Chapter 31 ~Blood and Ashes~
Xander's POV
I drove at high speed, panic surging through my veins. The tires of my vehicle screeched dangerously on the asphalt.
I pulled up to the gate of the Silvereign packhouse and stumbled out of the car, shifting mid-air.
My bones snapped loudly, reshaping as I embraced my wolf form. My jersey ripped, replaced with silver fur, four limbs and molten gold eyes; I was now a seven feet towering wolf.
The metallic scent of fresh blood hit my nostrils, the smell of ruin. Of ashes.
Pure adrenaline pulsed through my veins as I galloped. I worried about the werewolves' safety, the pups, my family.
As I approached closer, the snapping of bones, the rough snarls, were louder, more vicious.
The perimeter is breached, we're hit Alpha! So many are down. The east gate is in ruins,
Calvin's link came out clearer this time.
I know, I'm here. I mindlinked him back, my mind boggled with fear and the desperate decisions I needed to make to ensure the safety of the pack.
I approached the pack, fire was blazing through, the air was thick with fog-like smoke.
My chest tore at the sight of my pack members dying all over the floors.
A brown rogue wolf approached me in a full attack, claws raked my flank. A white-hot scream tore through my throat. Silver claws…
I spun, snapping my jaw on the attacker's ear, tasting coppery blood. Until it fell limp at my feet.
About four more rogues approached; surrounding me in a joint attack.
Calvin's wolf burst through from the left corner, black-and-white, ready to defend.
And then we stood side by side and fought. Claws digging, pouncing. The whimpers and cries of the rogue wolves rose as fangs tore through their flesh.
My eyes caught a grey rogue tearing through the throat of a young she-wolf, a kitchen staff.
I advanced at it, a low, guttural growl tearing through my chest as I slammed broadside into the rogue. The impact had them both spiralling, rolling into the ground.
The rogue scrambled, snapping its jaws, eyes colored red as it advanced head on at me. But I was faster. I locked my massive jaws around the base of the rogue's neck, twisting it brutally until it snapped… and it went limp.
The she-wolf glanced at me, wounded, eyes filled with gratitude. She clearly needed help and was losing a lot of blood, so I mindlinked Yara. Get the medics ready, take care of the pups and she-wolves.
It took some time before she responded, her voice a fatigued whimper. Y-yes, Alpha.
I was alarmed. Are you okay?
Quiet….
Calvin, find Yara and ensure she's safe. I mindlinked Calvin. His non-response told me he was already on his way to find his mate.
I looked around. The main grounds of the pack were already a war zone. Dozens of matted-furred rogues were tearing through my territory, mindless destruction in their eyes.
They weren't out to fight; no… they came to slaughter, to wreck havoc so brutal it wouldn't be able to be fixed.
“Fall back to the house; protect the pups, the elders! And proceed with defense.” I mindlinked the warriors left, my voice laced with an authority that would cut through the chaos of the war in their minds.
Yes, Alpha Xander. Their chorus reverberated through my mind.
I saw a large familiar wolf succumbing to the attack of a rogue wolf… but why?
I rushed forward, one thought in my mind. Save my brother!
Loki!
A shove and a heavy clawed hit to the rogue’s head was enough to send it flying away.
Loki, that wolf is scrawny You could have taken it down in one bite! I exclaimed, confused.
What does it matter? His mindlink came out, defeated, sorrowful.
What?
And that was when I noticed the black she-wolf on the ground, blood pulsing through a gash on the head. Dead.
Vivienne… She was attacked. She didn't make it.
(Fiona's POV)
Luna, we need you. People are dying. Yara's voice came in my mind; sharp, direct, a thug to the chest.
By then, I was already on my way in a cab. I followed Xander when he went.
“Hurry, sir.” I impatiently tapped the driver, regretting why I came to school today.
Yara stayed back, and I wanted to as well, but I also needed to see Xander's game.
But, now here I was, when I could have assisted. Even just using my Luna healing abilities to help with the injured.
The vehicle pulled onto the private road, and I ran straight into the packhouse.
The view of the ruins of the pack came to me as an indescribably sad feeling. There were a lot of lifeless bodies littered on the ground.
I mindlinked Yara. I instantly saw her coming towards me.
“Fiona.”
“How did this happen?” I asked her, still shaken. “And your leg?”
She glanced at it like she was only just noticing it. “It's nothing. Come, let's get you somewhere safe for the time being. The war is still ongoing.”
I followed closely behind her as she walked further into the packhouse.
That was when I heard a loud wail from behind.
“What’s that?” I asked Yara, who was already on alert. She placed me behind her, and I could tell that she was about to shift at any moment.
That was when I saw a figure scrunched up by the corners, blood stains all over. I pushed past Yara to approach the figure.
“No…Fiona. Come back!” Yara protested.
But I just couldn't. My legs kept taking me closer and closer until I was at the feet of the figure.
She looked up; her face stained with tears. “Luna.”
She called my name like it was a plea. “Wh… what are you doing here? Where's your brother? Where's Bibo?”
It was Mirabelle, the young omega from the training grounds.
“Where's Bibo?” This time, I was practically shouting.
She looked at me and shook her head, her eyes still flowing with tears.
And then she pointed at my feet. That was when I saw I was standing amid blood and remains and guts.
I was standing on what remains the rogues had left of Bibo.
“No!” My scream tore through the pack, reverberating.
\[Author’s Note: Comments and likes are appreciated 🤍\]