Chapter 173
RYDEN
“Guys, Guston’s territory is affected by the earthquake. Two houses in his pack just fell into the rift.”
“Oh, Goddess. Was anyone injured?” Amelia asked.
I was still wrapping my head around the fact that I almost lost her, and it fucking hurt that she risked her life to save Lucius.
My throat was still tight with guilt that I wasn’t there to help her, even though she managed to stay alive with flying colors.
Though I could still see the horror in her eyes, she looked elated getting her wings.
“I don’t know. He’s still checking the damages. Trent, tell everyone to report through the GC, and make sure no one is hurt.”
“Okay, alpha.” When he left, I turned to Zeph. “Call your dad, ask him if the road is accessible.”
“I’ll check if Mom is okay.” Amelia grabbed her phone and looked at Lucius. “You should call your people. I know it’s far from here, but make sure they’re okay.”
“Holy shit!” Walker walked to the edge of the fault line. “It’s fucking deep. It looks like it has reached the earth’s mantle.”
“What do you know about earth structure, college boy?” Seven joined him, playfully pushing him on the back.
“Hey! Don’t joke around that crack. If you fall, no one will risk their lives to save you. Stay away from the line. Why don’t you go and check on everyone?”
“Sorry.” They left quickly.
I was still angry at the guys when Amelia came. “Mom is okay, but the hospital has received some injured patients. She’d be busy there for a while.” She was about to say something when she held it.
“What is it?”
“Maybe Ren, Nora, and I should check how far is the fault line. I have a bad feeling the shield is gone.”
“No. You stay put.” I looked at Lucius. “Any updates?”
“They felt the earthquake, but no crack like this one. Margaret is assessing the affected part. She has a strong feeling that it might have to do something with the ley lines. You should inform Zarah.”
I nodded. “What did you two talk about earlier?”
“The signs of the director embracing his true nature. And he might use the demons to call out their legions through the fissures.”
Nora gasped. “What the hell?”
“I’m afraid the earthquake is just the beginning, and the aftershock hasn’t happened yet.” Lucius pointed at the large crack that could fit a school bus by length.
“Wait. Hold on.” Reede pointed at the aftermath of the earthquake. “You mean this earthquake earlier is man-made? I mean demon-made.” He scratched his head. “You know what I mean, Alpha Lucius.”
“Yes. Considering this area has three active faults, the experts will rule out that what happened earlier is either a phenomenon or an earthquake, but magically speaking, the director has something to do with it. We’ll wait until the aftershock or watch this area. If the lake starts boiling, everyone will not be safe anymore. The lava will flow into the cracks, trapping everyone.”
“You’re scaring me,” Theia said.
“Look, I don’t know when is this gonna happen.” He looked at me, but prepare your people. If there’s a place they can hide, like a bunker, ready the bunker or they can come to my pack. They’re always welcome there. I already informed my people in advance.”
“Why don’t we just go and find the director? You know his face, and I’m sure you can feel him when he’s close. Let’s bring the fight to him,” Reede said.
“That’s the initial plan, Reede, but we have to make sure everyone is safe and you can’t leave this place unguarded.” He looked at me.
“I have a team to bring. The rest will stay and keep this place protected all the time,” I replied Luciys. At the same time, I received a text from Zarah.
“Glad you’re okay.” Amelia’s eyes widened in surprise as the portal appeared. She ran to Zarah as soon as the portal disappeared behind. She hugged her tight. “Is everyone okay? Are they affected by the earthquake? It was strong. Look.” She showed the crack.
“The New York pack is safe. Knight’s vineyards not so much, but this is the biggest fault line I’ve ever seen. Are you guys okay?” Zarah looked at everyone.
“We’re good, except for Lucius and Amelia who fell into that hole,” Theia said nonchalantly.
Zarah looked at them in horror. “How did you survive?”
“She got her Victoria’s Secret angel wings.” Theia guffawed while Amelia wasn’t impressed.
After Zarah reconstructed her broken shield, I informed my pack about the plan. The underground bunker wasn’t affected by the earthquake and it could serve as their temporary shelter. Knight gave me this idea after those werewolf thugs attacked his vineyards.
