3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Isaac

" I saac! Damn it, where have you been?"

I turned on my heel, searching for the angry voice, when I noticed Daniel pushing his way through the streaming line of horrified people trying to find a place to settle. Tents and blankets were already sprawling left and right—most of them courtesy of Roman's staff since our people barely had time to escape with their lives, let alone pack for camping in the woods. Now children and elders sat huddled together with cups steaming in their hands, reeking of fear and unease, while warriors tried to do a headcount so we could figure out who didn't make it.

My head was still spinning from the shock of having my mate bond severed and even though I now knew it wasn't entirely broken, one thing had become crystal clear—there would be no surviving Celeste when she inevitably died. My life began and would end with my mate.

Except, this was worse because she wasn't dead—she was in Hell . Meanwhile, I was stuck here, while monsters and demons did who knew what to her down there. Just like when her magic was locked inside her, I was useless . I was starting to think she wouldn't need me at all if she returned— when she returned. And that… terrified me.

Daniel finally pushed past the last of the people, and I stopped to wait for him. Aside from a quick phone call, I hadn't bothered to check if he had made it out, but I was glad to see him and his son, who was trying to catch up to him, safe. Even if the anger on the Alpha's face suggested something bad might have happened.

"Daniel. I'm relieved that—" I started, holding out my hand for him to shake. He raised his but instead of squeezing my fingers, he balled his into a fist and punched me in the face. I staggered back, blinking through the pain and the stars floating in my vision when his fist sank into my stomach, forcing all the air out of my lungs.

Anger spread through my veins, dispersing the confusion from the rage on his face. We seldom saw eye to eye, but I thought we shared enough respect to solve our issues without bloodshed. Not to mention, I'd figured if we ever fought, it'd be me who threw the first punch, not his calm, collected ass.

Daniel's fist flew again, but this time, I was ready for him. I caught it right before it broke my nose, squeezing it with all my might, even as he tried to yank it free.

"You fool! It's all your fault!" Daniel sputtered, his eyes flashing golden. "I told you not to provoke the witches! I told you they would retaliate! Now look what you've done! So many of our people dead! And for what? For your vendetta? You don't deserve to be an Alpha!"

Spitting out the blood that had gathered in my mouth, I pushed his hand away with enough force to make him step back. He bared his teeth and moved as if to attack me again, but his son grabbed him from behind. It wasn't until James hissed ‘Look around!' that I realized everyone stood in stunned silence, looking between the two of us.

Only a few dared draw within range, looking ready to interfere. None of them were werewolves, of course—our people knew better than to get into an Alpha's way when they were angry. But the others… one by one, I recognized their faces.

Battered and bruised from the battle we had won against the witches, they glared at Daniel like he was the enemy. A strange sense of confidence pulled my shoulders back and I let my hands fall despite him looking like he wasn't done fighting.

They were strangers when they agreed to my plan and followed my lead while we were all under duress, but things were different now. They didn't have to interfere; they didn't have to care; they didn't have to stand beside me. Yet, they were ready to step in and protect me should I only give them a signal. Like the allies I hoped they would become .

Confusion, pride, and relief swelled in my chest, then all of that turned into hope. Hope that, despite our differences, we can survive no matter who our enemy is. Together.

Daniel's eyes turned blue again, and he shrugged his son off before glancing around. "Hiding behind others, eh?" he sneered. "I thought you to be many things, Isaac, but never a coward!"

Still, Daniel was not our enemy. I wasn't planning on making him one either.

"You are upset," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I don't know why, but let's go somewh—"

"Oh, no, no! Let's stay right here! I'm sure your people are dying to hear what can be the reason for an Alpha to put his people in danger and then abandon them when they are lost and hurt!" He looked around and while nobody said anything, I could feel their eyes on me, taste their curiosity. "Or was chasing your mate's skirts more important than ensuring all of your people survived the consequences of your actions?"

I took a deep, calming breath. I didn't want to do this right now, not with all the fear and uncertainty in the air, but even I knew that leaving now would be a mistake. I had to give them some kind of explanation.

"I…" I started when something brushed against my arm and Allison's familiar scent filled my nostrils. Her hair hung in a loose braid, most of her head wrapped in a thick layer of bandages, and a sling clung to her left arm. Her dark, piercing gaze never strayed from Daniel's furious face and she didn't so much as blink when the Alpha glared at her.

"You're wrong." Her voice was hoarse and tired, but it still echoed through the clearing.

She had the knack for drawing people's attention when she spoke—one of the many reasons I chose her as my Beta—and I admired her for it. Words had power that could beat any fist, claw, or teeth, and it was a power I had to learn how to yield.

