“We should not wait any longer. Even though we live far from our neighbors and farther still from town, we run the risk of being caught or seen. Alexis’ death will be hard to explain should the authorities come sniffing around.”
My hand seeks Josephine’s as I pull myself to my feet and her along with me, understanding the urgent matter at hand. We can’t delay the inevitable any longer.
“Let’s lay him to rest while we can.”
Bray and Bayard move to the side to allow Imai, Gage, James, Cian, and Edgar entry. They saunter over to the twin sized bed, each reaching for an appendage. Once they have picked up Alexis’ body carefully, they carry him to a board and lay him on top. From there, they lug him out and to the back of the property where our incinerator is, hidden inside a makeshift shed.
Josephine squeezes my hand as we stride out of the room and even though I can’t offer her as much comfort as she needs, I repeat the process, holding on to her as we force ourselves to participate in the ceremonial sendoff.
Family members follow the procession. Bray, Sabine, and Bayard march a few paces behind us. The rest of the ValKhazar pack parades behind their leader, respectfully holding back any words of condolences. We cross a distance of about fifty yards in silence, until we reach the cemented structure where Marquis had a large incinerator built, upon deciding we would move to Wolf Creek Hollow about a year ago.
Back in the day I had thought the idea a stupid one, but I never imagined we would eventually use it to burn away the remains of one of our loved ones just to keep our existence a secret. I had always believed I would be the first one to go, but fate isn’t on my side.
We pay our respects to Alexis one by one, each taking a turn to bid our final farewell, wording messages we hope he can hear wherever he is. Josephine removes a few locks of hair before leaning in to plant one last kiss on his forehead. Gage takes Alexis’ cold hand and holds on to it for a bit as he has a one-sided conversation with our brother. I step in next and lay my forehead on his chest. I detect no movements, but I was half hoping to.
“Alexis, what were you sorry for?” I whisper next to him. “It doesn’t matter. The only thing I want right now is for you to come back.” But he can’t hear me. Nor can he respond. His voice has been silenced forever.
With a heavy heart, I step back to allow Marquis and Simone their turn while I struggle to stay calm. I hold in the anger I feel over losing someone else I love, but it’s costing me a lot more than I can handle. Keeping it cool, in order to get through this, isn’t going well as far as I’m concerned, but I bite the inside of my cheek and focus on the pain to prevent an outburst I can already feel racing to the surface. I owe it to my family to hold it together so I do, if only by sheer will.
However, once Alexis’ body is finally locked away inside the incinerator, all the pent up rage I’d tampered down for hours comes bubbling to the surface like a tsunami. I can’t control it. It’s even harder to pretend I’m okay with so many people around me, so I spin around and head for the woods. Slowly at first. Resolute. Desperate for a reprieve. Anxious to let go of all the frustration, despair, and remorse I’d bottled up. Urgency quickens my step, as I begin to leave everyone else behind and soon I’m gone and out of sight.
I’m running before I even realize it, squeezing in between trees with no particular destination in mind. I yank my jacket off and discard it as I go along. The need to put distance between the scene I left behind is overpowering. Every step I take is driven by the desire to put it all out of my mind. I lose track of how far I’ve traveled. I’m only aware of myself, breathing and very much alive. Unlike my brother.
I’ve never been too fond of life due to how difficult it has been for me, but I’m devastatingly aware of how cruel our fates are. If anyone deserved to die, it was me. Not Alexis. Not when he had so much to live for. Not when he had such a zest for life itself and lived to fill the voids, my presence always left behind.
Out of the five of us, Alexis was the less selfish one. He always gave more of himself to make others happy. Myself included. And those bastards ended his life as if he was nothing. Someone to be used and thrown out. The Gandillons boxed him in and Alexis, seeing no other way out, bit Marjorie and forced the change upon her, fully aware his decision would save her from them, but it would put his life at risk. They wanted Marjorie purely human. Easy to manipulate. The moment Alexis changed her, he was targeted for death.
