Gray’s POV
I had barely made it outside the villa when an earth-shattering bolt of lightning split the night sky in the distance. Its brilliant flash turned the sea into a radiant spectacle, as if the sun itself had been thrust into the midnight depths. The ocean surged and bellowed, its waves churning like molten magma. Thunder rumbled, and lightning lacerated the darkness. In the direction of the coast, it appeared as though the world had been engulfed in a tempest of thunder and lightning. I knew this must be Archie’s Gift. Even from my vantage point, at this considerable distance, the sheer force of Archie's presence was palpable, an overwhelming power that seemed intent on destroying everything and sending all who stood on that beach to the depths of hell.
Witnessing this ominous display, I understood that a grave crisis was unfolding, and I sprinted toward the shore.
As I drew nearer to the coastline, I was hit by a harsh, acrid odor. Lifeless bodies lay strewn across the sand, their forms charred black, resembling scorched wood. These unfortunate souls had been helpless and fragile in the face of the furious thunderstorm, reduced to ashes before they could even cry out. It was a chilling tableau of death.
Amidst this macabre scene, I spotted Archie. He knelt on the beach, holding someone in his arms, his posture unwavering, like a statue. Although I wanted to ask Archie what happened, I was clear that I should keep my distance from Archie, for provoking him now could lead to a severe outcome. No one wanted to disturb an Alpha who was in rage. I had no desire to share the fate of those “burnt cinders” strewn about the shore.
However, an inexplicable surge of emotions tugged at my heart as I approached this stretch of beach, and even my wolf stirred got restless within me. The source of this sudden rush of emotions, I knew, was coming around Archie.
Thus, I ventured tentatively toward him. With each step, a special scent in the air grew stronger, which sent shivers of astonishment down my spine – it seemed to resemble my sister's blood!
Since I became the Alpha of the Blood Dawn, I had embarked on countless quests to find my lost sister through “Blood Connection”, a power only belongs to the Alpha, but every endeavor had culminated in heartrending failure.
How, then, could I detect her scent here, tonight? While it was not an exact match to the scent in my memory, I was still excited. Fueled by this hope, I took a calculated risk and drew closer to Archie.
However, before I could say anything, it seemed that my actions had startled Archie, bringing him into reality. He didn't even look at me, just picked up the person in his arms, stood up, and dashed back towards the mansion.
Caught off guard, I was nearly knocked over by Archie's lightning-quick departure. I had no chance to ask Archie anything, but I did manage to glimpse who he cradled in his arms. It was Alisha, her face hauntingly lifeless.
Questions flooded my mind. What in the world had occurred here? Archie had raced away so swiftly, taking Alisha with him. His speed had taken me by surprise; I had initially intended to catch up with him to inquire about Alisha's condition. Besides, something else had piqued my curiosity – the unbelievable similarity in the scent of Alisha's blood to that of my long-lost sister.
Before I could give chase, I noticed several survivors moving slightly, seemingly trying to seize an opportunity to escape. I didn't know how they managed to keep alive after experiencing the previous thunderstorm, but they seemed heavily wounded. Some even had smoldering embers on their clothes.
They had lain motionless, blending in with the other lifeless forms on the beach, as though they were already corpses. Yet, as soon as Archie had departed, they began to move. It was obvious that they were planning to seize the opportunity to make their escape.
I narrowed my eyes, a sense of rage welling within me. Archie need to take care of Alisha now, but it appeared these individuals were connected to the earlier chaos and Alisha's injuries or possible death. I couldn't allow them to slip away. The image of Alisha's lifeless face caused a fierce anger within me.
I lunged at one of the bastards who was trying to escape, thrusting my hand through his chest. Before he could so much as react, I yanked out his heart and, with a savage twist, crushed it before his widened eyes, his expression a mask of terror.
"Surviving Archie's wrath doesn't mean you will escape my judgment, scum! Face the punishment of your actions!"
Louie’s POV
No matter how concerned I was about Alisha, leaving Shaunda alone was not a good option right now. With Archie absent, it fell to me to ensure Shaunda's safety. If this was indeed an attack, Shaunda could very well be the target. My only choice was to trust Gray to look after Alisha.
Gray had barely left when Samuel rushed over to Shaunda's study. His face bore the weight of anxiety as he urgently inquired, "How is Shaunda?"
"She's fine, don't worry. I'll stay here to watch over her. Archie and Alisha are missing in action. Gray is already outside assessing the situation. I fear that Shaunda might be in danger," I explained.
In that very moment, a deafening thunderclap reverberated from the distant sea, causing the entire mansion to tremble. I frowned, remarking, "That's Archie's Gift. Looks like he's encountered some trouble."
"These scoundrels! Well, you stay here to protect Shaunda. I'll go organize the others for defense. If this is indeed an attack, we need to stop these vermin from sneaking into the estate," Samuel asserted.
"Very well, you go ahead. Shaunda will have me here," I replied.
With that, Samuel rushed off to rally the defenses, and I ventured into Shaunda's study. She sat quietly behind her desk, engrossed in a book. A sigh of relief escaped me. Hopefully, the earlier thunder hadn't reached her ears, or else she would surely be concerned.
"Grandma, what are you reading?" I asked, attempting to divert her attention. Meanwhile, I surreptitiously peered out the study window to monitor the situation outside. If I caught sight of any invaders, my plan was to eliminate them swiftly or escort Shaunda to safety.
"I'm going through your childhood photo album. Time has passed so quickly; not too long ago, you all were soft wolf pups, and now you have all grown up. How's Archie?" she inquired.
The initial part of her statement had somewhat calmed my nerves; distracting Shaunda with fond memories from the past seemed like a decent way to divert her from the looming danger. However, her final question jolted me. "You know?" I stammered.
"Humph, with all that lightning and thunder outside, it was as if day had broken. It had to be Archie's Gift. Whatever could make him use such formidable power must be quite a formidable adversary, wouldn't you say? You needn't stay with me any longer; I'm safe within the estate. Please, go check on Alisha. I'm worried she might be frightened all by herself."
Before I could reply, the study door was violently flung open, filling the room with an overpowering scent of blood. I reacted instinctively, hurling a chair towards the doorway, preparing to shield Shaunda. However, my actions were rendered futile as the intruder's howl shattered the chair with a sonic burst. Hearing the sound, I froze, my eyes widening in disbelief.
"Archie?"
Archie stood before us, drenched in blood, nearly soaked through. He let out a mournful cry, directed at Shaunda. "Grandma, please, save Alisha!"
Hearing those words, my eyes widened further, if that were even possible. I glanced into Archie's arms, where Alisha lay, her face covered in blood and bruises, her pallor strikingly lifeless.