Crystal
"Crystal?" The familiar deep voice came from the other end of the call.
"Hey Uncle Victor." I spoke in a shaky voice.
"What's wrong?" He asked immediately.
I sucked in a deep breath.
We were at one of the Woodfell army bases and I watched as soldiers loaded the vehicle we would be using for our rescue mission.
I walked back into the forest away from the yelling of orders and the commotion.
Raphael had said we didn't have much time. We didn't know what Tristan was planning so we needed to get a move on.
But I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my family.
I wasn't sure what I was doing with this whole rescue mission. I didn't have nearly as much training as the other soldiers unless you counted the training I had while in the AAP. And even then, it had been with the poison in my system.
"Why would anything be wrong?" I tried to keep my voice light but even I knew that wasn't possible in this situation.
Uncle Victor sighed. "You haven't checked in in a while."
"Yeah I know, uhm, things have been a little crazy over here." I spoke as I tugged on one of my braids. I had tamed it by doing two braids which I had decided to tie back.
Hair definitely wouldn't be a priority out on the fields.
"How's everyone? Hazel? Parker?" I was clearly trying to stall as I tried to find a way to tell him what was really happening.
"Crystal, what's going on? Lockdowns are starting, where are you, Crystal? You should be home with us - your family."
I swallowed. Uncle Victor had respected my need to want to be at the alphas manor after Tristan had been taken.
But I knew he never expected it to be a long term thing especially with the environment right now.
"Luna," I looked up and saw Nia, "we leave soon."
"Who was that? What do they mean by that? Where are you going?" I heard Uncle Victor ask as he grew more and more frantic.
"Uncle Victor, I can -"
"No Crystal, you need to come home. Whatever it is I don't want to hear it. Come home. It's not safe out there."
"It's Tristan, Uncle Victor." I spoke trying to be firm, hoping that was explanation enough.
"Ornyx has him and I need to get him back." I spoke again quickly before he could say anything else.
Uncle Victor was quiet but I knew what he was fighting to say, 'what are you going to do about it?'
"I need to find him. You would do the same thing for Aunt Sarah." I rushed out the words.
My uncle was silent for a few seconds. I heard him suck in a deep breath.
"You're not going to tell me where you are right now, are you? Or where you're going."
I bit my lower lip to stop it shaking.
If this didn't go well, I would never see him or the rest of my family ever again. I would never see my dad ever again.
I hadn't spoken to him in years and he didn't even know the truth about any of this. He would live forever simply believing my mum and I just left him.
"I'm sorry. It's- it's kind of supposed to be a secret anyway. But... could you tell Aunt Sarah and Parker, Hazel and Kat that I love them so much."
I couldn't bring myself to talk to Kat. To say goodbye to her. I don't even know what reaction would bring on. Would she somehow understand? Because I was doing it for love.
Would she hate me for this? Think I was being selfish and reckless?
For Chris, somehow it was even harder. I couldn't look him in the eye and tell him that I needed to leave. So I had cowardly sent him a text message of all things. I didn't know what he would think. But I knew, like i had been some part of him still believed in a Roman who didn't exist. Chris hadn't seen him like I had.
"I was supposed to protect you and keep you safe, Crystal." He spoke clear pain in his voice. I couldn't stop the tear that slid out. I quickly wiped it away.
"Inspite of everything your mother has been sucked into, I was supposed to look out for you." He repeated.
"You did an awesome job at making me feel like I had a family again. You did your part, Uncle Victor, now I need to take a stand."
"Luna," this time Raphael is the one who appeared dressed in a black combat suit, looking stern, "we have to go."
"Bridget said that protection will still be afforded to you... so just stay in the safe house, okay?"
"Crystal -"
I shut my eyes tightly. "Goodbye Uncle Victor, I love you so, so much."
I didn't wait for his response before in hung up.
I didn't want Raphael to see me cry and think me weaker than he probably already perceived me so I clenched my hand into a fist feeling my nails dig into my hand and forced myself to remain stoic.
We had a mission to complete.
I walked up to Raphael seeing that everyone had already boarded the vehicle. Except Nia who stood at attention watching us seriously.
"I'm ready." I told him with a firm nod.
Raphael had a tablet in his hand which he tapped on and showed me. It was a map of the woods. "We're navigating somewhat strange territory. None of us have been in the southern woods in a long time.
