The Blessed One

Chapter 3

***Dominic***

It was the middle of the night, but I couldn't sleep. Something in me was just telling me not to fall asleep, so I found myself sitting in the kitchen with a small lantern lit drinking some milk. I was only 13 so I haven't gotten my wolf yet but I felt restless. What really drew my attention though was the muffled voices and sounds of many footsteps through the halls.

I've occasionally sat in on my father's meetings with his Beta and other Alphas, so I knew the way to his office. I grabbed my lantern and quietly made my way.

The large wooden door to his office was left cracked and there was a soft glow of candlelight in the room. Some of the voices were muffled and there were a few grunts of pain. Carefully peeking my head in I saw my dad, his Beta and Gamma, and our packs healer. There was a man on the table. He looked young, but he had a large wound on his stomach that was dripping blood. The metallic smell of blood permeated the air.

“Gabh air do shocair, son.” dad had allowed some of his aura to flow. It was strong enough to almost make me want to submit, even without my wolf. The man calmed down despite a few sobs of pain and grunts. “Now tell me what happened.”

“We were attacked. My alpha sent me here for help. He sent multiple wolves to all of his allies. This was no normal attack. It was a war. We were attacked in the middle of night by both rogues and enemy packs. It was a slaughter. O mo chreach, everyone was dying.” I could hear the pain and worry in his voice.

“What is your rank? Which pack? Do you know a reason for the attack?” the questions were rattled off by my dad's beta.

The man nodded. “I am Gamma of the Highland Pack. The reason we were attacked...it was…” he grunted loudly as the healer placed a few stitches though I heard my dad and our Beta gasp in shock. I had heard of the Highland pack. They are one of our allies. I had heard rumors of magic and gifts from the goddess for that pack.

“How long ago…” dad said, hanging his head. Alpha Lou was close with my father, so I'm sure he was taking this hard.

“I ran as fast as my wolf would carry me. About an hour ago.” he got from the highlands to here in an hour? That's at least a 3 hour run.

“Damien or Allue?”

The gamma shook his head. “We always had a backup plan in place for something like this. Our beta and his mate took them to an undisclosed location. I don't know if they made it yet or not. No one knew the location except our Alpha and Beta couple to prevent treason. Our alpha stayed behind with our luna to fight and defend the pack.”

Who is Allue and Damien? Are they the alpha's children?

“We will gather some warriors and come to your aid. Stay here. Heal. rest. tha thu sàbhailte.” the gammas eyes filled with unshed tears and dad looked up and caught me standing at the door. Uh oh.

“Dom, come here.” he had an edge to his voice, but he didn't seem upset. I'm sure the information he just received was enough to dampen his mood.

I walked in and bowed to my father in respect. I may be the next in line, but I was taught to show respect to all alphas and elders.

“How much did you hear?”

I raised my blue eyes to meet his gaze. “All of it sir.”

He sighed. “Get ready. We are going to help the Highland pack. This will be a good learning opportunity for you. You stay close to me and the Beta.” I nodded and turned to look at the gamma one more time. He looks like he finally passed out from the pain.

“Dominic, Let's go.” I scurried off to catch up with my father.

He was in the armory gearing up. He wore nothing but leather pants, bracers on his arms, boots, and an arm band with our pack seal embroidered on its fabric. He grabbed both a sword, knife, and ax and strapped them to his belt. I put on my arm bracers, and armor, since I don't have my wolf to shift and protect me with, I chose to wear full armor... There were several other wolves grabbing weapons dressed similarly to my father. Some wearing armor some not. and one of Docs medics grabbing a kit full of anything he might need.

My dad cleared his throat and addressed the warriors we were bringing with us. He explained the gravity of the situation and the treaty we have with this pack. Within a few minutes everyone was ready to go and marching out. I picked up a sword that was specially made for me and strapped it to my hip.

As we walked out my mother was waiting for us on the terrace. The wind was blowing strong tonight and the salty smell from the sea was strong, I could even hear the waves crashing against the wall at the bottom of the castle.

My mom bowed to my father and I cringed. They've never been close even though they are fated mates. Father refused to allow anyone close to his heart for fear of appearing weak. Strength is his number one goal, that and making sure his heir is ready to take over his throne. My mother however meets my gaze and I see concorn flash across her eyes. She must not have been aware that I was going, but she knows better than to question father judgement. What he says goes. Whatever emotion she was feeling she masked it quickly and walked over to me. She's always been warm and motherly to me behind closed doors.

“Fuirich sàbhailte, my son.” she kissed the top of my head and ruffled my brown hair. I hugged her back and promised I'd return without a scratch.

“Any word on Allue and Damien?” she asked dad. He looked peeved that she'd ask about pack matters like this, but she is close with the Luna of the Highland pack, so he relents.

“Word is they escaped. No idea if they are alive or dead. I will talk more about it when I return. But we must hurry. The news is not good.” she frowned but approached my father and touched her forehead to his.

“Soraidh slàn, mate.”

