EVANGELINE.
My gaze snaps back to the tattoo on his torso, realising itâs not just any snake but the symbolic sea serpent of Hades⦠The symbol of the Night Shade Pack, how did I not realise!
I look up at him, grasping onto the fact that I had gone straight from the wolfâs den into the monsterâs lairâ¦
âI am not asking you to bow down to me Alpha Godric Astorath, as future Queen of the Werewolf Kingdom, you will be wise not to upset me.â I say calmly, but I let my aura radiate off me. Those around can sense it and I know he can too. âOur packs hold a treaty of peace and Queen Luna Danciana Vilkas is from your pack. Letâs not mar our deal.â
My words donât seem to mean anything to him, as he simply cocks a brow as if he is bored.
âAnd do you think a mere piece of paper will stop me from cutting you up, offering you to Hades as a fucking tribute and then feeding your remains to my dogs?â He sneers, forcing my chin up with the blade.
I cock a brow, pushing the blade away as I let my aura radiate off me.
âWow, and I thought I was unhinged.â Evelyn murmurs. âThat is kind of sickening. I think the next person I kill Iâll do thatâ¦â
âYou get offended fast⦠the thing is, youâre the traitor here.â He says, as he begins circling me. I clench my jaw.
âI will not stoop to your level, and neither will I entertain you. War is brewing and your pack sits right in the middle of the battlefield, doesnât it? I need to contact the King, before itâs too late. Donât be so foolish. We donât have time.â I say urgently.
His jaw clenches and his anger emanates from him, but I keep my gaze locked on his.
âA war that you and your mate have only fuelled,â He sneers as he looks away. âThe Moonstone Pack has already clarified that.â
What?
âAre you saying Iâm branded a traitor?â I ask. It doesnât surprise me.
âOf course, so what to do with a traitorâ¦â
âWithout knowing the full story, you cannot say that.â I reply as I cross my arms. âThereâs a huge misunderstanding and I need to stop this war before it gets worse. Choose your side, Alpha Godric, and choose wisely.â
I let my aura fill the forest around me, keeping my eyes fixed on him.
The only way he will help is if he actually realises who I am and so I let my aura radiate off me.
Despite the crackling thunder and lightning in the sky and the violent winds of the brewing storm, the moon suddenly shines through, my eyes blazing a dazzling blue. His arrogance fades from his face and I see a flicker of unease in his eyes as he looks at me and this time itâs different.
âThe Goddess commands you.â I say through the link. He stiffens, and he places his hand on his forehead for a moment. His eyes flash dangerously before a menacing growl leaves his lips, but I can feel his submission. Heâs fighting it but his wolf bows to me⦠after a moment he closes his eyes and lowers his head slightly to me.
âI was told that the hybrid prince and his Luna have decided to join hands with the vampires, and as you said, my pack sits in the middle of the battlefield.â He snarls lowly, raising a hand as he gives his men a signal.
Two men rush from the trees and toss two bodies at my feet. I stare down at them, realising one is a vampire and the otherâ¦
My heart skips a beat as I realise who he is⦠one of Zedkielâs trusted guardsâ¦
âThese two are in pretty decent shape.â He remarks, and I stare at the bodies. Decent?!
The vampire has several limbs missing and the werewolf⦠his guts are spilling out of him, his skull is cracked open.
âIt seems even now some werewolves were trying to reach you. Some foolish enough to want to betray their pack, he sneers. And if anyone disturbs our peace, and we will fucking retaliate.â He continues.
I stare down at the bodies, my heart thumping before I kneel down.
âThen you are a fool to believe whatever comes your way, Alpha Godric! You are being played for a fool! How dare you!â My voice is stronger, and more powerful, and many of the werewolves tremble in fear as they fall back, bowing their heads. âWhy did you kill them!â Godric is struggling too, but the moment I command him to answer, no matter how much he hates it he has to.
âThey were trying to get through to the vampire kingdom, and we were told to intercept them,â Godric says.
