Beasts

by Angelina Kanan

  Jackson pulled me aside amidst the chaos, his face dark with anger. “Did you know?”

  I lashed out. “At what point do you think I would’ve known, Jackson? Perhaps it was before Gabby got bitten. Or maybe you think it was when they were murdering her? Or do you think I mated with someone while knowing their people had a hand in her death?”

  Stunned, he stepped away from me. “I’m sorry. I’m angry. He’s your mate now, they’re your people; I had to ask.”

  I hid my hurt behind a face of indifference. Acting out wouldn’t do either of us any good. “He didn’t do this, Jackson.”

  “Then why run?”

  “Would you have let him go home to figure this out? He can’t find the culprit from here.”

  His eyes were narrowed, searching my face for any reason not to believe me. “Are you willing to bet your life on that?”

  What the hell? “Jackson, what are you going to do?”

  He shook his head angrily. “If they’re really gone, someone has to answer for it. Don’t be naïve, Selene. They’re going to ask for you to be locked up.”

  I couldn’t hide my sorrow. It would force my baby brother to lock me up. Whether he wanted to or not, I knew that would break him. This would chip away pieces of his innocent heart, hardening him. He’d lived through so much because of this family, and it seemed he wouldn’t get a break, either. “I won’t fight you, Jackson. I’d just like to know if you’re going to do it because you want to, or because your people do.”

  His eyes softened. “If you believe him, I do, too.”

  “After all I’ve done?”

  He hugged me tightly. “You’re my sister, and you came home. I refuse to think you did that to throw it away.”

  I pulled back. “If you really trust me, then you need to do something for me. I need you to let Eli go back to the mountains. He needs to find out anything he can. And if it’s empty, then someone here has betrayed us. Someone who had contact with Eli.” That would exempt all the lycans except Sebastian, Leith and Cain. None of them had been anywhere near Eli, nor had they been filled in yet. The plan had been to do that today. With it narrowed down, that might help Sebastian. He knew the inner circles of his people. It could help him find who started this mess.

  ✽✽✽

  Leith and I had been grabbed the next day, taken to a meeting room. They were putting together a makeshift council to vote on what would be done with us. Jackson, Dad and Tate were present, which was no surprise. Eli was in a seat next to Leith and I. Dad acted as Jackson’s beta until a more permanent solution was found. They’d brought in Russel and Diana, as well, making me question everything. They had nothing to do with this.

  Apparently, they were here to testify against the lycans with personal experiences. Russel claimed he had been attacked by Nat before he killed him. This was information he hadn’t brought up during his trial. Suddenly, he was trying to change the story. I felt sick. They would paint this however they wanted. We stood no chance. He claimed he’d acted in self-defense and had gotten the worst punishment imaginable in return. Russel described Sebastian as evil and cruel; just like Lord Drakov had been. When I spoke up that I had decided the punishment, I realized how much worse I had made it for myself. They labeled me as one of them.

  Diana spoke against me further. She talked about how Clyde had been in love with me and got killed for it. Lycans couldn’t risk their queen ending up with someone else, so they got rid of the competition. Apparently, she thought Leith or I had told Sebastian about it and he’d reacted out of jealousy. When I pointed out he’d been here the whole time, she threw out the idea that when he’d been exploring the mountain, maybe he was really ordering the wendigos to find and turn her brother. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This whole situation felt surreal. I didn’t even recognize the woman in front of me. Diana had always been sweet and loyal.

  Tate brought up Eli. Somehow, I earned blame because I had bitten him. Tate claimed it looked like I had been aware of what would happen. Why else would that be my instinct?

  “Because of Gabby!” My eyes begged Jackson and my father. It got their attention, both staring at me like I’d lost my mind.

  “What about Gabby?” Eli’s voice questioned before either of them could.

  Tears welled in my eyes. This entire meeting outraged me. They were painting the lycans as monsters. Sebastian was somehow a traitor, and they were making me out to be one, as well. All we had wanted was peace. “She went days without ever becoming one of them. She never would’ve turned.” I watched the light leave his eyes as he realized what that meant. Jackson slumped back in his chair, and even my father closed his eyes.

