Chapter 41 ENTERING THE NOTHERN PACK
CHAPTER 41: ENTERING THE NORTHERN PACK
The Northern territory smells different, not bad exactly but wild. Like pine and something primal that makes my skin prickle with awareness.
We hit the border just as the sun starts bleeding into the horizon. The forest here is ancient, trees so massive three people couldn't wrap their arms around the trunks. Buildings are carved directly into the wood, platforms connecting them like a city suspended in the canopy.
"Holy hell," Sofia breathes.
"Welcome to the Northern Pack," Luna says quietly.
Two wolves step out from behind the trees before we can take another step. They're massive, both in wolf form, with fur so dark it's almost black. Their eyes glow amber in the fading light.
One shifts into a man with more scars than skin showing on his bare chest.
"State your business," he growls.
"I'm Luna Moonwhisper. I'm coming home."
The guard's expression doesn't change. "With outsiders."
"With help," Luna corrects, her voice taking on an edge I haven't heard before. "Are you going to let us pass or are we going to have a problem Jax?"
The man, Jax, steps closer. He's easily six and a half feet tall and built like he could snap me in half without effort. His eyes scan our group with open suspicion.
"The vampire stays outside the inner circle. Same with the incubus."
Alaric's fangs extend slightly. "Excuse me?"
"You heard him," the second guard says, shifting into human form. She's just as scarred, just as hostile. "Vampires aren't welcome near the den."
"That's not happening," I say, moving to stand beside Alaric. "We stay together or we leave."
Jax looks at me like I'm something he scraped off his boot. "And who are you to make demands?"
"I'm her twin," I say, nodding at Luna. "And if you've been paying attention you know what that means."
Something flickers in his expression. Recognition maybe or fear.
"The prophecy twins," the female guard whispers.
"Get Magnus," Jax orders her. "Now."
She shifts and disappears into the trees.
We stand in silence for what feels like forever. Kieran moves closer to Luna, his body language protective. She doesn't acknowledge him but she doesn't step away either.
Finally footsteps approach. Heavy ones.
The man who emerges is older, maybe late fifties, with gray threaded through his dark hair. Scars cut across his face and arms, the kind you only get from surviving things that should have killed you. His eyes are the same silver as Luna's.
"Luna," he says, his voice like gravel.
"Father," she replies.
So this is Alpha Magnus.
He looks at our group and his mouth pulls into something between a grimace and a smirk. "You brought children to fight a war?"
I step forward before I can stop myself. "We just killed the Hollow King so I think we can handle one serial killer."
Magnus's eyes snap to me. For a second I think he's going to hit me. Then he laughs.
"You've got spine girl. Good. You'll need it." He looks at Luna. "They can come in but the vampire and incubus stay under watch. Any sign of trouble and they're exiled. Understood?"
Alaric's jaw clenches but he nods.
"Fine," Magnus says. "Follow me."
As we're walking through the pack territory it's like being paraded through enemy lines.
Wolves line the pathways, human and animal forms mixed, all watching us with levels of hostility. Children hide behind their parents. Warriors rest hands on weapons.
"They don't like outsiders much do they?" Sofia mutters.
"They don't trust them," Luna corrects. "There's a difference."
Magnus leads us to a massive building built into the largest tree. Inside is warmer, lit by fire in carved stone pits. The space is filled with people, all turning to stare as we enter.
"This is the main hall," Magnus explains. "You'll eat here, meet here and if any of you cause problems you'll answer here."
A woman approaches, lean and dangerous looking with a fresh bruise darkening her jaw. Her eyes are red rimmed like she's been crying but her expression is pure steel.
"Beta Kira," Magnus says. "Second in command. Her daughter was taken three days ago."
Kira looks at us with something close to hatred. "You're the ones Luna went to beg for help from."
"We didn't need begging," I say quietly. "We came because it was right."
"Right," she repeats, the word dripping with venom. "My daughter is being tortured and you came because it was right."
Luna steps between us. "Kira please. They're here now. That's what matters."
"Is it? Because it seems to me your precious twin took her sweet time while our people died."
The accusation hits hard because there's truth in it. We could have been faster. Should have been faster.
"That's enough," Magnus says sharply. "Save your anger for Marvin."
Kira's hands curl into fists but she steps back.