Bridget had a covert agent give the Jerry pack a warning to stay away and toughen up their border security."
I furrowed my brows in concern. "This is their territory, could someone get hurt with us fighting a battle there?"
Raphael didn't show much emotion but I could tell he was uncomfortable. "Unfortunately Ornyx chose to camp there and Tristan was right, we need to use this surprise as an advantage. I'm not part of the first wave but I know the commander will try to keep as many stragglers away from them. They'll be using this path." He used his finger to trace a route through the woods to a circled area.
"I don't think Ornyx will be too unprepared so I told them to be ready in case they meet troops on the way. We need to invade their camp and find Ornyx."
"Cut off the head." I breathed out.
"Exactly." Raphael nodded. "Our group is going in like this." He traced a path that went round the one the Silvercrest army would be taken and seemed to be hitting the red circle from the back.
"If Ornyx tries to flee, I have a feeling he'll come through here. Either way, it's our job to find him and kill him.
Our army should cause enough chaos for us to move in undetected."
"They'll get there before us?" I asked.
Raphael shrugged. "No telling. They're moving in their wolf forms. Most of them anyway. We've got a vehicle which we'll have to abandon before we go in. Your connection to Tristan should make it easier to find him. Bridget will give us the signal. But we need to go now."
I nodded as I tried to take in all the information. This was really happening.
I walked to the back of the vehicle.
"Heard anything from Bridget yet?" Raphael asked. He looked at me. "We've been trying to contact her for a final report before we head out." He explained before heading for the front.
Nia let out a huff as she shook her head and started tapping on her phone. "No, still nothing."
I figured Bridget didn't have time to answer any calls while being the bad ass alpha she was. Besides she had basically told us that this was an off the books mission which she couldn't be involved in. So o wasn't too surprised.
Andrew held out his hand so that I could climb into the back of the vehicle but before I could take it, I heard something between a gasp and a yelp escape Nia's mouth.
I turned to look at her and so did everyone else.
She looked like she was drained of colour. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the screen.
"What is it?" Raphael asked as he turned to look at her.
Nia trembled slightly before swallowing hard seemingly to compose herself.
She finally looked up at us.
"Alpha... Alpha Bridget is dead."
Tristan
People chanted all around us. Mostly profanities and insults towards me as the guard dragged me to a crowd that had gathered in a circle.
Some spat at me, others threw stuff.
I tried to ignore them and remain focused on the mission.
My eyes squinted to adjust to the sun.
The various Shadow pack members glared and watched me with nothing but hatred in their eyes as I was pushed into the clearing they encircled.
I fell to my feet, my knees scrapping the ground.
I hissed in pain.
The yelling seemed to grow only louder and I heard laughs as well as more mocking.
When I looked up, I saw Roman on the other end. He wore nothings but a pair of black shorts and had a single black line painted on his face.
Ornyx stood by his side looking like a proud father. Theresa was beside him as well and I remembered Meggy's comment about her possibly taking over if anything happened to Ornyx.
Again I wondered how she could possibly be Crystal's mother.
And as if I couldn't harbour any more hatred, I caught movement in my periphery. I turned and saw none other than Captain Park push her way through the crowd to stand in front.
She had a straight look on her face with no emotion at all.
I wanted to charge at her right now, rip her to shreds.
But unfortunately that wasn't the plan.
I turned back just in time to see Ornyx step up into the circle.
He lifted a hand immediately causing silence to fall upon everyone.
"My werewolves!" He exclaimed. "We witness history today."
His dark eyes landed on me. "Today we finally get vindication! We get to witness my son who bravely sacrificed more than anyone has ever done for this pack tear down our biggest foe!"
Cheering erupted.
I turned to look at Roman. He was still and he simply lifted his chin silently taking in all the praise.
"And then," Ornyx continued. They all silenced down ready to drink in all his crap anxiously, "my troops shall march into Silvercrest now, ready to tear his people apart."
The cheering was even louder.
I turned and glared at Captain Park. She remained focused on her 'alpha' looking straight ahead and serious.
"And to add a cherry to this already delicious cake." Ornyx chuckled and the sound disturbed me all the more.