  “Dad.” I stared at him, waiting for him to look at me. “You let Tate decide the fate of one of your children and of your mate. Please don’t let him do it again. Gabby was not the enemy. I am not the enemy.”

  He turned away, “We have much to discuss.”

  ✽✽✽

  Leith and I sat in the room as they left to talk about their decision. “You can’t fight them.”

  “I could try.”

  He laughed. “You’d die trying.”

  “Worth it if I were to create a world where Bishop Tate doesn’t exist.”

  “You’d hurt Jackson.”

  I sighed. We both knew I was joking. I stood no chance and wouldn’t do anything against Jackson. “When did I become such a monster to Diana?”

  Leith shrugged, “You’ve never experienced the hatred for being a lycan. She’s decided you’re one of us now.” I don’t think he intended to let me feel his sadness, but I did.

  “Sorry you got left behind.” I was trying to lighten the mood with a joke.

  “What are you talking about? I chose to stay. You’ve earned the respect of your people, but I’ve been with you longer than any of them. I knew Seb wanted someone to stay with you.”

  “So, he asked you to stay?”

  “He didn’t need to. I care too much to leave you behind. Besides, I have his trust. Seb knows I had no part in this, so I didn’t need to go back to the island with him. You needed me here.”

  I was touched, glad to have him here with me. “Promise me something, then.” Knowing he wanted to be here to protect me made me feel awful. He might not have a choice.

  “Anything.”

  “Don’t blame yourself no matter how this turns out.”

  CHAPTER 37

  Sebastian’s POV

  My heart was heavy in my chest as soon as I heard Eli speaking. I knew what this would look like, and I knew there wasn’t a single ending that would be in our favor. There was no choice to be made; my people had to flee. It didn’t feel good to leave behind my mate, but I knew I’d see her again.

  I was left alone to my thoughts on the ship home, letting my pain be felt by my companions. This was a sacrifice, and I wasn’t pleased to be making it. Every cell in my body had wanted to stay behind with her and allow Leith to handle things, but that wasn’t his job and he’d been right. The two of them had an experience I didn’t share with her. Six years of training together created an understanding that doesn’t come overnight. She was my mate, but we lacked the time to back up the bond. I knew she was in excellent hands. I also knew I was the better choice to find the culprit.

  I’d called a council meeting through the bond, expecting them to be gathered and ready to go as I stepped in the door. None of them knew what it was for, but they knew it was urgent.

  Storm clouds arrived on the island at the same time as us. It was clear my mood would be controlling the atmosphere. Anger rolled off my body in waves, hitting anyone who came near. Thunder burst in the distance, but I paid it no attention, intent on reaching my council to solve this. If I had to question each individual lycan, I would.

  I had a feeling it wouldn’t be necessary. The wendigo problem began at Old Moon. No one had recorded a single instance earlier than Gabby’s. This had something to do with her pack, leading me to believe it had s
omething to do with me. The problems picked up after I had met Selene, meaning someone close to me was disloyal. Few people knew of Selene that past 6 years, and they would all be in my council room.

  While my council took their seats, I stood, surveying their faces. This would require me to stay calm, emotions in check. “We were banned from the mainland. The treaty is over.”

  Cain looked bewildered, wondering if I had lost my mind. I glared at him to keep his mouth shut. The last thing I needed was for him to speak up. “Selene bit one of the wendigos and it sired itself to her. They think I’m responsible, as I’m the only one with a motive. I’d get my mate and my treaty. Fear has led them to believe I intend to follow in my father’s footsteps.” My eyes scanned each of their faces as I awaited their response. My nose was waiting to smell any indication that they were nervous. I was hoping they’d take the bait. We’d been through hell together; that kind of loyalty doesn’t go away. I didn’t believe the wendigos were created to hurt me.

