Chapter 85 Chapter Eighty-five

Chapter 85 Chapter Eighty-five
Alaric stood back, admiring his handwork. He had to admit, he did a pretty good job of cutting off the remainder of Azriel's shredded wings. Azriel had asked and even though Alaric was very skeptical, Azriel said he didn't want anything that would slow him down in the possible fight ahead.

“All done.” Alaric said. 

Azriel sat up slowly and Alaric noticed the wince he tried to hide. There was blood everywhere but he was already healing fast. Azriel would always be the strongest vampire Alaric would ever know. 

“How do you feel?” Brooke asked, a hand on Azriel's arm. She had been here for the entire procedure refusing to leave his side, not even when Azriel snapped at her several times. He probably didn't want her to see him in such a vulnerable state. Wings were sacred and losing them cut deep–literally and metaphorically. It was like losing a limb. 

“I'm fine,” Azriel answered gruffly. Brooke gave him a peck on the cheek.Alaric looked away. Seeing Brooke reminded him too much of Briar. His chest tightened. God, he missed her. He would do anything just to see her again. 

“In a few hours, it'll be completely healed. Just feed and rest.”

Speaking of feeding, he realized he too was hungry. He sighed and decided to go in search of a human. Diamond Ridge had no shortage of them. He had made sure there was enough to go around pending how long they would stay here. Alaric had arrived with the others yesterday morning and Caleb, Arya and Bradley were already preparing to get the moonstone. There was still no word from Kieran and Tobias. Alaric didn't even know why he expected them to succeed. The idea was a far-fetched one. No witch was going to give up their matron's secret easily. 

He stopped in his tracks when he saw a lifeless human at the base of the stairs. The human was completely drained, no more than a husk. The only person who usually fed like this was Kieran and he wasn't around. Kallum then. 

Alaric found him in his room, pacing. 

“What's wrong with you?”

Kallum turned sharply. He looked a bit startled. His eyes were wide and red rimmed, dark veins emerging from the corner of them. 

“Oh no.”said Alaric. He went closer to get a closer look. “You're having withdrawal symptoms.”

“I need her, Alaric. I can't continue like this.”Kallum said. His hands trembled slightly, claws elongated. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. 

Ever since Kallum started feeding from Wren, he didn't bother feeding from humans again. Alaric couldn't blame him. The unique nature of Wren's blood, that blend of human and werewolf probably gave a high you probably couldn't get from  regular human blood. Kallum wouldn't have been able to stop even if he wanted to. Now human blood wasn't enough to quell his hunger. If he didn't get satiated soon, he would either spiral or die. 

Alaric wasn't prepared to let that happen. 

“Okay. If we go looking for her, would you be able to track her by scent?”

“I…I don't know. Diamond Ridge is a big city. She could be anywhere.”

“She’ll definitely be with her mate. I'll ask Caleb if he knows where Drex’s pack is?”

Kallum bit his lip. “Are you sure this is even the right thing to do? I doubt she'll even let me feed.”

“I admire your sense of  reason in a time like this truly but let's not try to be logical right now. If you don't feed soon you'll turn rabid or you'll die. I want neither, so let's go. Besides, I need to look for your idiot brother and Tobias."


Alpha Drex's pack resided in the more lower parts of Diamond Ridge. Kallum was already near wagging his tongue by the time they got there. ‘Have more than one blood source’, Alaric had always advised but most times they didn't listen. 

They arrived at an estate guarded by two men. 

Alaric was about to give an order but he didn't get that far. Kallum snapped the necks of the two werewolves on sight. 

“Subtle.”

“She's close. I can feel it.” Kallum said,pushing open the gate. The paved street was deserted, little street lamps stretching as far as the eye could see aiding the moonlight’s illumination. 

Alaric let Kallum lead the way, following him cautiously until they reached a Mansion at the end of the street. Definitely the Alpha's abode and where Wren was. 

“Wait here.” He said.

“What?” Kallum asked. 

“You're in no mood to go in there. What if Drex sees you? It's best to avoid confrontation as much as possible. I'll get her to come outside.”

“Okay,” Kallum said, voice trembling a bit. 

Alaric revealed his wings and using the cloak of darkness as a shield, flew over the unmanned gate. Cocky. Maybe he thought no one would dare to enter. 

A few guards manned the grounds but they didn't see him, his ability to hide in shadows rendering him almost invisible. 

Alaric flew around the mansion a few times, looking for an entry before he found one–a window on one of the floors that he could fit through. It led to an empty bedroom. 

He hid his wings back and listened for any sounds outside. None. It was the dead of night so they must all be sleeping. He left the bedroom and walked down the corridors in search of Wren. He wasn't as attuned to her scent as Kallum was but he definitely knew what she smelled like and it was stronger in the house. He followed it till it led to a door on the second floor of the house. 

He could hear two heartbeats. She was definitely with him. How would he lure her out? 

He opened the door as slowly as he could without making a sound. The room was a large one and from where he stood he couldn't even make out Wren's face on the bed, only her outline. Drex's arm was wrapped around her waist. Great. 

He went to the side of the bed where Wren was, still cloaked in shadows and tapped her. She stirred in her sleep but didn't wake. He tapped her harder. Ever so slowly, her eyes opened. They were unfocused for about a second before they widened upon seeing him. 

He placed his index finger on his lips. 

“Come outside.” He mouthed. 

Alaric went back to Kallum who was pacing erratically in front of the gate. 

“Well? Is she coming?” He asked, anxiety etched onto his features. 

“I told her to come outside. Be patient.”

Few minutes later, Wren came outside, huddling a fur coat close to her body. Her face paled considerably when she saw Kallum. 

“You need to leave. Both of you. When Drex wakes up and sees I'm not there…”

“We know.” Alaric said. “We'll be leaving soon. It's just…Kallum has not been himself lately. Not having access to your blood is making his body react and I need him strong at least for a few days.” That earned him a glare that Alaric pointedly ignored. “I know it's a lot to ask but please let him feed.”

Wren sighed. She stared at Kallum who could barely look at her. He looked miserable. “If it'll get the both of you to leave quickly, then fine.”

Alaric watched as she walked up to Kallum and bared her neck to him. Kallum, ever the gentleman didn't lunge for her like Alaric thought he would. Even in his state of near madness, he parted her hair to the side slowly and even licked her skin before finally letting his fangs pierce her neck. Kallum held her waste to keep her steady as he went even deeper. The smell of arousal hung heavy in the air. 

Alaric looked away. This felt too intimate. 

Finally, they pulled apart and Kallum healed her wound. The veins at the corner of his eyes slowly receded and he looked normal again. 

“Please don't come back here.”Wren said and hurried back inside. 

“This is going to be a problem, Alaric.” Kallum said.

“Yeah, no shit.”

“Maybe you should just kill me now cause I can't live like this. I can't survive without her. Literally.”

“It really isn't my fault you decided to become fixated on someone who isn't one of your kind. That's the price you'll pay. Wait till Kieran comes back before you decide to spiral again. Let him be the one to baby you.”said Alaric. His patience was already running thin. He had never been in support of their relationship since they one and this was just a setback to his plans. 

“Let's go find your brother.”