Chapter 23 The Return Of The Fallen King.
Chapter 23
Lyra's POV
It wasn't news anymore that the trio of Madam Ravenna, Syra and Talia had been banished from the pack.
The news had spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the stormfang pack, and still no one could stop talking about it.
Rosa that I knew very well before this time, someone who could exterminate her blood sister, her heart had turned to stone only for her devilish ambition to come to fruition. What Rosa couldn't do to make a wish comes to the past does not exist.
The banishment had turned the whole palace into confusion. The Stormfang pack was restless. Rumors travelled and whispers filled the air like wild bees.
Now I could walk freely in every corner of the palace without intimidation. Now I could raise my shoulders high. Everyone around me walked past me and greeted me with respect.
The morning of that day began like any other morning. But what happened that day shocked everyone.
The palace, still half asleep when it occured. The light of the sun which had refused to go down did beam through every nook and cranny of the palace. Its faces beamed through the window panes and doors. Sometimes turning the golden wall reddish, like a wildfire.
I had woken up moping the floor , window panes and the tiled floor.
Without warning, the great door creaked open. A shadow fell across the hall.
When I looked up, I almost dropped my mop.
There standing at the doorway, alpha Jax the almighty king of stormfang pack. Shockingly, he had finally returned.
For a long time. I couldn't move. I only stared at him like I had seen a ghost. But at the same time I wasn't surprised. I knew he would survive it. The hall was silent. Except the scratch of his boot against the floor.
So At the same time alpha Ryder the beta to alpha Jax, who I had sparingly seen, since I stepped into the palace as a maid had taken the position temporarily till the time alpha Jax would probably be back, if he comes back, a sign that he had received favor from the gods and if the king's servants who had accompanied him to the seven mountains came back, a sign that alpha Jax didn't make it.
Pack members had thought alpha Jax wouldn't make it, and for a couple of days now alpha Ryder had been acting like the new king.
The farmers had come to the palace that the sun which hadn't gone down since the extermination of Mila had been killing their crops, and they needed help from the alpha Ryder to help them.
Alpha Ryder had taxed the poor farmers that the pack didn't have money to help them in bringing more water into their farms, since the only water in the pack turned to blood. Several sacrifices had been made to appease the gods, a move that made king Jax to visit the seven mountains.
Few elders were there too including the alpha Vexhood to discuss the issues in the pack.
Then Alpha Jax walked into the palace ground dragging his feet.
Shock painted on the faces of everyone, including alpha Vexhood himself,
“My… my lord you made it…” alpha Vexhood stammered as he struggled with words.
Everyone stood on their feet, including alpha Ryder who was seethed in anger but had to control it.
Alpha Jax walked calmly to the throne as he sat on his seat. Looking shattered, battered and spent.
A long drawn breath, then he managed to speak, “they didn't make it home.”
The word hit every one in the chest like a sledgehammer. It hung in the air like smoke. Whispering and murmuring among and few members of the pack in the palace followed.
“They were struck by the gods before I descended from the cave.”
Another long drawn from the elders I could see that magnitude of disappointment on their faces.
Alpha Ryder sitting in his position as the beta to the pack, was brewing in anger. I watched how he repeatedly bit his boot on the floor. Anger shimmered in him, gritting his teeth as he sat at his corner.
Elder Vexhood continued with his question, “Did gods give a reason why they are angry with the land?”
Alpha Jax, quickly cut-in, raising the tone of his voice, “They never spoke. It was quiet throughout. I had to leave that damn cave in frustration.”
Elder Vexhood replied, “That is danger lurking. That chaos! That is a disaster! We should prepare for the worst. The gods and goddesses of this pack are still angry.”
“Enough! Alpha Vexhood, “ Alpha jax countered, as he stood on his feet, his thick voice permeating the half empty room, he didn't care if pack members gathered, he didn't care if the whole world was seated. He didn't even care if Alpha Vexhood would command the ground to open and swallow Jax up. “ Tell me what danger is worse than this, tell what disaster is terrible than this , the sun had not set in my pack for months, the only water in the pack has turned to blood, everyday I received the news of the death of both young and old either dying or disappearing mysteriously,”
The room went silent. The elders looked at one another's face. Intense fear gripped them. Maybe it is the fear of gods not striking the pack or then fear of alpha Vexhood not getting angry.
Alpha Jax paused a bit, his chest rising, he climbed down from the large pinnacle towards with his drained body and little energy in him to where Alpha Vexhood stood. Their eyes lurked on each like a fight is about to ensue.
“Tell your gods to go do their worst."
Alpha Vexhood nodded his head slightly, his lips curled into a slow but wicked smile. Then he began to laugh. Loud and cold. The cracks echoed across the hall like cracks. Fear and uncertainty painted on everyone's faces.
“So be it.” He said finally, his vo
ice laced with mockery.“Then wait for their strikes. Let the pack prepare for your funeral in three days.”