Unrelenting Destiny [COMPLETED]

10. Hercules

Luciana Faith Moore

It was the most stressful six and a half hours in the Beta's life. He was speeding back to his territory, much to Luci's fear. She had tried to ask him what had happened but he had so little information himself.

"Gamma Embry was frantic. I don't know what happened but he says something is wrong with my Alpha." Jasper had told her soon after they had left her pack territory.

They had spent little time stopping for gas or breaks for him to rest. He had even allowed Luci to drive a short amount of time so he could nap for half an hour without losing any time. She had watched over him with worried looks the entire time, feeling his unease and stress like it was her own. As if their situation wasn't strained enough, now there seemed to be trouble with his pack.

She selfishly wondered if this would affect their announcement to the pack. What if they had to handle this new situation and she was left to the side while he dealt with it? She had no where to stay in Astral Twilight, especially not if Orianna wasn't aware of her existence. Luci almost wished she stayed back home.

Their speeding and nonstop drive got them to Astral Twilight in record time. When they crossed the borders, Jasper had tried to mindlink with Alpha Ivan and then Gamma Embry, not reaching anyone. He had even tried to contact Orianna, but even she had been difficult to reach. His eyes were dark, his wolf feeling some sort of evil the moment they crossed the border.

Eve murmured in Luci's mind, Something is off...something dark. I can't put my paw on it, but it is not good.

They reached the pack house, a crowd had gathered, two ambulance lights shining in the afternoon sun just outside. Jasper stopped the truck, hopping out and practically running towards them. Luci sat frozen, unsure of what to do. She decided to stay in the truck for now, shrinking down in her seat as she stared out the window with fear.

Jasper Orion Deveraux

Jasper pushed through the crowd of his pack, barking in his Beta voice, "Out of my way! Someone tell me what's going on!" The crowd parted, eyes boring into his back as he made his way to the entrance. The scene in front of him made his eyes widen with surprise.

Alpha Ivan sat on the steps of the pack house, his wrists cuffed behind him with a tightly wrapped rope. Four bodies covered in sheets were being brought out of the house - one of them very very small. Jasper growled, "What the hell happened here? Ivan?!"

Alpha Ivan remained silent, staring blankly at the ground like he couldn't hear him. Jasper moved to one of the sheets, the responder who had been carrying it, moving aside for his Beta. Jasper stared in horror as he pulled it back, the bloodied face of Luna Saravie underneath. His Luna's face was clawed, deep gouges of dark, still wet blood raked across. Her shoulders were bruised and battered, the remnants of her clothing torn. Jasper heaved with a sudden wave of nausea, the responder covering her once more as he stumbled backwards. He watched as another body was carried out and headed to the ambulance. Jasper reached out with a shaky hand, seeing the outline of a child unmoving beneath. But he could not bring himself to see, overcome with shock as he fell onto the dirt. 

Gamma Embry emerged, covered in blood, carrying the baby Ilyana in his arms. The baby was swaddled, hidden from the crowd that had gathered. Jasper looked up, stumbling to his feet as he met the Gamma.

"What happened here, Embry?" Jasper demanded weakly, gaze unblinking at the bundle in the Gamma's arms. It wasn't moving.

Embry was a tanned man with long black hair and dark eyes, he was tall and built but at that moment, he looked weak. His grip on the baby tightened, tears gathering in his eyes as he turned his back to the pack. He murmured to Jasper in a shaky voice, "He killed them, Jas... Luna Saravie, the boys... Ilyana." Jasper's chest caved as Embry moved the little bundle, the colorless face with blueish-purple eyelids exposed to the Beta. Jasper stumbled backwards, shaking as he stared in fear. 

Embry gave the baby to one of the responders, turning back to the Beta before inhaling sharply, "I'll tell you everything but first we need to... we need to disperse the pack."

Numb, Jasper turned towards the pack, their wide eyes and fearful expressions mirroring what he felt just under the surface. He mustered his Beta voice, "Everyone, please return to your homes. We will address everything soon. But I must discuss with Gamma Embry."

