The Mouse and The Wolf - Chapter 69: Chapter 69

-Jack-
I heard it. In the darkness that had surrounded me for so long, in that sea of pain where I was drowning... Slowly sinking towards the bottom without ever reaching it. None of my senses worked, but I still heard it. A howl.
And I gasped for air so hard it hurt, surprised that it actually worked. My eyes shot open, and I stared at the wooden ceiling, not understanding anything. For a moment, my eyes were the only thing that worked, while my hearing was slowly coming back to me.
'Henry?'
Silence.
'What are you trying this time?'
Silence...
I lifted my hand up, shaking all over. My own hand seemed like the heaviest thing on earth. I moved my fingers, but I had to let my arm fall back down because I was too weak to hold it up.
He was up to something... Henry... What kind of torturous plan he had now? I didn't dare to look around. I was too scared to do so. I still couldn't smell anything, but I feared that if I looked... I would see Arch... skinned alive...
My ears started working – kind of. It was like I was still underwater, and all the sounds were muffled, but I could still hear... yelling... screaming... loud bangs and explosions...
What was going on...?
I finally found my courage to turn my head, but Arch wasn't there. What I saw made no sense, but there was no blood anywhere... only people. Old people. Young people. Babies and pregnant women. All crammed into what looked like a big hall.
My curiosity won, and somehow I managed to push myself upwards a little to see over the wall of people. There was a big chair on the other side of the hall we were in, so I assumed it was the pack hall. I was tucked away in a corner with an older woman sitting right next to me, her back turned on me.
Wasn't this... Hall of Leaders? Or whatever this pack called it. I saw a big emblem on the wall, just above the big chair. Blue Moon emblem.
What the fuck was going on? Why was I here? Where was Henry?
Another howl shook my very core. The rest of the senses rushed back to me, and for a quick second, my skin felt like it was on fire. I gasped loudly in pain, but even the woman sitting next to me couldn't hear it over the sounds of battle. I sat up, feeling a hell of a lot stronger for some reason, and looked down at my arms. I was covered in bandages, and when I ripped them off, I could see faint lines of weird symbols carved on my skin just before they vanished. I couldn't even take a better look at them before they were fully healed.
That made no sense.
But I didn't even care. Nothing made sense at that moment.
"Henry...?" I croaked and started coughing, but the damn shadow didn't reply.
Was he... gone?
No, how could he be gone?
But... he wasn't there? I couldn't feel him anywhere, and I had felt his presence ever since he first possessed me. Even when he let me control the body, I could still feel him there at the back of my mind.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard loud noises just outside the hall. Everyone in it turned to look at the two closed doors. There were people trying to keep it closed, while someone was trying to get in.
More people turned into wolves, getting ready to fight. We were in danger! I had no idea what kind of danger, but whoever was behind the door, it wasn't anyone good. I could feel the shadows lurking just behind it.
"They're breaking in!" someone yelled.
"The wards aren't holding!"
"Protect the children! Get ready to fight!"
Children... There had to be at least two dozen kids in the hall, and they all were scared, crying and holding onto their caretakers. Begging to see their moms and dads...
I didn't even realize it before I was already turning. These were Blue Moons. Arch's pack. Those behind the door had to be Thorns. The battle had already started, and Anthony was here somewhere, trying to get to the portal.
There was no way in hell I'd sit back and watch them get away with it. My life was ruined because of them!
The old woman let out a shocked gasp when I jumped past her in my wolf form. I took my place next to the Blue Moons when the doors started caving in. Then, they broke.
It was clear that the enemy hadn't expected so many wolves in the small hall. I could see one of my father's trustees at the front of their little group just before ours basically rushed over them. The look on their faces... They knew they had made a bad decision. Some of them tried to escape but there wasn't enough space in the hallways of the great hall, and soon we had escorted them straight back out.
I didn't want to kill anyone, and I could tell that the Blue Moons were just as reluctant to do so. The enemy wolves were possessed, after all. At least most of them were. I could feel the shadows almost every single one of them. Once I was outside, I could see thousands of shadows circling around us, possessing everyone they could – that was why Blue Moons weren't killing anyone.
The anger inside me was taking over. My father and Anthony were using these cheap tricks to win this war. They had to be stopped! I couldn't let them get away with this!
And by the name of Moon Goddess, I would kill them both if something had happened to Arch!
Before I could take another step, a bunch of shadows flew towards the hall. Towards me. Fear almost took over my heart when I realized I would be possessed again, and I would never have my revenge. But then, just when they were about to reach me, they hit an invisible wall that rippled slightly from the impact.
