The Lycan Queen

Chapter 11: Dark Times

    Daniel charged into the woods; he couldn’t let the wolf who did this get away for a second time. He never should have gotten away the first time. (Where the hell was Billy?) he thought as he dodged around trees. He had told him to meet him, while David got Rose to safety. He came to halt at the base of the mountain, tilting his head back he howled in frustration. Not only did he now have to tell his daughter that she had yet lost another person, but he also had to tell two parents that their daughter’s killer escaped. Frustrated and angry he turned and headed back to the pack house. Shifting back into his human form as he exited the woods. Meridah’s scream echoed into the night, he rushed to the courtyard to find his mate hysterical.

            “Meridah, Meridah what is it?” He asked shaking her by the shoulders. “She’s-She’s gone,” she cried out. He spun around searching the people for her face. This couldn’t be happening, not his child. He searched the crowd frantically but to no prevail. “Alpha,” David called running towards him. “Where is she?” Daniel roared. Puzzlement covered David’s face, “I left her with Billy like you ordered. I was coming to meet up with you to search for the attacker.” “You were supposed to stay with my daughter,” he growled. “Where the hell is Billy?” “I don’t know sir,” puzzled and confused he bowed in submission. Focused on David, Daniel barely had time to catch his mate as she fainted overwhelmed by the night’s events.

            “Alpha, there’s been another attack.” A warrior spoke through the pack’s link. “Where?” “The Western border.” “I’m on my way.” He motioned for two omegas to come to Meridah’s aide, “take her to her room and wait for the doctor.” He turned quickly heading to the Western border, “David, stay with me.” “Yes, Alpha.” He responded following his lead. Daniel approached the border with knots in his stomach, “Please don’t be her, please” he pleaded silently.  He slow let out a sigh of some relief when he saw the large figure laying on the ground, only for his heart to sink even more when he was close enough to make out the man laying injured on the ground. Laying motionless but still breathing was Billy. “Take him to the pack hospital, notify me the moment he wakes up,” Daniel ordered two warriors. “Yes, Alpha.” They spoke in union as they lifted Billy to carry him.

            Daniel sat his desk pinching the bridge of his nose, a dull headache beginning to form from the lack of sleep from the previous night. A sharp knock pulled him from his thoughts, “Come in.” David stepped in closing the door behind him. “Anything?” “No, the warriors searched the entire surrounding wooded area but came up empty handed.” Daniel let out a sigh, he had figured they wouldn’t but had hoped to be wrong. “I searched Rose’s room last night, after the doctor left from treating Meridah. I don’t know if it was restlessness or mere hope of finding something that may help from when she ran away to find Abel.” “Did you find anything useful?” “I found this in her desk drawer,” he spoke as he pulled what looked to be a necklace from his desk. “What is it?” David asked looking at the necklace dangling from Daniel’s fingers. The silver chain twirled allowing cone shaped jewel to reflect in the light. He didn’t recall ever seeing Rose where a sapphire-colored jewel before. “At first glance it would appear to be a simple necklace, but when you look closer, you’ll see it’s actually a vial full of some form of liquid.” “What do you think it is?” “I’m not sure, what I do know is it smells like magic.” “You think who ever is behind the attacks is working with a witch?” “I think it’s time we pay Terriza a visit.” Daniel spoke as he stood grabbing his keys from his desk.

            “To what do I owe the pleasure of you two gentlemen visiting me today?” Madam Terriza asked as she poured tea for the two Lycans. “My pack was attacked on two different occasions; two wolves lay in the hospital another awaits to be buried.” “While that does sound traffic Alpha, I don’t see what Lycan business has to do with me.” “My daughter was taken, upon searching for clues we discovered this,” he spoke as he laid the vial on the table before her. She picked up the vial turning it in between her fingers. Carefully she removed the cap sniffing the liquid inside of it, “Ah a potion from the dark ages.” “What do you mean?” “I believe your aware of the history of the great war, warlocks and witches fought as allies to the Lycans. You see the vampires and Lycan both share a strong ability of smell. To aide the Lycans in the ability of sneak attacks Merlin created a potion to hide their scent, allowing them to have the upper hand by traveling unnoticed.” “Can you tell me the witch that made the potion?” “I have never smelled this magic before, I don’t know who it could belong to.” “You and your sister practically run this town, you mean to tell me a witch was able to pass through here unnoticed and just so happen to cross paths with my daughter.” “Expecting me to know of every witch or warlock that happens to pass through this town is the equivalent of me expecting you to be aware that your daughter was conducting business with a person of magic. Now, while my heart goes out to you in these dark times, I have appointments to attend to gentlemen. Please see yourselves out.”

            Once they were back on the road David broke the silence, “Do believe her?” “No, I don’t trust her or her sister. I don’t know if you remember but her sister was shunned from performing any business with the Lycans after she was discovered aiding a traitor.” “I remember, didn’t she help the wolf who used a potion to cause your wolf to believe he had two mates?” “Indeed, she did, and although it has never been proven I believe she’s the witch who gave her the potion.” “So, what do you want to do now?” “When we arrive back, I want you to call the pack to the meeting hall these are dark times and its time we treat them as such. After I have spoken to the pack, we’ll gather some warriors to conduct a search. I just hope Billy wakes up soon and remembers who attacked him.”

