32. The Child of Light

thirty-two

The Child of Light

*ELDEN*

I spent some more time with Alma and my little sister, making sure to exchange contacts with them. I don’t have much family, and I so badly want to keep in touch with what little family I have, but I doubt Alma herself will want to have too much contact with me.

And I get it. It might be unfair, but I am my father’s son.

Alma seems to be happy about my support, although still wary. And yet, again, I can’t blame her. My father fucked her over big time, but I will prove to her that she didn’t make a mistake by trusting me.

On our way back, Flora and I fill in our friends with what happened. Flora does most of the talking, fortunately, while I only chime in here and there. Inside me, it feels like a storm is brewing. I was devastated for a short moment, but I have passed that stage now. I am mostly furious, so much that my hands tremble slightly, and I can barely voice a straight thought.

“No way,” Vincent mutters when Flora has finished.

Jace just shakes his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You are taking it quite well, Elden,” Vincent comments. “I thought you would be raging.”

“I am,” I say shortly.

My mouth feels dry, while my blood has turned ice-cold. I know the hot type of anger. I have felt it whenever my father belittled me or hurt my mother, but this is different. I feel like I can’t bring myself to care, as though I am so done with everything. Like I just want to grab Flora, pack a bag and then leave for good.

Thudump. Thudump. My heart is beating so fast, it makes me feel slightly dizzy, and a wave of nausea hits me. Flora reaches out her hand and takes mine into hers. I try to focus on her warm hand in mine and on the gentle calmness she seems to send my way. It usually helps, but this time I have difficulties focusing on anything other than my frustration and anger.

I don’t hear what the others are talking about, I am just glad they aren’t paying me any attention and let me deal with my brooding thoughts. Vincent makes sure to drop off Jace first, before driving back to Silverlake.

When he halts the car, he turns to look at me. “Are you okay? Do you need me for backup or something?”

“No, it’s okay,” I say. “I just have someone to talk to.”

“I will join Elden,” Flora says more to Vince than to me.

Her words seem to put him at ease, but he still looks worried. “Just link me before you do something rash, like challenge your old man or something.”

“I am not going to challenge that loser,” I say. “He isn’t even here, anyways.”

“Then who are you going to rough up now?” he asks curiously.

“One of our beloved Elders,” I say, not able to hide the bitterness in my voice, before finally getting out of the car.

Flora briefly says something to Vincent, but I am too preoccupied with my anger to hear what she is saying. She catches up to me easily and follows me to Samuel. I know where he is. This man works like a clock. His schedule is always precise, and around this time of the day he is usually in our private garden, either reading or walking. He looks up when he sees me approaching. Before he can even greet me, I interrupt him. “I quit,” I snarl.

“What do you quit?” he asks, confused.

“Becoming alpha,” I snap. “Being my father’s heir!”

“What!?” Samuel exclaims. “Are you insane!?”

“No, I have never been clearer in my mind,” I say. “Everything about this sucks. I am sick of it. I am sick of our society, I am sick of my father, I am sick of the pack.”

“Your pack-” Samuel huffs. “It’s not just your birthright, it’s also your duty!”

“My duty?” I snort. “Don’t make me fucking laugh, Samuel!”

I have never addressed him in such a disrespectful manner, and it seems to shock him slightly. “What’s gotten into you?” he asks. “That’s not like you to take the easy way out.”

“The easy way-” I am speechless at his words, feeling how Regis is slowly getting riled up. He is getting more and more dominant daily, and it’s moments like these where I have difficulties holding him back.

Flora grabs my arm.

“Make him see sense!” Samuel demands from her. “You are his mate. It’s your responsibility to both pander to your alpha and also be a good influence on him.”

“Her responsibility is not to pander to me,” I spit. “She is only responsible for her own decisions.”

“I agree with Elden,” Flora says, surprising me by backing me up. I never had doubts she would stand with me anytime, but this here is different. This is me challenging an Elder. “I am disgusted.”

