Creed Campfires surrounded the nearby wall, throwing shadows of our bodies dancing in the night as the flames flickered joyously. It was too late for us to travel and Odessa had become weak using her newfound power. My fawn sat with me, curled up in my arms, while I sat next to the fire to keep her warm. No doubt she was mentally exhausted from dealing with the Duke.

His body parts had been separated and put in bundling bags, his head along with his shaft still sticking out of his mouth was put in one to make sure we did not hear him complain about his ailments. Growling as the bags went by to sit near the heavily guarded wall, the Fae Warriors peered fearfully at my fangs.

They had seen my dragon, and I wasn't the most beautiful beast in their eyes, but I was a new race. Odessa and I will paint a new way for our future children and establish a new beauty for the world of Bergarain. Odessa stirred in my arms. My fingers trailed her darkened hair, tucking it behind her ear. Her body curled up closer to me, gripping hold of a borrowed tunic to keep out the cold.

"You did well today," my father patted me on the back, perching beside me. He was a few inches taller than I, his beard more robust, and the light in his eye had brightened. He wasn't the depressed griffon I had met for the first time just a few days before, but a new man. Clean, healthy and full of life.

My father continues to watch my mother, making sure that the dragons that followed us are fed. Her Alpha duties never left her in all these years. Wild beasts such as 'painted cats,' as the orcs called them, roamed the area, which would be dangerous to the humans that were now scattered around the camp.

There were few humans left in the bunker. We counted three women and one male that were in dreadful conditions. The male was not expected to live through the night.

The underground bunker was vast. The entrance to the opening was far from the wall. It would have taken hours to find Odessa if our bond was not strong. Down below, a series of tunnels, rooms filled with bunk beds, food, water, and, most of all, bags and bags of blood. Some rooms held items for witches to meddle with magic, but many shelves were wiped clean in a hurry. Meaning they heard me storm the room and used what magic they could to save themselves. Odessa's heart broke. She said it was her fault, and she should never have left the other humans behind. If she had stayed, she could have saved them, but her depressed thinking would have only led her to be claimed by the Duke. Who knows what the bond would have done with the evil magic that the Duke continued to put on himself? He could have turned my bright light into a pit of darkness.

"The power flows through her well." I hummed, looking down at my mate. She was a gentle soul that didn't deserve the life she ended up with. Maybe she would have been better somewhere else, somewhere far away from here. "Remember what Hecate said? She will be the key to the war." I didn't acknowledge it, I just stroked my mate's cheek. My fawn really didn't deserve this, all this pressure.

"What if she doesn't want to fight?" I growled in my chest. "What if she just wants to fly away and live in peace?" Father's gaze left me and glanced into the fire. His fists balled up, causing white to appear on his knuckles.

"There will be no peace here or on Earth if we do not do something. This black magic, this blood the witches have, are now working with the rogue vampires. It will be our undoing if we do not stop them now. If Hecate was that hell-bent on bringing your mother back to help, willing to break rules, that means something."

"What of the orcs?" My eyes traveled to them as they brought food and drink to the females. A blanket was now thrown over the male, covering his face. No heartbeat could be heard from his chest. The women sniffed audibly as they watched them lift the body.

"What of them? Hecate already planned for them to be a part of this war. I can feel it. The Goddess visited them, promising them mates. The only way to get mates is to go beyond the wall. They will help us fight. Orion and Sadie will have no choice but to agree and let them find them."

"Are those women not their mates?" Father shook his head, throwing a stick into the fire.

"No," he grunted. "All the more reason they are going to push for this wall to come down. The ogres we will have to deal with is a different story. I'm glad I'm not part of that conversation." Mother handed one more bowl of food to a fae soldier, swaying her hips as she sat by father. He swiftly picked her up, putting his nose to her neck. She hummed happily, petting through his long tresses of hair.

"How is she?" she whispered. Her fingers went out to graze Odessa's leg, patting it lovingly. "I feel the magic inside her. As it continues to grow, the magic will be instilled in the rest of the dragons and we will have a fighting chance." "How long will it take?" My forehead went to Odessa's, fluttering her eyes to look at me, she gave a soft smile, burying her face into my chest.

"I'm not sure. A tiny body like hers holding an enormous dragon and having a heart of gold with so much power, it may take time. Time is something we don't have."

"She doesn't want to fight," I growled again.

"Oh, my fledgling, none of us do. And I don't think Odessa will have to fight much. I think it is the power that needs to be awakened in her. In just those three days she spent with Bohdi, she made much progress. Look what she could do? She sucked the black magic out of a ten large tree radius using your body. With the help of the orcs, we won swiftly and only lost only a few."

"A few is too many," my father muttered. "Any loss is a significant loss. If we worked together, we will prevail. I just know it."

