Fathers Death

AVA.

I hurriedly packed my things into the small box I decided I was going to use for my escape. My father was currently positioned at the door his eyes fixed to the pack hall at the distance acting as a look out.

The last thing I wanted was for the gathering in the hall to dismiss and people started filling out. I wouldn't be able to make my escape as effortlessly as I wanted to if that happened.

But I knew I was worrying for nothing. The ritual of inaugurating a new Luna into a pack wasn't something that was trifle, it took a good couple of hours.

Knowing the pack customs the gathering in the hall were likely to stay there for quite some time as Zane was the meticulous type.

Just as soon as I was done with the last couple of clothes I wanted to pack with me I heard a yell rise from somewhere outside. As I listened closer I realized it was coming from the direction of the hall.

I felt goose bumps spread across my skin. That didn't sound like a yell of excitement, rather ominous like something terribly bad had just happened.

"Dad, what's going on?" I called out from the bedroom to my father who was in the living room.

"Seems like something happened back there in the hall, I can't really what it os from here."

Snapping the box shut I walked out of the room, box in my hands, ready to get out of this goddamn place.

"You ready?"

"Sure as hell."

Just as we approached the door a sharp knock assaulted the wood.

I and my father paused unsure of who it was. Was I being called back to the hall, if that was the case it going to be a major issue as I didn't want to linger around the pack anymore.

"Who is that?" I called out gripping the box tightly a dreadful feeling washing over me.

"It's me Bane," a voice called out from behind the door.

Bane was the chief enforcer of the pack; extremely skilled and violent..

"What is it?" I frowned.

"The Alpha wants to see you" He said curtly.

"Is there a problem?" 

There was silence at the door before the knock came again like Bane hadn’t heard the question I just asked.

"The Alpha wants to see you, Ava."

Ava. Bane had never called me by my name before; he always addressed me as Luna in the past. It was a startling reminder of the fact that I had lost everything.

My father stood tense by my side, his eyes fixed to the door and I could hear a low growl emanating from his throat.

"And I asked you…"

"You don't give me orders Ava. The Alpha wants to see you and you have to come with me."

I stood there shell shocked, my ears barley believing what I had just heard. Something was wrong that much was evident.

The knock came again this time louder than before and then it switched to banging. It was clear Bane was trying to break down the door.

"Through the back," I hissed pulling my father who didn't budge.

"Let me gave a go at him, how dare he" he growled his eyes, flashing amber.

"Dad please" I begged. "Now is not the time to fight, I need you with me something's wrong I can feel it."

Sensing my desperation, my father jerked his eyes away from the door and stared at me, the amber dying down.

"Lead the way."

I moved quickly, crossing the living room before diverting to the kitchen. By now the banging in front of the door had morphed to crashes as Bane doubled his efforts to smash down the door. 

                                                                                                                                             

I led my father past the kitchen toward a small door at the end of the kitchen that led to the back of the house which in turn cut through a path that was my ticket out of here.

As soon as I pulled the door shut I was instantly aware of three shapes moving quickly towards the pack house running full speed.

"What's going on? my father asked his voice agitated.

"I don't know" I murmured, my heart racing wildly as adrenaline poured into my bloodstream.

There was a final crash that echoed around the house and a roar of fury which let me know Bane had managed to get into the house.

“Ava!” Bane roared from behind us.

Fuck it. Something was definitely going in and i was clueless about it.

I moved outside and as the three shapes came closer it became evident who they were.

Three Betas; Lou, Ben and Tom. All part of Zane’s personal warrior pack, all highly skilled and as violent as Bane.

What the heck was going on?

There was a snarl behind us as Bane suddenly appeared, his eyes flashing amber, his lips curled to reveal his fangs, his claws out in the air gleaming.

"Come with us Ava. You've been charged with poisoning the current Luna Cassie. Any injury inflicted on you in the cause of your refusal to come with us is on your head."

I felt like someone has smashed something solid on my head as my feet suddenly became wobbly, my world spinning for a few seconds as I became light-headed.

                                                        

Cassie poisoned? By me? What the hell was Bane talking about?

My father stepped up to Bane, his natural six-foot plus height towering over a five foot seven Bane staring down on him his features already wolf.

"Lay a finger on my daughter and you'll regret ever calling her Ava."

It was obvious Bane and the other three wolves were afraid of my father. None of them moved even though they were all primed and ready for action.

I licked my lips and gripped the dagger that was hidden in the sleeves of my blouse feeling the cold metal hilt press into my palms. I wasn't going down without a fight that much was certain.

"I didn't poison Cassie, where the hell is this accusation coming from."

Bane opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by my father.

"She said she didn't poison that whore parading herself as your Luna, now shut your trap."

"Either way Alpha's orders?" Bane growled his duty to Zane overcoming his fear.

From the corner of my eyes behind me, I saw Tom lunge forward and at the same time, Bane moved toward my father. My father ducked avoiding Bane's blow as he threw his weight forward, wrapping his hands around Bane's torso, lifting him clear off the ground and throwing him upwards. 

Bane hit the parapet above my father and fell to the ground in a heap, wood and plaster falling down atop him. My father kicked him inside the house and followed suit.

I moved quickly too, as soon as Tom cleared the distance between us I turned around teeth flashing eyes glowing. Deftly pulling the dagger out if my sleeve I hurled it at him.

The dagger rotated tip on end in the air before it sank into Tom's heart sending him reeling backwards as he pulled futilely at it blood leaving his lips.

I growled and lunged for Ben who was running toward me already halfway to his wolf form furs matted around his body. I ran straight at him already calculating my next move.

Halfway to me, Ben leaped into the air completing the change and landing on the ground with powerful paws.

I was already halfway done with my shift and as soon as Ben reached me, muzzle wide open, jaws extended to clamp on my neck, I swiped sideways with my paws colliding with his muzzle a knocking him of balance as my claws raked across his skin.

Ben hit the ground and just before he came up I was already atop him, claws raking across his skin digging deep into flesh and dawning blood.

I was rage and rage was me.

Suddenly I was knocked off him to see Lou’s snarling coming around me in circles, snapping, growling. I mirrored his movements waiting for the right opening to strike.

There was a shattering of glass and Bane flew out of one of the windows of the house, he hit the ground and lay there unmoving.

My father leaped out of the window and stood over Bane staring down at him like a prey. Lou was distracted and I seized my chance to strike.

His neck was free and I moved quickly, jaws clamping around his neck as I bit. My wolf was heavier and my bite grip was stronger.

Using my weight as momentum I lifted Lou into the air slamming him down on the ground an only releasing him when I felt the warm trickle of blood on my jaws.

Lou dropped to the ground unmoving. Damage done I shifted back to my human form.

My father stepped away from Bane and was heading over to me when I saw movement to my left. It was a blur, so fast I barely had time to call out his name.

Zane was standing behind my father and kicked at his legs as my father dropped to his knees. On his knees, he tried to stand back up, but Zane yanked at his hair and in a swift motion his claws flashed past my father's throat a spray of blood following it.

I was aware of a terrible sound escaping my throat before I finally realized I was screaming.