When I turned my attention back on him, I found he was already looking at me. "My dear granddaughter, pure Shadowpack and heir to my throne - the only remnant of my son shall be retrieved. She may me home with her real family. With the superior species and pack!"
They cheered celebrating someone they didn't even know.
This time I looked at Theresa thinking I would see pride but in a split second I saw her frown.
I furrowed my brows.
I didn't have time to question what that had meant because at that moment, Ornyx walked back and patted Roman on the shoulder.
Roman gave him a small bow before stepping forward.
I tensed ready for anything.
I needed to make quick work of getting rid of Roman. Then I needed to get Ornyx.
He stood with no one but Theresa beside him. But I couldn't overlook his hundreds of brain washed Pack members who would probably try to get in between us if they saw what I was trying to do.
I did a quick scan around wondering if Meggy had managed to get out of the cave like she had said she would.
I might need her to cover me to get to Ornyx.
I dragged my bare foot on the ground. I needed to end up on Romans side of the ring. I would be closer to him.
He probably wouldn't be expecting any attack.
But then again, this was Ornyx Van Cliffe we were talking about. I would need to give it my all. Leave no room for retaliation.
"In the times of old!" Roman spoke as he held out his hand to a man I hadn't noticed had been lingering around. "Our ancestors strengthened their bodies as much as their wolves." I realised that what the man was giving roman was a staff.
Not a staff, a spear.
The kind our ancestors used back in the day.
About a meter long with two sharp ends.
I turned and saw a woman approaching me with one as well. At first I took a step back thinking she would stab me.
In the past our ancestors would also line these spears with wolfsbane, awarding whoever was unfortunate to get struck with it, a very painful death.
She offered the spear to me.
I hesitated but took it.
"I chose trial by sparing to honour the ways of old which our pack and our mighty Alpha Ornyx fight to preserve." Roman explained.
I turned to him. So we wouldn't be in our wolf forms.
I couldn't help but snarl.
Meggy was right about one thing, Roman was still a halfling. He wouldn't have stood a chance against my wolf.
And he probably knew it. Hence this nonsense.
I twirled the spear in my hands. No matter, I would still kill him just as quickly.
He nodded at me. "Tristan Melrose, I challenge you to a duel by sparring. May the best man win." He spoke.
Indeed.
I put one foot in front of myself and crouched, getting into position.
I heard a whistle blow and charged.
Crystal
The tanker was quiet as we drove through the woods.
The sun was setting and I knew we were all shaken by the idea that any time from now Ornyx would strike.
But I think we could all agree that the darker news upon us right now was that of Bridget.
I couldn't believe she could be dead.
Succumbed to the poison, Nia had said.
I know Bridget and I didn't see eye to eye but I was more shattered by the news than I would have expected.
Mostly because I had subconsciously begun to think of her as an extension of Tristan.
Tristan loved and cared about her. She was his confidant, his second in command, his best friend...
In a way I felt like a failure as I thought about how if we rescued him, he wouldn't be coming back to her.
I knew things were bad and getting worse for her but I have to admit that I didn't put much thought into the idea that she could be breathing her last breaths.
I wondered if I could have done more had I put my efforts into it or even paid more attention.
I mean the exact same poison had been in my system for years, maybe I could have developed antibodies that could have helped her.
I looked up anxiously at the time.
According to Raphael we had an hour to get to Tristan. I don't know if I would be able to make it there after the army. Especially after the news.
I clenched my fist knowing Ornyx would probably be more than satisfied with the news. He would consider all of us weak.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I saw Raphael get up and walk over to sit opposite me.
Nia had taken over the driving.
"Joshua and Mikey have officially been appointed as alpha." He announced as he handed me his tablet.
I looked at the screen seeing a paused video of Mikey and Joshua in the manor.
I looked back at Raphael. "What are they doing?" I asked.
They were both wearing combat gear and it was clear that they were standing in Tristan's office at home. They weren't along though. Alpha Randall stood right behind them towering over the twins looking every bit intimidating.
Nia let out a breath. "They're sending a message out to Ornyx."
I pressed play on the video.
"Good evening Silvercrest and greetings to our fellow wolves over in the Shadow pack camp."
I could tell everyone else was listening in with me.
"We are distressed to hear that our long term foe, Ornyx has declared war on us. And not only us. War on the Silvercrest pack means war on the entire werewolf union."
