Beasts

by Angelina Kanan

  “They were working to turn them into intelligent beings capable of following orders. When they managed to control them, they were sent out. Their idea was to create an unknown threat that would require the werewolves to reach out for help from them, thus creating an era of peace.”

  I laughed long and hard. That was an idiotic plan, but it had actually been working. It had gone exactly how he was planning it to go until I bit Eli. I almost felt bad spoiling his plan, before my mind wandered to thoughts of Gabby. This had been going on for years and had cost me my best friend. I quieted. “Seems like it would’ve worked.”

  “It probably would’ve, but you messed up when you bit Eli. It gave me exactly what I needed. See, I never wanted peace. I want nothing more than for their species to be eradicated. They are monsters and the world’s better off without them.” He had been protesting the treaty since I’d arrived. It didn’t make sense.

  “Why agree to it, then?”

  He scoffed at me. “I’m not stupid. I knew they’d carry on with or without me, and I’d rather be included in the plan than excluded. I had hoped for an opening to sabotage the plan. Of course, I never expected things to work out this well in my favor. Thank you for that.”

  I scowled at him. “I don’t get how this story ends with you wiping out the lycans?”

  He frowned at me. “You went to the island and won your prince over somehow. Lucian loved you so much, he decided to call the wendigos off and make them self-destruct.” That had been smart of them to have the option of self-destruction. It would allow for easy cleanup. “I took that opportunity to inject them with wolfsbane. When they died, they would release it into the air, wiping out any lycan nearby.”

  A lump formed in my throat at the thought. They had all suffered. Wolfsbane was a poison that would attack their lungs, making it hard for them to breathe. It would get into their minds, breaking it down until they went mad. What a horrible way for them to die. “How could you do that?” It came out a whisper as I looked up at him. He was no better than the lycan lord he claimed to hate so much.

  “They are monsters, Selene. They got exiled, then created a monster to force us to need their help. It’s sickening.”

  I knew they weren’t like that. Just because Lucian and Eliza had chosen to do something like this, that didn’t mean they were all that bad. Sebastian wasn’t like that, and he wouldn’t do anything to put his people in danger. As horrible as Lucian’s plan had been, he had good motives. He’d been looking out for his people in his own twisted way.

  “Your mate is a lycan, your daughters are lycans; how can you think that way?”

  “I was a child during the war, I remember their wrath. I saw a chance to ensure that never happened again, and I took it. Do you really blame me?”

  I shook my head, pitying him. He was so miserable I felt sorry for him. “What now, then? Am I next?”

  “Actually, you gave me a better idea. I don’t have to kill you, Selene. I can strip your wolf. I’ll get rid of the part that makes you a lycan.”

  CHAPTER 40

  My father wasted no time, not allowing me to even go back to the cell. I mind linked Leith, freaking out.

  Leith, my father was part of the attack the whole time. My mother and Lucian were trying to get peace by creating a common enemy.

  I felt his mind fight to focus on my words, worry filling our link. Selene, where are you? What’s happening?

  I felt tears coming back, not wanting to tell him. My father would kill him after he finished with me. Leith had stood by my side for so long, and I had failed him. He’s going to strip my wolf, Leith. I’m so sorry.

  What are you sorry for? You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you safe.

  Leith… He’s going to kill you when he’s done with me.

  I was overwhelmed with pain, and I wasn’t sure if it was his or mine. We both felt like we had failed each other, too caught up in that to feel sorrow for our own fates.

  You were a good beta and a wonderful friend. Thank you for your loyalty. I wish I could do something to stop this.

  He didn’t respond, and I didn’t need him to. This was how it would end for us. I would leave pack life for good after losing my wolf. I’d failed everyone who’d ever counted on me. Old Moon was ruined for me; I’d never be able to see Jackson without thinking of my wolf.

  They laid me out on a mat on the ground, straps around my arms and legs to hold me down. I wished I’d stayed to see Brett strip Russel’s wolf, so I knew what to expect. The room was gloomy, candles lit around the mat to create some light. Tate knelt at my side, my father standing behind him.

