Lance Stormhold stared at the dilapidated building in the middle of the human holdings. Even without following Emira’s scent here, he would have known this was no ordinary human dwelling. The air itself was thick with powerful and strong, dark magic that humd through the walls.
Witches living among humans was nothing new. After The War, so had fled the packs and hidden among humans, giving up their magic to survive. Over ti, their descendants retained only traces of power, faint sparks that barely counted as magic. But this place... this was different. This was black magic.
He thought back to the talk about the Ruins with the Great Witch and the powerful dark energy there. History claid that witches who practised black magic had all perished long ago, but history wasn’t always right. There were always cracks in it, small slips where truth was lost. The Ruins were one such example, and now this building was another.
Not all dark witches had been eradicated. And that was a truth that he was coming to realise... along with another truth. For so reason, the black magic was also going powerful... which ant another war could soon ensue...
Lance leaned back against the chair as his mind continued to churn. Still, what did it have to do with Emira? That was what unsettled him most. She had been the one to reveal the truth about the Ruins, and now she had been captured and brought to a place that reeked of the sa kind of power. Why?
Why would witches, especially those who practised dark magic, be interested in an Oga? Their spells didn’t work on werewolves. There was no reason-unless there was sothing about Emira he didn’t yet understand.
He’d just been thinking this, when he heard a voice in his head," Lance. Where are you? Mike and Sky found two people. They’d taken an Oga from the Redwood Pack. And the kidnappers left behind a man whom you’ve injured. He is from the Moonville Pack."
Lance’s expression darkened. The Moonville Pack? What were they doing chasing an Oga all the way into Stormhold territory? It didn’t make sense. A pack like Moonville would never go to such lengths for an Oga. They considered them worthless- tools to use or trade, nothing more. So, why?
Before he could ask Kael to find out about the connection that Moonville Pack would have to Ogas being kidnapped, Kael spoke up slowly, "I’ve already ordered Sky to bring them back and inford Redwood Pack. I’ll handle it. I’ll find out everything-who ordered the abduction, and why they’re targeting Ogas."
Lance frowned, his fingers tapping against the armrest. "Good. I want answers fast. If witches are involved, we can’t afford to waste ti."
"There’s sothing else," Kael continued. "The Redwood Pack is asking for an alliance. They’ve been reaching out constantly as you know. And now, after this incident, they sound even more desperate. It seems they’ve discovered sothing... or soone has warned them about sothing."
Lance’s eyes narrowed. "An alliance with Stormhold?"
While they were not enemies, Stormhold and Redwood Packs were not too keen on alliance. They could be said to be neighbors who were neither friends or foes. But over the past few months they’d been desperate for alliance. It was why he’d been planning to talk to Emira. She would have been the perfect person for what the Redwood Pack wanted and what he wanted.
"That’s what they’re saying. They’ve sent word through their Beta. They’re asking for a formal eting within the next few days. Again. Lance, for them to suddenly want protection so desperately, sothing must be scaring them."
"That’s what I thought," Kael said.
His mind ran through the possibilities of dark witches resurfacing, the strange surge of black magic that seems to have been building slowly.
"Keep updated," Lance finally said. "If Redwood is hiding sothing, I want to know what it is before they step foot in our territory."
"Understood," Kael replied.
"Good," Lance said, exhaling. "I’ll go now and...
"Wait."
Kael’s voice stopped him as he was about to break off the link.
Lance frowned. "What is it?"
For a mont, there was silence. Then Kael asked quietly, "Is Emira... is she okay?"
Lance froze. Of all the things Kael could have asked, that was not what he expected. His fingers stilled against the chair, and his jaw tightened.
Kael rarely concerned himself with others. He was too disciplined and too focused on duty to show personal concern. But now, his voice carried sothing else. Worry.
Lance exhaled slowly. "She’s alive," he said at last.
Kael didn’t respond right away, and Lance knew that wasn’t the answer he wanted. He sighed quietly and added, "As for whether she’s okay... I don’t know. Not yet. I am still looking for a way to get to her..."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Lance could almost sense Kael’s unease through the link.. Kael was not one to show weakness, and yet the question had slipped through before he could stop himself.
"Zen believes she is strong. Whatever they do, she’ll survive it. You know that."
Kael gave a quiet grunt of acknowledgent. "I know," he said finally, though it didn’t sound convincing. "Still... be careful, Lance."
Lance nodded, his gaze returning to the darkened building ahead. "I’ll get her back soon." And once they were back, it seed he would have to rethink a lot of things regarding Ramona and Emira. He sighed.
For so reason, this put him on edge. There was sothing brewing under the surface that he was not aware of. And that made him uneasy. He just hoped that Zen and the Great Witch would have answers sooner rather than later.
Just as he wondered this, he noticed two n walking out of the building. Two werewolves who slled strongly like Moonville Pack. He stood up and stepped back into the shadows. While he didn’t think they would be able to make out his presence amidst the humans, there was no need to take risks. As he watched them walk towards the other direction, he slowly made his way towards the building...
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