Chapter 74: Chapter 73

Chapter 73 – The Warning

“One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger.“–Francots de La Rochefoucauld

Neron

I stood by the window in my office, watching the training sessions on the lush grass. The pup trainees combat each other, getting stronger each day. Small hands and feet swing and land on their targets joined with shouts of power and pride intermingling in the sweaty atmosphere. A small smile creeps on my face at their progress, the pups were becoming stronger every day. Soon, they’ll be on par with their adult counterparts.

It was all thanks to Kiya’s talent and leadership. Despite missing sessions because of situations out of her control, she bounced back and so did the pups. I couldn’t be any prouder.

I needed to protect her at all costs.

After last night’s debacle, I boosted border security to the max. Some former warriors came out of their retirement to act as agents of protection. No matter how much I disagreed, they insisted firmly, it was for protecting and preserving the future of Zircon Moon.

And to protect their Luna.

That statement still irks me, I had every right to shoot it down, but I didn’t. No one else, besides my father and I, knew of Kiya’s refusal. In due course, I’ll announce it to the entire pack. Zircon Moon had gone for so long without a proper Luna, and it was my fault. I drove the true Luna away, and the false Luna couldn’t be any more incompetent to assume the role.

We were still a powerful pack, but we were incomplete.

Kiya becoming my Luna was the last thing on my mind. My principal focus was protecting her from that…thing in case it ever comes back. I’ve never seen a human–like–no. That thing was not human.

It was akin to a war machine. It was unstoppable, nearly taking me out every chance it got, and I was the fucking Alpha. I was the strongest in my pack and I couldn’t take it down on my own. When I got up close, its face scared me more than its fists.

The entity was…empty, soulless. There was no humanity in those horrific red eyes, its face was haunting That thing was inhuman, Judging by its atypical scent, I could be right.

It was a soldier on a mission and every soldier had their commander calling the shots. There was someone bigger out there, lurking in the shadows and watching our every move, and they squared their eyes on Kiya.

“Whoever the fuck they are, they’ll not touch her,” Onyx snarled. His voice was laced with rage and death. “I’ll tear everyone apart for wanting to harm our mate.”

“Test you and I agree on something.”

Sitting back at my desk, I examine the various documents on my desk. Transactions from various investments across Nevada, progress reports, written requests from pack members, notes from other Alphas, the works. I noted down the recent rogue attacks from neighboring packs in the Tri–state area.

Attacks had not calmed down. Alphas were sending warnings to other packs to beware and prepare, something

I was all too familiar with. Many smaller packs and refugees were heading to safer zones, including Garnet Moon. However, because of the recent attacks, it was inappropriate to take in evacuees and throw them in danger once more.

“Pardon my intrusion, Alpha Neron, but I have a young woman at our gates demanding to speak with our trainers.”

That stole my attention. Who the hell was this woman and how did she know about the trainers? The thought of another potential threat to not only my pack but Kiya set my blood on fire. “Keep her there, Geo. I’m on my way. What’s your take on this outsider?”

“She smells like a witch.”

My mind recalled the discoveries from both Kwame and Valerian at the Witching Hour some time back. Witches were angry about the taboo magic used to revive dead wolves yet supplied no other leads to a rumored coven of corrupt witches. The woman on the outer steps of my territory could be one of them.

With haste, I jogged to the border where two of my border agents held the witch by the arms. Dressed in a maroon blouse and a black pleated skirt, awesome power radiated from the small woman, catching me completely off guard. Her strawberry–blond hair laid over her shoulders in braids and her eyes…

Her eyes were abnormally purple. How unique.

“State your business, witch,” I growled. It was not that I had anything against witches. I hate having outsiders. imposing themselves on my land without my knowledge.

“I’m here to see the Garnet Moon warriors.” She avowed in confidence as her eyes held mine. “There’s something urgent I need to speak with them about.”

“Whatever you need to say, you can say it to me.” I crossed my arms. The witch was growing more panicked but continued to hold a firm gaze. She appeared to be sincere, but I was not taking any chances of potential threats. “How did you know they’re here?”

“I’ll show you if your brutish men would release my arms!” She demanded. “It’s getting uncomfortable.”

Through the mind–link, I ordered my men to release the witch but to remain on guard in case she tries something. She wiggled her arms to get some feeling back into them before unbuttoning the maroon blouse she wore and exposed the mark over her left breast,

She held the Garnet Moon pack mark, in the same area as Kiya’s. Although, it was strange for a witch to bond to a werewolf pack, but it wasn’t impossible. “Name?”

“Phoebe Lacey.”

Kiya

“Phoebe!” There was no way she was standing in front of me. Phoebe engulfed me into a tight hug, her head burrowing in my shoulder. Some pup trainees stopped to see the reunion with their trainer and the strange woman. “What are you doing here?”

“We have to talk.” She stated with her purple eyes quivering in fear. Wasting no time, I asked Adama, Kwame’s brother, to lead the next training sessions. Jackie and the others caught up as soon as they got a whiff of

Phoebe’s wild berry scent. In no time, the six of us sat in Neron’s office with him. Kwame and Valerian joined

“Does Alpha Anthony know that you’re here?” Sapphire asked.

“Um.” Her eyes darted to the side. “No?”

“How did you get here? Galen asked, crossing his arms,

“Teleportation. I’m not sitting in a car for five hours.”