"Everything my Alpha did was for the sake of our people and yours," she continued. "While you were too busy keeping your pack ‘safe', he was trying to look out for everyone in the city." The two bird shifters on our right inclined their heads. "Because this wasn't an issue that would go away if we just kept our heads down! They would have come for us sooner or later and then the consequences would have been even more dire! "

"That wasn't his decision to make!" Daniel snarled at her.

I moved closer in case he dared to attack, but Allison didn't even look at me.

"No, it wasn't," she agreed. "That's why he formed a new Council and invited representatives of every supernatural community in the city. Including you . You just weren't there because you didn't care about the rest of us. So we made the decision for you. Together. "

Daniel's eyes flashed golden again, and when he looked at the other shifters, it wasn't anger I saw in his eyes. It was disbelief.

"She speaks the truth," Lesley, one of the bird shifters, spoke in her soft sing-song voice. "We chose to follow him and we stand by our choice, despite the losses we all suffered." She crossed her arms, and the movement revealed the nasty burns on her shoulder that were still healing. She must have gotten caught in Gideon's fire at some point, but she hid her pain well. "We knew of the spell beforehand and we thought killing Regina would be enough to stop it. Unfortunately, we were wrong, but that doesn't make our decision wrong. We had to stand our ground, to show them they couldn't just do what they wanted."

Her eyes shot to me again, and I nodded my thanks. The mood had changed around the camp, my people were no longer looking at me with doubt, and that caused my own nerves to quiet. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the middle of the wide circle, ignoring Daniel's angry presence at my back as I turned around to meet everyone's eyes.

"Listen up!" I raised my voice, making sure they could all hear me. "I know the situation is scary and difficult, but we'll get through this! Everything we've done, everything we're doing, is for you, for all of us!" My gaze stopped on a boy and a girl clinging to their mother's legs and I smiled at them. My heart felt lighter when they smiled back, the fear in their eyes lessening a fraction. "You deserve to have a safe and loving home. You deserve to live as you please and not be pushed around by others. So take care of your family and trust us." I raised my eyes to meet their mother's, and she gulped, clutching the children closer. "Trust me . We will figure this out. I promise."

She nodded, exhaling a breath while voices murmured in agreement around her. My own heart was hammering in my chest, the excitement and relief I felt making my smile entirely genuine. When I turned to face Daniel, his anger had vanished and while the animosity was still present behind his cold blue eyes, the air around him was different .

I took a step toward him and both the Alpha and his Beta tensed. When I was standing close enough to snap his neck, I leaned down so I could whisper in his ear. "Don't attack me in front of my people again," I said, making sure my voice was calm, but loaded with a note of threat.

Daniel stormed past me, and James followed without a word. I forced a smile to my face for everyone who looked my way, waiting for them to disperse before letting it drop.

"He'll come around," Allison said, patting my back with her good arm. "I heard from James that their Luna almost died. She is in a wheelchair and she couldn't move fast enough to get out of the spell's way. One of her caregivers died saving her, so he's… on edge."

"We're all on edge," I murmured, and she raised an eyebrow. "And he's not the only one. That's no excuse for exploding like that."

I regretted my words the moment I said them. Just a few months ago, it had been me who got set off by the smallest of things and him who had to talk me out of doing something stupid. We were rivals, but at the same time, he had been a… mentor, of sorts. But ever since I claimed Celeste, it was like she… grounded me, calmed me, focused me. I could only imagine he had this sort of epiphany with his mate. And to almost lose her…

"Speaking of Lunas, where is she?" Allison cleared her throat and I finally focused back on her. "Peter said you left after she called for you because something bad happened to her. Is she…?"

Memories of our time at the crypt flashed before my eyes, but I shook my head to chase them away. If only I hadn't left last night…

"She's in Hell," I replied without thinking, and the way her eyes widened told me that maybe I should have held that information back for now.

"She's… in what now?" Allison gasped.

I sighed heavily as I rubbed my face. Her fingers tightened on my arm and when I looked at her, the worry I saw reflected made me feel even worse.

"What happened?"

"I… I'll explain later," I said, patting her shoulder. "We have more pressing matters at hand."

She glanced over my shoulder to where the leaders of the other shifters had gathered, patiently waiting for us, and her expression smoothened. My eyes slid past them all, to the dark figure standing with his arms crossed by one of the trees, and when I nodded in greeting, Oscar pushed himself off and joined the others.

I headed toward them without another word, with Allison silently moving by my side. Once we completed the circle, everyone grew quiet.

"Well, then. If everyone is here, let's have our first official Council meeting."