by Belle Kayce
As Lance came closer to the entrance of the pack house, he straightened, and Xavier rubbed a hand over his stubble.
“Where is that kitchen boy you always go see?” Xavier asked Lance. It was a strange thing for Xavier to do- initiate a conversation.
Immediately, Lance knew something was wrong. Why would Xavier ever take an interest in Jeff when he never had before? Ignoring Xavier would be the best thing to do. He would head straight to the kitchen. Before Lance could pass him, Xavier stepped in front of him.
This was where Lance wondered what puberty had done him because he was now taller than Xavier, and looking down at him.
Weak, Lance thought darkly. Or was it his wolf. One in the same.
“I’m speaking to you, pup,” Xavier growled, taking a hand around Lance’s throat.
“I don’t know,” Lance replied tersely, Xavier’s hand clutching his throat making it hard for him to speak.
“I do,” Xavier said, loosening his grip. “Why don’t you come and see? See what happens when you disobey me. You didn’t kill the witches like I told you to.”
A fear gripped his insides and he could not find himself to move. He could take Xavier lashing him with a silver whip a hundred times. He could take Xavier beating him until he saw nothing but blackness. He could take being in the dungeons for months without food and only darkness. But he could never withstand Xavier hurting his friend, or the fear of Xavier ever laying his hands on Zeke. The ones he cared about.
Xavier pushed Lance harshly inside. “Let’s come and see.” Lance felt like he was walking through mud as they made their way to the kitchen where Jeff always worked.
The kitchen was unusually empty. But then something caught Lance’s eye that made his blood freeze and his heart almost come through his mouth.
In the middle of the kitchen, there was a spear where Jeff’s head was sticking through it.
***
Forcefully shifting by the whipping post, Lance had done what Xavier wanted: kill the Alphas of the packs. Kill innocent wolves.
He couldn’t control his wolf, the monster that his father kept saying he truly was.
Lance saw it for himself.
“You see,” Xavier said the day of the victory of the bloody of the Alpha War, “Many may say I am a monster, but Lance, my boy you truly are the biggest monster of us all! The witches were right- your eyes could kill us all. Thanks to your mother.”
The scars on Lance’s back were still fresh, and he had to get away. Wouldn’t it be so easy to shift again and kill Xavier? But he made a promise to himself to never shift again. What he did..
Lance wanted to throw up.
Tears from the pain, from the suffering he endured.
Leaving Xavier while he celebrated the victory was easy. No one was paying attention to him.
All Lance had to do was open the phone, dial his dad’s number.
“Dad?” Lance’s voice cracked, the tears in his eyes wouldn’t stop. The pain unbearable. “I need you right now.”
Lance fell unconscious.
***
Waking up, Lance took in his surroundings. He was back in his own room- in the castle in Haven’s Way.
Zeke was sleeping on the end of the bed. His head resting on the bed while he leaned over his body sitting on the chair.
It’s been so long since he’d seen Zeke’s physical presence. How big did his brother get? Almost as tall as him now, it seemed.
Still looking innocent as ever, Zeke’s face appeared peaceful.
“He wouldn’t leave the bed,” the king’s right hand, Reggie, leaned against the doorway, nodding at the sleeping prince. Walking in the room, Reggie stopped at Lance’s side. “How are you feeling?”
Finally, Lance realized an important thing. “My back isn’t hurting anymore.”
“It’s been a week since you were out.”
Lance’s eyes widened. “A week?! But- how- where’s dad?”
What Lance didn’t want to ask was where was Xavier. Still gloating on his victory.
“He’s handling things with your pack after murdering Xavier.”
Lance was speechless.
Reggie crossed his arms. “I wish we known sooner. We should have known. It was our faults.”
“What’s...happening in Noctis Luna now?” Lance whispered.
Xavier was dead.
The immediate relief he felt. At what cost? Jeff was dead. His only friend besides his brother.
“Your dad is in Noctis Luna still. The elders in Noctis Luna will vote. They surely knew about the things. It’s taking all of us not to kill everyone on sight.”
