The Last Lycan (On Hold)

Thirteen

Ava woke with a start, inhaling as much air as she could as if she had stopped breathing. Her entire body coated in sweat from the dream like state she had been in.

When she looked around the room, Steele wasn’t there, she didn’t understand where he had gone, the noise outside was silent of wolves.

Ava got to her feet and headed out of the tent, only one wolf was at the camp. “Where is everyone?” Ava asks.

“They have followed the Alpha to war Luna” he says.

Ava looked at him shocked, he was using a title she doesn’t have.

“War? Where?” she demanded to know.

“South the pack games”. And that is all Ava had to say before she took off towards the Snow Stone Pack.

“No wait, you are to stay at camp” the young warrior calls out, but Ava was already gone.

She had no idea how long she was out, but the tension in her body and the unrelaxed wolf pacing around inside of her told Ava that the blood moon was close.

She had no idea how far she was from the Snow Stone Pack, but she was determined to get to Steele before he put so many lives in danger, including her father’s.

It was a day’s run and Ava found Steele and his pack camping out thirty minutes from the Snow Stone Pack borders.

She remined hidden, wanting to find Steele and see what they were planning before she made her presence known. With no scent it was only sound that could give her away.

But that was not the case, she forgot that Steele could smell her, being her mate, he was the only one who could.

Steele came up behind her and spun her around, slamming her back against a tree.

Ava gasps in shock and at the loss of air in her lungs, “You can’t attack there are so many innocent people, children” Ava exclaims.

Steele growls and shakes his head “They didn’t with all the innocent people they slaughtered”.

Ava shakes her head “You’re right, but you doing this is the same as them, do you want to be like them?” Ava screams out the question.

Steele gets angry and his hand wraps around Ava’s neck. Her hands grip on his to try and get him to release but he kept his solid grip.

“I know they killed your mother” Ava gasped out hoping he would back off.

Steele released his grip and Ava dropped to her knees holding her neck as she tried to catch her breath.

“How, no one else knows but Flynn” Steele spoke, his breathing all over the place with his anger. He knew Flynn wouldn’t have released that information, not even to the Alpha’s mate.

“The high council set your father up, Selina found out what they did, she put the pieces together and they killed her for it, pinning it on your father which made him worse even after the loss” Ava explained to Steele.

He looked into the eyes of his mate and saw only truth.

“Let me help you Steele, I can get everyone to see the truth and no one who doesn’t deserve it will get hurt” Ava begs.

Her eyes pleaded with Steele to let her try first.

But the look on his face told Ava he was unwilling to do as she requested. “I’m not stopping you from killing the council, they kept this secret all these years and some of them on there now were involved in your mother’s death, but everyone else deserves to know the truth, give me some time, let me tell them and let them decide, after that you can do what you want, but you’re not going to make anyone believe you if you come in and slaughter them all”.

Steele remained quiet, his eyes changing from black to his grey human eye colour, Ava shakily got back onto her feet and she took a few cautious steps towards her mate and raises her hand towards his face.

Steele reacts and grabs tightly onto her hand that was held up, she intended to grab his face, but he stopped her. She gently moved her free hand and placed it on his arm that was holding Ava’s hand.

The tingling sensation grew the longer Ava had skin contact with Steele, he too felt the connection and he managed to calm his wolf because of it.

“Please” she whispers.

Steele sighs, “Fine, but myself and Flynn will escort you”.

Ava opened her mouth about to object but she sighs and nods, his presence there is only going to make things worse, but she had to take it, in the short time she has known Steele she has seen that he isn’t a bargaining man and she had to take the win as it is.

“When the Council arrive in the evening we will go then” Steele finishes then walks away.

Ava stands there unsure as to what to do with herself, he clearly doesn’t like her and she wasn’t going to follow instead she decided to stay where she was, sitting on the ground Ava leans against the tree behind her, every so often raising her hand to her neck to soothe the bruising that was on her neck, it would heal in an hour but it was still uncomfortable.

The morning games began, children ran around in the grass, teens lounged around the pool and the lake nearby. Adults chatted about their families and their packs. Samuel however wasn’t in the mood for talking, his mind still on his daughter.

Everyone was so focused on the games and with so many wolves from other packs across the territory nobody sensed the intruders spying on them for afar.

They were hidden to report to their Alpha on what they were seeing and when the Council arrived.

No fire was at the camp as Steele didn’t want his position given away before his war began.

Hours ticked by and the warriors of the Lycan Shadow Pack were growing restless, they were ready for war and with the blood moon verging on entering the sky their wolves grew restless also.

