Chapter 22

Sebastian's POV 

I walked into the meeting room, wondering what the issue was this time. Eleanor had called an emergency meeting for all the pack Alphas, and I felt a flicker of excitement at the thought of seeing her again. As I took my seat, I noticed murmurs of discontent from some of the other Alphas.

"What's the point of these meetings?" one of them grumbled. "We have duties to attend to, packs to run."  

I felt a surge of defensiveness for Eleanor. "If she has called us here, it's because she has something important to share," I said firmly, my voice carrying a quiet authority.

The room slowly quieted as Eleanor stepped forward. Her servants entered carrying three trays, each adorned with mounted skulls. The sight of the skulls brought a heavy feeling of unease over the room, and all eyes were fixed on them as if they held a secret meaning.

I couldn't help but wonder what Eleanor was planning. Why had she summoned us, and what did the skulls signify? My mind raced with questions as I waited for her to speak.

Elenor took the floor with a calm and confident air. "For months, I have heard disturbing rumors of a sect of humans who call themselves werewolf hunters," she began. Her voice was steady, and every word carried weight. "They have been hunting and killing our kind, and I have been tracking them. A few days ago, I finally found them. I made sure to take care of the threat."

At her words, the room erupted into mixed reactions. Some Alphas looked relieved, even pleased that Elenor had taken bold action. Others appeared scared, worried that her actions might upset the fragile balance between humans and werewolves.

"Are you sure this was wise?" asked one Alpha, his voice trembling as he spoke. "We cannot just go around killing humans. It is not right."

Eleanor's face remained calm, though her eyes flashed with a hint of anger as she replied, "The humans started this war. They have been hunting us for years, killing us without mercy. I am not talking about harming innocent humans. I am talking about taking out those who are responsible for the killings of our kind."

I listened carefully, feeling both admiration and concern. Eleanor’s actions were bold and driven by a deep need for justice. Yet, I also understood the weight of her decision. The balance between our worlds was delicate, and every action had its consequences.

I looked around the room, trying to read the expressions of my fellow Alphas. Some nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination, while others still showed worry over the possible fallout of this confrontation with the hunters. It was clear that while many appreciated Eleanor’s efforts to protect our kind, they were also aware of the potential dangers in escalating the conflict.

Taking a deep breath, I added softly, "Eleanor, if we are to move forward, we must be certain of our path. Our strength lies in unity, and we must work together to ensure that our actions do not lead to further harm for either our people or the humans who do not share the hunters' cruel ways."

The room fell silent again as Eleanor met my gaze. Her eyes, fierce and determined, promised that she had thought long and hard about every step she would take. In that moment, I realized that while her actions were controversial, they were born of pain and the desire to protect our kind from a threat that had haunted us for too long.

As the meeting continued, I listened intently to the discussion among the Alphas. Every word, every opinion, was weighed carefully as we tried to find the balance between defense and aggression. I could feel the tension in the room, but I also sensed a growing resolve. Eleanor’s leadership had brought us together once again, and I knew that whatever lay ahead, we would face it as one pack—strong, united, and ready to fight for our future.

I wasn't sure if it was the sight of those dead skulls that had brought back the terrible nightmares I once suffered as a child, but that night, as I finally lay down to sleep, the nightmares returned with a vengeance. In the dream, I found myself wandering through a dark forest. The trees were burning, their branches crackling in the heat, and the air was filled with the agonized screams of werewolves. I watched in horror as they ran for their lives, desperate to escape the roaring flames that consumed everything in their path. I saw their bodies engulfed in fire, and no matter how hard I tried, I could do nothing to save them.

Then, in a moment of unbearable terror, I looked up and saw that the source of the raging fire was not some natural disaster—it was being unleashed by other werewolves. 

Their kind.

The image was so vivid and brutal that it seared itself into my mind. I woke up with a start, my heart pounding wildly and my sheets drenched in sweat, as if I had truly been there in that fiery nightmare.

Lying there in the quiet darkness of my room, I struggled to catch my breath. I knew deep inside that this was not merely a dream. It was a memory—one that I had long tried to bury away. I recalled that it was tied to my past, a dark part of my life that my father had been responsible for. His actions, his cruelty, had helped shape me into the arrogant and self-centered person I had become. 

Those nightmares had faded when I was a teenager, and I had convinced myself that I had moved on. Yet now, they had come back, awakened by something about Eleanor. Somehow, her presence and her actions stirred up feelings and memories that I thought were safely hidden away. I felt a mix of emotions—regret, guilt, and an aching sadness for the pain I had once experienced and for the part of myself that I had lost along the way.

As I lay there, trying to calm my racing heart, I realized that Elenor had unknowingly forced me to confront those old wounds. The past, with all its painful memories, was rising again, and I wasn't sure how to deal with it. In that long, silent moment, I understood that I had no choice but to face these buried

emotions if I ever hoped to move forward.