Zeke stirred, and he rose up, gray eyes blinking away his sleep. “Zeke,” Lance missed his brother the most. Their last interaction together was not the best, and Lance lost sleep over it countless of times.
Except Zeke was Zeke.
“Lancey!” Zeke was about to jump on Lance to hug him, but Reggie pulled Zeke away.
“Remember he’s hurt,” Reggie reminded Zeke.
Zeke sat on the bed sheepish. “Sorry. Are you feeling good? Do you need anything? I can get you a strawberry milkshake.”
Lance laughed, “Alright, Zeke get me one and yourself one too.”
“Food, Zeke, Lance needs actual food.”
“Aw, no strawberry milkshake? That always makes me feel better,” Zeke pouted.
***
Six months later
“You have to decide who will be your Beta,” Damien told Lance.
“I will,” Lance looked up briefly from the map before staring back at it like he had for long hours.
“Lance...” Damien’s voice trailed off in a worried tone.
“I have someone in mind,” Lance said quietly.
“If you need me, I’m one phone call away. I trust your judgement when it comes to decide who will be your Beta. You know you need one.”
“Good night,” Lance said as Damien was walking out the door. “And....thank you. For everything.”
After the events that unfolded of the Alpha War, the king of vampires made it his mission to go not only to the Noctis Luna elders, but make a request- no, a demand- of the entire Alpha Council with the longest living Alpha, Charles, to rectify their mistakes of pack protocol.
Lance wish he saw his dad in action for that. Everyone in the werewolf world was scared of Alpha Charles, but everyone in the supernatural world was scared of the vampire king even more.
His dad had been there ever since Lance agreed to the idea of being Alpha of Noctis Luna after resting for a few months and vacationing with Zeke around the world.
Damien’s words echoed through his mind constantly.
Your father is dead, he left this mess that only you can truly solve. You know someone like Thane cannot have it. You can decide what you want to do with it. You decide the bright future for werewolves. Give them some hope. Change something. One thing. Anything.
Lance would go see his Beta.
She was outside in the training grounds fighting with one of the older, more experienced wolves when Lance found her. Guilt wrapped in his insides as he remembered puking after he saw Jeff’s...
As if feeling being watched, she looked up to him. She suddenly stopped, telling the wolf she was training with something, then raised her chin. The truth was, Lance hadn’t spoken to her since her mate died. Jeff’s mate looked to be well.
They stared at each other for a few moments, as if understanding.
“I don’t believe we met,” Jeff’s mate took out her hand, “I’m Meg Lee.”
“I’m sorry,” Lance chokes out to her, the only thing he could say to her. How he couldn’t look at her in the face because...the horror of it all, the reason of Jeff’s death. Built up guilt bubbled up. “It was my fault- I’m the one-”
“You don’t think I knew what kind of Alpha Xavier is? And to his own son?” Meg asked. “It’s not your fault.” Even though Lance didn’t know Meg at all, he felt it in his bones that she would ha
ve been perfect for Jeff. His throat hurt.
“He was your mate,” Lance whispers. “I couldn’t know, but it has to hurt.”
“I am hurting,” Meg smiled at him, her eyes brimming with tears. “But what about you?” Confused, Lance shook his head. What about him? It was a strange question that he was never asked. “Why are you here...now? You’re an Alpha now.”
Lance cringed at the word. Alpha. He wasn’t used to the title. The way people would look at him. They all feared him. And he hated that. He didn’t want to be like him.
“I’m here to ask a favor from you,” Lance responded. Even if Jeff would have been alive, and he would be in the same exact position hunting for Betas, he would have chosen Meg.
Meg crossed her arms, “What is it?”
“I want to ask you to be my Beta,” Lance answered. Her eyes widened a little in surprise, then she shook her head slightly.
“Being your Beta is too much work sorry,” Meg shrugged, much to Lance’s disappointment. “I hope you don’t hold it against me. I wish to be your friend.”
