To Kill a Werewolf: Nyx’s Destiny

Chapter Two

“The events of the mating dance starts today”, Beta Griffin says gruffly, his eyes focused on some paperwork as he continues, “We don’t want to draw any attention to you so you must stay indoors”.

I nod, my eyes studying the dark interior of his office that I had been summoned to a few minutes ago.

I had scanned the familiar walls of his office multiple times over the years, the reason for my doing it this time is to keep from rolling my eyes at the Beta’s list of commands.

His dark hair with wisps of gray strands gives off a gleam as he stands from his desk chair towering over me with his 6 foot 3 height and evenly toned body.

“And don’t think i don’t know about your little sneaking out shenanigans. That ends today”.

I open my mouth to say something and wisely shut it as I stare at the hard gleam in the Beta’s eyes. Even a moron would realize the Beta meant business.

A knock sounds on the door and a petite redhead pokes in, her eyes soft and welcoming. Tara, the Beta’s wife, always looks breathtaking and it isn’t any different this morning.

“You really shouldn’t chide her like that”, Tara says, strutting in with her belly round with their first pup.

“She knows I do it for her own good”, the Beta retorts, his eyes softening for only his wife.

“Umm…I’m right here”, I say, watching the way they only have eyes for each other. Beta looks at his wife like she is the very air he breathes. My heart pangs as I remember the way my father had looked at my ma.

“She really shouldn’t be going out on her own, you know the dangers involved”, Beta Griffin continues, moving swiftly to his wife and giving her a peck on her forehead and her rounded belly.

My brows perk up as I reiterate, “Dangers involved? Isn’t this supposed to be a normal mating ritual?”

“It is, but the council handpicks the maidens for the ritual”, Beta replies, his eyes becoming hard, like he didn’t agree with the process with which the council chose to do things.

“Handpicks?”, I ask, more confused than ever.

“Yes. Handpicks, like sends a group of men to fetch fair and young maidens”

My face twists in disgust, “That’s kidnapping”

“The ways of the wolves are not rosy”. “So, you must stay indoors, understood?”

I look at Tara and she nods her head demurely.

Since she knows her husband better, I nod in consent and find my way out of the office.

I am going to obey the Beta of course. I just have to be more secretive of my goings and comings.

I reach my room and fall on my bed with a thump, my mind racing with ideas and plots.

The house is already stretched tight on security details due to the events, although he would try to have someone keep an eye on me, the person will have other tasks to do than watch a pesky girl that no one knows her origins.

****

I move through the night, the echoes of the frogs and ducks forming a cacophony and mingling with the noises from the streets.

The house is extra busy tonight as the Beta is hosting the first dinner of the coming mating dance.

What is it the servant had said again? Ahah, to introduce the future Alpha to the council or whatever.

I have better places to be than watch egoistic men fan their egos even more.

I pass by people, trying my best to keep to the dark and less busy parts of the streets lit with various activities by this time of the night.

I didn’t have any idea on where to go, I just know I have to place one foot in front of the other and watch everything.

The streets mingle with each other and before I know it I enter more abandoned parts of the city. I shrug my cloak closely as a chill makes its way up my spine.

The old abandoned buildings lining the street look eerie and ominous, and somehow my feet still trudge down the street.

There isn’t a single person in sight and curiosity has me going on.

What happened here?

The questions pop up in my head one by one as I find myself walking up the pathway to an abandoned one storey house.

As a fae, things always call out to me. Feelings, auras, energies. My curiosity level piques even more at this period, ever since I had turned eighteen. I had read somewhere that the Faes could see death.

But I have no one to tell me what I need to know or if seeing these things were normal.

I shiver as I come to the door of the abandoned house, my vision already adjusted to the darkness.

My eyes widen as the door opens up from me putting my hand on its beautiful and intricate little carvings.

Enter, enter, the word flows around in my head and I enter inside the house before I could think of reasons why I shouldn’t even be on this side of the city.

Welcome, welcome, the house seems to sing as I scan the living room, which is just a little extension of the foyer, goosebumps curling all the way down my arms.

The house didn’t have much in terms of space but the energy around the house is new, exhilarating, different and familiar all at once.

I explore without a second thought, my feet and eyes learning the house all at once. I find the kitchen and pantry laden with dust on the down floor.

Taking the steps two at a time, I get on to the exit hallway and find the bedrooms, seeing the different closets in each bedroom still full with clothes, like the owners had run away without thoughts of their worldly possessions.

I make my way back to the living room and move to leave the house, my curiosity nowhere near curbed with different questions still brimming in my head.

I’m in the process of contemplating why I had come in here when the fireplace lights up on its own, sending my heart to my throat in fear.

Nyx, Nyx, the fire crackles in excitement.

What on the motherfucking earth?

The fire just called out to me, I repeat in my head, trying to convince myself I’m not going insane.

I walk closer to the fireplace, my eyes terribly focused and my heart on fast pace.

The fireplace roars as I come within close range, bending to be eye level with the bluish embers.

‘What are you?’, I manage to ask, as the fire takes the form of an ax.

‘Kill, kill’, the fire repeats, crackling and burning hotter.

Fuck, I’m talking to fires now.

I sigh and straighten as the fire continues to cackle and repeat, kill kill.

I turn back to head out when the door slams shut as I reach it and the fire grows bigger forming a formidable shadow on the walls.

Shit.

I swallow and turn to face the fire, literally.

Kill, kill, the fire still repeats, its shadow growing larger on the walls.

This is probably how I’ll die.

‘Kill who’, I ask nervously, my hands sweaty and shaking under my cloak.

‘Kill those who wronged us. Kill him’, the fire crackles and burns brightly before going out in the blink of an eye.

The eerie silence of the house has me running out in a dash, not bothering to digest what I heard but knowing I need to get out of this side of the city fast.

People begin to come into my line of sight and the streets get busier but that didn’t stop me from looking behind me from time to time.

That’s how I bump into a hard wall, scratch that, a person and stumble onto the floor, my cloak slipping off an inch.

With my heart in my throat, I hurriedly rush to cover up my face as I am hurled up.

I look up, the word ‘s**t’ at the back of my tongue as I sight the big gold band on the man’s arm that had hurled me up.

Atheion soldier. Of all my stupid luck.

“You are coming with me”, the soldier says, and before I could argue or think to enter the crowd, a black bag slips over my face and I feel myself being carried away.