Winter Rose

Chapter 14: Revenge is Sweet

It took two weeks for the alphas to settle on a plan, when one was reached an emergency council meeting was called. The Ebony’s paced nervously, as the Winter’s and my pack did their best to remain calm and collected. The problem was presented without blame, and the solution laid out clearly. The Ebony pack agreed to defending our territory and helping in any way they could. We agreed to meet in council the next week. 

School was tense. I could tell Jessica was nervous about the war that would be unleashed, Theo and I tried our best to assure her everything would be fine, but she was worried for her family as we all were. 

“I just don’t understand why they would have found us all of the sudden. You know?” She kept asking. 

“It just happens sometimes.” Theo reassured her. 

“But we have all been so careful.” She murmured. 

“I know, but there have been a lot of reports of wolves in this area. And it’s unfortunate, but that probably caught their attention.” I explained. 

“Three packs is too much.” She said, “We were fine before you came and ruined everything.” She yelled at me before running away from me. I knew she ran only so I wouldn’t see her cry, but I couldn’t hide how hurt I felt, especially since I couldn’t tell her it was all my fault. I was distracted through all of my classes and my art projects all reflected my fear of death. I was sent to the school counselor’s office, where I was honest about being upset over my mother’s death, and that it caused me to fear the imminent death of everyone I loved. But left out how my mother was killed by hunters who were now in fact coming for everyone I loved. The counselor spoke to my art teacher explaining that art is a healthy coping mechanism for me to work through the trauma I suffered, and my teacher no longer reported my works. My grades in French and Algebra started to drop, as I paid less close attention to my homework. By the time the letters reached my home everything would be okay again. Or I’d be dead and it wouldn’t matter anyways I told myself. Theo and Xander kept a close eye on me in metal shop making sure I paid attention while using the machinery especially while welding when I almost started without my face shield once. Theo held me every night, but I still felt numb inside as I prepared for my death, comforting myself with thoughts that I would at least be with my mother again. Theo and Em became restless as they could not shake me from my funk, and finally the day of the council meeting was upon us. 

We all gathered in our normal seats, and rehashed what we had discussed two weeks prior at the full moon council. The refresher was nice, as I was suffering through the beginning stages of Wolfsbane detox two weeks ago. Thanks to Mimi’s antidote I had made a full recovery and was back to performing in training like I had before my heat cycle messed everything up. Well, before I chose to do drugs and mess everything up. I scolded myself mentally. That’s all I was good for lately, being a f**k up. I was roused from my self loathing by the heavy town hall doors slamming open. We all turned in feigned shock as fifty hunters streamed in. They wore all black and brandished guns and knives. The smell of silver burned my nose and I knew they were loaded to kill. Roger was one of the last ones in, followed by Carl. Together they closed the doors and put a board through the handles locking us in. 

“My son! You’re alive.” Carl called out to Malcolm. “I was so worried about you and what these monsters would do to you without my protection.” I snarled and changed. “Ah. The b***h herself.” He smiled at me. The Ebony pack turned, and growled in our direction. 

Malcolm growled defiantly, “Still want me now you asshole?!” He cried at his father as he shifted and stood next to you. 

“It can’t be possible!” Carl feigned shock, like he hadn’t seen Malcolm’s true form the night he killed our mother. Carl stayed safe at the back of the mob, but my wolf wanted to charge directly at him. 

“Remember who the true enemy is” Andy called out to the Ebony pack. “They may have come for the Rose pack, but they will murder us all.” 

“It’s not murder if you’re not even human.” A hunter cried out raising her gun to Andy. She was much closer and I locked my jaws around her wrist causing her to drop the gun.”You f*****g b***h get off me!” She screamed, punching me in the head with her free hand. I tightened my grip and tasted her copper blood running over my tongue. 

“She’s trying to turn Angeline!” I heard a man yell. I grimaced in my mind. Why the hell would we want to turn one of them? Even if we could turn someone by something as simple as a bite or scratch, we wouldn’t turn them. Only Artemis can turn a human into a wolf.

I used my weight to throw the girl onto the ground as the others shifted into their wolf forms and launched our attack. I kicked her gun away with my rear paw as she grabbed for her silver knife and moved to s***h my side. I let go and dodged just in time. She managed to cut a couple hairs, but I moved in again. This time I used my paws to push her down by the abdomen and held her down by her wrists as I wrapped my teeth around her throat biting hard. Arterial spray covered my muzzle as I gave a sharp tug snapping her neck. I felt someone charging at my back so I ducked and rolled away springing to my feet and onto their back I dug my claws in and used my jaws to snap their neck as well. 