  I thought I could do this, but I couldn’t. Panic set in, my head spinning. I was having a hard time breathing, cold spreading over my body. I ignored Gabby’s warning, deciding I had to try.

  “Dad, please!” I looked at him, letting the tears come freely. “Please don’t do this to me.”

  He looked at me, his face devoid of emotion. “It’s what’s necessary.”

  I was freaking out. This would ruin my life and he knew it. I would be something different after this, stripped of everything I’d ever known. I had lost Sebastian and that would be a hard thing to get through, but I couldn’t survive without my wolf. “Please, Daddy!” I begged, hoping to get through to him. He had loved me at some point, right? Otherwise I’d have been dead by now. You don’t raise someone without caring about them a little bit. I was his daughter; he couldn’t actually want to cause me pain. “You can figure something else out. Banish me, lock me up forever, whatever you have to do. I am begging you not to do this.” I was sobbing, tears wetting my hair.

  Tate’s eyes met mine, and I saw pain behind them. My father’s eyes held none. “Do it, Tate.”

  I closed my eyes, turning away from them, continuing to cry. Tate chanted in an unfamiliar language, quiet and ominous. It might’ve sounded cool in different circumstances. My mind could only pay attention for a short while before fire shot through my veins. I struggled in my restraints, needing to get out. My back arched off the mat, but I could not escape. My wolf howled as I cried out, desperate to stay together. She was angry and tired, already weakened from our time in the cell. I didn’t have the strength to stop this.

  Every part of my body hurt. It felt like someone was inside of me, ripping out pieces of me without replacing them. I was being stripped of vital parts of myself. My throat hurt as I screamed. It seemed to go on forever, and it became difficult to hold on.

  A light shone through the darkness, and I knew I had passed out. “Selene, I’m so sorry.”

  I cried, even in my dream, the pain dull but not gone. Gabby’s hand reached out to brush my hair, rubbing my head soothingly. “Make it stop,” I whimpered.

  She put my head on her lap, playing with my hair still. “I’m so sorry.” She repeated.

  I thought back to her warning. “You begged him, too, didn’t you?”

  “I did. I begged him not to kill me the night before my execution. I thought I could appeal to his heart. He’s our dad; he should want to see us safe and unharmed. He convinced me I would’ve turned into a beast. I believed it was for the best and chose to die bravely.”

  I nodded my head; the tears slowing down, but still steady. “He really is a monster.”

  We sat in silence for what felt like hours; the pain washing over me like gentle waves. It stopped after a while, and I knew the process was done. Everything would change when I woke up. It was comfortable here, and I longed to stay for eternity. There was nothing for me in my life anymore.

  “I don’t know how this happened. You and Sebastian were supposed to live long joyful lives together, the goddess told me this herself.”

  I whimpered, thinking of my mate. “Dad killed him, too.” I hadn’t even been nice to him the last time I saw him. My anger had caused me to avoid him, and I would regret that forever. Our last day together hadn’t been together at all. It would’ve been better if they killed me. I wanted ev
erything to end already. It made little sense that the goddess would tell her something like that.

  Gabby’s eyes were staring off in the distance at something I couldn’t see. “No, he didn’t.” Her eyes were shining with tears. “He’s alive, sweetie. He came back for you.”

  “He what?” My mind was struggling to stay focused. Darkness had me in its clutches, dragging me from my body against my will. I was moving away from her quickly, no time to even fight it. Sebastian was alive?

  CHAPTER 41

  Everything hurt when I woke up, my sensitivity increased. Everything felt like too much to deal with. I was afraid to open my eyes, knowing whatever light was in view would bring tears. I rolled over, welcoming the escape back into the darkness.

  ✽✽✽

  The second time I woke up was no better. I could hear voices, jumbled and overlapping. Dozens of smells filled the air, causing an immediate headache. I opened my eyes without thinking, my eyes stinging, causing me to hiss in pain. I turned, burying my face in the pillow. The smells and the sounds together gave me no escape, my head throbbing. But I was on a pillow…

  I bolted up out of the bed, only to slow down when the dizziness hit me. I leaned on the wall for support, breathing deeply. My stomach was churning, nausea consuming my thoughts. How did I get here? Where was here?

