Chapter 218

Ava

The harsh plasticky crinkle of the hazmat suit was the only sound that filled my ears as we stepped into the deathly-silent Packhouse. The familiar scent of wood and pack life was overwhelmed by the acrid smell of decay and chemicals, even through the plastic shield covering my face.

My eyes widened behind the protective visor as I took in the devastation around us.

“Oh, Goddess,” I breathed, momentarily grateful for the way that my cracking voice was muffled by the suit. Tears pricked at my eyes as I surveyed the damage that had wrought our dear Packhouse.

The once-beautiful wooden walls were now marred by patches of inky black fungus, the paintings on the walls that hadn’t been removed in time practically dust now, wholly consumed by the substance.

In some places, the wood of the walls, floors, and beams had crumbled entirely, leaving gaping holes. The staircase was utterly covered in the stuff, rendering it completely impossible to get to the second floor without stepping on the fungus. Even the floorboards creaked ominously under our feet, rotting bits of wood threatening to give out beneath us as we strode through the halls.

I must have been frozen, because suddenly Chris’s hand found mine, squeezing gently through the thick gloves. I met his gaze, and it was only then that I noticed the tears in my eyes, blurring my vision.

Leonard cleared his throat behind us, and we turned to see that his face, although grim, wasn’t entirely devoid of hope.

“The good news is,” he said, “the GMO seems to have stopped the spread. Our lead scientist believes we should see reversal soon.”

I swallowed hard. “The catalysts?” I breathed.

“Destroyed,” Leonard said, and both Chris’s and my shoulders slumped with relief. “The fungus will not be able to spread any longer, at least not in this area. Although, obviously…” He kicked a nearby section of wall, and the wood gave out beneath his boot.

“Repairs will be necessary,” Chris finished for him.

I tried to focus on the silver lining that the catalysts had been located and destroyed, but it was hard when we were faced with such destruction of a place that meant so much to us.

“How much will need to be repaired?” I asked, knowing that it was a stupid question but needing some sort of clarity, some promise that it wasn’t all lost.

Leonard sighed and gestured around us. “A significant portion, I’m afraid. But the foundation and main structure are still sound, thankfully. And the blight hasn’t spread beyond the Packhouse yet as far as we can tell.”

Chris and I, once again, let out a shared sigh of relief.

We continued our tour, each step revealing more damage. The great hall, where we had held so many pack gatherings and feasts, was a shadow of its former self. The kitchen, once bustling with activity, now stood silent and ravaged.

“What about the archives?” I asked, suddenly remembering the valuable pack records stored in the basement.

“Sealed off and protected,” Leonard assured me. “We took precautions as soon as we realized the severity of the situation. Nothing has been damaged.”

By the time we reached the exit, my heart felt as heavy as the hazmat suit—but there was a flicker of hope there. Soon, we would be able to start removing the fungus from the Packhouse, and then we could rebuild.

One step at a time.

As we stripped off the protective gear outside, I noticed a group waiting for us. The Elders had gathered, their hands tucked into their robes. I hadn’t seen them yet since we had returned, and Elise’s grave face at the forefront of the group gave me pause.

Although, what had I been expecting? A glittering welcome? A party? For what, exactly? Handling a few odd jobs around the packs?

Elise stepped forward, her sharp eyes scrutinizing. “Well?”

Chris straightened, smoothing down the front of his shirt. “Let’s return to Ava’s cottage. We’ll talk there.”

…

A little while later, the eight of us—the five Elders, me, Chris, and Leonard—were seated around my kitchen table, a tray of steaming tea placed in the center. Only Elder Bradley had taken his cup, sipping calmly amidst the silence. Other than that, the only sound was that of the clock ticking on my wall.

“Begin,” Elise all but barked.

I bristled at her tone, but before I could bite out a retort, Chris slipped easily into that Alpha demeanor that I had come to admire so much.

“Moonshine, New Moon, and Moonrise are with us,” Chris began. “They’ve pledged their support in dealing with the blight and finding Olivia.”

The Elders shifted in their seats, murmuring amongst themselves. Elise, however, seemed wholly unimpressed. “And Crescent Moon?”

I exchanged a wary glance with Chris before he continued. “Crescent Moon... was less receptive. There were some... complications.”

As Chris recounted our experience with Alpha Winston, I watched the Elders’ reactions. Elder Bradley looked troubled, having abandoned his tea to clutch at his thinning hair—which had grown even more thin lately with all his worrying. Elder Claire looked thoughtful, her lips pressed into a thin line as she exchanged a meaningful glance with Elder Fatima. Elder Paul, being the newest on the council, remained quiet and eager to listen.

But it was Elder Elise whose reaction worried me most. Her face grew redder with each word until she finally exploded.

“You did WHAT?” she shouted, jumping to her feet. “You meddled with his child, and got yourself sentenced to—”

Chris held up a calming hand. “Elder Elise, please. It wasn’t Ava’s fault, and besides, we obviously escaped—”

“Escape?” Elise huffed, jabbing a gnarled finger at me. “Foolish girl! The fact that you had to escape at all is unacceptable! This is a declaration of war, thanks to your… your idiocy!”

Fatima placed a hand on Elise’s arm. “Now, now. Let’s not be hasty. I’m sure Alpha Winston won’t pursue this matter further. He hasn’t left his mountain in years, after all.”

Elise shrugged off Fatima’s hand. “You can’t be certain of that. This is grave. Oh, Goddess, we’re all doomed.”

“Elder Elise,” I managed around the lump in my throat, “I’m willing to take the fault here. But we’re doing our best.”

Chris nodded. “I’ve already taken steps to address the situation with Crescent Moon.”

This caught everyone’s attention, including mine. I turned to Chris, surprised. “You have?”

He nodded, a slight smile on his face. “I sent a messenger to wait at the crossroads between the five packs. If Winston or any of his people come looking for us, they’ll be intercepted and invited to the summit to make amends.”

Claire raised an eyebrow. “A bold move, inviting a scorned Alpha to the summit. It could be dangerous.”

“I’m aware of the risks,” Chris replied coolly. “But I believe that if Winston comes, we can resolve this peacefully. It’s a chance we have to take for the sake of pack unity.”

Elise still looked unhappy, but she sat back down, somewhat mollified. I was still shocked, wondering why Chris hadn’t mentioned it to me. Not enough time, perhaps.

“Very well,” Elise grumbled, flashing me a deadly glare from beneath her eyebrows that took all of my effort not to melt under. “But I still say we should prepare for the worst.”

Chris nodded. “We’ll take precautions, of course. But right now, we have more pressing concerns. Leonard,” he turned, “we need to step up our search for Olivia. Can you send out more scouts?”

Leonard nodded, but there was something in his expression that made me uneasy. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, glancing at Chris, at the Elders, and… at me.

Chris noticed the loaded glance. “What is it, Leonard? Is there something else?”

Leonard’s face paled slightly, and he swallowed hard before speaking. “Alpha, there’s something else I need to discuss with you... privately.”