Chapter 7
"We have been cursed, Damon,” Alfred says. "The evidence is all there, there is nothing natural about this,”
"I know, I've seen this before,” Damon says. "It was done to my grandfather. His blood was drained from his ears, nose, and mouth. It's what is happening to his people.
"We've lost a quarter of the elders, we need to act fast,” An elder says.
"Tell the priest to consult the goddess, we will do whatever needs to be done,” Damon states.
"Yes Alpha,” They reply bowing out.
"The storm you felt just arrived,” Alfred says. "We shouldn't have attacked the witches,”
"How should I have known they were going to attack this quickly, it's not even 24 hours yet,” Damon shouts. "We couldn't just sit around and do nothing while they taunted us,”
"Yeah, I know,” Alfred says. "I think we should monitor the city to check out if they've been hiding,”
"Call Gary, we'll do that together,” He replies. "And bring the body of the dead wolf. His pack isn't so far from the city,”
"The priest is here Alpha,” An attendant says.
"I have been consulting the goddess since the first case started and there are only two ways to stop this epidemic,” The pack's priest says.
"What are they?" Damon shouts.
"A willing sacrifice or forgiveness from the witch who did this,” The priest replies. "We'll need a witch whichever way we choose,”
"What would we need a witch for?" Alfred asks.
"We don't know who did this and we'll need a witch to track it for us. We will also need a witch to perform the ritual for the sacrifice. Whoever did this is out for blood and must get it one way or another,”
"So we need a witch to deal with this,” Damon says, slamming his fists on the table.
"We can get a stray witch from the southern quarters of the city. What kind of sacrifice are we talking about?" Alfred asks.
"Human sacrifice,” The priest says with a deep breath. "And it must be willing and not the alpha,” He adds.
The room became silent as they all took in what the priest said. You could even hear a pin drop.
"I'll do it,” Alfred says breaking the silence.
"Are you nuts?? I'm not letting any of my men die,” Damon shouts.
"Didn't you hear what he said? We can't rely on finding who did this, it'll take days to locate whoever it is and the pack may as well be wiped out by then,” Alfred shouts back.
"Let's find a witch first, we'll talk about this when we get back. Bring the body of the dead with you,”
"Where are you off to this early?"
"I didn't hear from your brother yesterday. He always reaches out every three days,” Rebecca replies trying to hide the worry in her voice. "I am going to the city to look for him,”
"Then I'll go with you,” Aurora says.
"No, you shouldn't,”
"I know the city better than you do, I even know where all the wolves hang out,” Aurora defends.
"Okay, but we'll be together throughout. Clint would kill me if anything happens to you,” Rebecca sighs.
Aurora rushes in to change, it's been a while since she had been to the city and she was excited. She had always wanted to walk around the city with her brother and this was going to be her chance, she thought.
"So where do we go first?" Rebecca asks, staring at the tall buildings.
"Try locating him, you're his mate,”
Rebecca closes her eyes and focuses on the light thread in her heart, it swung like there was nothing on the other side. "I can feel him and our bond is weakened,” She says with scared eyes.
"He's probably pushing his abilities to the limits. Our Dad could do that. Aurora replies.
"I hope so,” She replied with a solemn look on her face.
"Oh well, we're in the city. We should have a little fun,”
"We should leave the body of the wolf here,” Damon grunts as they reach the woods of the dead wolf's pack.
"But you said...,”
"One of my men may be sacrificed to save the whole pack today and you think some useless wolf would be my priority!?" Damon shouts.
"Yes Alpha,” Gary says as he dumps the body by the forest entrance.
"Alfred should have found a witch by now, let's go back to the pack,” Damon says.
"She can't find who did this,” Alfred says as Damon walks in.
"Why?"
"Whoever did this didn't do it alone. The magic is in layers and they're all different people. They used a cloaking spell too, I can't find them,” The witch says. "You must have pissed off someone really strong,” She adds with a crooked smile.
"And the ritual?" Alfred asks.
"That is not an option,” Damon barks with anger.
