My body tensed up as Khai Palmer Cillian stormed in front of us, smashing a decapitated wolf against the table. His blood was dripping from his impaired fist, yet it didn't appear to concern him at the very least. My father sighed and attempted to console Alpha Khai.
"We're going to catch whoever that did this, Khai. Don't give up just yet." Alpha Declan said, patting his shoulders and making our support known. Atticus and I nodded from the side. The Alpha is right. It's not yet the time to surrender. We can still win against Eligor and his rogues. The Cillian and the Leuruna Clan would not be remembered in this manner.
"This fucking enrages me, Declan. How could they possibly have killed such a young wolf?! I've been doing everything I can to keep my remaining wolves safe, but it doesn't seem like my efforts are enough," He muttered, full of anger.
I felt guilty all of a sudden. A young wolf with a promising future lost her life today, and it may have been my fault. I kept wondering whether Eligor had done this to spite me. I stoked his rage the last time that we met, and I mentioned Khai just right before him. Is this him letting his revenge known to our packs? Did I accidentally endanger the Cillians because of my selfishness and want to be free of him? My body just trembles at the thought. I ought to bear responsibility for this wolf's death, but I can't seem to make any noise and speak my mind.
"Lilith, are you okay?" Atticus snapped me out of my thoughts, holding my hands together in his palms. He must have noticed me shaking.
I looked at him and feigned a smile. "I'm okay, Atticus. I'm just… shocked." I said, my voice getting smaller as the beheaded wolf's eyes stared right back at mine.
My heart began to race at the sight of her expression; she seemed frightened and afraid for her life. She looked miserable, and it wasn't hard to tell that she had a painful death. I get why Khai desperately looked for us and asked us for help. I would've done the same if a wolf from my pack met the same fate. The room was immediately enveloped by silence, with only Alpha Khai's sobs filling the void. This is the first time I've seen him cry and it doesn't help knowing that I may be the reason Eligor was provoked to have his wolf murdered.
To my surprise, my father approached me and asked me to get closer to the Alpha. I scowled. What is he trying to urge me to do? Alpha Khai is having a hard time at the moment. It's not my business to disturb him in any way. Even Beta Colter is keeping his distance.
"Go and comfort him, Lilith. He doesn't seem to be in the right condition at the moment to plot our next move against the rogues. We need him in his most stable self." My father said.
I immediately found myself shaking my head in disagreement. "It's not my place to do that, father. Alpha Khai wouldn't want me to do that, especially now that he's vulnerable." I mumbled, trying hard not to be heard by Khai.
He frowned at me in response. My father suddenly seemed so done with me. Did I say something wrong?
"The Alpha adores you, Lilith. You're not naive to not know that. If there's anyone in this room that he would want to comfort him, it would be you, my daughter. Not me, not his Beta, and especially not Atticus. Now go ahead and calm him down. The three of us will only come back once he's ready to strategize against the rogues." There was no changing his mind. He did as he said and slowly left with Atticus and Beta Colter, so it did not take long for the two of us to be left alone.
My cheeks heated in embarrassment. I could still see the Alpha trembling, keeping his head down as he drowned himself in regrets and remorse. I kept my movements careful as I sat just right beside him, trying to see if he'd find my presence a pain. Khai lifted his head and stared at me, his eyes filled with tears and sadness.
I couldn't help but feel compelled to wipe the moisture off his cheeks. It breaks my heart to see an Alpha in this position. He has always been both powerful and reasonable. Alpha Khai is someone who has never backed down from anything, so seeing him like this is a strange sight for me, and it's made me understand that he, too, may be weak. He isn't flawless, and he isn't always strong, but that's fine. He doesn't have to be an Alpha every time.
"Lilith…" He whispered, his voice being hoarse. I held his hands in an attempt to comfort him. I don't know if my mere presence would do him good like how my father sees it, but I might as well give it a try.
"I'm here for you, Khai," I replied while I caressed his hands with mine.
Khai faked a smile and leaned his forehead on my shoulders. My heart immediately felt a wave of pain. I could feel his pain even if he did not talk. He's been going through a lot of things these days, and he's been doing a great job so far in keeping rational.
"Can I get a hug… please?" His voice was almost non-existent. I only faintly heard his words but it did not stop me from adhering to his request.
I lifted my arms as I enveloped his trembling body with my warmth. He immediately broke down into loud sobs which also made me tear up. I bit my lower lips to stop any hiccups from coming out. I need to be strong for him.
"Just let it out, Khai. I'm here for you. The Leurunas are here for you." I said in a low voice, tapping his back in a comforting rhythm.
He buried his face in the space between my shoulders and my neck, holding on to me as if he did not want me gone. It was almost as if he was holding on to me the way that he wanted to hold on to his vanishing pack.