I turned to look around, trying to understand what was stopping them, but then I spotted big, hastily made totems surrounding the hall. I breathed out in relief. Wards. The Spirit Walkers must've placed them to protect the hall against the shadows.
I looked at them again, feeling frustrated. I was safe, yes, but I couldn't go anywhere. The second I stepped out of the protective bubble, I'd get possessed.
At least I could still help to protect the Hall and everyone in it. I stayed by the stairs, making sure not a single enemy wolf could get past me. The hall was really easy to protect since this seemed to be the only staircase leading up to the hall. I wasn't the only one protecting it either. More than once, I spotted a big, white female – had to be one of the leaders in the pack – jumping in and out of the protective barrier to chase away another intruder before retreating back to safety before she could get possessed. For some reason, her presence seemed awfully familiar to me.
Suddenly, the sky above us exploded. Or so I thought. I could see a big, bright flash of light just before hundreds of spirits appeared into our world. Someone was using the portal! I feared the worst, but it soon became clear the spirits were on our side, attacking the shadows like golden rain falling from heavens.
The shadows that had tried to break the wards around the hall left in a hurry when the spirits reached us. I watched the army of spirits in awe. It was really beautiful to see, especially the part where they kicked shadows asses.
But it clearly wasn't over yet. I turned my attention back to the wolves that were still possessed. I saw a bunch of them attacking a few lonely Blue Moons, so I left the barrier to go to their aid. Together – and with a little help from spirits – we sent them running for their mommas. Some shadows were still possessing people, so I had to be careful with my teeth.
Then, I could smell something familiar.
I turned around when a big, gray wolf ran past us.
'Father... Running for cover like a coward, I see...'
I dashed after him. He was not getting away with everything he had done! He was followed by a dozen of his buddies, but I didn't care. I wasn't alone in this chase. One by one, me and the other tackled them as they tried to make a run for it until there was only my father left. I really had to put effort into keeping up with his speed. Not only was he an Alpha, but he was also a massive coward, so of course he was a fast runner.
As we ran through the empty lands of Blue Moons, I couldn't help but notice that I was soon the only one who could still keep up with Dad. My rage gave me the speed I needed, but I was running out of strength. My lungs were already burning...
I wouldn't be able to catch him... I knew that already.
But then, out of the blue, something big and white appeared by my side, easily surpassing me on her way. The same white female I saw at the hall. My goddess, she was fast! My dad had absolutely no chances outrunning her, and to my pleasure, she tackled him quite easily, sending him rolling through the snow.
I stopped next to her when she lowered her head, letting out a massive growl at my dad. He got back up, looking a bit disoriented. He took one look at the white wolf next to me and decided to take a hike instead of facing us, but she didn't let him get away. She started circling him, making sure his way out was blocked every single time he tried to run, and soon, he gave up and lay down on the snow, whining like the miserable mutt he was.
What an Alpha... How did he ever grow into one was beyond me.
I really wanted to sink my teeth into his neck, but I held back that urge. I waited with the white one until more wolves showed up to help her.
I turned to look back to where we came. We were far away from the town, but I could still hear the sounds of the battle, even though it seemed to be quieting down now. When I turned my attention back to my father who was now surrounded by angry Blue Moons, I was met with the eyes of the white wolf. She was looking at me with her ears pinned up and took a few steps closer to me.
She probably knew who I was... I crouched under her gaze, pinning my ears back and wagging my tail a little to show her I was friendly. I really didn't want to find out if she was just as good at fighting as she was running. She must've smelled the similarities in my father and me. She would obviously think I was her enemy as well...
But to my surprise, when she stopped in front of me, she wagged her tail as well. I let out the deepest breath and then realized that if I had been tucked away with kids and old people, they must've already known that I was harmless. They wouldn't put their enemy in the same space with their most cherished ones.
How though? What the hell had been going on while I was knocked out cold? Nothing made sense.
The white wolf turned her attention back to my father for a short moment. I used that opportunity to leave the scene and return to the village. I could hear her bark after me, but I didn't stop. I had to see Arch. I had to know if he was all right.
The fear of finding him dead somewhere had started strangling me by the time I reached the town again. Most of the enemy was already caught and the spirits were chasing the rest of the shadows away. I kept looking for Arch everywhere. It took me a while to come to the conclusion that he wasn't in the town. I couldn't find Jaden or Tilly either, so I assumed they were at the catacombs. I wasn't sure where it was, but I had seen a massive pillar of shadows behind the hill that towered behind the hall, so I started running that way.
What if he was dead...? What if Henry had killed him? Or worse? I knew he had entertained the idea of possessing him next... What if...?
