Dark and Untamed

Chapter 12: Turmoil

[ South of Shkrade, Silvervale.]

“ What!? what do you mean by you found no body?!?!?!“ An enraged voice shook it's surroundings.

“ You heard us clearly, Darius. Despite digging up the snow for hours, and even wandering near Frostveil's territory, we couldn't find Estelle's body, only the frozen corpse of other wolves discarded before were found. In the end, because of the cold we were forced to retreat.“ Tamon spoke in a slightly annoyed tone. He didn't like the way Darius shouted at him. Behind him were several other werewolves. They currently in a wide spacious yard that belonged to Darius. They would have preferred to have the meeting at hall, but because of Darius altering the pack rules to his benefit, they had no choice but to meet him here.

Moreover, he was the only one who sat on a chair. Everyone else stood.

“ So there was no body? nothing at all? no limbs no nothing?“

Tamon exhaled. He wanted punch Darius above the clouds but he bottled up his annoyance and answered.

“ Like we said, there was no body. However we found a large patch of frozen blood that smelled like Estelle's. But there was no blood trail. No matter how much we sniffed or dug, we couldn't find a damn thing.“

*Crack*

The armrest Darius was holding shattered to pieces under Darius' fist. His knuckles were white because of how intensely he clenched his.

' How...how did... no wait, a cryo vulture must have eaten her, yes... that has to be what happened...It has to be...' Unknown to him, his canines were elongating from rage.

The werewolves stared at each other when they saw Darius' state. Some thought he was behaving like this because he was grieving for Estelle. While others speculated he was like that because he couldn't confirm if Estelle was really dead or not.

A blonde man stepped forward and spoke. “ I understand your troubles, I would like to suggest-“

Bang!

Everyone froze. Darius had hurled a splinter of wood towards the blonde werewolf with so much force it impaled his shoulder, injuring him. The man's body skidded backwards because of the impact, but his foot never left the ground. The werewolf who got injured didn't react. He stared at the wooden splinter embedded in his now bleeding shoulder before pursing his lips and pulling it out, his wound healed right after he did that. It seemed like the so called future Alpha was going to have anger issues.

“ Dismissed.“ Darius said arrogantly.

The werewolves shook their heads internally before leaving the yard, grumbling and muttering as they did so.

Darius cursed. His mood had been f*cking ruined!!

Now that he wasn't one hundred percent sure that Estelle was dead, he wouldn't be able to sleep well at night. He got up and decided it was time to meet someone. After running and leaping over several buildings, he landed in front of a castle situated on the mountain top. It's spire almost grazed the clouds. He walked towards the gates in like he owned the place. The guards didn't stop Darius but opened up for him. Darius walked towards the throne room. On his way, he saw a beautiful maid running errands. His eyes shone with lust. ' I will take her later.' He thought to himself.

Arriving at the spacious throne room. He gazed at the man sitting on it and bowed. However, it was a half-hearted bow.

“ Greetings, Alpha.“

The man on the throne narrowed his grey eyes slightly. His face was like hardened steel. His beard was neatly trimmed. He was Randur Winterbourne.

“ What brings you here, Darius? Do you have something to tell me?“ Randur had intentionally withdrew himself from the issues concerning the pack for a while so Darius could elevate his status among the elders. He wanted Darius to cement his position as heir.

“ Yes, Alpha. There's something urgent I wanted to yell you about.“ Darius spoke in a low voice.

“ Speak.“ Randur said in a deep voice.

“ Estelle's body wasn't found. There wasn't any sign of her at all. “ Darius spoke in a wary tone.

Randur went silent. A myriad of emotions appeared on his face.

“ Are you sure?“

“ Yes, Alpha. There was no sign of a wild animal devouring her remains as well. If it did, then there would bone fragments and perhaps, a blood trail to the animals nest, but there was no such thing at all.“

“ Hmmmm.“ Randur caressed his beard. Randur's hum sounded like a wolf's growl. “ No. It's impossible for her to survive the fall. A beast must have gotten to her after the cold froze her bloodstream. No one has ever survived that place. “ The Alpha of Silvervale spoke with one hundred percent certainty.

Darius sighed, but he was still feeling doubtful. “ But what if-“

“ There's no WAY she survive the fall, Darius. Let the matter come to an E-“ Randur paused and his expression changed. His ears twitched like an animal's. Even Darius' ears did the same thing.

“ Oh no...“ Darius' face paled. The woman he never wanted to see other than Estelle was here. Even Randur had a troubled expression on his face.

Time ticked away while we waited in silence. Then the doors burst open. A woman walked in. Her gait was slow and weak. Her clothes were rumpled and torn at the edges, fresh mud clung to her leather boots, her hair was disheveled and her eyes were a little red and puffy.

