45. The Necklace

The moment I am sure that Charlie is cared for and safe, I leave her with Ella and hurry to help my alpha. I've only linked him briefly, and his words were truly unsettling.

It takes me one glance to realize it's worse than anticipated, and I'm glad I didn't cave when Charlie begged me to take her along.

"What happened!?" I call out while running towards the scene. I can see bodies of men lying around, some mutilated beyond recognition, and one of them even merged with a tree. It's a sight I wasn't prepared for.

Dad got the first couple of guys. Then my mother arrived and went for the rest of them, Liam says. I don't need any more explanation. Flora definitely didn't hold back. In the distance, I could swear I see one of the men being pierced by the branch of a tree.

I keep silent, though, just like Liam. Dario is awake and well aware of his surroundings, and I don't want to scar him further. Liam gently tries to tug him away from his position next to Felix.

"Come, Dario," he says softly. "Dad needs some room to do first aid."

Dario looks beat up and exhausted, and there are some ugly bruises around his neck. Felix appears worse. He is lying on his back, barely conscious, while Elden tries to stop the bleeding.

"He was… he was stabbed twice," Dario mutters. He is sitting on the ground now, probably too exhausted to stand.

Help my father, please. Liam links me. I would like to stay with Dario. I think he needs someone.

Of course, I say, before I hurry to Elden's side. I know my fair share about first aid, so I work fast. There is one wound on Felix's stomach and a very deep one on his side. Felix closes his eyes.

"No, don't fall asleep now," Elden orders, touching his son's cheek and turning his head. "Look at me, Felix."

"I'm so tired," he mutters.

"I know, it's hard," Elden says. "Please fight a bit longer. Stay with me."

While he distracts his son, I manage to stop the bleeding on the first wound. It's the second that gives me more of a headache. It goes deep, and we don't know if they hit any inner organs with it. He needs to see an actual doctor asap.

"Did someone call the pack doctor?" I ask.

"I did," Liam says. "I linked Nicole. She is sending our ambulance to us."

"She is your pack doctor?" Elden asks.

"Yes, but she is not coming alone. She will take our traumatologist with her," Liam says.

Good thing we stocked up our team recently. Ever since Red Claw recovered financially from their previous alpha, we were able to add a lot more luxury to the pack. One of the first things Liam and Annie decided to do was to improve the infirmary.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Flora approaching. I do slightly wonder when and how she arrived here, but I've learned not to question this family. They have their secrets, and I don't need to know all of them.

"I took care of them," Flora says shortly. Usually, she seems to be illuminated by light, but today, there is a hint of darkness in the depth of her eyes. The look passes fast, though, and she runs towards Elden and Felix.

Elden is still holding Felix's head, worry and anxiety all over his face. I've never seen him like that before. "He is slipping," he tells Flora.

"Let me," Flora says, settling down on the other side and touching Felix's cheek now. "You make sure the bleeding stops and we can transport him safely."

Elden nods and returns to my side to help me.

"My sunny boy," Flora says softly, her fingers gracing over Felix's face from both sides. Warmth exudes from her, making me feel calmer instantly. Elden seems to feel similarly because his look of anxiety and anger passes, and he looks focused and determined now. It's like everything is suddenly a bit easier to do. With our newfound focus, we manage to stabilize Felix. The bleeding doesn't stop entirely but lessens.

We further manage to stabilize his body with a few branches we find, none of us wanting to do more damage to his body, yet making it possible for us to carry him.

"Let's go," Elden says. "I want to try to meet Liam's pack doctor midway."

"We just need to make it to the jeep," Liam says. He takes Dario's hand as if he is still a little boy and leads him along. "Dario and I are going ahead to prepare everything."

Flora smiles at Liam. "Thank you," she whispers.

Elden stands up shortly, wiping his bloody hands clean before approaching Dario. He takes his face between his hands. "Please stay strong for a bit longer."

Dario nods. "Anything for Felix," he says, but his voice sounds small and broken.

Liam must have realized it, too, because he tugs the kid along, making sure to get him away from this traumatizing sight. Elden and I, meanwhile, carefully pick up Felix and start following them. Flora is next to us, never letting go of Felix's hand.

It feels like forever, but we eventually reach the jeep. I notice that the second one is missing. "I sent them ahead," Liam says shortly.

"Charlie didn't put up a fight?" I ask.

"She did," Liam says. "But I put my foot down. It's bad enough that"—he gazes at the inside of the car where Dario is currently waiting—"Dario is still here."

Elden looks worried too. He waits for us to place Felix in the car and secure him there before he curses under his breath. "Fuck, two of my kids traumatized for life and one with life-threatening wounds. And it's my fault."

