Merida
We were all monsters and bastards, and we were all beautiful.
The low crackle of the fire in the corner of the room was the only sound that filled the otherwise tense silence. The dim light from the flames flickered, casting long shadows across the solid dark blue walls. I stood near the table, arms crossed over my chest, my posture tense as I studied the port map laid out before us.
Carlos stood across the table from me, his fingers settling thoughtfully over the part of the map that touched a group of warehouses. His eyes were steady, unwavering.
The other wolves in the room were the same. Focused, alert. The air around them felt the same as any wolf about to track down prey.
Carlos and his pack were hungry for blood. Ready for the hunt.
"They're gathering here?" I questioned, my voice laced with a fierce hardness. "Are you sure they're nothing more than a group of stray vamps? It seems... meticulous? Planned, even?"
Carlos didn't flinch at what many Alphas would consider an insult. His gaze remained steady, focused. He's been an Alpha long enough to keep his mind straight, but surely, he had to have seen it as well. "Possibly, but vamps that stick together simply need a place to hide. Especially, if they don't have a clan to protect them, and from what I've gathered from the nobles, they clearly don't."
My eyes met his, a flicker of concern crossing my face for just a moment before I buried it. The last thing I need is to show an ounce of uncertainty in front of Carlos's pack. "If they did, they'll be starting a war they can't win against Peter."
"You've fought them before." A tall wolf with sandy blonde hair tied into a bun. He was almost as tall as Carlos but his tan skin was lighter and his frame thinner. "Is there anything you can remember that'll help us?"
I nodded, my mind racing as I ran over the details of my past encounter weeks ago. "They move fast naturally. But they don't work together, not as a vampires typically would. All of them were strong, but had they fought as a unit, we wouldn't have beaten them. We taken out as many as we could, but there's no telling if they replaced those numbers. On top of that, there were many openings so it's easy to fight them one on one, the tricky part is when they overwhelm you."
The wolves listened and nodded. "We should team our warriors up. If they're as unorganized as before it'll be the safest route." Another wolf, a well built man with green eyes and fiery red hair stated.
Carlos watched her intently, his brow furrowing in thought as he considered her words. "And what about their leader?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXP5wsZe5U
"I didn't get the chance to fight him." Suddenly, my mind shot back to that night. In the midst of the chaos, the man who I assumed to be the group's leader wasn't focused on the initial fight. It was more so he was intently honed in on something else. 193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRIvU90dtV
Mia.
Melody stirred with me angered by the memory. Because of everything that happened after the attack, I haven't gotten the chance to talk with Mia about that. About why their leader seemed to go directly after her. Could that be why she left?
With that and the attack on Alex, Mia's sister, it seems likely. God, I'm a fucking idiot. I was so blinded by my anger that I failed to realize the truth behind Mia actions. But why didn't she tell me?
Well, seeing it now, I was a massive bitch during our argument. Making a mental note, I remind myself to sit down with her after this is all over.
"Their leader is the one who likely led the attack against Alex, I don't know why but it seems he's targeting my mate and her sister."
Carlos nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. "When she confirms it, I'll make sure to deal with him personally, if what you say is true then we should also add extra wolves to protect them."
My lips curled into a sharp smile, a glint of approval crossed over my eyes. "Agreed." It was probably going to be the first and last thing we might agree on.
Carlos studied her for a long moment, before he pushed himself back from the table. "Leo, Rich, I want you to take four men each to the west and east ends of the port. Damon and I will sniff out their location and call you in to trap them. We'll only have an hour to corner them before the sun rises so move quickly."
With a nod, his men hurried out the room, leaving the both of us alone. I take the moment to glance about the office. Unlike Father, Carlos's office was similar to a Mediterranean villa almost. Mixed in the solid blues were patterns of a vibrant red and gold. The floors were polished with a rustic wood the color of Mia's eyes.
His furniture was a mixture of modern and rustic that created the strange blend of a warm home with the cold tense feeling of a business office. Glass and wood decorated the place eloquently with table tops being sleek and the base being glossed over wood carvings that curved beautifully into the floor. The chairs in the space were a mixture of soft and plush fading red fabric and harden light tan leather, such as the chair Carlos was sitting in now.
He sat at his desk with a glass of whisky in hand, staring into the flames like Father would do sometimes. Watching him like this makes him seem less intimidating and more calmer, welcoming.
I check my phone and realize that we have about two hours until we depart. Everything in me so desperately wishes to run back to Mia, knowing what I do now. I want to apologize, hold her, kiss her. To do anything to make up for the space our argument has caused.
Granted, we shared that moment in her living room, but it wasn't enough. In my heart, I know there's so much more that I need to do to bring us closer, to trust each other so much that we'll never have a misunderstanding like this again.
"Want a drink?" Carlos tips his glass to me. The brown liquor sliding back and forth from the sudden movement.
"I should be getting ready." I reply, politely declining the offer.
He snorted. "We have two hours before we leave. Sit," The word was nothing short of a simple command disguised as an offer, Melody stirred slightly. "and relax. I fought many fights like this before, it'll be over before you know it."
I took to one of the softer seats close to him and helped myself to a glass of the same whiskey he was drinking. With one sip, the heat licked its way down my throat but did nothing to calm my wolf. Part of me enjoyed the earthly undertone with a bite of citrus while another part of me wanted to gag at its overbearing strength. "It's good." I complemented.
"I got it from a friend who didn't appreciate the taste."
"I see." Another sip. "You seem confident that this'll go well." I tell him, referring to our upcoming battle.
"Because I know it will." He scoffed.
"These are rogue vampires we're dealing with. They weren't easy to fight the first time."
Carlos shook his head. "Noble, stray, mixed, fake. They're all the same."
My ears picked up on the last word, that had barely came out as a whisper from him. "Fake?"
"There's very few noble vampire clans in the region." He continues. "Rumors spread. Families bicker. Heirs have fights. An experienced alpha can smell an opportunity from a mile away."
Is this a lecture or something?
"Which of the noble clans gave you the intel?" I inquired, curious about how this alpha was able to figure out the one behind the attack on Saga Moon and on Mia's sister.
Carlos glanced over at me for a moment. "De Magnus Nezerah. They're an old family that came over a hundred years ago searching for power. It's seems they're 'crestfallen'.
"What's that?" I take another sip, interested in a vampire family I've never heard of.
"It's a term the clans use to describe a noble family that's lost their power. I don't know how they lost it, but I do know they've been trying everything to get it back. Even if that means making deals with beings even the Devil himself wouldn't." Those last three words slip from Carlos' lips in a quiet mumble towards the glass of liquor, as if he was speaking to it directly.
Unseelie. That's the only word that comes to mind with Carlos' description. They're powerful but beautiful in a cruel and merciless way.
I repeat the thought to him and tips his glass my way.
"Among other things, yes."
Carlos takes a sip of his glass, staring into the flames. The brown liquor settled into my nerves calming them down.
"You see Alphas like your father and I... we have to make difficult decisions. Decisions that many would consider us monsters for, in order to protect the people we care for. But remember this: monsters like us aren't born - we're created."
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