Chapter 172 Damian's POV
I drove through the dark forest, following the GPS coordinates Xavier had sent me.
My hands were steady on the wheel despite the fear coursing through my veins. I had done this before gone undercover, pretended to be something I wasn't but never with stakes this high.
The cure had worked. Adrian's blood had broken the curse completely. I was healthy, strong, ready to fight if necessary.
But Xavier couldn't know that.
So I had spent the afternoon preparing, making myself look like a dying man desperate for salvation.
The location was a clearing about ten miles from Blue Moon territory remote, easy to defend, perfect for an ambush if this was a trap.
I parked the car and got out slowly, making my movements weak and uncertain like someone on death's door.
Xavier stood in the center of the clearing, wearing a dark hoodie six guards surrounded him, all heavily armed.
"Damian," Xavier said warmly. "Brother you came."
"You said you could save me if it is worth risking everything."
Xavier crossed the distance between us and pulled me into a hug. I let myself sag against him, playing the part of someone too weak to stand properly.
"I'm so glad you made the right choice. I was worried you would let your loyalty to Kaden kill you."
"Loyalty means nothing when you are dying."
Exactly...exactly right." Xavier pulled back and studied my face.
"You look terrible, the curse is progressing faster than I expected."
"Every breath is agony, every heartbeat feels like it might be my last."
"Let me see."
Xavier reached for the hem of my shirt. I let him lift it, revealing my torso.
I had spent an hour applying black body paint mixed with a special dye I had created. It looked exactly like the cursed veins. Spreading across my chest, creeping up my neck.
It was perfectly convincing.
Xavier touched one of the fake veins and I flinched, making it seem painful.
"My God it is worse than I thought we need to get you to Erebus immediately."
"Then let us go please, I can't take much more of this."
"Soon but first, there has been a change of plans."
My blood went cold. "What kind of change?"
"Good news, actually Erebus will be getting the blessed child much sooner than anticipated. One of the Blue Moon Pack elders succeeded in taking him. Adrian is being delivered to Erebus tonight."
I had to force myself not to react to keep my expression neutral. "They got the baby? How?"
"The elder drugged the mother and the caretaker took the child while they were unconscious, simple but effective."
Xavier smiled. "Erebus is very pleased, so pleased, in fact, that he has decided to honor the Dark Moon Pack with a personal visit."
"He is coming here? To this territory?"
"Yes, we are no longer going to his fortress. We're returning to Dark Moon Pack lands. Erebus will meet us there with the child. You will be cured. We will celebrate it perfectly."
No this was the opposite of perfect.
I had been counting on Xavier taking me to Erebus's fortress on getting those coordinates to Kaden on finding where the enemy's true base was located.
But if Erebus was coming here instead, to Dark Moon territory, then the fortress location would remain unknown.
"That is..... that is good news," I managed to say. "When do we leave?"
"Now my men will escort us. It is about an hour's drive."
Xavier gestured to a vehicle waiting at the edge of the clearing more guards stood beside it.
I climbed into the back seat, Xavier beside me. Guards in front and a follow vehicle behind us.
As we started driving, I carefully reached for my phone and sent a quick message to the encrypted number Kaden had given me.
‘Plan changed going to Dark Moon territory instead of fortress. Xavier says Erebus coming there with Adrian following now.’
I deleted the message from my sent folder immediately hoping it had gone through.
"You seem nervous," Xavier observed. "Having second thoughts?"
"Not just in pain and worried about what happens when we get there."
"Don't worry, Erebus is not what you have been told he is reasonably kind, even if he just wants what is best for all wolf packs unity. Peace and an end to pointless territorial wars."
"By torturing people into joining him?"
"By showing them the truth some resist at first, yes but once they understand, they join willingly."
Xavier leaned back. "You will see once the curse is broken, once you are healthy again, you will understand why I chose this path."
We drove in silence for a while then Xavier ordered the driver to stop.
"Why are we stopping?" I asked.
"Security checkpoint my men need to sweep the area, to make sure we are not being followed."
Guards got out and disappeared into the forest. I heard them moving through the trees. Checking for threats.
I used the opportunity to send another message.