They had no choice but to obey, turning back and leaving the scene. The ambulances roared away towards the hospital, taking all four bodies away with them. Soon, the pack house entrance was occupied only by Alpha Ivan, Beta Jasper, Gamma Embry, and the still-hiding Luciana in the pickup truck. Jasper seemed to forget about her, turning and stalking towards Alpha Ivan. A sharp crack filled the heavy air as Jasper's fist collided with his Alpha's face. The man fell over, laying at the bottom of the stairs his nose broke and bloodied, but no other reaction came from him.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Ivan?!" Jasper gasped out in anger, his muscles tense and expression full of rage and confusion, "What possessed you to do this? To Luna Saravie? To- to your children?"

But he remained silent as Embry put a hand on Jaspers's shoulder, "He hasn't said anything since I found him..."

"What happened, Embry?" Jasper voice cracked, crumbling to the ground as he sat there in defeat.

Embry crouched next to him, taking a deep breath, "Ivan was acting strangely this morning. He woke me up early, sent me and the hunters out on patrols on the far borders. We just figured he was being thorough in case there were any rogue stragglers from The Claiming. When we returned, the Omegas had been dismissed, the house was empty. I went upstairs to check in with him and... he was standing there in the middle of his room, covered in blood, standing over the four of them."

Embry shuddered, Jasper reaching out and giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder to continue, "He looked crazed, his eyes were black like his wolf had taken over everything but his physical body. When I opened the door, he turned and looked at me with this confused expression. He looked like himself again. But when he saw the Luna and the pups, he just screamed and screamed. He was blaming everyone else, asking who did it, wondering why we didn't stop it. When I told him that it was him... that he had... murdered his entire family, it looks like he went into shock. He just stared and didn't say anything. Even when we called the ambulance and managed to get the...bodies out of the room, he just sat there." Their eyes turned to look at their Alpha, who was still laying on the ground in a fetal position, nursing his broken nose and whimpering.

Ivan had never been a commanding sort. He was likeable and friendly. The pack regarded him like an older brother in many ways. It didn't make any sense for him to be violent, especially not towards his mate and pups. Jasper shook with equal rage and confusion, getting to his feet with Embry's help. He moved to Ivan, grabbing him by the shoulder and forcing him to stand.

"You need to start talking, Ivan." Jasper's voice was grave and deep, darkness shadowing his eyes.

But the look in Ivan's eyes disturbed him. Ivan was clearly broken, his eyes red and seemed to not have any regard for the stream of blood coming from his nose - blood that mixed with the dried remnants of his own family. He murmured incoherent words, something about mistakes and how he didn't know what he was doing.

Jasper inhaled, trying to steady his breath. He could feel the unease of the rest of the pack, the tittering of their gossip as they stayed as close to the scene as possible. Those in the neighboring houses were peering from their windows. He looked over to Embry, "Gamma, put him in the basement cells for now... We won't know how to deal with him until he gathers himself. For now, I will need to address the pack."

"There won't be a way to cover this up, Beta Jasper," Embry said as he led Ivan inside towards the basement, "Everyone saw the bodies... we had been so rushed when we called the ambulance that there was no way for us to hide it before dispersing everyone."

"I know, you did the best you could, Em." Jasper nodded reassuringly as he turned away from them as they descended the stairs. Jasper stood with his back to the staircase, running his hand through his hair as he tried to gather himself. A small voice broke his racing thoughts, "Jasper?"

He looked up, ready to apologize to Luci for leaving her in the truck. But he was then enveloped in a hug with slender arms, suddenly surrounded by the scent of lavender and tea leaves. Orianna. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her, feeling some tension leave him as he was finally able to somewhat relax after his stressful last few hours. 

"I don't know what happened but I'm happy you're home." Orianna murmured into his chest.

"M-me too..." Jasper managed, exhaling shakily. Orianna looked up at him, lips moving closer towards him for a kiss. But Jasper froze, eyes catching the figure of Luciana at the entrance. She was hiding behind the frame, light blonde hair catching the light as she stared at him with a bit of hurt in her eyes. f**k. Right, he still had this entire other situation to address. It was all a bit too much. Jasper released Orianna, her hurt expression cutting into him before she turned, seeing Luci in the doorway. 

"What's she doing back here?"