I had actually gotten pretty good at flying. Once I was at a decent height, I began soaring around, wanting to spot Adrik. It was dark and being a faye, my eyesight wasn’t as good now as it was when I was a werewolf. But my vampire side helped.
I saw Nikolai running away from the fight, towards the forest.
And near the edge of the forest, I saw Adrik running into the woods. But instead of going in, he stopped at the edge and turned around to look at Nik.
I saw his lips move and he raised his hand. A pouch appeared in his hand.
I knew something wasn’t right. Without wasting any time, I flew right towards him. But I was too far away, and so was Nikolai.
Adrik dug hid hand into the pouch and then threw red coloured dust into the air that then fell down on him. It looked exactly like the dust the zombie witches used to teleport.
Oh Goddess no!
I increased my speed and I was a few seconds away when he disappeared into thin air.
And I was too close to the ground to slow down so I crashed on the ground and rolled on the ground to a stop. A cry escaped my lips. It freaking hurt!
“Avalyn!” Nikolai was looming over me when I flickered my eyes open. “Are you okay?”
“He got away.” I rasped.
“I saw.” He whispered, his eyes haunted. I can’t even fathom was going through his mind. I know that he has made it his life’s mission to kill his father. And he had ideated an elaborate plan that would ensure it. But Adrik was a few steps ahead of him and attacked first. And after the many difficulties we faced, things were finally looking up.
And Adrik escaped.
Goddess knows where he is now.
“We’ll catch him, Mi Amor.” I cupped his cheek.
“Yeah.” He didn’t sound very sure as he pulled me to my feet. “We need to stop the war first.”
I nodded.
“Can you walk?” He asked with worry. “Heal yourself.”
And I did just that before we sprinted to the war together. The events of the last few days were just crashing down on me and I didn’t feel as strong as I was feeling earlier.
Maybe it was adrenaline and the fall wore it off or something.
“Stop!” Nik growled when we reached the fight.
He only gained the attention of the few people around us.
But then slowly, Nik’s powers started increasing and his Alpha wolf was right on the surface, more prominent than ever. His hair started turning blond as he reached for the energy deep within before he let out a thunderous growl.
Everyone paused. There was pin drop silence. No one dared to make to make a single sound.
Neither the supernaturals in our pack, the armoured vampires nor the wolves of Mystic Lupus.
“Adrik ran away like the coward that he is.” Nikolai’s voice reverberated across the ground, “the war is over. You either bend the knee and surrender or die.”
Utter silence ensued and I could feel the dread rolling off of the wolves of Mystic Lupus and relief off of our warriors.
“Bend the knee, or die.” Nikolai growled again, his fists lighting up on fire and I spread my wings wide, ready for attack.
And it was all for show after all. The last thing both of us wanted was bloodshed, but it would be inevitable if they decided to fight. And the best way to make them surrender was for them to realise that it was the only option they had. And showing our power, our strength and dominance over them did that pretty well.
Nikolai
One by one, they started kneeling. In the end, only a handful remained standing. Heath, the Beta of Mystic Lupus was one of them. I remembered him to be a strong, kind and loyal wolf. He was the reason Mom and I had been able to run away all those years ago.
He was the reason I am alive today. And right now, I was faced with the challenge of either making him submit or to kill him.
“Beta Heath,” my hands clenched in a fist. I used to call him uncle once upon a time. “It will be in your best interest if you kneel. Adrik is gone. He deserted his pack members, left them to fend for themselves or die. That is not kind of Alpha you should stay loyal to.”
“I have made many mistakes in my life,” his eyes were sharp. He regrets helping us run away. I have no idea what story Adrik had fed him. “Standing right now is not one. I made an oath to King Adrik that I intend to follow for as long as I live.” The warriors that were kneeling looked shameful and the ones who were standing puffed their chests.
“You made a stronger oath when you became a Beta and took over after your father than what you made to Adrik. To guide the Alpha. To protect the weak-women and children. To do what is right for your pack. Or have you forgotten that?” I asked. “Adrik did none of those and yet, you kept following him blindly. And now, he is leading you to death, away from your mate and family. You still choose to go through with it?”
When I had the option between Ava and kneeling, I knelt. Nothing in the world is more important to me than her. Not even my own self. Especially not my pride. And if this man chooses Adrik, literally the worst Alpha to walk on this planet, over his mate, his daughter, then that was not the kind of man I wanted in my pack.
His eyes met mine and I knew I didn’t get through to him.
“I will reunite with my mate in the afterlife. But right now, me betraying King Adrik would be equal to me betraying Goddess Luna and going against her word. I cannot live with that weight on my shoulder.” He replied solemnly.
Betraying Goddess Luna? What the fuck was he talking about? And why was he calling Adrik King instead of Alpha?
I could feel the people growing restless. I need to take action and take it quickly. The last thing I wanted was to think that I’m weak and then betray me when they become my pack members. Because that was worse than enemies attacking you.
“Yes, I will stand by King Adrik too and follow his orders. He is blessed immortality by Goddess Luna. He is soon going to become the King of this universe with her blessings too.” One young warrior, who stood beside Heath spoke up.