Alpha Randall nodded firmly.
"We do not take threats lightly. And we do not appreciate anyone threatening the peace the union has fought hard for. The peace my parents and my brother fought hard for. So Ornyx," I saw Joshua's jaw clench, "do not expect mercy."
With that the video ended.
I looked up at Raphael.
"Why did they do that?" I asked wondering if it was grief that drove them to make the move.
Raphael set the tablet down. "It's smart." He spoke finally.
I didn't know what he meant by that, Ornyx was notorious for going after the alphas of his enemy packs. Joshua and Mikey were Melroses. That fuelled his anger more. He wouldn't hesitate.
"You think they can handle this?" I asked Raphael in confusion.
"They're older than Tristan was when he became alpha." He spoke.
Was that supposed to make things better?
I could tell Raphael could see that I was still confused. He leaned forward.
"Ornyx - if he's even capable of being rattled needs to be. He'll be planning an attack on his terms but with the inside tip from Tristan, we get yo surprise him. But we still need him yo believe his in control. Mikey and Josh's message makes it seem like we're only accepting his ultimatum."
I thought about Ornyx's video and how he had said Tristan or the current Silvercrest alpha would have yo concede to be spared.
Neither were backing down.
I swallowed as I remembered the sight of Tristan in the video.
"He'll want Tristan alive." Raphael spoke as if reading my mind. "Ornyx is sadistic like that. I wasn't there but word is alpha Jean almost bit off his fingers when he had captured her. She wouldn't go calmly. He didn't get the chance to make her suffer. And with what happened to Xavier, I'm sure he has been planning his revenge for years. He'll want a Melrose to feel it."
I gulped. That didn't make me feel any better.
"We should hurry." I spoke.
Raphael nodded in agreement.
"We'll be there within the hour. I just wanted to discuss a part of the plan with you before we get there."
I looked at him in confusion. We had already gone through various scenarios and plans A, B, C and D. It was engraved in my mind. I couldn't risk messing anything up for Tristan.
So what more could he want to discuss.
Raphael reached out and took out a small glass vial. Almost the size of my pinky finger.
It had a purple substance in it that I recognised immediately.
"Amrodia?"
It was the same colour as my necklace had been.
Raphael nodded.
"We don't know what we'll meet over there but we know one thing," he leaned back, "you won't be a target like the rest of us."
I looked up at him. I'm pretty sure the Shadow pack wouldn't take kindly to me storming in there and demanding my mate.
"I mean Ornyx will want you." He explained. "He said it in the videos and it makes sense seeing as to how you're his only living heir that we know of. He'll give you a chance and if things go sideways with the rest of us and you get close enough to him -"
"You want me to poison him?" I asked in shock.
Raphael's expression remained serious as he nodded.
"Even the smallest direct drop is deadly. It's twenty times more potent than wolfsbane."
I took the tiny vial from him and studied it closely.
"And if I can't do it?" I felt ashamed even asking that question in a vehicle with people about to risk their lives on a rescue mission I had come up with.
Raphael held no sympathy in his eyes. "This is war, Luna. There is no room for mercy or sympathy."
I clutched the vial in my hand and nodded slowly.
This all felt even more real. It was time for battle and whether I liked it or not, I was in the middle of it.
Tristan
The first time I went into battle, Raphael had been there, my big brother in the army if you would like.
He taught me that in war there was no room for mercy, no room for hesitation. Especially if you were dealing with the shadow pack.
Wanna know the funniest thing about war? You're both fighting for what you think is right. And even Ornyx and his extremist views seemed right to him.
And that's where I sided with my mother and not my father.
There was no reasoning in the moment. No diplomacy, just kill or be killed.
And as I started at Roman, I knew he felt the same way.
He was breathing heavily.
We encircled each other both glaring and focused.
So far neither of us had managed to get in any hits.
I was slower and out of it from being a prisoner here. My my reflexes were still sharp and instinctual.
I was able to evade Roman's spear. He came in hard and hot but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was holding back.
Roman had always been full Shadow pack, he was trained to go in for the kill. I had seen him in my program and I knew that if he had wanted me dead, I would have been a sheeshkebab by now.
He was holding back and I didn't know why.
