Chapter 16 Elijah was bent over his desk, deep in the pack's archives, his face lit softly by the computer screen. Aside from the old machine's soft hum and the sporadic rustle of paper as he compared digital records with old books, the room was silent.He had told Bruce the truth about Amelia's Hybrid’s ancestry three days prior. Three days of secret research, moments snatched in between his Beta responsibilities, and restless nights full of unanswered questions and growing fear.Elijah looked at the clock and rubbed his tired eyes. 2:17 A.M. He ought to have gone to bed hours ago, but he continued because he had questions. They were still missing so many pieces of the puzzle and did not know so much.Returning his attention to the screen, he slid through a database containing genealogies of packs. He was looking through a file that contained the history of the Oregon hybrid clan that Amelia's parents had been a part of. The clan was small, reclusive, and fiercely protective of thei
No!! Elijah concluded. He would have to keep this a secret from everyone else. A burden he would shoulder to keep those closest to him safe. Elijah started painstakingly destroying his findings with a sorrowful heart but determined determination. He meticulously replaced the old journals precisely where he would find them, shredded documents, and erased files. When he was finished, there was no evidence of his discovery. Elijah eventually stood, his body tense from hours of sitting, as the first rays of morning peeped through the tall windows of the archives. He took one last inspection to make sure everything was as it should be. "I apologize, Amelia," he muttered to the vacant space. "Hopefully, you will comprehend one day. For you, I am doing this." He then secured the archives door behind him and exited. Elijah readied himself for the approaching day as he wandered through the quiet hallways of the pack house. He would carry out his responsibilities as usual, look Amelia in
The pack lands were shrouded in an ethereal glow as the full moon hovered low in the sky. Bruce was standing on the balcony of his private apartment, peering off into the distance at the tree line, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The last week's disclosures affected him severely, affecting his image of his partner and their relationship. Amelia was a hybrid. Every time he thought about it, the idea still gave him a shock. A Wolf and a Vampire that is unaware of her true identity. Despite the seeming absurdity, Elijah's discoveries were indisputable. Bruce closed his eyes and let his mind travel to the first time he would meet Amelia, feeling the cool night air caress his skin. Her strength, her compassion, and her unflinching gaze that seemed to see right through his carefully built defenses had struck him right immediately. However, there was one additional aspect, that he was unable to fully identify at that moment. A link. An unexplainable attraction that overcame his initial
He was still torn between telling her and not telling her. Bruce retreated to the balcony and observed the pack lands come to life as the sun began to rise. He could see the peaceful ebb and flow of a community as pack members started their daily routines.Amelia had grown to be a vital component of that balance. Even without the full strength of being a Hybrid her work as Luna had improved things within the pack. She had created programs that improved their community and guaranteed their future, bridging the gap between wolves and humans.How would that change if people knew the real her? Would it provide her more power and enable her to further assist the pack? Or would it destroy the self-assurance she had acquired, making her doubt every choice she had made and every connection she had made?And there was the issue of security. Should rumors spread that their Luna was a werewolf in hibernation with an uncommon and potent bloodline, their pack might become a target. Some people in
Bruce sprinted through the forest ferociously and in his powerful shape of a wolf he seemed more like a machine, unmoved by the thickets surrounding trees and shrubs, and the environment around him was only green and brown. The man’s nose extended in an attempt to identify the scent of the intruder he would have noticed at the edges of the pack territory. The odor was utterly unfamiliar to him; it was even more intense than semen, being earthy, mossy, like the forest that had grown around the cabin, and something, that appeared to irritate the beast within and cause the hair on the back of the neck to stand up. It was cunning and appeared to be toying with him by the wind, might be powerful one minute and weak the next. Bruce tried as hard as he could and encouraged himself to go deep into the jungle where there was no feeling of the ground beneath his paws. This young man was left in the pack house, simply being advised to remain continually in Amelia’s company and to ensure her sa
Evening had come and Amelia was simply fed up with the situation by the time she got home. She was anxious about getting an explanation and so stormed into Bruce’s study area. But the door opened and in front of her was exhausted and quite filthy Bruce raised her hand to knock. “Amelia,” he continued, his tone slightly somber yet relieved at the same time. ”Well, I just came to look for you,” Amelia peered at him seriously noting somehow he appeared messy: his clothing was creased his shirt untucked and there were stains on his shirt, notably on his cheek there were even bits of leaves tangled in his hair. Bruce and I were laughing so hard at that joke Suddenly, Bruce: “Bruce, what happened?” “Am okay,” Finally, Bruce peered down the corridor, took her by the shoulder tenderly, walked her into the study then closed the door. He had a powerful voice as he tried to speak those words, “I am fine.” However, Amelia, we have to discuss. I need to share something with you. " Gut-wrenchin
