And then, as suddenly as he had awakened, Fenris collapsed to the forest floor.
I wanted to just run away, but I looked down at my shoeless feet. "Fuck this." With a resigned sigh, I bent down and attempted to lift Fenris. He was heavy, solid muscle under my hands, but I managed to half-carry, half-drag him back in the direction of the pack house.
By the time we emerged from the forest, a search party had been organized. Luna Fanny rushed forward, her face a mask of concern.
"What happened?" she demanded. "Did he hurt you?"
I shook my head, still trying to process everything myself. "He... he woke up. But then he passed out again. I think he needs help."
The Luna barked out orders, and Fenris was quickly whisked away to what I assumed was their medical facility. I made to follow, curious about his condition, but a hand on my arm stopped me.
"That's not your concern," Luna Fanny said coldly. "You've done your part. Now, come with me. The council needs to speak with you."
I was led to an imposing chamber where several older werewolves sat in a semicircle. They regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Luna Fanny took her place among them, her piercing gaze never leaving me.
"Freya Moonwhisper," one of them intoned. "Do you understand what has transpired here today?" I shook my head, still feeling overwhelmed by it all.
The elder sighed. "The partial bond that was formed during the interrupted ceremony has left Fenris in an unstable state. He may wake again, but there's no telling what state of mind he'll be in when he does."
"What does that mean for me?" I asked, dreading the answer.
"It means," Luna Fanny cut in, her voice carrying the weight of authority, "that we need you to complete the bond. Only a pure-blooded heir can stabilize both Fenris and the pack's power structure."
I felt the blood drain from my face. "But... but the ceremony nearly killed him! And me! You can't seriously expect me to try again?"
"We can, and we do," another elder said gravely. "The alternative is exile for you and your family. I'm sure you understand the dangers that would pose."
I did understand. Rogue werewolves rarely survived long on their own, hunted by both other packs and humans alike. It was a death sentence.
"The choice is yours," Luna Fanny said, though her tone made it clear it wasn't really a choice at all. "Think it over carefully. Remember, the future of both our packs rests on your shoulders."
With that, I was dismissed. "What should I do?" My head spinning, I wandered the halls of the unfamiliar pack house, eventually finding myself in an extensive library. The shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with ancient tomes and scrolls.
I began to search the shelves. There had to be something here about curse-breaking, about the true nature of Alpha power. Anything that might help me understand what was happening and how to get out of this nightmare.
Hours passed as I pored over dusty volumes, my eyes growing heavy with exhaustion. Just as I was about to give up, I came across a passage that made my heart race:
"The power of an Alpha is not merely inherited, but earned through the strength of will and purity of intention. Those who seek to subvert this natural order risk destabilizing not only themselves but the very fabric of pack dynamics."
Could it be that Fenris's condition was linked to some kind of power struggle within the pack? The thought sent a chill down my spine. What kind of world had I been thrust into?
As I replaced the book on the shelf, I heard voices approaching. Quickly, I ducked behind a large armchair, holding my breath as two men entered the library.
"Are you sure this is wise?" one of them asked. "The wolfsbane poison has kept him subdued for months, but now that he's awakened once..."
"We have no choice," the other replied, his voice hard. "Fenris's progressive ideas would weaken our traditional power structure. We can't allow that to happen, no matter the cost."
My blood ran cold as I realized what I was hearing. The Beta of the pack and another elder were openly discussing how they had poisoned their own Alpha, keeping him in a coma to maintain their grip on power.
As their voices faded, I remained hidden, my mind reeling from this new information. I feel my whole body trembling. I was trapped in a web of lies and betrayal, with seemingly no way out.
So, Fenris told me not to trust anyone, has he already known something? How can I wake him up again?
I waited until the doorman turned off the lights before coming out. The earlier conversation had made my heart race. When I quietly returned to my own room, my brain was racing, thinking about how to give Fenris the antidote. I need time to think, to find a way, to plan——
"Did you enjoy your little excursion, my dear?"
The hairs on my back stood up, the room was only lit by a desk lamp, it was very dark. Luna sat in the shadows by the window, her gaze was intense, I felt my whole body warming up. How long had she been waiting?
"I... I was just exploring," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.
Fanny rose gracefully, her power filling the room like a suffocating fog. "Oh, I'm sure you were. And I'm certain you found our library... enlightening."
Before I could react, an invisible force slammed into me, driving me to my knees. "Damn it, these people, they all like to hit my knees."
"Did you think we wouldn't notice?" Fanny's voice was silk over steel. "That we wouldn't feel your prying into matters that don't concern you?"
I gasped, struggling to breathe through the agony. "I don't... know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me, child." She circled me slowly, like a predator toying with its prey. "I know you've discovered something about Fenris's condition. About the... difficulties we've faced."
The pain intensified, and I couldn't hold back a whimper. Through gritted teeth, I managed to ask, "Why are you doing this?"
Fanny knelt beside me, her face a mask of false concern. "Because, my dear, you need to understand your place here. You are a means to an end, nothing more. Any attempt to interfere with our plans, to wake Fenris before we deem it appropriate, will result in consequences far worse than this. For you and for your family."
I laughed, "Ma'am, don't you know, what happened to me in the pack? What do I care about my father and my damn stepmother? He betrayed me and you know it."
"Alright, I haven't thought that through fully." Fanny casually raised her hand, and the pain struck again, this time causing me to kneel on both knees on the ground. "And what about you? Little girl, since your tribe doesn't care about you anyway, if you're not afraid of dying, you can continue to oppose us."
"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Simple. You will undergo the conception ritual as planned. You will bear Fenris's heir, securing the future of our pack. And you will do so without questions, without resistance."