In the meantime, after long weeks of no results, Steven had come to the conclusion that as long as he was at the northern villages the enemy wouldn´t make any move in fear of being discovered. This operation needed a stealthier approach so, grudgingly, he ordered his pack to gear up and take the long way back. Jen needed to come up with a new plan.
As they were drawing closer to the town, a feeling of unease settled upon them. They still hadn´t mended their relationship after Steven´s outburst and the Betas were ignoring their Alpha except for when it was time to follow orders, doing so like perfect little soldiers. It was what he wanted after all, so it was no problem to pay no heed to the dread that had taken its hold in their stomachs because of Steven´s anxious gait. When they stumbled on Mark around ten miles or so from home though, any lingering resentment went out of the window.
A big advantage of the Anders packs being separated was the lack of a supernatural bond between Jen and Steven, a fact that made it easier to sneak into the town undetected once the dark fell. As luck had it, the few Werewolves guarding the kid´s cell easily yielded under Steven´s authority. It seemed like there were still a few people with common sense who just needed a reasonable order to follow.
Steven, alone so as not to implicate his friends, found himself back in the forest a few hours before dawn, an exhausted child in his arms and fury clouding his thoughts at the state of the malnourished boy. Unable to get any help from the kid and relying only on his nose, he managed to find the witches´ camp before the sun got high, a place that he and his pack had passed countless times before and yet didn´t have the slightest inkling of magic users living there. This time though, they wanted to be found and an old man rushed out of the safety of his people to meet the Alpha alone. His face was puckered and his hair had long lost its colour, white and darker shades of grey specking his head. His clothes were tattered and, with a look around him, Steven confirmed that the rest of the man´s group wasn´t in a better shape. Though obviously bone-tired, the old man´s eyes were still kind when he took his grandson out of the Alpha´s hands.
“Thank you,” the man said when the boy secured his little arms around his neck. “I thought he was lost to me.” Steven waved him off and turned to leave, promising himself that he would forget what he saw and let these people live in peace.
“Wait!” The old man stopped him, placing the boy in some woman´s arms who immediately left to take care of him. “Stay for a while... Rest...”
“Do you know who I am?” The Alpha frowned. It was inconceivable to him that he was being invited to sit and chat with a man whose family had suffered greatly at his sister´s hands.
“You are Moira´s son,” the old man replied.
“You know my mother?”
“Indeed,” the man chuckled. “Do you really think people like us could live in your land without her knowing?”
Steven was taken aback but turned understanding eyes on him after a moment. “What does my sister know about you?”
“Not much I assume, considering that we are still here. But come.”
The Werewolf followed the old man towards the main campsite where a few people had come out to meet them. Some went as far as shaking his hand, thanking him and offering a pat on the shoulder in silent acceptance of his presence in their home. What seemed like a school was set up under a tent where a bunch of teenagers were looking thrilled at a young woman making a potted flower blossom, warmth coming out of her fingertips. A few feet over, younger children were going through some spelling books, awkward, broken words coming out of their little mouths.
“What is it that you do here?” Steven asked.
“Mostly, we try to stay out of your way and the Magics´.”
“But you are Magics yourselves.”
“Yes and no. We do not possess the same powerful magic they do and even if we did, we wouldn´t be using it their way.”
Steven eyed a small field where a wrinkled old lady was tending to an impromptu garden, a blue light stemming from her open palms. “I don´t know about that. Being able to grow things seems pretty powerful to me.”
The older man let out a belly-laugh, doubling over with amusement. “Only a few of us can do that and even then, most of the magic comes from the land and not from them. They harvest it from the ground would be the correct term, I suppose.”
“That´s why my mother let you stay here,” Steven said, the words slipping out before he made a conscious decision to allow them to. “You are what connects the Anders land with the Anders wolves.” He felt a tug at his sleeve and looked down to find the young boy looking up at him with huge, admiring eyes.
“What will happen to her?” The kid spoke, allowing Steven to hear his voice for the first time.
The Alpha kneeled in front of him. “Who are you talking about?”
“The girl who saved me. She was really hurt. Will you help her too?”
Steven nodded wordlessly and stood up, remembering there was another task to see to. “I have to leave,” he told the old man.
“I understand. Duty calls.” The man extended his hand without a trace of fear. “Thank you again. I will be forever in your debt.” He tightened his grip around the Werewolf´s and bade him farewell.
10. WHAT´S THE RIGHT PATH?
Stepping foot into town after defying his sister proved to be much more difficult than Steven anticipated. His usual allies, Moira and Joe, where nowhere in sight but it was the absence of his pack that heightened his agitation. If they had managed to keep themselves out of trouble maybe the situation was still solvable. The fact that none of his friends accosted him on his way back to the lair though, threw that hope out of the window. Deciding to just look for them didn´t have the expected outcome either, as Jen´s personal guard was on him before he had the chance to do so, with orders to restrain him by any means necessary. The Alpha knew he could have easily overpowered them but he figured he owed his Queen the illusion of control. He let himself get caught and the guards -also understanding that Steven was doing them a favour- decided to forego the spelled cuffs that would have weakened him.
