Chapter 5
MARCUS POV
I walk with Elliot and beside me and there are three beta wolves behind me.
Stepping with a veteran's ease into the heart of the forest, the gnarled canopy above weaves a tapestry of shifting light and impenetrable shadow on the forest floor. Towering sentinels of ancient wood stand vigil, their contorted forms resembling the twisted visages of forgotten specters. The earthy scent of decaying foliage, tinged with a hint of something fetid, fills my nostrils, a scent that speaks of the forest's cycle of birth and decay, a cycle I have long embraced as my own.
Venturing deeper, the stillness becomes an entity in itself, a palpable presence that weighs upon the air. My feet find purchase on the soft, yielding carpet of decomposing leaves, yet each step seems to stir a sigh from the earth itself, as if it mourns the disturbance of its hallowed silence. The tangled roots that crisscross the forest floor resemble grasping fingers, insidious appendages that reach out hungrily, seeking to ensnare the unwary intruder. Yet I navigate this treacherous terrain effortlessly, my senses attuned to every subtle shift and hidden danger.
The atmosphere, while familiar, exudes a foreboding air, as if the very essence of the forest has soured with age and bitterness. Fallen trees lie as solemn monuments, their splintered forms a testament to the relentless march of time and the inevitability of nature's decay. There is a haunting desolation that lingers beneath the facade of endurance, an unspoken grief that permeates the very fabric of this ancient woodland, whispering of forgotten tragedies and untold sorrows.
Echoes of voices seem to drift through the heavy air, ghostly murmurs that tease the edges of perception, leaving an unsettling chill in their wake. Shadows, deeper and more sinister, slither and coil with an unsettling sentience, their forms taking on shapes that evoke primal fears and long-buried nightmares. The forest breathes with a volatile energy, a throbbing pulse that speaks of an ancient consciousness, both malevolent and resigned, as if it harbors secrets too dreadful to be unveiled.
In this eerie realm, I remember the times I spent running alone here, the blood that was spilled, my sense of belonging overshadowed by an ever-present sense of foreboding. The melancholy that saturates the very roots of this forest is a weight upon my soul, a burden that I carry with the heavy resignation of one who has long been entwined with the darkest facets of nature's enigmatic embrace.
We walk up to the broken horn and I turn to see my brother staring at me. I don't need to be a mind reader to know what he is thinking about. I return his gaze until he looks away, understanding my meaning then I walk into the building with him close behind me.
Dona is already there and she has four betas behind her. She is a tall woman, beautiful in a hard sort of way with hair cropped short, wearing a long sleeved blouse and loose trousers. Her eyes are hard and calculating, a contrast to the smile on her lips. She gestures to the chairs by the cold fireplace but I refuse her. She nods and walks to one of the other chairs and sits then she sniffs.
I can perceive the same stench of death and decay. It amuses me and at the same time I am reminded of things I'd rather forget. I walk to the chair opposite her and I sit then stretch out my legs and lean back.
"Dona," I say by way of greeting.
"Marcus," she replies, her tone gentle. I wait for her, not giving her the ease of taking the first word.
"There have been quite a few misunderstandings between the both of us. Misunderstandings which must be addressed. About the issue of your men today, there was an argument that led to violence and I offer my deepest apologies. The man shall be adequately punished and proof of their punishment shall be sent to you. Further, I will make sure the victims are treated thoroughly. You have my oath," she says to me.
I look down at my hand then stretch it out to her. She places the oath coin in it and I toss it up then catch it and put it in my pocket.
"Your apology is accepted."
There is relief in her face but I raise a finger.
"That is one matter. News has gotten to me that you're moving in on the car business. I can understand the need for expansion but there are businesses that are allotted to your pack, businesses that I have had opportunities to dabble in yet I have kept my side of the bargain. Do you not think it would be wise to stay away from what is mine?" I ask and she starts to speak, stops then shakes her head.
"The peace was necessary at the time of its creation but I do not think that it is one that can be adjusted to the current need of our people, of our current economical landscape. I think evolution is necessary. I admit that I went out of bounds but I apologize and will make monetary amendments as well as…"
"No," I say to her.
"No?"
"A deal was made. That deal brought an end to a war that lasted twelve years in which many lives were lost and that deal is one that has been keeping us from going to war until this very day. I like to believe that I am a very…open minded person but in matters as sacred as this, I am afraid I have much respect for the generations before me. Great respect. I refuse your offer. You will stop entering an enterprise that isn't yours and you will accept my terms. Understood?" I ask.
I can see the displeasure in the tightening of her lips but she doesn't say anything for a while, obviously trying to pick the best words.
"You don't think times change?"
"I know they do but I believe that changes like this take deliberate care and effort. You haven't shown that in the manner you handled this issue. I don't think we are quite ready to go there yet," I say to her and I can feel the protest almost making its way out of her lips but she sighs deeply and leans back in her chair.
"Fine," she says.
"Fine?" I ask her and she nods.
"It will be done according to your wish. I apologize for overstepping," she says to me and I stand.
"I am glad."
I walk back out into the cold and I look around. I can sense a few wolves running around in the distance. They are what I cannot completely be. I am a werewolf and they are fully wolf. I am neither here nor there. It makes me a little sad.
"You think she really is going to accept your word?" Elliot asks and I shrug.
"I am not sure. They say you can never truly know a person but I have seen enough to know that she is reasonable and she is loyal to her pack. She won't want to endanger them foolishly so she will back off for now at least, give me some time to think. There are many things that need to be settled."
"I still think that a show of force would have been the better motivation," Elliot replies.
"There are many habits that can lead a man to ruinz little brother. Questioning my decisions is one of them. Do well to discontinue it," I say to him and walk away as he watches me.
There's someone I must see.