I stop running, reality hitting me like an oncoming train. The Gandillons orchestrated the attack specifically to make it seem as if they had been looking to fight us off, but the entire time they had been after Alexis. Not Marjorie. No matter what choice Alexis made, the end result would have been the same because that’s how they wanted it. This trap wasn’t for Marjorie. It was for us. To bring down a few if not more of us.
They had a chance to take Marjorie but they didn’t. Maybe Bray did intervene before they could, but how does this explain they were already there waiting for us.
My breaths come out in long, shallow puffs of air. We fell right into their trap. They achieved something all right. They’ve likely broken us and it’s easy to assume this is probably what they were after. Given the opportunity, they will try again. Next time it can be any of us.
I rotate to meet Gage’s blue eyes. He has been following me all along—as he always does when I take off like this. I’d sensed him right away but kept going, knowing he’d go wherever I did.
“Gage, they came for Alexis.” I run one hand down my long hair. How did I not see all this before? “The Gandillons didn’t attack when they first made themselves known because they had to verify whether or not Alexis was around. Once they were given the order, the rest came after us to keep us occupied while they took down Alexis.”
“You don’t know that for sure, Kyran,” he argues.
“Think about it, Gage.” I keep my gaze on my older brother. “Sabine and her crew were ambushed on the bridge during their drive up here. They were overrun, but not overpowered. Sabine and the rest of the ValKhazars managed to control the situation in no time at all, but they were delayed in their arrival, which was very convenient for the Gandillons.”
Doubt crosses his eyes. “What are you getting at?”
“They knew. The Gandillon knew what our plans were.” It makes perfect sense now. “The only way they could have known where we were going to be and when is if someone told them.”
Gage looks taken a back for a moment. “An inside job?”
“What else is there? There’s no way they could have figured out how to act or when unless they came prepared today. The only way they could have prepared for our arrival was if they knew every step we were going to take from the moment we left the house. Someone close to us has been telling them all they need to know about every decision we make. It’s all right there for us to see, we just failed to take a second look.” Something in me snaps. I’m so far gone from the road to salvation that I practically feel my soul begin to wither and die. I’m blinded by the desire to avenge Alexis’ death. “And because of that traitor, Alexis is dead.”
Gage takes in every word I have said and begins to digest the information quickly. The moment his blue eyes widen, I know we’re on the same page. “Do you think it was our prisoner?”
“How? He hasn’t left the cellar. No, it would have to be someone who can come in and out of the house without a problem and who can escape detection.”
“We need to find out who it is then?”
I shake my head. “No. I need to fetch me a Gandillon and find out for myself who it is. I don’t want to risk alerting the traitor and giving him a chance to run. Alexis is dead and I swear I won’t let his death go unpunished.” I make to take off, but Gage holds me by the wrist.
“Why would they go only for Alexis?”
I wriggle free of his grasp. “Alexis was in the way. Just like I am. Ivan was sent to finish me off but I got the upper hand. He was too self-confident and didn’t figure
out I was faster than him. But Alexis was cornered.”
“What do you mean when you say Alexis was in the way?”
“The bond. Alexis and I both bonded with Marjorie. She bonded with me, but should I be absent her heart could have turn to Alexis at any moment. Whoever did this was making sure we were both wiped off the map. Ivan couldn’t carry out the job, but the rest of the Trackers did. Who has a deep interest in breaking the bond tying us together?” I have a good idea of who it is, and I mean to find if I’m right no matter what the cost.
Gage’s shoulders slump. “A lot of what you say does add up, but things are still unclear. I think we should go back and let Marquis know.”
“I’m done following orders. I’m finding myself a Gandillon. Better yet, a Tracker. This way we can know for sure if I’m right or not. You can either join me or try to stop me.”
