Chapter 177

Chapter 177
Carmine

“If this is going to get them to follow me back to the pack to at least see Ximena is alive, then so be it,” I mumbled under my breath. It's the least I could do for her after everything she’d done for my people and me.

The sound of murmuring increased as the people kept staring at me in disbelief. I'm sure the only thing going through their minds right now is that if I could stake my life on my claims, then it's worth the try and if not, they've got absolutely nothing to lose.

“Listen, everyone, instead of taking heed to what he's saying, how about you just kill him right now? Can’t you all see that he murdered your king?!” Cassie snapped.

The old lady standing in front of me walked towards her and gazed at her, her own share of the slap she gave me.

“Oooohh,” everyone muttered, curling their mouths in an O shape as they made funny faces.

“Okay now, that slap right there was more iconic,” I thought, “what is she? Is she like ‘the slapping lady’ of this pack?” I wondered.

“Don't you dare ever call him our king; he was a monster!” she corrected sharply.

“She's a rogue and a traitor,” another voice sprung from the crowd.

“Kill her!!” A thunderous voice echoed.

And with that, the people of the pack pounced on her, raining punches and blows on her that she could barely even see. But at this point, I cared less. She chose her path after a little punishment from the goddess; she rebelled, and now she's going to have to suffer for it.

“My lord, this way,” a tall guy with broad shoulders dressed in an army uniform walked up to me. “Your people, they are here,” he added softly.

I gave him a light nod. I turned my gaze to Steven, urging him to stay in front of me as they led the way. The soldier took us through several halls in the massive castle before we finally got to an empty abandoned room where I could hear the faint voices of people crying and wailing for help.

“They are here,” the soldier announced the minute we got to the door.

Just as Steven was about to dig the keys into the door, the soldier stopped him by holding his eyes before raising his gaze to meet mine. “You’d better be right about our Luna being alive, Lycan king; else, the people are going to be…” he tried to speak.

“You don't have to say the word; I already know what would happen, and like I said the previous time, I give you my word,” I replied, curling my lips up in a reassuring smile.

He let out a light nod. As he released his grip from Steven, he twisted the key before turning the doorknob, and right before us stood a great multitude of pups and pregnant women, some panting heavily as they'd fallen into labor due to the stress.

“Alpha!!” A tiny voice echoed in the room as a pup locked eyes with me, making every one of them turn their gaze in my direction as the wails for help increased.

Dear goddess, how can someone be so cruel as to lock up expecting mothers in such a confined space? I wondered.

“Is there any skilled person in this pack that could help me right now?” I asked the soldier, urgency in my voice as I watched Steven rush in to bring the ladies out, including his mate as he gave her a tight hug.

The other soldier went in, bringing out the ladies who had fallen into labor to get some fresh air outside.

“I'm sorry, my lord, but Alpha Vincenzo has murdered almost all the skilled healers we have here because of his search for a child. Right now, we just have one left, and I doubt if she'll be able to attend to these many women,” he explained.

“Shit!” I cursed under my breath, rubbing my chin as I began to think. “Okay, listen, how about you call her here so she could perform a triage on them? And any who can last until we get to my pack, she'll get her hands over there,” I said.

“Okay, I think that should work,” he replied before stepping out.

Minutes later, he arrived with the lady who'd slapped me earlier, introducing her as the healer. For a healer, she slaps so hard, I thought inwardly.

She stared at the ladies a little bit, did a few physical examinations before turning back to me. “How long would it take to get back to your pack?” she asked.

“Uhm... about an hour from here, why?” I asked.

“Because all these women here have approximately one hour, thirty minutes before they drop the seed inside of them.”

“Oh really? Is that so?” I asked softly. “Then we wouldn't waste any more seconds,” I said.

“I'll get as many carriages as possible ready,” the soldier announced as he turned about to take his leave.

“Wait!!” I blurted out, stopping him in his tracks. “Steven will go with you,” I said.

Steven immediately got the message as he trailed behind him, and in a few minutes, they arrived with carriages ready to move everyone.

“My lord, we're ready,” he announced.

We assisted the women into the carriage while the pups took the others as we embarked on the journey. The others from the Reflection Pack transformed into their wolves, while I stood in awe as I watched their skin light up like that of Ximena, but not as strong and beautiful as hers as their Luna. We drove past Cassie, who lay weakly on the floor with blood all over her, as not even one person showed remorse toward her.

A part of me wanted to, but remembering her hands were dirty in what these women and pups went through, I transformed into my wolf, leaving her there as I led the way.

We got to the boundary and met the other soldiers here with the respective members of my pack: the beta maids, omegas, beta female soldiers, elderly, etc.

“My lord,” one of the soldiers greeted.

“You all have done well,” I replied. “But as you can see, we don't have much time. We have to rush back to the pack and get care for these ladies,” I added. “Is everyone here strong enough to run?” I asked, turning to the others.

“Yes, my lord,” they all chorused.

“Good,” I replied sternly, and without another word, I continued my journey back to the pack.

After a few more minutes, I sent for the few persons still in the pack as I ordered them to take the women to the infirmary, while the old lady healer from the Reflection Pack went with them together with some other healers who worked with Ma'am Lia.

“This way,” I said to the others from the Reflection Pack as I led them into the hallway to see their queen.

I swung one of the doors to the hall, revealing Ximena as she stripped Dani of her powers.

“Carmine!! You're back!!” she squealed, “that was quick; I was just finishing up with your request,” she said.

“Oh, is that so?” I said with a smile on my face, wrapping my hands around her in a hug.

“Yep, Dani was the very last of them all,” she announced.

“Great,” I said.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, noticing my mood.

“I brought you a surprise,” I blurted out, unable to keep it in.

“Really? Where is it?” she asked in excitement.

“No, Ximena, the correct question is where are they?” I said with a grin on my face.

She stared at me with furrowed brows. “Okayyyy…,” she replied.

I smiled, turning to Steven as I gestured that he lets them in.

The minute she locked eyes with her people, she stood frozen in one spot, her eyes widened in shock. “You… you brought my people here?” she stuttered.

“It’s the least I can do after everything, Ximena. Just consider this as my thank you for standing by me and saving my people,” I replied.

“How did they know I was still alive?” she asked again.

“Ohhh… trust me, you don’t want to know what I went through having to convince them to come with me to see you for themselves. I had to take a slap that still hurts for you,” I whispered in her ear, making her chuckle as she shifted her gaze back to the crowd with glassy eyes.

She took a step forward, scanning her eyes through everyone.

“It's true, it's her, it's really her!!!” a voice echoed in the crowd as the people rejoiced seeing their Luna after so many years.

“All hail Luna Ximena,” a voice thundered.

“All hail,” they chorused, bowing and acknowledging her reign.

But as she walked towards them with tears in her eyes, something unexpected happened.

She slumped on the ground.