Captured by the Alpha King

17: Rowan

Onyx had been in bad shape by the time we got him home. Thankfully, with the help of the scepters, Tyrone had defeated Elden, though that left Viktor floating around somewhere out there. Problem for another day I suppose.

The problem I sat with today, now that Onyx was healed, was who the hell this traitor was. Tyrone said it wasn't the poor soul he tortured, so it had to be someone else. Maybe someone close to them? Looking down at the grimoire I found, I sighed. This was all too much, too fast, but they needed me. What good was I if I turned them down now?

The dark chamber smelled of earth and ash as I knelt before the altar. Candles flickered, casting shadows on the stone walls. With whispered words in the old tongue, I called upon the spirits of the ancient ones, beseeching their wisdom.

The air grew heavy, charged with power. I sensed them gathering - dark witches bound to me through blood and oath. In my mind's eye I saw their hollow faces, hungering. I asked for a sign to reveal the traitor in our midst, he who had brought chaos and mistrust among us.

The candles guttered. A cold breath stirred my hair. Then, I saw it - a vision blossoming in the flames. Glimpses of clandestine meetings cloaked in shadow, hushed voices tangled in deceit. The face of the traitor, twisted in secret triumph. Rage ignited within me.

I swept from the chamber, my footsteps echoing. The pack gathered in the great hall, their unease palpable. Since the kidnapping, suspicion poisoned our bonds like a sickness. Brother turned against brother. But now the unseen enemy had been revealed.

With quiet authority, I told Onyx of the traitor, whose greed and ambition threatened us all. Shock rippled through the pack, followed by anger. We had been betrayed from within. Onyx's eyes blazed, his powerful frame taut as he vowed vengeance. But first, we would need reinforcements. The traitor's treachery ran deeper than any had imagined. War was coming. And we would need allies to survive it.

The traitor would pay the price for threatening the pack. We would rise from the ashes, stronger than before. For now, we had purpose. Unity through adversity. Our packs united against a common foe. With the spirits of the ancient ones to guide us, we would prevail.

Come what may, the pack endures.

Onyx called the pack together, his expression grim. Though he hid it well, I sensed his rage simmering beneath the surface. He had trusted the traitor, only to be betrayed.

"The time has come to confront the viper in our midst," he rumbled. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. They knew what was coming. "Brody, step forward."

I stepped forward, magic crackling at my fingertips. He paled, shrinking back against the wall. But there was no escape now.

"Why?" Onyx demanded, his voice like thunder. "Why betray your own?"

His eyes darted wildly. "You don't understand," he stammered. "I had no choice!"

I grabbed his arm, nails biting into flesh. "Lies!" I hissed. "You chose greed over loyalty. Your actions brought war to our door!"

He struggled in my grip. "Please! Have mercy! They took my mate. My little girl. They said if I didn't... they'd kill them, please, Onyx, please."

Onyx paused for a moment, "you could have made a better choice, one that would have seen us at your back. Who did this?"

Brody wept, "Alpha Syn of the Bloodmoon Pack."

Onyx's lip curled in disgust. With one swift motion, he seized him and dragged him into the center of the hall. Cries for justice echoed off the walls.

"For your crimes against the pack, I banish you." Onyx's proclamation rang with finality. "If you ever return, it will be at the cost of your life."

Two warriors dragged him away. His wails faded into silence.

Onyx turned to me, his expression grim. "We cannot face this threat alone. The pack has been weakened. If Syn is allying with the vampires, it means he knows about you. Which means a war is coming."

I nodded. "We need allies."

"I will call my mother for aid." Onyx's jaw was set. "Perhaps she will give a s**t this time."

He left to make preparations, his shoulders unbowed by the weight upon them. I wished I shared his confidence. I hoped his mother will pull through for him. He needed her, more than she knows.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. There was much to be done.

First, I tended to the pack. Morale was low after the betrayals. Many were wary, glancing over their shoulders, not knowing who to trust. I moved amongst them, offering comfort and reassurance.

"The rot has been cut out," I said, over and over. "Have faith. We will heal."