"Don't be ridiculous," Flora says into the silence.

"She is right," Liam says. "If anything, it's my fault. They were on my pack grounds."

"It's rather on me," I say. "The attackers were against my family."

"Alright." Flora puts her hands on her hips, glaring at us. It would be funny because she is tiny and looks adorable if she didn't look so angry now. "Stop it now, or I will get mad. No one is at fault here besides the one who actually took the kids. And you all know that very well, so stop it now. It's not like your pity party will help anyone."

Liam sighs. "She is right."

"Of course I am!"

"Alright.," Elden nods. "Let's go now." He looks surprised when Liam hands him the keys. "The ambulance is almost here. You won't miss them; they know the jeep. I've sent two warriors with them, too, just in case. You guys go ahead; I still have something to do."

"What?" Elden asks, surprised.

Liam takes Ella's necklace out of his pocket. "I have a pack to visit. And I still have a lot of pent-up anger to unleash."

"I will come with you," Elden says.

"No, I think today…" Liam looks at him. "I think today you need to be Dad, and I need to be alpha."

Elden looks at his two sons in the car and sighs. "You are right. Be careful."

"I want to join you," I tell Liam. "I have a score to settle."

"I wanted to take you with me anyway," Liam reassures me. We both watch Elden take off with the jeep, leaving us behind. Not even ten minutes pass before five cars come rolling in, picking Liam and me up. "The whole cavalry?" I ask while we get into the first car Aryanna is driving.

"Yes," Liam says, taking his phone from Aryanna. "Did you call the Council?"

"Yes, Alpha," she says before taking off again. The other cars follow us easily.

Raffy is in it, and I sit down next to him. Shocked to see Silas is there too. "I changed midway," he tells us.

"You helped us more than necessary by now," Liam says.

"Maybe," Silas says. "But you and your father helped me a lot when Marcellus and I built up our pack and coven. It's thanks to you that we actually have a mother pack to protect us and our cause. We are allies," he adds. "I thought that's what allies do."

"That's true," Liam agrees. He turns to me now. "I linked Ari when I informed the infirmary."

"We were ready anyway," she says. "We just didn't expect to head out so soon, but everything else was already set into motion."

Liam opens Ella's necklace again, taking out the small piece of paper hidden in it.

"What's on it, Alpha?" Raffy asks, a hint of anxiety in his voice. He is always a bit nervous when he is with Liam.

"It's a list," Liam explains. "A list Ella's father and mother hid here when they knew they wouldn't have much time left. And on it is everyone who stood with the late Alpha Marcus. There was no time to go for a real backup check yet, but guess who we could link to the list?"

"Who?" I ask.

Raffy stares at us wide-eyed. "Troi?"

"Exactly."

"Who is Marcus?" Silas asks.

"The one who terrorized Red Claw before Liam took over," I explain.

"Exactly," Liam says. "These are all his former allies. They remained anonymous once he died. We always knew he had to have someone to back him up, but we didn't know who. There were no written clues anywhere."

"They probably just met secretly and made sure not to document anything," I add.

"But now we know who they are," Liam says. "We could already link one of the names to Troi. And guess who else? One of the Apophis cult members of Egypt was on it."

"I always wondered how the cult managed to organize itself so well," I exclaim.

"And the one named Dylan, who hired Imogen… he just happens to be the beta of one of the packs."

"No surprise that they tried everything to get their hands on this item," Raffy mutters. "But how were they able to pull this off?"

"That's the one thing we don't know yet," Liam says. "They had someone help them, someone with a lot of power."

"Someone like Aloysius," Silas muses.

"That's an option," Liam admits. "But we don't know for certain."

"Alpha Liam, once you are done with whatever you need to do, I would like to ask you to hand me a copy of the list," Silas says. "I want to do my own research."

"I was hoping you would offer your help," Liam admits.

"How… how are your brothers, Alpha?" Raffy finally dares to ask.

"One of them seems to be okay… as far as you can call a teen that just went through such a traumatizing event ‘okay,'" he says. "My second brother…" He pauses, his eyes looking sad. "We'll see."

Raffy doesn't inquire further, and we drive the rest of the way in silence. We only stop briefly to catch up with the warriors in the other cars. Liam instructs them shortly. "We won't halt at the entrance to their pack. Ignore all the guards and warriors and follow me to the packhouse."

"And then?" Aryanna asks. "Do you plan on challenging their alpha?"

"No," Liam says shortly. "I plan to make them submit to me and then drag their alpha to the Council. I don't honor him enough to challenge him. He set out to hurt my family and my pack." He turns to Silas. "It's good that you are here. The pack will be dissolved, and maybe there will be pack members fitting your agenda." He looks at the warriors. "If someone attacks you, feel free to defend yourself to your liking. The usual rules apply: we don't kill innocent pack members or children. Any more questions?"

