Chapter 195 Thr messenger
Chapter 195: the messenger
Damon's pov
James' words hit like a physical blow. It took me all my willpower not to stagger back.
"What?"
"The Alpha chen, from the pacific Pack withdrew their warriors yesterday. Said they couldn't risk being associated with a pack whose Luna is a traitor." He paused. "The desert moon Pack followed this morning. And I just got word that the Eastern Shore Pack is considering it."
Each name felt like another knife to the chest where Milo's own was. These were packs I'd built alliances with over years. Packs that had sworn loyalty. And they were abandoning us now, when we needed them most.
"How many are left?" My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.
"Only Rosalie, leader of the crimson moon pack have not made any official standFor now." James met my eyes. "Damon, this is exactly what the Queen wants. She's isolating us, weakening us. If you play into her hands by attacking…"
A knock at the door interrupted him. Sharp, urgent.
"What?" I barked.
One of the younger warriors, Marcus, poked his head in. His face was pale. "Alpha, there's... there's someone here... A messenger, From the Queen."
Every muscle in my whole body tensed. "Bring them in."
"Alpha, I should warn you…"
"Bring. Them. In."
Marcus nodded and disappeared as fast as he had appeared.
Silence stretched between us, after he left.
"What are you going to do?" James finally asked.
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I moved slowly across my room, to the cabinet against the wall, pulling it open to reveal what lay inside. My armor. The black reinforced leather and steel I had last worn during the territory wars stood there like a testament of raw power and authority. It was The armor that had seen me through countless battles, that bore the scars of a hundred fights.
I hadn't touched it since the last war that decided the division of the righteous and unrighteous pack. Not since Milo came into my life and made me believe I could be something other than a weapon.
Now to think I would one day put it on…
"Damon, no." James's voice was urgent now. "You can't be seriously considering…"
"Help me or get out," I said flatly, beginning to strip off my shirt.
"This is insane! You'll be walking into a trap!"
I pulled on the under-layer, the familiar weight settling against my skin like an old friend. "She gave me no choice, James.”
"You don't even know where she's holding him!"
"The Northern border. She said it herself." I fastened the chest plate, fingers moving with muscle memory. "She wants me to come at dawn, alone and unarmed. So I'll come tonight, armored and ready for war."
"That's not a plan, that's suicide!"
I turned to face him, and he actually took a step back. "Then it's suicide. But I'm not sitting here while she has my mate and my child."
"Damon, please." James's voice cracked. "Think about what you're doing. The pack needs you. If you die…"
"If I die, you'll lead them." James became dumbstruck, unable to utter a word again. I strapped on my arm guards, then reached for my sword belt. "You've always been more level-headed anyway."
"I don't want to lead them! I want my Alpha to stop acting like a grief-crazed fool!"
"Then you should have stopped me three days ago." I buckled the belt, the weight of my sword familiar and comforting at my hip. "Before I had time to realize that nothing matters anymore. Not the pack, not the alliances, not even my own life."
"That's the grief talking…"
"No." I met his eyes. "That's clarity. For the first time in days, I know exactly what I need to do."
I moved to the weapons rack, selecting throwing knives and securing them in hidden sheaths. James watched, his face a mask of frustration and fear.
"You're not thinking straight," he tried again. "The mate bond severing, the betrayal… it's affecting your judgment."
"My judgment is fine." I checked my sword, the blade singing as I drew it partially from its sheath. Perfect balance, razor sharp. "I'm the Mafia King, James. I didn't get that title by playing it safe."
"You got that title by being smart! Strategic! This is neither!"
"This is both." I slammed the sword back into its sheath. "The Queen expects me to be broken, and desperate, easy to manipulate. She expects me at dawn, alone, on my knees. So I'm going to give her the opposite. I'm going to show her exactly what happens when you take something from a king."
I turned to the door, but James stepped in front of me. "I can't let you do this."
"You can't stop me." My wolf rose inside me, apparently provoked by James' disrespect.
"As your Beta…"
The sound of a body slamming against the wall echoed, followed by sickening snapping of bones, James retaliated but I was ready..
“As my Beta, i am fucking expecting you to do one thing…”my voice dropped to a deadly calm, that would send chills to anyone that heard it.
“You follow orders, that's your job. And I'm ordering you to stand down."
“I am sorry, alpha” After a long time which was probably just seconds of power play and challenge between alpha and beta, he backed away, his glowing eyes reverting back to his normal eyes colour.
“Good” I nodded, adjusting his collar.
“Now, we have a messenger to meet.”