I was slower, not at my best physically. If I was in my wolf form, my senses and strength would have been significantly better and he must have known that. So why insist on this form of battle.
"Ah!"
I narrowly missed getting my face scratched off by Roman's blade as he came jumping towards me.
I quickly recovered and thrust my own spear at him but he jumped back quickly.
He swiftly jumped to the side and tried to poke me but I got on the ground and rolled away. I got to my feet immediately as Roman turned around looking angry.
The crowd booed and yelled obscenities but I tried not to listen to them and stay focused.
My eyes skimmed the crowd and I saw Ornyx standing scarily still with Theresa by his side as he watched the whole thing with a clenched jaw.
I needed to stop the defence game and take care of Roman so that I could handle him.
He wouldn't see it coming with the way he had left himself so exposed.
A spear to the chest would do just the trick.
Roman charged at me again letting out a cry as he used both hands to propel the spear towards me.
This time I didn't move but met him head on, using my spear for defence, I held it in front of my body firmly and stopped Roman's attack.
Looking a bit off guard his eyes landed on mine and widened slightly.
He knew I was done with the defence game.
He tried to lift his spear no doubt to strike but I beat him to it and used my own to sweep his from under him causing him to lose balance.
I took the opportunity and kicked him in the chest sending him backwards.
There were gasps that escaped from the crowd.
He stumbled but didn't fall.
When he looked up I saw the same fear for a second but that just melted into a new found determination.
Well same here buddy.
He didn't understand one thing. I knew him.
As I said, I had watched him in my AAP. He held back so much he had gotten used to it.
The thing about Roman is that he has a skill that surpassed most of his opponents. He didn't need brute strength when he was as crafty as he was. His two worlds were conflicting against each other; the Shadow in him and the Silvercrest.
As much as he never truly was one of us, he had pretended to be long enough to have it imprinted in his body.
He had never learnt to truly separate the two.
"Finish him, son." Ornyx ordered.
Roman had a fierce look on his face.
He growled and charged again.
This time coming in harder than ever. He didn't give me the chance to rest as ai was forced into defence with his aggressive offence.
The crowd started cheering as I was pushed back by his attacks. Roman left no room for me to strike so I was forced to let him exert himself.
That's until, the first blood was drawn.
I didn't even feel the cut.
But the burning sensation that came after.
I looked down for a second and saw the hood seeping from the cut Roman had given me on my foot.
The moment of distraction allowed him to swipe my feet from under me sending me falling on my back.
The cheering was defeating now as I felt pain shoot up my back.
"This is for Crystal. Don't worry, she'll be way safer with me." He whispered as he held up the weapon aiming for my chest.
I let out a growl as I mustered all my strength to kick him back.
I quickly got back to my feet although my left out literally felt like it was on fire now.
What had they laced these spears with?
I hadn't realised how hard I had kicked Roman but his spear had gone skidding away from him, before he could recover it, I ran towards him charging. I swiped the spear and it created a gash in his cheek.
He cried out in pain and fell to his knees.
I heard gasps and saw people attempt to rush forward.
I kicked Roman in the face and he fell to his back.
I stepped up to him, rabid and placed a foot on his chest.
He had blood pouring out his mouth.
I was breathing heavily and I could only imagine how wild I looked as I raised the spear aiming for him heart.
"Enough!" I heard a yell.
I looked up and saw Ornyx.
My foot was still firmly pressed against Roman.
"You do not interfere in a duel. Those are the rules of old." I hissed at him.
Everyone watched anxiously and I wondered if they would stand for their leader - who preached and held the rules of old on a pedestal- I wondered if they would let him break them.
Ornyx took off the robe he had been wearing revealing his pack tattoos on his chest.
"A proper duel should be among worthy opponents. The boy, he is weak. I held him to a high standard but his human blood shall always limit him."
I looked down at Roman, he looked visibly hurt.
"If you still wish to kill him, do it. But I should have fought you myself from the beginning. After all, this all begun with our ancestors." He spoke as he entered the ring and grabbed Roman's spear.
I looked down at Roman then up at Theresa who had a desperate and pleading look on her face.
I swallowed hard and took my foot off Roman. He scrambled to his feet. He looked like he planned on charging on me again but Theresa was immediately at him side pulling him away.