âAnd you blindly agreed⦠I thought a piece of paper wasnât enough for you to obey like a dog!â I hiss. My heart hurts for those trying to help us and ending up like this.
I stand up as Godric frowns. Despite his anger, I know he is understanding what Iâm saying.
âThe one heading the army of the united packs⦠I will raise the dead to fight if I have to and if Iâve been played ⦠then he will die by my hand.â
His eyes are cold, and I frown. âWas it yourselves or this new leader who commanded the poison to kill so many vampires to be spread through the trees?â I ask coldly. âNo one has passed through this forest⦠I can assure you we have held the centre point and my men are posted 20 yards apart in every direction. What poison do you mean?â
I glare at him sharply. Heâs telling the truth, but then who did it?
âThereâs been a grave misunderstanding. I need to make a call.â I say, holding my hand out. He hesitates before he motions with his head, and someone passes me a phone.
âWhere is your mate?â He asks me sharply. âZedkiel Vilkas, right?â
I frown, âHeâs⦠with the vampires.â I say quietly. He raises an eyebrow. âCare to fucking explain?â He was letting me use a phone, but at the same time, I canât speak ill of Zedkiel. How do I tell someone that Zedkiel has, in fact, joined the dark side?
âI will fix this,â I add quietly as I dial Kashâs number. âYou will need to tell them.â Evelyn murmurs. âI will when Iâm united with those of the Moonstone pack. Luna step forward.â I command, my voice sounding harsher than I wanted it to, but this was not the time for pity! How do we kill a Lycan? âI want the answer⦠How do you kill a Lycanâ¦â
She refuses me once again and I hate that I will have to resort to my powers to get her to answer me. Iâm brought out of my thoughts when the phone goes to the answering machine.
âThe number you have dialed is currently switched off.â
Fuck!
Kash⦠is he ok?
I really need to get in contact with someone⦠whose numbers do I know?
The Welhavensâ¦
I stare down at the phone before I dial Sinclairâs number. Something is off.
âThe number you have dialled is currently switched off.â With every passing second, I realise that something big is at play.
âThatâs weird, I agree,â Evelyn says. Godric is watching me, but Evelyn is right he needs an answer.
âHave you heard of the scriptures, of the Gemini Bane?â I ask him as I think who to call next.
âYes,â He frowns, but heâs listening and he seems to know what Iâm going on about
âWe need to end that curse and we are close to ending it.â I say quietly.
Grandmother!
Taking a deep breath, I dial her number, my heart squeezing when it rings. Please pick up⦠please pick upâ¦
The phone keeps ringing and Godric frowns. âIf you expect me to assist you, I need way fucking more than that.â He growls.
The phone goes to the answering machine again, and I let out a growl of impatience.
âDo you have anyoneâs number from my pack?â I ask Godric hesitates and I suddenly look at him sharply âYou know something that you arenât telling me?â I say quietly.
He frowns. âIâm not sure you have allies there⦠Several of those close to the king himself were found as traitors, including some of the royals⦠a new leader is now leading the pack.â He says calmly.
I frown as I switch to the mind link, quickly filling him in on the curse and what I must do. âWe need to find out who spread the poison that is killing the vampires, and it will calm Zedkiel⦠as for him ⦠I will deal with him.â I say quietly, knowing I would have to force Luna. I didnât want to, but time is running out.
âIf what youâre telling me is correct⦠then you are in danger.â Godric says quietly through the link, thereâs anger on his face and I know itâs not directed at me. âThe army is ready to cross through this forest and when they do, there will be a bloodbath. The front line has already passed our line of defence.â
I think heâs forgetting who I am. âDanger? From whom, tell me, who is leading the army of the united wolves?â I ask before I look around, his words filling me with unease. âWho is leading the attacks on the vampires and on whose command!â I say out loud, my power rolling off me.
âHow about I tell you, Luna Evangeline.â I turn sharply to see the man that walks through the trees. He looks different from what Iâm used to. His hair is braided and pulled back. Heâs wearing all black and thereâs a cold gleam in his eyes.
Jeremiahâ¦