Feeling her heartbeat so intense, Ema leaned herself against the cool stone wall outside Bruce's study, trying to hear every word of the conversation going on within.It wasn't in her goal to meddle between Bruce and Amelia’s chat. In an attempt to mend their dead friendship, she had come to the pack house hunting for her old best friend Amelia. She stopped dead in her tracks when she heard the urgency in Bruce's voice as he hauled her into his study. Now that the surprising facts were coming to light, Ema could not shake the feeling as though everything around was altering tremendously. Amelia, a Hybrid? It did not seem feasible. Ema had been Amelia's friend since childhood and had known her for many years. They had exchanged everything: secrets, dreams, and hopes. Or so she had believed. As Ema listened intently to Bruce spells out the conditions for Amelia, a nasty taste entered her mouth. Amelia had been unusual all along. Different. Strong. She was oblivious to it. Ema
Ema warmed in excitement at Caroline’s sentiments. A real Luna. Yes, that was her lifetime ambition, was it not? What she would give all the brightness of her intellect to? But it was Amelia at issue here. She had seemed so innocent when she had come as a bride to the Alpha. But now that her true color was exposed, there had to be a way to tackle her and everything she stood for. But there was a quiet, persistent voice in her thoughts urging ‘Be careful’. They were referring to this Amelia. Caroline loosed a controlled smile at Ema but the keen glimmer in her eyes remained discernibly antagonistic. “Oh, Ema. Shut up, don’t you realize that Amelia is not the buddy you have known for such time now, she has been telling lies – to you, to us, maybe even subconsciously, she is not like us, she is an abomination!’ A brief look at the face rendered Ema feel uneasy by the phrases that were just used; all along she had been feeling as though she was left out, or rather replaced by Amelia. Be
The chilly, silvery light of the moon cast a ghostly appearance on the forest combat. The trees cast thick shadows on the ground below, as if they were quiet guardians from long ago, keeping watch over the clearing. Like the quiet before a storm, there was a great deal of tension in the air. The pack members were aware of everything that was happening in the woods and were prepared. In the front row was Bruce. His hazel eyes searched the dark treeline as he stood there, his muscles tight. As the vampires drew nearer, it was obvious what they wanted: to capture Amelia, which would permanently break the magical equilibrium.His mind raced at the scent of invaders in the air. My pack was prepared to fight, but this was not a back-to-back fight. This altercation started because of the woman next to me. Amelia stood with her heart racing, her gaze fixed on the woods. She was instinctively aware that the vampires desired her for her inherent power rather than her hybridity. Her res
The situation was tense, and neither Bruce nor Elijah seemed to be persuaded by Ema's remarks. They exchanged skeptical glances. In a display of barely controlled anger, Bruce tightened his jaw and drummed his fingers softly against the chair's armrest. Elijah broke the stillness with the first words. "Ema, you were always close to him." Why the sudden shift in opinion? "Why now?" Uncomfortably, Ema moved under their gaze. "I am aware of your lack of faith in me, and I doubt I would anticipate any other behavior from you. However, I lost everything when I saw Amelia in her cage. In addition to opposing the status quo, the Black Hooded Wolf is working to destroy everything, including your organization, Bruce. That includes you, Elijah. Relationships between vampires and werewolves are not concerns for him. He is adamant on gaining power, even if it means losing everyone. Deep in his throat, Bruce's wolf growled, and his eyes darkened. "Do you think we would accept it if your l
The Black Hooded Wolf then turned to face her, the whites of his eyes filled with an electric concentration in the blackness of his hood. "Now, my dear Ema, we go to the next level," he added, smiling sarcastically, recalling how Bruce and Elijah drove him into this corner, compelling him to act, raise the stakes, and ensure everyone recognized what a threat this woman was.He stood up and began walking all over the place, his steps precise and nervous. 'They believe they have triumphed, that by saving the girl, they have brought the situation to a close. Instead, they've just produced a symbol for their dumb crusade. Something more must be done immediately to prevent the girl from being induced to go through the motions of motivating the warriors.Ema simply nodded, with a puzzled expression on her face. But how? The hybrid is gone, and the majority of our comrades were captured or killed during the assault.When the Black Hooded Wolf spoke again, his lips twisted into a vicious s
