Chapter 55 ZEV'S TRUTH
CHAPTER 055: ZEV'S TRUTH
"Tell me exactly what you saw," Zev says, his voice steady despite the panic I'm radiating through the bond.
I'm shaking so hard. He wraps a blanket around my shoulders but it doesn't help.
"A chamber, stone walls and a woman on a table screaming." The words tumble out. "He was carving symbols into her with a blade. Dark magic. It's worse than Marvin's."
"Did you see his face?"
"At the end. When he looked in the mirror. It was scarred and his is red like Marvin'sn and he knew I was there Zev. He spoke to me."
Zev's jaw clenches. "That's advanced dream manipulation. Whoever sent that vision is powerful. More powerful than Marvin."
"Can he track me through dreams?"
"Possibly. I can help you shield but it'll take time."
"How much time?"
"Weeks ideally. But we don't have weeks so we start now."
He moves to sit cross-legged on my bed, gesturing for me to face him.
"Close your eyes," he instructs.
"Zev it's the middle of the night. I should try to sleep."
"And risk him getting back in? No. We work until dawn then you sleep under my protection."
I didn't argue.
"Now focus on your breathing. In through your nose. Out through your mouth."
I follow his instructions.
"Good. Now imagine a wall around your mind. Any material you want. Stone, metal, fire, whatever feels strongest to you."
I picture ice.
"I can feel that," Zev says. "It's good but fragile. Dreams can shatter ice easily. Try something with more substance."
I switch to stone. Heavy granite blocks stacked high.
"Better. Now reinforce it. Every thought, every memory, every fear you want protected goes behind that wall."
We work for hours. He tests my defenses, gently probing for weaknesses. Every time he finds a crack I patch it.
By the time the sky starts lightening my head throbs but the wall feels solid.
"That's enough for tonight," Zev says. "You're exhausted."
"Will it hold?"
"Against a casual intrusion yes. Against a determined attack, maybe. But it's better than nothing."
I open my eyes. He's watching me with an intensity that makes my breath catch.
"Thank you," I say.
"Don't thank me yet. We'll need to practice this every night until you can maintain the wall in your sleep."
"That sounds exhausting."
"Welcome to my world."
Despite everything I almost smile.
The tent is quiet except for the sound of our breathing.
"I've been in your head more than anyone," Zev says suddenly. "Seen your fears. Your memories. Your worst nightmares."
"I know. It's uncomfortable."
"For you or for me?"
"Both I guess."
He shifts closer. "I need you to know something. Every time I've been in your mind I've respected your boundaries. Never gone deeper than necessary. Never looked at memories you wanted hidden."
"I know... I trust you." I said slowly.
His hand touches my face, his fingers gentle against my cheek. "That means more than you realize."
"Why?"
"Because trust is the hardest thing for an incubus to earn. We're known for manipulation. For taking what we want from people's minds without asking. But you've never treated me like I'm a threat."
"You're not a threat."
"I could be. Easily." He shrugged.
"But you're not."
He cups my face with both hands now, his green eyes searching mine. "You're exhausted, now sleep and I'll watch over your dreams."
"Promise you won't let him in?"
"I promise."
My eyes are already closing.
I feel myself tipping sideways. Zev catches me, adjusting so my head rests on his shoulder.
"Sleep," he whispers. "I've got you."
And for the first time in days I fall asleep feeling safe.
I wake up due to voices outside the tent.
Zev is still beside me, one arm around my shoulders, his head tilted back against the tent pole. He's awake, his eyes alert.
"How long was I out?" I mumble.
"Three hours. Your mental defenses held. No intrusions."
The tent flap opens and Kieran walks in. He stops when he sees us.
Jealousy flickers across his face. But it's gone so fast I might have imagined it.
"Magnus called a pack meeting," he says, his voice carefully neutral. "We need to head back to the academy. Council arrives in two days."
"Already?" I ask, sitting up. My neck protests from sleeping at a weird angle.
"Time moves fast when you're recovering from near death experiences."
