135
KNIGHT
“I’m surprised you arranged this meeting, Alpha Knight, Alpha Califf.” Victor entered the conference room at the Werewolf Council.
“I apologize for inserting it into your busy schedules, but this is important.”
“May I know what it’s all about?”
“My mate can’t fight against Cyrius anymore.”
“Why? What happened?” Concern and worry filled his eyes as he looked at Califf and me.
“She saved me from dying, and the price made her vulnerable.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He fatally fell off the cliff and was not healing,” Califf answered. “Nirvana traded her life or something to save him, but the price she had to pay was losing her physical protection from risk.”
“I hope we can keep this information just inside this room. We were just attacked by a pack loyal to Eloh. We might have eliminated them, but there’s more coming. She got wounded. She might have healed herself, but she becomes vulnerable.”
“Understood. Where is she now?”
“She’s staying at the compound.” I looked at Califf. “Under his protection.” I discussed with Califf the need to use our words carefully because we might put Victor back in his position; he could easily change his mind about ending this virus for good.
“Do you need extra protection?”
“We got it covered,” Califf said.
“I suppose you have a plan in mind?”
“We’re looking at a possible solution that doesn’t involve Nirvana.”
“There is no other way unless we wait for the next generations of Katzius’s bloodline. By that time, there might not be a world to save, and we might not exist anymore. The death toll is rising, Alpha Knight. It might not be noticeable in our country, but they’re losing the battle in Asia and Africa, and we still haven’t succeeded in finding a cure.”
“We are thinking of using something more advanced to kill Cyrius. Maybe we can extract her DNA and use it to make a weapon. The budget is not a problem. Knight and I can work on that.”
“We don’t have much time, Califf. If you can make it possible in less than a month, I can give you that much time but don’t hate me after that. Nirvana is the only solution to our problem.”
I held my breath, forcing myself not to act or talk out of anger when my skin began to warm. “We’ll find a way. I will update you as soon as possible.”
His assistant walked in, whispering in his ear.
Victor rose from his seat. “I have another meeting. Let me know if you made any progress.” Before he walked out of the door, he paused. “And Knight, I know this is difficult for you and for us who care about Nirvana, but this is what she wants. I have a feeling you know what she must do to defeat him, and this is the only possible way.”
Califf and I shared the same look when he left the door- disappointment and hopelessness.
“Fuck.” I breathed through my nose in anger. I didn’t know what to do anymore. Knowing my wife hated me, it was even harder to focus.
“Let’s get out and find a way.”
The vehicles were waiting for us in the parking lot. I wanted to scream and punch Ambrose if he was still alive. He started all of this, and maybe if he were dead, Cyrius would stop this ancient battle.
I entered the backseat of the car.
Zarah was still there waiting. “I have a feeling it didn’t end well.”
“Fuck. I don’t know what to do anymore, Zarah.”
“I know. I’ve read books about witches, but I couldn’t find any. It only led to one answer. The bloodline.”
“Can Nirvana jump to the future?” I asked them.
Califf turned to us from the passenger’s seat. “And then what? You’ll trap her there?”
“No. I wanna know what will happen in the future.”
“That’s not a good idea. One thing you change in your timeline can jeopardize your future. Of all people, you should know that.” Zarah glared at me.
“Yeah, and so as jumping from the future to the past. Terminator, Back to the Future, duh,” Lyon said from the driver’s seat. “But can she do that?”
“I don’t know, but she better not risk herself,” Zarah said.
“Maybe we can all just go to the past and kill him while Ambrose still imprisoned him.”
“That’s a good idea, Lyon. But how are we supposed to do that?” Zarah huffed a breath. “Let’s get out of here.”
“If you can trap as powerful as Nirvana, maybe we can trap Cyrius, too, then we’ll kill him.”
“Ambrose could have done that. As long as no one can wield the dagger other than Nirvana, and you’re not willing to risk her life, then our plan won’t work. And it seemed that that was what Sophie saw of Cyrius’s future before he cursed and killed them.”
“Is it possible to make a swordstaff and put the dagger at the tip so everyone can wield it?” I turned to Zarah.
“It is. I know a blacksmith, but the problem is, will the dagger allow itself to be touched or attached to another weapon.”
“I’m sure you can work it out, Zarah. If you can make it as strong as a shield and a portal, I believe you can make it work.”
“You put so much patience in me, but not on your mate.” Her words hit me hard in the chest like a knife.
I looked outside the window. “I know I’m selfish, but will you sacrifice Sebastien or Shadow to save the underworld? How about you, Califf? Will you let your mate kill Cyrius but end up killing herself?”
When they did not give me an answer, I shrugged. “That’s what I thought.”
The car went silent, but my silent reverie was interrupted when my phone vibrated in my pocket.
Kaleb just called, and I had a bad feeling it was not to say hello.
“Kaleb.”
“Alpha.” I shut my eyes closed when his voice was shaking.
“Kaleb, is everything okay?”
“No, Alpha.” He sounded terrified and crying.
“What happened?” Zarah held my arm.
“We’re under attack. It caught us by surprise while we were having lunch.”
“I’m on my way.” I hung up the call and stared at Zarah.
“We’re near the compound, Alpha.” Lyon drove fast like a lunatic.
“This is all my fault. I left the pack alone and put my job on my beta, leaving them defenseless because I was not there.”
“This is not your fault. You did not see it coming,” Califf said, but could not even make me feel better because I knew I was too full of myself and just put my pack in danger.
I jumped out of the car as soon as we arrived back at the compound.
“I’ll create a portal, but you can’t go there alone,” Zarah said.
“He’s not going there alone.” Califf gripped my shoulder. “I will go with you, and so will Lyon, Zack, and Tor.”
As soon as Zack and Tor joined us, I stepped into the portal, which took me back to the vineyards. I saw smoke in the distance. They had just burned down the tasting room.
“Goddess.” There was so much shock in Zarah’s voice.
I ran towards the pack house. I hadn’t even been close enough, and I already smelled so much blood, fear, and anger in the air.
“This is all because of you!” Uncle Lennox came rushing, throwing punches at me. “You left us undefended. You don’t fit to be our alpha anymore, and I am challenging you. Right here, right now!”
“Dad! He can kill you.” Kailin came in between, and it looked like she’d been crying. “Forgive him, Alpha. He’s just in so much pain.”
Blocking his punches, I asked, “Where’s Mac?”
When Kailin looked down and tears fell from her eyes, my heart was shredded into pieces.
“Kailin, answer me? Where is Mac?”
“I can’t find him. We couldn’t find him anywhere, and we tried everything.” She shook her head as she cried against her father’s arm.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
“Alpha!” Kaleb came in a rush. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“No. This is my fault. Whoever came to attack us will pay. I will kill them all, and I don’t want to be challenged. I will step down as your alpha. I’m not capable of protecting all of you anymore. I failed you all once again.”
“Don’t act out of your anger, Knight. Let me help those wounded.” Zarah left for the pack house.
“I never doubted your capability as an alpha, son, but lately, you’re too distracted, and that’s what got us all killed. If you can’t focus on handling the pack and your personal life, maybe someone should challenge you for that position.”
“I know, but right now, let’s find McKaye.”