The Snow Star Pack were complimented on the beautiful decorations around and on the stage, Sarah smiled and accepted, but the smile was forced, Ava was the one to do such a beautiful job and she wasn’t here to accept the compliments.

Mason was keeping himself occupied, readying himself and the pack house to greet their most esteemed guests.

When the cars pulled up the warriors hiding in the trees notified their Alpha.

Ava heard the movement from her mate and the energy suddenly spiking with the warriors of the pack.

Jumping to her feet she rushes to Steele’s side who has already began to head to the Snow Stone Pack border.

The warriors followed behind.

“You said you and Flynn, not the warriors” Ava spoke.

Steele didn’t look at Ava, keeping his eyes front “They will hold back until I call them forward”.

Ava remained silent as she walked alongside Steele until they reached the pack border.

Grabbing his arm, another shiver ran through her body from the mate contact.

Steele stopped per Ava’s motion and looked at her with a cold stare. “Let me go alone first, if they see you and Flynn they will attack and I can’t let people get hurt” she said, but it was mainly because she knew the council came with warrior of their own and Steele was about to walk into a slaughter house.

“It might be a good idea, you said she knows the truth and she hasn’t done anything to expose us” Flynn chimed in.

Steele was still quiet “Five minutes” he finally spoke.

Ava a little too over thankful reached up and kissed Steele on the cheek.

His entire body stiffened, and she took a step back her eyes wide with shock.

Flynn looks at the pair amused “You two are idiots” he chuckles.

“I’m going to go” Ava drawls out then turns on her heel and heads over the border.

The high council were already on the stage, every pack had gathered in front of the stage and Head councilman Morris stepped up to the microphone and every pack went silent so he could address the packs.

“I’d like to welcome everyone to the pack games” the crowd cheers.

“As we do every thirteen years, I would like to start our ceremony off with our history…”

Ava broke through the tree line and walked towards the stage. She walks up the isle in the middle of the seats and everyone looks at her with confusion.

Samuel saw his daughter and he jumps up out of his seat ‘Dad I’m fine, but you’ll want to sit down for this one’ Ava informed her father through the link.

He was confused but did as she asked.

“Head Warrior Ava, I heard through the great vine that you were missing, but here you are” councilman Morris speaks.

Ava smiles but it was fake, “Here I am” she says as she ascends the steps that lead to the stage.

“I’m just about to start the history of the wolves” councilman Morris says indicating for Ava to take a seat, it was highly rude of her to interrupt, but she was a well-liked member of the community and Morris wasn’t about to make a fuss in front of everyone.

“Oh good, that’s always been my favourite part of the ceremony” Ava says.

Morris smiles and waits for Ava to get off the stage, but she remains.

“If you’re waiting for me to get off stage, that’s not going to happen” she tells him.

Gasps echoed through the woods; she was defying the high council.

“Alpha Samuel control your daughter before I have her physically removed” another councilman sat on a chair at the back of the stage shouts.

Samuel looks at his daughter and sees a look in his face, one he had only seen in his mate before.

“You know which part of history I like the most?” she asks. Everyone remained silent.

“We were told that one hundred years ago Lycans made a move against the high council and the high council had no choice but to eliminate all Lycans” Ava spoke loud enough for everyone around to hear.

“But that wasn’t the truth was it Head Councilman Morris” Ava looked at him with a raised eyebrow and waited for him to respond.

Only he didn’t “Get her off the stage I’ll deal with your punishment later” Morris spoke as he waved for a council warrior to remove Ava.

He came for her and she quickly tossed him off the stage, this sparked outrage with the council and a small group of warriors arrived ready to escort Ava off the stage.

“What’s the matter Morris, afraid for everyone to hear the real truth?” she spat.

Morris looked at her and growled for her to submit, but she wouldn’t, everyone was surprised, even Alpha’s bowed to the high council so why wasn’t Ava.

“This is ridiculous, something must have happened to the child whilst she was missing” Morris shouts out his claim.

“You’re right, something did happen, I found out that one hundred years ago, you feared that Lycans would over power the high council, you made it up in your head. The Lycan Shadow Pack lost their family because you went and slaughtered them for no reason” Ava shouts.

Morris looks at the head warrior with shock, it was impossible for her to know the truth, so he played it off and laughed, “You have truly lost your mind” he claims.

The council soldiers get closer to Ava “What about Selina Everhart” she asks.

Morris’ laughter ceased and he looks at Ava with black eyes.

“You don’t know what you are talking about child” his voice deep and threatening.

But she did “You murdered Selina Everhart because she found out the truth, about the secret the council has kept for a hundred years”.

More gasps and murmurs run through the crowd, no one knew what to believe anymore.