I stand, my body stiff and sore. Zev rises smoothly, no sign that he spent the entire night sitting upright.
"Did you sleep at all?" I ask him quietly.
"Didn't need to. I was in your dreams. That's restful enough for me."
Kieran's expression darkens slightly but he doesn't comment.
We walk to the main hall together, an awkward triangle of tension.
The pack is already gathered. Luna waves us over to where she's standing with Mom and the other boys.
Magnus stands at the center, waiting for everyone to settle.
"I'll keep this brief," he says. "The Council arrives at Duskmoor in two days. That means you need to leave today. We'll send a contingent of warriors with you as protection and to serve as witnesses if the Council tries anything."
"We don't need protection," Kieran argues.
"You're getting it anyway," Magnus says firmly. "You bled for us. We return the favor."
Kira steps forward. "I'm coming. Along with my best fighters."
"Your daughter just got back," Magnus says. "You should stay with her."
"Mira's safe. Other daughters aren't. I'm coming and you can't stop me."
Magnus looks like he wants to argue but nods instead. "Fine. Pick your team. We leave at noon."
"What about the ceremony?" Luna asks.
"Tonight. Before you go. The pack wants to honor you properly."
"That's not necessary," I say.
"Yes it is. You saved us. The least we can do is say thank you correctly."
The meeting disperses. People drift away to prepare for travel or to continue rebuilding.
I'm about to leave when Luna grabs my arm.
Her face is white.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"I just received a message. Through pack telepathy. From the Eastern Pack."
"What did they say?"
Her voice shakes. "They're all dead Thalira. Every single one, they were slaughtered overnight. Men, women, children. No survivors."
The world tilts.
"That's not possible. The Eastern Pack has over two hundred members."
"Had," Luna corrects. "Darren said the attack happened three hours ago. By the time reinforcements arrived it was over."
"Three hours ago? But that means..."
The killer moved on them while we were sleeping. While I was learning to build mental walls and falling asleep on Zev's shoulder.
"They left a message carved into the Alpha's body," Luna continues. "The same words from before."
"What words?"
"For the Phoenix twins. You can't save everyone."
My knees give out. Kieran catches me before I hit the ground.
"Two hundred people," I whisper. "An entire pack."
"This is war," Magnus says grimly. He's appeared beside us, his face carved from stone. "This is a declaration of war."
"Against who?" Cassian demands.
"Against anyone who stands with the Phoenix twins."
Mom moves to stand in front of Luna and me, as if she can shield us from what's coming.
"They're targeting packs because of us," I say. "Everyone who helped us is in danger."
"Then we make them pay," Kieran growls. "We hunt them down and we end this."
"How?" Alaric asks. "We don't even know how many there are or where they're hiding."
"Then we start with what we know," Zev says. "The dream walker. The one who invaded Thalira's mind. He's confident enough to reach out. That makes him arrogant and arrogance creates mistakes."
"We need more information," Magnus says. "Kira, send scouts to the Eastern territory. Find out everything you can about the attack. Methods, timing, anything that might help us identify the killers."
Kira nods and leaves immediately.
Luna's hand finds mine. Through the bond I feel her devastation.
Two hundred people dead because we exist.
"This isn't your fault," Mom says, reading our expressions.
"Isn't it?" Luna asks. "They died because they were associated with us."
"They died because monsters killed them. Don't take that burden on yourself."
But it's too late. The weight is already there, pressing down on both of us.
Sofia appears, slightly out of breath. "There's more. The Southern Pack just reported an attack. There's twenty dead and it's the same pattern."
"When?" Magnus demands.
"An hour ago."
"They're moving fast," Zev says. "Hitting multiple locations to spread fear and confusion."
"It's working," I mutter.
A howl rises from somewhere in the pack territory. Not a normal howl. A mourning song.
More voices join it until the entire pack is howling for the fallen.
The sound is beautiful and terrible.
When it finally fades Magnus speaks.
"We leave in one hour. No ceremony. No goodbyes. We move fast and we move armed."
"Where are we going?" Kieran asks.
