Page 42

Scarlett

A fter a few moments, we pull apart, reluctantly. “Let’s get out of here,” Elijah says. “I’ll get someone to collect our men.”

“Liam…” I say, tugging free as I look at the body of our friend.

Elijah moves away from me. Pain and sadness cross his face before he masks it and lifts the body of his friend.

He had his whole life ahead of him, and it was taken away so fast, with such ease. That is how easy it is to end a life.

“What do you want done with Zidane and his men?” Rafael asks, his usually warm, brown eyes hard.

“Toss them in the cavern and burn them,” I say coldly, not an ounce of remorse within me. They made their bed, so they can now lie in it.

The three of us leave the cavern together, with Elijah carrying Liam’s body. Rafael drags the last survivor of Zidane’s men from the cavern along with us.

Even after all the fighting, he has the strength to do so. I don’t know how. I’m exhausted.

We’re halfway through the trees when we come to an abrupt stop at the sight of the scene in front of us. One that makes my stomach churn as we observe the horror before us.

Blood and torn-up body parts cover the floor for metres around. An arm. Goddess, a head… even the torsos are ripped in half. My stomach curdles as I realise mixed in are wolf limbs too. Each mutilated the same as the human bodies.

I wretch, turning away, but I’m able to keep the contents of my stomach down. I turn back as Elijah swears under his breath. Whatever killed them was so fast that they hadn’t even been able to shift back to human form.

We’re frozen, as the more we stare at the brutal horror scene, the more we notice. Blood covers the entire ground, there are so many bodies. How many dead are here?

Then my eyes snap to the young man who is leaning against a tree, without a care for the sickening sight before him and completely unbothered by the fact he is naked. The only things on his tattooed body are the few chains that hang around his neck and blood… Lots and lots of splattered blood. He takes a drag from a cigarette, clearly looking completely at ease.

Did he do this? I ask myself in disbelief. What a question. It’s obvious he’s the one behind it. But how can one boy do this? There have to be over a hundred bodies here.

“Alejandro…” Rafael murmurs, his face paling as he looks at the carnage before him.

“Brother,” Alejandro drawls out a puff of smoke slowly as he looks up at the sky that peeps out from the trees.

“Why are you naked?” Elijah asks sharply. Rafael visibly tenses and I frown. Elijah is right, he’s too young to shift. So why is he naked? Alejandro simply smirks humourlessly.

“Oh? Well since everyone was stripping and showing what they’re packing, I thought I’d join the party… and it seems although I still have a few years to grow, I’m already winning in that department,” he taunts, shamelessly glancing at his brother’s and Elijah’s cocks.

My cheeks heat, I hadn’t looked down. Being a shifter you kind of get used to keeping your eyes up. The older two men simply frown at him while I make sure I don’t look down past his chest, growling at him at the insult he just tossed at Elijah, who is definitely huge. I know that for a fact!

Elijah glances at me but I refuse to look at him, still glaring at the naked teen.

“Easy there, just stating facts,” Alejandro says mockingly. But before I can reply, a few men from ours and Rafael’s pack show up, scanning the scene before their eyes go to Elijah and the body in his arms. A few from the Blood Moon Pack recognise their trainer and Head Warrior, their expressions only tearing at the wound within me. Their faces fall as they slowly walk over, passing the men pants and tossing Alejandro a pair before they take Liam’s body from Elijah with care and sadness clear on their faces.

Liam… so many people loved you.

“Get this place cleaned up,” Rafael growls at Alejandro, who simply raises an eyebrow as he pulls the pants on.

“I did my part, you do the fucking rest,” he counters coldly, his eyes flashing. Just like they had back at his pack! They did change, I didn’t imagine that red. Not this time. My heart thumps and I wonder what exactly is the boy before me? But it’s fleeting, lasting for less than a second before he turns and walks off.

Rafael signals his men to start cleaning, and Elijah does the same, ordering the remaining men to help. He then looks at Rafael.

“I won’t ask what you’re hiding. I owe you a lot already.”

Rafael gives him a grateful smile. “You owe me nothing. We’re friends. But thank you, I appreciate you not pushing for an answer,” he says quietly as they place a hand on each other’s shoulders. They make great allies.

“Thank you for everything. You lost your men because of me. Thank you,” Elijah says as Rafael smiles sadly.

“I’m just glad your Luna is safe. I’m happy that you two turned out to be mates. You look good together. I hope you get to meet my fated soon too.”