  I squinted at my surroundings, thinking it was some sort of recovery room. I wondered how long I’d been out. I attempted to reach out to Leith, but the headache was too strong for my mind. Deciding I wasn’t strong enough, I made my way back to the bed and let the sleep overtake me again.

  ✽✽✽

  The third time I woke was hardly any better, the world too sensitive for me to experience, still. Why hadn’t they just killed me? I opened my eyes tentatively and saw someone next to the bed. At the sight of him, fear struck me. I recoiled immediately, unable to move away fast enough.

  “Easy, child.” Tate spoke softly, as if he knew speaking any louder would kill me. “You must listen to me.”

  “G-get out.” My throat was dryer than the dessert, and the words caused a lot of pain to get out.

  He handed me a bottle of water, straw hanging out. “Drink this. I don’t have much time.” He glanced around nervously. “I need to let you know why this is happening to you.”

  I slowly sipped on the water as he held it for me. My eyes glared at him, letting him know I didn’t trust him. I wanted to know what he had to say, though, so I stayed quiet.

  “I am obligated to uphold the rules of my alpha, and I did. I have struggled with this your entire life. I never killed your mother, and I am nothing but sorry for your sister. I wish I’d realized then the state your father was in, but it wasn’t until I saw Jackson as alpha that I knew how it should be. I’ve brought you enough pain, child.” This was the worst apology I’d ever heard.

  “I had to do some kind of ritual, or he’d have killed you. You had to be in pain, or he would’ve known I wasn’t doing anything. I separated the two halves of your wolf. Your werewolf half is gone, and your lycan has been forced to stop sharing her space. It’s all hers now, and your body is adjusting. Give her time.” His voice got quieter as I fell back into a dreamless state.

  ✽✽✽

  Again, I woke up to an unfamiliar world. I was miserable but determined to get up and face it. Someone was holding my hand, and I knew Tate was no longer there. I opened my eyes to Jackson. The light was still too bright, and the sounds too loud, but I didn’t care. He was alive and no longer in a cell. “H-hey.” I forgot about the dryness in my throat from last time. He handed me a water bottle.

  “Are you here for good this time?” He wasn’t whispering, and I winced. “Sorry.” He lowered his voice. “They told me you’d be sensitive, but I didn’t realize how much. I’ve been worried sick.”

  “Sorry to worry you… What happened, Jackson? How did you get out?” It hurt a little to speak.

  He hesitated, “I don’t want to overwhelm you. You’ve been out for a few weeks.”

  I choked on my water, coughing violently. My back protested, pain spreading through my body. I groaned loudly. Pain had been my life for so many weeks, I felt like it was all I’d ever know. “I’ve been unconscious for weeks? What the hell, Jackson? Tell me everything.”

  Eyeing me warily, he thought about it. “We broke out a couple of days after they took you. We waited until the perfect moment to do it, but we fought for the pack back. Dad is currently locked up.”

  “He did all of this Jackson. This is his fault.”

  I expected him to be surprised, but he nodded grimly instead. “Yeah, I know.” He stared at the bed for a minute before abruptly reaching over for a hug. “I was so afraid, Selene. Leith told us what you told him, and I’d never felt so helpless in my life.”

  I rubbed his back, too emotional to tell him this hurt me. Laying in a bed for weeks made all my muscles sore, but I didn’t want him to feel bad. “I’m okay, Jax. Is Leith?”

  He pulled back to look at me. “Leith is fine, and so is Sebastian.”

  I frowned; Gabby had actually been with me. She’d been right. “Where are they?”

  “They’ve been in and out the past couple of weeks. They were both too afraid to be here when you woke up, though.” He chuckled.

  They both probably felt like they’d failed. I rolled my eyes. “I need you to help me get up. I want to see them.” Jackson knew there was no arguing with me, so he sighed and helped me out of bed. I stood with a hiss, my legs wobbly, knees protesting. I took a tentative step forward, knowing I’d have to be careful with my body right now. A thought struck me, and I turned to Jackson, holding his hands for support. “If Sebastian is alive, are the rest of the lycans?”

