Chapter 6 A Breach of Territory
Xander
Was it bravery or foolishness? I still can't decide as I stand in the centre of room with my arms crossed, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest as she recovers.
My wolf hasn't stopped pacing since we found her lying unconscious at the training ground earlier, furious someone had dared to hurt her.
Twenty minutes earlier
A fierce growl rips from my throat as soon as I take in the scene before me.
Lying right there in the centre of the training ground is, Vanessa.
Some of the pack members are pointing fingers at her and laughing, some pretend like nothing has happened, while some look on wondering what happened - but I notice one thing: nobody makes a move to help her. As soon as I make my presence known, everywhere goes as silent as a graveyard, you can almost hear a pin drop.
I march forward and every head bows with every step. I ignore them until I reach her side. Upon closer inspection, I notice her face is bruised, along with some parts of her abdomen which are exposed. I gently scoop her up as I struggle and fight my wolf from taking control right there and then - that will only make matters worse than it already is.
I turn to face the crowd which now wore guilty faces, and ask, "What happened here?"
Nobody answers, not wanting to take the blame, and I growl this time in frustration. "Answer me!"
Melissa, the Gamma of my pack, with shoulders hunched and head bowed, steps forward as she speaks, "Your Highness, Ms. Vanessa had requested a hand-to-hand combat with me, but I think I had failed to remember she is only but a human, and as such couldn't withstand the strength of a wolf."
"How could you have made such a simple mistake, knowing fully well who she is?"
"My apologies, your Highness. But this only solidifies that a human is not fit to rule this Kingdom by your side. Only a werewolf like–"
"Enough!" I bark, enraged at her audacity. She clenches her fists and tilts one sir of her lips down. She wasn't even sorry. "Dorian!"
He steps forward immediately. "Your Highness."
"Give her the next to maximum punishment. Two hundred whips and five hundred laps at full marathon."
Everyone gasps.
"Yes, your Highness."
With blue eyes wide with shock, Melissa drops to her knees and pleads, "Your Highness, I beg you. I'll be more careful from now on," her voice carrying on a more tearful note.
I turn away and start walking with Vanessa held tightly in my arms, everyone parts immediately, and I ignore them completely until I'm out of sight, wondering maybe I've gone too far...
Presently
I stare at the serene look on her face, her lips, pink and pouted slightly, as if she wasn't getting her way; whatever her dream may entail. I almost chuckle, until I notice her bruises.
They're now faded into a light purple colour that probably won't be seen except up close.
That is pretty unusual for a human. Such injuries take a human about five days to heal...
Suddenly, I feel Max, my second in command, trying to reach me through our pack link. I open the line of connection to him.
"What is it?"
"Xanny, I'm currently at the east borders and you might want to see this for yourself." I can't help but cringe at the nickname. He's the only one who even dares call me by name and I allow him to get away with the nickname, every time. He's my best friend and I don't think there's much else I can do about it.
I sense the seriousness of his words - a rare thing for Max when you've known him long enough - and know that something must indeed be wrong.
"What is it?"
"I-it's-" he goes silent, almost making my warning signals rise, until he starts talking again. "I can't even explain it. Just come and see it for yourself. Oh, Goddess, it's giving me the jeepers creepers. I'm shivering–"
"Alright. I'll meet you there in a few minutes," I say to cut off his rambling.
I glance at the sleeping figure of Vanessa. After making sure she'll be waking up with no complications, I turn to leave, ignoring my wolf's attempt to draw closer to her.
She can take care of herself now.
I climb down the last step at the entrance of the building, then shift immediately, letting my wolf free; it's soft, black fur rustling in the cool wind of the approaching winter solstice.
I run towards the east borders and shift back as soon as I see Max and the other guards patrolling the area.
"What is it that you found?" I cut to the chase immediately.
"Right here." He waves me over quickly to a spot, and the first thing that throws me off is the foul, offensive and unmistakable smell of dark magic.
From a bystander's point of view, it looks like a normal grass covered, uneven ground, but the little fading marks say otherwise.
It looks like jagged, asymmetrical lines that form an inverted pentacle, surrounded by runes that seem to have been drawn in haste. Wisps of dark smoke erupt from the drawing, creating a thick, sickening odour that clings to the air.
Someone, or some thing, had been here not too long ago.
I growl, angry that the magical barriers surrounding the pack has been breached.
I turn to face Max. "Have there been any sightings of the culprit?"
He shakes his head, his eyebrows drawn. "No, none at all. But that isn't even the only strange thing here..."
I raise a brow. "What do you mean?"
"It's completely gone now, but, it said, 'the end is near now, son of Liora'."
What?
How do they know my mother and what does she have in connection with this?
I run a hand through my hair and start to pace. I can smell the fear coming from the guards, as they stand off to the side, watching me with wary glances.
Max walks up to me and places a hand on my shoulder, his eyes trained on me. I growl and spin around but his hold only tightens. "Calm down, Xanny. You're freaking the hell out of them." His voice is unusually quiet and it doesn't take long for me to know why.
He retrieves a mirror from his pocket and I see my reflection staring back at me. My eyes are flashing between emerald green and black, as I continue to fight my wolf for control.
I take a deep breath, while Max dismisses them on my behalf.
"What are we going to do?" Max asks me as I finally manage to calm down.
"We prepare for war."