Chapter 128 Samael Is The Pack Enemy
Darius stepped out onto the cleared land, wiping a streak of blood from his cheek. Before he could take another step, soldiers emerged from the trees twenty, maybe more daggers drawn and pointed straight at his throat.
He stopped, lips curling into a smirk. “You really think these blades scare me? You know you’re no match for me. Stand down before I make you regret it.”
The soldiers didn’t flinch. Their grips tightened.
Elder Vorn walked forward from the line, calm and unhurried, hands clasped behind his back.
Darius’s smirk faded slightly. “Vorn. What the hell is this? This wasn’t our deal. You said you’d stay out of the way until I delivered Alberto.”
Vorn tilted his head. “I grew tired of waiting, Darius. Your plan moves too slowly. I’m already in control of the pack. Why drag this out?”
Darius’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t act reckless, old man. You need me. Without my inside knowledge, you’re blind. Fernando’s still alive, the mate bond’s holding him together, and Alberto’s stronger than you think. You rush this, you lose everything.”
Vorn smiled gently, almost kindly. “You overestimate your value.”
He clapped his hands once, slowly and deliberately.
Samael stepped out from behind him, head bowed in perfect submission.
Darius stared, shock freezing his features. “Samael? How… How did you get him on your side? He was supposed to be dead. Or at least broken beyond use.”
Vorn’s smile widened. “You can’t understand everything, Darius. Some things are simply… arranged.”
He turned to Samael without raising his voice. “Samael. Attack.”
Samael lifted his head. His eyes were empty, movements mechanical. He launched forward without hesitation, claws extended straight for Darius’s throat.
Darius barely had time to draw his dagger before Samael closed the distance. Samael’s claws slashed across Darius’s chest, tearing through fabric and skin in one vicious stroke.
Darius staggered back, blood blooming dark on his shirt. “Samael stop! This isn’t you!”
Samael didn’t respond. He lunged again, faster this time, forcing Darius to twist aside. The claws grazed Darius’s arm, drawing fresh blood.
Darius parried the next strike with his dagger, metal clanging against claw. “Listen to me! Vorn’s controlling you. Fight it!”
Samael’s only answer was another slash aimed at Darius’s throat. Darius ducked, but the tip caught his cheek, opening a long gash.
“Damn it, Samael!” Darius snarled, kicking out at Samael’s knee. The blow landed, but Samael barely flinched. “You’re stronger than this! Remember who you are!”
Samael grabbed Darius by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Darius choked, clawing at the iron grip.
“You… don’t… want this,” Darius rasped. “You’re not his puppet. Come back please.”
Samael’s empty eyes stared through him. He slammed Darius down hard. The impact drove the air from Darius’s lungs. Samael raised a clawed hand to finish it.
Darius rolled at the last second. The claws sank into dirt instead of flesh. He scrambled up, blood pouring from his wounds, vision blurring.
“Samael fight him!” Darius shouted. “Vorn’s in your head! You’re not his weapon!”
Samael advanced again, relentless.
Darius blocked one strike, took another across the ribs. Pain exploded white-hot. He coughed blood, staggering.
“I won’t kill you,” Darius said through gritted teeth. “But I won’t die here either.”
He feinted left, then drove his dagger into Samael’s side not deep, just enough to make him flinch. Samael snarled and swung wildly.
Darius used the opening. He spun away, clutching his bleeding side, and bolted toward the trees.
Samael pursued for a few steps, then stopped, head tilting as if listening to an unheard command.
Darius didn’t look back. He kept running, blood trailing behind him, each breath a knife in his chest.
“Damn you, Vorn,” he muttered between gasps. “This isn’t over.”
He disappeared into the shadows, wounded and limping, but still alive.
Darius staggered through the undergrowth, blood trailing from his wounds, breathing ragged. He clutched his torn side, dagger slick with red.
More wolves emerged three this time, eyes glowing, snarls low.
Darius raised his dagger. “Back off! You’re not taking me down!”
The first wolf lunged. Darius slashed its muzzle, drawing a yelp, but the second tackled him from the side, claws digging into his shoulder.
“Get off!” Darius roared, stabbing wildly. The wolf recoiled, but the third bit into his leg, tearing muscle.
Darius kicked it away, but they circled again, pressing closer. He swung the dagger, hitting one in the eye, but his strength faded, blood loss making his vision swim.
“Whether you bastards are overpowered or not, I’ll take one of you with me!” he gasped, but the wolves piled on, pinning him down.
The leader raised its claws for the killing blow. “Time to die, traitor.”
A blur intercepted Lucia, in cursed wolf form, crimson eyes blazing. She tore into the leader, ripping its throat out with a single snap.
The second wolf turned. “What—”
Lucia pounced, claws shredding its back. “You touched him? Die!”
The third tried to flee. Lucia caught it mid-leap, slamming it down and biting through its neck. “No one escapes!”
The bodies dropped, lifeless.
Lucia shifted back partially, fur receding, eyes flickering between crimson and brown. She dragged Alberto’s cold body from the shadows and laid it at Darius’s feet.
Darius stared, chest heaving. “Alberto… What happened to him?”
Lucia’s voice broke. “He used his last strength to seal my curse. Saved me from losing control forever. Now he’s gone.”
Darius pushed himself up, wincing, unsure what to do. “Lucia… help me take him back to the pack. We can’t leave him here.”
Lucia knelt beside Alberto’s body, tears falling. “Why? You betrayed him. He told me before blacking out.”
Darius shook his head, blood dripping from his lips. “No listen. He has a madness illness which flared up. It took over. When we went to check the old ancestral building just before the border, he ran off. Lost his mind. Then Samael attacked me while looking for Alberto.”
Lucia’s eyes narrowed. “Samael attacked Alberto too. I got there in time cut off one of his arms before he fled. But it's too late for Alberto.”
Darius nodded slowly. “See? Samael’s the real enemy. Help me get Alberto home. The pack needs to know the truth.”
Lucia hesitated, then lifted Alberto’s body gently. “Fine. But if this is a lie, I’ll kill you myself.”
Darius limped beside her, clutching his wounds. “It’s not. Let’s go.”