Two more people approach. A man and woman who look so similar they have to be twins. Both have dark red hair and matching scars across their left cheeks.
"The tracker twins," Magnus introduces. "Reyna and Rafe. Best hunters in the pack. They'll help you track Marvin when the time comes."
Reyna nods curtly. Rafe doesn't even acknowledge us.
"And this is Elder Mara," Magnus continues as an old woman shuffles forward.
She's tiny, bent with age, but her eyes are sharp and clear. She studies each of us before stopping at me.
"You carry death in your bones child," she says softly.
My stomach drops. "What?"
"Four times you've crossed the veil and returned. That leaves a mark." Her gnarled hand touches my chest over my heart. "And something darker follows you. Shadow and flame intertwined."
"The Hollow King is dead," I say.
"Is he?" She doesn't wait for an answer, just moves to Luna. "And you. Born to the wild but yearning for the tame. The prophecy will break you before it saves you."
Luna's face goes pale.
Mara hobbles away without another word.
"Don't mind her," Magnus says gruffly. "She sees things that haven't happened yet."
"Or things that already have," Morgana mutters.
Magnus shows us to our quarters. It's a single large room with bedrolls laid out on the floor and a small fire pit in the center.
"Not exactly five star," Sofia says, dropping her bag.
"It's shelter," Kieran says. "That's more than some have."
Luna lingers in the doorway. "I need to check in with the patrols. Make sure everyone knows you're friendlies."
She leaves before anyone can respond.
The exhaustion hits me all at once. My legs feel like they might give out.
"You should rest," Cassian says quietly, appearing at my elbow.
"I'm fine."
"You're not." His hand finds my lower back, steadying me. "When's the last time you actually slept?"
“I can't remember.” I replied.
He guides me to one of the bedrolls. The others give us space, moving to the far side of the room.
Cassian sits beside me, close enough that our shoulders touch.
"You didn't have to come," I say. "This isn't your fight."
"Anywhere you go is my fight."
The words settle something in my chest. I lean against him without thinking and his arm comes around me.
"Cassian—"
"Don't," he interrupts softly. "Don't tell me it's too dangerous or that I should go back. I've died a hundred and twenty seven times Thalira. Danger doesn't scare me anymore. Losing you does."
I tilt my head to look at him. His amber eyes glow.
He leans down slowly, giving me time to pull away.
His lips are almost on mine when Luna bursts through the door.
"Everyone get up. Now."
The panic in her voice has us all on our feet instantly.
"What happened?" Kieran demands.
"The emergency bell just rang. Someone's coming in."
We rush outside. The entire pack is gathering, moving toward the main gates with their weapons drawn.
A man stumbles through the entrance, barely staying upright. Blood streams down his face and chest. His clothes are shredded.
"Thomas," Magnus barks, catching him before he falls. "What happened?"
"He took her," Thomas gasps. "Beta Kira's daughter. We were on patrol and he just appeared. He ripped through us like we were nothing." He grabs Magnus's arm desperately. "An hour ago Alpha. He took her an hour ago."
Kira makes a sound like a dying animal.
Thomas pulls something from his jacket. A small wooden box carved with symbols that make my skin crawl.
Magnus opens it.
Inside is a lock of blonde hair matted with blood and a note written in red ink.
Luna reads it aloud, her voice shaking.
"Thirty six hours until she dies. Come find me twins. Let's play."
At the bottom of the box is a timer. The kind you'd use for cooking.
It's counting down.
Thirty five hours. Fifty nine minutes. Twenty three seconds.
Twenty two.
Twenty one.
"He's playing with us," Alaric says, his voice deadly quiet.
"No," Zev corrects, his eyes glowing. "He's giving them an ultimatum. Find him before time runs out or watch her die."
Kira collapses to her knees, sobbing.
Magnus looks at Luna and me.
"You're the prophecy twins. The ones meant to stop him." His voice is rough with barely contained rage. "So stop him."
I open my mouth to respond but Luna suddenly goes stiff beside me like a log of wood.
Her eyes rolled back.
"Luna?" I grab her shoulders but she doesn't react.
When she speaks it's not her voice.
It's his.
"Tick tock little sisters. Better hurry. I'd hate for you to miss the fun."
Luna collapses and the timer keeps counting down.