I ran faster through the snow, avoiding the groups of Blue Moons that were trying to decide what to do with the confused Thorns that were clearly no longer possessed. There were also awfully a lot of normal humans who looked even more confused than my kind.
Soon, I got around the hill and stopped to take in the scene. This was clearly where the biggest battle happened. I continued walking slowly. There were groups of people sitting on the snow, tied together and surrounded by guards. I recognized a lot of my own pack members, but there were a lot more of those who I had never met. I assumed they were allies of the Thorns.
I walked past them without getting stopped. The spirits were now calming down, flying past me at a lazy pace, clearly looking for more shadows that had managed to hide. As I watched, one of the spirits entered one of the men and a second later, a cloud of black smoke burst out of him. The man looked suddenly confused, just like the rest of those who had been possessed. It got worse when he was grabbed by the guards and escorted to the rest of the captured enemy.
It was amazing how fast the battle was over after the spirits came for our aid. The portal really was a scary thing. No wonder Anthony wanted it. If he had gotten his hands on it... I didn't even want to think about all the things he could've done with it. To have both spirits and shadows on his side... He could've done anything he ever wanted with it.
I could only hope the portal was safe now. And I hoped to see Anthony dead somewhere.
But, to my disappointment, he wasn't dead. I saw him sitting on the ground at the bottom of the hill, Alpha Rayleigh and his mate glaring down at him. They were surrounded by a big crowd, so I hurried closer to hear what they were saying, hoping to see Arch there as well.
"Did you really think you could get away with this?" Alpha Rayleigh was saying when I was close enough to hear him.
"I already did," Anthony laughed at his face. I was glad to see that he seemed to be in pain.
"The portal is gone forever, but our duty isn't over," Rayleigh turned to speak to his people. "We stand next to the Spirit Walkers now and forever – I don't know yet what that means, but rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this."
"Is he really a god now?" someone asked.
Wait, what? A god? Who?
"That is what I'm going to find out," Rayleigh said.
"He's no god," Anthony spat at him and laughed. "He's a mere vessel. My King will wear him out and enter this world through him! And I will be rewarded!"
He sounded like he had gone crazy. Alpha Rayleigh stepped closer to him, giving him a harsh stare. "You will be awarded a swift death if you don't shut up now."
"Are you afraid that your dear pack can't stand the truth?" Anthony said, and turned to look at the crowd. "The King of Death walks among you! He will be released if you don't kill the boy who carries his Echo in him!"
"Silence!" Alpha Rayleigh yelled. "Do not let his words get to you – Oliver is an innocent boy who did what he had to in order to protect us! We do not betray him."
"More lies! He lied to you about the portal. He's lying right now! That boy isn't a hero who saved you, he's the reason why this all happened! He was chosen to carry the King into this world. He is my nephew – we planned everything together!"
His words were met with a scared mumble. I could see shocked faces, angry faces, and I feared Alpha Rayleigh was losing the trust of his people.
"Planned everything together?" Alpha Rayleigh snorted at him and turned to look at his people again. "If you bird-brains believe his words even for a second, I'll cast you out of this pack."
Not a single person dared to say anything.
"It's true! I'm not lying!" Anthony yelled.
"Yes – we should definitely believe a Shadow Walker who already has invaded our lands and killed people we loved," Luna Thisalee spoke, rolling her eyes. "Riddle me this: how did you, a Shadow Walker, manage to convince the Moon Goddess, a powerful spirit, into giving one of the old world powers to my son? And why would you want to give such a power to your enemy anyway?"
Now everyone was staring at Anthony again, who obviously didn't have an answer.
"Take him away," Alpha Rayleigh scoffed. "Lock him up – I'll decide what to do with him later. And the rest of you – we need to make sure everyone is safe. If you're injured, go to the grand hall, and if you're not, my Betas could use some help dealing with the humans and detained Thorns."
I turned my attention away, searching for Arch. I waited for a moment for the crowd to get moving, but then, finally, I spotted him!
He and Tilly were walking in my way, and I was so happy to see him unharmed. I stood still just watching him, and I was so ridiculously happy that Henry wasn't whispering in my ear anymore, mocking me. Arch seemed very tired, and he was clearly worried. I could see it in his eyes. The eyes I loved so much.
They walked past me. He didn't even notice me... Of course he didn't. What did I expect...?
I turned around to watch him go, but soon he vanished behind the crowd. I sat down, feeling the familiar emptiness creeping into my heart. I stayed there for a long time, thinking about his eyes. The warmth his presence had given me was fading, leaving me cold once again.
I stood up, turned my back on him and started walking. There was no point in me staying there any longer. He was safe now.
My work here was done.