‘Stopped at coordinated moving again in 5 mins. They are checking for followers be careful.’
"What are you doing?" Xavier asked.
I nearly dropped the phone. "Check the time and wonder how much longer until we arrive."
"Not another forty minutes or so."
The guards returned. "The area is clear. No signs of pursuit."
We started driving again.
This happened three more times Xavier ordering stop guards sweeping the area and sending quick updates whenever I could.
On the fourth stop, I needed to get out of the vehicle to stretch my legs to make my role as a sick man more convincing.
"I need a moment." I told Xavier. "The pain is making me nauseous."
"Of course but stay close, don't wander."
I got out and walked a short distance from the vehicle bent over like I might vomit. Pulled out my phone and sent another message with our current location.
Then I heard footsteps very close, too close someone was behind me.
I spun around, every muscle tensing. If it was one of Xavier's guards, if they had seen me on the phone
I struck fast with a solid hit to disable whoever it was before they could raise the alarm.
The figure went down hard then rolled and looked up at me with familiar eyes. "Kira?"
She stared at me in shock, holding her jaw where I had hit her. "Damian? What the hell?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Following you! Making sure you are safe!" She stood, still rubbing her jaw. "You hit hard for a dying man."
"I'm not actually dying, the curse is broken. I'm undercover-"
"I know I figured that out when I saw how fast you moved just now."
She looked toward where Xavier's vehicle was parked. "Are you insane? Going into enemy territory alone?"
"I'm trying to find Erebus's location to get intelligence we can use."
"Well, you're about to get yourself killed instead. Xavier has a dozen guards, you can't fight them all."
"I'm not planning to fight. I'm planning to gather information and get out."
"And how's that working out? Because from what I've been hearing, you're being taken to the Dark Moon Pack. The place I spent fifteen years being tortured is the place I never wanted to see again."
"Kira, you need to leave go back to camp if they catch you-"
"They will kill me I know but I'm not leaving you." She moved closer. "Someone has to watch your back."
"I don't need-"
"Damian! Where are you?" Xavier's voice. Getting closer.
"Hide," I hissed at Kira. "Now."
She melted into the shadows just as Xavier appeared through the trees. "There you are, feeling better?"
"A little nausea passed."
"Good we are moving out only about twenty minutes to Dark Moon territory now."
I followed him back to the vehicle, acutely aware of Kira somewhere in the darkness behind us.
She was following me into enemy territory into the place of her nightmares because she cared about me, because she wanted to protect me.
It was brave, foolish , probably going to get us both killed but also... touching. In a way I hadn't expected.
We drove the final stretch in tense silence. Xavier kept glancing at me like he suspected something was wrong.
"You are very quiet.” He observed.
"I'm not having much energy for conversation."
"Once Erebus breaks the curse, you will have all the energy you need. You will be stronger than ever, enhanced by dark magic powerful enough to stand beside me as equals."
"Is that what you are? Enhanced by dark magic?"
"Yes. Erebus granted me abilities far beyond normal Alphas. Speed, strength healing. It is glorious."
He smiled. "Soon you will know that glory too."
We crossed into Dark Moon Pack territory. I recognized the landmarks from my years living here before I had fled before I had discovered what they really were.
We approached the main pack house dark. Imposing exactly as I remembered it. Guards lined the entrance dozens of them, all bearing Erebus's mark.
"Welcome home, brother," Xavier said. "Welcome to the beginning of your new life.
I climbed out of the vehicle, still playing my role, still pretending to be dying.
But my mind was racing. Kira was out there somewhere following. Watching, ready to help if things went wrong.
Kaden knew where I was, knew what was happening. Hopefully.
And somewhere in this compound, Erebus would soon arrive with Adrian. The blessed child whose blood had saved my life.
I was walk
ing into the heart of enemy territory, surrounded by guards about to meet the monster who'd destroyed so many lives.
And I had no idea if I had made it out alive but I had to try hard to see this through, for Kaden, for Elara, for Adrian.
For all of us fighting this war.
Xavier led me toward the entrance. "Erebus will be here within the hour. You will meet him, pledge your loyalty, and be cured . It is all very simple."