Chapter 102 : the curse
The curse
Damon pov
The war hall was suffocating with the different powerful auras as a result of having a lot of powerful werewolves gathered in one room. A long table carved of black oak split the room, and around it sat all my generals that commanded different sectors of warfare in the pack. Every one to the last one of them had a dark glint in their eyes, some lips curved in a sinister smile as I sat on my seat, reserved at the head table, and without wasting time I spoke out.
“The pack blood moon celebration comes in the next two today's" I started, “as we all know, it's a ritual we must perform before the blood moon, three nights after the event. I called you all to know how prepared we are for it, especially the death match that has been an old tradition.”
“ You didn't call this emergency meeting to tell us what we all know, brother” selene's venomous voice rang out first.
“Last I checked, you are not part of the rule-makers of the pack, I don't remember forcing you to be here.” I snapped at her, shuting her up… at least for now.
I took a deep breath before I continued, “I called this meeting, for us to revise the match rules that are flawed, and if possible effect some changes immediately.
Different voices rose up in Murmurs, but were cut short when General Elijah, the strongest commander, stood up, his voice calm but edged. “The rules are older than you, Alpha, even older than your father. It has been a tradition of our pack since time of memorial. You can not twist them to your will.”
“Can’t?” I snarled, my claws digging into the wooden armrest of my chair. “Or won’t?”
“It is beyond our powers to change, besides its just two days. What will people say when they hear this? It will make us weak and turn us into a laughing stock in their eyes.”
I forced my rising anger back, keeping my voice as calm as possible. “The death match has stood for generations, yes. But laws exist to serve the pack, not the other way around. If we cling to tradition without adaptation, we will make ourselves vulnerable, especially in this precarious period when the council is planning to launch an attack anytime soon. The old system of the death match breeds the needless death of capable wolves.” I paused to look each of them in the eyes, making sure to pass across my point. “ I propose a revision of the rules, to include limits and boundaries that could make the death match bloody but not a glorified field for slaughter.
The murmurs of disapproval began immediately even before my speech. Many blatantly against the idea, while some shook their heads, disappointment clearly written on their faces.
Commander Josh stood, his sharp nose wrinkling . “Why now, Alpha? For centuries, we have abided by the death match as it was written. Why should we change it now?”
I kept my composure even as irritation pricked my skin. I already expected the question. “Because the world is not what it was centuries ago. New Powers continue to spring up every day to replace the old ones. Our enemies watch us closely. The death match is a few days before the blood moon, the period of time that we are most affected by the moon. None of you won't tell me that you are not feeling the rise in urge already. If we allow the bloodmoon to dictate the lives of our wolves unchecked, we risk destabilizing everything we have sacrificed so much to build. I will not have my pack weakened by an outdated tradition.”
“Your pack?” Selene sneered. “Or your pet?”
The word sliced through me. Silence thickened in the hall.
My jaw tightened. “Careful with your words, sister.”
“Did I lie brother, it's so much of a coincidence that you come to propose this. I refuse to believe that it doesn't have anything to do with your pet signing a death match.”
Like a fire that was added fuel, the hall erupted into chaos. Different opinions and views flying across the room, at the same time.
I glared at my sister, who kept on smiling throughout the chaos, like she had not planted a seed of distrust and doubts in their hearts.
“We all see it now. We know exactly why you are suddenly so desperate to twist the rules. That boy…your precious pet. He is the reason. Isn’t he?” General Josh said, his expression falling the more.
Everyone's eyes furrowed at me. They were watching me closely like hawks watching their prey, waiting for denial, waiting for any weakness they could explore.
I straightened my spine. If they wanted honesty, I’d give it to them, but in the way they least expected. “Yes,” I said plainly, ignoring the way their eyes widened dramatically. “He is the reason for the change. But not only that, for the pack at large. The boy carries in him something that only appears once in five generations, he is an ashbourne wolf. something none of you can begin to comprehend. If he dies in the bloodmoon’s pit, the council would be the least of people we would be worried about. We would lose the balance itself.”
General Grath stood his fat face bolstering in anger. “You forget yourself that this isn’t your playground. If the boy signed the pact, then by law, he fights. You can’t shelter him just because he is your toy.”
My wolf surfaced in my eyes. A little of my alpha aura leaked out, but it was enough to pressure every one of them in the room. I could feel my claws just inches away from slipping out.
“Say that again,” I growled, my voice deeper, not entirely my own anymore.
The hall descended in deep silence after my speech. No one dared to speak anymore, not even to breathe. But then a chilling laughter broke the silence.
“You ask us to rewrite the laws for a boy you barely know? You insult every wolf who ever fought in the pit, Damon.” Selene had a fierce battle ready look on her face, “This is not about any balance, Damon. This is about you.”
My claws dug deeper into my palms, drawing blood, but I could barely register the pain. “You think I am selfish? I bleed for this pack. Every decision I make is because it will favor this pack, not because of some personal vendetta.”
“Then prove it, brother, prove to us that you are not slipping,” Selene scowled, her face morphing into a wicked smile. “Stop trying to shield him. A commander who bends the law for sentiment is no commander at all. You call yourself strong, but here you stand, begging us to alter the moon’s decree for a common stray. the law takes its course, let him die in the pit.”
The hall froze. At the same time, my control shattered.
My aura burst outward like a tidal wave, slamming against every wall, every corner of the room. The torches guttered, nearly extinguished. Murderous intent leaked from me in a suffocating flood. The commanders buckled instantly, gasping for air like the very thin air in the hall had rejected them. None of them could put up a fight.
Selene tensed up. was the only person who was not on the ground, but her body strained against my pressure. Her jaws were set not to lose the fight, but she had already lost the battle before it began.
My wolf howled for carnage, for blood, for submission.
I took one step forward, but it felt like I had teleported. In one swift motion, I was across the room, my claws pressed against Selene's throat.
Gasps erupted in the room, and chairs scraped back in panic, but none of that concerned me. My attention was on Selene, which glared at me with defiance.
“Say that again,” I growled, my voice deeper, not entirely my own anymore.
“You are slipping Damon,” she said under her breath, “very soon everyone will see it.
every instinct screamed at me to end her. To remind her who the real alpha was. My claws twitched…
“Damon!!” James' voice echoed through all the madness,“She is your sister!”
I was one breath away from ripping out her jugular vein, just one little shift… But at the last second, I ripped myself away from her, but not after my hands moved, she flew away like a bullet, in the opposite, sounds of crashing followed after.
I turned, and at the same time, everybody shrunk back, fear evident in their eyes.
“My words remain final in this pack.” I managed to let out what looked like human words before I quickly left the hall.
I didn’t walk. I ran.
Because if I had stayed another second, the war hall would have become a graveyard full of dead bodies.