139
KNIGHT
She still hated me. She did not even try to pretend or hide her anger.
It hurt a lot, like my chest was always clenching, even though my ribs were already healing. My wolf was the one suffering from what I did. I gave her enough time and space she needed, but it didn’t change anything.
“Nirvana did not come with you?” Califf asked as we both headed inside the council building.
“I did not tell her what the meeting is all about.”
“Let me guess, she’s still pissed at you.”
“She hates me. It won’t change the fact that I betrayed her trust.”
“You’re hurting, Knight.”
“Damn right, I am. The world is on the brink of ending, and so does my marriage.” I let go of a shuddering breath.
“Your bond is stronger than anything. Apologize properly, make her feel she’s wanted, and show her how much you love her. I know alpha’s pride, but sometimes, you have to swallow it for your mate’s sake. I did that many times for Shadow.”
“Thanks.” We underwent an extra security check before going to the second floor. It was understandable, considering what Eloh did to Victor, the virus, and the constant attack on packs.
“And her love for you won’t just disappear. Trust me. She’s just hurting like you.”
“I hope so, Cal because I’m going crazy, and my wolf is always restless without her.”
He chuckled. “Let me guess. She slept in the pack house?”
“Yeah. For three days now.”
“And you let her? In that length?” He looked amused rather than showing me sympathy. “Damn, your patience is admirable, but you’re also stupid.”
“I’m giving her space.”
“Werewolves like us don’t need space. She may not be one of us, but she wants you to woo her, and distancing from her makes your situation worse.”
“I’ll woo her as soon as this meeting ends.” I followed him into the conference room.
Most of the alphas from different states had already arrived. At least thirty alphas would be here today, which never happened in a long time.
The meeting began shortly after. Victor talked about everyone’s safety and the report of the death toll increasing worldwide. Half of the alphas mocked him when he started talking about the ancient warlock.
Califf and I shook our heads in disappointment.
“May I speak, Head Council Fredrick.” The alpha from Vegas raised his hand. “I don’t think any of these are true. This is just a virus, but it affects our genes this time. It had nothing to do with black magic. I don’t believe it. It killed three of my pack members, but as long as you don’t get bitten, you’re safe.”
“So we will just wait until this virus kills all of us, or it just dies by itself. I don’t think it works like that, alpha,” said the alpha from Hawaii. “The virus killed half of our people.”
“Then maybe you should stay out of the jungle,” mocked the Vegas alpha.
“That’s enough.” Victor stopped them when the murmurs erupted. “We can’t deny the fact there’s an involvement of magic here. And if I’m wrong, are you just going to stand there and watch everyone die? Even scientists could not figure out a cure. You killed ten infected werewolves, and another ten emerged. The only way to end this madness is for us to work together.”
“How are you proposing we do that?” the question came from Boston alpha.
“Cyrius-”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Alpha Grayson reacted. “This is bullshit.”
Califf shook his head. “I can’t believe this man. After what happened to his pack, I thought he would change his perspective of what’s happening around him.”
“He’s in denial because he’s useless. I still don’t know how he became alpha.”
“The virus almost killed half of your back, and you are still denying Cyrius did not cause it?”
“The ancient warlock?” one of the New Yorkers’ alphas asked. “I thought he was a myth.”
“He’s not a myth. And the only way to kill him is if we work together with witches and other kinds,” Victor added.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“We can’t kill him alone,” Alpha Frye said as he glanced at me. “He’s a powerful warlock. The only way to defeat someone like him is by using Katzius’s blood dagger, and the only person who could wield it is his bloodline.”
“So? How do we find his bloodline?” The Vegas alpha shrugged.
“He’s an arrogant son of a bitch.”
I chuckled at Califf. “He should have not come here.”
“Or maybe he will stop spreading this plague if we just turn over the dagger and Katzius’s descendant to him.”
“Is that what you want, Grayson?” Califf grunted. He was still pissed for turning us down and breaking the alliances with us. “Do you think this virus will end? I don’t think so. He will rule our world, and no one will be safe and free. And you just signed your death warrant. He will control you, all of us.”
“Yeah. That could work as a damage control,” Vegas Alpha agreed. “We will make a deal.”
“You want to make a deal with someone like Cyrius? Are you kidding me?” I finally spoke. “Yeah, right? Because he will keep the end of the bargain.”
“Maybe we should set up a meeting with him then and ask him what he wants.”
“He wants to rule the underworld,” Victor said, “and if you’re willing to turn the underworld like hell, then we should make a deal. Do you want that?”
“This is ridiculous. I know who has the dagger and who is a descendant of Katzius,” Grayson said, instantly boiling my blood.
Everyone caught his attention.
“You won’t make such a stupid decision, Alpha Grayson.” I still called him alpha even if the position didn’t fit him. “Think about other people, the humans, and other creatures. Cyrius will end us all at once, eliminating threats like us if you give him what he wants. You’d be useless to him, and you’d be the first person to die. You know why he wants the dagger because that’s the only thing he’s vulnerable to, and the bloodline of Katzius, and when all those are gone, he can do whatever he wants, including infecting all living. It happened before, and millions of people died, humans and our kind. Is that what you want?”
“Who has the dagger?” the Vegas alpha asked.
Before Grayson could reply, the double door swung open. My mate just walked into the hornet’s nest of alphas with a smile in her oversized coat, shirt, and jeans. Of course, her favorite boots. Dane was behind her.
“Shit. What is she doing here?”
“Who are you?” asked the Boston alpha.
“She knows how to make an entrance.” Califf chuckled.
“Nirvana, descendant to Katzius, and the wielder of the blood dagger. Crap, it sounds dramatic. Well, I heard Eloh’s loyalists have been looking for me.”
“You’re lying.” The Vegas alpha snorted.
“I don’t care if you believe me or not. Your opinion doesn’t matter.” Her gaze locked with mine, and she mind-linked me. “This is a trap. Get out now.”
“What do you mean?” My heart pumped harder.
“This conference is compromised. There’s someone here who is Eloh’s minion.”
Alpha Grayson’s eyes just widened.
“You?” I stood up. “You’re the one who attacked my pack?”
“Not me, Alpha Knight, but I’m the one who told them about your mate.” He growled. Before the conference went into chaos, he grabbed something from his pocket and threw it on the table. It is a small gas valve. The smoke quickly spread, and everyone started coughing.
“Get out now!” Nirvana yelled.
As some alpha ran towards the door, someone locked it outside.
Before Alpha Grayson could escape, the alphas were already ripping him apart.
“Shit. Nirvana, stay with me!” I searched for the other door. Dane was already in there but also locked from the outside.
The alpha began panicking, and some shifted to claw their way out.
My heart pumped so hard as the mist spread all over. My eyes stung, and I began coughing.
“Dane, come over here!” Nirvana called him.
Dane grabbed Victor. “Come with me.”
Alpha Frye went to us as he coughed so hard that his mouth began bleeding.
“Califf, everyone holds onto me,” said Nirvana.
We did as she asked and brought us to the parking lot.
“Impressive,” said Alpha Frye.
“I have to get back.”
“No!” I was just holding and stopping her, but she was already gone. “Nirvana!”
“We have to get back and open the door. Whoever did that was still there.”
I agreed with Califf. “Dane, go find the guys and let Victor stay with them.”
Califf and I went back to the conference room at a blinding speed. Frye followed us, too, but the door had already been opened, and two guys had knocked on the floor.
“Where’s Nirvana?”