“You are ordered to present yourself in front of the Queen in an opportunity to justify your crimes,” one of them announced loudly for the crowd to hear while the other secured the Alpha´s hands behind his back with a simple rope in a mockery of authority.
As Steven was being escorted to the council room, the people stared at the scene with uncertainty. Although there were those who treated Jen like a god, most of them preferred her quieter and more level-headed brother and were unsure of what exactly was happening or if they should interfere. Steven tried to walk with confidence in order to appear reassuring, like it was a simple misunderstanding he could solve in a matter of minutes. He didn´t need a rebellion on his hands.
In the council room, the Prince let out a relieved sigh upon seeing his pack sitting around the table like scolded children. His eyes swept over them, trying to figure out if anyone had been hurt and he only turned to his parents and Jen -occupying their high thrones- after he made sure they were physically unharmed. Moira´s eyes flared up with anger upon seeing her only remaining son tied up like a criminal but she didn´t say a word. Her children needed to sort this out themselves in order to regain a balance in their relationship. Whatever she might have said at the moment, it would only be translated as favouritism. Joe on the other hand didn´t have any qualms about showing whose side he was on, his position behind Jason instead of next to Jen a clear show of support towards his nephew and his pack.
With a nod, Jen dismissed the guards and turned to her brother in seething anger. “How could you? My own family.”
“I prevented you from doing something you´d regret. Killing kids, no matter what their crimes might be, is not what mom taught us.” Steven spared a look towards Moira who remained passive. It might have angered him under different circumstances, but he kind of understood where his mother was coming from. And right now, she wasn´t his problem. If Jen
wanted to talk about family, he would talk about it until his tongue went numb. “Do you remember that?” He asked Jen. “Do you remember anything at all?”
“We are at war!” The Queen screamed, not used to having her own brother against her and expecting an easy admission of guilt. “I´m willing to make sacrifices nobody else would. I´m the Alpha! It´s my responsibility!”
“I´m the Alpha too,” Steven declared in a tone that brooked no arguments, tired of having his judgment under the microscope all the time. His stance immediately softened though at his sister´s affronted face, choosing his next words carefully and giving them an almost imploring tinge. “If being perceived as a traitor is what it takes to stop you from sacrificing your soul, then so be it.”
“You asked me if I remember.” The room grew even tenser at Jen´s unwillingness to relent. “Well, do you? Do you remember Alan? Do you remember our brothers?”
“I do.” Steven turned his torso slightly to allow her a glimpse of his tied hands. If Jen noticed the lack of proper restraints she didn´t comment on it as he plowed on, hitting her where it was supposed to hurt more. “But you have a brother still left and a mother and a father that love you. People that respect you. So make a choice Jen. Where do you stand?”
Everyone in the room waited with bated breath. Jen´s next move would define the future of their packs and their entire kingdom. No one was willing to guess whose side the people would choose to fight on, even though Steven´s pack knew he wouldn´t take a chance like that unless he was certain of the outcome. But if by any chance things turned sideways, they weren´t at all sure if their Alpha would stand against his sister and take matters into his own hands. He had the tendency to avoid conflict where family was concerned so even this small attitude he was expressing must have come from something deeper; an instinct none of them was able to name and a feeling the Alpha himself wasn´t sure why it was there or when it had appeared... Even if he realized that learning about his family´s exact ties with Magics was the most deciding, unsettling, factor.
“I will not punish you for this,” Jen finally said, shifting her weight back and forth, looking like a small child desperate for praise. “But we need to appear as a united front. Don´t cross me again or I will be forced to take action.” Every single word she uttered contradicted her diffident posture but no one called her out on it.
Steven nodded and smiled shakily in return as Joe walked behind him and freed his hands. The young Prince kept his arms open, silently inviting his sister into a conciliatory hug and Jen, hunched in on herself, slowly approached her brother and threw her arms around him. Moira felt a frisson of pride at her two children reconciling and sighed in relief, standing up to join them. Jason and the others felt like they could finally breathe with ease but their modest enthusiasm was cut short by a piercing scream. Steven´s body stiffened and he moved away from Jen as Mark approached him.
“This needs to stop... Now,” the healer said, unshed tears chocking his voice.
Steven, not even pausing long enough to show a modicum of doubt, ran out of the council room towards the prison floor, stopping short in front of Cora´s cell with everyone else following his lead. The sight was something that would haunt the pack´s dreams for years to come and a wrongdoing Steven never forgave himself for.
The Princess was lying motionless behind the bars, a knife protruding from her left shoulder and blood pooling beneath her. Her face was battered and bruised, one eye tightly shut and the skin around it discoloured into an ugly purple. Steven looked around him and upon seeing no guards he turned to his sister.
“Give me the keys,” he growled, the stench of blood overpowering his senses. Jen managed a whisper of remorse at the spectacle but still hesitated.
“She needs medical help. She will bleed out if we don´t stop it.” Lynn´s plea fell on deaf ears.
“Give me the keys,” Steven repeated, leaning in close, his words rough-edged. Jen flinched and hastily reached into her pocket to retrieve the key, unlocking the bars and letting her brother inside the cell.
