Part two- Chapter 30

“Manipulation, fueled with good intent, can be a blessing. But when used wickedly, it is the beginning of a magician's karmic calamity.”

― T.F. Hodge, From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious Encounters with "The Divine Presence"

ORSELINE P.O.V

My knees felt like jelly all of a sudden and so, taking a step back, I held the counter for support.

Alpha Peter has been killed. I couldn’t believe it. He was supposed to meet Duncan next week. I had spoken with him yesterday and now, he is dead. My eyes were blurry all of a sudden and I closed my eyes, letting the tears flow.

Duncan immediately rushed to my side and wrapped his arms around my waist. I sobbed louder against his chest.

My heart went for Raven, Cortez, Brenda and his pack. How must they have felt?

I knew it was the rogues who did it but how did they know?

I had great respect for Alpha Peter who was our mentor. Without him, I would have never known what exactly had happened to Orion and Tito. I would still be in dark and continuously mourn for Orion. Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to protect Darya. I owed a lot to him and now, he was gone. Just like that.

I had spoken to him before I came here and he was pleased to know Duncan and I were back together. It wasn’t even twenty four hours since I last spoke to him and now he was gone.

Then I realized what else Duncan had said. Cortez has gone to attack rogues. He might have been really furious after learning about Alpha Peter. He has lost a father in Alpha Peter.

“When?” I asked Duncan pulling away while he was turning off the heat.

“Almost two hours ago. They don’t know who killed him but Cortez has gone to attack the rogues few minutes ago. Granel wants me there Sel and I have to go. I need to talk to him, urgently. Your twin bro’s are also going to come there.”

“I will come too” I said but Duncan shook his head.

“No, I need you with Darya. The rogues know about Darya and they are going to come after her” he said and my heart started pounding in my ears. “Raven is inconsolable and so is Peter’s mate. You go there and stay with them. I will ask my pack to stay alert but I don’t want you here because the rogues know my pack territory well” Duncan said with a snarl. It was because of his dad that the rogues knew everything. “Plus the Serene Pack may pose a problem.” Duncan said. I couldn’t believe we had so much to face in one day. “Waylon and others will be here to protect the pack. I will go there alone to help Granel, but I want you to take Darya with you to your pack because I know you will be safe there.”

“I can help” I said to Duncan but he shook his head.

“Just go to your pack and don’t stop anywhere in between. Stay in your pack, along with Darya until I come.”

“Duncan” I protested but Duncan rushed to his room. I followed after him. He immediately pulled my hand bag out of the closet. He put inside a stack of cash and my cell phone inside it.

“Come on” he said, holding my arms and pulling me with him, while I was sobbing all the way.

“Sel?” I heard Darya ask questioningly when she saw me crying. She and Jane were just entering our house, I figured Duncan mind linked with her.

“Quick, get in the car” Duncan told Darya and she looked at me questioningly.

“Go” he told me and I shook my head.

“Duncan, I am coming with you” I told him and Duncan let out a frustrated growl.

“I don’t want you there. I want you to protect Darya. They are coming after her, Sel. She is what they want and I only trust you to protect her” he told me, his voice croak. Cupping my face with his hands, Duncan made me look at him.

“I love you and I promise, I will be back. Just protect my sister until then. Don’t leave her side” he told me and I nodded. Kissing the top of my head, Duncan opened the car door and I got in, followed by Darya. “Stay safe Darya and stay with Sel” he told her. Darya rushed towards his side and hugged him. I saw the way, Duncan tensed all of a sudden but then, he lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. “Go” he told her and she got inside the car along with Jane, tears in her eyes.

I looked at Duncan and bit back a sob. My wolf howled with pain inside me. She didn’t like leaving him. She wanted us to go and help with him but she also wanted to protect Darya. I was torn, but then decided to call Tyson and ask him to watch Duncan’s back for my sake. I knew Tyson would do that for me.

I started the car and looked at Duncan, who quickly got inside another car.

Duncan was behind us for a while, until he changed routes and made his way towards the Elegance Pack while I and Darya went towards Grier Pack.

“What happened?” Darya asked me and I quickly downloaded her with everything that happened. She too was sobbing after she came to know about Alpha Peter. Jane on the other hand looked confused as hell when but neither of us cleared her doubts.

I broke all speed limits and drove rashly in the road. I just needed to get to my pack as soon as possible. I quickly called Vanessa and came to know, she and Aunt Lily along with Kasey too were going to my pack.

I called Raven but she wasn’t picking the call. Right now, she was grieving for her father and I shouldn’t bother her. I sighed and stopped calling

I also called Tyson and asked him to watch Duncan’s back. Tyson agreed and informed me that Duncan had just arrived. Cortez was on a rampage and was already tearing wolves along with Granel. He cut the call quickly because he was about to go to the battle field.

We reached my pack within two hours, thanks to my rash driving. I drove like cops were chasing behind me and through the entire journey Jane was closing her eyes and muttering prayers while Darya was exceptionally quiet.

“Are you okay, Jane?” I asked her after she stopped her prayers.

“Yes…. I am fine” she said and got out of the car, followed by me and Darya. “Come to our house” I told Jane and she nodded. Holding Darya’s hands, I walked inside our house and was surprised to see Isadora Hampton chatting with my ma and Aunt Lily.

“Oh, little bear” ma said rushing towards me and hugged me. “You were gone for a day and I missed you so much” she said against my shoulders. I closed my eyes and inhaled her scent, which soothed me.

“Where is pa?” I asked her.

“He and few fighters have all been guarding the borders, in case if any rogues come here. “It’s a good thing you decided to come here.” Ma said to me. “Did you eat anything?” she asked me and I shook my head. “What about you, Darya?”

“No.”

“Come, I have already cooked breakfast. Have it, I know you all are tired” ma said walking towards kitchen. Just then Vanessa came out. As soon as she saw me, she rushed towards me and hugged me.

“Where is Kasey?” I asked Aunt Lily when I hugged her.

“She is sleeping.” Aunt replied.

“It is better if she is asleep. Children shouldn’t be involved in this” Isadora said. “I think Darya too should rest after her breakfast” she told her.

“I am fine” Darya replied and continued eating her breakfast. I didn’t have an appetite so I refused. I was worried about Duncan. My wolf was continuously pacing inside me.

“How come you are here?” I asked Isadora.

“Granel told me to come here. He is with Raven in her pack. The girl has just lost her father and she needs him.” She replied and I realized she didn’t know, Granel was along with Cortez attacking the rogues. “I was about to go back to my pack after visiting Moreland but Granel said that I should stay here, just in case…” she trailed off.

“What about the school children?” I asked her.

“They are safe. All children are being protected by my pack members. I feel really bad leaving them there. Cortez shouldn’t have attacked the rogues. He should have minded his own business” Isadora said with a frown and I growled.

“His father has been killed. Do you seriously think he would let them go?” I asked her and she shook her head.

“A planned attack would have been good. Attacking with rage isn’t a good thing. You aren’t prepared and you are being guided by your anger, which will be a huge disadvantage to you” Isadora replied and I sighed.

“You are absolutely right” ma said to Isadora who smiled.

“But they too will be taken by surprise.” Darya spoke and we all looked at her. “The rogues. They will not know, what is coming for them.”

“But it is against the war law” Isadora said.

“It’s tit for tat” Darya said coolly. “They attacked Elegance the same way and now they have to suffer” she said and I smiled. Darya was right. The rogues did the same to Cortez’s pack and now, he had every right to do it. Fuck the war law.

“But then what will be the difference between us and rogues? We will be just like rogues” Isadora said to Darya with a small frown.