Lance blinked. He would protect her, like Jeff would have. He nodded.
Friend.
“But...” Meg looked at Lance, smiling as if she was in on a secret. “I know someone who would love to be a Beta, if you’re looking. A goof, but I think he’ll fit.” Meg motioned Lance to follow her. “Come on. Knowing him, he’s home doing nothing.”
Meg had guided Lance into one of the bigger houses, and Meg called out, “Bo! Get your lazy self down here! The Alpha is here!”
“Bo?” Lance whispered to himself, but Meg heard it. Jeff’s cousin, he remembered. A tall, wide eyed male wolf with curly hair made his way into where they were at the living room.
Bo’s eyes widened in complete horror when his eyes met Lance’s.
”Alpha Lance!” Bo suddenly saluted to Lance then bowed slightly, much to Lance’s confusion. “Uh, it’s such a pleasure, Alpha, to meet you. My Alpha, that is. Alpha.”
In front of Lance, Meg rolled her eyes. “We’re here to make a proposition for you.”
Bo looked between Meg and Lance. “Am I in trouble? I swear I didn’t steal the lemon pound cake again-”
“No,” Meg raised an eyebrow at Lance.
“I wanted to see if you would be my Beta.”
Bo pointed to himself. “Me, Alpha Lance? Be Beta to your Alpha?”
Lance nodded. “If you wish.”
Bo broke out into a grin.
“Not to brag, but is there anyone else that is more fit for this job?”
“Meg was,” Lance replied, “but she told me to ask you.” Suddenly, Meg busted out laughing. Bo frowned at her, but he too was smiling, and chuckled himself, and joined Meg in her boisterous laughter.
This was when Lance realized his friend was still there, lingering, in a different way. In a form of two friends.
***
Seeing the witches before he fully committed to being an Alpha was important. They were the only ones who knew about his eyes. And what his wolf could do.
Navigating where the witches were hiding had been easy for him. It was near a cemetery, and they had built for themselves a nice hideout that he wondered how long Thane had been searching them for. They gave Xavier and Thane the answers easily.
Lance hoped he too would have answers.
It was nearing dusk, and Lance took a deep breath. He kept walking as he saw a person crouched down sitting on the trunk of a tree. It had to be one of the witches of the coven. The witch didn’t turn around as she said, “I know why you are here, Lance of the Demon Eyes.”
Lance froze.
The witch turned, and he saw how her eyes were completely opaque. She was...blind. Her skin was wrinkled, her white hair in a bun, and she had a cane on her lap. Even though she was blind, it was as if she could see right through him.
“I can see in your heart what you came here for. What your own ancestors have done to you and your family.”
How this witch knew why he wanted to come passed through his mind because a spark of hope flickered inside of him. ”Can you take it away?” he almost choked.
The witch cocked her head, “Why would you take it away?”
“It’s a curse-”
“Only because you made it into one,” the witch told him.
Lance shook his head, “I’ve killed innocent wolves!” I
t was nothing but a curse.
“You and your wolf are one.” The witch took a deep inhalation and stood up. “From what I see with these eyes is only lightness from you, Lance of Noctis Luna. And that light is coming from the wolf you call a monster.”
Light. How could his wolf be light? “I don’t understand. All I’ve done with the beast...the demon... is cause nothing but darkness,” Lance tried to explain.
“Innocent, naive, young Alpha,” the witch chuckled. “If you oppress something or someone, the reaction is expected. Your control of your wolf if quite impressive right now, but if you never come to terms with it, he will always be your darkness and you will never see the light that he is.”
The witch then just vanished.
Lance turned around to see if she was behind him, but she wasn’t. In the middle of the forest, he was alone.
***
Three years later
Lance would always go to the one place in his territory that no one knew about. Near a meadow that was secluded. Where he and Jeff used to go to.
So one afternoon, it came to a complete surprise to Lance as he walked near the meadow, and saw someone sitting against a tree.
It was the Alpha of the Blood Tribe pack. His entire torso was torn, clawed at.