"I think I'm losing them, Lilith… " I could tell that he was blaming himself as he spoke. His voice was laced with self-condemnation, one that was genuine and honest. Khai certainly thinks that his pack's death was his fault.
I shook my head in disagreement. "You're not losing them, Khai. You still have wolves under your care. This is not the time to give up as their Alpha." I replied, motivating him to move forward.
Khai heaved a deep breath as his arms tightened their hold on my waist. I could finally feel him slowly calming down. "You're right, Lilith. I'm sorry, I should have been stronger." He answered.
"You were never weak, Khai. I understand your pain. It must have been heartbreaking to wake up to another wolf missing from your family. But please always remember that the Leurunas are by your side. We will help each other, and we can go through this together, hmm?" I cupped his face and wiped the tears that I had been so eager to remove since earlier. I don't think I'd be able to bear any more of his sad expression. It pains me to see the Alpha that I look so much upon to be in this kind of predicament.
He nodded his head and hugged me once more. I embraced him back. "Thank you so much, Lilith. I honestly don't know what I would do without you. I'm forever in debt to you and your father."
…
"We will be giving them a taste of their own medicine, Declan. I will make sure to return thrice the pain that they've inflicted on us. The Rogues will yet again fall on their demise, and be put in their proper places. They've been unduly pompous lately, and I'd kill to take those smirks off their faces." Alpha Khai stood mighty before the three of us, all calmed down but ready to pounce on anyone who would hurt his pack again. My lips rose into a proud smile. He's back. The Alpha in him is back, and I just know that it would not take long for Eligor to regret messing with the Cillians and the Leurunas.
It's about fucking time we humbled his ego. He's been so pleased and confident these days that he's forgotten he's up against the country's top two packs. We will fucking show you, lover. The Cillian and the Leuruna clan would not be backing up in this lifetime. Not while I'm alive, not ever.
Eligor Wylder Koen could only wish.
"Please do so, Alpha Khai. Let us be part of the plan. The Leurunas will do everything in their abilities to take the rogues down." Atticus blurted out.
Khai nodded. "I will be putting a bounty on every rogue's head, Atticus. There's a lot of pack after us and I bet we could have them hunt for these rogues like little mice if only we blinded them with wealth. I am more than capable of paying for their rates and I'd be willing to empty my pockets just to have his people beheaded and vanish from the face of the earth. They've killed so many of the Cillians already, and I wouldn't wish this upon the Leurunas. My wolves are already due their revenge." He answered, determination and anger plastered on his face.
It was as though the Alpha had taken a new turn and was now ready to release the wrath he had been repressing. Eligor had better brace himself. We have a forest full of packs if he has an empire full of rogues. Wolves with packs outnumber rogues at the end of the day so there's a strong possibility we'd be able to destroy a big portion of his people. Khai is doing a great job avenging his wolves.
"If that's what you deem right, Khai, then we would follow. The Leuruna clan is at your disposal, and I will utilize all of my connections to get the bounty distributed across the forest. You can count on us." My father replied. I could tell from his voice that he was as eager as Khai was to put an end to the rogues, but although I was confident, there was still a part of me that was almost certain that this would not end as easily.
I haven't even sorted out this cursed mate bond that I have with Eligor, and I don't think I will be able to do so anytime soon. I'd need a witch to get this cut off, but it's not even easy finding them these days since they're in an entirely different geographic. I'd be lucky if I met even a novice one.
"I appreciate your help, Declan. I'd also send my men to snoop around their territory if I must. We could find something important against them if we persist. " He added.
Atticus and I immediately met eyes. We were both looking distressed, wondering if this was the right time to reveal what we had discovered. We're not even sure about it, so I, myself, am puzzled if it is right to alert them when we have yet to gain proper evidence.
"Should we tell them?" He mouthed. I heaved a sigh and closed my eyes momentarily, weighing down the possible situations if we did. Khai is sending his men out regardless, so maybe it'd actually be better to give them a heads-up.
I nodded at Atticus with my heart racing fast. My father would probably scold me if he knew that the three of us went there without his permission, but it just seemed right at the moment to tell the Cillians. At the end of the day, their safety is still a lot more important than my freedom being halted for a week.
When the two of us came to an agreement, I slowly raised my hand to get the attention of Alpha Khai, Alpha Declan, and Beta Colter.
"Do you have anything to say, Lilith?" Khai immediately asked.
I took a deep nervous breath and spoke. "Atticus, I and Willow have already made our own investigation around the rogue's lair, everyone. And we've found something," I paused.
Khai stood up in surprise and instantly looked intrigued. So I realized that beating around the bush would do no good. I continued.
"The rogue wolves are dousing themselves with Wolfsbane, Alpha. They're trying to immunize themselves at their leader's command."