Chapter 25: Chapter 6

ALPHA JORDAN

Darius’s men have just cleared the room. Cora stands before Lady Laurent’s cell, her face a mask of calm. But through our bond, I can feel the fury she’s barely keeping in check.

“Your father has fallen. Altier will soon follow. Was it all worth it? The lies, the deaths, the manipulation?”

I inch forward, intrigued by how this confrontation will unfold.

“Go to hell! You killed him! I hope you rot!”

Cora sighs, her gaze never leaving the woman in the cell.

“He chose to attack instead of fleeing. He slaughtered thirty innocent people. He was a monster.”

A chilling laugh echoes through the room, the sound of Lady Laurent’s chains jingling as she moves in her cell.

“Looks like you know a thing or two about being a monster. Do you remember every life you’ve taken? Don’t lecture me about my father’s sins when your hands are just as bloody.”

My heart tightens, and I’m about to rush to Cora’s side when she responds in a voice that’s icy yet composed.

“My reputation might precede me, but it’s greatly exaggerated. Yes, I’ve killed innocents, but I’ve also freed many. The council never bothered to verify my actions. I have three covens here today that the council believes I wiped out. You don’t know me as well as you think. But you’re right—I do know a lot about being a monster. And when this is all over, I’ll introduce you to the monster your people helped create.”

She tosses something into the cell, and I approach just in time to see Jacob Laurent’s family signet ring lying on the ground.

“We should get ready to leave,” she says.

She nods, then exits the room and ascends the stairs. I catch her just before she reaches the door, pulling her into my arms.

“Are you okay?”

She steps back, offering me a reassuring smile.

“I think so. As okay as I can be.”

We step outside, and I’m rooted to the spot at the sight of the field in front of the pack house, teeming with over three hundred men and women. The crowd seems to have multiplied while I was in the prison, and more people are still pouring out of the pack house.

A peculiar man approaches us, his face lit up with a smile.

“Cora! Sorry we’re late. Did we miss the fun?”

Cora laughs and wraps her arms around the man, hugging him briefly before stepping back.

“Not at all. Alpha Carlo, meet my mate, Alpha Jordan. Jordan, this is Alpha Carlo of the High Crest Pack.”

I’m sure I look like a deer caught in the headlights as I stare at the man. Our ancestors told stories about the High Crest Pack—cautionary tales. They were supposedly wiped out by a witch assassin working for the witch’s council. My eyes widen as realization dawns, and I turn to Cora, who’s grinning from ear to ear.

“You were the witch sent to kill them?”

Cora and Carlo nod simultaneously.

“Yes, but what most don’t know is that it was the were council who gave me the orders. Carlo’s pack was more powerful than the others, and the council saw them as a threat. I intended to complete my task, but when I saw the peaceful pack living a simple life, I decided to warn Carlo. With Luca’s help, we found them a new home. We used a hellfire spell to burn the entire pack grounds, leading everyone to believe the pack had perished with it.”

She smiles proudly as she recounts her actions.

Alpha Michaels joins us. “Cora, everyone’s ready.”

Danny adds, grinning broadly, “We have four hundred and eighty-seven men and women so far.”

Darius speaks in a surprisingly soothing tone. “Coralie, we’re ready to follow you. Your father’s blood flows in your veins, and your mother’s energy guides you.”

“Thank you, Darius. For everything.”

She walks to the front of the field, and I stay close, ready to lend her strength if she needs it.

“Today, we’re making history. Never before have all races united to fight a common enemy. Today, we stand together, not as divided races, but as one people seeking freedom and peace. Many of us have experienced the councils’ wrath for things beyond our control. Some were deemed too powerful, some had resources the council wanted, and some were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes, the only path to peace is through war. We have to shed blood to end the bloodshed. It’s a sad contradiction, but it’s true. Thanks to a few loyal friends, we know that when we storm the Haven Crest Pack today, we’ll face not one, but two of our enemies. The witch’s council and Caleb Altier are both within the walls of Haven Crest. By sunset, both will fall!”

The air fills with shouts, cheers, and applause, the sound nearly deafening. Cora takes my hand and leads us toward the forest, a powerful energy flowing through our bond, propelling us forward with strength and determination.

***

Our journey to Haven Crest is a long one, but it’s surprisingly peaceful. I can’t help but grin as I see witches and wolves, who are usually at odds, engaging in friendly chats. Darius has been a constant presence at Cora’s side, standing to her left while I’ve been on her right.

We’ve been on the move for hours, but the spirits of our people are soaring. As the evening sun begins to dip, a familiar scent wafts through the air—Lady Laurent’s signature fragrance.

“Darius, could your men scout the town and find Altier’s location?” Cora asks.

Darius nods in agreement, then falls back to gather his men and carry out the mission.

“Are you ready for this?” I ask Cora, taking her hand in mine.

“I’m ready to free my brother and put an end to Altier and the council. But I’m not ready to lose any of our people.” Her worry is palpable, but like her, I know that losses are inevitable.

We press on until we reach the outskirts of Haven Crest, where we pause to wait for Darius and his men. The first stars of the night begin to twinkle by the time the vampires return from their reconnaissance, with Darius immediately seeking out Cora.

“Coralie, we found them. The council has over sixty members present. Altier is in the north tower. We couldn’t find Luca.” I can feel her frustration, sadness, and fear mounting.

“We can’t wait. We need to get in there before they realize we’re here, or decide to move.”

We split into our groups—the larger ones are to create a diversion in the town, while the five smaller groups will storm the castle amidst the chaos. I stick close to Cora, navigating through alleys and side streets until we reach a drain tunnel that’s just big enough for us to crawl through.

We emerge in a small room that I assume is the tunnel access from the castle’s lower level. We ascend a narrow stone staircase that leads to the pantry.

“I’ll lead us to Altier. Stay close,” Darius instructs.

Cora nods, and we quickly move through the kitchen, into a dark corridor, and up a winding staircase that ends nearly a hundred feet above ground level. Darius carefully opens the door, but before we can enter, we’re hit with a blinding white light that leaves us temporarily sightless.

“I was beginning to think you’d never show up. Good to see you again, Coralie.” A deep, sinister laugh echoes from the room ahead.

Suddenly, the darkness that has consumed my vision pulls me under, and I lose consciousness.