Alex Help! It was Malcolm. I turned to find him cornered by his father. Malcolm was snarling and poised to attack. I can’t do it. I’m sorry Alex. Before my brother could give in I launched myself across the room dodging hunters as I went. I had dreamed of this moment for five months, I had dreamed of how I would torture the person who abused me mentally and then killed my mother. It was supposed to be slow, I was going to leave him begging for the sweet release of death, but as he held a silver knife on my brother I knew I had to end it. I slammed into his back forcing him to the ground. 

Run Malcolm. I called into my brother’s mind, just as my mother had told me to run. Malcolm bolted into the crowd finding a younger hunter to challenge. Carl rolled under me and started slashing with his knife. Fear filled his eyes, and the scent of it was intoxicating. I placed one large paw on his wrist, restraining his knife wielding hand, digging my claws into his flesh, through the muscle and scraping the bone. He screamed out in pain as I used my other paw to hold his chest down. My hind legs restraining his legs, claws sinking deep. My front paw on his chest dug in with my claws. Carl writhed in pain under me but I didn’t give up. I kept digging my claws in, making a bloody opening exposing his rib cage. I used my powerful jaws to snap through the bone before spitting them out and reaching my muzzle into his open chest cavity wrapping my teeth around his heart as I ripped it from his chest. He shuddered as he died. The valves in his heart popped as I chewed, swallowing large bits as I eyed my next prey. Filled with blood lust I launched myself from hunter to hunter slashing and biting until the wounds were fatal enough they died, or would surely bleed out. My body count was around fifteen by the time I found Theo battling Roger.  I was already nicked by quite a few silver blades, and had a silver bullet lodged in my flank. I could feel the bullet pulling at my strength as I limped towards Theo circling Roger. My blood kept flowing and the wounds refused to heal due to them being inflicted by silver.

Roger laughed maniacally, “So you’re her new fling huh? You know I couldn’t believe it at first. How could someone so amazing be a monster? I figured killing her mother, the origin of her wolf would heal her, but she’s not a  vampire so it didn’t work. But through my research I plan on finding a way to dissect the wolf from her. But, I suppose I should kill you first. That way when the wolf is gone she will have nothing to hold onto but me.” Theo growled low, as I dragged myself under a pew. If I was going to be any help to anyone else I needed to get the damn silver out of my body. I chewed around the entrance hole trying to push it free with my own muscles but the silver poison just coated my tongue, as the bullet worked its way deeper in me. No. I thought as I tried to force it out again. I need to keep fighting. This is my fault. I need to do more. I need to help Theo. I thought as I was stuck watching the battle unfold in front of my eyes. 

Roger circled Theo with two silver blades in his hands, “Maybe I’ll cut your heart out and feed it to her as a wedding gift.” Roger mused licking one of his blades. Theo refused to give into the bait, and I thanked the Goddess for his strength. I whimpered, and Roger’s head whipped towards me Theo lunged wrapping his jaws around Roger’s neck and bringing him down to the ground. He jerked his head and Roger fell lifeless, his blank eyes staring at me with a half crazed smile on his face. Theo rushed over to me as the noises of battle died down. 

You’re hurt. He thought to me. I nodded. Where? He asked. I looked to my hind leg where the bullet still rested. He shifted and began massaging around the area, his face grimaced. “You were shot.” 

No s**t. I thought to him. He looked at my other wounds and began counting quietly. 

“And stabbed seventeen times.” He growled out. My vision started to blur. 

A dark blonde wolf ran through the doors with silver chains streaming behind her as she tore into hunters left and right. I tried counting as she came closer and closer. One down, two, three...four. My vision went dark as I sent out one final question towards the new wolf. Mom?

I awoke in my bed. I still felt weak, but the silver was out of my system. I had a bandage around my right thigh, and multiple wrapped around my torso and arms. “She’s awake!” Theo yelled as he ran to my door. He bolted down the stairs yelling through the house, “She’s awake! She’s awake!” I heard a door open from elsewhere in our suite and expected Em or Mimi to be at my door, but instead I saw her. She wore a light blue dress that brought out her eyes, her beautiful blonde hair had been cut short, and bruises of all shades covered her face, and arms. Her split lip started to bleed again as she smiled. I stumbled out of bed and limped to her in disbelief. 

“Mom?” tears filled my eyes, “Mom? Are you really here? Are you alive?” I asked, “Or did I...am I dead?” 

“No honey, you’re not dead. We are very much alive.” She answered, wrapping her arms around me. “Oh my beautiful girl, I am so proud of you. You kept your brother safe. You kept our pack safe.” 

I kept touching her arms and face, “But how?” I asked bewildered. “He was so angry.” I sobbed remembering that night, and how I left her weak and beaten down on the floor. 