            Daniel stood before the two thousand Lycans that waited for him to speak, his heart was heavy with the events that had taken place. He had tended on speaking to everyone as soon as they returned but had barely stepped out of his escalade when the Doctor had requested his immediate presence. He had approached the doors of the hospital with hope that Billy had awoken only to be met with the gut wrenching cries of a mother in morning. Sara’s wolf was too weak to heal her, she succumbed to her injuries. Another unnecessary death had befallen the pack. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, “These are dark times among us, two young wolves have lost their lives. Another wolf lays in the hospital unconscious. It is now more than ever that we must come together as a pack to care for one another and protect each other. Since this pack was established, it has known nothing but peace and tranquility. Never have we lived in fear, but these attacks they are by a Lycan. We have established that by the wounds of both Elaina and Sara. I stand before you today to assure you they will not have died in vain; I will bring justice to their deaths. For three days we will mourn, laying them to rest on the third night. On the fourth day I will be sending out a hundred soldiers to search for clues as to behind this. Rose is out there and if we find her it is my firm belief that we will find who is behind this. With the disappearance of Rose, I am also reinstating Abel as missing not dead. I ask you all to return to your rooms or homes and hold your loved ones tight. Hold them tight and pray that the Goddess brings peace to us once more.”

            Over the next three days the pack lived in solemn, laying the two young girls to rest on the third day. Daniel walked back towards the pack house supporting his grief-stricken mate with his arm around her waist. David approached him as he walked, “Billy just woke up.” “Have you spoken with him?” “No, I came straight to you as soon as the Doctor informed me.” Daniel motioned for an Omega to come over, “Take Meridah to her room and sit with her until I return.” Adjusting Meridah to where her weight was supported against her, the Omega began to lead Meridah toward the pack house allowing Daniel and David to head to the hospital. “For the thousandth time I’m fine,” Billy argued with the nurse taking his blood pressure as they entered the hospital room. “Sit back and let the nurse do her job, Bill.” David spoke as he took a seat in one of the chairs by the hospital bed. Daniel remained silent as he took the seat adjacent to David. The nurse recorded Billy’s vitals on his chart before leaving, closing the door behind her to give the three men some privacy. “Daniel, I’m telling you I’m,” Daniel held up his hand stopping Billy from continuing his rant. Leaning forward until his elbows came to rest on his legs, “Do you remember anything from when you were attacked?” Billy leaned back in the hospital bed closing his eyes, it was a few moments before he spoke. “The last thing I remember is everyone running around in chaos after finding the girl’s body. “Billy, Rose is missing. If you remember anything even the tiniest detail I need to know. “Rose is missing?” His face paled “Daniel, I swear I don’t remember what happened.” “Look rest up, as long as the Doc clears you David and I will be heading out tomorrow to go speak with the other Alphas. I’ll need you to oversee the pack, Meridah is in no shape to do it.” “I won’t let you down.” “I know you won’t, Bill.” He spoke as he stood to leave.

            The next day Daniel, David, and Billy spent four hours dividing everyone into groups. A hundred warriors were divided into search parties of ten, each group was given money, food, water, and a satellite phone. They were to call Daniel and check in everyday when they made camp. If they were to find Rose or Abel, they were to call him immediately and wait for his command. Each group set out in a different direction to search. The remaining two hundred were divided into groups of fifty to rotate four shifts of six hours patrol. Ten wolves would patrol each border, while the remaining ten patrolled the grounds itself. They now sat in Daniel’s office going over the rest of the Details. Daniel and David would travel to each pack to speak with the Alpha’s. If they were the only pack experiencing the attacks then he would request aide in finding the attacker, if other packs were being attacked, they may have clues that he didn’t. While they were travelling Billy would oversee the pack, ensuring that nothing happened. The patrol units were to stay on high alert, and he was to enforce a curfew for everyone until everything was resolved.

            The three men sat back in silence they had concluded every detail of what was to be done. Each now sat in their own thoughts, so far, they knew the attacks were Lycan and that a warlock/witch was involved. While Daniel had his hunches, he was well aware of how foolish it would be to act with no solid proof. If he declared war on the Warlocks and witches without proof, none of the other packs would support him let alone back him in battle.

David trusted Daniel’s leadership, but he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling he had of leaving Billy in charge. He didn’t dare sound childish and mention this to Daniel. He remembered when Bill had joined the pack, they had been alerted by the warriors of trespassers who smelled of the same pack. When him and Daniel arrived, they found four wolves a small boy, a young girl, and woman laid dead; while Billy’s leg was badly injured the attack on him wasn’t lethal. The man sat crying for the death of his family. Daniel had carried him to the pack hospital, and when he was well enough to return to his pack offered to have warriors escort him back. It was then that Billy had asked to remain and become apart of the Bloodmoon pack, stating there was nothing for him back home. It hadn’t been long before Daniel and he had become friends that Daniel announced him to the pack as his Gamma.

Billy sat looking at the two men who sat with him. He couldn’t help but feel as if he were a failure in their eyes. Daniel had taken him in and treated him as if he belonged; and as repayment he had f****d up and lost his daughter. Although he and David had never been exactly close, he had taught him everything he knows about battle and the role of a Gamma. He would have to work extremely hard to regain their respect he was sure of it. No matter what he couldn’t let Daniel down again. He was jerked from his thoughts when Daniel cleared his throat, “You good, Bill?” “Yeah, just drifted off into my own little world.” “David and I are going to go ahead and set out. Make sure you stay sharp; I’m trusting you to protect this pack.” “Yes, Alpha. I won’t let you down.”

Daniel and David headed to the courtyard where the horses awaited. They had already been saddled and the supplies strapped for their journey. They would head East to the Diamond pack first to speak with Alpha Alexander. (Daniel had not spoken with Alexander before, considering he had only taken over the title a little over a month ago. He only hoped he was not as arrogant as his Father, or he may be of very little use to them. From there they would travel to Full Moon and so forth. He had no concerns of his visit with Crescent Moon, his mate’s nephew had taken over the title eleven months prior and from what he was aware was doing quite well leading.) The two men mounted their horses and set out on the three day ride to their first destination.