Fight for Me

The brothers made their way back to the meeting hall, lit up by countless candles and chandeliers hanging from the high rocky roof, which gave the cave a rustic yet elegant atmosphere.

Slowly the hall starts to fill up with more and more wolves. –Alphas, mates, and or any other members brought along as necessary confidants. The chattering noise quietens as four of the original five council members approach the elevated platform, serving as their stage to address their crowd.

The elderly men all look stoic, with their complete grey-hairdos as evidence of their ‘wisdom’. All four of them dressed in similar dark suits, depicting the formality of this meeting. Each of them look through the crowd as if searching for an unworthy member to be chased out. The crowd suddenly goes completely silent in the hopes of not getting any of the council members’ attention on them.

One of the members in the middle takes a step forward in the silent cave that his single step echoed against the cave walls. The slight orange in his grey hair serves as a reminder of his once bright red hair he had as a young warrior. They all know him as Ruhan, the council member who had become an alpha at the young age of sixteen, whose pack never lost a fight during his reign.

“We welcome those of you who have made it here today for this meeting. And for those alphas who could not find the time to be here today, they shall have to find other ways to defend themselves during these trying times.”

Soft whispers spread through the crowd as heads suddenly swing from side to side, as if seeking out who the absent alphas are. The comment by the man is clear. –The council will not provide support to those not present.

Especially considering that when the council calls for an emergency meeting, it is expected for an alpha to answer that call and be present.

“At least now we know who of us is actually taking any of what is currently happening seriously.”

The old man goes quiet, but soon the man on the left end takes a heavy step forward with the help of his cane. A leg injury most certainly received during vicious battles, as wolves do not suffer the typical ailments of old age as humans do. The council member they all know as Braham.

Taking another look at the crowd, he stares at everyone as if judging them with his cold gaze.

“Fear is a terrible thing,……in the hands of the weak. Berserk attacks have been endless and profuse among all our kind. Only the foolish are still in denial of what is coming. We all know now that it was the humans who created these poisons that are killing us. But you should know that these ‘experiments’” he says the word with distaste, “have been going on for far longer than many of us might think. In fact, it has been going on for a number of centuries.”

Another wave of whispers flow through the crowd as they analyze and question the information of the council members.

“Don’t be fooled.” Braham continues with his cold voice. “Humans have always feared us, hated us. Anything different from them. They have always wanted to find ways to ‘cure’ us, as they so delusionally justify it.”

“But the humans are dying in these attacks too.” One of the alphas from the standing crowd says. The crowd all turn their heads back, as they look at the alpha at the back who dares to speak up during a council member’s speech. Though, looking at who the alpha is, many stand aside as if not wanting to be caught between the two power houses. Alpha Reid is after all a man with his own reputation as his own incoming grey hairs will prove his experience, and word has already spread that he is most likely to be chosen to take up the empty position in the council. "Their deaths double in ours."

“Their plans clearly backfired.” Braham replies in a snarl.

“That is beside the point.” Another one of the old men, named Victor, with a huge scar running from his cheek down his neck steps forward, though the reprimanding look he gives to Braham does not go unnoticed before he looks back at the crowd. “Do you not understand the extent of what the humans are guilty of? These experiments of theirs have gone on for far longer than you can imagine. Have you not considered the side effects this must have had on the supernaturals?”

Victor silently stares at the crowd whispering among each other again. But with their confused looks, he continues.

“For the past century, fewer shifters are being born without their spirit animals or the ability to shift. Less wolves are finding their true mates. Fewer vampires are successfully being made and turned. Witches are being born with less and less magic if not less control over it.......... Do you not see it?” He looks at the crowd again as their whispers grow louder. “We are becoming more human.”

The whispers turn to mumbles as the crowd becomes restless.

“Everyone else has already gone into hiding. We, and the vampires are the only ones who seem willing to fight.” Braham says.

But Alpha Reid interrupts him again. “Are you saying that us wolves have no choice but to fight?”

Confusing questions get thrown at the council members as more alphas want to voice their own concerns and opinions.

“Should we endanger our packs then?”

“What about the pups?”

