Chapter 39: Chapter 39
KIARA’S POV
My lips spread into a wide smile as I watched Nivaan and Richard train the werewolves in the use of silver weapons. Alpha Orville and Alpha Rodreo had agreed to help us and had sent five volunteers each to learn the techniques.
We had hired human designers to design special clothes and gloves for all the werewolves. This would keep them safe while they wielded silver weapons.
Draco had managed to snag a thousand pieces of jade rings from a dealer. Valence had already spelled them and immersed them in herbs. Now, she was busy guarding them.
“Luna…” Layla’s sweet voice drew my attention to her. She was a young girl who had volunteered to take care of my health. Though she was a teenager, she sounded like my grandmom when she gave me advice.
I chuckled slightly as she stood there glaring at me with a bowl of soup in her hand. She was surely going into grandma mode now.
“Luna Kiara, what are you doing here in this scorching sun? It is very bad for your baby. You should be taking rest…”
I tried to shrug off her concern by saying, “I am feeling fine…” but she dragged me to a chair in the shade and made me sit on the plump seat.
Then, thrusting the bowl into my hands she stood there like a guard, waiting for me to finish the soup. The soup didn’t taste appetizing but I didn’t dare to refuse her. I sat there sipping the soup half-heartedly.
I had just finished the last spoonful when Daniel came running. He was panting and his face was laced with worry. He came to a halt in front of me and said in a breathless voice, “Adrian… he…he is not in his room!”
I handed the bowl quickly to Layla and rushed inside. Soon, I was joined by Nivaan and Valence too. We searched the entire packhouse but couldn’t find him. Valence even tried to do a locator spell but something was blocking her.
“Ariana has him. I know the way her magic works. It has to be her,” Valence said confirming all our suspicions. There was nothing we could do about it now. So, we decided to focus on the rest of the plan.
Valence secured the entire perimeter. We gathered all our forces and weapons and placed them within the enclosure. We were discussing strategies when Richard came running.
“No more bad news please,” I muttered in my head as I turned my attention to him.
“I have intel that Ariana is preparing for an attack at daybreak.”
“That sly vixen! I knew that she would plan a surprise attack! It is a good thing that we are prepared. We will wait for her and face her headlong!” Nivaan said in a firm voice. I was so glad that Nivaan was with me. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
That night I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking of different ways to kill Cami and Ariana. Even if we lost I had to make sure they were dead before sunset!
I took a shower and dressed up in anti silver clothes. They were slightly rough but the discomfort was manageable. I put on high boots and tied my hair in a tight bun. Finally, I took out the enchanted knife from the drawer and concealed it in the sleeves of my shirt.
I had a feeling that Ariana would remain hidden while her minions fought the battle. So, my only objective was to find an opportunity and slay her.
The time on the clock caught my attention. It was exactly midnight. I knew that wouldn’t feel sleepy especially after getting all dressed. So, I decided to go on a round.
The mansion sounded eerily silent. It didn’t seem like there was going to be a war the next day. Roaming around the house I finally reached the gate. My eyes widened in shock as I saw a long train of werewolves getting out of the gate one by one.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” I said at the top of my lungs as I walked towards them.
A tall man with curly hair walked towards me. At first, he seemed flustered but by the time he reached in front of me, he had regained his composure.
He looked at me and said regretfully, “I am sorry Luna Kiara but we have orders. Both Alpha Rodreo and Orville have decided to side with the witches.”
Then he turned on his heels and walked away with the other members of the pack leaving me standing like a fool. When I could finally gather my wits, I rushed to Nivaan’s room.
Surprisingly, he was asleep and so was Valence. It seemed very strange given the fact that they had stayed away most other nights to keep watch.
I patted his face, shook him up, and even splashed some water on his face yet he didn’t wake up. There was certainly something wrong.
I opened the drawer in his room and took out a syringe. Then, I injected him with a medicine that revives people. I paced up and down the room waiting for him to wake up. Ariana turned out to be more wicked than I had expected.