"Duskmoor. We face the Council. We tell them everything. And then we hunt these bastards down together."
"The Council won't help," Alaric says. "They're more likely to arrest us than assist."
"Then we make them help," Magnus says. "One way or another."
He walks away, barking orders at his warriors.
I look at the boys, at Luna, at Mom, at Sofia and Morgana who have appeared from somewhere.
"We're walking into a trap aren't we?" Sofia asks.
"Probably," I say.
"Good. I hate boring trips."
Despite everything I want to laugh.
But then another messenger runs in, this one from the Coastal Pack.
Her face tells me everything before she speaks.
"They're gone," she gasps. "All of them. The Coastal Pack is gone."
Three packs.
CHAPTER 054: MARVIN'S LEGACY
Magnus calls the war council before the messenger even finishes his water.
We gather in the main hall. The roof is collapsed but the enough structure is what remains to hold us.
Pack elders sit in a circle. Warriors line up. Luna and I stand with the boys, Mom hovering protectively nearby.
The messenger, who finally introduces himself as Darren from the Eastern Pack, spreads maps across a makeshift table.
"Three packs hit in two weeks," he says, pointing to marked locations. "Eastern, Southern and Coastal. Same pattern every time. She-wolves targeted, dark magic used, bodies left as messages."
"What kind of messages?" Magnus asks.
"Taunts mostly and threats. Marvin's name carved into flesh." Darren's voice is flat, emotionless. He's seen too much. "We thought it was him at first but then we heard he died here."
"He did," Luna confirms. "We burned him to ash."
"Then someone's continuing his work."
"Or multiple someones," Zev says quietly.
Everyone turns to look at him.
"The attacks are too spread out," he explains. "Hundreds of miles between locations. Even with supernatural speed, one person couldn't hit three packs in different territories within days of each other."
"You think there are more?" Kira demands.
"I think Marvin was part of something bigger."
Darren nods grimly. "We're thinking the same thing. The Eastern Pack captured one attacker alive. Before he died he said Marvin taught him. Said there were others learning from him."
My stomach drops. "How many others?"
"He didn't say. Died before we could get more information. But based on attack patterns, we're estimating at least three. Maybe more."
The room erupts in angry voices.
"Quiet," Magnus orders. "Darren, do we have any leads on who these others might be?"
"Only that they're using similar dark magic techniques. Building weapons like Marvin's. Harvesting she-wolf essence for power."
"So we find them and kill them," Kieran says simply.
"It's not that easy," Darren argues. "They're scattered across the continent. They know we're looking. They'll go to ground."
"Then we hunt them out of their holes," Kieran insists.
I step forward before he can continue. "We killed one. Now we have to kill the rest."
The boys all turn to stare at me.
"Absolutely not," Alaric says immediately.
"We can't chase every threat," Cassian adds. "You need to recover. The Council is coming in a week."
"Those packs need help."
"And you need rest," Kieran says, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You almost died six days ago. You're still healing."
Luna moves to stand beside me. "He's right Thalira. You're in no condition to hunt serial killers across the continent."
"So what, we just let them keep killing?"
"No," Magnus says. "We send warriors to assist the other packs. Coordinate efforts. Share information. But you stay here and recover."
"I can help."
"You can barely walk without wincing," Mom says gently. "You're not ready for another fight."
I wanted to argue but I know they're right. My ribs still ache and my arm isn't fully healed.
"Fine," I say, hating how weak it sounds.
Magnus turns to his pack. "I need volunteers. Warriors willing to travel to the affected territories and assist with hunting these killers."
A dozen hands go up immediately.
Reyna pushes forward, her broken arm in a sling. "I'm going."
"You're injured," Magnus says.
"So is half the pack. I can still track and I want revenge for what happened to me."
Her twin Rafe steps up beside her. "We go together."
Magnus studies them for a long moment then nods. "You leave at dawn and also take the supplies for a month and lastly, make sure to report back regularly."
The meeting continues but I stop listening because the helplessness settles over me.