She didn't look like the elegant and reserved woman she was. Right now she looked like a broken doll. Like a woman who had lost her soul.

The guards who had arrived because of the commotion stepped back when they saw her face.

“Where are they?” Hestia asked weakly. Her voice was low and shaky, but nevertheless they heard her. “Where is Darius? Where's father?”

No one answered her. They didn’t need to. She had already found who she was looking for.

She stared at Darius' face, His figure reflected on her beautiful grey eyes. “ I-it isn't true. Right? Right?“ Hestia asked her voice was laced with denial.

Darius didn't answer her, instead he bit his lips and stared down. Hestia's lips trembled when she saw this. Slowly, she tore her gaze from Darius' still frame and met the eyes of her father, Randur Winterbourne.

Her eyes sparkled. Then with a voice tinged with hope, she whispered. “ F-Father... is it... is it true?“ Hestia bit her lips and held back her tears in anticipation.

Randur's eyebrows twitched in displeasure. He pressed his lips into a thin line and closed his eyes. Then exhaling he said: “ Yes. It is true, Hestia. Estelle was a traitor. So she was thrown into the deadfalls. She's dead.“ He said almost nonchalantly.

“ Ah...“ Hestia's eyes turned vacant as her strength left her legs, she fell to her knees. She felt like every thing she was experiencing was a dream...no, a nightmare. The tears she had been holding back flowed done her face like rainwater sliding off a monolith.

Other's present found themselves being affected by the mood. Some already had tearing welling in their eyes. Well, everyone except from Randur and Darius. Those two found this situation more annoying than anything.

Hestia remained there for minutes, weeping as her shoulders trembled none stop. Neither Randur or Darius went to comfort her, they just remained where they was. Unmoving.

“ No...no... no... no... this is impossible. There's no way this is possible!!! “ Hestia cried until her head hurt. Her eyes were now red and puffy. She stared at Her father and Darius.

“ I refuse to believe this. Not until I see Estelle's body and confirm it myself!“

Hestia stood up to leave. But the moment she did that, the air in the throne room had shifted dramatically, it became difficult to breathe. Randur's eyes were now Reddish brown. He was displaying the power of an Alpha without holding anything back.

“ Stop!“ Randur's voice caused Hestia to freeze. He was using his authority as an Alpha to control her, something he wouldn't have done if Estelle was here, because she was able to resist it. Hestia's face was filled with even greater pain.

“ Why!!?“ She screamed, her voice was shrill and high-pitched. She couldn't believe her father was doing this to her.

“ You. Go. No. Where. Hestia.“ He stressed every word. His eyes were cold and emotionless, as if he was staring at a tool, not his own daughter. “ Estelle's matter is that of the past. Now it is time for you to think of your future instead.“

Hestia's heart palpitated in panic when she heard the last part. And just like she feared, he said.

“ I have arranged a marriage with Belfort family. I don't want you to go down and search for the remains of a traitor, Hestia. You should prepare yourself for your husband instead. “

Hestia's breathing became ragged.

“ What!? what marriage!!?? you know how much I loathe those Belforts and now you want to send me to them? I refuse! I won't accept This!!!“ Her voice shook.

Randur's eyes turned cruel. “ Who said you had a choice in this? You will do as I have told you to. Whether you like it or not. “ He sneered.

“ Father!?”

Hestia's face contorted in despair as Randur released his control over her. She stood there, wondering how things could get so horrible for her in the span of a day. She didn't want to get married to someone she doesn't even love. Estelle had confronted her father about this when he first brought it up. But now that she was gone, Hestia had no one to turn to.

Randur licked his lips and added. “ One more thing. You aren't allowed to leave the pack territory anymore... not until your suitors arrive, and you are to do anything that Darius tells you to because he is the heir now. Is that clear?“

Hestia didn't respond, prompting Randur to frown in displeasure. “ I said is that clear!?“ He said in a voice so loud both Darius and Hestia flinched.

Hestia clenched her fist and nodded, her eyes were empty. “ Yes, Alpha.“ She said this before running to her room and shutting the door behind. With more tears streaming down her face, her back slowly slid across the surface of the door before touching the ground. She hugged her knees and wept. She saw something with her peripheral vision. It was Estelle. Her mind had conjured an imagine of Estelle smiling at her. The image vanished when the wind blew.

Hestia froze, Her face gradually scrunched up before crying even more intensely.

“ Estelle... please, come back to me...“

Then she swayed fell sideways, losing her consciousness.

Before she completely passed out, she muttered one word.

“ Sister...“