Not only did she manage to get both the Alphas on her side but she also managed to render all my men unconscious. I couldn’t fight with an unconscious army, could I?
I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw Nivaan sit up. A groan escaped his lips as he muttered, “What happened to me?”
He was furious when he learned what Ariana had done. A growl escaped his throat as he charged at the wall and punched it. Cement and dust rained on the floor as a huge dent formed on the wall.
He was about to hit the wall a second time when I grabbed his hand and said, “We can’t let her win, Nivaan. Let us go and wake everyone up.”
His jaws clenched and the veins on his head popped but he nodded his head and proceeded to revive Valence. We spend the better part of the night reviving all our men.
By the time all of us had gathered on the lawn, the sun had started peeking over the horizon. I drew in a deep breath and braced myself for the announcement.
“I have to inform you with regret that Alpha Orville and Alpha Rodreo have decided to fight against us. So, we will have to…” The rest of the words remained in my mouth. I had no words to comfort them. Our strength had reduced almost by half after they left.
Richard stepped forward and said in a confident tone, “So, we have to change our strategy. We will have to use surprise moves and try to corner them in unique ways.”
I nodded at him and added, “I don’t think there is any need for you to worry. We still have the support of the Alpha of the Rustic pack and Valence who is a very powerful witch. Still, if anyone wants to back out, I won’t stop them.”
I clapped my hands and soon two men walked in carrying two large boxes. They placed the boxes in front of me and retreated.
I waved my hands at the boxes and said, “These are jade rings that render magic ineffective. If you are ready to fight for your Luna and Future Alpha pick these rings and wear them.”
My heart pounded against my ribs as I waited for them to come forward. One minute passed then another. A sinking feeling enveloped my heart. Just when I thought that I had made a mistake by making this offer Richard stepped forward and picked up a ring.
The others followed and soon all five hundred of the men were wearing the rings. I picked up a ring and held it out to Nivaan.
His expression changed and he said in an emotionless voice, “I can’t take that Kiara.”
“Brother, I know that you are very strong and crafty but my mind will be at rest if I know that you are safe,” I said placing the ring on his palm.
He withdrew his hand suddenly causing the ring to drop on the ground. He lowered his eyes and said, “You are not understanding. I made a deal with Ariana. I will abstain from taking part in this war. In return, she has promised to give our pack free reign.
I staggered slightly at his words. I grasped his hand and said, “You have always stood by me, Nivaan. You are my strength and confidence. I can’t do anything without your help. There… I said it… now stop joking and wear the ring…”
“I am sorry, Cuckoo…,” He said disentangling his hand, and walked away. I hadn’t even recovered from the shock when Valence came up to me and said in a guilty voice, “I am sorry, Kiara. I can’t fight against my mother…”
“No…no…no…no…not you too…” I said stretching my hand but she had already vanished.
This had to be a nightmare. Nivaan would never leave me… It had to be a bad dream….
I pinched myself but the scene didn’t change. My nails kept digging deeper and deeper. Layla grabbed my hand and pulled it away.
“Are you alright?” She asked in a concerned voice but I had no reply to give her. Everything was lost…
“The sun has risen, Luna. Ariana will reach here any minute. What are your orders?” Richard’s words pulled me out of the daze.
I wiped off the moisture from my cheeks and said in a firm voice, “I know that we have faced several setbacks but I am not willing to give up. Even if I am the only one left in the arena I will keep fighting. I owe this to Alpha Gilkins! I owe this to Kevin!” My voice shook slightly towards the end but my gait remained confident.
“We are all with you! Let us go and teach that witch a lesson!” Richard shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Justice for Alpha! Justice for Alpha!” The chants reverberated in the clearing as they drew together in a close circle.
Since we were fewer in numbers we decided to wait within the enclosure and retain a defensive position. Hopefully, Ariana would be too proud to send a huge army and we will be able to defeat them one step at a time.