Chapter Eleven
Gage reaches for me a second time but I take off running before he can grab me again. He mutters an oath but follows me as I plow through the woodlands with only one thing in mind. I’m going to find out the truth once and for all. I’m going to get to the bottom of this ever-growing problem and uncover the name of the one who gave the order to kill Alexis. And when I have a face and a name, I’ll do much worse to him than he had others do to Alexis.
I pay no heed to Gage’s continuous warnings, advising me to back off and go home, but my ears are closed to all suggestions. I’m focused on the task at hand and won’t let anyone deter my objective. I find my way to the mine without incidents and run straight to the entrance in search of Gandillon flesh. I know they are here. I can smell it.
It’s unclear how long it will take for me to find the main lair, but this is the only place I can think to look for the information I need. The mine is full of tunnels, many of which take the Gandillon pack every place they need to be so I’m betting one of these passageways leads to their den and hopefully, their alpha. I just have to find the correct one.
I catch whiff of dried blood somewhere inside and I’m positive some of the wounded wolves had headed in this direction. Or at the very least, they have been around recently. During the scuffle back at the park, Imai was not able to identify any movement inside the tunnels, but I’m starting to believe it’s because they were already far from the area. They must have taken other tunnels, those which lead away from the caves where the betas used as dens while they waited for their orders to come, and surrounded us at the park.
The Gandillons have an entire underground system mapped out and they know where each one of the pathways lead up to. We haven’t memorized the subway to any extent and therefore are clueless as to what direction to take. I vow to learn as soon as I can. Only then will I find the Gandillon’s main lair. And the alpha.
“Kyran!” Gage shouts as I approach the entrance.
I look up in time to jump back as two massive forms materialize from deep inside the entryway and come barreling toward me. A red-haired wolf slashes through the air in effort to connect with my face but misses by a second as I maneuver around him to avoid the sharp claws. Gage moves in to assist, but his path is quickly blocked by two other wolves emerging from the dark cave-like entrance. Teaming up, they rush toward Gage bearing fangs and claws.
I continue to back up, shuffling to the right and then left to avoid the red-haired wolf’s three inch hooks and the equally impressive canines in his mouth. He’s big, mean, well equipped, and dead set on carving me a new face. I try not to make a mistake because I know how badly it will cost me, but the second wolf—this one with light silver hair—lumbers in from behind and locks me in a bear hug before I realize he’s even there. He hauls me off my feet, but I use his strength to kick out at the wolf in front of me, catching him square in the chin. The red-haired wolf staggers back, but doesn’t stay away for more than an instant before he’s on me again, plundering my thigh with two rows of needle-like teeth, tearing through cloth and skin and straight into my muscles.
I bite back a scream of frustration and kick at his face with my left leg. The end of my boot connects with the top of his nose, but far from releasing me, he clamps down harder. Blood pours down to the ground. I’ve barely healed from Ivan’s nasty bite and here I am, enduring yet another trial. I toss my head back to use it as my only means of defense against the opponent behind me, but anticipating my move the wolf lets go and I land on my backside on the ground, with the first wolf’s canines still imbedded in my leg.
Before I can scramble to my feet, four more wolves join in the melee, pinning my arms and legs to the ground. I toss my head to the left in search of my brother but find him surrounded as well. Gage, though, has the upper hand and can fight back, but upon seeing me captured, decides to surrender.
“Gage!” I shout angrily. He can get away. Why let himself get caught after I lead him into this mess? “Get out of here.”
“I’m not leaving you, Kyran. I already lost a brother today. I’m not aiming to lose a second.”
Berating myself silently for my stupidity, I lay my head down and watch as another wolf, this one taller and bulkier than the rest, marches out of the cave and hovers over me briefly. His large, golden eyes glower at me as if wishing he could sear the skin off me. It’s easy to deduce the thought has crossed his mind, probably more than once. What beef does he have with me, I wonder.
