Her Return As An Alpha

Chapter 22 : No Survivors

Liana's office was a sanctuary of calm, with its minimalist decor and serene garden view. Cool shades of blue and green mingled together to ease her nerves, which had been strung tight ever since she returned from the cursed forest and realised that the rogues had attacked once more, destroying a major city and human towns along with the packs.

Her fury urged her to storm to the sites where the devastation lay immediately, but Lucian had suggested(more like restrained and forced her to listen, actually) that she wait for the reports that the other Alphas had summarised. She had been stumped for a minute, wondering why the King, who always insisted that she work alone, had sent the others to scout the crime scenes this time around.

“Why wasn’t I informed right away?” Liana had asked, her voice tinged with frustration. “My pack is responsible for dealing with major rogue threats. This should have been a priority.”

Lucian had raised his brows. “It’s because your lead was non-negotiable, Liana. At the end of the day, the rogues have made their territory within the cursed forest. You are the only known shifter who is immune to the enchanted environment. The four Alphas were sent to handle the immediate aftermath and coordinate the response. Your role was considered crucial in the longer-term strategy.”

While Liana cringed at the imagery of the other Alphas contaminating the crime scene with their lack of experience and expertise, the tranquility of the office was shattered when Silvera burst through the doors, her eyes swollen and red, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

Liana barely had time to react before Silvera enveloped her in a tight hug. For a moment, Liana feared that they would both topple over the armchair, but then she steadied herself. The suddenness of the embrace caught Liana off guard, yet as she recognized the trembling figure and platinum locks, she returned the hug, her concern mounting. Lucian quietly left the office, shutting the door firmly behind him.

"What’s wrong?" Liana asked softly, her voice soothing as she gently patted Silvera’s back. "You’re shaking. It’s okay. Just breathe."

Silvera clung to her, burying her face in Liana’s neck, her breath warm against Liana’s skin. The depth of her distress was palpable, and Liana felt a knot of worry tighten in her chest. She continued to murmur comforting words, her heart aching as she felt Silvera's tears dampening her shirt. The usually composed Silvera was now a picture of vulnerability, her pale ears and cheeks flushed red, and her eyes filled with unshed tears.

When Silvera finally pulled back, her cheeks were still streaked with tear tracks. Her sky-blue eyes were clouded with sorrow, and her nose was red from crying. Liana’s concern only deepened. She gently guided Silvera to the garden lounge, a tranquil space designed for relaxation. The garden, with its cream-tiled patio, pots of vibrant flowers, and hanging wine creepers, was a stark contrast to the turmoil Silvera was experiencing.

They settled onto one of the grey couches surrounded by the serenity of nature. The gentle hum of bees and the distant chirping of grasshoppers created a peaceful backdrop. Silvera leaned against Liana, once again burying her head in her neck. Liana felt Silvera’s tears once more and tried not to think of the mascara that was sure to remain on her collar later.

“Shh, it’s alright,” Liana murmured, rubbing Silvera’s back in soothing circles. “Just take your time. I’m here when you're ready.”

Silvera eventually sat back, her face a picture of exhaustion and sorrow. Her cheeks were hollow, her eyes haunted. She looked noticeably thinner, her once-lustrous hair now dull and lifeless. Liana felt a pang of worry, realizing that Silvera must have been deeply affected by recent events.

“What happened?” Liana asked gently, her voice filled with concern. “Why are you so upset?”

Silvera’s voice was barely a whisper, trembling as she spoke. “The rogues… They’ve done something terrible.”

“Yes, I know,” Liana said, her brow furrowing. “I’m working on a plan to trace them. I—”

“No,” Silvera interrupted, her voice cutting through Liana’s attempt at reassurance. “I’m not talking about the rogues. I mean, what happened yesterday.”

Liana’s confusion deepened. “Wait, you were there? I thought the King sent Fredrick and Lucinda?"

"They led the investigation, but Damon and I were there too." Silvera’s eyes filled with fresh tears as she began to recount the devastating events of the previous day. “The rogues… they destroyed several packs and human cities. The devastation was beyond anything we’ve seen before. Whole packs were wiped out, and human villages… they’re gone. The c*****e was… it was horrible.”

Liana’s eyes widened in shock, her mind struggling to grasp the scale of the destruction Silvera was describing. “What? Are you sure? It has never been so bad before.”

Silvera nodded, her voice trembling. “The rogues didn’t just attack the packs. They targeted a major city too. The destruction was… overwhelming. There were no survivors. The cities were left in ruins. It’s like they wanted to make a statement, to show their power.”

Liana was silent for a moment, trying to process the gravity of Silvera’s words. Her mind raced, grappling with the enormity of the situation. Her heart sank. No survivors.

Liana reached out, placing a comforting hand on Silvera’s shoulder. “Oh, Silvera… We'll find them. I promise."

