Mated To An Enemy

Axel did not stand on ceremony. Instead, he immediately moved forward and hugged Jonas.

Jonas chuckled and hugged the young Alpha, patting his pat.

"Now, don't get all emotional. We still got a war to win."

Axel pulled back and clenched his jaw as he looked at Jonas with gratitude.

"Thank you," he said.

"I aint do nothing special, pup," Jonas replied. "All I did was return to you the men you sent to help me defend my home first."

Jonas grabbed Axel's shoulder, holding his gaze.

"I told you that you were spreading yourself too thin, boy. But you insisted on trying to save everyone."

Axel smiled.

"I have a hard time accepting an answer I don't agree with."

"You are like your daddy in that way," Jonas smiled.

"You should meet my sister," Axel laughed.

"I've heard," Jonas smiled. "Good match for Summer. The two of em can sort each other."

Axel nodded.

Richard cleared his throat as he approached. Both Alphas turned to him.

"Alpha Jonas, good to see you again," Richard bowed his head.

"I told you to wait," Jonas said, a soft growl in his words.

Richard clenched his jaw and nodded.

"I know," he said. "After the report of what the team found in Burning Ember… I couldn't stop myself."

"You're lucky you made it here before the monsters did," Jonas growled. "But that was a stupid choice."

"I'm lucky he made that stupid choice," Axel interjected. "If Richard hadn't arrived when he did, I might not be here talking to you."

Jonas raised an eyebrow and took a deep breath.

"All right, all right, you Winter wolves, just stick together," he sighed. "We got more important business right now."

Axel nodded.

"Richie," Jonas said, "You still good to fight?"

"Of course," Richard stated, standing up straight.

"Good," Jonas said. Then, turning to Axel. "If you don't mind, I suggest you send your injured back into the Safe Zone. I brought home the men you sent and a few excitable fellows of my own. So that's three hundred strong, running through those trees right now. Each one more than a little ready to taste the blood of that particular enemy."

"Absolutely," Axel nodded. He waved over one of the men carrying a radio. "Get ahold of Luna Corrine, tell her to prepare a medical team and to send a Valkyrie escort. Then, gather our injured and take them as far north as they can go on their own to meet the Valkyrie."

The wolf nodded and ran back to do what was asked of him.

When Axel turned back, Jonas had already given Richard orders to rejoin the fight. He watched as the former Beta gathered those still well enough to join the battle, and then they ran off toward the sound of fighting.

"It was them that attacked us," Jonas said. "For the first week all of them, but slowly they pulled back. I didn't know why, where they had gone, or what they had done. But once the fighting cleared away, I found out.

"One of the teams you sent they were eager to help. They chased down a lead. One of the hybrids had run off into the gorge. Your team went after it. It was days before we ever found out what happened to em."

"What happened?" Axel asked.

"They were captured," Jonas said. "From what we found, they were tortured and experimented on. Those tall ones, the ones that think."

"We call them Fallen," Axel replied softly.

"Good name, fits," Jonas replied. "I guess you know already. Those were our people."

Axel nodded.

Jonas took a deep breath.

"It didn't sit right with me," he continued. "The way the fight just kind of stopped. But a few days ago, I finally got my answer. It stopped because they was preparing to come after you with everything they got, and the fae is going for Summer."

Axel's eyes widened.

"Summer is under attack?" he asked.

"That's my guess," Jonas nodded.

Axel sighed. He wanted to help, but right now, he could only focus on getting Winter through this day.

"Anyhow, I knew I needed to get those boys home and keep you from running off to meet your daddy just yet."

Axel looked up into Jonas' eyes. He was talking playfully and joking as he always did. But there was a look in his eye. A concern. He had been worried.

Axel smiled and reached his hand out to Jonas.

Jonas looked at the hand and grinned before taking it.

"Thank you, Jonas," Axel said with sincere appreciation. "There was a moment… when I truly thought this might be the end. That I might never get to meet my child."

Jonas' grin widened.

"You son of a gun… you're a daddy now?"

"I will be in a few months," Axel smiled.

"Nah…" Jonas said with a shake of his head. "Once you know that life is growing… it's already a part of your heart. You're a daddy, just like the rest of us."

Axel laughed and nodded.

"I guess so," Axel replied. "Maybe I'll ask Alice if we can name him or her after you since you did save us all today."

Jonas laughed.

"I would be honored to meet your little Jonas or Joana," he said with a delighted grin.

Axel felt a bittersweetness in their exchange. Less than ten minutes ago, he wasn't sure if he would survive. But now he was laughing with a man that he had grown to consider a member of his family. He knew they both needed to rejoin the fight, to end this war as soon as possible. But he felt like they both needed this moment even more.

Axel looked up to Jonas, expecting to see that same smart-ass grin, but the expression on Jonas' face suddenly changed. His smile fell, and the happy look in his eyes turned to a brief panic before they looked at Axel.

Jonas clenched his jaw and grabbed Axel's shoulders, turning him and throwing him down as Jonas's whole body turned.

Axel hit the ground hard and then turned to look up at the other man. He stood with his arms outstretched and his back arched. There was a pained look on his face, and then Axel saw why as the blood began to run from the wound in his chest.

Jonas let out a soft breath before he fell to his knees.

Axel jumped to his feet and quickly moved to catch him.

"Jonas!" he shouted as he caught him in his arms.

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