  “Why wouldn’t they be?”

  “Something Dad said.”

  “Yeah… His plan didn’t exactly work out the way he had planned. I’ll let your mate explain that part to you.”

  I took a few more steps with his help before I felt like I could move on my own. My legs still didn’t feel like my own, but at least they were working. I searched my mind for my wolf and noticed a difference. She was stronger than before, taking up a bigger part of my mind. A content peace filled the space where she was. I didn’t quite understand everything, but at least I hadn’t lost her.

  With my heightened senses, I could feel Sebastian was nearby. It drove me forward, eager to reunite with him. I bounded out of the room, forgetting that I wasn’t used to walking. I stumbled around like a puppy unused to their own weight. None of it mattered as long as I got to him. My nose picked up on his scent calling to me, and I followed it without thought. He was in a kitchen, a mug of coffee and a fruit bowl in front of him. I stopped in the doorway, hand on the wall for stability as I gazed at him. He was beautiful. His hair wasn’t pulled back, allowed to roam freely past his shoulders. His beard was longer than I remembered, pulled into a little ponytail. He looked tired sitting there. Intense brown eyes met mine, and I felt his nervousness filling the room.

  Like so many times before, we stood staring at one another, neither of us moving. I knew he felt guilty for leaving me behind, but I wondered if he had felt the pain I’d gone through. The last time I’d seen him had been bad. I felt awful for ignoring him. If that had been the last time I saw him, I’d never have forgiven myself. The tension was thick in the air, uncomfortable. “I thought I lost you.” It came out as a whisper, but it held all the sorrow I never allowed myself to feel. “Sebastian, I was so afraid. I’m so sorry.”

  With a few strides, he was in front of me, wrapping me up with his arms. He exhaled, shushing me gently as I cried into his chest. “You were in so much pain, Selene. I wasn’t sure I’d make it back in time for you.” I stayed in his arms for a long time, soaking up the comfort it brought me like a sponge. If I had my way, we’d never move, but I knew there was a lot we had to work through.

  We moved to the kitchen table, “I’m assuming you know everything?”

  He no
dded, sadly. “Lucian and your mother are both here to face a trial. Your dad is also waiting to be judged. I’ve brought my council with me. I figured a bigger group might make for a fairer trial, and with two of them being lycans, decided we should involve the council.”

  “How did you escape the island? My dad said he used wolfsbane. I felt our bond disappear.”

  He was playing with my fingers, tracing randomly over them with his. “We only self-destructed one of them. I didn’t trust how long it had taken them to arrive. The wolfsbane got to me, which is probably what you felt. The rest of the wendigos are still in the tunnels beneath the city, waiting for a decision to be made. I didn’t know what else to do with them.”

  I didn’t either. Eli could think and speak for himself. They were beastly creatures, but they weren’t brainless killers like we had thought. Who were we to wipe them all out?

  “How do you feel?”

  “I feel like everything has been amplified. It’s better this time than it was the other few times I woke up. I don’t feel sick this time, but my headache isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.”

  He closed his eyes, still holding my hands. Warmth spread from his to mine, and things seemed to dim. Colors were bearable, sounds muted slightly, and my headache began to disappear. He opened his eyes, smiling at me. “Better?”

  “You were doing that before, weren’t you? When I was locked up, and you were on the island?”

  Sebastian nodded, “I felt how weak and tired you were, so I did what I could to help. I’m sorry it wasn’t much.”

  “Don’t be. You’re here now and that’s all that matters to me. Can I talk to my mom before we have the trial, though? I need to know her side in this.”

  “Of course. We can go right now if you’d like.”

  CHAPTER 42

  She was even more beautiful in person than in the few pictures I’d seen of her growing up. Her smile spread warmth, and her eyes shined like the sun. I’d have felt a lot more love if she had been in my life. As soon as I entered the room they kept her in, she swept me up into a hug.