Luna touches my arm. Through the bond I feel her concern.
"Are you okay?" she asks quietly.
"No. But I will be."
I find Sofia later, sitting alone by the lake at the edge of pack territory.
"Hey," I say, sitting beside her.
"Hey yourself. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I tried that but I kept thinking about the people dying while I sit here and do nothing."
Sofia sighs. "You know that's not fair to yourself right?"
"What isn't?"
"Taking responsibility for every evil thing happening in the supernatural world. You killed Marvin. You saved this pack. You destroyed the Hollow King's weapon. You've done more than anyone could expect."
"It doesn't feel like enough."
"That's because you care too much. It's your best quality and your worst." She picks up a stone and throws it into the lake. "You're allowed to rest Thalira. You're allowed to heal. You're allowed to not save everyone."
"What if people die while I'm resting?"
"Then that's on the killers, and also not on you."
The words make sense but they don't ease the guilt.
We sit in silence for a while, watching the water.
"The Council's coming," I finally say.
"Yeah."
"What if they try to take me?"
"Then we fight them."
"Sofia you can't fight the Council."
"Watch me." She smiles but there's steel underneath. "You're my friend and I don't abandon my friends."
"Even if it means going against the most powerful supernatural authority in the world?"
"Especially then."
Despite everything I still smile.
I find an empty clearing and start training. My body protests but I continue.
I tried punches, kicks, and blocks. My form is sloppy, my movements is sluggish, but I keep going.
"You're going to hurt yourself."
I spin and sees Cassian standing at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed.
"I need to be stronger."
"You're already the strongest person I know."
"That's not saying much considering I lost to a serial killer."
"You killed him," Cassian corrects. "With your sister, while half dead yourself. That's not losing."
I throw another punch at the air. "It doesn't feel like winning."
He walks over and catches my fist mid-swing. "Your form is terrible. You're favoring your injured ribs and telegraphing every move."
"Then help me fix it."
"Alright. But we do this properly. No pushing through pain. No ignoring your body's limits."
We train for an hour. He's patient, correcting my stance, showing me how to move without aggravating my injuries.
By the end I'm sweating and exhausted but I feel better.
"Thank you," I say.
"Anytime." He pulls me into a hug, careful of my ribs. "I mean it. Anytime you need me, I'm here."
I rest my head on his chest. "I love you."
The words still feel new and strange.
"I love you too," he whispers into my hair.
That night I dream, but it's not my dream.
I'm seeing through someone else's eyes. A dark chamber with stone walls and chains hanging from the ceiling. A woman is strapped to a table, screaming.
The perspective shifts as the person I'm seeing through moves closer.
Hands enter my vision, holding a blade covered in dark runes.
"Marvin was weak," a voice says. "He failed. He got caught and killed by children. We won't make the same mistakes."
The blade descends.
I try to look away but I can't control the vision.
The woman's screams intensify.
"The Phoenix twins think they've won. They think killing Marvin ended this. They're wrong. We're just getting started."
The blade carves symbols into the woman flesh.
"And when we're ready, we're coming for them. Coming for their power. Coming for their souls."
The vision tilts up and suddenly I'm looking at someone in a mirror.
The face staring back isn't mine.
It's a man I don't recognize. Scarred and cruel with eyes that burn red like Marvin's did.
He smiles at his reflection.
At me.
"Hello little Phoenix. Did you enjoy the show?"
I jolt awake, gasping for breath.
Zev is beside my bed instantly. "What did you see?"
"One of the others," I choke out. "The other killers. I saw through his eyes."
"That's not possible. Dream walking only works if there's a connection or if someone invites you in."
"Then he invited me." My hands shake. "He wanted me to see. He's sending a message."
"What message?"
I meet Zev's green eyes. "That Marvin was just the beginning.”In one morning.
Over four hundred people dead.
And carved into the sand of the Coastal territory, visible from the air, are words that make my blood turn to ice.
"The Hollow King returns. The Phoenix twins will burn. The age of wolves is over. The age of darkness begins.”