Zale
The council chamber smelled of oak, leather, and tension. I sat at the head of the long mahogany table, my Beta, Devon, leaning in to speak in hushed tones. We were deep in negotiations with the neighboring pack about border reinforcements, the attacks from witches and rogues were spreading like wildfire and we needed to do something about it. We all needed to agree as one to end the attacks sooner rather than later.
''Alpha Zale…'' Alpha Romani spoke to me making me turn my attention to him.
''Yes Romani, any suggestions...''
''Yes, we could order young werewolves to volunteer as recruits train them, and station them at our borders.''
''That sounds like a great idea and I will volunteer 30 recruits…'' Alpha Felix remarked.
''Good..''
''The training of the recruits who are to handle it and how are we going to divide them equally to protect each border?'' Beta Arian said.
''I have a different suggestion..'' Alpha Dalia said adjusting herself on her seat..
''Yes Dalia''
''I suggest we meet with their respective leaders and come to a common agreement, because as you know not all Alphas are present and most of them are joining forces with rogues and witches.''
''True, very true…'' everyone said in unison their voice echoing through the room.
What Dalia said was true rumors have been spiraling of some Alphas partnering with rogues and witches and to me was absolute Nonsense why would you want to partner up with those filthy dogs and conniving bitches. I was in deep thought about what she said when it hit him.
At first, it was just a whisper in my soul, a subtle tug that made my breath falter. Then the pain came.
It wasn't painful like a wound or a broken bone. This was inside me deep where no blade could reach. The bond, the sacred thread that tied me to Emily shivered violently, pulling so hard I thought my heart might rip out of my chest.
A sound tore from me before I even knew it. My claws burst through my fingers, gouging the table as the chair toppled backward. I hit my knees hard, the marble cracking beneath me.
"Alpha?" Devon's voice rang out, sharp with alarm, but I barely heard him. The pack link flickered with static, and then her.
Her heartbeat. Her fear. It slammed into me like a tidal wave, and for one desperate second, I felt her fighting.
Emily. I heard her call through our mind link her voice low and laced with so much pain.
''Love what's wrong? I can feel your pain where are you''
''Rogues… there are so many I can't'' she said letting out a cry. ''They're everywhere, Zale!''
''Stay put! I'm coming! Where are you?'' I said the anger in me was fuming more and more by the second.
''The eastern creek… no closer to the river Grate and the others should be on their way but Zale, they know… about the pup.'' She mumbled her voice low
''No! Emily, fight! Hold on! I'm leaving now I swear I'll…'' I said heading straight for the door, the only thing on my mind was to find her and save her.
''You can't… you're too far. Don't leave the meeting. They need you… our people need you.''
''I need you, Emily. Please, don't you dare!'' I said with so much pain and anger.
''Promise me… promise you'll protect them.'' She muttered but it only came out as a whisper
''Don't you say goodbye to me. Do you hear me? Don't'' I ordered her but nothing, no response just me staring not being able to move.
Then came the scream. Not through my ears, but through the bond. Her pain seared into me, branding my soul. I roared her name, but the sound never left my throat because in the next breath, she was gone.
The cord snapped.
The explosion inside me was instant and merciless. It felt like someone had driven a blade of ice into my chest and twisted until there was nothing left but emptiness. The hollow ache that followed swallowed me whole.
I collapsed forward, claws raking the grass as my howl ripped through the woods a sound of loss so raw it shook the trees.
"Alpha! Zale!" Devon's hands clamped on my shoulders, trying to hold me steady.
"She's gone." My voice cracked like broken glass. "Emily… is dead."
Devon froze. His face shifted from confusion to horror in the blink of an eye.
"Get the car," I growled, forcing my shaking body to rise. "Now."
Flashback
Her laughter came back to me then sweet and soft, like the melody of the forest at dawn. I remembered the first time I saw her standing beneath the old willow by the river, sunlight turning her auburn hair into flames.
When our eyes met, the world fell silent. My wolf surged forward, howling with recognition. I'd known then I would burn kingdoms for her.
"I guess fate made up its mind," she teased, smiling like she hadn't just shattered me wide open.
Back in the present
I slammed into the SUV, Devon behind the wheel. Tires screamed as we tore down the winding roads. My claws dug into the leather seat. Every mile stretched like a lifetime, every breath became harder for me.
Why did I leave? My mind lashed at me like a whip. Why wasn't I there?
I remembered our last words. Bitter. Sharp.
"Emily, this meeting is important," I'd snapped, too focused on duty.
"You're important," she'd whispered, fear glistening in her eyes.
I'd kissed her forehead and promised to return soon. Now I was racing back to a world without her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The scent hit me before the gates even came into view; blood. Thick and metallic. Poison on the wind.
My wolf lunged inside me, thrashing, snarling. When the gates finally loomed, I didn't wait for the SUV to stop. I was out the door before the tires finished spinning, boots sinking into mud streaked crimson.
The earth was a graveyard. Bodies lay scattered across the courtyard rogues and my warriors alike, broken in the rain. The storm had begun to wash the blood into black rivers that bled into the soil.
Every face I passed bowed low, grief bleeding through the pack link, but no one spoke. They didn't need to. I could feel their sorrow pressing against my skull like iron chains.
Where is she? My wolf howled in my head, savage and wild. Where is our mate?!
