Chapter 94 ~The Beginning of the End~
(Xander's POV)
“Tragedy strikes NorthVale High as senior students and teachers attending the prom formal were nearly wiped out in a massacre. The source of the massacre is mostly unknown, but we have an eyewitness to explain everything that happened.”
The mic was handed to Anderson. “We were crowning the prom king and queen, then bam! Wolves started jumping in from every corner, they were slitting throats and snapping bones. I had to hide in the freaking bathroom...”
“O…kay. It's unclear whether the student is mentally unstable, or his claims about ‘wolves’ being the attackers, but investigations are ongoing and we hope the perpetrators are brought to book.”
“Dude! I'm not mentally unstable, I fucking saw it!”
The screen froze.
Silence.
“And what does this mean, Alpha Xander?” His sharp voice echoed around the room.
The governing board and council of werewolves had summoned us for questioning about last night. And they looked far from pleased.
This was my first time here. It was a little unnerving, their ancient appearances, their stoic faces. Taking a deep breath, I spoke. “We were attacked by members of the Ashridge pack last night, led by Alpha Beckett and my exiled brother, Loki. It was in human territory, but we had no other choice than to shapeshift when they attacked us.”
“Do you realize the gravity of what you have done?” The head of the board spoke with a booming voice. “This affects not only you, or the Silvereign pack. It affects werewolves worldwide. For years, we've coexisted with mortals in peace and harmony, all this was possible because they had no idea of our existence.”
Fiona spoke for the first time since the attack. “I'm sorry, shouldn't we be more concerned about the innocent lives that were lost?”
“It's for the best,” The leader said. “that there are no more eyewitnesses than necessary.”
Fiona scoffed in disbelief, but stayed silent nonetheless.
The board most certainly did not call us here for a sermon; we were here to be punished, and I would rather they had gone straight to it.
“What is the board’s decision regarding punishment?” I asked, finally. “Whatever it is, I implore the council to take into consideration that I am the alpha of the Silvereign pack. I deserve to be punished, and no one else.”
“That's what happens when the offspring of a rogue is crowned Alpha,” a voice said.
A pang went through my chest, but I tried to control my emotions.
“The board's decision.” The leader said. “We'll handle the remaining eyewitnesses of the NorthVale massacre.”
“What do you mean by ‘handle’?” Fiona's voice was sharp.
I guess she knew as much as I did that ‘handle’ meant every last one of them would be hunted down, wiped out, and killed.
The question hung in the air, unanswered. They continued.
“And for you, Alpha Xander. You seem to have forgotten our traditions and codes of conduct. We blame this not on you, but the lack of training before you ascended the throne as Alpha.”
He continued. “And as such, the board, alongside your father, have decided. By dawn, you move to an elite werewolf academy whose location will remain undisclosed to you. Here, you'll train and learn everything you need and when you're ready, you will come back and take your rightful place as Alpha. In your absence, Silvereign will be run by Edgar.”
“My mate,” I asked, my voice was coarse. “What happens to her?”
Fiona's breathing was loud enough to hear.
“Ah… the mate.” The leader said with a humourless smile on his face. “Shapeshift to your werewolf form.”
Fiona stared at them, startled by the unexpected request.
Finally, she recovered. “I… I can't… yet.”
“Of course.” He said, dryly. “Care to tell the board about the origin of the moon crest etched into your skin?”
She ran her hand over it like she was only noticing it for the first time. “I… I don't know.”
“The council's decision.” The leader spoke, his voice cold. “Fiona goes back to wherever she's from. She's not a true Luna, only bound to you by a juvenile mating contract.”
I froze.
Someone must have told them about the mating contract, and that Fiona was wolfless, now they wanted her gone.
I was surprised that Fiona seemed unfazed by the decision, but from the ticking of her jaw, I realized she was only pretending.
“I accept your decision,” she said.
“You don't have a choice.” The leader uttered. “By the time Alpha Xander returns from the academy, a suitable Luna will be provided to him.”
I swallowed.
This cannot be.
I would not allow it.
“You're dismissed.” He said, finally.
–--------------
The ride back to Silvereign was deathly silent. Fiona wasn't speaking and neither was I.
By the time we arrived, Calvin was just driving in.
He walked up to me. “Alpha, the warriors and I were able to track down the Ashridge warriors and drive them beyond the borders.”
All thanks to the intel from Fiona.
“But I heard rumors that Loki is to be crowned the new Alpha of Ashridge,” he said.
This was terrible news because knowing Loki he was probably plotting the next big war, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not after everything.
Fiona got out of the car and stormed past us straight to the main house.
“What's going on?” Calvin asked, but I was already running after her.
“Fiona.” I kept calling her till she finally stopped. “You don't have to leave…we can elope—do whatever it takes—”
“Elope?” Fiona looked at me, her face scrunched in confusion. “Can't you see? This is exactly the reason why the board said you're not ready to be Alpha.”
“And they were right about me by the way. I'm just a stumbling block to you.”
“You're not!” I said. “You can never be.”
“Tomorrow, you leave for werewolf academy and… I'll be waiting for you whenever you come back.” She said, “If we're meant to be, we will.”
She looked away.
She was lying. I knew this because she looked away.
“Don't do this.” My voice came out broken.
“It's already done.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Don't make this any harder than it should be for me. Please.”
At that instant, her phone rang with a call.
“Hello?” She picked it. “Yes, I'm ready. I'll be there shortly.”
Fear clawed at me. The fear of losing her.
“Goodbye, Xander.” She turned to leave.
At this point, I began connecting the dots. Had she planned this? To leave all along? Why did she have someone on stand-by already?
She was walking down the stairs and I was running after her.
Elder Cyrus and Julius were at the base of the stairs, watching.
“Fiona stop,” I begged. “Please, don't go.”
Then the unthinkable happened.
She slipped, tumbling down the stairs multiple times before she landed with a loud thud.
“Fiona!” I ran after her, nearly slipping. This was when I realized the stairs were coated with slippery oil.
My eyes met with Elder Cyrus and Julius. They looked away.
They were responsible.
I ran to Fiona and picked her up. She was drenched in blood. She looked ashen. She felt cold in my arms.
I ran out the door, throwing one last look at the two. “If anything happens to her, you are dead. I promise you that.”
I drove at the speed of light.
By the time I arrived at the hospital, my car seat was completely drenched in blood and Fiona was unconscious.
I was no doctor, but that couldn't have been good.
She was wheeled into the ICU when they saw her condition.
I paced the hospital lobby, I was too nervous to sit still.
An hour later, the doors to her ward flew open and the doctor walked out. His face looked grave.
My heart must have stopped beating.
“How is Fiona?” I asked, holding my breath.
“Um…” He stuttered. “She's in a coma. But that's not the problem.”
“What is it?!” I thundered.
“The baby.” He said. “We lost him. I'm sorry.”