Some believed me. Others remained distrustful, nursing their wounds. But bit by bit, the tension eased. Laughter returned, hesitant at first, then unfurling.

We were survivors. We would endure this trial as we had so many before. But our ranks were thinner now, our spirits dimmed. We needed new blood.

I set the pack to recruiting. Emissaries were sent throughout the region, seeking out lone wolves and smaller packs. Slowly, our numbers grew, with scouts reporting back of 5 here, or 10 there. But would it be enough?

I conferred with Onyx late into the night. We poured over maps and reports, faces grim.

"We must shore up the eastern border," he muttered. "That's where they'll strike first."

I nodded. "Yes. But we cannot forget the river. Our flank will be exposed." Onyx looked over at me, pride etched into his face.

On and on we went, bolstering defenses. Daring our enemy to test our strength. And waiting, on a hope and a prayer for Avery. At least Tyrone was here to help take some of the edge off. The pressure.

How long could we endure this purgatory, I wondered? Caught between past and future, moving forward, yet glancing back. We needed resolution. Even if that meant blood.

For good or ill, the climax was coming. I could feel it in my bones. All that remained was to meet our fate with courage when it crashed upon our shores at last.

We would not falter. Whatever was to come, we would face it together. United. Onyx's shoulders slumped as he stared at the maps and reports scattered across the table. "We've done all we can," he said heavily. "Bolstered the borders, recruited new members. But if my mom doesn't come..."

He trailed off, unwilling to voice the thought. We both knew the truth - without the seraphina's aid, we didn't stand a chance against our enemies.

I placed my hand on his arm. "Have faith," I murmured. "Your parents are honorable. They will come."

Onyx's laugh was bitter. "Honorable? Don't be naive, Rowan. There's no honor among family anymore. Only survival."

"We must try," I insisted. "Send an emissary to them. Appeal to their sense of duty."

Onyx sighed, then nodded. "Very well. I'll send Tyrone at first light."

At dawn, we gathered to see Tyrone off. His face was grim as he swung onto his motorcycle.

"Ride swiftly, brother," Onyx rumbled. "And take care. Who knows what the hell my mother had wrought on the land this time."

Tyrone's mouth quirked. "I'll be fine. It's them you should worry about if they refuse to help."

With a roar of his engine, he tore off down the road. We watched until he disappeared from view.

Now we could only wait and hope the Black Moons would answer our call. If not...No, I refused to accept defeat. We would prevail, with or without them.

Somehow.

The wait was agonizing. Each minute crawled by, punctuated by the howls of the wind as it whipped through the valley. Tension coiled in my muscles, making me restless. I paced the perimeter of our territory, peering into the gloom. Nothing.

After three days, I was ready to tear my hair out. Where was Tyrone? Had something happened to him? My imagination conjured a dozen terrible fates.

On the fourth day, I woke to commotion outside. I rushed from my cottage, heart pounding. There, riding up the gravel drive, was Tyrone. And with him rode a dozen hulking forms - hopefully one of them was Onyx's mom.

Relief swept through me at the sight of Tyrone, unharmed. But it was quickly replaced by wariness as the new blood approached. Their alpha, a massive wolf with ebony fur and eyes like chips of flint, inclined his head in greeting.

"Alpha Onyx. We have come, as per your mothers request." His voice was deep and rasping.

Onyx stepped forward, shoulders rigid. "Alpha Damien. Your arrival is most...fortuitous. I take it she couldn't make it?"

I sensed the tension radiating from both alphas as Damien shook his head. This alliance would not come easily. Still, we needed this brute strength to face our enemies. I only hoped we could control them once the battle was done.

After terse negotiations, Onyx and Damien clasped forearms in agreement. The deal was struck - they would fight alongside us against our foes. In return, they would gain territory and status.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps we would emerge victorious after all. But as I watched them mingle with my own pack, their hulking forms dwarfing our leaner builds, an uneasy feeling settled in my gut.

We may have just traded one threat for another. Only time would tell if this alliance would prove our salvation, or our undoing.