Anger of the Devil

7. The ceremony

    “How the hell do people do this?”

Lucas was fumbling with a tie as a tired and desperate expression grew on his face. Lena stepped forward and helped him tie the tie before stepping back and giving him a look. 

    “There you go, all perfect.”

Lucas looked slightly uncomfortable as he loosened the tie a little, yet all Lena could see was how much he looked like a grown man all of the sudden. Though it made her happy in a way, she couldn’t help feeling a little melancholic as well. 

    “Are you ready?”

Lucas visibly swallowed and paused before he eventually nodded. 

    “Yeah.”

His voice was deep as a man’s, but Lena could hear the uncertainty in it. 

    “You can tell me the truth, Luke. It’s okay to be nervous, and it’s just me right now.”

Lucas’ shoulders fell a bit as he sighed. 

    “I just kinda wish that I could stay in and watch Marvel movies tonight…”

Lena huffed a laugh as she tilted her head. 

    “Told you. Growing up sucks. However, given it’s your Alpha ceremony, I think it would be best to go. We’ll watch a movie tomorrow instead.”

Lucas gave her a sad look, and Lena knew what it meant; they wouldn’t be watching a movie tomorrow, nor would they for a while if ever again. Lena knew that and so did Lucas. However, he didn’t say anything as he gave her a small smile. 

    “Sounds good.”

A knock on the door interrupted their sad smiles, and soon Jake came in. 

    “So, ready to face the music?”

Lucas took in a deep breath as he kept eye contact with Lena. The insecurities and sadness started to fade away as a stronger and more determined face appeared on him.

    “Yes. I’m ready.”

With determination in his steps, Lucas walked out the door. Jake gave Lena a small smile before following Lucas. Lena sighed a bit before looking at herself in the mirror. She frowned by the paleness of her skin and the dark lines underneath her eyes, a physical reflection of how much sleep she had gotten the last couple of days. Her days were occupied by other things, and today she would see her little brother get a title, that he was born to have, at a young age. It had been good for her to be occupied, it made her focus on other things, but she couldn’t help thinking about the ache in her chest when she finally went to sleep. The dread in her body, the loss of her friends, the evil she had seen in Logan’s eyes… Lena closed her eyes as she composed herself before following Lucas and Jake. 

Cody was standing with Julia as Lena made her way through the crowd. It had been impossible to find them hadn’t it been for their ability to mind link, there where that many people present. Not only was both the Green River Pack, Lake Maroon Pack, and the White Pines Pack there at full force minus the scouts, many others had come too since they were staying after the fight from less than a week ago.

    “Lena, come stand with me.”

Cody was smiling as he looked up at her, and Lena reached out and grabbed Cody’s hand. 

    “Are you excited to see Luke become an Alpha?”

Cody smiled wider and nodded. Then a stately man, one of the elders from the Green River Pack, stepped onto the stage. Not long after, Lucas stepped onto the stage as well followed by Jake who stopped at the back of the stage. 

    “Greetings and thank you for coming to this ceremony.”

Lena looked around at the crowd. People were cheering and waving their hands in salute. She noticed the Harlows standing twenty feet to her left. Nadia raised her eyes and as their eyes met she gave Lena a small smile which Lena reciprocated.

    “Too much sorrow has filled us the last couple of days; too much death. It is always with a heavy heart that someone takes the reins from a former Alpha when that Alpha died before his time. Yet we must remember to see the light that the Moon Goddess granted us in their successor, especially when that successor had his blessings from his former superior. Today we’re gathered to see that light in Lucas Ashwood, the next Alpha of the Green River Pack.”

The cheering increased, mainly from the Green River Pack members. Lena smiled as she realized just how much support her brother had, and though she still felt fear for his safety, she couldn’t help feeling incredibly proud as well. The elder then grabbed a knife as he started to cut the ritualistic symbols into Lucas’ skin. After the symbols had been carved, he stepped back as Lucas took over. 