I don’t recognize his scent but know he’s here because he has a purpose. He’s not here to kill me, otherwise he would have done so already. That only means one thing. He’s here to bring me back alive. Why? What does the alpha want with me? Is he aiming to do what his Tracker couldn’t?
“Did Kenny send you to get me?” I spit out, reveling in the uncertainty mirrored in his round eyes as he stares down at me. I’ve hit the nail by the head. This is Kenny’s doing. I’m sure of it.
The golden eyed wolf nods toward his red-haired companion and this one chomps down on my thigh with much more force. I hold in my breath but I do not scream. I will not show them any kind of weakness. They won’t get the satisfaction of goading a reaction out of me.
“Kyran!” I hear a light scuffle somewhere in the background. Gage trying to come to my defense no doubt. “Let him go!” he demands forcefully.
When the red-haired wolf lets go, the golden eye leader slams one heavy paw against the side of my face, knocking all sense out of me. My vision blurs momentarily and even as I struggle to regain my barrens, he plows into the side of my face a few more times. He is heavy handed and in my weakened state, it’s like a death sentence. I fight unconsciousness, but the last blow to my right temple sends me straight into a world of complete darkness.
***
Something hard and misshapen digs into my right shoulder. Being unable to be rid of the nuisance trying to carve into my skin, even after moving my arm several times, annoys me. I’m not very comfortable, physically or otherwise. Where am I? Realization dawns on me suddenly. I’m not home, which explains why I’m unable to find comfort in the hard surface I’m lying on.
I keep my eyes shut as I slowly begin to come back to, listening to all the odd noises around me. I’m not alone. I can hear three distinctive heartbeats but a few paces away. None of which are human. Werewolves most likely. But who are they? I rely on my sense of smell to tell me. One of them is Gage. The third belongs to a female somewhere nearby. I’m unsure of where exactly, but I sense her proximity even before I open my eyes. She is not someone I know. I’m not sure whether that’s good or bad yet.
Groaning, I feel along my head to assess my injuries. The side of my face aches—and it’s most definitely swollen, my right thigh throbs as well, but nothing is broken. I have no internal hemorrhaging and my leg is fully functional even if it hurts to move it. Given no other choice, I can defend myself.
I’m still in one piece. But for how long?
There’s a cold draft to my left, I note, and a pungent smell emanating from somewhere nearby. I sniff the air. There’s mold, mildew, and old stale water acc
umulated in an area of whatever building I’m in.
I open my eyes and roll over to my stomach, finally spotting the large rock which had been bothering me a moment ago. By the way things look, I’m assuming I was dropped none too gently on the hard, cold floor before someone moved on to lock the iron gate in front of me as they exited the enclosure. The irony of my predicament isn’t lost on me. During my bloodlust episodes I spent a lot of time locked away in the cage in the Rousseau cellar. Now I’ve been stuffed away in a jail similar to the one back home.
I push myself to my knees, glancing to my left as I detect movement nearby. Gage is stirring back to life and even though he’s covered in dirt, I sense no major injuries from him either.
“Gage?” I stand up and walk to him. He opens his eyes to look up at me.
“Are you okay?” he asks as he sits up. “How is your leg?”
“I’m fine. Already healing well. You?”
“Okay, I guess. Could be worse.”
I sit down next to him and take a moment to survey my surroundings. We are in some kind of cellar or maybe a basement of some sort. Only it looks more like a dungeon, which might be the case considering it’s fashioned mostly out of large rocks and cement. The ceilings are low. There are no windows. The only illumination comes from four barely functioning bulbs hanging from a cord twenty feet away. There are three exits. One to the left. One in the center. And one to my right.
This place is built like a prison, meant to keep prisoners in and everyone else out.
“I don’t think we’ll be leaving any time soon,” I mutter under my breath. Me and my impulsive decisions. Now I’ve dragged Gage into this mess with me.
“It’s fine.” Gage smacks the side of my arm with the back of his hand. “Stop putting so much blame on yourself over every little thing.”
Blood Moon Page 9