“If something happens to me, you know what to do. You’ll be the alpha of this pack until Amelia returns.” I gave Zeph the key to the office. “I’ve updated my will.”
“Shut up. I know you will come back.” He hugged me tight. “Don’t disappoint me, Alpha.”
The ride to Guston’s pack took more time than we had anticipated due to the crack on the road that caused the traffic. Nora and Walker rode with us while Ren and Theia took their truck with Lucius and Drak. I could feel Amelia’s emotions through my thoughts.
“Are you okay?” I gripped her hand. “You barely said something earlier.”
“This must be it. One last sign, the director will be formidable. Ren did not even ask if I was okay.”
“You should talk to him.”
“I know. It’s my fault he hates me.”
“Hey. He doesn’t hate you. He’s upset, yes, but friends have misunderstandings once in a while. Talk to him before we face our formidable foe.”
“Thanks.”
“No matter how strong the director will become, he’s alone, Amelia, and we’re stronger together,” Nora said.
“He’s not alone, Nora. He has the entire SEO under his Imperium command, the prisoners, too. They may be normal werewolves and other beings, but those agents are trained to be soldiers.”
“I know, but we can do it. We just have to believe that we can.”
“I hope so because I hate taking the blame if we fail.” I felt every word she said. I knew that feeling. I felt that every day.
We arrived at Guston’s pack. He welcomed us despite the tired look on his face. Amelia and the other girls went to help the families and injured.
“Sorry, it took us so long to get in here. I have to make sure everyone is safe back home, and the road is affected too. How’s your pack?”
“I lost two men.” He breathed deeply, taking some strength from within. I knew that feeling. It could never be overcome. “The crack is so deep. We threw glow sticks, and no one would survive in that fall.”
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized it could be Amelia down there. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Who’s he?” He tipped his chin at Lucius.
“You haven’t met him before?”
“No.” He shook his head, confused.
“That’s the Alpha King.”
“You’re kidding. Should I bow?” A humor glint in his eyes.
“No. He’s cool.”
Lucius came and introduced himself.
“It’s an honor, Alpha King.” Guston shook Lucius’ hand delightedly.
“Just Lucius. How can we help?”
Guston shook his head. “We couldn’t find two of my people down there. I have injured, but they’re gonna be okay. Nothing fatal. What’s going on here? Are these done by demonic elements?”
“The person who did this is the very person I’ve been running away from for two decades, and yes, he used people to escalate the release of the wraiths, but right now, I’m facing him.”
“Well, count us in. I still have boys ready to fight to stop this diabolic act from happening. After what happened earlier, I’d rather die fighting than watch my people get swallowed underground.”
Drak came to Lucius, and they must have talked through the pack line.
“That’s great.” He patted Drak on his arm and smiled.
“Good news?” I could definitely work with him against the director. He knew his way with pack business, he was well-connected, and he’d never shown disrespect towards Amelia.
“Yeah. Margaret and Zarah just cracked the easier way to spread the cure of Imperium. Instead of intense light, we can use something like tear gas. My people are already working on it so we speak.”
“How do we find the SEO?”
Amelia came. “They’re terrified, but they’ll live.”
“Thanks for helping, Amelia,” Guston said gratefully.
“Anytime. So what were you talking about?”
“Do you know what a flight tracer is?” Lucius asked.
“An air traffic?”
“Yes. That’s another good news because that’s how Samarah found out how the SEO moved. When the earthquake happened, the magic ley lines activated. She found three constant locations with strong power sources. One is in the UK, Arizona desert, and the other is in New York.”
“Shit. Didn’t you just say earlier about the last sign?”
“What sign?” I looked at Lucius back to Amelia.
“He’s gonna activate the volcano.”
“That’s impossible, Alpha Lucius,” Guston said in disbelief.
“If you won’t believe someone like the director, a Nephilim can’t make a dormant volcano erupt, try me being a fire wolf, and I just watched my mate grow wings and fly.”