Forbidden Mate: Awakening

“I sent you a letter but I guess you haven’t seen it yet.” Leo said starkly.

There was silence then he continued, “I have. Why do you want a squadron?”

“The war is upon us. We are outnumbered as it is.”

“I thought your sanctuary of wizards could multiply armies? Why are you asking me now for my manpower when you went out to forge your own way?”

Leo’s teeth gritted. “If we lose this battle, it would be a dent in your name too.”

“Your Shadow Clan isn’t part of our coven. You have no affiliations to us.”

“I know that but we’re still of the same species.”

There was a pause again then, “I’m not too sure you’re capable to lead such a huge squadron, Leo.” His voice taunted Leo but the latter stayed calm.

His aura was imposing and mysterious. His deep voice resonated through the room as he spoke. “I have observed your leadership, and I am not impressed by your fallible mind and lack of commitment. You have not proven yourself worthy of leading a part of my army, and I cannot pledge my allegiance to you.”

The vampires who stood in the room looked on in awe. Knowing that this vampire king was one of the oldest and most powerful vampires in existence, his say was very important. His lack of support of Leo was a testament to Leo’s dulling abilities and incapability as a leader.

Leo frowned at the vampire king’s words, feeling a surge of anger. He felt insulted. He had worked tirelessly to gain the respect and trust of his fellow vampires, and now he wanted an army behind him and needed the backing of the most formidable vampire in the realm, the ass was insulting and scolding him in front of his subjects.

“You cannot judge my performance as a leader when you have never stepped a foot into my coven. Our victory can be assured because of my leadership skills,” Leo declared.

“So why then do you need my help?”

“I do not. I’m simply reminding you of your duty.”

“To waste my men on a prodigal child? Really?”

The vampires had never seen Leo look more vulnerable and offended as he did at that moment.

“I haven’t said any disrespectful thing to you since the beginning of this call so I expect you to not do so too.”

“I say what I want, Leo, and I speak the truth, don’t I?”

“Listen. We must be adequately prepared for the war that’s near. The werewolves are strong and cunning- I’ve witnessed this myself, and they will not go down without a fight. It’s difficult to say but we must be united if we don’t want our entire race to be exterminated.”

The vampires nodded in agreement, their determination matching Leo’s. They were ready to follow him into battle, to fight for their rightful place in the realm, and to finally free themselves from the oppression of the werewolves.

“You have not proven yourself to be a formidable leader, Leo,” the vampire king reiterated, “I don’t see any great potential in you, and I don’t believe that together, we could achieve great things.”

Leo’s face went darker. He expected this. He knew this was what he would get. The more he tried to prove himself, the more they’d push him aside and segregate from him. That is why he broke away. That is why he ventured on his own. That is why he wanted to have his own people, to not be subjugated under a ruthless, and heartless leader as the one he was speaking to.

“I’m sorry if you feel that way, but I’m more sorry you’ll eat your words very soon.” With that, he threw the phone to the wall, smashing it into pieces and kicked the table in front of him. His blood boiled at every single word he had to sit through, hoping the asshole would hear him out.

He was foolish for even placing that call. With a determined gait, he walked outside and summoned for a meeting.

Leo stood on a massive rock, like a platform. He was surrounded by a gathering of vampires, their eyes gleaming with anticipation and loyalty. His own people, his own family.

“My brethren,” Leo’s voice rang out. It was confident and commanding. “The time has come to put an end to the reign of the werewolves and to the reign of every oppressive monarchy! They have oppressed us for far too long, and it is time we rise up and claim our rightful place in this realm!”

The vampires let out a collective cheer, riling Leo up.

Leo continued, his eyes blazing with determination. “We may not be much in numbers, but our fearless hearts can take down hundreds of men. I have called you here to assign a task to you and also to address and admonish you. You are to go to the deepest darkest gallows of this realm and bring every forgotten and forsaken soul to this coven. Their hearts must be sewn with hate and revenge as we all are. They will fight for us during the great war that is coming!”

The vampires cheered out louder and their screams reverberated through the forest.

Leo raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent once more. “We have endured centuries of oppression and persecution. We have watched as our kind has been hunted and driven to the brink of extinction. But no more! The time for vengeance has come!”

“For the vampire race! For our freedom! For our rightful place in this realm!” they chanted, their voices rising to a deafening crescendo.

Leo’s eyes blazed with fiery passion as he continued his speech. “We are not weak. We are not to be underestimated. We are the vampires of the Shadow Clan, creatures of the night, and we will not be confined to the shadows any longer. The time has come to take our destiny into our own hands!”

“Victory! Victory! Victory!” they chanted, their voices echoing through the forest and beyond.

As Leo’s speech came to an end, he raised his hand in a triumphant gesture, and the army erupted into a final chant of victory.

The chants of “Victory! Victory!” echoed in the night air. It was a powerful declaration of their strong belief in the cause they were fighting for – but really, it was Leo’s belief in what he was fighting for.

Leo watched as the vampires scrambled into the night as they went to do his bidding. He smiled confidently and had totally forgotten what he was told on the phone just a few minutes earlier. He knew he had something that ass would never have in his entire life – a huge number of people who would go to the ends of the earth for him not just because they feared him, but also because they wanted to too. Leo knew in reality he was the most powerful leader he’d ever known.

“We will rule over them!” He cried out.

~~~~~

Audrey heard loud echoes burst through the forest then heard footsteps approach her.

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Lily abruptly sat up in her bed, breathing heavily. She looked at the moon with a heavy heart.