Chapter 83: The shift

‎Back in the packhouse, everyone gathered in the ever spacious main hall under the derelict, beamed ceiling that had not been repaired in almost forever. Although, the damages were shaded by the drawn curtains with darkness subsuming the light of day that was supposed to illuminate the room.

‎

‎Fear, apprehension, and worry lingered evidently in the stance of every pack member as they  gathered, some standing, some sitting, and others with their backs to the wall. Their gazes were fixed ahead at one person who stood at the crown of the stairs-- Gamma Jerome.

‎

‎Ever since Michael's death, the pack had been in the state of nothing but unease and panic. The threat of the church hunters loomed, and the problem of who was to be the new leader of the pack escalated every passing day. There were even rumors of some gammas missing, it was unknown whether they fled or have been hunted down.

‎

‎Whispers spread around in the room, eyes cautious and wary of the next person.

‎

‎"It seems Ciel has abandoned the pack."

‎

‎" I wouldn't blame him if he did."

‎

‎"Are we even sure he's still alive?"

‎

‎"Who knows, maybe he's been killed too"

‎

‎"More importantly, what is 'he' doing here?"  Eyes fell on the man standing beside elder Jerome. Like a man who had crawled through fire and refused to burn properly, Carl's blue eyes that seemed to have darkened stared dead down the stairs.

‎

‎He no longer bothered to hide who he was. The careful grooming of his hair was gone, it hung longer, uneven, falling all over his face roughly. His jaw was shadowed with stubble that did nothing to soften the sharpness of his angular face.

‎

‎Nothing about him seemed sane, especially his dark, worn, clothes that carried the scent of road-dust and old blood.

‎

‎Everyone around frowned at the sight of him. Most could remember him being kicked out by Michael for having betrayed the alpha, sleeping with the previous Luna and then challenging Michael. An act scorned by most pack members.

‎

‎So it begs the question, why is he back?

‎

‎Elder Jerome, as if sensing the doubt all around stepped forward and raised a hand. His presence commanded silence the way gravity bends air, the murmurs and whispers all around died instantly.

‎

‎“You are all aware of the situation at hand,” Elder Jerome started calmly, “But today, I want to amend a mistake made under the previous Alpha’s rule.”

‎

‎Michael’s name was not spoken, but it hovered there like a challenge no one accepted.

‎

‎“Regarding Carl here," he pointed to his cousin who stepped forward to stand beside him before continuing, "His ban from the pack is a decision driven by nothing but emotion,” Elder Jerome addressed, "by manipulation, by lies allowed to fester unchecked. Now as you all know, I stand for order within the pack. And things like this, they corrode order. They fracture togetherness within the pack.”

‎

‎A few wolves shifted uncomfortably hearing this. They could all tell this was a shift in the dynamics of the pack leadership. An act to declare a new rule.

‎

‎“The exile of Carl was one such decision that needs to be rescinded in this crucial moment of togetherness we find ourselves in.”

‎

‎A ripple moved through the hall following Elder Jerome's suggestive dictum. Skepticism, anger, and rebelling thoughts rose in a number of the pack members, but no one spoke up against the elder.

‎

‎“The truth,” Elder Jerome said smoothly, “has since been uncovered. Alyssa is behind it all. She's manipulated and bewitched Michael to make this decision due to the grudges between her and Carl. It would be unjust to allow falsehoods to dictate our future. Wrongs must be righted, and  balance must be restored.” Elder Jerome said,  gesturing to Carl to speak. The latter inclined his head, just enough to appear humble and took a step forward.

‎

‎“I won't say I didn't make mistakes,” he said, voice roughened by disuse. “I trusted where I shouldn’t have. I believed loyalty would be returned.”

‎

‎His gaze flicked briefly across the crowd, landing nowhere and just about everywhere at once.

‎

‎“I promise I won’t make that mistake again.”

‎

‎There was no apology in his words. Only promises that left everyone wondering what they were worth.

‎

‎The pack did not seem to welcome him. Everyone felt confused as to what to believe. They could tell there was something else underneath all of this. A political shift perhaps.

‎

‎But no one resisted. Elder Jerome’s authority pressed down like a weight they had long ago learned not to fight. It was clear now. The elder has established his dominance on the pack, it only remained to be made official.

‎

‎The gathering was dismissed shortly after, there was nothing said about the looming threat of the church hunters nor Ciel's return. The packhouse remained in an isolated status, with everyone left in the dark about what was to come next.

‎

‎The pack was left in nothing but disarray.

‎

‎On the crown of the stairs,  Carl followed Elder Jerome into the latter's chamber without being asked. They didn't notice the stormy grey eyes following them as they disappeared into the corridor.

‎

‎Down the stairs, Jan just watched the elder and cousin duo. She stood with her hands crossed amidst the other pack members who expressed confusion and doubt, her beautiful face skeptical yet, somewhat curious.

‎

‎....

‎

‎Elder Jerome's chamber wasn't strikingly huge as the man's egotistic attitude. The dim lamp on the walls gave the room a warm ambience, their hues shining against the walls, gilding Elder Jerome’s calm features as the latter walked in with Carl following behind him.

‎

‎Elder Jerome did not sit. He calmly walked towards the cabinet in the side, ignoring  the slightly aged man sitting in the corner of the room.

‎

‎“You were foolish,” he said mildly as he reached to grab a bottle from the cabinet.

‎

‎Carl bowed his head. “ Uncle I was..." Carl had no words to defend himself.

