Chapter 182: POWERFUL ENCOUNTER
Everyone settled in the room; I chose the seat next to Alpha's chair, while Morgana, Elara, and Selena positioned themselves a bit further away, perhaps to ensure their safety. Oliver stood on the right side, taking on the role of a true beta, and we awaited the arrival of King Lycan.
“Can't we get to the point?” I asked, looking at everyone in the room. “It seems like everyone here knows what this is about, except me!”
I growled impatiently, eliciting smiles from Morgana and Elara at my stance.
“We raised her as a witch, but her wolf side always prevails!” Morgana smiled playfully.
“You can't take the wolf out of a hybrid,” Elara joked, winking.
“Is that a new saying?” Selena laughed.
“You're all in good spirits considering the situation we have to face!” The Alpha growled, entering the room with his imposing steps, causing everyone to stand in reverence. “Sit!”
And so they did.
“The ancestors warned her, didn't they, reclusive witch?” King Lycan growled sharply at Morgana.
“We knew that at some point, this would happen, cursed wolf,” she replied sharply, her eyes narrowed. “And the pup, where is it?”
“He won't be part of this meeting; he's resting,” the Alpha shrugged. “Do you know why I called you here?”
He stared at each one, and they all nodded, except for me, who made it clear that I was furious at being kept in the dark.
“What a lack of etiquette to involve me in a meeting where the only one who doesn't know what it's about, King Lycan, is your Luna!” I growled loudly, ferocious, and impatient.
“Control yourself, she-wolf!” The Alpha shouted, raising an eyebrow, making my wolf shrink within me. “Elara, did you get the stones forged by the orcs?”
“Orcs?” I raised my eyebrows, intrigued.
“They are creatures descended from ogres; they don't have the same size or fury, but their strength and cunning are equal to those of their ancestors!” Oliver explained subtly and courteously. “I didn't know about the existence of these creatures… I think I need a list of that!”
Everyone laughed at my comment, making me even more nervous.
“Hybrid... There is a vast number of existing creatures that even we don't know; some live hidden, others in plain sight but more distant.” Morgana explained it eloquently. “The only certainty we have is that we are all children of a single creator.”
“How is that possible? Aren't we children of the moon?” I asked the Alpha, confused.
“And we are, however...” Lycan sighed, carefully choosing his words. “Even the gods we know were created. Their appearance is unknown even to their original children, who are: The Darkness, with dominion overshadows; The Destiny, who enjoys playing with others' lives and holds an intense light; The Moon, the Mother Goddess of wolves; The Water, who likes to be called Crystal, as her domain extends beyond seas, rivers, or rains, with cosmic power associated with order; they say she is the favorite, directly responsible for dictating the creator's orders; and The Infinite!”
“The Infinite?” I widened my eyes, almost jumping out of my chair in intrigue. “So, is this being the creator of everything?”
“His name gives rise to the infinity of creatures and existing plans,” Elara added. “That's why there are sub-guardians of balance, like reclusive witches, the oracle who predicts the thread of life, and the gods with higher roles in creating their species.”
“Everything is carefully, or at least it should be, created in a balanced way...” Morgana sighed. “The curse of the beast and all the deaths were not foreseen; the legend was not supposed to exist in this realm, but the rebellious gods wanted to be greater than the creator; they tampered with the structure of destiny, something forbidden.”
“If it's forbidden, how did they do it? And why weren't there any punishments?” I bit my lips, confused, catching the Alpha's attention with my movements.
“If the creator punished all his children, there would be no world left for any creature to exist!” King Lycan replied, growling between his fangs. “That's why we are used as pawns in this war between the Gods.”
“I thought the war was only between Destiny and the Shadow King...” I sighed, rubbing my temples.
“It started with them; however, each sibling took their side in the war with their interests,” the beta commented.
“And how does the infinite creator allow this?” I pounded the table in frustration. “Why do they make us suffer so much? Aren't we as important as their original children?”
“My child, we share your frustrations...I suspect...” Morgana pondered, staring at King Lycan, assessing whether she could proceed. Without objection, she looked at me. “I suspect that the Infinite has been acting with some hidden plan, but nothing has been clarified or revealed, not even by the reclusive witches, guardians of the balance of worlds.”
“So, is this the reason for this meeting?” I ran my hands through my hair, restless; something told me they weren't revealing everything. “No dear, it's just a third of the problem...” Elara gave me a reassuring look. “King Lycan?”
I turned to the Alpha, who was serious; his posture was rigid and ruthless, and the aura emanating from his body was one of pure power.
“Sophie.” He stared at me tensely; his gaze could surely see through me. “The rescue of Conan was too easy; the dark witch did not get involved in the battle, and that was the second warning for our suspicions.”
“Did you find that easy?” I growled in surprise. “Did you not see the state I came out of there?”
Harvey smirked arrogantly and sighed, not sharing his boldest thoughts.
“We've had worse battles...” King Lycan joked. “The first suspicion was when they kidnapped my pup and didn't kill him, nor did they bargain for an exchange between you and him.”
“They did hint...” I recalled. “But indeed, there was never a direct negotiation about it.”
He nodded.
“The second suspicion was the hostility of my wolf towards Conan's inner wolf… It goes beyond the hatred between father and son!” Harvey's calm tone worried me, as it seemed being hated by his offspring was nothing to him. “However, today, on our little stroll, I could confirm my suspicions.”
“You confirmed it?” Morgana leaned forward, intrigued and agitated. “So, it was incubating all this time...”
“What suspicions?” I implored impatiently. “Speak up. What is happening to my nephew?”
“Luna, the Shadow King used his lackey, the dark witch, to kidnap our pup and use him as a vessel for his soul.” The Alpha's eyes were serious.
“What? No, this is too crazy!” I exclaimed, feeling my skin flush. “Why would a king do that?”