Chapter 10: The First Attack

Adelie

I narrowly avoided the vampire’s talons, diving to the ground in sheer terror. My heart pounded in my chest like a drum.

“Chasing is half the fun,” he hissed, his voice echoing in my ears.

I was cornered. Escape seemed impossible.

Suddenly, a familiar, agonizing pressure built up in my mind. Black smoke began to billow from my body, just like before.

My powers surged forth, launching an attack on the vampire.

His eyes widened in surprise and fear. Before my powers could reach him, he turned tail and fled at an astonishing speed.

Once the danger had passed, my powers receded, leaving me feeling drained and hollow.

Frustration welled up inside me. If only I could control my powers. Maybe then my mother would still be alive. Maybe I wouldn’t be in this mess.

“Adelie!” Alpha’s voice rang out, filled with anger.

I glanced up at him and scrambled to my feet. His face was a mask of fury as he stormed towards me.

“What were you thinking, going out there alone? It’s dangerous. What if the guards couldn’t fend off a vampire? Do you think he would have spared you?” he bellowed. I waited for him to finish before attempting to explain.

I knew I had to speak up now or things would only get worse. “I saw a vampire,” I admitted quietly. I didn’t mention that it had attacked me. I couldn’t tell him about my powers.

Lying seemed like the only option.

“You were alone in the forest with a vampire?” he roared, veins bulging in his forehead.

“He...he didn’t see me. He was just wandering around,” I stammered, trying to explain.

He grabbed my elbow and began to march towards the house, setting a pace that forced me to jog to keep up.

His touch held no warmth this time, only anger. His breaths came in heavy pants.

When we reached the house, Nathan was waiting for us. His face fell when he saw me.

“I...I...” he began, but Alpha cut him off.

“Nathan, she was alone with a vampire,” Alpha shouted at him. “You will be punished for this.”

I couldn’t let that happen. It was my fault. I rushed forward and tugged on Alpha’s arm, earning a glare in return.

“It wasn’t his fault. Punish me. I tricked him. Please,” I begged.

“Luna...” Nathan began, but Alpha silenced him with a gesture.

“You want me to punish you?” he asked me.

“If it means sparing Nathan, then yes. He thought I was in my room,” I explained.

Alpha paused to consider this. “Nathan, you’re free to go,” he finally said.

Nathan glanced at me but didn’t dare to speak in Alpha’s presence.

Alpha turned to me. “You’re grounded for a week. And you’ll have an extra guard when you’re allowed out again,” he said, pulling me inside by my elbow.

Once we were inside, he left me alone and headed upstairs.

A week without the forest? I’d go crazy.

***

Three days had passed since I’d been locked up.

I was doing my best to stay strong, but my instincts were starting to take over. My skin was growing paler by the hour and dark green veins were becoming visible on my wrists.

I couldn’t stomach any food. I felt weak, but at the same time, I felt like I could tear down walls. My wolf, Madeline, was completely cut off from me. She needed me, but I didn’t have the strength to reach her.

I needed the forest. I couldn’t keep going like this much longer.

Kairos

I was doing this for her own good. I didn’t want her to get hurt. She’s so fragile. What on earth possessed her to sneak out to the forest alone?

My Beta was in my study. “You can’t just keep her cooped up in the house. She’s not some human child,” Raphael pointed out.

“So what do you suggest? Should I lock her up in a cell?” I retorted, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Raphael chuckled. “Ever thought that maybe she’s acting out because she feels alone here?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, sinking into my chair.

“She’s all alone here. She has no family, no friends. But most importantly, you’re rejecting her,” Raphael said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“What are you talking about? I would never reject her. That’s the cruelest thing a wolf can do to another,” I snapped, my teeth clenched.

“You say that, but you don’t realize how much you’re hurting her.” He rose from his seat.

“I don’t think she’s a typical werewolf,” I said, as if that could justify my actions. Raphael froze, deep in thought.

“I don’t think so either, but that doesn’t matter. Not everyone becomes destructive when they have power.”

He cleared his throat. “I’ll talk to the guards about the vampire situation. The Dark Moon Pack is coming for training next week. Be ready.” Raphael left, closing the door behind him.

Adelie. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Even under my sheets, she was all I could think about. She was my mate, but I was terrified. What if she turned out to be like Mia, a power-hungry monster?

When I kissed her, it felt like everything fell into place. I needed her close, as close as possible. She had shown that she cared for this pack. She had helped Cassidy, Maya, and Maeve. But what if it was all an act? Mia had done the same, tricking me into believing she was good before showing her true colors.

I couldn’t stop imagining the worst-case scenario. What if she was the one those bastards were after?

No, it couldn’t be. They said she was the daughter of Death and a nymph, while Adelie was a werewolf. She might be weak, but she was still a werewolf.

I spent the whole night tossing and turning, a strange feeling gnawing at my gut. I woke up late, feeling drained.

Something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Even my wolf, Kye, seemed out of sorts. I took my time getting ready, but even after an hour, I didn’t feel any better.

Then there was a knock on my bedroom door. That was unusual. Raphael usually mind-linked me.

“Come in,” I called out, standing up.

It was Helen, panting heavily. Despite all the running she did every day, I had never seen her so out of breath.

“Alpha,” she managed to say, catching her breath. It was rare to see her like this.

“What is it, Helen?” I asked.

“Something’s wrong with Luna,” she said. Without a second thought, I rushed out of my room.

“Where is she?” I yelled, already heading towards the right wing.

“Her room,” Helen called out, disappearing in my wake.

