Nani had spent weeks in the freedom fighters’ pack. She and the other healers have tried everything they know to save Lucas, but it isn’t working. She had tried every herb she knew that had healing powers.
It seemed like she was losing him daily. His breathing wasn’t as good as it used to be. When she squeezed his hand before, she could swear he squeezed back a few times. But he has not done that for a long time.
The other healers told her that there was nothing they could do for him and that she would only watch to see if he died or survived, but his chances of survival were minimal. Nani couldn’t watch him die. If he died, then all hope was lost.
Lucas was the protector of the realms, too strong to die like that. If she gives up on him, no one can free the Dawn pack from Fillip’s hand.
A few days ago, there was screaming in the pack. Nani was inside the hut that harboured the healing pool where Lucas was kept.
“Spies, go into your houses!”
In the past few days, there have been many spies from Vulcan. Rumour has it that it was because of the gold coins placed on some people’s heads. In their first raid, they killed a woman who was coming back from the river.
Nani closed the door behind her, then hid at the corner of the door. She wasn’t going to let anyone inform Fillip that Lucas may survive.
There were just a handful of spies. Eli and his men were trying hard to get everyone into safety while also fighting the spies. Everybody was running around getting their loved ones because it was broad daylight.
“Mommy, let me go!” someone cried out.
Nani took a look. It was Amelia. One of the spies was dragging her away.
The spies were escaping because they were greatly outnumbered.
Nani ran after them. She flung the knife in her hand into the b*stard’s leg. He let Amelia go and continued running. Nani grabbed little Amelia and hugged her to her chest. Just then, an arrow flew past them and into the spy’s head.
“You should aim for the head next time,” Eli said, then turned towards the other spies.
By the end of the day, Eli had left two spies alive. They were both kept in prison. But Eli tortured only one of them, leaving the other healthy.
The next day, Nani was on her way to the healing pool when Eli sent a boy to call her. She turned towards his house.
He was holding a map with some places marked on it.
“Good morning, Nani.”
“Good morning, Eli. I heard you sent for me.”
“Yes, Nani, have a seat.”
Nani sat down, wondering what the visit was for. She tried to decipher what was on the map but couldn’t.
“Nani, something has to be done. Vulcan spies finding out about this place is not a good thing. We killed them all, but for how long before they find out that we are harbouring Lucas De’Clan? “How long before Vulcan and Fillip’s army will come here?” he asked, looking at Nani’s face.
“I don’t know, Eli. Should we ask for help from the remaining Alphas?”
“I don’t think they would help; we are neither Alphas. We won’t be any help to them in this war. The only person they might listen to is Lucas. Without him here, they all will prefer to bend their knees and become a moonlight colony.”
“Then what should we do? If everyone bends the knee, then all is lost forever; besides, Fillip has Ava,” Nani asked.
“Come here, Nani.”
Nani stood and walked to Eli, who was pointing at a table.
“I only saw this ritual once when I was fifteen. Our Alpha’s only heir was gravely wounded. My grandmother was the one who performed this ritual once using a great stone. My mother never did; she called it the foulest of all rituals, but I know where the stone lies.”
Nani looked at Eli surprised, “Does that mean..?”
“Yes, I come from a line of witches.” He pointed at the place on the map he marked. This is where the stone harbours the swap ritual. It involves exchanging one life for another. The ritual was buried because of the great harm it could cause. Imagine if Vulcan finds out that he could exchange a life for his own when wounded or ill to live again.
“There will be chaos on Earth,” Nani answered.
“Exactly, I never told anyone about this; I never needed that book, but I still know where it lies because I buried it with my mother.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“I think you know, Nani; I am thinking of finding the stone. Then exchange Lucas’s life for the spy in the prison.”
“Are you sure it will work? What if something goes wrong?”
Eli shook his head and said, “It isn’t that easy if anything goes wrong. Lucas and the other person might lose their lives in the process.
Nani didn’t speak for a while; closing her eyes, she bowed her head before standing up.
“Then so be it; without doing anything, we are already losing our only hope.”
“Fine, I already have the other materials, like the bats, owls, and snakes’ body parts, ready. I only need the stone. I will journey to the hunted graves to get it.”