"We can't afford to lose the pack, Damon!" Alfred shouts back. "It's one of us or all of us Damon,”
"These damn witches, taking away everyone I love. First Edward now you,” Damon says shakily.
"I have to do these Damon. The pack needs you,”
"I need you with me to lead the pack, Alfred,”
"Gary would be there to stop you from making rash decisions. It's fate brother"
"Are you going to do this all day or don't we have a ritual to do?" The witch says, making Damon growl. "Easy there, wolf boy, I'm here to help,”
The witch, Alfred, Damon, and the priest all walk to the center of the pack to perform the ritual. The witch slits her palm and that of Damon mixing them together. The blood is used to mark Alfred who is tied to a stake. The witch starts her spell which draws out Alfred's life force and burns him from the inside. With the last of his strength, he looked at Damon and smiled as Damon shifted and howled in pain. He had lost yet another person he loved, he thought as he ran off into the woods.
"Bad day?"
"Yeah, I lost a friend,” Damon replies to the lady who sat beside him at the bar.
"You don't look like the regular wolves who hang around here. Are you visiting?" Aurora asks.
Damon raises his head to look at her. "Mate,” His wolf shouts in his head. He stumbles and stares at her again. "Mine,” He blurts out as he grabs her hand, staring into his eyes.
"You don't even have a wolf,” He observes. "A filthy human for a mate. Is this what the moon goddess thinks of me? Or are the witches doing this again,” He shouts as he laughs mockingly. "How do you even know about wolves?" He barks
"I'm a werewolf,” Aurora chokes as he pressed her neck against the table.
"Oh, a weakling. So this is how the moon goddess sees me huh? A fucking weakling,”
"Stay away from her,” Rebecca growls, shifting partially to attack Damon.
"Stop,” Damon shouts in his alpha voice freezing Rebecca right in her tracks. He snaps her neck in one swift movement as she falls, dead.
"Nooooo" Aurora cries as she holds Rebecca in her arms.
"Hmm, the blue-silver pack,” Damon says when he sees the necklace on Aurora's neck. "You have one day to prepare, my men would pick you up in two days, and don't even think about resisting,” He says walking out of the bar.
Aurora cries as she calls for help and takes Rebecca's body home. She needed someone to talk to and Brent was the only person she could think of.
"He's the blood alpha,” Brent says. "His name isn't just for fancy, he's ruthless and I think you've seen that first hand,”
"He didn't even think twice before killing her,” Rebecca sobbed.
"I have another piece of bad news for you,”
"What is it?"
"Clint is dead,” Brent whispers.
"Where am I?" Aurora asks.
"In my room, you fainted after I told you about Clint,” Brent says.
"How did it happen?"
"We don't know yet. We found his body at the entrance of the woods this afternoon. Apparently, he was caught in a crossfire between the witches and a pack of wolves,”
"You shouldn't get up yet, you need to rest,” Brent says as she tries standing.
"I have to see his body, he is my brother,” Aurora cries.
"Just rest, we'll sort it out tomorrow,” Brent says.
"You know who did it right?" The Alpha asks Brent.
"The Blood Alpha,” Brent replies.
"And he is also Aurora's mate, hmm. Don't tell her yet,”
"Why?"
"She would be too angry to go with him. You can tell her after 2 weeks, that should make her angry enough to spy on him for us if Rebecca's death doesn't push her to do so,”
"The Blood alpha sure does have a lot of enemies,”
"Yes, the witches are out for revenge, we want the same too. We should probably work together,”
"I'll speak to the witches tomorrow, they're possible allies,”
"You do so. They may even help Aurora with her wolf in exchange for information on the Blood Alpha,”
"Yes, Alpha,” Brent bows as the alpha leaves the room.
"Heard you found your mate,” Gary says.
"Yes, if only Alfred were here to see this,” Damon replies.
"Who would have thought the Blood Alpha would have a significant other. I hope she isn't as ruthless as you are or we're doomed,” He jokes
"She's nothing like my significant other, she's just a damn weakling,” Damon shouts as he makes his way to his quarters with the door slamming behind him.
"Get me Cami,” He barks at the attendant by the door.