Steele had given her five minutes and emerged from the trees, when he saw warriors getting close to Ava his eyes go black, no one saw him run past until he was on the stage and throwing council soldiers away from his mate.

People scream and grab their children, unsure as what to do.

Samuel jumps to his feet and was about to go for the Rogue Alpha when Ava stepped in front of him and Samuel stopped moving.

“Ava get away from him” looking at his daughter in fear, but she had no fear in her eyes, she was calm.

“Dad, I promise everything is fine, he won’t hurt me”.

She turns to Steele and scowls, “You said five minutes” she growls out at him.

“And I gave you that” he snaps.

During this Flynn casually walks up the isle in the middle of the packs as if he wasn’t a rogue Beta.

“Warriors ready yourself, the Rogue Alpha is here” Morris claims.

He was already panicking; things were beginning to unravel, and he needed to deal with it quick.

“No” Ava shouts, she remains in front of Steele to protect him.

Kyle saw what was happening and rushed up “Ava get away from that monster” he growls out.

Ava shook her head, “Stay the f**k out of this Kyle”.

He scoffs, “Like hell I do, you’re my mate remember”.

Ava closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose that was all she needed.

Steele’s eyes shift all the way to black and he moves to Kyle.

“I’m going to kill you” Steele roars out.

Kyle readies himself for the fight but Ava wasn’t going to let a fight break out, one kill and war will break out.

“No” she cries but Steele had already made it past her. The two men begin to fight and roll around, punch after punch, they were covered in blood and dirt. Steele throws Kyle off him and they shift into their wolfs. People could only look and watch as two Alpha males fought it out for one woman.

Usually when someone first sees their mates wolf and are in awe, but Ava saw blood and him moving around in a blur.

Throughout all this no one noticed that the blood moon had reached its peak and Ava suddenly felt a fire burn inside her yet again.

She groans and lands on her knees in pain. Samuel heard his daughter and rushed up to her, “Ava what’s going on?” he asks.

Ava shakes her head “I don’t know, but it hurts dad, it hurts so much” she whimpers out.

He tries to sooth her, but it was too much.

Her screams rack through the trees, all the birds fly out in a start.

“Steele” she screams, she wanted him by her side, she didn’t know what to do, she thought he could make the pain go away like he had done before.

Steele automatically breaks from the fight giving one last bite to Kyle before running back to his mate.

Samuel tenses, unsure if he should “It’s okay” Ava assures through gritted teeth, having felt her father’s unease.

Steele quickly shifts, Flynn chucking him a pair of shorts to put on, he crouches down beside his soon to be Luna “It’s happening again” he huffs out.

Ava shakes her head, “No, this is different” she cries it was painful, she felt as if her insides were being ripped out of her.

Morris took this opportunity of weakness to address the packs before him.

“As head councilman of the high council I order all able wolves to eliminate the threat that is the Lycan Shadow Pack and Lavender Adams, you have seen they mean to do us harm, anyone that goes against these orders will be seen as treason and aligning themselves with the enemy” Morris shouted.

No one knew what to do. But many began to follow the orders of their high council, they couldn’t deny an order.

“No” Ava shakes her head, Samuel grabs a hold of his daughter “Run Ava now, there is no chance of sorting this out tonight, take the Lycan Shadow Pack and leave now, there are too many council soldiers and the packs are starting to get angry, they don’t believe you, they think you’ve been brainwashed” Samuel claims.

“But you…” he shakes his head “I’ll be fine, but you need to go”.

Samuel reaches for Steele, he saw how the young Alpha reacted to his daughter and although he was fearful of the young man, this was his only choice right now.

Steele turns around ready to attack the person touching him, he saw his mates father, “You have a connection with my daughter and I trust that you won’t hurt her, but she is weak and I will not see my only child die, take her and protect her, do not fight tonight” he asks.

Steele wanted to rip them all to shreds, but his mate was withering. He looks at his Beta ‘Leave now’

Flynn nods his head and takes off into the woods. Steele picks Ava up and runs.

Kyle sees this and is about to chase after them, but his father stops him. His body heaving with anger and breathlessness.

“What the hell dad, you’re just going to let that murderer take off with Ava” Kyle heaves out between breaths.

Mason growls at his son’s tone “You have no choice. She is no longer your concern” Mason rumbled out. He saw what Samuel did and trusted his old friend knew what he was doing.

The games had turned into chaos, councilman Morris was talking with the other members, they were organising a hunt, they had their council soldiers growing in numbers, five thousand soldiers ready to be deployed to battle.

Samuel looked at his old friend, a war was brewing, and they were about to end up in the middle of it.