Chapter Two: And So It Begins
1111 Words
The grand hall buzzed, but many werewolves seemed unaware to the brewing tension. I pulled Rafe aside, concerned.
"What do you plan on doing?" I asked, trying to keep my tone steady. His silence was heavy, his eyes filled with rage.
"We need to think this through," I urged softly, my hands trembling slightly. "Reacting with violence could escalate things. We can't risk making a mistake."
"So I should just let him walk away with knowledge of the Bloodring, maybe even possessing it?" Rafe snapped.
"We won't let him leave with it, I promise. I have a plan," I said hesitantly, trying to sound confident despite my own doubts, "but please, Rafe, you need to calm down."
Rafe conceded, awaiting the plan I claimed to have. I approached Hector to put it in motion, but then I noticed a man, seemingly Hector's right-hand, whispering to him. I halted halfway, observing.
Hector's right-hand man leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Sir, there's an unexpected guest outside," he said, unease clear in his tone.
Hector's brow furrowed. "Who?"
"He goes by Makari."
The name sent a shiver down my spine, memories flooding back. The pendant, the battlefield—could it be?
"Why the hesitation?" Hector's voice was sharp.
"He's an Alpha, sir, and there's something... off about him."
My heart pounded in my chest. First the pendant, now his name? How was this even possible?
"Liliana, what's wrong?" Rafe's voice snapped.
"I've been waiting for your so-called plan, and the night's almost over," he said, irritation edging his tone.
"I was about to go talk to Hector before I saw..." I stammered, struggling to find the right words.
Before I could continue...
The music abruptly ceased, replaced by a commanding voice that filled the room.
"My apologies, everyone... I presume you don't know me. I go by so many names today; it’s Alpha Makari." he announced, a smirk playing on his lips.
"It's him... but it can't be... he should be dead," I whispered, disbelief thick in my voice.
"I'm looking for Hector. I know he's here. If I don't find him, things are going to get messy." His words carried a weighty threat, casting a shadow over the gathering. The room tensed as all eyes fixated on Makari, his presence powerful enough to silence even the most outspoken.
A bold beta, unable to contain himself, challenged Makari. He chuckled, saying, 'How funny of you. Barging in here, threatening an entire room full of wolves? Who the hell do you think you are?'
Despite the confrontation, my gaze remained locked on Makari, questioning whether the figure before me was truly the one I thought I'd lost.
Makari walked purposefully toward the defiant beta, with the room's eyes following his every step. In a swift action, he grabbed the beta by the throat, lifting him off the ground. His face remained calm, showing no anger, while the beta looked defenseless."
The beta's alpha lunged forward to intervene, but with lightning speed, Makari reacted. Releasing his grip on the choking beta, he delivered a powerful punch that sent the alpha staggering back several feet. Despite being an Alpha himself, Makari's strength was uniquely formidable.
The room gasped in surprise. Makari adjusted his suit nonchalantly, the very picture of composed authority. "I'm not going to ask again, where is Hector?" he demanded.
Another beta spoke up, "I could swear I saw him leave moments ago."
"Is that so?" Makari retorted coolly. "Alright then…you have until the next full moon to produce Hector. He has something I need, and I won't leave without it. Fail, and this city will burn. For now," he added, grabbing the now recovered beta, "I'll be taking this one." With that, he dragged the gasping beta out of the banquet hall.
The room was left in stunned silence, but my shock ran deeper than anyone else's, matched only by Rafe's own disbelief.
Still processing the shocking event, I sat on the bed in our bedroom. Rafe stood in the corner, talking on the phone with his beta.
"Play it smart," Rafe said into the phone. "I need you to find Hector. Not for that newcomer, but for me." He hung up and walked over to me.
"Don’t tell me you're losing sleep over it. You know I've got your back. No one's laying a finger on you or our pack, not on my watch."
As he spoke, thoughts of my past with Makari raced through my mind.
"Now wasn't the time," I thought, "not until I know why he is back." Pushing those thoughts aside, I continued speaking to Rafe,
“You know we have to get it and destroy it before it falls into the wrong hands, especially this newfound alpha.”
“Yea, but I believe his threats are mere bluster. There's no way a single alpha will stand up against the entire werewolves in Fordwich. In the meantime, I am going to get to Hector before he does, Rafe said
A few days flew by, each without a word from Makari or Hector. I knew I had to confront Makari for answers. His elusive nature made him hard to find, but I eventually spotted him, I hesitated before approaching.
"Took you long enough," he said, turning to face me.
"Gathering my thoughts, I asked, 'Makari...is it really you?'
“In the flesh. I know you've got questions, he replied, a slight smile playing on his lips.”
"Questions?' I've got a truckload," I said, urging for answers.
He stepped closer, our eyes locking, the tension palpable.
'But I thought you were…' My words trailed off.
“Yea, seems some stories have a stubborn way of sticking around no matter what fate throws” he said.
"'Don’t give me that. Why the disappearing act?' I asked, hurt and hope mingling in my voice."
“It was necessary,” Makari said.
“Disappeared for years and that’s all you can say to me," I said incredulously.
"Ah, darling, you've always got a knack for cutting to the chase. You know, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, don't they? Trust me, there's a lot more to our story. Maybe I'll stick around a little longer."
“Disbelief mixed with frustration, I retorted, 'Our story? You're not even here for me. And just so you know, whatever grand plans you have for the Bloodring, won't work.”
As I turned to leave, Makari's voice broke the silence.
“I will get what I want, Liliana. Don’t stand in my way,' he said calmly.”
Walking away, thoughts filled my mind. Something had changed about him. What was he planning?
- Writer