Cole West, Lance remembered from Damien’s insistence on knowing everything about every pack there was in North America. In case for an ally.
His entire body was covered in blood.
“Just put me out of my misery. Nothing matter anyways,” the bloody Alpha told him.
“You’re losing a lot of blood,” Lance tells him instead, bending down.
“Yeah, let me die here,” Cole struggled to say. Lance looks down for a moment, assesing the way Cole’s breathing was and the paleness of his skin.
“You were poisoned.”
“I know.”
“I guess there is no other way,” Lance picks up Cole, helping him up, Cole staggered, but mainly kept upright.
“I told you to-”
“I’m going to give you the help you need.”
“It’s true about the young Alpha? You’re Lance? Lance of the Demon Eyes?” Lance didn’t cringe at the title that was given him because of the Alpha War like he always used to. By now, it meant nothing to him.
“I am. I hope that does not mean anything to you.”
“No,” Cole says. “I always wondered how some young guy could run a pack. You’re about two years younger than me.”
“I see.”
“I wouldn’t have expected you to show me mercy,” was all Cole said, before he took a deep inhalation of breath.
They didn’t talk as Lance got closer to the pack house, mind-linking Raquel to come outside, and she rushed to help Lance take Cole to the infirmary room. Raquel was training to be a doctor, but Lance saw the potential in her. Especially given how professional she was.
It was about a week, Lance staying with Cole at the hospital, reading. Neither of talking much. They didn’t need to. It was as if they had a sort of understanding with one another.
“Do you want to get revenge?” Lance asked Cole. By now, the rumors of Cole’s mate backstabbing him with the help of Cole’s beta, Steven, was heard everywhere.
“I have nothing left there, Alpha,” Cole said coldly.
“You are an Alpha too,” Lance narrowed his eyes, “do not forget.”
“No I’m not,” Cole answered. “Not anymore.”
“You could defeat many Alphas out there.”
“And you can defeat all of them...and then some,” Cole chuckled humorlessly.
/>
“Then what are your plans if you’re not going to go back to your pack?” Lance asked him, regarding him coolly. An Alpha’s pride and honor was his pack. What he saw was someone hurting of that, stripped away from his honor.
“I want to be your Beta-”
“No,” Lance shakes his head. “That is not a position of what you should be.” They stare at one another. Lance sighed. “I dislike reinforcing rank in my pack, but I already have a Beta.”
Cole sits up and looks at Lance in a strange way. “Your Beta must be pretty powerful then. Where is he? Busy?” Lance hesitated to tell Cole he lets Bo do whatever he desires.
Which meant that Bo was probably taking his afternoon nap.
The ranks of his pack members are meaningless to him, but every other pack has a Beta. Packs needed order somewhat, but he knew that the other wolves in his pack understood his philosophy on it.
“Bo is...occupied,” Lance says. He didn’t do Betas, but Bo’s willingness and for some reason loving the Beta title made Lance give in.
When Bo heard of Cole coming here and staying, Bo was the first one to say something.
“Am I going to be replaced?” Bo barges in the office room where Lance was looking over at an old map, discerning a territory that was once owned by Noctis Luna, to see what were the borders he needed to give back.
Bo paces around. “ Alpha Lance, I know I haven’t been the best at deadlines and sometimes I would slack off. Okay, most of the times. But there is no one more equipped to being a Beta than me. I’ll do paper work! All the paper you have to do just give it to me!” Bo waved his hands frantically. “Please!”
Lance raised an eyebrow. “I expect you have heard of Alpha Cole, from Blood Moon? His pack turned against him.”
“An Alpha is replacing me?”
“You’re not being replaced,” Lance said calmly.
“I don’t stand a chance,” Bo says, not hearing him. “He’s probably even more-”
Cole walked into the room then and Bo just stares at him, mouth gaping.
“Alpha Lance,” Cole begins.
“That isn’t necessary. Lance is just fine,” Lance told him. He tried getting Bo to call him Lance too, but it was no use because Bo thought it was some test.