“When will you be back?” Nani asked.
“It is a day’s journey on foot, so I should be back the day after tomorrow.”
“Will you be taking anyone?”
“No, Nani, this matter is a top-tier secret. Too many wolves would draw attention to me. “The last thing we need is to help Fillip acquire another weapon.”
“Alright, may the moon goddess be with you.”
Eli nodded, “I trust you to keep this a secret, and then I also leave the affairs of the pack to you and the other councillors.”
“Of course, I will be on my way now.”
Nani nodded, then left for her room with a heavy heart.
********
The following day, Eli left for hunted graves. It had been so long since he went there. He didn’t think he would have to go there ever again, but here he was, revisiting the place. His mom warned him never to bring it out, but as he said, desperate times call for desperate measures.
When he reached the ground, he looked for the tree it was buried under and began to dig.
It was just how it was buried many years ago; it looked like something nourished by dark magic. He put the not-so-big stone in his bag.
He began to go back immediately. He wouldn’t reach home today, but he wanted to be as close to home as possible. So it wouldn’t be so far for him to trek the next day.
On his way, he spotted two black Dynasty soldiers camped. They were counting money. He tried to sneak past, pretending he didn’t see them, but they stood up when they noticed him.
“What do we have here, a wolf walking around in these parts alone?”
“I have no money, so it is best you leave me alone. I am not bothering you, so let me be on my way.”
The two soldiers looked at themselves before pulling out their daggers.
“But we feel bothered by you. If you come with us quietly, we won’t kill you. Now come with us.”
Eli pulled out his daggers and attacked the first dynasty soldier; he quickly plunged the blade at his forearm, dragging it deeper as blood spilt on his shirt; the second soldier ran forward; he tried stabbing Eli from the back, but Eli, sensing his presence, dodged the attack, flipping himself; Eli stabbed his knee; he pulled the dagger and lodged it in his throat. The second soldier manoeuvred the attack. He punched Eli, his dagger fell, and he held Eli in place for the first soldier to finish the fight. The first soldier raised his sword to land the final blow. Blood flowed like water.
Cian extended his hand, and Eli took it, letting him pull him up.
“Thank you,” Eli said, and Cian nodded, about to continue his journey after helping the younger wolf. Eli walked behind him.
“Thank you for saving my life,” he said again. “May I know who you are?”
“I am Cian, the Beta of Dawn Pack, or rather, was,” he reminded himself sadly for a moment.
“I am Eli, the leader of the Freedom Fighters pack. “I thought they said you and the gamma didn’t survive the war.”
Cian grimaced and said, “Yes, but a widow saved me, but I haven’t seen gamma Kiron yet. So apparently, he and Lucas, my Alpha, didn’t survive.
“I have some people from your pack in my new pack. It is like a refugee camp. We come from different packs that the black dynasty has attacked.”
Cian turned to him immediately and asked, “Is there a woman named Kiara in your camp?”
“I can’t tell you anything till your identity is confirmed; if you are really who you say you are, then you must come with me,” Eli said.
“To do what?” Cian asked.
“Maybe the woman you just mentioned is here, but first, I need them to confirm that you are really Beta Cian and not an imposter.”
Cian nodded and said, “Of course.”
He wanted to see if Kiara was there before he went on his suicide mission. He would lie with his wife one last time before he left. He missed her so much; he had looked for her and their pack members when he regained his strength, but he didn’t see her.
“I think we should rest here; it’s already dark, and besides, my pack is close already.”
Cian didn’t say a word; he just sat down and used the tree as a pillow. Eli huffed and then did the same.
Eli pulled dried meat from his bag. “Do you want some?”
Cian raised a brow and said, “You don’t trust me enough to tell me if Kiara is in your pack, but you want me to trust that you won’t poison me.”
“Poison? Of course not. Here, watch me eat the meat.”
He picked up three pieces of it and put them in his mouth.
“I have my own food here,” Cian said, raising his bread.
“You could have said so, and then I wouldn’t have wasted so much time convincing you.”
They didn’t make fire because they feared drawing attention to themselves. So they spent the night at the foot of a tree without a fire.
They woke up before it was light, then set out to the freedom fighters’ pack.