He returns the gesture and she smiles. A forehead touch or pressing your cheek against another It is a sign of respect and acknowledgment. I think deep down my father does love his mate, but he is so afraid of his emotions making him look weak and having something or someone as a weakness to him prevents him from showing it.

He kissed her cheek and motioned for me to join him at the front of the troops.

The omegas brought out enough horses for our men, even a carriage to serve as an ambulance.

“Father, why are we not shifting and running?” He mounted his horse and gestured for me to do the same.

“Because one, you cannot shift. Secondly we have too much weaponry being brought with us. And thirdly we are bringing extra carriages to carry any wounded survivors we find. We will be shifting when we get there but logically travelling there on horseback is better.”

I mounted my horse and thought about his answer. It made sense. I wondered how many injured there would be? Would there be any casualties? I'm sure there will be, this is war after all.

There was a loud howl coming from the castle. A howl that was filled with Pain in anguish.

“What was that?” I asked and my dad's facial features contorted. His eyes glazed over as he linked someone. Seconds passed and with each passing one his face grew more contorted, mad, and fearful.

“We must hurry. Now!” He didn't give any other instruction. Just a howl to signal our charge and took off.

I kicked my horse a bit to get her to catch up with my father. I happened to hear our beta and his end conversation. “That was the Gamma. He is inconsolable, clutching his chest, causing further injuries. The doctor said it sounds like the bond with either his alpha, luna or both breaking... I don't know which one, but either Lou or Alaria has been killed.” he pushed his horse to run faster. He was worried. So was I, an alpha being killed was never good, neither is a luna. If we don't get there soon, I can only imagine how many other will die.

We got about 2 miles from the packs borders and you could smell the smoke. We slowed our horses to a walk so we could observe better. The ash and the dust burnt your nose with every breath. What was really shocking was no one stopped us at the border. Not a single wolf or patrol unit.

My dad and the beta eyed each other with suspicion. This wasn't good. The iron and copper scent of blood filled the air the further we got into the borders.

"Father, look!" I shouted and pointed to their castle engulfed in flames. Bodies. There were bodies everywhere. The medics hopped off their horses and rushed towards the chaos checking to see who was alive and who had lost their lives. So far it was grim.

"Angus... this... we're too late."

My dad didn't respond he just surveyed everything. He got off his horse and secured the reins and the Beta and I followed suit. "Let's check inside. It looks like some parts of the castle aren't in flames yet."

I took my sword out incase the enemy was still here, but it seemed they were long gone.

We had checked almost every room we could. There were dead omegas scattered throughout the territory and castle, warriors and elders, women and children, they were all slaughtered.

We got to the alphas office and what was beyond the door I will never forget. Blood was everywhere. The stone flooring, the walls, the drapes, it was as if they chose Blood as paint. But what really scarred me was the alpha couple. The Luna lay on the floor in a puddle of Blood with her throat slit, while alpha Lou cradled her body in his arms with a sword sticking out of his back. He wasn't moving, he wasn't breathing. He was dead with his mate still clutched in his hands.

"It looks like they killed Alaria first. With the severing of the mate bond Lou didn't even see them attack. That or his wolf didn't care anymore." my father took a deep breath and placed his hand on Alpha Lou and said a prayer in gaelic to the goddess. He removed the sword and went to pick him up while our Beta picked up their Luna.

"Father, look…" I pointed at the wall written in blood on the only clean part of the wall it said. "we will find them. Damien and Allue will be ours."

"We need to find them before someone else does. If this message is true then this whole pack was decimated because someone wanted their child. I didn't believe him when he told me. He said people had been propositioning him to purchase Damien and Allue. Word of the goddesses gift and blessing spread and people grew fearful and jealous... arranged marriages are not uncommon but purchasing another alphas child for this... it's unheard of. These aren't rogues were dealing with. Not entirely. This is a pack. Whether it be just one or multiple banning together... this is war. If only we had arrived in time... is there any survivors?" Our beta called in a soldier and asked for an update.

"So far we have found 10 survivors. 7 warriors, 3 and children. Every other child, adult, warrior, and elder have been slaughtered, alpha." he said with a shaky voice. The news he just delivered…

"How many dead and how many missing?"

The warrior pulled out a list and handed it to my father. He compared notes of pack rosters on Alpha Lous desk. "O mo chreach...493 warriors, 60 women, 35 elders, 20 male wolves, and well over 100 children. What ages there isnt any description?" The warrior released a shaky breath.. "most were infants and children under age 10. There were a few teenagers as well. What would you like us to do with the bodies?"

I couldn't believe my ears. Over 700 wolves have been slaughtered in less then a few hours. This pack was well trained, they trained our warriors. This was a calculated attack. I couldn't even fathom the pandemonium that went on tonight. All for what? 2 children who had been blessed by the goddess?

I grew angry. All these lives lost for 2 children their alphas children, but 700 lives to save 2 seemed wrong. I would have handed them over. Hell I would have killed them myself. I growled in anger. This allue and Damien better hope I never find them.