I smile. “Thank you, Alpha Rafael, I’d like that.”

“Anytime, Luna. Or should I say, Alpha Scarlett?” he remarks with a smirk, lifting the mood a little as Elijah pulls me into his arms. It is finally over.

We’ve won.

Night has fallen, but the Alpha mansion of the Desert Storm Pack is ablaze with lights. We have moved everyone out of the appalling packhouse, most of whom were omegas, placing the severely injured into the pack hospital with those who have any health care knowledge taking care of them. A few doctors from Rafael’s pack and another neighbouring pack have come to assist with the injured.

The neighbouring pack, the Crescent Rose Pack, was pretty relieved to hear Zidane is dead. Although they weren’t part of the attack, they were happy to help when they learned that he is no longer the one in charge.

He’s really dead. It still feels so surreal. At times, it feels like he’s going to suddenly show up alive and be lusting for revenge. But he’s really gone. I killed him.

We gathered our dead whilst the other pack alphas and Rafael bid us farewell, taking their men and the bodies of their lost pack members with them.

After all, their mates and families are waiting for them. I apologised once more for the loss they all suffered, knowing I would never be able to face their mates who have to go through so much.

Rafael was the last to leave, and we really owe him.

Mama had called. She was a sobbing mess, glad I was ok and relieved that he is dead. Dad is already on his way back, returning with the bodies of our dead.

I now wrap my arms around myself. Even in the soft fleecy top I wear, it is chilly. I walk over to the table where Aaron and Elijah are discussing something in the garden of the mansion.

“…eleven from the Silver Fang Pack and twenty-nine from the Crimson Moon Pack,” Elijah is saying, a deep frown on his face. “Rafael lost fifteen…”

“And we lost forty-five,” Aaron says, sighing deeply. Both men look up as I approach. The cold wind blows around us, but since all the rooms are occupied, discussing this outside is best. There are some things it’s best that the pack members don’t know. Elijah pulls me close, kissing my lips softly before hugging me tightly.

“In total, how many dead combined?” I ask.

“One hundred and forty-three,” Aaron answers, his eyes shadowed. When he saw Liam’s body, he had fallen to his knees, despair, guilt and anger consuming him as he roared, the sound echoing around us.

“Zidane also killed ninety-three of his own pack before he left. About forty might not make it and another few hundred are on the mend,” Elijah adds.

“And those who sided with him – seventy are in the cells and about three hundred and eighty are dead, but we’re not a hundred percent sure on that number. Those are the ones that the Head Warrior here said are accounted for. Some were hard to piece together,” Aaron says, frowning.

I know what he means. Everyone was whispering about the body parts strewn across the fields in Alejandro’s wake.

“The Rossi boy, Alejandro went wild. One of our men said the way he killed those women was as if he was enjoying every minute of it, and in that mess there were nearly a hundred and thirty bodies,” Aaron says, making me shiver as I remember that unpleasant graphic image again. It’s one I won’t ever forget.

“If he hadn’t, we would have probably lost more…” Elijah says, frowning deeply. “Try not mentioning Alejandro to anyone. I don’t know what Rafael’s hiding, but we owe him that much.” Aaron and I nod. “If anyone talks, shut it down with a command. I’ll do the same. We owe the Rossis a lot for their help.”

“And if the need ever arises, we will help them, too.”

“How’s Monica?” I ask Aaron as he begins folding up the lists he had made. It is clear they have listed everyone who died to the best they could.

“Relieved that it’s over and you’re safe, and… devastated about Liam, as we all are. I still can’t believe it.”

“Yeah…” Elijah looks down, pain in his eyes.

“Alpha Scarlett…” someone calls. Being called Alpha is something I still find weird to hear, especially by people I don’t really know. My pack members.

I turn to see Michael, the Head Warrior. He is the highest in rank who sided with us and, in a way, is now the spokesperson for the rest of the pack, a lot of whom are cautious of me. I can’t blame them. To them, I’m his daughter.

Candice is in critical condition. The wolfsbane was so strong it affected her internal organs. However, she told us it was Cade whom she made the mistake of talking to. It was a dire error, and he was the one who told Zidane.

I considered putting the pack members who knew of the attack under Alpha command to ask if anyone else had betrayed us but decided to let it go. I can’t start being their Alpha by forcing something on them, just like Zidane, even though it is a risk not to.

We also don’t know how he knew about what car I was in, something that makes me feel uneasy.