“After you left he called his friends, they captured me and bound me in silver. They tried getting me to tell them where you were. Roger said he thought he knew so he came up here remembering you came up here on vacation. He came back saying he found you, and they formed their plan. They left me in a hotel a few miles away on the brink of death, but Artemis restored my wolf, and I managed to escape. I got here as fast as I could but it was already too late, so many of them were dead, just a few left. A couple wolves from the Ebony pack apparently tried turning on our pack under cover of the battle and were put down by Susan. But they were the only casualties on our side. Then I saw you hurt and bleeding. I was told you took out the most of them, collecting eighteen wounds for your death count of fifteen. I am so proud of you munchkin.” She kissed the top of my head, as she made me sit back down in my bed. “And most of all I am so sorry, none of this would have happened if I’d seen through Carl to begin with. I put us all in such danger and lost sight of my true self.” 

“It’s okay mom, if this didn’t happen we wouldn’t have Malcolm.” I held her hand and tried to radiate support. “I’m sorry I left you for dead.” 

“No munchkin you did what you were told and protected our pack. Alphas have difficult decisions to make, and even if Artemis hadn’t saved me I would not have regretted you making the right choice to protect the pack.” 

“May I come in?” Mimi asked from the doorway. I saw the rest of my pack and Theo anxiously waiting with her. I nodded and soon everyone was hugging me and ruffling my hair. 

“The Winter and Ebony Alpha’s have been alerted you’re awake, Alex. There will be a meeting tonight.” I nodded in understanding. 

“I’ll help you get ready.” My mother offered. I thanked her. 

I had to use a cane to keep from putting too much pressure on my leg. Apparently even after sleeping for three days, my body wasn’t fully healed. I dressed plainly in a dress that managed to hide all my bandages. I made my way to the center podium facing the council and took a seat. My mother sat on one side of me, my grandfather sitting on the other. 

Andy pounded his gavel and everyone became silent. “State your names please.” 

“Alexandria Mae Rose” 

“Archer Rose” my grandfather stated. 

“Amber Mae Rose” my mom said. 

“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Andy answered. 

“I do.” We said in sync. 

“Then the council will begin.” Andy said. “Do you Alexandria Rose admit to shifting into wolf form in front of someone you knew as a human?” 

“I do.” I answered. 

“And do you Amber admit to ordering your children to leave you for dead when you were attacked by said human?” 

“I do.” my mother answered. 

“Do you Archer Rose admit to moving your pack here to avoid hunters, and failing to alert the council to the possible threat?” Andy pressed on. 

“I do.” my grandfather answered. 

“Do you, Alexandria Rose, admit to killing fifteen of the said hunters in order to defend all three packs of the Clare county?” 

“I do.” I answered although slightly confused. 

“Do you, Archer Rose, admit to killing ten of the said hunters in order to defend all three packs of Clare County?” 

“I do.” My grandfather answered. 

“Do you, Amber Rose, admit to killing another six of the said hunters in order to defend all three packs of Clare county?” 

“I do.” my mother answered. 

“Due to your honesty the council has decided that the challenge between Alexandria Rose and Jessica Ebony will be completed as scheduled in two weeks during the full moon of December. If you win the match Ms. Rose you will be promised to my son Theodore Winter, the Ebony pack will remain in the area and a part of our community. However, if you lose to Ms. Ebony your pack will have to accept full responsibility for the hunter attack and relocate. Do you accept these terms?” 

“We do.” My grandfather answered. I nodded alongside him. 

“Very Well. You may take your seats. Next up the Council calls the Ebony Alphas Calvin and Elanore Ebony to the stand.” Andy declared. The Ebony alphas glared at us as we took our seats. 

“Give your names please.” Andy demanded. 

“Calvin Mason Ebony.” 

“Elanore Melissa Ebony.”

“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Andy asked. 

“We do.” They said. 

“Did your pack plan the attack on the Rose wolves prior to the hunter’s showing up?” 

“We did not.” They answered. 

“Do you contest the two wolves who acted were doing so of their own volition and against your orders?” 

“We do.” 

“Has anyone else in your pack expressed distaste for the Rose pack since the incident?” 

“Yes” 

“How have the traitors been dealt with?” 

“We have excommunicated five wolves from our pack who blamed the Rose wolves for the attack.” 

“Very well. You are permitted to stay in the Clare county wolf affiliation, if your daughter Jessica Ebony wins the match your pack will join ours, and the Rose pack will be excommunicated. However if Jessica loses you can remain here under the Winter Rose Pack, and if you or anyone affiliated with your pack acts to harm a member of the Winter Rose pack you will be excommunicated. Do you accept these conditions?” 

“We do.” 

“Very well. This meeting is adjourned. We will see you all again in two weeks for the challenge.”