"How?" Silvera whispered. "How will we do that? There are no clues; we scanned through the whole region! And how have you dealt with this so far? All alone-"

"From your description, it sounds way worse than it used to be," Liana interrupted. "When the first attack began, ther packs and human cities were destroyed, yes, but only a dozen or two were killed in all. We managed to shake it off as a freak natural calamity that caused the animals of the woods to turn aggressive. The shifters in those regions had to lay low for a long while before they could escape the scrutiny of human eyes."

The last attack had been a month prior, with most of the people injured, a third of them dead, and most of them unconscious due to suffocation. Most had been saved, but the mortals were beginning to get suspicious about the different breeds of wolves that had begun to barge and kill them.

"I was sent to deal with the wreckage since I seem to have inherited my father's skill in inspection, as well as his role in the King's army. With my additional instincts, I can track the rogues and deduce their patterns more easily," Liana sighed. "You guys usually have to deal with the task of covering the eyes of the mortals."

Silvera nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of despair and determination. “We do. But we need to act quickly. We can’t let this continue. This is the fourth time?"

"Third," Liana corrected. "At least when considering the large scale destruction, it is the third time."

"The air smelled of bloodlust. They wanted to kill. Every person was murdered with pleasure. It was too cruel."

Liana took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Alright. I've been working on their pattern. I do have some deductions, but I will explain when I'm certain of it. I just didn't expect them to strike while I was occupied. But for now, let’s focus on getting you some rest. You need to be in good shape if we’re going to face this together.”

Silvera managed a faint, grateful smile, though her eyes remained clouded with disappointment. Liana's chest squeezed, aware that a part of it was aimed at her for not solving the problem yet. “Thank you, Liana. I just… I needed to tell someone. I needed to share this.”

Liana squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “Of course. We’ll face this together. And we’ll make sure that those responsible pay for what they’ve done.”

Silvera nodded slowly. “So, the rogues weren’t targeting specific packs but were instead creating widespread destruction for the sake of it?”

Liana's eyes glinted. Silvera was too distracted to notice Liana's frown. By the time Silvera met Liana's gaze, Liana was expressionless.

“Yes,” Liana confirmed, her voice heavy with sadness. “The rogues are known for their brutality and their desire to incite fear. The attacks were indiscriminate, aimed at spreading terror and confusion. They wanted to demonstrate their power and disrupt the stability among the packs.”

Silvera nodded again, gloomy. Liana took a deep breath, her mind already shifting to the next step. “What conclusions have the others reached so far? What did you find during their search of the devastated areas?”

Silvera shook her head, her frustration evident. “Aside from the geographical proximity of the destroyed packs and cities, there’s nothing. The areas targeted were all relatively close to each other, but beyond that, there’s no indication of why they were chosen specifically. The destruction seems to have been random.”

Liana frowned, her brow furrowing in thought. "So four Alphas with enhanced senses and perception went to scout the area, and you found... nothing?"

“Exactly,” Silvera said, her voice tinged with helplessness. “We couldn’t find any distinguishing factors between the attacked locations. Nor was there anything similar between them that might have initiated the rogues attack. The destruction was so complete that it’s hard to determine if there was a specific purpose behind it or if it was just a way to cause maximum damage.”

Liana leaned back against the couch, her mind racing. “We need to find a way to identify any patterns or clues that could help us predict or prevent future attacks. We can’t let this chaos continue. I will have to go there myself. Perhaps my instincts can finally lead me to an answer. Or even a clue.”

Silvera nodded in agreement. “You need to be thorough in your investigation and gather all the intelligence you can. We weren't prepared for it, nor were we trained on the methods of investigation. If you can find even the smallest lead, it might help us understand the rogues’ strategy and anticipate their next move. You've always been good at playing the cop.”

"Well, it's not a game anymore,"

Silvera eyes narrowed with determination. “I’ll mobilize my team and coordinate with the other Alphas. We’ll analyze every piece of information we have and see if we can uncover anything that might give us an edge. We can't stand on the sidelines anymore. We have to act fast before the rogues strike again.”

Liana glanced at her. "That is very tempting, but I doubt the others would agree to let their packs listen to an Alpha they are yet to meet."

Silvera's blue eyes were steely with determination. "I will convince them. No wonder the King has permitted you to command his army."

Liana smiled faintly. "It hasn't been easy, but it's worth it."

Silvera looked at Liana with a mixture of gratitude and relief. “Thank you. I know it’s a lot to handle, but I’m glad you’re taking charge. We need your expertise to get through this.”

Liana gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll get through this. Together.”

As they sat in the tranquil garden, the fading sunlight casting a warm glow over them, each of them silent within their own thoughts. Silvera visualised the preparations she'd have to make if she wanted to convince the other Alphas to actively aid Liana. Meanwhile, Liana secretly glanced at Silvera, aware that she had hidden the truth of the rogue attacks' real agenda.