Everyone shakes their head, so we proceed. Alpha Gideon of Half Moon Pack is not too far away from Red Claw. I assume their proximity was the reason he even worked with Marcus in the first place. During his reign, Marcus tried to swallow smaller packs, even going as far as killing their pack members when they didn't want to submit. Liam always assumed he was only able to do it because he had help.

As planned, Aryanna picks up speed once we are in front of the borders to Half Moon and passes by the guards. Some try to block her way, but she ignores them completely, making them jump out of her way at the last second.

"You wolves have nerves out of steel," Silas mutters.

"It's more that Aryanna has them," I say.

"Still, the way you charge into battle…" He pauses. "It makes sense now that Aloysius wanted to avoid a battle with the lycans and wolves."

"You don't?" Ari asks while driving through the pack at full speed. "Like to jump into battle?"

"Vampires prefer politics," he explains. "We like to be sly and cunning. War or battle isn't our usual approach."

"This is not going to be a battle," Liam tells him.

"It is not?" he asks. He looks at me now, and I nod my agreement to Liam's voice.

Once we arrive in front of the packhouse, Liam exits the car. The rest of us get out but remain close to the vehicles while Liam confidently approaches the packhouse.

"Is he insane?" Silas asks.

"You don't know much about lycans, do you?" Raffy asks.

"That's true, just what Marcellus taught me," he admits.

"Liam is a royal lycan," I explain shortly. "His father is a crown prince. They are direct descendants of the first five lycans to ever exist. This here… is a normal werewolf pack, a smaller one, with a normal alpha. They are no match against him."

"He meant it literally when he said that he doesn't honor the alpha here enough to challenge him for a fight."

Do you want to join me? Liam links me.

It's the first time he has asked me something like that in such a situation. His lycan is very territorial and doesn't like to share his power. Does Fenris not mind?

He agrees that this is also your battle.

"Excuse me," I tell the others before joining my alpha and friend in front of the packhouse. We don't talk, just wait until more and more warriors surround us. The moment they want to attack us, Liam unleashes his aura, making them stumble back. One after another, they fall to their knees.

"What's going on?" someone yells, and I feel the aura of an alpha approaching us.

"You came to my pack and kidnapped three children," Liam says shortly. "Two of them were my twin brothers. That's what's going on."

Liam looks at me, and I bring forward the necklace. "Also, we found the secret behind this and the reason you went after my mate, the beta, and our niece. That's another thing that's going on."

The alpha is either desperate or stupid because he charges at us. Liam knocks him down easily. Before Gideon can jump up again, Liam grabs him by his neck and pushes his face to the ground. "You came to my pack like a coward, kidnapping three children. You assaulted and tortured them like only a pathetic coward would do."

While Liam talks, I scan the people surrounding us. Some warriors don't look too surprised; however, some do. I pick out four who look shocked. One of them seems particularly strong. "You are the gamma?"

"Yes," he says, his voice bland.

I gesture for five of my warriors to come closer, Raffy included. "Show them where your dungeons are. I assume you have more than one?"

"Yes, but one is old and almost off pack grounds. We don't use it anymore."

"That's the one you will show them." I nod at Raffy. "You take the lead."

"Yes, Beta."

Liam presses Gideon so hard into the ground I swear some bones break. "You know what the difference is," Liam hisses. "That you have a wolf that can heal you. Kids don't have that, you pathetic abuser. Who beats powerless kids!?" he growls, the veins on his arms and necks getting darker as his lycan pushes forward. "Who?"

One half of me contemplates stopping him so we can bring him in front of the Council. Losing his rank and position, the humiliation, is something I'm looking forward to. The other part of me wishes Liam would end his life.

Fortunately, Liam keeps his control and gets up, tugging Alpha Gideon with him and pushing him towards me. "Be my guest. He is all yours, but make sure he stays alive," he says.

With grim satisfaction, I deliver a punch to Gideon's ugly face, sending him flying back to the ground. Meanwhile, Liam has turned away and orders for Gideon to be put in a cell in the dungeons once I am done with whatever I want to do with him. Then he ensures the pack members stay in their rooms and houses while the proper investigation starts.

"Do we need to stay until things are sorted?" Aryanna asks him.

"No," he says. "The Council will send a team to this pack here and to the other packs involved."

True to his words, the first cars start pulling in around two hours later. Liam seems to know the woman who exits the first car and chats with her shortly. In the meantime, Raffy and his group find the hidden dungeon where Charlie and the twins were kept. Once we update the newly arrived warriors from the Council, we leave it in their hands and finally head home.