“If our laws are only on the side of those with power, I am done.”

“You can’t just run from your responsibility. The pack needs you,” Samuel exclaims.

“The pack ,” I yell, feeling my anger overwhelm me, and something clawing in my mind.

Let me out, Regis hisses.

“The pack didn’t save my mother, the pack didn’t care for her, they didn’t care for me, and certainly not for Gamma Tobias or for my father’s fated mate.”

Samuel stares at me. “What did you just say?” he whispers.

“You heard what I said,” I say bluntly.

“Listen Elden,” he sighs. “Your father’s errors aren’t mine. They-”

“But you are enabling him,” I yell. “Geneva doesn’t. You, however, do!”

Samuel furrows his brows, he looks upset now, angry even, but before he can retort something, sirens fill the air. It makes all three of us stop in our tracks. “What-” Flora mutters.

“An attack,” I exclaim. “Those are our sirens!”

Samuel looks shocked. “But never before has an attack happened to this pack, not during the last forty years.”

“Yes, and never before did the pack have such a useless alpha before,” I growl. I ignore him and spin around to my mate. “Flora-”

“Got you,” she exclaims. “I will start evacuating immediately. I know the protocol by heart already.” She grabs my arm. “Please be careful, Elden.”

“I will help her,” Samuel says, all businesslike suddenly.

I just nod at him, before turning on my heels and rushing out of the garden. Vince?

Got you, I am already on the way to you! He exclaims.

No wait, I say.

Vincent goes silent, giving me the room to reach out to the other warriors of my pack. They are clearly distraught, I can feel it through the bond. I am not their alpha yet, or it would have been easier for me to calm them down and guide them. But this has to do.

Everyone, stay calm! We are a strong pack despite our current situation. We train hard! Where is the attack coming from?

Rogues, from the west border, one of the warriors answers. Two of our guards have fallen. We are currently fighting them back.

I will send you backup, immediately, I say.

Thank you, Alpha!

What about the south border?

Safe, one of the guards answers promptly. The area is flat and easy to overlook. No one is approaching. Should we leave our spot and help?

No, stay where you are! We don’t need any open spots, I order. East?

Quiet for now, I get a prompt answer. There are the mountains, but we are testing the new camera Beta Calvin gave us. There is no movement to be seen.

North? I ask.

No movement yet, but there is the forest surrounding us. So, we can’t say for sure.

Right, they don’t have the new cameras yet. Calvin has picked one group to test them first before making changes for everyone. His talents proved to be very useful now. Once he is back, I hope he can up our security further.

Beta Vincent will join you to fend off any possible attackers. Be prepared for an ambush there. Chances are high that a second group is coming.

On my way, Vincent says. I will pick a few men to come with me.

I am on my way to the west border. Stay strong and fend them off, don’t take any unnecessary risks until I am there with backup.

I wait for them to acknowledge my words, before cutting the mind link and swiftly gathering some warriors around me. Oliver is one of them, he is a seasoned warrior and not even half as useless as my father. It’s a relief to have him with me now. From the corner of my eye, I can see Emilia and Geneva working to get everyone to safety before the attacker comes onto pack grounds.

It won’t come that far, I think grimly. I pick up my pace, easily dashing through the forest towards the border under attack. The warriors behind me are trying to keep up but are falling behind slightly. This is something we need to train at better. Once this is over, I will sit down with Vincent and make a proper plan. Clearly, whatever my father and Oliver are doing isn’t enough.

Thinking of my father and of the sly and vile things he did to those around him, those he was supposed to love, spurs me on further. With an anger and determination I didn’t know I possess, I find myself jumping ahead of my guards at the border and tearing into the first rogue. Regis is relishing in the hunt. We have never killed someone before, but it doesn’t seem to faze the animal in me that we so easily took someone’s life.

My warriors, instead of being shocked at my ruthlessness, follow suit, and through my bond to them I can feel them getting more and more confident.