The scent of death led me to the infirmary. Each step dragged like a mountain tied to my spine, but I forced my legs to move, one after the other, until I reached the door.
The hinges creaked, and my world ended.
Emily lay on the bed, pale and still, her auburn hair spilling across the pillow like a bloody halo. Her lips were blue. Her skin, once warm with life, was ice. A sheet covered her, but the crimson stains seeping through a scar on my soul.
My knees hit the floor hard. A broken sound tore from my chest, so raw and guttural it didn't sound human. My claws gouged the tiles as sobs racked my body.
"Emily…" My fingers shook as I touched her cheek. Cold gods, she was so cold.
Elliot our pack doctor spoke from somewhere far away, his voice a ghost on the wind. "She fought hard, Alpha we tried, we couldn't save her or the baby. I'm sorry"
"Leave." The word was a snarl, sharp as a blade.
Footsteps shuffled out, the door closing instantly. Silence pressed down on me from the infirmary, leaving only me and the broken shell of the woman who was my heart.
I lowered my forehead to hers, breathing her in like a drowning man clutching air. The bond was gone, ripped out by cruel hands, but its echo haunted me, whispering everything I had lost.
"I should've been here," I whispered, voice cracking. "I should've protected you, I'm sorry my love."
My wolf clawed and thrashed inside, demanding blood, demanding vengeance. Demanding that I make the world pay for her death and that of my unborn child.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
By nightfall, the storm had become a beast of its own. Rain lashed down as the pack gathered in the courtyard, silent shadows in the dark. Emily's body lay draped in white and silver the colors of our Luna as warriors carried her.
I stood at the front, a storm carved into my flesh, my heart bleeding with every step they took. The rain couldn't hide the tears burning my face, but I didn't care.
I tilted my head to the sky and let out a howl that ripped through the night, a sound so savage it made the earth beneath me tremble, a song of grief, rage, and shattered vows. One by one, the pack joined me, their voices weaving into a dirge.
When the last note faded, I stepped forward and placed a single white rose on her still chest. My voice was a whisper.
"By bond and by blood," I swore, tasting fire and death on my tongue, "I will find them. And I will burn the world if I must."
My pack's reply rose in unison, fierce and unwavering '' For the Alpha, for the Luna.''
I turned away, my fists curling so tight that claws bit into my palms until blood dripped into the rain. Somewhere in the darkness, rogues were running free.
Not for long.
I shifted immediately heading straight for the woods, I wasn't thinking I couldn't, all I felt was immense pain crumbling into my chest. My wolf was free to finally mourn; all I could think about at this point was how I was going to kill every single one of them. And those who collided would fall as well.
I finally slowed down reaching the place where she took her last breath. I inhaled deeply absorbing and reliving every single thing that happened here. She didn't deserve to die and I didn't deserve to lose her, she was everything I ever wanted; she was perfect the way she spoke, her strength, her aura was absolutely beautiful. But now she was gone I would never hear her sweet laughter or feel her skin close to mine… My wolf yearned for both of them but now nothing only silence and a stench of rage and pain that laced the air.
I shifted back instantly staring straight at the moon with words that came out as nothing but a whisper….
''Why did you take her from me? Why?'' I said tears pouring down my face, the cool night air brushed by my face making me notice that the rain had subsided to a drizzle.
''Every single one of them will die until I'm satisfied…'' The only thing on my mind right now was to find the ones who plotted and killed my Emily, I was going to end their bloodlines and make life as they knew it vanish. This wasn't just words that I spoke to the earth but a promise that I was going to fulfill. And no matter what anyone says to me I wasn't going to claim another.
''I would rather die than be fated to another''
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I headed straight for my office mind linking everyone to meet me there. I sat down reminiscing about every conversation and event that took place in this office, she always came here whenever she wanted my attention bringing me her infamous chocolate chip cookie. A knock on the door made me drift back into reality.
''Come in'' I said under my breath loud enough for them to hear.
''You asked for us'' Andros my omega said as everyone stepped into my office standing in front of my beige marble glass desk.
''You informed me about the speculations on Emily's death and the attack on the border, what have you found?''
''We haven't found any tangible proof yet but like I told Omega Andros I suspect Alpha Taros is behind the attack on our border,'' Grate said to me
''How sure are you, we don't need any speculations right now because anyone behind what happened last night has a bounty on their head,'' Devon spoke almost immediately.
''Not sure Beta but from the investigation carried out he sent a message to one of our warriors who betrayed us and linked the Luna's location,'' Grate replied
''Who? I and Devon responded immediately.
''Raft he's a warrior and he's mated to Alpha Taros' niece,'' Grate responded.
''Has he been captured..'' Andros asked.
''Yes sir''
''Good…. Keep him alive I'll carry out an interrogation on him myself tomorrow.''
''Yes, Alpha..'' Grate and Andros responded before leaving my office.
''She is to be buried on Eastern Creek, a Memorial tomb is to be built for her there,'' I said to Devon
''Yes, Alpha..''
''And also set up a council meeting with Huxley and My Uncle tomorrow after her funeral.''
''Yes, Alpha…. Zale, how are you holding up?'' Devon asked me with concern.
''I want all of them dead….And every single pack responsible for her death on their knees.'' I stated with rage and anger in my voice.
''As you wish.''