Chapter 45

I don’t know how long I stood staring at the phoenix until I got distracted by the sound of leaves ruffling in the trees nearby. I only had to blink and the phoenix was gone. I had this boiling urgency to search for it and I did until I stumbled upon a small girl with red eyes about the age of 5-6 years. I sighed knowing very well where she was from. Getting down on knees, I asked her softly;

“Hey honey, what are you doing out here alone?”

No answer

“Where is your mum and dad?”

No answer

“How can I help you if you won’t talk to me?”

“I don’t need your help” she whispered

“Ooh she talks!” I exclaimed sarcastically

I couldn’t help the smile that graced my face when she let out a series of cute giggles.

“Of course, I can talk silly” she replied snootily

“So why then didn’t you answer me” I questioned curiously

“Because I didn’t want to…” she replied with a sassy roll of her eye.

Can you believe this child? I thought wistfully.

Why am I even surprised she has an attitude for a child her age? She has red eyes for crying out loud. ‘Like that should explain everything dumbass’ Kaeden replies with a snort before disappearing

‘Oh, so we are talking now Kade?’ I questioned angrily only to be met with the silence. One I was all too familiar with ever since my mate died. Turning my attention back to the mysterious little girl, I asked softly;

“What is your name little one”

“…Ruina…” she replied

“Well that’s an unusual name though it’s beautiful. What does it mean?”

“It means ruin” she answered in such an eerie voice that I stumbled on my knees.

I opened my mouth to bombard her with questions when she cut me off.

“It’s time alpha dearest. The final day of your ruin, your judgement and the sealing of your fate. Today, a new dawn shall rise and set in. prepare, for the battle has just began” she recited in that eerie voice with a sinister smile on her face whiles her eyes kept flickering between black and red.

Before I could scream or ask what she meant, she shifted into the largest falcon I have ever seen and shot straight into the skies. A foreboding sense encased me. I don’t think this is all a coincidence. Seeing the phoenix that sent singles up my spine and then meeting a red-eyed girl with the name ruin. Everything my life is at the moment.

Her message kept resonating with a bang in my head as I hazily made my way back to pack grounds. I may have been so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t watch where I was headed until I bumped into something. The crashing sound that followed had me snapping out of my haze only to find a rather petit but cute man glaring at me.

On any other face that glare could have scared me but on this cute face, it only made me want to squish his cheeks seeing as it made him cuter and I can bet on my life that he didn’t know that. Clearing my throat rather loudly to stop the laughter that was trying to its way out of my mouth.

“I am so sorry. I was lost in my thoughts and I didn’t see where I was headed” I apologized earnestly

“I’ve not even had my first customer yet and you have already knocked all my wares onto the ground when it took me hours to put them on display” he grumbled

“I said I am sorry. You know what, to make it up to you, let me be your first customer. Give me your most expensive jewellery and name your price.” I bargained, seeing as I seem to have greatly upset him.

“Well… I can settle for that though I do not need your money. It is quite useless in my realm” he replied softly with an excited glint in his eyes

“So, what do you want in exchange for it?”

“There is nothing that I particularly want right now but I want a blood pact with you for one favour. I will cash in that favour when the time comes. What say you?” he said seriously

“It’s a weird request but sure. Anything for your forgiveness” I said whiles stretching my palm out to his already awaiting one.

I grimaced when he sliced my palm open with a single claw before doing the same on his own palm. A sharp pain raked through me when he joined the two cut palms together and started reciting some words. I watched as his eyes glazed over for a split second before they returned to its normal red colour.

“Done!” he replied too cheerfully for my liking before fetching the jewellery and packaging it.

I didn’t even get the chance to look at it. Not even a glimpse and from the look of things, it was intentional seeing as the cute brat had a smug smile on his face coupled with a mischievous glint in that damned red eyes of his. I took the package with a roll of my eyes and pocketed it.

With another apology and a goodbye, I was on my way back to my home. It was then that I took time to really take in my surroundings. Kiara was not joking when she said there was going to be stalls. I pictured a few normal market stuffs but this place literally looks like some high-end supermarket with everything you could ever think of was being sold here, from rare clothes, shoes and even the unthinkable like mythical creatures that can be kept as pets or adopted as companions. I could see baby dragons, fairies etc my head was spinning now.