*FLORA*

“All the children are safe,” Emilia calls towards me.

“Everyone else who can’t fight is in the bunkers,” I tell her.

“Good job, Flora,” she says. “I don’t mean to sound condescending, but I have done this a couple of times already. The way you instantly knew what to do is amazing. It’s an instinct you have.”

I can’t help but feel flustered at her words. That is until Geneva runs towards me. “Flora, your grandma!”

“What about her?” I ask. “I made sure she was with the first group I evacuated!”

“She left the bunker,” Geneva exclaims. “When I saw her, she was already too far away to catch her. The other women told me she muttered something about a brooch or something.”

“She is trying to retrieve something from home?” I ask. “Damn it! I will try to catch up with her!”

“Wait, Flora!” Emilia calls towards me, but I ignore her, dashing off to find my grandma. What is she doing? Why did she have to leave the safety of our hideout!? Nothing is so important that we can’t lose it. Oh, Grandma! First, Elden needs to go and fulfill his duties as the future alpha – no matter what he claims, I know that’s what he is. He is never going to quit, and I am terrified about his safety. And now, Grandma does something completely unusual for her.

The path to my house is quiet. The only thing I can hear are my own footsteps and my rapid breathing. The beings of light flutter around me like usual, but with every step I take they seem to be getting more agitated. More and more of them appear. And with every step a stronger feeling of dread settles in me.

There! Celeste says. Right in front of the house!

I notice it instantly. Grandma is there, holding something in her hands while two foreign wolves are surrounding her. My human legs are too slow, too weak to carry me faster than I am already running. Why can’t I shift yet? I would have cast all precautions aside, the hell with hiding my wolf. Celeste and I would have shifted and defended my grandma. Instead of running, she clutches something to her chest, while turning her body away as if to protect whatever she is holding. The first rogue attacks her, pushing her to the ground.

“NO!” I yell, picking up my pace, pushing myself to new limits. The rogue seems to tear into Grandma. I can’t let her get hurt even further! My lungs hurt, my chest is constricting, but I don’t care. I just run, run, run.

Out of nowhere, Samuel appears right next to my grandma and shifts to his lycan. His age shows, but he can still hold himself up against the rogues. He was never a huge warrior, I know that from Geneva, but he is here now, and ready to fight for my grandmother.

“Grandma!” I yell, dashing forward and finally reaching her. I drop down to my knees and grab her trembling frame. She has her eyes closed, while her breathing becomes rapid. “You are okay,” I say. “You are okay!”

“Flora, we need to get her out of here,” Samuel pants. I didn’t notice that he has shifted back. Raising my gaze now, I notice that more rogues are coming.

“Come, Grandma, you heard Samuel. We need to-”

“Flora…” She whispers.

“Yes, I am here! I am always here!”

“It’s the moon,” she continues. Her voice is weak and almost fading. Her hands tremble while she hands me a brooch. “It’s your legacy and your birthright. Child of Light.”

“No,” I whisper. “No, don’t-” I lean my forehead against hers. “Don’t leave me. I only have you left. Don’t go. Please stay. Stay. Stay.”

“Flora! Hazel!” Elden yells. Someone must have alerted him.

“He will always come for you,” Grandma mutters. “You are not alone. You are never alone. You gave this old woman a reason to live, and I will always love you, wherever I am.”

I press her body against mine, feeling how her breath evens out, and her body goes limp.

My heart stops beating for a moment, and my mouth goes dry. I have never felt this pain before, or this rage. It fills me up from the tip of my toe to my last strand of hair. “No!” I yell, with a voice that doesn’t seem to be mine. Light engulfs me, but not the comforting one the beings usually give me, it’s colder and more dangerous.

Samuel leaps to the side, while strings of silver appear in front of me, covering the whole area in front me in the deathly metal. The rogues want to run, but I don’t let them. Channeling my anger and pain, I focus on the silver in front of me, turning it into spikes and following each of these murderous wolves, until it has caught the last one.