Chapter 38
All the air left me in a rush as I processed what they said.
Doris.
Doris whose house we were just watching.
Holy shit.
That old bat!
"Guess you were right, Princess," Cal said in shock beside me.
"You already suspected it was her?" Abel asked in surprise.
"I had a feeling, but it's complicated to explain," I mused as I digested that it was Doris. "This seems too easy though. Too simple for it to be her."
"Except it's not. She's been planning this for the last twenty years," Holly informed us.
"Twenty years! That's when the rogue attacks started getting bad according to my father. She's been behind it since then, but why?" I aimed my question at Holly.
"I was only three years old at the time when my family heard of her. It was right when she started recruited all the rogues. She kept her identity a secret for a while but then as more rogues joined, we started seeing her around. All she said was that the Alpha family of the Blood Moon Pack had to be taken down because they weren't fit for leading a pack of wolves. She said your bloodline was washed away with human genes. Doris said that your pack would allow the humans to kill them if that's what the Luna wished," Holly said.
"This is about the hunters, it has to be. What happened before I was born, the war. She lost her mate and kids. That drove her to do it," I started pacing as my mind started running. "The Luna she spoke about is my mother. She blames us for what happened to her family, that has to be it. But how did she become a rogue and why didn't anyone notice?"
"The hypersthene," Abel held up the black crystal. "She knew about it along so it only makes sense that she had a piece. She probably used it and said the oath to become a rogue and because of the hypersthene, no one realized she broke her pack link. No one noticed because there wasn't anyone around to, her family was dead and everyone else was grieving for their own losses."
"And she's been reclusive ever since I'd known her. Only shows up for pack meetings and to throw jabs at my mother or I. Fuck, I should have seen it coming. When she found out Callum was Jake's son...shit that must have just been the catalyst to make things worse."
I was wearing a hole in the forest floor from all my pacing, but I was frustrated.
"Is there anyone else from our pack helping her? Anymore angry pack members with a vengeance for revenge?" Cal asked.
"Not that we know of. According to Holly, Doris only had three guys she trusted with everything. One was her eldest brother and two others. Her brother was managing the integration into Fairbairn, that's why they were there," Abel said.
"And the next two?" I stopped and asked.
Holly answered this time, "One is in charge of training and general pack stuff and the other is responsible for getting the children to shift, strengthening the best fighters. She has all sorts of tricks up her sleeve and it's not going to be a quick fight. Doris wants revenge and blood, she's going to drag this out and make sure you feel the pain. She's ruthless. I... I don't know if your pack will survive Alpha."
I exchanged a look with Callum, "We have tricks of our own and she'll pay for this. Right now we need to go get her before she catches wind of us knowing."
"But before you leave, do you know if she has any plans for putting out fires?" Cal rose a brow.
Holly shook her head, "I'm sorry, I don't know. She kept most of her strategies between herself the guys. She's old but she's wise."
"Wicked and wise," I recalled.
The Moon Goddess could have at least told me it was Doris.
"Alpha," Abel said taking a step forward, "out of respect for the pack, I didn't say the oath to break my pack link. I knew I would be back to tell you everything but I also couldn't do it myself. I want you to banish me as a rogue."
Abel was a loyal wolf through all this. He still respected me as his Alpha even though he planned to leave.
That's the type of wolf everyone should strive to be.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked him for confirmation.
He looked at his mate as if she hung the moon and the stars just for him.
"Yes," he said and passed the hypersthene over to Callum.
"Okay, here we go," I took a deep breath before starting. "In the Moon Goddess's name, I, Alpha Everette Avery Blackwood, exile you Abel Howard from the Blood Moon pack. All communications and dealings with any pack member will be forbidden according to pack laws along with your presence on the pack territory," I swore the oath.
I changed the part about him having to die if he breathes near the pack. He can't enter but I'm not going to kill him if he comes to our border to meet family or friends. Death was reserved for those who betrayed my pack. Those like Doris.
He smiled as he noted my words and I felt him disconnect from the pack.
"Thank you," He said with honesty. "This is still my pack and my loyalties will lay here and never with another pack."
"Thank you, Abel, for coming back and helping us. I will never forget your loyalties or your service. Protect them both," I nodded towards Holly and their unborn child.
Abel smiled in appreciation, "Now we must leave. We have a long journey to get back to the human town and we have to dodge the rogues. By the way, it was kind of easy to slip through border patrol."