"So be it." I spoke walking away from him and towards the person who was always supposed to be my real challenger.
My hand around the spear tightened.
I wondered if Meggy had managed to get out.
I willed myself to stay focused and determined.
With or without her this was the plan and now he had presented himself willingly.
I couldn't let the opportunity go.
"Your mother was valiant." Ornyx spoke as he marched towards me with determination.
There was no foreplay like with Roman, he wasn't about to start playing any games and stall.
I mirrored his attitude, all the rage that this man had caused suddenly came spilling into me.
He dared to talk about her.
"She impressed me by not going down easy." He continued now only feet away from me. "Let's see if you shall honour her memory, boy."
He made a wide arch with the spear only narrowly missing my abdomen.
Blood pounded in my ears but I didn't have the chance to breathe because at that moment, the spear came sweeping in again.
Ornyx's movements were savage, seeking blood and damage unapologetically.
I planted my feet to the ground and started charging again refusing to be sent into defence again.
We sparred so aggressively, I'm surprised the spears didn't break, generations of anger and spite spilling into our actions.
Ornyx slashed at my left arm and I let out a yell as he left a gash right on my forearm.
I immediately lost strength in in and fell landing on my left knee.
Between my arm and my leg, I could feel the poison entering my bloodstream, making me slower and weaker.
Things weren't looking good for me but I knew quitting wasn't an option.
With my left arm feeling paralysed, I quickly got to my feet and jumped back just as Ornyx's spear hit the ground where I had just been.
I used my right hand to reposition my weapon, testing how it felt.
Fighting with one hand gave me a major disadvantage but if I could strike Ornyx even just once, it would be worth it.
Ornyx grinned as he advanced slowly on me as if he were mocking me.
The poison would kill me and I think he knew that.
"You refuse to die on your knees, boy alpha. I can respect that." He shrugged. "Maybe we could have made a Van Cliffe out of you after all."
I started feeling weaker and weaker.
My courage was dwindling by the second as the poison took on its effects.
"Yield." Ornyx hissed.
My vision slowly started to become blurry.
I sucked in a deep breath. Just a few more seconds Tristan.
"Go to hell." I spat.
Ornyx stepped towards me looking humoured.
"So be it." He spoke with a chuckle.
He lifted his spear, "after you, I'm going to wipe out the whole Melrose clan, starting with your brothers."
At that moment, I found a burst of energy I had been holding back. I swiped at the one open spot Ornyx had left for me in his attack stance.
The spear grazed along his abdomen immediately creating a cut.
He was caught off guard and dropped his spear.
His hand flew to his stomach as he stared at me in disbelief.
A simultaneous gasp escapes the crowd and a dozen soldiers rushed forward.
I felt all my strength leave me as I fell down to the floor.
I coughed out and saw blood escape with my saliva.
Dark spots started appearing in my vision field.
I saw Ornyx raise a hand stopping his soldiers from advancing.
He raised his hand and stared at the blood as if in disbelief.
The cut obviously hadn't been deep enough to cause too much damage. Which was more than I could say for myself. I knew that I was fading.
I knew that my time was coming.
Ornyx advanced on me, recovering his spear.
I waited, holding my breath but staring him right in the eye.
And then I heard it.
Screams.
Suddenly Ornyx was kicked back and I saw Meggy standing over me.
Ornyx stumbled back but quickly recovered.
He scowled at her. "You little pest."
"Meggy! No!" Roman yelled.
Meggy grabbed my spear and aimed at Ornyx.
"I should have killed you a long time ago." Ornyx told her.
"Likewise." She spoke.
I heard some more yells and suddenly there was ruffling all around.
I couldn't focus as the world seemed to become more and more out of focus but I forced myself into a sitting position immediately feeling dizzy.
Meggy was fighting Ornyx.
All around people had started shuffling or at least I think they were. I couldn't tell with my mind feeling so fuzzy.
"Alpha! Silvercrest has infiltrated the space!" I heard someone yell.
I thought I had heard wrong but then I saw Meggy get shoved to the ground. She landed right next to me hitting her head hard on the ground but she was still moving.
I looked up and saw Ornyx looking down at both of us with nothing but hatred.
"Pests." He hissed.
His spear came down in a flash and the only thing I remember was seeing my left leg ooze out blood and then... darkness.