  None of them made a single suspicious movement, but Nomi opened her mouth. “Why you? There are many lycans unaccounted for on the mainland.” They were smart; they knew not to waste their questions asking about the sire bond. It was best we get straight to the point.

  “Most of them don’t realize how many stayed behind. And I don’t believe it was one of them, as wendigos aren’t created out of thin air. You need a wendigo to create a wendigo.”

  “What of Selene?” Lucian spoke up.

  “She was decided to be payment. She’s not a full lycan, and they didn’t want me to succeed, so they refused to send her here. Because she’s not fully a werewolf, they’re trying her as a lycan. If she’s found guilty of anything…” I paused, letting myself feel the pain of leaving her. I had no idea if this was actually happening. My goal was to paint the image of despair, wanting the guilt to eat away at whoever was responsible for this mess. “They’ll kill her.”

  “You left her there?” Nomi asked, shocked.

  “We came back to lead an investigation. If I can find proof it wasn’t me, I know her brother will listen to reason. He wants peace and believed in the treaty. And I know he’d never let anything happen to Selene if he could help it.”

  “Do you even have a lead, Seb?” Tasmin spoke up, looking sad.

  “I have nothing.” I sat in my chair, allowing my vulnerability to reach them. “It started in Old Moon, so I fear someone targeted my mate. They must’ve wanted her dead. Can’t imagine who would want that.” My eyes landed on Nomi, determined to cause turmoil amongst the group. I would need to break them apart to single out the traitor.

  “Seb, you can’t possibly think…” She stopped. “Sebastian, you know me. I don’t even have access to the crypts. How could I have gotten my hands on a wendigo?”

  “They aren’t so heavily scrutinized that I would know if you’d been down there or not.”

  “This is insane.” She protested. “The only reason I questioned her was to be certain she was worthy of you. I’d never wish her harm.”

  “You ambushed her the night of the Hunt.”

  She was reacting exactly as she should. There was no reason for me to suspect her. Nomi wasn’t becoming overly defensive, and she wasn’t reacting out of fear of being caught. The emotion driving her right now was pain; it hurt her that I suspected she was capable of doing something to harm me.

  “Sebastian, please…”

  A guardian entered the room at my request. “Please lead Nomi to a cell until I decide what her fate is.”

  “Sebastian!” Tasmin stood angrily. “She has been nothing but loyal to you. You cannot do this.”

  “I am your king; I can punish those who would betray me however I see fit.”

  Nomi continued to protest as she was led out of the room. Tasmin glared at me, outraged with my behavior. I had never acted like their king. The council had always been able to speak freely, and had never been anything less than equal to me. It was the reason I'd been able to leave for so long at a time. I trusted them. Lucian, Nomi and Tasmin could handle the island without my help. That's what made this so painful.

  I kept my face blank, not wanting them to know it pained me to do this to her. Nomi was more loyal than I could’ve asked for. I could be risking her favor right now and may never get it back. Selene’s face came into my mind, reminding me it would be worth it so long as my mate was safe and alive.

  I sat down at the head of the table. “Sit down, Tasmin. We have more to discuss.”

  Tasmin was crying, but listened anyway, scowling at me angrily. “What else is there? You’ve already decided it was Nomi. Go get your mate back.”

  It wasn’t Tasmin either. She’d never have allowed me to take Nomi out of here like that if she were responsible. That left Cain and Lucian. Cain knew I’d made up that whole story, but he didn't know I believed Nomi was innocent.

  “I don’t believe Nomi was working alone. Access to the crypts wouldn’t be enough to release a wendigo. Besides, they’ve evolved. The wendigos of the past weren’t able to be sired by lycans, otherwise Drakov would’ve recruited them instead of slaughtering them.” Drakov had kept a sizeable group of them in the crypts beneath the tunnels, wanting to keep them for experimentation. We didn’t know much about them as a species, and that was the only way we’d find out. I had stopped the experiments when I’d taken over but couldn’t find the heart to murder them. They had access to woods that were caged in, so they’d never escape. It was the best I had come up with, but it never felt like enough.

