm around Liliana. “Everything is going to be fine, sweetheart,” she said softly.

Liliana nodded again as her throat clammed up from the terror she was feeling. She knew there was a chance they wouldn’t make it and had to have a backup plan for the twins just in case. Liliana sniffled as she pulled away just enough to look into Autumn’s eyes. “Promise me,” she whispered. “If anything happens to Cayden and me tonight, you’ll take the twins somewhere safe with Evelyn and Mason.”

Autumn shook her head in rejection. “Oh, nothing is going to happen, sweetheart,” she said in a hoarse voice.

Liliana cleared her throat. “Please,” she said in a scratchy voice. “If the worst happens, take the twins, Evelyn and Mason, and get somewhere safe. Promise me,” she pleaded.

Autumn reluctantly nodded. “I promise,” she said softly.

Liliana nodded and pulled away. She cleared her throat and looked around at the group around them. “Okay, everyone. Let’s get into the safe house. I must go to three other safe houses before it gets dark.”

Everyone made their way to the safe house and filtered inside. Once Liliana was sure that everyone was inside, she looked at her twins. “Mommy and daddy will do everything it takes to keep you safe. We love you so very much,” she whispered as she hugged them.

Liliana held them for another minute before quickly leaving the safe house. She took several deep breaths before concentrating. She put every protection spell she could think of around the safe house. When she was sure they were impenetrable, she used her elemental gifts to build a barrier of roots and stones. She took several steps back when she had that barrier fortified and impregnable. Then, she focused and put a dome of fire around the entire structure, making sure to make the flames harmless to allies and wouldn’t burn the roots.

Liliana nodded once she was done, taking a second to admire her work before she teleported to the other territories to do the same thing. She saved Ryan’s land for last. Liliana went to the safe house and checked in with Evelyn. “Everyone’s inside?” She questioned as she looked around.

Evelyn nodded as she held Mason close. “Yes. I triple-checked. Everyone is here.”

Liliana shoved her hair out of her face. “Okay,” she exhaled slowly before pulling Evelyn and Mason into a tight hug. “If the worst happens,” she whispered. “Find Autumn and the twins and get yourselves somewhere safe.”

Evelyn frowned as she pulled away. “Don’t talk like that, Lily,” she said with sadness.

Liliana shook her head. “I’ve already made Autumn promise me, and I will do the same to you. Promise me that you will do this for me,” she whispered with pleading eyes.

Evelyn sighed, knowing it was better to agree with Liliana. “Okay, I promise.”

Liliana nodded and hugged her once more before going outside and putting up the protective barriers.

Once she was finished, she teleported home to Cayden. She walked inside and found Cayden in their bedroom. Liliana sighed as she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “What are you thinking about, my beloved?” She whispered against his back.

Cayden shook his head as he put his hands over hers. “I think this is happening too soon,” he said quietly. “I want it to be over with, but at the same time…..” he trailed off as he turned around to face her.

Liliana nodded in understanding. “I know,” she whispered. “It wasn’t enough time,” there was a catch in her voice as she rested her head on his chest, over his heart.

Cayden ran his fingers through her hair. “Are they safe?” He questioned quietly.

Liliana nodded. “No one is going to be able to get in there. Even if my magic wavers and the two elemental barriers come down, the protection spells are too powerful to be broken.”

Cayden held her close and enjoyed the feeling of her being in his arms. Then, Liliana pulled away and gently took his hand in hers. “Come on. I need to try and get some rest before the fighting starts. The four safe houses took quite a bit of energy.”

“I thought you had an endless supply of magic now?” Cayden asked in confusion.

Liliana rolled her eyes. “Yes, I do, but it only lasts as long as my body does. And I’ve been through the wringer today, so I’m exhausted,” she explained.

Cayden laid down with her and pulled her into his arms. “Let’s get some rest then.”

They snuggled into one another and relished in each other’s warmth until they fell asleep.