6. ​Where It All Began.

“Let me come with you,” Javier said with contained desperation. He hated packs just as much as I did and I could feel his loyalty.

“I need you to babysit,” I replied with a small smile. “Trust those bundle of joy are too much to handle.” I added as I nodded towards my Emma, Liam and Noah who were talking animatedly amongst themselves.

I knew that they were nervous and worried, I could feel their fear. “And the sanctuary needs me too,” Javier said in a defeated voice. He understood. “More babysitting.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “And do not teach Noah how to throw knives.” I lightly warned.

“Trust me, Sage, those cubs have a way of getting what they want. They are really smart for their ages.” Javier said with pride.

“Still, let us not enable them,” I replied.

“You know Noah will just go to someone else, if I don’t teach him, right?” Javier said with a sly smile. “So, I think it is safer if he learns from me than some other shmuck.”

“He is barely five,” I replied with a slight shake of my head.

“Sage, I know you do not want to hear this but those kids were born into a battle, a battle of a past that has now come for you. It is not to early to teach them how to take care of themselves.” Javier said with a seriousness that unnerved me and I shivered a little.

“I have to go,” I said, putting an end to the discussion. I walked out of the room and paced towards the entrance of the sanctuary where the courier waited with a stiff impatience.

Thankfully she did not say a word because I was not in the mood to exchange words with a woman that represented everything that I hated. I could see the slight look of disapproval in a glance as she led me to the SUV that waited.

I did not give a shit about how she felt. Besides, if being in a pack worked out so well for her, she would not be here. Her masters needed me, she needed me, I had no use for her.

I entered first, and she entered second. The car started and the journey back to my place of pain and suffering started. I tried to stop my mind from wandering but there was no use, that night played itself in my mind all over again and I clenched my fist in anger.

I was angry about the sheer audacity of the council to just call on me like I owed then anything. Their brutal and rigid laws changed the trajectory of my life and here they were sprouting codes and sections like it meant anything. The only thing that kept me sane was the unlucky forty thousand werewolves who were currently suffering due to their cruel laws.

Bond Severity was a painful thing for any werewolves to experience. It was like being split in half slowly with a blunt sword and most werewolves died from that alone. Other unpleasant things followed afterwards but one thing that remained was the constant pain in the heart that never truly went away.

“A lot of werewolves would have been honoured if they had been in your shoes,” The Courier said as she watched me closely.

I was so lost in thought that I had even forgotten that she was by side. “What did you say?” I asked with a slight growl and I knew my expression was a mask of anger.

“You had your chance with the Alphas and then you left,” The Courier replied. “I don’t understand what you were so ashamed of.”

I sighed angrily and closed my eyes. I counted to ten in my head and opened my eyes. I turned to her and gave her the letter the council sent me.

“Go through this,” I told her and waited patiently for her to finish. She handed it back to me when she was done.

“Did it mention anywhere that I must answer to the courier?” I asked her coldly.

“No, it did not,” The Courier answered.

“The only time you matter is now, right here in this moment, when I step out of this vehicle, you no longer matter to me or to anyone. Know your place, you are nothing but a messenger, if you had the answers to the problems plaguing the world as we speak, you would not be here. Do not speak to me again.”I let her have it.

The rest of the ride continued in silence and I in minutes, I stopped giving a fuck about the messenger.

The horizon revealed the territory of Silver Crest as the vehicle sped towards it. I had no idea what I would be looking forward to but I knew that it was not going to be easy.  

I was comfortable with things being uneasy. Nothing about my existence had been easy. I had fought hard and long to be where I was today and nothing was going to change that, not even three Alphas.

“My goodness,” I muttered in a mixture of shock and disbelief as Silver Crest got closer. It was not the place I remembered it to be. The streets were empty and littered. Houses were still burning while firemen did their best to put them out, shops and restaurant had been vandalized and destroyed, it was almost like a war had taken place here.

I knew what had taken place here, I understood it very well because I had spent a major part of my life studying it. “I am surprised it got this bad.” I said to no one in particular.

Silver Crest was a shell of its former glory, her cloud was dark and I could feel the despair in the air.

“It happened like something out of a nightmare,” The courier said in a blank voice but I could detect the hidden pain in her tone.

“At first, we thought it was just normal crimes, or acts of defiance against the council,” she continued. “Then it began to increase, and just like that it got out of hand.”

“Everyone turned one another.” I said.