Page 93 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 44

Hades

"Talk to the covens in Bergarian that you trust. Let them know three gods are missing and watch out for any abnormalities in magic casting, especially in the dark kingdom of Vermillion." Cyrene wrote down a few notes on her scroll. “Not to say the kingdom will go back to its old ways, but it would be better to check.”

"I'll be sure to go there myself. I can't trust the communications spells, especially knowing that the Underworld was compromised after all those years. Who knows who could be listening.”? I nodded as I took a bite of one of the Luna's cookies.

"I will send you there myself. Just send a nudge when you want to return. If I do not reply, you will have to get back on your own."

Cyrene sat across from me at Alpha Wesley's dining room table. Ember had gone with her father, much to my distaste, but I had to play nice. She hadn't seen him in so long, and the topic of her becoming Alpha of the Black Claw Pack was going to come up. Did she want to be the Alpha? If she did, we would make it work. I already had plans in the works for a portal to be erected here in her parent's home so she could come to and from the Underworld without the help of my magic. I just needed Hecate to help prepare the spell. I wasn't great at essential magic, but she would need my source of power, which was in the Underworld, to procure it.

Hell, this is based on if we can even retrieve Hecate, Selene, and Hermes. Keeping Ember calm was the goal, but the tensions I could feel from Zeus were becoming overpowering. I could feel his struggle as he tried to keep himself together. He wasn't used to the stress; he just tried to help micromanage brawls between gods, and even then, Athena and Hera helped him.

Zeus isn't evil. He just has his head in the wrong places and doesn't know what he wants. A mate would do him some good and knock some sense into him. I prayed to the fates it wasn't Hera. That woman had been through too much.

"I'm ready when you are, my Lord." Cyrene stood up with her robes wrapped around her and hood over her face. I waved my hand non-ceremoniously as she disappeared, and Charlotte walked through the door with some milk and more cookies. Damn, she can cook.

"I thought you would like some milk," she trailed off as she set it on the table. Sitting down, she twiddled with her thumbs while staring intently at them. "Thank you, Hades. For saving her." Charlotte's eyes glazed over as she wiped back a trailing tear. "When I told you that your mate was out there waiting for you, I didn't realize it would be my own daughter."

After Charlotte single-handedly destroyed my self-made mate, she instantly forgave me and felt sorry for me. Me, the God of the Underworld, and she took pity on me. Her little speech didn't give me the hope I needed; after all, her daughter did suffer because of my hardened heart.

"It is funny how the goddess works, huh? Now that you are back here, I wouldn't be surprised if your friends find a few mates. She does have a way with mates meeting each other."

The thought crossed my mind that Ares could find his mate. This was a large pack, and he had desires to find a mate in a Wolf. However, with the Sphere of Souls missing, no one was going to be finding their mates. Selene needed her Sphere to conduct a small ritual to bind them together once their eyes met.

"Ares, Hermes and Vulcan would wish to find mates. More so than I did," I trailed off. "Perhaps one day they will find what they are looking for once this is all over." Charlotte nodded.

"I've got a new bed being brought up to Ember's room. I don't think sleeping on a double bed will fit the both of you." She winked. "Just know that Wesley won't be happy about it. He still sees her as a little girl." I bit my lip, thinking of how my feet hung off the bed as I pleasured Ember. Her eyes were glowing with lust and desire to complete the bond. We couldn't, not yet. Selene thankfully confirmed our bond before she went missing. In this period, we were the only couple that could be bonded together.

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

"Just be good to her," Charlotte growled. "Otherwise, I won't be so nice." Her claws lengthened around her coffee mug, and her fangs grew while she laughed. I laughed along with her, something I hadn't done with anyone else but Ember. Having Ember's parents in her life wouldn't be so bad. Wesley will be tough to crack, but we have a long time to come with that odd relationship.

Ares

Dante, Hunter, and Steven led Vulcan and I out of the house and through the pack territory. They showed their defenses, the cameras Charlotte had set up as well as the training fields. Many Wolves were shifting, fighting, and sparring. Some were even using older weapons I had used in many battles with humans thousands of years ago.

My heart started pumping; the adrenaline was ripping through my veins. "Lord Ares, would you like to train us? It would be an honor." Dante threw off his shirt as well as Hunter.

"Yes, please, show us your ways!" Steven went to sit on the sidelines. He was only eleven, and his own group of beginners wasn't on the field. The Alpha had strategically set up times for warriors based on age and ability. Right now, the strongest were on the field due to the protection of Ember, the supposed new Alpha. Extra training and extra patrolling were scheduled for the night and especially around the Alpha's home.

"Sounds like a good idea." I ripped my shirt off as I stomped onto the field. The Wolves stopped what they were doing as soon as I stepped foot on the massive training arena. It was in the shape of a football field with obstacle courses, weights, and weapons. Many gave wide eyes as I ripped my human disguise from my body and stomped one foot on the ground, instantly turning the churned-up mud into sand. The sand was a great way to help train your legs and learn to keep your balance; this would help them later but kill their hamstrings now. I also willed massive stands such as the Greek colosseum on a much smaller scale, so those who were not training could watch. Watching was also an effective way of training. Learn from others' mistakes and take in what you should do on your own time.

"It's Ares!" A Wolf yelled from the sideline. My leather coverings on my calves and forearms twinkled in the sun against the bronzed threading. The leather straps on my back donned my sword and shield. Reaching behind me, I pulled my sword and, at my side, my battle-ax. "Who would like to train with the God of War?" I yelled across the field. Wolves came running and screaming in cheers as they approached.

I lived for this, for the blood on my enemies' bodies on the ground and on my sword. These wolves' ancestors were created with such a purpose. To destroy the out-of-control evils that many gods had formed out of experiments. Many humans were taken and given abilities that didn't change just their bodies but also their minds.

Werewolves had the perfect balance because they had a shared soul of both wolf and human. They were two separate entities, and once the wars and battles with the evil rejected beings were created, they were lost. Their wolves craved war while their human side craved emotion. With Selene's help, she created soul mates, which sated both sides of the Werewolves.

Never knew that one day Selene could turn it so both Werewolves, supernatural, and even the gods would be blessed with such a gift.

I had set groups up, some sparing with weapons, others in Wolf forms, and some doing conditioning work. The men and women warriors were in top condition; Alpha had done his part keeping his pack strong. No wonder it was the strongest in North America. I would have to see if they could be in legion with me and part of my war stronghold.

When I am called upon in times of war, it is rare, but it does happen. I bring with me my own army. Once I have appraised both sides, I choose what side I should side with. Hades was the best at the judge of character; he would help often. Those with legion would fight for me, and in repayment, their warriors were given double the strength and training with me.

I swelled my chest at the pride of how hard these Wolves were willing to work. It isn't often that wolves train themselves like this. It reminded me of the Crimson Shadow’s in Bergarian. Many packs on Earth had become lazy. It doesn't matter the size of the pack, but its strength. If they are not training and not patrolling their territory, I cannot help when their cries come. It is a two-way street, and unfortunately, I cannot come to save everyone.

My hands were behind my back as I walked by weightlifting stations. Wolves were eager to show off in front of me. She-wolves winked and waved, and I had to do a wink here or there. However, training was the target for the day. Besides, I wanted to have what Hades had. My dick was under wraps for a while.

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