It took me a while before I noticed something. My pack members stood a few metres away watching on eagerly and I could practically smell the anticipation and curiosity rolling off of them in waves. I approached the nearest group and asked;

“What are you guys still standing around for instead of being over there having fun?”

“You alpha. Beta Matthews said to wait for your permission before doing anything” the youngest of the batch replied accusingly

“Well sorry for keeping you waiting. Join them and have fun” I yelled out and let out a chuckle when they all but run towards the stalls.

Picking up stuff and chatting animatedly with the vendors. They deserved it. The past weeks have been hell for me and them as well. I made a swift journey to Chaos’ side of the house and dropped the wrapped jewellery on her bed. I was turning to leave before turning back.

Deciding on having a look at the mysterious jewellery. The sight that met me took my breath away. It was simply spectacular. It was a simple unisex bracelet with black and red rare stones and in a way, they reminded me so much of my Chaos. Dropping a kiss on it, I dropped it back on the bed and stepped out only to bump into Papa Chaos.

“Sir” I said in greeting

“The awakening is about to commence” he replied instead

“Okay… let me get the pack”

“No… they are excluded from the first part. It is always a tough and intimate ceremony and its best done without spectators. The second part too. They get to join from the third to the last day”

“I didn’t know that. Lead the way”

We walked in an awkward silence till we got to Chaos’ backyard. My first time here and I must say she has done an amazing job with this place. I looked round to take in which people where present. I saw a number of men or say giants who looked like a replica of Chaos’ father, her ‘charming’ mother and brothers, the ‘ever sweet’ Kiara and Matthews, my high ranked members as well as hers, my parents: am surprised my dad is even here seeing as he was rarely seen on pack lands nowadays and a couple of men and women that I have never met but from the regal way they were dressed, I could tell they were important.

I walked towards Matthews and stood beside him. I smiled softly when he bumped his shoulder into mine. His way of letting me know he’s got my back. Letting out a sigh, I looked in King Chaos’ direction only to find him already looking at me. I gave him a nod to signify my readiness. His response was a curt nod before his voice thundered across the backyard. The regal looking men and women relocated to the centre of the backyard and it was then that I noticed the black and gold urn they clutched between them on a wide platter.

Something about that urn called out to me and I knew subconsciously that it contained my dead mate’s ashes. I took everything in me not to rush forward and grab it but I resisted. This final rite needed to be done so that Chaos can finally rest in peace and get the justice she deserves. I watched in sadness and fascination as the urn was carefully placed in the centre of the yard. Chants started and soon the entire place was thrumming with power.

During that time, the urn shook and rattled as if the ashes inside wanted out. I watched as every member of Chaos’ family cut their palm open and make a trail of blood from where they stood to where the urn was placed without a hitch or pause in their chant. I felt the moment when a change occurred to the power flowing around and saw the exact moment when the urn went up in flames. The brighter it burned, the higher the chants went and the more it rattled.

I held my breath when the lid of the urn flew right off of it as if kicked before it burst into pieces. Its bursting did not shock me as much as the phoenix that emerged out of it with its flaming wings wide spread and its head thrown back as it let out what sounded very much like a battle cry. I sucked in a breath when it turned its head towards me and my eyes landed on the very same eyes that starred back at me in the forest moments ago.

I was only momentarily distracted by the little phoenix that appeared from behind the larger one and perched on its shoulder all the while chirping rather loudly. From the gasps that resonated round the yard, I came to the conclusion that those that knew what was going on did not expect the little fella. Why? I will never know.

Right before my eyes, I watched the phoenix take off into the skies before shooting back down at full blast but before it could touch the grounds, it wrapped its massive wings around its younger one and twirled around so fast, I thought I had gotten whiplashed. I had to clutch onto Matthews’ arm as the unbelievable scene unfolded before me.

A scene that had me feeling like I had just suffered a heart attack. I could hear my heart pounding as blood rushed into my ears making it impossible to listen to my surroundings. I swayed on my feet as a dizzy spell hit me.