All the Devils are Here

Just Like Your Mother

“I’m saying that it’s time for us to unite. All of us. Every single pack in this city. Xavier is not the first Alpha to die mysteriously this year. And even though none of your wolves may have been kidn*pped, many others have. We cannot find the enemy divided like this. It’s time to become one”, Lucien says and the other elder wolves nod in unison.

There is no smoke without a fire. Werewolves remained in separate packs for a reason. We used to be united once upon a time, before I was even born - the elders should know this story better than anyone else. Werewolves find it difficult to be one and united the same way humans find it difficult. We have different core values. The only reason why our pack is the most revered and hence the one that gets to represent the wolves at the city council is because of our bloody history. Back when the city was in chaos and everyone was at each other's throats, it was our ancestors that started to truly fight back with organized destruction and then the rest of the werewolves flocked behind them. Ofcourse, when the war died down and the new system was put in place, there was no reason for smaller packs to still flock behind the Banes pack. Especially with the boost in the number of wolves from power hungry werewolves who went around turning people to build up a pack from themselves.

Ever since then things have been pretty disorganized. I wonder what my father would say if he were here. He has been the Alpha of this pack for my whole life and I know he is not an advocate for mixing up and flocking with certain packs. Especially those that still eat humans. My mother was human; he could never stand such things.

“That would be ideal, wouldn’t it? But it won’t work”, Asher chips in. I have to say, I agree with him. How long would it even take to truly execute this. And more importantly, who would be the leader of this united force of wolves? Lucien?

“If we truly want to identify any traitors amongst us, then it is paramount that we do this. We don’t want history to repeat itself. And this is how it starts. I mean, I can’t be the only one suspecting that Xavier’s death was not an accident”, Lucien says and exchanges a knowing look with me. I barely know this man but he clearly wants me to like him for some reason.

“We already have a plan for that”, Lex says smugly.

“Is that right? Do tell”,

Lex looks at me as if he’s seeking approval. A little too f*****g late for that now, he should have done that before blurting out that we have a plan. I answer for him;

“There’s a council meeting in 2 weeks. We’re just going to….persuade them to shed more light on the incident. Afterall, the council was put in place to ensure peace.”,

“And who will be representing us now that Xavier is no longer with us”, Lucien throws the question not just at me but at all of us. The truth is we haven’t really had that discussion. Logic says it should be Mara but Mara is not going to threaten the council. She’s not leaning heavy on the possibility of this not being an accident. Asher is also another candidate that seems suitable and while I’d choose him to go over Asher only because I trust him over anyone else here but, if he comes back without any results, I’d be angry with myself for not just going myself.

Mara saves the day and replies; “We are not in a hurry right now to choose a new Alpha. We haven’t had to do this in so many years, we’re still all a little shaken. By right of blood; Samael should be the next Alpha but nothing is set in stone.”,

“You didn’t answer my question, Mara”,

Becoming an Alpha is both a demanding position and a highly coveted one. The power that comes with it is transformative and almost intoxicating I hear. An Alpha is only as strong as his pack which is why going by this angle, Xavier was supposed to be the most powerful werewolf in the city. Hard to believe considering the way they are saying he died.

“The council meeting and who becomes Alpha are two different things. We can argue about the titles later but I am going for this council meeting. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do this. He’s my father”, I say and no one counters me to my surprise.

“Very well then, Samael you will take Xavier’s place at the council meeting for now. In the meantime, leave the gathering of the wolves to us. We will get the word out and by the time you are back, we will be able to get together again this time with as many packs in the city as we can reach out to.”

We nod and that brings the summon to an end. Four out of the elders are the first to leave and then Lex and Dothan leave. Asher and I are about to leave when Lucien interjects;

“Samael, a word if I may”,

I exchange a look with Asher letting him know he can go without me. We’d most definitely recoup later today. Now that it’s decided that I will be going to the council meeting, I know that my plan of going to the south border can get into motion.

I walk up to where Lucien is and brace myself for whatever it is he is about to say.

“How are you holding up?”I want to tell him that I haven’t even paused since I heard the news to analyze my feelings or truly acknowledge that my father is gone. The only thing that has been on my mind is confirming the cause of death. In my head……he is still alive.

“If this was set up by someone, he will be avenged”,

“And what if it wasn’t? What if there’s no one to punish for this?”, he is asking from a place of compassion, I can tell but, if I wanted therapy sessions, I would f*****g pay for therapy.

“There’s always someone to punish”, I stare right at him as I say this.

“I have heard about you, Samael. Heard about what you did in Uptown. And your little red room where you torture Hunters for sport. I know you can be……deliberately out of control”, I wonder what is about to come next, a threat? A scolding? I cannot read this man. He looks like a contrast of the older wolves I’m used to who are mean looking and constantly in a bad mood. He looks charismatic and somewhat optimistic. Like someone’s grandad.

“Thank you. I’d like to say the same but, I’ve heard nothing about you”, instead of getting pissed which is the reaction I wanted, he chuckles good naturedly and says almost more to himself than to me;

“God. You remind me so much of her”, he looks like he’s reminiscing although I’m not sure who ‘her’ is.

“Who?”I hate myself already for asking. I’m not trying to elongate this conversation especially because he’s giving me grandad vibes and I really don’t want him to like me or vice versa. That’s only one more person to potentially disappoint.

“Your mother. You’re just like her”, My mother. For the first time in 10 years someone mentions my mother and all I can feel is rage. For the first time since I left Uptown. Back then my uncle and his wife would constantly remind me of how my mother’s irresponsible life choices was what led to her early demise and that’s why I was there to become a burden to them. My father wouldn’t even talk about her. And eventually I stopped thinking about her and imagining what she was like. A woman I have never met yet, but this man did.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to trigger any negative feelings. Your father and I used to be quite close back then. He was very fond of her. It felt like she was one of us even though she never turned.”, he says apologetically and then adds;

“She would have been so proud of the man you’ve grown into. Fearless and eccentric; just like her”, that statement undoes me. She would have been proud? This man doesn’t even know me. He doesn’t know the things that I have done. He thinks he knows everything but he is wrong.

“Why did you call me back?”, I ignore all his sentiment and take us back to the point of why I am here.

“I admire the fire that you have and I know that you could make a fine leader if you wanted to. I also know that you only told me half of the plan of what you want to do at the council meeting. Whatever it is, if it’ll make you a target - don’t do it. Those people do not play. If you are perceived as a threat and your name turns up on a Hunter order; they will not stop until you are dead.”, he warns me.

I’m about to tell him that my father played by all these rules yet he is dead but, then he adds;

“I know you are not intimidated by death but, Zula did everything to keep you here. She sacrificed her own life. Don’t let her sacrifice be for nothing.”

And that adds to the list of things I know about my mother. I know that her name was Zula Blake. I know that she had dark hair like me. And now I know that she sacrificed her life for me.