Chapter 13

“Lyra–Luna, finally you've arrived.” Spite and pretence drip from beta Ryder's voice as Ethan and I enter. His use of the word 'Luna' feels like mockery, coated with enough detest, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of a reaction as I smile sweetly instead.

“For a meetup this urgent, I expect it to be good news concerning my father.” I keep my words short and direct, having no time for their shenanigans so early in the day.

“The pack can't continue to stand without a leader, the people are worried, control is slipping and things are beginning to get out of hand, they need a new lord–a new Alpha to take up responsibilities around here while Damien remains-”

“Alpha Damien! It is my lord or Alpha Damien to you! Never mix that up again.” My outbursts surprise even myself as I glare hard at beta Ryder.

Rage pulses through me, syncing perfectly with my pounding heart.

I've never felt the need to pull someone's tongue out so much as I felt for him now.

Ethan's hold on my waist tightens softly as he pulls me back a bit, but I refuse to take my eyes off the beta, who exchanges a look with his second before nodding.

“My apologies… the pack can't continue to wait unattended to, so many duties and no one capable enough to take them up while Lord–Damien remains unresponsive.” Beta Ryder finishes, his eyes heavy with mockery, every word coated with taunts.

Outrageous–every word that came out of his mouth felt like a blade of betrayal, one that we all saw coming but still bleed at the stab.

The stone walls echoed around, sunlight peeking in vibrant slants through the huge open windows.

It was just he, beta Bryce, Ethan and me that stood in the halls, he and I being the only parties exchanging words at this time.

Ethan's silence felt understandable–he wasn't a part of our pack.

The only reason why he was even here in the first place was because he had insisted on it and no one had enough guts to say otherwise.

He seemed to be just on edge as he listened to the beta speak and read the energy in the room, taking note of the not so subtle sneers and sideway glances… rigidly standing beside me all tense and muscles locked up taut like a panther waiting to attack.

“And let me guess, no one is more befitting for such a job, but you, right? Ridiculous–you're all very ridiculous, and I still can't believe how two faced you are! It's like you've forgotten all about the time father saved you! Do you really have no empathy?” I can't even find it in me to shout or lash out.

In a battle like this, where I happened to be the only soldier on the blue team while the reds drew closer to victory, it was only a matter of time before they had me bleeding.

“Do you have a better wolf in mind? You don't expect us to continue blind loyalty to a man whose judgments are so clouded! An example of his poor decisions as an Alpha stands right in front of us!” In a flash, Ethan pounces onto beta Bryce.

The switch is sudden and completely unexpected, all I can do is scream as he slams blows after blows into the unsuspecting, unprepared beta's face.

Beta Ryder struggled to get him off, failing miserably, Bryce wriggles and attempts to land even one hit in all going to waste as well.

Ethan was like a mad man! Beating the humanity out of beta Bryce with maximum focus and ferociousness.

“Ethan! Please stop!” I shrieked at the top of my lungs, scared as to what would happen if he ended up killing the man.

He might be untouchable to many people and feared by most packs, be it higher ranks and Alpha's themselves, but he wasn't immune to the higher council.

It wouldn't go down well if such a thing were to happen.

His hits slow to a halt at my voice, and he steps away from the battered face beta, roughly shoving Ryder's hands off him as well.

It should've scared me, watching Ethan snap like that should've worried me.

But in place of that fear, a thrill bloomed–my view of him shifted.

“This should be a lesson, next time you speak to my Luna that way… I may not be this merciful.” He seethes, maintaining eye contact with Ryder.

It was becoming a staredown, a sort of type I had seen enough to know usually ended in bloodshed.

Goddess forbid he and beta Ryder got into a fight, I didn't think either would make it out alive.

A young maid bursts into the halls just then, right on time to quench their fire, her sweaty face and frantic look having me in a chokehold as our eyes meet.

What was it now?

“Alpha Damien– he's–he's awake, and he's requesting for you.” Her words have no coordination, but I catch on almost immediately and take off for my dad's room with Ethan hot on my tail.

~~~

“Don't ever scare me like that again, dad, I thought I had lost you!” My voice breaks mid-sentence, my arms shaking around him.

The fabric of his shirt damp from tears, I didn't even notice.

He smells faintly of antiseptic and warmth–alive, real!

Dad chuckles weakly, patting my head as he hugs me back.

“I'm here, dear, they can't take me away just yet.”

We were the only ones in his room prior to his request, all the guards, doctors and whosoever, instructed to remain outside.

Ethan too was waiting for me just behind the doors, respecting the private moment with my dad.

I catch on to something in his statement and pull away briefly, wanting to confirm if my suspicions had been right all along.

“When you say they–you don't mean you were-”

He sighs, voice gravelly, “Yes Lyra, the coffee I had during the meetup with the council had been poisoned.” Father's words hit the nail right on the head.

Just as I had suspected… someone–or some people, were working together to get rid of him.

The problem now was, with the entire council being present that day as well, I didn't know whom to put up as a major suspect.

How high were the chances that beta Ryder and Bryce were merely just a part of a bigger plan?

Very.