    “I thank you all for accepting me. To say that my journey has been easy would be a lie, so the support from you, my pack and friends, is giving me the strength that I sometimes have feared to have lost throughout all this. I just want to say that…”

Lucas stopped and Lena could see his throat bop a bit as he sunk. The sadness in his eyes were apparent, and Lena wanted nothing but to go up there and hug her brother, yet she knew she couldn’t, so instead she squeezed Cody’s hand tighter as she waited. Lucas soon regained his composure and continued. 

    “... I barely understood my future when my father and mother died. I had even forsaken it for a long time. Then my sister, brother, and I escaped and the hope of getting back our parents’ land became a possibility. I would lie if I said it didn’t make me arrogant, and I was kind of a jerk at times, yet my siblings always trusted me. And then there was Alpha Benjamin. He didn’t know me, he hardly knew any of us besides my sister when she was a toddler, yet he had complete faith in me. He taught me what it meant to be an Alpha, and what he taught me was a surprise; he taught me love and humilityabove all else. He taught me that being a leader meant putting away my arrogance and personal wantings for the sake of my pack. If it hadn’t been for him, then I wouldn’t be ready to stand here, and in his memory, I’d like us all to take a minute of silence in his honor.”

Lucas took in a deep breath before he crossed his arms on his chest. Everyone in the crowd followed his gesture and so did Lena. She let go of Cody’s hand as she too crossed her arms around her chest and closed her eyes. 

Around ten seconds had passed when a deafening scream interrupted them all. Lena opened her eyes in shock to see what was happening. She quickly scanned the place when she found Cody on the ground, screaming like he had been possessed. Without thinking she kneeled beside her brother and picked him up, but as she touched Cody’s skin she felt her heart skip. Red glowing eyes looked at her when she had touched him which made her pull her hands away. She couldn’t comprehend what had happened before Julia had dropped down next to her and grabbed Cody when Julia too suddenly screamed in horror as she also touched his skin, only she didn’t move away. Her eyes turned white as froth started to come out of her mouth. 

    “Move!”

Lena didn’t understand what was happening as Jess suddenly burst forward and grabbed Julia before slinging her away. The limp body of Julia fell to the ground, but Cody was still screaming his lungs out. The shock finally evaporated, and Lena leaped forward to grab her brother. 

    “Lena, don't!”

But Lena ignored Jess’ shouting as she grabbed Cody’s shirt. The eyes didn’t appear, but a soaring heat from Cody’s body started to burn Lena’s hand as she held his shirt tight. 

    “Cody! Fight it! You need to fight it!”

Cody’s eyes were filled with tears as he looked at Lena. 

    “I don’t know how to make it stop. It hurts, Lena.”

Lena stared in desperation as she tried to figure out what to do when she felt someone sit beside her. 

    “Let me help.”

Lena turned her head to see Nadia sitting beside her. Lena could barely say anything as she just started to shake. 

    “I… how…?”

Nadia grabbed Lena’s arm as she gave her a solemn look. 

    “I have an idea, but… I need to touch him or have a conduit to touch him.”

Lena nodded as she placed one of her hands on Nadia’s hand. 

    “Please be quick.”

Lena then placed her other hand on Cody’s skin once more as pain soared through her and red eyes surrounded by darkness reappeared. 

    “I see you…I see you, Lena. We will get to you. We will kill every person in our way. We have already gotten to you once. Join us, Lena. Join us as Logan did. Become one with our power and force. Give us the boy. Save the others. Come to our side. Join us, Lena.”

A flash of energy darted through Lena’s body as the red eyes disappeared and the light slowly returned. Beads of sweat were covering her entire body as she fell to the ground. She slowly opened her eyes to look at Cody. He was completely silent, but Lena could tell that he was breathing. 

    “Get some f*****g medics already!”

Lena could faintly hear Jake’s voice screaming as she closed her eyes.