Magus Bloodlines.-Chapter 64: The Pack goes Hunting.

Erza stood with her back against the wall, a piece of stone or something was digging into her spine. It felt like her jaw dropped all the way to the floor. She never in her wildest dreams imagined Gavin would have access to this kind of power. Gone was the bashful innocent kid that could barely look her in the eyes. Now, standing in front of them was an adult male powerhouse. He had grown into his own, the type that would bust open the very gates of hell for his loved ones and laugh like a maniac while he did so. She couldn't feel more loved and cherished than she did right then.

Or more afraid.

She knew just how beat up and exhausted he was. That after his match with Erick he was almost bedridden, barely able to move. Yet here he stood, fully shifted into the sexiest beast she'd ever seen. If she didn't know any better, she would swear his shoulders were broader, his muscles more pronounced. He even seemed taller than he did earlier that morning. Just what would these forced changes to him cost in the end? Would she even still have a mate when this battle was over? Would their child still have a father?

Erza growled deep in her throat. Her frustration and anger palpable as she struggled against whatever invisible hold he had on them. The waves of power that radiated off of him were something intense. She couldn't budge from where she was. This infuriated her. She was not some helpless damsel in distress. She was a were-cat. Now practiced with the magical arts. Even more, she was the alpha of a pack now. She would not sit oddly by while her mate risked his big stupid dummy life for them all.

Erick screamed and cursed in frustration as he forced his body to push against the magic that Gavin somehow used. He was an alpha for crying out loud. A were-lion. One of the baddest of bad. He would not let a mangy mutt get the better of him like this. Erick shifted into his full were-lion form as he struggled. Beautiful golden fur with a red mane manifested over his body. He unleashed his lions roar in absolute rage and humiliation. The fierce roar was infused with his own powerful mana that managed to finally break the spell that held everyone in the room back against the wall.

Gavin was long gone by then; hell bent on a lone wolf's crusade. The staff, especially Professor Jane, collapsed to her knees. Whether from fear or exhaustion Erick didn't know. Nor did he care. His sister was still unaccounted for. That alone pissed the were-lion off. He rubbed his sore shoulders as he glanced at Erza and the others. They all huddled together, the blue haired girl and the young boy stood protectively in front of her. Whatever, let them be suspicious of his actions. He didn't owe these people anything. He would leave and go find his sister. Together they would either help fight or leave this school to burn. It was no skin off his back either way.

Erick looked back at the doorway, debris scattered all over from Gavin's exit blast. He could hear screams of terror and anger coming from the hallway so Erick knew there were enemies still nearby. God he hated this. He was an alpha species clan leader. One of the most powerful shifter species that was ever created. Yet here he was, hiding in a room with others because he was low on mana. The gods are laughing at me, he thought.

"Where are you going?" A voice called out, making Erick turn around. It was the one called Erza walking forward with her dutiful guards by her side. Erick would never admit it out loud, but that snow white fur with yellow eyes tinged in red was stunning. Wait a minute, yellow eyes tinged in red?

"What's up with your eyes?" Erick asked, "you aren't an alpha species," he said confusion knitting his brows together. Usually only alpha shifters had that particular trait, the glowing red eyes.

Erza shrugged, not taking her eyes off the were-lion. They weren't exactly friendly with each other. "No clue, maybe it has to do with being Gavin's mate," she said as she examined Erick for any injuries. The were-lion didn't look like he was too badly injured. He should be capable of fighting if the need arose.

Erick stepped closer to Erza, which caused the other two to immediately step between Erza and Erick. Erick raised an eyebrow at their behavior. It wasn't normal pack like behavior. He had only seen this kind of behavior from a packs second in command when their alpha female was..... oh. Oh shit.

Erick narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. His thoughts were racing a hundred miles an hour. If this is true, then it would explain so much of what was going on by that damned wolf.

"Answer this honesty, are you with child?" He asked her, demanding the answer.

Erza's fur rose on the back of her neck at his question and the authority in his tone. She kept her expression neutral as she regarded the male in front of her. Why? Why did this lion ask such a question in the middle of a battlefield? Was he about to become a threat to her and their child? Or an ally? Erza's mind raced with unanswered questions as she debated on what to say to the lion shifter.

She gently put her hands on the shoulders of Helena and Jackson. Helena has already shifted into her were-wolf form. Her body was tight and tense as she prepared to defend her alpha. Erza could feel her muscles under her hand and noticed the wolf was shaking slightly, from nerves or fear Erza did not know.