My doubts were there. It was hard for me to want to fight for my tribe who shunned me for so many years, even with magic cursed on them. Now we have to fight for all species in the entire realm so that children and future generations could live on in peace. Would there ever be peace? "Father," I grunted. "I want you to take the Alpha position of the Toboki Tribe." Mother and Father sat silent, hearing the crackling of the fire. The faes that had gathered for its warmth took their bowls of food and departed.

"Son, I'm..."

"No," I interrupted. "You would be the best. I see the tribe with nothing but bitterness and anger at what they did to me. The magic held over their heads has cut me. I will always have an unpleasant taste in my mouth when dealing with the tribe. It makes sense for you and Mother to take over as Alphas. You are the start of the new generation." My lip curled into a smile. "I'm sure you both will want to have more children and watch them grow together?" Mother's lips pursed together in a thin line.

"Fledgling, you are our first-born son, you will always be our child," mother pulled my face to her forehead. "You would make a great Alpha, the best in all the tribes, but I will not force you if you do not wish it." Sighing heavily, I pulled my fawn upright so her face was buried in the crook of my neck.

"We have both suffered too much and want to live in peace. We will be part of the tribe, but would like to live in the cave we call home."

Father continued to hold mother, staring into the fire. His grip grew tighter and mother's hands went to pull his face away. "What do you want to do, Apollo?" Father gripped my knee, giving a gentle squeeze.

"If this is what our son wants, then so be it." Mother embraced him. We both sat together as a family unit, thinking of what tomorrow may bring. The darkened sky was now lit with the blue moon that hung over our heads.

This night the moon shone brighter, lighting the entire area of the encampment. We were so far south, this should seem impossible for it to be so bright, but I took it as a sign, a sign that the Moon Goddess was watching over my family, to protect us and keep us safe and most of all bonded together.

...

Late into the night, Odessa and I lay in a tent made by the orcs. They had been extremely helpful, especially to those who had mated with them. They looked on longingly as I held my mate. A soft growl reverberated through my chest as laid her in our nesting area for the night.

Crawling out, one orc stared at me. This one was smaller in build and a short haircut reminded me of werewolves of the west. "May I ask you a question?" I crossed my arms, waiting. The orc named Valpar held a large club on his back, his armor removed and built, much like one of the smaller dragons. Keeping my stance, he continued with his words, licking his lips as he spoke.

"What's it like? When you meet a fated one?" My stance softened, watching him grip his satchel that hung across his chest. "When you find her, what do you feel?"

My arms hung at my side, unsure how to answer the question. When I first met my fawn, she was hiding in a tree. I had an unmistakable pull to her, but it wasn't as strong as the bond I feel now. Once my bond took effect, it was like she was the water and I was the fire begging to be put out. He was like me. He didn't understand the bond at all, but he had the ability to ask and seek answers. How could I deny him when I was in his same standing a month ago?

"It's a pull," I said lowly. "A pull that leaves no doubt in your mind that the female I yours." Valpar stood, listening. "Many go by smell. It's intoxicating, makes you want to devour them whole." I smiled, thinking of Odessa's citrus scent. "Others their sight, like the Fae as I have noticed. Just looking into their eyes and you know." Valpar's gigantic eyes sparkled in awe. "But with everyone, I have noticed, know by touch. Unmistakable fire coals run up your arms, your eyes dilate and the most animalistic part of you comes to the surface to claim what has been destined for you."

"Oh," Valpar spoke, looking at the ground. "It sounds too good to be true," he chuckled. "Do you think that orcs have a chance too? We may have a tribe that comes together in times of war, but usually, we are all on our own, defending our territory. It gets lonely. Male orcs are all considered... alphas... that's the word I heard used. Males can't stand being amongst other males for long periods of time. We crave companionship."

"I too know of loneliness," I spoke. "Once you find your mate, you will never feel it in your heart again." Valpar gave a toothy grin, his lower teeth stuck out of his underbite. Have the goddess give him someone that doesn't care about appearances, just like my fawn.

Orion arrives shortly after Valpar left, giving a quick bow. "We will pack up at sunrise, get back to The Light Kingdom. The orcs that helped us today are coming back with us." My hesitation took Orion by surprise when I didn't answer him quickly.

"You will not question bringing an unknown species back to the palace?" Shaking my head, I watched as the three Orcs looked up to the moon, chatting animatedly. Valpar was explaining the pull to the others, both smiling frantically. "No, I am not. Their hearts remind me of mine. They are lonely. They wish for their mates." Orion grunted in agreement. "Many soldiers are wary," Orion slouched his shoulders.

"You are king, are you not?" I smirked. Orion took my joke with a hearty laugh.

"Anyway, they will be looked after closely. Can I count on you and your family to help as well? You five are the strongest." "Five?" I raised a brow.

"Of course, Odessa too. Creed, you have little faith in what your little fawn can do. Trust me, great things are coming." Patting my shoulder, I wiped away my worry for the day. The unfamiliar forest of dead trees, hanging vines and strange bird sounds coming out of the darkness did not comfort me. These woods were strange and if the wall was to come down, someone would have to explore it, map it and use the land. All in good time, after the war.