Chapter 294 294
Damien POV
“You do realise your Alpha is dead?”
I march straight up to the warriors guarding the cave, disbelief still clawing at my chest over the fact that they abandoned their own people so easily.
“We were ordered to guard the cave, no matter what,” one of the Black Mist warriors answers. They all stand rigidly to attention.
“Without an Alpha, your orders are no longer valid,” I say flatly. “I suggest you return to your pack lands and protect your people.”
Aurélie is beside me in an instant, her presence commanding. “You heard him,” she orders, her voice sharp and unyielding.
The warriors exchange uncertain glances, clearly torn unsure whose authority now outweighs the other.
“Without an Alpha,” I continue, releasing my aura deliberately, letting it press down on them, “you are now under my command. Return to the pack. Secure your borders.”
They stiffen under the force of it.
As members of the Bloodnight alliance, they fall under my supervision until a new Alpha is chosen. Unless Clémence steps into the role herself.
Shit.
She’s in for one hell of a surprise when she returns.
Once the warriors move off, we turn our attention to the cave, stepping into the dark, damp mouth of it.
It doesn’t help that night has already fallen. With every step deeper inside, the moonlight fades until it’s nothing but shadows swallowing us whole.
The air is cold sharp enough to cling to the back of your throat with every breath. The same cold lingers in the cave, seeping into bone and instinct alike.
My wolf lends me his night vision, my eyes scanning the path ahead for even the slightest hint of movement.
“Warriors, remain near the entrance,” I order through the Bloodnight pack link. “Avoid an ambush. Stop him if he tries to flee.”
“Understood, Alpha,” Lucas replies, his presence shifting away as he turns back to organize the men.
There’s nothing.
Just walking. And more walking.
How long was this cave exactly?
I don’t remember it being this bloody large. Or this deep.
I’ve taken Aurélie’s hand more times than I can count, guiding her down uneven drops in the darkness. She hasn’t said anything, but I can feel it her wolf isn’t as active as usual. She isn’t getting the benefit of enhanced vision, and this endless blackness is working against her.
Just as I begin to think Gilles’s information sent us on a wild goose chase
A growl echoes ahead.
It’s him.
I’d recognize that growl anywhere. I spent most of my childhood learning how to avoid it.
“Aurélie, get behind me. Now.” I snarl through the mate bond, already pulling her back.
Her irritation flares instantly, sharp and offended but I don’t care. She can be pissed off all she wants. I’ll make damn sure he doesn’t get anywhere near her.
We move deeper into the cave, a sense of dread creeping over me as something on the cave wall catches my attention.
I can’t make it out properly.
Night vision wasn’t made for studying cave art in pitch darkness.
I pull my phone from my pocket and switch on the torch. Stepping closer, I brush my hand along the cave wall as the light reveals painted figures.
Animals.
My gaze locks on one in particular a black crow.
I turn sharply as a sudden commotion erupts from the cave entrance.
“Fabrice,” Aurélie orders immediately. “Check it out.”
Aurélie POV
A cave always puts me on edge.
There’s only one way in. And one way out.
And so far, we’ve found nothing.
Just how deep does this cave go? I hope it doesn’t stretch all the way to the pits of hell.
Though, somehow, it would be fitting if Gaston were hiding here.
Damien stops ahead of me, pulling out his phone and shining the torch against the cave wall. His hand brushes over something strange.
Is that a crow?
Then a disturbance sounds at the entrance, and I send Fabrice to investigate.
As my Beta moves away, I turn toward the cave wall beside me. My own hand slides across the cold, damp stone and I freeze.
There are more pictures.
The wall is littered with crude yet colourful drawings, just visible with my enhanced night vision.
Owls.
Pigs.
And a snake.
My fingers drift to the snake, brushing over the faded outline as I trace it downward toward the base of the wall.
I crouch slightly, leaning in for a closer look
And suddenly, a sword swings toward me.
Adrenaline detonates through my veins.
Already low, I drop fully to the ground, my legs snapping out as I sweep his feet from beneath him.