She placed her other hand on Jackson. The boy was so far out of his element in this confrontation of shifters. He was a normal human with some skill in magic. He didn't belong here among these people. But he respected Gavin. He was interested and so different than Jackson expected given everything that had happened to the boy. Either way, he wouldn't let him down. He was part of this crazy new family, and he would protect Erza to the best of his abilities.

Erza, her hands placed comfortingly on both of their shoulders took a deep breath as she strode a few steps forward. She wouldn't hide any more. If this lion wanted a fight, then she would rip his spine out and beat him with it. She held her head up in pride as she placed her hand over her smooth stomach. She narrowed her eyes at him, daring to challenge her in anyway as she said, "Yes, I'm pregnant with Gavin's child. Not that it's any of your business lion." She kept her eyes trained on him, her mana was already flowing freely in her body, her mind ready to unleash it at a moment's notice if Erick became hostile.

Erick noticed the hostile look in Erza's eyes. This was a bad sign. From what little he heard of, female she wolves were highly territorial and defensive of their packs. When they became pregnant, they were absolutely terrifying in their anger and wrath. He knew better than to get in the way of that protective nature. His cousin's taught him well during their pregnancies. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

He shook his head as he actually backed up, hands raised with their palms out towards Erza in a placating gesture. "I mean no disrespect, female alpha. Only that it explains what is going on with Gavin. His surge of power, his ferocity, his utter lack of self care during this fight," Erick replied as everything sort of clicked in his mind. He didn't understand everything that Gavin was doing, or able to do. But the way he was pushing his body beyond any realistic limits makes sense. It was the desire to protect his mate and child.

"I may be prideful, but I am no fool. I do not want that unholy abomination coming after my life if anything happened to you while someone as strong as I was nearby." Erick said with a soft laugh as he realized exactly what he would have to do. Looks like he was stuck here, playing babysitter while Gavin went off to try putting an end to this war single handedly.

Erick let out an annoyed sigh, frustrated at having to play this part in Gavin's madness. He still had his sister out there somewhere to find. But he could not leave Erza unprotected. Her companions may be strong, but Erick was certain they wouldn't be able to keep her safe if someone as strong as him appeared.

"Erick!" a female voice called out and running through the door, was Kayla, bruised and sweaty but alive and well.

Erick ran to hug her, his embrace lifted her off the ground as he was thrilled and happy beyond measure his twin was alive. "Thank the god's you're alive and well," he whispered. All his worry and fear about her safety were gone out the window at her return. She grunted in surprise and smacked him on the head.

"Put me down you brute," she growled out, annoyed by his overzealous reaction. Though she wouldn't admit it, she was just as happy to see him alive and well. She had been worried beyond belief that something may have happened to him.

He set her down on her feet and she popped him in the stomach. Erick let out a loud "oof" as he rubbed where she struck. "Ready to get the hell out of here?" she asked him. She was desperate to leave this place. Undead bodies were rising from the ground, a mercenary army was trying to burn down the school. Students and staff were being slaughtered like animals from the sheer numbers of the enemy forces. It was high time they made their retreat to safety.

Erick looked over at Erza and shook his head. "Sorry sis, no can do. This female here, is pregnant with an alpha wolf's cub," Erick informed her. There was no way that he could leave Erza right now and risk something happening to them.

Kayla sucked in her breath at the news. "Gavin's?" Kayla asked incredulously. If the child and mate were indeed that wolf boys, then there was no way in seven hells they could just leave and risk her being harmed. He wouldn't rest until he hunted the twins down and blamed them for not keeping her safe. Wolve's weren't exactly known for their superb reasoning skills.

Erick nodded, grateful that his dense twin understood their predicament. "Did you see him out there in the hallways? This undead army thing is his doing somehow," Erick asked her. He still couldn't believe Gavin had somehow learned necromancy. It was such a forbidden and dangerous magic. He had no idea how Gavin was able to pull something like this off. The sight of the dead bodies turning on the mercenary army will forever haunt Erick.

Kayla nodded as she glanced at Erza. "Yeah, he protected me out there and sent me to the infirmary where he told me you were," she said as she looked back to her brother. "But he's changed, physically. He's taller and more feral looking," she said as she remembered the ferocity of his actions.

"But he also looked weakened at the same time," she said quietly. "Like he was using everything he had to maintain his shift and the undead army," she informed Erick. She knew there was no point in whispering, that were-cat's hearing would easily pick up her words.