“What about the rumour of the Michaelson heir?”

“Who are we even fighting?”

“What about the Ghost Killer?”

“Are we to fight for the others as well?”

Braham eventually responds to Alpha Reid, as he looks straight at him.. “People are dying from all sides. Waiting it out won’t do anything, but postpone our deaths. Our annihilation.”

The room falls into a brief silence again.

“So it’s kill or be killed.” Alpha Reid says with a brief nod, as if understanding that he never had a choice to begin with.

And in just seeing Alpha Reid’s resignation to this almost-outburst between alphas and council members, many were hit by their own realization. –If Alpha Reid, who stood firm against the council, sees no other way, then perhaps there isn’t.

“The wolves will fight. We will destroy whatever poisons the humans made or could ever make. We will survive. And for those who don’t want to fight,……..don’t get in our way.” Says Ruhan.

The crowd shake their heads as if in agreement.

Though, Nick can’t help but notice the fourth council member, known as Morik, still standing a step behind the others. Not having said a single word or shown an ounce of emotion on his face with any comment made.

It’s difficult to get a read on him.

After the closing of their speech, the council members walked off the platform and insisted the rest of the evening to be enjoyed with all the catering they provided.

“I didn’t think I’d see you here, boy.”

Nick scrunches his nose as he turns to the man’s comment.

“I haven’t been a boy for years, Uncle Reid.” He says to the alpha, the man he grew up to know as his father’s friend and as an uncle.

Alpha Reid laughs loudly as he gives Nick a quick hug.

“Yes, you definitely aren’t. So, tell me, how are things with your father? I haven’t heard from him in ages.”

Nick looks at him through hooded eyes as he takes a sip of his whiskey. “I haven’t heard from him in long time.”

“I guess you two are similar in a few ways.” He says, getting an annoyed look from Nick, which only makes him laugh louder.

“Uncle Reid!” He turns when he sees Nick’s brothers approaching with excitement he was hopelessly expecting from Nick.

“Oh. Look at these young men. You surely are all grown up.” He gives a suggestive grin to Nick which he ignores with his eye-roll. “Or should I say alphas?” Reid greets the three brothers with hugs.

“How have you been Uncle Reid?” Anthony asks excitedly.

“Oh. A few scratches and broken bones here and there.”

“What? Are you okay? What happened?”

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about me.” Alpha Reid laughs at his own joke.

Maxim and Tristan laugh hysterically as realization crossed Anthony’s face.

“Yeah. These berserk attacks really do bring the beasts in our wolves out.”

“Yeah. It aint pretty.” Maxim says.

“Well,…I see it as quite therapeutic.” They look at him almost confused. “Hey, even an old man like me gets his fair share of frustrations that need to be let out every now and then.”

Alpha Reid continued his discussions with the brothers about their packs, life as an alpha and their personal lives. He even gave them a few pointers on handling certain matters as an alpha.

All the while Nick was focused on observing the ever silent council member in the far corner with his blonde-grey hair and dark eyes. A man who makes no effort in conversing with others, yet no one is even bothering to approach him either. He just keeps staring at each of his fellow council members dispersed in the crowd and at his pocket watch every now and then. Nick does however notice him glancing intensely at Alpha Reid a few times.

It’s like he’s waiting for something.

With how late it was getting, certain alphas had already started making their departures back to their respective packs. Even their uncle was out of sight.

Tristan and Melinda had already left to go back, as she had no interest to stay longer. Anthony and Jason were just getting ready to leave as they gave their greetings to Maxim and Nick.

“And here I thought you would be the first to leave.” Maxim says to Nick as Anthony left with his mate.

But Nick doesn’t answer. He never liked the idea of being forced to give an answer. Something Maxim was keen on doing to anyone he felt like questioning.

Maxim snorts as he takes a look at his watch. “Well then, I better go find my mate if we want to get going soon.”

Maxim disappears through one of the countless hallways, leaving Nick alone in the dwindling crowd.

Taking another look through the crowd, he sought out the silent mysterious council member. But it took him a few seconds longer to notice he’s nowhere in sight. Yet all the other council members are still present.

