Submitted to Love

Chapter 15

--Adrian—

The whole place froze like it is under some trance. I could feel the fear creeping through my veins. This mysterious being, whoever he is, wants Isabella. I cannot fathom what could possibly be the reason for his interest in a human.

To hell with boundaries, I grabbed Isabella by her hand and pushed her behind me, close to my body. I can feel her confusion, fear and anxiety. It angered me, angered me enough to bellow at those incoming without much contemplation.

“Show yourself first.”

We could see the wolves finally, emerging from the mist like some creature from hell. I could smell them; they are recently converted from rogues. The afterglow of the sunset has left the nature, darkness is descending as the night approaches. The shadows of the wood grow darker. All the creatures are extra quite tonight as if sensing the intrusion into the land. 

But where is the voice that spoke?

A man sauntered forward walking in a very curious manner. In puppeteering show, sometimes the puppets are changed position in middle of the show. This man walked in like those puppets. His pupils are pointing towards different direction, unfocussed. Walking in uncoordinated fashion, like an intoxicated person. He had the palest skin I have ever seen, almost turning green. The clothes he was wearing are dirty and unwashed, perhaps for quite a long time. And yet his voice was so powerful, almost like some man in his prime.

The moment he walked in, he was however flanked by two huge wolves and two vampires. They seem to be guarding him, like a soldier, ready to slay their lives for the specimen.

“Uncle Jack?” A whisper from Isabella behind me startled me and I stared at her in disbelief. She knows this aberration?

“You know this guy?”

“He used to bring us buns and butter, sometimes cheese and cinnamon rolls.”

I am trying to understand the meaning of what Isabella said. Who is this man then?

“I can assure you I am not your Uncle Jack. However, he has been kind enough to lend me his body. Well mostly he had no choice.” The voice chuckled.

Isabella was shaking behind me; I can feel her body trembling in fear as well as grief.

“Who is that girl?” The deplorable creature in Jack’s body spoke, now pointing his finger towards Isabella. A loud growl ripped through my mouth, but I instantly regretted. A sharp intake of breath behind me told me Isabella fears me and I hated it every bit.

“Isabella is a villager who is now living with us in the castle. Who are you? Declare yourself.” My father spoke sharply before I could respond. Both my parents were scrutinizing Jack with skepticism.

“Well, well Arthur. Would you not greet your only brother?” A loud cackle echoed through the stunned silence of the ground.

Kahn? How is he alive? If this is what you call being alive.

“I see you are at loss of word at the happiness you feel seeing your brother. I am touched Arthur” Kahn sniggered slightly. One of the wolves in human form moved closer and whispered to Kahn to be careful but he brushed aside the warning, flicked his hand and the next thing we know that the wolf is down cold on the ground.

The shock and horror of the complete apathy towards life sent a shock wave through those present on the ground.

“Well, the pest out of the way, let’s get back to our discussion. So, Arthur, I mean no hard to you or your people. Well at least not today. I am here for the girl. I am curious to know what kind of creature she is. A mystery now are you not?” Kahn seemed to be speaking more to himself than to those around him. Snapping out of the pondering, he spoke again…something that chilled my spine to the core.

“Hand over the girl Arthur. And I will be one my way out. I presume she is not aware of your true form. Well we don’t want unwanted revelations now do we? Refuse to comply, I will burn the place down.” I have never heard anyone speak of death, destruction and m******e with such calmness and detachment.

A furious growl escaped my mouth and I was aware that my wolf is taking charge…almost. Kahn rotated his body towards me and let out another cackle. On that still moonless night, it felt like laugh of Death. Are we really prepared to handle this?

“Isabella is with us Kahn and she is a human. She will be staying with us.” My mother spoke out of no-where.

“Ah my lovely Mary! I am afraid I need that girl.”

“SHE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.” I bellowed at Kahn with all the anger I was feeling in my veins. My wolf voice layered with mine. We were both furious.

“Hmm, you know I was hoping for a middle ground here …but this is an unexpected complication.” Kahn muttered almost to himself. He closed his eyes and moments later there were rumbling and low growling of wolves all around us.

I stared fanatically from one side to another. We are surrounded by wolves, huge wolves…abnormally large ones. Every one of the wolves had exact same color. Blackish Brown. Red eyes burning like that of a Devil. What are these wolves?

I was taking steps back holding Isabella. She is already in crossfire of the supernatural world and the last thing I want is her to witness the transformation and more than that, the brutality of werewolf war.

“One more step young Alpha, your mate dies with you.” Kahn’s simple sentence turned everyone’s head and I could see my father’s disapproving looks. It angered me. But more than that it scared me. However, I was wrong to doubt my father’s moral compass.

“She can be no one Kahn, but she stays here.” My father spoke with such conviction that I felt we could go out of this unscathed with his leadership.

“Hmm, interesting …Well I gave you a choice….” Kahn finished the sentence and tapped his fingers.

The whole forest started moving. Hundreds of wolves started advancing towards us. Before long members of our pack started phasing into their wolves. I heard a loud whimper from behind me. Isabella is shaking furiously. I cannot even imagine the amount of anxiety she is feeling right now.

In the whole chaos, I lifted Isabella up and cradled her, protecting her from the madness outside. I had only one intention in my mind…get her to safety. One step towards the castle was all I could take. In split seconds Isabella was ripped from my body and I was thrown a few feet away by one of the vampires guarding Kahn.

With a war cry my father charged forward and so began the war, waves after waves of wolves gathered us from all sides. I could see doubt, fear, anger and conviction all pass across the face of the ranked wolves. Justin was pushing Joseline away, Ariana and Callum already shifted……this war came a few years earlier than we expected. I was searching for my mate…

Will moon goddess not give me even one chance to know my mate? Will my heart die before it had a chance to beat for her?