Sighing I nodded, "I'll get that fixed for the thousandth time."
Abel grabbed his mate's hand but she turned towards me.
"You're different Alpha Everette. A different Alpha. A better Alpha than Doris ever will be. You're brave, I can see that just from this interaction. Smarter than her as well. I was unsure before I came here, but I know you'll defeat her, I believe in your pack," Holly's words hit me with more force than finding out Doris is our enemy.
Everyone from our pack is biased in their opinion of me being brave. Holly isn't apart of this pack and she doesn't need to pay me compliments because of my position, but she still it. She was the outside perspective I didn't realize I needed.
"Thank you," I smiled warmly at her before she and Abel ran off.
"What do we do now?" Cal asked as he pocketed the hypersthene.
"Now, we go get Doris."
I shifted into my wolf.
'I'll call for back-up. I want you to-' I stopped when I heard branched breaking a few feet away from us.
Callum and I immediately went on defense.
'Who is it?' he asked.
Sniffing the air, I growled.
'Rogues.'
'Go get Doris,' He nudged my wolf. 'I'll handle them but you need to get her before she escapes.'
I hesitated but he was stronger than I gave him credit for.
'I'll send help,' I mind link as I dashed out of the forest and headed towards Doris's house.
She better be home because I had plans of locking her in the Crypt. For a very, very long time.
'Penelope, Charlotte, send wolves to the West side of the forest a mile before the packhouse. Callum needs help with some rogues. You two meet me at Doris's house.'
'On it,' Penelope responded without question.
My focus was on getting this old wolf now. It may help with the rogues attacking, but having their Alpha will be to our advantage.
I just couldn't believe she was sitting under our nose all this time.
As I swiftly turned onto the street where her house was situated, my paws skidded against the pitch of the road.
Growling lowly and menacingly, I righted myself and headed for her house.
Not having time for pleasantries or manners, I hauled my wolf against her front door and it gave away easily to my weight.
My eyes flashed through her house and she wasn't there. Putting nose to the ground, I realized her fresh scent trailed outside to the woods where Callum and I were hiding not even an hour ago.
Rushing back outside, I spotted her dashing through the forest in her human form.
Picking up my pace, I followed her into the woods until she came to a halt and five rogue wolves stepped between us.
She gave me a smirk that held menace, "Finally figured out it was me little wolf?"
I growled at her. She hasn't been apart of our pack for so long and only now I realize that her mind link is missing from my head.
I needed to speak with her but I wasn't about to risk shifting into my human form as my movements would be slower.
"Don't bother shifting, I'm leaving. But before I go, you and that human boy of yours should learn to be quieter and of course, conceal your scents if you're trying to spy on someone," She held up the packet of potato chips that Cal left behind.
Sinking my claws into the forest floor, I measured how hard it would be to kill these rogues and catch Doris.
But before I could do anything she was grinning, "I've always detested your family. A bunch of humans ruined our pack and that mother of yours... She caused everything. But of course, you're just the same, bringing the hunters here to 'help'? They'll kill you all before my pack could. That boy of yours too, I should have killed him the day we found out he was a Cain."
I snarled at her and bared my canines but she was unfazed.
"My wolves were already on their way to help me escape when Abel showed up. They heard everything and I can't believe that's what it took for you to learn it was me," She scoffed. "You better hope his mate and him are still alive or else that's just another death on you... like Finnick's."
I saw red as I rushed towards her but two of her rogues grabbed my front legs.
"Not so fast," She ticked. "I may be old but my time has just started. I'll see you soon little wolf. This land of yours will be the perfect place for me to grow the Blood Revenge Pack." She looked towards as her rogues before shrugging, "Or maybe I won't see you again."
With that, she shifted into her wolf and I began struggling to get free from the rogues that held onto me.
I heard wolves approaching us and I knew it was Penelope and Charlotte with back up.
Doris's eyes were red and I knew with certainty she was an Alpha. She gave me one last parting glare before taking off alone.
I shifted back and pulled the rogues into each other.
My legs pained but at least there wasn't any silver berry.
My Beta and Gamma showed up just in time.
'Four of you follow me,' I commanded as I hopped over the rogues who hadn't gotten back up yet and raced behind Doris.
The loud footsteps of my pack members pounded in my ear as I followed her scent. As we approached the northern border, the vile scent of rogues became very pungent.