BOOM!!

A sudden thundering sound echoes through the cave, trembling the ground. Almost sounding like a muffled gigantic growl. It’s quickly followed by the crashing noises of breaking glass from the chandeliers and the cracking sound of rock as rubble falls from the shaking walls. The remaining crowd of people yell in panic and confusion.

The hall is quickly filled with a deafening silence as everyone check their surroundings. Alphas checking their mates, waiters helping others to get up, the three council members huddling together secretively.

People start voicing their concerns aloud.

“What was that?”

“Is it an attack?”

“Was it an earthquake?”

“Is everyone alright?” Asks the council member with the huge scar on his face, Victor.

But just as everyone hesitantly start nodding their heads in assurance, a scream is heard down one of the hallways.

Aaaahhh!!! “Nicholas!........NICHOLAS!!”

Abby is seen running from one of the hallways in a hurry. She searches the crowd, and as soon as she catches sight of Nick, her eyes fill with panic. He’s already rushing to her before she can even force herself to speak again.

“Hurry.” She runs back into the hallway with Nick following cloesly behind. “Maxim’s hurt.”

A couple alphas from the crowd follow, to help where they may need to.

As they rush further down the hallway, they see boulders and rocks piling up on the ground, practically blocking the hallway completely.

“Did it cave in?” One of the alphas behind Nick asks himself.

“Maxim’s caught under it.” Abby says in a panic to Nick. “He pushed me out of the way.” She starts crying.

But Nick isn’t the consoling type. And he’s sure she didn’t bring him here for that. He walks further and starts moving the heavy boulders out of the way. It takes a few seconds longer for the other two alphas to help Nick through the rubble.

“Maxim!?” Abby calls out desperately. “Maxim. Can you hear me?” In desperation she pulls herself together and joins the men in their task. She is a warrior wolf after all. “Maxim?”

Just as she rolls another boulder out of the way, she sees a bloody hand sticking out. “Nicholas. Over here.”

The men help each other in getting an unconscious Maxim out from under the rubble, and Abby grabs his face into her chest and releases a breath of relief when she hears him breathing. She gently slaps his cheek with tears in her eyes. “Maxim, please. Wake up.”

But looking up Nick notices the extent and peculiarity of the rubble. Looking back down the hall, the way they came from, he sees Braham with his cane and that cold stare of his looking at the exact same thing.

Seeing the look in Nick’s eyes, the man quickly speaks. “This was an attack.” Everyone looks back at him. “Check that everyone is safe.” He says to the two alphas in front of him. They hesitantly nod their heads before rushing back the way they came.

“What do you mean?” Victor asks in an angry tone, adding wildness to the scar on his face.

His footsteps sound through the hallway as he walks closer to the rubble. Braham leans closer to the wall and rubs his fingers against the grey dust on the walls. With a brief sniff and taste, he looks at Nick, who doesn’t seem interested in his actions but just what he might say next.

“Aluminium dust.”

“Explosives?” Victor asks in a snarl. “How? No one even knows we’re here.”

“Well someone does. Have the perimeter checked. They might still be here.” He says to the scarred man who quickly nods and walks off.

As Maxim gains weak consciousness, Abby together with Ruhan help get him to their healers for treatment.

“Everyone must leave.” Everyone looks past Nick and at the so-called silent council member, Morik, standing behind him.

How did he get there? Nick looks at the man who seems to have appeared out of nowhere.

“Morik?” Braham asks with a sneer for him to clarify.

“We’ve been attacked. And I smell blood. For the safety of everyone here, I suggest they leave now.” He looks down at his pocket watch again.

I guess he’s not that quiet of a man.

The other two council members leave in a hurry, leaving Nick and Morik alone.

“Is there a reason you’re still here?” Morik asks Nick.

But Nick just walks past him and further into the hall that was previously blocked.

“Come on. You said you smell blood.” Nick says in his deep and unbothered voice without bothering to look back.

And as expected, Morik rushes past him to take the lead.

Nick can’t help but smirk at Morik’s expected and childish need for authority, as all council members like to constantly do.