“You could have called us.” Abigail smiled. “This is such a surprise,”

“I didn’t have time. This is too urgent for a phone call.” Phoebe’s eyes found mine. “Because I know you’ve awakened, Kiya.”

My eyes widened. How? There was no way she could have known. She couldn’t detect that power from afar! Then again, witches were powerful. They had magle and senses beyond that of a werewolf. “Yeah…I did.”

“That puts you in more danger than before,” Phoebe replied, sending shivers down my spine. “How’s the

selenite?”

My gaze lands on the bracelet around my wrist. “It’s fine, but it doesn’t feel or look as powerful as it used to.”

“Your awakening weakened the wards I put in them to protect you, thus rendering them useless. You have more power than before, and the original wards only worked if you haven’t awakened. I brought more that could help you.”

“Wait,” Neron spoke, expression dark. “Backtrack. What trouble are you speaking of? Does it have to do with that beast from last night?”

Phoebe’s fear became palpable. “Beast? What beast?”

My mind quaked at last night’s recollection; the hunter’s emotionless face and robotic killer–like movements. “He was bigger than Neron. Much bigger, about twice his build. He wore black and-”

“White skin? Red eyes? Black hair?”

“Yes!” I exclaimed. “How did you know?”

“Wait, you got attacked last night on your date?” Jackie exclaimed, jumping into protective mode. “Little Bit,

why didn’t you tell us?”

“I was going to…”

“Stop!” Phoebe exclaimed, sighing heavily as if she ran a marathon. “This is much worse than I thought. They sent Cerberus after you.”

“Cerberus?” Kwame asked.

“The avatar bounty hunter. Its sole mission is to hunt down awakened avatars.” The witch sighed heavily again, but this time, it was as if the weight had visibly added to her shoulders. “Avatars are powerful beings born and created from the hands of the gods. Across the pantheons: Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and others, they

Chapter 11 – The Warning

make avatars to spread their holy messages to all the species on earth, supernatural or otherwise. Some call us demigods. However, not every deity creates an avatar, and we aren’t born in the same lifetime. We may skip lifetimes. Unfortunately, when the avatar awakens to their true power, they become a beacon. A beacon that’s hunted down for their power. The fact that Cerberus attacked you means that the Masters know who you are.”

“Phoebe, how do you know so much about this?” I asked. “And who are the Masters?”

“The Masters are part of an underground cult cut off from the human and supernatural world.” Her eyes cast down to her lap. “They have branches that stretch through multiple states of the United States with different leaders and rules. I spent my childhood in that cult, surrounded by corrupt witches. My parents were corrupt witches as well, using their magic to harm and torment. When I showed signs of being Hecate’s avatar, they kept me for a different purpose.”

Phoebe took a napkin out of her pocket and wiped the makeup off the back of her neck, revealing a brown birthmark. The symbol of the triple moon goddess. “This is the telltale sign. I grew up thinking I would never escape the pain of being used for the

over the country and use them for it’s purpose. To answer to their leader. The Masters hunt avatars all

power for a secret cause that many kept to themselves faithfully.”

“How did you escape?” Darien whispered, worried.

“I…I don’t want to talk about that. I’ve said too much about my past already.” Her eyes were on me again. “But the fact remains that now the cult knows about you and its main leader, whoever it is. You’re a beacon of hope and light to all werewolf kind, Kiya. You and Artemis are a powerful duo that no elder or Alpha could ever hope to be. Your power puts a target on your back for others to hunt you and use you, Cerberus is nothing compared to what else is in store.”

I slumped back in my chair, taking in the gravity of Phoebe’s words. Every word, every sentence, added ten tons of cinder block on my shoulders. It weighed heavily on my heart. “I’ll never be safe, will I? How did you remain hidden all this time?”

“Hecate is a deity who takes protection seriously. Garnet Moon is my home, my refuge, and I protect it with the help of hidden wards around the territory.” She took my hand into her cool, soft ones. “I’ll do anything to protect it and you. You’re my friend and I cannot let you fall in their hands.”

She looks at Neron, Valerian, and Kwame. When I looked at Neron, I noticed his claws digging into the arms of his chair, desperately trying to hold back his fury. Phoebe’s past was something she never talked about, and it Bave

me insight into what was potentially after me.

“What could we do to help, Miss Phoebe?” Valerian asked what was on everyone’s minds. “Could we stop the cult members from getting to Kiya?”

“Before you ask that, Valerian, I need to know something.” I interrupted. Swallowing a nervous gulp of air, I spoke. “Danger is coming to me, I get it. But does that also mean I’m putting everyone else in danger by being here? Cerberus almost beat Neron to death just to get me. Would he do the same to anyone else?”

“He’s a beast on a mission. He’ll do anything and everything to complete it…even murder. That’s how he was programmed. The cult wants you, wants us because of what our goddesses blessed us with. They would do anything to capture any avatar they come across.”

Phoebe sat up straight, dug into her pocket, and gave me a jingling bag filled with more selenite, this time heavy with power. “You can give me your old selenite and I can use that to put protection wards around Zircon Moon to keep your energy shielded for as long as you remain here.”

I nodded, sparing glances at Neron, whose eyes caught mine momentarily. Embarrassed, I look away. There was so much on the line here. All because of me. “Okay, Phoebe. We should call Anthony and let him know that you’re here so we can-”

FIRE!”

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