“Michael.” I step away from Elijah. “Is everything ok?”

“We were wondering what you wanted to do. There are rumours you’re Alpha Elijah’s mate and he has a pack too,” Michael says, lowering his head to us – too low.

Elijah tenses; yeah we’ve both probably wondered about it. He mentioned combining the packs or coming up with something.

The bodies of our dead have been sent home, but we need to be there for their funerals.

“First off, Michael, look me in the eye when you talk. Stop bowing,” I say with a frown. A command but one without my Alpha aura. “And yes, he is my mate. As for the pack… I will be holding a meeting tomorrow at nine in the morning. Those who can make it, gather them. As for the rest, I will keep the mind- link open and make sure everyone can hear me.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” he replies, about to bow but stops, remembering my words, and walks off.

“Well, it’s best we turn in too,” Aaron suggests tiredly. I nod before Elijah and I head inside, too. The house still makes shivers run down my spine, and I remember all the horrible things Zidane has done here. I stop in my tracks, something coming to mind, and look at Elijah.

“Head to the room we stayed in last time. I just need to do something. I’ll see you there soon,” I say suddenly.

“I’ll come with-”

“No. I need to do this alone.” He doesn’t question it but frowns, accepting it. He watches me with concern, but I simply give him a tender kiss before I walk away. I can feel his eyes on me until I am out of sight.

I step outside again into the cold night air, my heart thudding as I look towards the garage that sits alone, away from the mansion. It looms eerily at me, bringing back haunting memories. Casting a swift glance around, I walk towards it, hoping my blocks are up, not wanting Elijah to feel the emotions that are threatening to drown me.

Deep breaths , I tell myself as I enter the garage, walking past the flashy cars to the room at the back. I know the code that was set back then. I had seen it countless times. Pressing the buttons, I wonder if it is still the same.

The door clicks and my heart skips a beat. It is.

I push it open, switching on the bleak, white light. My heart thuds when I see the state it is in.

Dust coats the room. The walls have claw marks dug deep into the metal sheets that cover the walls, and everything is broken. The only thing whole is the bloodstained table that still stands in the centre. Memories of the torture I suffered down here swirl around me and I have to remind myself he is gone.

I walk through the room, my footsteps echoing in the silence. My heart is loud though, and I wrap my arms around myself, looking at the walls and the side tables, past the tools, knives and everything else he used to torture me. I frown when I spot something I never really remembered. Papers and photographs litter the floor.

What are these?

I crouch down and pick up a bunch of them. My blood runs cold, realising they are images of me! It’s me as a child, blurred pictures taken from the CCTV around this very pack.

So many. My heart thumps faster, my stomach twisting.

Why did he have these?

I will never know why he had been so infatuated with abusing me. My eyes fall to the wall on the same side as the door, and I gasp. There on the wall is a huge map of England. String and red crosses are littered everywhere.

There is a picture of Mama to the side and a drawing of how I would have looked growing up. My heart thuds at the image. It is similar, but still different from me. The fact that he had put effort into finding me is clear and that scares me. I remember long ago how Dad had pulled strings to keep mine and Indigo’s identities a secret, so we didn’t come up on the system. Going to a school at which he was a strong financial supporter helped.

There are some papers that look like they were written by a witch, the symbols… I shake my head, looking away.

Standing straight, I look around the room of my nightmares for the last time. I open one of the top drawers, remembering where he would usually keep a lighter, and look around for something I can use.

I step back out into the garage and pick up a petrol can before I return to the room and begin tossing the petrol across the room and walls. It won’t burn it entirely, but I don’t want to cause a full-on fire either. I just want to wipe this place from the face of the earth. The metal walls will keep most of the fire contained.

Once I’ve emptied the can of petrol, I toss it down and pick up the lighter I found. Flicking it on, I toss it towards the table that stands in the centre, now splattered in petrol. I watch as it catches ablaze, the fire spreading quickly, and I smile gravely. I am done with Zidane in every way. I turn and shut the door, trapping the spreading flames within. It would be cool if the entire garage is brought down. It stands isolated from the main mansion and there are no trees or anything flammable too close to the garage, aside from the cars.

I see Michael and motion him over.

“I’ve burnt a room at the back. Move the cars out. I guess we can sell them off. Don’t put the fire out, but just make sure it stays contained.”

“Yes, Alpha,” he says. I give a small nod before heading back inside, satisfied that I’ve destroyed another part of my past.