Chapter 133 Vorn Is Mine To Destroy
Elder Vorn wasted no time after Mira's truck disappeared from view, turning immediately to the guards stationed nearby and issuing his command with unwavering authority. "Arrest Darius now that the truck has left the pack territory," he said, his voice booming to ensure everyone in the vicinity heard and understood the gravity of the order. "He is a liability we can no longer afford, and with Fernando gone, we eliminate any potential threats to our new direction."
The guards moved swiftly, surrounding Darius who had lingered near the edge of the group, his expression one of barely containing rage from the earlier council dismissal. "What do you think you're doing, Vorn?" Darius demanded, struggling against the hands that grabbed his arms and forced them behind his back. "You can't just arrest me without cause, I still remain the pack beta, and the pack will see this for the power grab it is."
Vorn's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he addressed not only Darius but the elders who had gathered, making sure his words reinforced his position. "Cause? Your absence during the Southern Ember attack is cause enough, and your constant undermining of the council's decisions seals it," he replied, scanning the faces of the elders to gauge their reactions. "Any elder who refuses to stand by me in this matter will be demoted immediately, stripped of their status and relegated to the lowest ranks until they prove their loyalty to the pack's true leadership."
One elder, Thorne, who had already voiced doubts in previous meetings, stepped forward with a frown, his voice firm as he challenged Vorn's decree. "This is outrageous, Vorn you cannot demote us simply because we question your methods, as the council operates on consensus, not dictatorship," he argued, looking to his colleagues for support. "The pack's laws protect us from such arbitrary actions, and pushing this now, with Fernando barely gone, reeks of opportunism that could divide us further."
Vorn fixed Thorne with a cold stare, his response immediate and unyielding. "Your doubt is your demotion, Thorne considers yourself stripped of elder status and assigned to border patrol until you learn the value of unity under strong guidance," he declared, gesturing for a guard to escort Thorne away. "The same applies to any of you who waver; the pack is at a crossroads, and I will be crowned as the new alpha soon, bringing the stability we desperately need after Fernando's failures."
Another elder, Elara, spoke up hesitantly, her tone measured as she attempted to reason with Vorn before the situation escalated into full-blown conflict. "Coronation so soon? The traditions dictate that no one can claim the alpha title until a full year has passed since the previous alpha's confirmed absence or death," she reminded him, her eyes flicking toward Darius in a subtle plea for alliance. "Rushing this could invite chaos, as the pack needs time to adjust and honor Fernando's legacy properly, rather than forcing a new leader upon them prematurely."
Vorn dismissed her concerns with a sharp wave, his confidence evident as he countered her point directly. "Traditions evolve in times of crisis, and waiting a year would leave us vulnerable to more attacks like the one from the Southern Ember, which we barely survived," he explained, his words aimed at swaying the undecided elders. "Fernando is broken beyond repair blind, paralyzed, his wolf silenced and Alberto, his supposed partner, remains unconscious, offering no hope of recovery; my coronation will unify us, and I expect your full endorsement when the time comes."
Darius, still held by the guards but not yet dragged away, interrupted with a voice full of warning, his words cutting through the tension like a blade. "Don't be too forward, Vorn you're acting like you've already won, but you can only become alpha after a year of Fernando's absence, as the laws clearly state to prevent exactly this kind of greedy takeover," he cautioned, his tone laced with a mix of defiance and strategy. "Pushing for coronation now will only expose your ambitions, and if you burn down the pack's trust because of your impatience, you'll find yourself isolated when the truth comes out about your manipulations."
Vorn's response was swift and dismissive, his expression one of smug certainty as he met Darius's gaze. "Fernando won't be returning, as far as my concerns go he's too damaged to ever lead again, and with Mira taking him to that mythical healer's home, the chances of his survival are slim at best," he replied, signaling the guards to proceed. "Drag him away now; lock him in the deepest cell until we decide how to deal with his treachery permanently."
The guards tightened their hold, pulling Darius toward the path leading to the prison, his struggles met with firm resistance as he shouted back over his shoulder. "You think this ends here, Vorn? The pack will see through you eventually, and when Fernando or Alberto returns, your little reign will crumble like dust," he threatened, his voice echoing as they hauled him away. "Mark my words, you've overplayed your hand, and I'll be the one laughing when it all falls apart."
On the way to the prison, the guards marched Darius along the secluded trail, their grips ironclad as they exchanged wary glances about the elder's bold moves.
Darius, blood still seeping from his earlier wounds under the bandages, used the time to probe for weaknesses, his voice steady despite the pain. "You don't have to follow him blindly, you know he's using you to consolidate power, but what happens when he turns on you next?" he questioned, trying to plant seeds of doubt. "I was there when Samael attacked me, and Vorn's pulling the strings on more than you realize; let me go, and we can expose him together before it's too late for the pack."
The second guard scoffed, tightening his hold on Darius's arm. "Save your breath we saw how you vanished during the invasion, and Vorn's the one who stayed to fight; you're the traitor here, not him," he retorted, pushing Darius harder along the path.
Darius winced but kept talking, recognizing the approaching section where the secret tunnel lay hidden. "You think Vorn fought? He hid behind the lines while Kael died and Fernando fell ask yourselves why he wants me silenced so badly," he pressed, his tone urgent.
The lead guard laughed dismissively. "More stories? You're done into the prison with you, and no more chatter."
As they reached the spot, Darius suddenly exploded into action, twisting free from the lead guard's grasp and driving his knee into the man's groin. "You should have listened," he growled, snatching the guard's dagger and slashing across his throat in one fluid motion, blood spraying as the body crumpled.
The second guard drew his weapon. "You'll die for that!"
Darius dodged the swing and countered, stabbing upward into the guard's abdomen. "Too slow, you seem to forget I remain the pack beta" he panted, twisting the blade to ensure the kill as the guard gasped and fell.
The third guard lunged, but Darius was ready, grabbing the man's arm and using his momentum to flip him over, then stomping down on his neck with a crunch. "All of you are dead because of Vorn's arrogance," he muttered, wiping the blood from his hands on one of the bodies.
He quickly dragged the corpses off the path, concealing them roughly before turning to the hidden entrance a loose panel of stone that he and Samael had carved as boys during their punishments for failed training sessions. "The alpha and beta thought locking us up would break our spirit, but it only made us smarter," he whispered to himself, prying the panel open and slipping inside the narrow tunnel.
The darkness closed around him as he crawled forward, the wounds from his earlier fight with Samael reopening slightly, but he pushed on, his mind already racing ahead to plans of revenge. "Vorn thinks he's safe now, but I'll come back stronger, and when I do, he'll learn what it means to underestimate me," he vowed under his breath, the echo of his words fading into the tunnel's depths.
As he emerged on the other side, far from the pack's territory, Darius paused to catch his breath, the pain in his side a constant reminder of the battles ahead. "Fernando, if you make it back, we'll settle this properly, but Vorn he's mine to destroy," he said aloud, vanishing into the wilderness with determination fueling every step.