  Now that I was thinking about it, my heart sunk. I had never checked the crypts. My mind had been so focused on going to the mainland to reunite with Selene, I hadn’t been thinking straight. If I had, I might’ve thought from the beginning that the wendigo problem started right here on the island. Maybe I was partly to blame for everything.

  “She’d need to have worked with a scientist to develop the species. Tasmin, would you be kind enough to get me a list of all the scientists on the island so we can hopefully narrow it down?”

  OLD MOON: Selene’s POV

  Leith and I were chained down, and they’d injected slight amounts of silver into our blood. There was a constant burning in my body now, never relenting. They had to keep us weakened so we couldn’t break the chains. Eli was in the same cell, laying in the corner. He wasn’t strong enough to break through the cell walls, so they didn’t need to torture him. Looking at him still made me sad. He might be able to function like us, but he was still a wendigo.

  Their meeting had concluded that I would answer for the crimes of the lycans. They would decide later what my punishment would be. Jackson hadn’t been able to meet my eyes when they announced it. He followed up by saying they had set a date for Sebastian. He had one month to come and answer for the crimes. If he could do this within a month, Jackson would free me and Leith to return to the island and never come back. If he failed to return, I would get the punishment, as would Leith.

  I cried thinking about it. I would be banished, separated from Jackson again. I yearned to know him; to be there for him. There was a lot to make up for, and it was something that he deserved. I might not get the chance to now.

  I floated in and out of consciousness. When I was awake, I was desperate to avoid the pain. Asleep, I ran into Gabby. I saw her so much that I never knew if I was awake or not. Her laugh haunted every moment as she danced in and out of my view. She was here, then she wasn’t- a blinding ball of happiness and light. I wanted all of this to end. Seeing her was dragging me back, with no chance of ever moving forward. I knew this wasn’t healthy.

  I attempted to reach out to Sebastian occasionally. I’d feel his mind but didn’t have the strength to actually communicate with him. I wasn’t even sure if he knew when I was reaching out. His emotions were always so guarded; I wondered how he was doing. He didn’t know he was on a timeline; he might not make it. I didn’t know if he had reached out to me, too dizzy to feel it.

  Leith and I did
n’t have the strength to speak to one another, both suffering in our own minds. I didn’t know what he was thinking about, but he probably regretted staying behind. I hoped he made it; I’d never forgive myself otherwise. Everything was somber and miserable down here. Darkness and cold were our constant companions. I missed laughing, thinking about all the silly things in my life. Brett would know how to lighten the mood, reminding us of life outside pain. Where was Brett?

  I dragged myself out of my mind at the thought. He had been with me on Lunar Island, and I knew he was on the ship returning with us. What the hell happened to him?

  Jackson entered the room, bringing the outside light in with him. I groaned, my eyes were so used to the darkness, and didn’t want the light. “Sorry, sorry!” He was whispering, giving the impression he wasn’t supposed to be down here. “I went out to the mountain, Selene.”

  I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. He did what? We were supposed to send Eli. I glanced to the side, reminding myself Eli was with me. There was no way he could’ve gone. “You shouldn’t have done that, Jax. What if you had gotten hurt?”

  “Worth it. I had to take the risk. And it’s a good thing I did because they’re gone. All of them.”

  “That’s good.” Leith muttered. “It didn’t take very long for them to leave, which means they have to be close by.”

  “That’s what I thought, too. A big group would be hard to miss, right? But nothing. No one has noticed a single thing different. I don’t know what that means. Maybe another attack?”

  I tried to stay optimistic, “Maybe Sebastian caught whoever did this, and they called it off?”

  CHAPTER 38

  LUNAR ISLAND: Sebastian’s POV

  The list of people who’d had access to the crypt seemed endless. We’d managed to narrow our search down to the scientists specifically. Wendigos had to have been altered to become how they were now. Someone with knowledge on how to do that was our only answer.