“Stay here,” the Prince ordered his two healers when he noticed them rushing inside the cell behind him. Everyone else had the good sense to hover at the cell´s entrance and wait for his assessment before daring to follow.
Cora´s body was broken so much, Steven didn´t know where to put his hands on. Figuring that he should get it over with and get her some help sooner rather than later, he reached under her, put an arm around her waist and pulled her up. A moan escaped her pale lips as he touched her back and Steven glared at his sister at the discovery of whip marks that had torn open both fabric and skin.
“I didn´t order this,” Jen denied.
“Right! You didn´t know what was happening,” Mark accused. “Like you couldn´t hear her screams.”
“You need to get her out of here,” Lynn interjected, setting their priorities straight. “Get her to her room so we can treat her.”
Steven lifted Cora up and exited the prison, the Princess a dead weight in his arms. Jason placed a gentle hand on her forehead when they passed by him and looked up at his Alpha with a startled expression.
“She´s burning up,” the Beta said.
“Something must have gotten infected already. Hurry!” Lynn urged. All the jostling around had the knife sliding in deeper and Cora opened her feverish good eye to stare at a random spot on the ceiling, a questioning sound leaving her lips.
“It´s okay,” Steven soothed. “You are going to be fine.” His wrecked voice sounded unconvincing even to his own ears.
Upon reaching her room, he placed her gently on the bed and the two healers ordered everyone out so they could work. Every single pack member though -apart from Jen, Moira and John who knew they were unwelcomed- remained just outside the door ready to offer their assistance and anxiously waiting for news.
“Fuck,” Danny swore softly. “We should have been here.”
“It wouldn´t have helped,” Joe said. “Trust me, we tried.”
“It shouldn´t have happened in the first place,” Erin said forcefully in an unexpected show of compassion towards a person she had only mocked before.
Joe tilted his head in consideration. “You guys seem to have taken this rather personally.”
Jason growled at him, letting his fangs drop, but Ian stepped between them and calmed his friend down. “We are all on edge... So don´t provoke us any further.”
“But still...” Joe tried.
“She saved our Alpha´s life. Is that enough for you?” Erin exploded.
“I get it,” Joe sighed. “This pains me as much as you. I was just thinking out loud, sorry.” He would drop it, for now, but he made a mental note to dig deeper; the pack´s behaviour was something reserved only for pack members. Everyone was placated though and tried to find a way to pass the long waiting hours while avoiding staring at the closed door.
Steven, since he had to let go of Cora´s almost lifeless body, hadn´t managed a single word. Her blood was still staining his hands and clothes and the smell of it made him nauseous. He didn´t have the mind to do anything but stare at his shoes, sat on the floor, back against the wall, until Jason dropped to sit next to him.
“It´s not your fault,” the Beta said, trying to get some kind of reaction out of his Alpha.
Steven startled into awareness when Jason shook his arm. “I know, it´s just...” The Alpha scrubbed a hand over his face, smearing blood everywhere. “I could feel something was wrong. I should have come back sooner.”
“Well, that makes sense,” Jason said with studied nonchalance.
“What does?”
“That attitude while we were away?” The Beta shrugged. “It makes sense if you were emotionally compromised.”
“That´s not an excuse,” Steven denied. “I will make it up to you guys.”
“It´s okay, we forgive you,” Erin said and sat next to him, resting a hand on his knee in order to ground him before he could spiral into a guilt fest.
She lifted the corner of her shirt and gently cleaned his face from the red stains his fingers had left behind.
“It´s not like we have been complete angels,” Danny admitted, bashful, as Steven leaned into Erin´s touch thankful for her presence.
“I need some water!” Lynn burst out of Cora´s room holding a large bowl.
“I´ll get it,” Joe volunteered, not wanting to ruin the bonding moment for his nephew´s pack. It was too late though as everyone had already shot to their feet.
“How is she?” Steven asked, a shuddering breath rippling through him.
“Not now,” the healer huffed, irritated, and slammed the door in their faces.
Five hours passed in agonizing waiting before Lynn stepped through that door a second time.
“Well?” Jason asked with a hopeful lilt in his voice as Erin and Danny startled awake.
“You want the full list?” Lynn said, staring disdainfully at her friends. She had always been a straight-shooter and she didn´t hesitate to lay blame where she thought it was due. She certainly didn´t try to assuage their worry either. “Three broken ribs, another four bruised, a dislocated shoulder. On top of all that she has been whipped and stubbed, though non-fatally... Oh, and let´s not forget her fingers which we had to re-break in order to set the bones straight to heal properly. Thank god she was unconscious.”
The pain she must have been through was unfathomable, even for the Werewolves who were used to having a bone or two broken when it meant they would heal in mere seconds. Putting aside the full extent of the injuries for later processing, they decided to focus on more pressing matters.
“Is she awake?” Jason asked.
“Barely.”
Steven, gliding slowly forward, came to rest in Cora´s doorway, eyes darting over her bed and the body that was lying there motionless. The Princess stirred but couldn´t open her eyes, her head heavy with pain and confusion as she heard Mark pulling the curtains back to let the light of day through.
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