'Be on your guard, there're rogues,' I heard Penelope say as she ran to my side.
The border came into view but Doris was long gone as six rogues ran straight towards us.
I took on two rogues as my pack fended off the other four. Since I was a bigger wolf, I easily towered over them and I used one of my front paws to scratch at the face of the first rogue who came towards me.
The rogue howled in pain and the other quickly bounded towards me. Dropping down, he missed me and I quickly spun around and grabbed her tail.
Dragging her to the ground, I pinned her and went straight for her neck.
Blood spilled onto the floor as her breathing shallowed out and her wolf died.
I felt canines grabbed onto my back leg and I growled as the rogue sank his teeth in further.
He was pulling me off the body of the dead rogue and I used my other hind leg to kick at his already mangled face.
Managing to get myself loose, he didn't waste time to knock me down.
He was strong. Strong because of the steroids Doris has been giving them.
It doesn't matter, I was still an Alpha.
His face came down to bite my neck and I placed my front paws on his neck.
Sinking the sharp claws in, he snapped his teeth at me. Bringing my hind legs to his stomach, I kicked him the stomach until he flew off me and I heard his ribs crack.
I loomed over him and sank my teeth into his side. I tore flesh and fur off his wolf as he whimpered like a pup.
The rogue slowly died but the anger within me only grew.
'They're all dead Alpha,' Penelope said.
I peeled my eyes away from the rogue and looked around me.
The rogues were dead but Doris was still gone.
We didn't get her but the war was coming whether Doris was alive or not. The rogues would come knocking on our doorstep.
And we had to be prepared.
There was nothing else we could do.
'Pull border patrol in two miles into the territory and send ten more wolves out to each direction. It would be a tighter area to cover but if you think they should move further back, instruct them. I also expect a full report on how the hell the rogues keep getting in,' Was my first orders and Penelope nodded her wolf head.
We headed back to where Charlotte and the others were.
They took out the rogues without any injuries.
'Charlotte, I want you, Max, Sam, and Daisy to do a full sweep of Doris's house. No one else gets in or out. If you find anything, bring it to me immediately.'
My Gamma was immediately on it as I headed to Callum.
'Cal? Are you all alright? Are the rogues-'
'We're all alright, I just got nipped on my leg. Did you get Doris?' He asked.
'She's gone. Where are you?'
'Packhouse, your mom just fixed me up and with your uncle Teddy.'
'Be there in a minute.'
When I got back to the packhouse, Callum was standing on the porch with fresh clothes for me.
Shifting, I quickly changed and his eyes went to the blood on my limbs.
"You're hurt?" His voice held panic.
"No I'm fine. They're already healed," I assured him.
"Shit, Princess. What the hell happened?" He asked as my father came running towards the packhouse.
"Everette, I just heard. It was Doris?"
"That old hag, Doris?" Uncle Teddy asked as he exited through the front door.
I nodded to them both.
"She knew Callum and I were watching her earlier, which may be the reason she acting so casual. She got rogues into the pack to help her escape. Doris is long gone."
"Did she say why?" My dad asked.
"She didn't say much but from what she did, it's because of the hunters. She lost her family because of them and she blames the Blackwoods, especially mom," I informed them. "It doesn't matter why or how, she knows all of our plans. Everything from the hunters helping us to the number of wolves we have."
They all held grim expressions and they knew I was right.
It's one thing having to face a pack of rogues, but it's a whole other thing when they know everything you're bringing to the fight and you're going in almost blindly.
"Well, when do we start kicking some rogue ass?" Uncle Teddy asked.
"It's not that easy," I started. "She made them into a pack, she's an Alpha now. They're stronger and she's making children shift. She's merciless and we need to strategize before she comes back."
"Children? That's fucked up." Teddy growled.
"Language," My dad chastised him but his eyes held anger. "She's sick and twisted, we'll make her pay for this. I'll call a pack meeting we need to change up our tactics."
I looked at Cal, "Get the hunters and have them meet us in the training field. We need to inform everyone of what we know."
"On it," He went to the bicycle he had earlier and took off while my father went inside.
"Uncle Teddy?"
"Yeah, Evy?" He asked with a raised brow.
"You hunted down rogues all these years you've been gone. I need you to tell me everything you know about them."
He grinned, "Now that I can do."
A/N
Chapter Update: Friday
And she got away ð Everything's basically fucked now...
War is coming soon ðð¥
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