The Black Hooded Wolf clenched his fists in anger as he perched atop one of the hills, looking down at the property below. He could hear the noises of sirens and yells in the night—the clamor of failure and missed opportunities. The only thing left for him was his prize, the half-breed monster he had been hunting for days, but the freak had fled. The wrath that aliens were going to consume him along with nostalgic thoughts of a different existence filled him up. He closed his eyes and let the stream of memories transport him back to a time when he saw retribution as a life goal rather than a continual obsession. Nathaniel Blackwood, a proud Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack thirty years ago, has transformed into this. They were formerly affluent people living in a picturesque region with lush trees and clear streams. It is a lovely area for one kind of creature, werewolves, or at least the ones who live in this den—a paradise as described by the cheerful souls in the wilds. Nathanie
They encountered some small opposition in the concrete corridors and walks, which took the form of hit and run, but they were able to overcome it. As Bruce and his dementor swooped on their adversaries, they were like twin forces of nature, tearing through everything dumb enough to stand in their path. As they descended to the bottom level of the property, the stink of terror turned to despair. They glided past corridors of cells, the bulk of which were deserted; the few others had shadows that moved away as soon as Bruce and company approached. "We'll be back for them," Elijah whispered to Bruce, his gaze scouring the room for any trace of Amelia. After wandering along a long corridor, they eventually found her. Amelia was spread out in a fetal position within a cage that could barely fit her, with an IV drip connecting her arm to a vile-looking purple liquid. The girl appeared quite unwell; her skin was pale and sweaty, and she had difficulty breathing. The man jumped up and d
It was a full moon night, and the moon was practically reaching the treetops. The forest was dense, as was the pack territory. Two people stood behind a convenient thicket, breathing with regard and suppressing wrath, their muscles tensed in anticipation. Alpha Bruce, with his muscular build, remained rigid as a coiled spring became increasingly agitated as he hurried across the compound, while Beta Elijah sat against a tree, eyes closed as if in deep meditation. Three days had gone since Amelia's kidnapping, three days that could be described as torture for both men. When Ema attacked them, they were overwhelmed and motionless, allowing the traitor to seize Amelia and go. Even after so many years had passed since the incident that had instilled so much hatred in Bruce, he still remembered it, which caused him to remain full of anger." Have you heard anything from our scouts?" Bruce demanded, hissing, and stopped walking to glare at Elijah. Elijah blinked and glanced at
It was as if someone had ripped her heart into pieces; she was in so much pain. Not only was she imprisoned and made powerless, but she also lost her friend, and the pain of that loss was as deep as a flesh wound. ‘What are you going to do to me?’ she began to say, dreading that she sounded all too small and afraid." Amelia asked.In minutes, the light failed, and only the figure of the stranger in a hood was clearly seen, his smile reflecting the only living light as he said, ‘My dear, you are free to go’, and that chill ran right through Amelia’s body. ‘Of course,’ the first one sneered, ‘we’ll conduct a detailed examination of your special physiology, and when we get all the information we want, we will kill you.’ Amelia felt herself panic, and it seemed to give her a boost in energy in a desperate move. She stood up and rushed to the structure with the bars of the cage, and she grabbed the bars with her shaky hands. You cannot do that! I have rights; I have a family that will co
When Amelia started to fully wake up, the first thing that came to mind was the severe, long-lasting pain she was feeling all over her body. For a moment, she tried to open her eyes but couldn't because their lids were so swollen. The air around her was charged, and it smelled like mold, dirt, and general disuse. Before Amelia could get too comfortable, the guards heard her trying to wake up. That's when she realized she wasn't in her bed at home. She finally got them open after a lot of trouble. That's when she realized she was in the middle of a nightmare. It felt like hell. There was a cold, cruel, and temporary iron wall around her, making it hard for her to move her arms. Along the sides of the bars, there were thick, rough walls that were almost always damp and covered in different shades of green mold. Fear filled Amelia's heart, and she began to think very quickly about what could have brought her to this terrible situation. The last thing she recollects to have don
The conflict continued on the training field, with animals, claws, and energy blasts clashing with one another. Amelia got puzzled about what was going on, looking like a haze from the rush of adrenaline and terror. She watched Bruce and Elijah fight, and despite her best efforts to remain calm, she was fascinated by their prowess and strength. But for every assailant they eliminated, two more appeared to emerge from the woodwork. Even though it is difficult to believe, Ema's numerical advantage was overwhelming. Amelia could feel herself becoming not just exhausted but also languid and less quick-witted as her precious reservoirs of power dwindled. A piercing hiss of anguish blended with the sound of battling. Amelia looked back and saw Bruce struggling, hurt, and bleeding. Three enormous wolves surrounded him and the Alpha, one of whom went for a bite on his throat, knocking him to the ground. Bruce! Amelia began to struggle with the Guardsmen in an attempt to reach him, sho