JAYDEN
Before I slipped out to inspect the matter, I made sure I left Jerome in Vanessa’s capable hands.
Despite not having my wolf with me, I still held the responsibility of being the alpha of my pack and ensuring their safety. Jerome’s situation left me no soul. The silver poison has accumulated excessively in his body, but he must recover. We have endured immense hardship together, and it would be a tragedy to end like this. My legs trembled at the thought of losing Jerome. He truly deserves the utmost care. Even when I neglected the pack due to my own issues, he always stepped up as a leader without complaint, despite facing his own challenges. Jerome, with his unwavering determination, had been a pillar of strength for the pack. His selflessness and resilience had always guided the pack through countless trials and tribulations. I wasn’t good enough for him. Now is the time to help him overcome this insidious silver poison that threatened to consume him.
I stepped out of the house and immediately felt a chill run down my spine. Vampires and rogues had gathered in my yard, creating a crowded and menacing scene. They poked out their polished silvered nails for everyone to see.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic within me. This was not the sight I was accustomed to seeing right after what just happened a while ago. Their presence sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn’t help but notice the fear etched on the faces of my people yet they are good fighters. The air was thick with tension, and I knew I had to act quickly to ensure everyone’s safety.
The vampire, who turns out to be my brother, emerged from them with a sinister smug expression.
“Hi, brother,” he said, marching towards me. I sensed my people tensing up, but they had to remain vigilant.
“As I promised, brother, I am here. This time I have brought along some allies who will assist me in completing the task more efficiently. However, before we proceed, I wish to begin with your young human girl. I want you to witness as I drain her completely, just as my father did to your family.
I struck him square in his smug face, causing him to stumble back a few steps before regaining his balance. He bared his fangs and snarled at me. My blood boiled as I grabbed his shirt tightly. “If you dare touch anyone I care about, I promise you’ll end up back in that damn casket you came from in pieces” I snarled.
“What will you do if I tell you I have your beloved mate in my grasp?” he taunted. “She’s under my control.” He added.
My heart skipped a beat as his words hit me like a punch in the gut. The thought of Catriona, above all else, being in the clutches of this vile creature sent a surge of rage through my veins. I tightened my grip on his shirt, my hands trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
“You’re lying” I spat through gritted teeth, refusing to let the panic consume me. “You wouldn’t dare. A sinister smile crept across his face, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. “Oh, but I would, my dear brother. She’s currently under my control, dancing to my tune. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
I felt my wolf stir at the word “mate.” This guy can’t be serious, I muttered.
The bloodsucker appeared to have heard me ’cause he exclaimed loudly, “Don’t tell me you’re unaware of your mate’s absence. Is she truly your mate or a hooker?”
This man was really getting under my skin. Before taking any action, I mindlinked with the pack’s godmother to check on Catriona. She had left the house a while ago. She responded quickly. I ran my hands through my hair, feeling the weight of the whole building crashing down on me. The fear that Catriona was once again in the hands of bloodsuckers, all because of my ignorance, crept into my heart like a dangerous presence. The last time she was abducted, it didn’t end well. My wolf was restless inside me, struggling against the numbness I had imposed upon him. But I knew that as much as I desired his help, he couldn’t provide it.
Next, I heard growling and snarling between the wolves and vampires. Next, I felt my vampire brother heaving me up. I quickly got out of his grip and used all my energy to pounce at him, sending him a few inches away. However, as expected, he effortlessly flew in the air using his vampiric power, his eyes revolting hatred. I patiently waited for his attack, but instead, he swiftly grabbed one of my wolves, sinking his fangs into him before ripping off his head. With a satisfied look, he shifted to another pack member, ready to crush him too but I couldn’t allow it.
Despite my wolf being asleep, I still possessed some powers. I dashed over and positioned myself between my pack member and the blood-covered vampire just before he could touch him. His tinted nails scratched my skin, causing a small but painful jolt that travelled from my skin to my veins.
He forcefully grabbed my face forcing me to look at him. “You don’t have your wolf with you, brother. Are you?” He didn’t give me a chance to react as he continued, “Now watch how my men and I demolish your pack.” With that, he disappeared from my sight and joined his crew. I didn’t hesitate and joined the
battle…
With a surge of adrenaline, I lunged forward, my instincts taking over. The chaos of the battle surrounded me as my pack clashed with our enemies. The air was filled with the sounds of snarls, growls, and the clash of teeth and claws. I focused on my opponents, my eyes scanning the battlefield for any signs of danger. The scent of blood and sweat mingled in the air, fueling my determination. My muscles tensed, ready to strike, as I sought out my brother who had my delta in his clutches ready to kill him.
As I fought through the skirmish, I lashed out at my brother and fought him off my delter. I managed to drop him to the ground and pinned him. “I’ve got it from here,” I said to my delter. With a nod, he disappeared to assist others. My brother struggled to escape my grip, but I held on tightly.
“If you have a problem with me, why involve innocent people who know nothing about this?” I asked, my jaws clenched. “Now, where is Catriona?” I inquired, my anger evident “I’m not stupid enough to answer that,” he replied, sniggering before poking me in the eyes.
As I struggled to regain my sight, the agonising howls of dying wolves filled the air, causing my heart to jolt with guilt. Finally, my vision cleared, but when I attempted to stand, a surge of pain shot through my right leg, causing me to stumble back to the ground. I closely examined my leg and was shocked to see a deep, silver cut. How did I not hear it?
“You like that, brother?” he asked, but before he could finish his sentence, a powerful surge blew him several feet away. I quickly turned my head and saw Vanessa unleashing deadly magic upon our enemies, effectively killing them.
They began to retreat, fading into the trees. Vanessa launched another wave of magic towards my brother, but he managed to evade it. With a sneer, he also vanished.
Godmother and others came through to help the wounded ones back into the house. Despite the pain, I forced myself to stand up as Vanessa approached. The expression on her face was far from pleasant.
She swiftly moved her eyes around the bloody yard and then back at me. Without giving me a chance to speak, she released a burst of magic from her hands, knocking me down. I let out a loud groan as I felt the impact of the magic. I struggled to my feet, blinking away the dizziness that the unexpected blast of magic had caused. The world around me seemed to spin for a moment before slowly coming back into focus. As I regained my balance, I saw her eyes burning with anger. Her presence exuded an otherworldly aura, and the power she possessed was palpable. I could feel the residual energy crackling in the air, causing my hair to stand on end. For a moment I felt lost, for the very first time feeling like I don’t know the person before me.
“What the fuck was that for?” I managed to choke out, my voice strained as I tried to steady my breathing. The pain from the magical attack still lingered, making it difficult to regain my composure.
What happened to you, Jayden? This isn’t the Jayden I once knew. You’re not the alpha the pack recognizes anymore. You’ve changed a lot. What happened to your wolf in the first place? And why was that vampire calling you “brother”?
I’m ready to explain everything and willing to face any anger you may have, but you have to help me find Catriona. If I don’t find her soon… “Stop, Jayden,” Vanessa said, her face displaying anger. “I believe it’s time for you to leave that girl to the alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.”
There seems to be no future for the two of you. All I foresee is the misery that will befall that innocent woman.