Erza took a few steps forward as she heard that last part. "What do you mean, weakening? Was he hurt, injured in anyway?" she asked Kayla, desperate for information on her mate. He had to be okay. He promised he'd always come back to her.

Kayla looked at Erza with an almost sympathetic face. "I couldn't see any physical injuries on his body. But he looked tired, pale almost. Like all his energy was draining quickly," she said as she informed the were-cat of his condition.

Erza bit her lip as she digested these words, her fang slicing open her lower lip as she thought about what to do. She looked around to see the professors standing nearby. They seemed to have finally regained their senses and were discussing what to do next. None of them had much mana left at the moment after constantly fighting and erecting the defensive walls.

"The enemy leader should be near the Grand Arena right now. I'm going after him. If we can kill him, the rest should scatter. It worked before, the last time they attacked," she said after a moment's consideration. Was it risky? Yes, but she would be dead before she allowed Gavin to go through this war alone.

Helena stared at Erza in utter disbelief. "You want to go waltzing through this battlefield, searching for a man that we know nothing about, to kill him?" she asked for clarification. Her friend and alpha was being utterly reckless right now.

Erza flashed her charming grin at her beta. "Yup, that about sums up the plan," she said with a grin on her face. She was anything but thrilled about this plan and situation, but she couldn't just stand back and do nothing while Gavin literally risked his life out there fighting for them.

Helena growled, her eyes glowing red as she stood in front of Erza. "Erza, honey, you are pregnant. You carry mr. big, tall and scarey's child. What do you think he would do to all of us if anything were to happen to you?" she asked in anger and slight fear.

Erza sobered instantly as she looked at Helena. "What would you do, if it were Jackson out there, fighting, his body pushed past his limits, knowing he most likely won't survive on his own, and going out there anyway to try ending this?" Erza asked her bluntly. She didn't need to hear Helena's answer. She knew the wolf girl would be going out there instantly at the first chance she got.

"I'm going, but I will not order you to come with me," she said quietly. She wouldn't force them. How could she? They barely knew each other, and she had no right to force Helena or Jackson into this fight, knowing it may be their last.

Helena let out a frustrated sigh as she stood down. "Yeah right. If we don't go, Gavin would tan our backsides every which way from Sunday," Helena said as she crossed her arms. "Of course we are coming with you red," she said as she looked at her own mate for confirmation.

"Damn right we are," Jackson said in affirmation of joining them on this fools errand.

Erza smiled, tears forming in her eyes. "Looks like we can all be fools together then," she said with warmth. She brushed the tears aside, damn these hormones making her all teary and sappy.

Erick stepped forward gesturing to himself and Kayla, "We will come with you. Your chances of survival are a lot higher with two alpha shifters on your side," he said. There was no way in seven hells they were going out there to probably get killed without him and Kayla. The wolf saved his sister; he would repay that debt.

Kayla stepped forward with a grin on her face, "I would have been done for had he not arrived when he did," she said as she nodded her determination to assist them. "Now, let's go hunting shall we?" she asked as she too shifted into her golden were-lion form. Both the twins were ready for battle as they stepped through the doorway.

Erza looked back at the shocked and tired expression on Professor Jane's face. She could see the professor wanted to argue and keep them from leaving. Before she could say anything Erza called out, "Stay here, keep the other injured safe. If we run into anyone else, we will send them back this way. They are going to need you." The staff here were in no condition to go off after anyone in this place. The smartest thing would be to close the hole in the wall, and wait for reinforcements or the battle to end.

Professor Jane simply nodded, her face grim and solum as she looked at the group leaving. "Watch eachother's backs out there," she called out. Erza waved over her shoulder as they left the infirmary. Kayla surprised Erza by turning around and using her mana to build up a stone wall, blocking the entrance from any attackers.

"That should by them a few minutes if they get attacked," she said quietly as she turned to take the lead. Out of all of them, she had the most mana left to fight with. Erick had been fighting almost non stop since his match against Gavin. While Helena and Jackson hadn't fought much yet, they didn't have as much mana as Erick or herself did.

"Here's the plan." Kayla said taking charge. "I will run point with Erick. We have the most mana at the moment and will be the scouts and vanguard. Your two will stay back with preggers over there and keep her safe or die trying," she said with a grin on her face. Finally, she was going to get to enjoy some bloodshed.

Erza nodded. She chose not to reply to the preggers comment and simply said, "Let the hunt begin." Hold on baby, I'm coming, she thought as she walked forward with determination in her step.