Chapter 174 174
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FOUR
AURON'S P.O.V
When I arrived, I found the researchers huddled together, looking nervous. I strode in, my eyes taking in the whole place, this was the first time I was actually seeing this place.
For its name, it was a large, dimly lit cave, its walls rough and rocky. The air was thick with the smell of chemicals and ozone which made me wrinkle my nose in disgust. My ears rang with the steady sound of humming machinery that filled the air. The ground was covered in a thin layer of dust, and the sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern.
Rows of wooden tables, scarred and worn, stretched across the cave, covered in an assortment of scientific equipment. Beakers, flasks, and test tubes filled with colorful liquids lined the shelves, next to strange, unidentifiable contraptions that glowed and hummed with an otherworldly energy.
In the center of the cave, a large, metal slab dominated the space, surrounded by a halo of smaller, flickering lights. The slab was covered in a series of intricate, hand-carved runes, and a thick, clear tube ran from the top of the slab to a large, glass cylinder in the corner of the cave. The cylinder was filled with a swirling, iridescent liquid, and a series of electrodes and wires connected it to a small, console-like device. The device hummed and beeped, displaying a series of complex, mathematical equations on a small, glowing screen.
The walls of the cave were lined with maps, diagrams, and charts, covered in scribbled notes and calculations. The air was thick with the scent of old books and parchment, and the sound of scribbling pens and scratching pencils filled the air. In the corner of the cave, a small, makeshift laboratory bench was set up, covered in an assortment of tools and equipment. A small, Bunsen burner burned with a low, blue flame, next to a rack of test tubes filled with mysterious, glowing liquids. The overall atmosphere of the researchers' den was one of intense, obsessive focus. Elder Mikhail really put his heart and soul into the research.
After getting a fill of the place, I finally settled my gaze on the hoard of trembling researchers that had huddled themselves to a corner.
"What did you need Aurora's blood for?" I demanded. "I know it was for taking her powers in the first place, but I need more details."
The researchers, middle aged to older men, exchanged nervous glances, and one of them spoke up, his eyes not meeting mine.
"E...Elder Mikhail...he's the one who-who..."
I cut him off, not having time to for stories, my alpha aura bursting forth. "Tell me the truth. Now."
The researchers chocked under my gaze, and one of them spoke up, his voice trembling.
"We...we were going to take Aurora's powers...it was going to be successful...but instead of giving you the powers..." he stopped, his throat moving with difficultly. I took an impatient breath of air.
"If you don't want to die now, I suggest you keep talking. Was the process going to be safe and harmless for her?"
Another decided to continue.
"No Alpha...Elder Mikhail wanted it to seem that way...but..."
"But..." I repeated.
"She would die a few minutes after her powers were taken."
My hands started twitching uncontrollably as rage filled my chest. He wanted my sister to die! He lied to me.
"Why?"
"Because...her powers are actually her life force, once taken away...she would lose her life."
I took deep breaths of air trying to calm my wolf that was rampaging inside it's cage.
"And what about me? What would have happened to me?"
The researcher's eyes darted back and forth with more fear.
"Y...you...you were going to die. The powers would have killed you...Elder Mikhail was going to take the powers for himself...and kill you with it...that was the plan."
"And you all knew about it?"
They nodded helplessly.
"He...he promised us protection if we did what he wanted."
I snarled, my anger boiling over as I slammed my fists on a table splitting it into two.
"You fools. You stupid, blind fools. I am your alpha! You colluded with another person to kill your own alpha and an innocent woman!"
I turned to the men who had followed me here, their faces were slightly with anger and they looked ready to kill. "Take them away. Throw them.in the dungeons and do not let them out!"
The researchers screamed and pleaded as they were dragged away. Then to the other men, I motioned them to come with me to where Else Mikhail was kept. At the door was Derek and three otheren guarding it. Immediately they saw me, they bowed andade space for me.
"Alpha...Auron." Derek greeted.
I nodded at him.
"Open the door."
He brought out a key and opened the door, I stepped in along with the other men. Elder Mikhail was pacing the room back and forth, he seemed to not have noticed my arrival.
"Are you nervous that your plans might have failed?" I asked in a calm but mocking voice.
He stopped and snapped his head to look at me. His face was pale and drawn over his skin, he looked like he had suddenly aged ten years in a span of minutes.
"Auron, what do you think you are doing? Locking me in here, doing things without consulting me. Release me at once and let us talk." He yelled, coming to stand in front of me, his voice trembling with anger.
"I just found out about your little plan with the researchers." His face changed to an even paler color, I smirked. "You never we're going to leave Aurora alive, you didn't want me alive either."
A mix of emotions crossed his face, shock, confusion, and fear, then he replaced it with a smirk, crossing his hands over his chest.
"So, dear Auron," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I suppose you're going to punish me now?"
Rage pulsed through me, I yearned to punch my fists into his face. I shook my head and walked up to him, my eyes blazing with steady anger.
"Punish you? No, Elder Mikhail. I'm going to do much worse than that."
His smirk faltered, and he took a step back. "Auron, Auron, calm down. I did all this for you. I did it for the pack."
I laughed, a cold, hard sound.
"Stop using the pack as an excuse!" I roared at him. "You never cared about the pack, Elder Mikhail. You never cared about me. All you cared about was getting the powers for yourself." I let out a deep growl. "And you're damn stupid if you think I'm going to let you fool me with your words anymore."