Selene
The prisoner's words echoed in my skull, as I tried to process. The ritual of Vermous. A scorned Luna's blood. Kaelen wasn't just holding Dorian hostage for the fun of it, he was luring me to the Red Cliffs to get my blood for the ritual. A ritual that would crown him Alpha over all six packs: Bloodfang, Shadowfang, Veyor, Castleseal, Archevale, and Mysticlands.
Just the thought of it sent my head reeling.
That amount of power would amplify his wolf tenfold, making him untouchable. The fire in our camp flickered, casting long shadows that twisted into mocking faces, the curse's whispers hissing in my ear: You'll fail. Dorian's gone and it's your fault.
I clenched my fists as I pondered it, my son was bait, and I was the prize. The realization burned, fueling the guilt over the raid that already choked me. Draven sat across the fire, his golden eyes fixed on the prisoner who cowered under his stare. The group was silent, the weight of the news pressing down on everyone.
Renn broke the quiet first. "We need to turn back, Alpha."
"We're not leaving my son." I said, my voice firm.
"One child, even the Luna's, isn't worth risking the packs' future. If Kaelen completes this ritual, Shadowfang's done. Hell, all six packs are. We can't walk into his trap."
I surged to my feet. "Say that again, Renn. Call my son disposable one more time."
His eyes shot to mine. "You can always make another child. We cannot make another six packs."
Fury blazed through my chest but before I could lunge, Draven's fist connected with Renn's jaw, sending him sprawling into the dirt. The crack echoed in the night air, and the group froze.
Draven loomed over him. "Selene is my Luna, which means both she and Dorian are a part of us. We do not abandon our own."
Renn rubbed his jaw, his eyes downcast. "Alpha, I was just trying to say–"
"Say one more word in protest to your Luna's direct order, and I'll have you tried for treason." Draven cut in.
The group was quiet, the air was thick, no one dared breathe. Draven allowed silence stretch for a while longer before he spoke.
"Good," he said, offering a hand to pull Renn up. "Tomorrow, we're going to the Cliffs. If Kaelen wants a fight, he's getting one."
I met Draven's gaze, gratitude warring with the guilt still festering inside me. So instead of saying the 'thank you' that was at the tip of my tongue, I turned, and headed for my tent.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We broke camp at first light, making our way as the Red Cliffs' jagged silhouette began to loom closer. As we progressed, the curse storms worsened, and the air began crackling with unstable magic. In my vision, shadows morphed into Bloodfang warriors, their blades dripping with phantom blood. I blinked hard, my bow trembling in my hands as I fought to separate reality from illusion.
"Stay sharp!" Draven called, his sword drawn as we reached the Cliffs' outskirts. "We need to figure out a way to sabotage the outer wards and disrupt Kaelen's defenses."
Torren scouted ahead, his steps steadier now, and returned with a grim nod. "Looks like the neutral pack is Morwen's kin. They're supplying Kaelen with warriors and weapons. She's deeper in this than we thought."
Draven's jaw tightened, but he didn't falter. "Then we hit harder. Veyra, Renn, take the left ward cluster. Selene, Thorne, with me on the right. Elara, cover us."
We split, moving through the rocky terrain. The curse storm raged, wind howling whispers into my ear: Traitor. Murderer.
Suddenly, a vision of Draven's mother appeared before me with her throat slashed, pointing at me. I stumbled, my arrow slipping, and Veyra cursed as she dodged my misfire, the shaft grazing her arm.
"Selene, focus!" she snapped, blood trickling down her sleeve. "You trying to kill me?"
"Sorry," I gasped, shaking off the hallucination. "It's the curse messing with my head. I thought I saw…"
"I know," she said, softer now, tying a quick cloth around the wound. "It's hitting us all. Just be sure to aim for the heart next time, cause I've had just about enough of having to see these ugly mutts everyday."
That earned a few chuckles from the group, easing the tension instantly. I smiled, "You got it."
Elara's voice cut through the laughter. "These wards are tied to the artefact. If Kaelen uses it for the ritual, he could have the power to enslave every pack and bind their wills to his. The Goddess will never forgive such blasphemy."
Draven nodded, his blade slicing through a ward's rune, sparks flying. Renn eyes flicked to me purposefully, but he said nothing.
We began carving through the runes as fast as we could, but the curse fought back. Illusions swarmed at the edges of my vision – rogues, ghosts, Kaelen's face laughing in the storm – causing me to fire at shadows, unsure what was real, and what wasn't.
Elara shrieked when she saw a tree branch, Veyra lunged her blade at thin air, and Thorne almost gauged out Torren's eye. In all this chaos, Draven still stayed close to me, his eyes dashing to me every so often with worry.
As the last ward shattered, the storm quieted, leaving us panting in the eerie calm. Draven pulled me aside, his hand warm on my arm, his usual flirtiness softened to something tender. "You're shaking, huntress. Talk to me."
"Just… scared for Dorian," I lied, leaning into his touch despite myself. "We're so close."
He cupped my face, thumb brushing my cheek. "We'll get him. I promised you, didn't I?"
I hated the words that were about to come out of my mouth, but I had to say them anyway, "What if Renn's right? What if Kaelen captures me and–"
"Hey," he said firmly, cutting my spiral in it's tracks. "I'll cut through the entire six packs myself before I let that cock sucker get his maggot ridden paws on you. Have faith in me, my queen. Nothing's going to happen to you. Or your son."
His words cracked my resolve, the spark between us flaring brighter than the bond's pull. I wanted to confess and unburden the guilt, but his trust held me silent.
I nodded, pressing my forehead to his briefly, allowing myself savor the warmth and comfort for a moment longer.
Torren's voice broke the moment. "Alpha, I think we've got a problem. Listen."
A child's cry pierced the air, cutting through the curse's echoes. My heart lurched. "Dorian!" I gasped, spinning toward the fortress, its red stone walls looming through the fog.
"Selene, wait!" Draven grabbed my arm, but the cry came again, unmistakable. This time, I was sure it wasn't a hallucination. It was my son.
We sprinted toward the gates, as the group followed behind us. Torren and Thorne flanked Elara, Veyra and Renn covering the rear. But as soon as we reached the iron gates, a trap sprang up. Runes glowed red, and the gates slammed shut with a deafening clang, splitting our group. Draven, Torren, and I were inside; Veyra, Renn, and Elara were locked out.
"Damn it!" Draven shaouted as he pounded the gate, but it held, the wards pulsing with blood magic. Dorian's cries echoed louder from within and the bond surged with Kaelen's mocking laughter.
"Draven, we have to move!" I shouted, nocking an arrow, as my heart pounded in my chest. My son was here... and so was Kaelen.