**Rhian's POV**
We were headed down to the dungeon and I was struck with David's thoughts. He was angry and frustrated. Despite his efforts he had yet to learn anything about the attack on his mate, or if his pups were still alive.
When we got to the dungeon he was looking nearly despondent sitting on the floor a ways back from the cell. His back was against the wall his arms on his bended knees with his head buried. You could see the trembles in his body as he tried to silence and hide the tears he couldn't keep in.
I walked up and slide down the wall next to him putting my arm around his shoulders. I knew the comfort I was trying to offer was no match for the intense feelings he was experiencing but it was all I could offer at that moment.
"We will get to the bottom of this. I promise you I won't stop trying to get through his mind to find out what he knows. We are all here to help you and none of us will quit until we do." I rubbed his back as I spoke. "Would you like to see if Erick can get anything out of him while I attempt to search his mind?"
He simply nodded, "Sure, but I fear it is a useless endeavor. I believe he lied just to distract me."
I looked at Erick and gave him a look telling him to go ahead and try anyway.
Erick crossed the room so he was within arm's reach of the cell. "Joel, I demand answers out of you. After what you did to Rhian leave no doubt in your mind that I will use whatever force I need to persuade the truth out of you."
Joel stood until he reached the bars, "Did the sniveling excuse of a wolf send you to do his bidding. Truly a pathetic excuse of a wolf. To think he was supposed to be an Alpha, our pack would have been doomed."
Erick slammed his hand into the bars causing Joel to back away startled. "Enough, you are in no position to judge. You are sitting in a jail cell with no one left to help you. Every plan you had was a massive failure. When are you going to realize you are the pathetic one here?"
An evil grin spread across Joel's face, "Fool's this is not over, not over by a long shot. There are greater forces at work. Stronger enemies than you can even imagine. Eliza was only a stepping stone to our plan. You have no idea the forces that are coming to bring you down."
"Sound's like to me you are grasping at straws. Anything to curry favor or sympathy. We are not the idiots you think we are. Just tell me what you know about David's pups. Perhaps, if you do that, I won't forget to feed you today."
"You think I care about those brats? They aren't even aware of who they are or who their parents were."
David rushed to the bars, "So they are alive? Where are they? Tell me, NOW!"
"Oops, did I accidentally confirm that? No matter, you will never find them. She hid them well amongst a remote pack. Besides, they were told they were abandoned because they were weak. They wouldn't want anything to do with the father that cast them out."
"I am going to kill you!" David growled. Erick barely had the chance to grab him before he ripped open the cage again.
(Samuel, Doc, we need to remove David. Joel claimed his kids are alive. I fear he won't be able to control his anger. It may be a good idea to sedate him so I can gather more information.)
I heard Erick's mind link to the others. I was still focused on trying to find information that Joel was hiding. I feared his threats were more than just words. If what I was finding was real we were in a lot of trouble. He was right Eliza would seem like nothing more than a minor inconvenience. There was a lot more at stake here.
Doc arrived quickly with two large men. They injected David with something that instantly made him collapse. "Don't worry" he looked at me. "It is just a sedative he will be fine we just need to make sure he isn't a danger to himself."
I nodded as I linked with Erick, (Keep going, he is revealing a great deal more in his mind.)
Erick turned back to Joel, "You really just like causing trouble, don't you. So tell me, what is it that I should be so worried about then? What could be so dangerous for the greatest alpha ever?"
"You may be the greatest alpha, although, I am still not convinced. However, some creatures and species have immensely more power than a wolf ever could. Demons, vampires, fairies, lycans, witches, mermaids, are you really so clueless to think werewolves are that special?"
Erick rolled his eyes, "You are right, I am not aware of just all the creatures there are in our world, but, It wasn't all that difficult to take down a goddess with fairies on her side. Also, the protection of several other creatures willing to do her bidding."
"She was an idiot. She was too narrow-minded so focused on her revenge against you she wasn't willing to see the bigger picture. If you see yourself as being so powerful I am looking forward to seeing your swift fall from grace as well."
"We will just have to wait and see who will be falling from grace. The Moon Goddess is on our side and we are fighting for justice. You are trapped behind bars with your only weapon being your mouth."
Joel began laughing hysterically, "Don't say I didn't warn you! Your naivety and arrogance will be your destruction. Mark my words you are in for a greater fight than you can ever imagine. You can't prevent the blood that will be shed." He continued laughing. It was disturbing, maniacal.
Erick turned away he knew it was of no use. He knew he wasn't going to get any more information out of him at this point. He came over to me and asked if I was ready to go. It was at that point he realized my face had gone white as a ghost.
While Erick had finished questioning Joel I had finally discovered what it was he had been hiding all along. He was right, this was much bigger than either of us realized. It involved the survival of not just our species, but everyone.
I could hear the monotonous tone in my voice as the fear of what I had seen overtook my body. "Erick, he's right, this isn't over. We need to gather everyone. The wheels of fate began to turn when we defeated Eliza. We can't stop what is to come."
"What do you mean?" He shook my shoulders he was trying to shake me out of whatever was affecting my body. "Rhian, Rhian, talk to me. You are scaring me."
"We need to gather the others, we have to begin to prepare. I'm scared Erick, really scared." I could feel how bad my body was shaking.
He picked me up and began to carry me out of the dungeon not wanting to wait for the shock to wear off before he got me out of there. "I've got you, it will be ok baby. Let's go find everyone."
I was dazed and could feel the blank expression. I just rested my head against Erick as he carried me away from Joel. The sounds of his laughter still echoed in my ears.
I felt like I was outside of myself as the words left my mouth. "The powers of good and evil are at play. Members from all species are distributed across either side. Families are pitted against themselves, sons will betray their fathers. Sisters turn their backs on their brothers, friends will turn on each other.
An epic battle is coming. A battle of grave consequences where life itself hangs in the balance. It may not matter that we are supposed to outlive our children. If we can't win this battle life will cease to exist at all. Not even we will survive the devastation that is to come."
***This is the end of the first series***
Thank you so much for reading! This is the first novel I have published and I am anxious to know what you think. The story is far from over. Keep reading the next series to find out more about what is going to happen. Will our heroes figure out what is at stake or are they about to be blindsided by a war? Will David be able to reunite with his pups? With what is to come will Erick and Rhian have children of their own?