‎

‎“You allowed desire to override restraint. You allowed yourself to be seen.” Elder Jerome’s eyes sharpened, holding up the bottle of what seemed to be fine wine. “You embarrassed me, and almost ruined my plans.” He snapped.

‎

‎Carl swallowed. “I won’t allow that to happen again.”

‎

‎Elder Jerome studied him for a long moment, then nodded, putting down the wine. He straightened his back and clasped his hands behind him authoritatively, his tall figure conveying dominance just as much as his raised chin.  “That remains to be seen. I am giving you a second chance  do not mistake that for forgiveness.”

‎

‎Relief cracked through Carl’s rough face like settling clouds after a storm.

‎

‎“Thank you, Uncle Jerome” he said fervently. “I won’t fail you."

‎

‎“I know,” Eldererome replied, almost kindly. “Which is why you’ll handle this delicate matter for me. It's one you've caused yourself, a redemption you might say." The elder grabbed a glass and poured himself some wine as he spoke.

‎

‎He turned toward the window, gazing out at the forest beyond the pack grounds tainted in the light of day as he slowly sipped the red wine that seemed reminiscent of blood.

‎

‎“I’ve received word,” Elder Jerome said, “that Alyssa is still alive.”

‎

‎Carl’s hands clenched at his sides hearing this, almost trembling. A spark ignited in his dark, dull eyes.

‎

‎“She fled,” Jerome continued. “With Icarus' mate and child."

‎

‎Carl’s jaw tightened. Elara barely registered to him at all, he could care any less about the werewolf lady and her child.

‎

‎But Alyssa on the other hand....

‎

‎“ I assume she has nowhere to go,” Elder Jerome turned around to face Carl. “Afterall, she has no more allies within the pack. Her last known residence in town is the only place she could have sought shelter in. And I'm sure you know just where I'm talking about.”

‎

‎Carl’s lips curved, slow and unpleasant. His clenched fist trembled beside him now in excitement.

‎

‎This is it!

‎

‎“They can’t be allowed to remain alive,” Elder Jerome's tone became serious. “Loose ends have a way of becoming stories.”

‎

‎Understanding slid into place for Carl. “I’ll take some men to pay a visit,” he quickly interjected.  “Quiet ones.”

‎

‎Elder Jerome nodded subtly. “See that you do.”

‎

‎Carl bowed deeply. “You won’t regret bringing me back.”

‎

‎As he left the chamber, the weight in his chest transformed. The grief he'd suffered ever since that night Alyssa was turned became hunger. The humiliation she made him go through became an intent to exact revenge.

‎

‎The past days of exile from the pack had stripped him bare. He had slept in corners, begged favors, replayed Alyssa’s rejection until it carved something feral into his bones.

‎

‎Now?

‎

‎Now he would return the favor in bounds. As a matter of fact, her death alone wouldn’t be enough to appease his rage.

‎

‎When Carl left, the man sitting in the corner of the room, quietly observing in silence all this while, crossed his leg and said.

‎

‎"He seems stupid, but it's wise enough to push the job unto him. If he fails, the blame only falls on him. Nothing to lose for you, how brilliant?" The man, who was another gamma within the pack smirked as he gazed at Elder Jerome with his dark eyes that twinkled under the dim light with fascination. He stroke his dark grey mustache that covered his thin upper lip, like an evil genius.

‎

‎“There’s still the matter of Ciel,” Gamma Jerome who'd turned to face the window once again said cautiously. “He’s unaccounted for, and as such, dangerous.”

‎

‎The other elder gamma spoke with a deep sigh, “Ciel is not a problem we should solve directly. Not until we're sure we can without raising suspicion.”

‎

‎“The hunters perhaps?” Elder Jerome suggested, turning to face his accomplice with a serious frown. “We could kill two birds with one stone that way. They will believe they've hunted down the pack alpha and his heir, and will probably leave the rest of the pack out their radar after a few more preys are tossed in their way."

‎

‎“And if Ciel survives?” the other gamma asked.

‎

‎Gamma Jerome’s gaze hardened. “ We must proceed carefully. He is his father’s son after all.”

‎

‎The other elder nodded and remained silent. Both were for a long while, lost in thought.

‎

‎They didn't notice the curvy, slender figure glued beside the partially open door. Her stormy eyes were constricted in shock from what she'd heard.

‎

‎Jan had only thought to approach gamma Jerome about Ciel, she didn't expect to hear this much.

‎

‎The realization hit her not all at once, but in fragments. A bone-chilling cold spread through her.

‎

‎Alyssa wasn't the problem like gamma Jerome claimed.

‎

‎This was all designed to fool them all!

‎

‎Elder Jerome had deliberately played everyone in the pack. All these while he had everyone in the palm of his hands.

‎

‎Jan's stomach twisted as she slipped away from the corridor, her heart hammering against her chest.

‎

‎Ciel was going to be offered to the hunters to be killed.

‎

‎That was all she managed to hear. She presumed that was what Carl had left to do as she saw him on his way out from elder Jerome's chamber.

‎

‎'I need to find him and warn him!' Jan bolted away, planning to find Ciel. She had no idea where he was, but she had a feeling Gamma Jerome and Carl would.

‎

‎Jan having left, missed the conversation that ensued afterwards between Elder Jerome and the other gamma elder.

‎

‎" So how's the curse matter holding up?" Gamma Jerome asked shortly after amidst the silence.

‎

‎" It's going well. Its very much a powerful tool. Once we learn to gain control, we no longer need to fear those hunters..." The other gamma elder responded with a wicked smile.  " We just need a little more study to tweak the ritual."

‎