Please be okay, I pleaded silently.

I entered her room to find her lying on the floor, her back to me. I approached her and gently touched her side.

Her breathing was faint. I carefully turned her over, only to gasp in shock.

Get the pack doctor to my house now, I mind-linked Raphael, then shut my mind off. I didn’t want him asking questions.

Adelie’s eyes were open, but she wasn’t blinking. She just stared blankly, no matter which way I turned her.

What made me gasp were the green veins that started from the corners of her eyes and spread to her temples. Her skin was as white as porcelain, her lips dry and cracked. I couldn’t shake off the guilt that was eating at me.

This was all my fault. I had done this to her.

I scooped her up, her body cold against mine. I gently laid her icy form on the bed, her eyes flickering once.

“Adelie! Adelie, please!” I pleaded, my voice echoing in the room. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. “Hang in there, please!”

I caressed her face, her hand, hoping for some sign of life, but there was nothing. A voice echoed behind me, but I couldn’t make out the words.

Suddenly, I was being pulled away. It was Raphael. The doctor rushed to Adelie’s side. I resisted at first, but my strength was waning. How could I be strong when she was so weak?

Hold on, Adelie. I need you.

Raphael and I sat outside her room, waiting while the doctor worked. “How long?” I muttered to myself, but Raphael responded.

“Give him time.”

We waited in silence until the door finally opened. I sprang to my feet, brushing past the doctor to see Adelie.

But when I saw her, I froze. “What?” I stammered. She was just as I had left her, staring blankly into space.

“Alpha, I don’t know what’s happened to her,” the doctor admitted.

“How can you not?” I roared. “You’re supposed to heal people, to cure them. Now fix her.” I grabbed the doctor by his collar. “Fix her!”

Raphael pulled me away.

“Alpha, she’s not responding to any of the treatments I’ve given her. She’s alive, but…” The doctor continued speaking, but I cut him off.

“There are no buts,” I growled. “She’ll sleep it off. It’s just a moment of weakness.” I was trying to convince myself more than anyone else.

I sighed in frustration. “Raphael,” I called, and he stepped up beside me.

“Get Jasmine Barnes,” I ordered, my voice laced with bitterness.

Jasmine had once told me that my parents deserved their fate, a statement I could never forgive. They had died protecting me from witches. I could have saved them if I had been stronger. But I wasn’t, and I would never forgive myself for that.

“Alpha, she’s a witch,” Raphael reminded me.

“Just do as I say and get her here as soon as possible.” Jasmine was a witch, yes, but she also had the sight. She could see beyond the obvious. Maybe she could help.

Raphael immediately set off to find Jasmine. She lived among the humans, as all witches did. They didn’t have packs like us werewolves.

I felt weak, too weak to stay by Adelie’s side. Seeing her like this hurt more than I could bear.

For the next few hours, I holed up in my study, shuffling papers in a futile attempt to distract myself. But it was no use. Suddenly, my guard, Nathan, burst into the room.

“Alpha, we’re under attack,” he announced, and we both rushed outside.

As I stepped outside, I paused. The grass beneath my feet was dry and brittle.

But it rained last night, I thought. It shouldn’t be like this.

“Alpha,” Nathan’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I sprinted towards the fight.

The sight of the first unfamiliar wolf charging at me triggered my transformation. My clothes ripped apart as I shifted into my wolf form, and Nathan did the same. He tackled the wolf while I raced deeper into our territory.

My eyes widened at the sight of the wolf in front of me, but I didn’t hesitate. I lunged, sinking my teeth into his neck. He howled in pain.

I didn’t kill him, just injured him enough to incapacitate him. I hesitated to kill before I fully understood the situation. But now, I saw it all.

My pack was under attack by unknown werewolves. The cries of my pack members filled the air.

Why us? We were a small pack with nothing to offer. What did they want?

We were outnumbered. My pack was too small. I saw my pack members lying injured on the ground, and my blood boiled. All I saw was red.

I lunged at one wolf, then another, but it was never enough. They kept coming, and my pack was dwindling.

A bullet tore through my shoulder. At first, there was no pain, but then it hit me like a jolt of electricity. It was a silver bullet. I fought on until the pain became unbearable and I could no longer stand.

I took a deep breath and caught a scent. No!

I turned around and there she was—Adelie. She was standing there, watching the fight with a look of terror in her eyes. Our eyes met.

I wanted to tell her to run, but I was in my wolf form. Adelie’s eyes darted around, filled with tears.

Then, something unexpected happened. Black smoke began to pour from her fingertips, swirling around her. Everyone noticed and the fight came to a halt.

Adelie looked different now—stronger, more powerful—as she moved towards the center of the fight.

“Stay away from my pack!” Her voice wasn’t the same sweet, gentle tone I was used to. It was deep, filled with a wolf-like growl.

Everyone looked on in fear, not just the attackers, but my pack as well. I was scared too.

Adelie moved closer, then dropped to her knees. She placed her hands on the ground and lifted her head high, her face filled with rage.

The ground beneath my feet began to shake. Everyone shifted uneasily, unsure of what was about to happen. Then, thousands of vines shot up from the ground, wrapping around the attacking wolves with incredible speed.

The wolves tried to escape, but the vines were too strong. None of the Night Walkers’ wolves were ensnared. They just stood there, staring in fear.

Adelie rose to her feet and the smoke dissipated, but the vines remained, holding the attackers captive. They weren’t dead, just trapped. She looked down at her feet and let out a loud cry.

A sharp pain shot through my shoulder again and my vision went black.