Magnus P.O.V
Alec taps his feet impatiently as Yiselda, the other witches, and I approach the final door that holds Alec captive.
Yiselda's pauses. 'Are you certain you want to proceed, Alpha Magnus? There is no going back once I remove the sigils,’ Yiselda warns, her gaze fixed on me with concern and wariness.
'Do it,' I command, leaving no room for hesitation.
Yiselda brushes her palm across the door, her touch obscuring the ancient symbols that have bound Alec within. She descends the steps with a heavy heart, and I follow closely behind Alec as he steps into newfound freedom.
The front door of the Covenstead creaks open, releasing him from the confines of Pandora's Box.
Alec drops to his knees, a reverent touch to the ground, and lifts his eyes to the sky. 'I never imagined the day would come when I would be delighted to see daylight,' he remarks, his tone a mix of gratitude and disbelief.
'Doesn't the sun harm you?' I ask, curious about the intricacies of vampire physiology.
'No, but we aren't fond of it either. Vampires appreciate just one type of light: moonlight. Otherwise,' Alec continues, 'We prefer to be out and about at night and inside during the day.’
Reaper, seemingly uninterested in our conversation, pecks at the dirt near Alec's hands.
'Hmm, that's interesting,' I reply, absorbing the vampire lore.
'Let's waste no more time. Take me to Shadow Crest so I can reclaim our Luna,' Alec declares as he rises to his feet.
Alec follows me, and we step through the portal, trailing behind the witches. In an instant, we reappear at the familiar grounds of the packhouse.
Yiselda, her eyes narrowing, addresses me sternly, 'Alpha Magnus, I will not participate in your destruction of humanity. My immediate concern is for my girls. I want to remain here with them until our Luna is returned,' she informs me.
'I will do everything I can to avoid the annihilation of the humans, but I understand,' I reply with a nod, acknowledging her priorities.
The witches retreat to the basement, leaving May lingering with uncertainty. 'I'm going with them,' she asserts, her brows furrowed with concern.
'I'll mind-link you if I need you,' I tell her, offering a reassuring nod.
May acknowledges the plan, but her frown deepens as she descends the stairs, her steps hesitant and conflicted.
Alec takes a step toward me. I can see the urgency he bears across his features. 'How do we get in contact with the Wolf Council?' he asks, his eyes focused on mine.
'They reside in the north. It will take most of a day to get there,' I respond.
'Then let us go to them. If we can eliminate the Wolf Council and save Nina, we can avoid harming the humans,' Alec asserts.
I nod in agreement, and without further delay, I shift into my wolf form, and we dash towards the woods, Alec and Reaper flanking me with the same purpose.
After a night's relentless travel, we arrive on the territory of the Wolf Council just as the sun begins to rise. Wolves in the dozens approach us, growling and snapping in an attempt to keep us at bay. Alec stands unperturbed with a confident smile, revealing his fangs. The wolves are taken aback by the unexpected sight of a vampire among them. Some turn and flee in fear, but the majority hold their ground, wariness evident in their eyes.
'I've come to retrieve my blood flame. Step aside or die!' Alec warns them, his voice carrying an authoritative tone that echoes through the tense atmosphere.
Boisterous laughter echoes from the Wolf Council's residence. The door swings wide, revealing Alpha Bennet, who chuckles with an air of superiority. Alpha Theaton stands beside him, his expression a mix of amusement and arrogance. Alpha Amir reappears, holding Nina at knifepoint, adding a threatening edge to the scene. A cloaked, mysterious figure also accompanies them.
Nina's eyes widen as she sees Alec, free from the confines of the dungeon, standing beside me. The unexpected sight of us together sparks a myriad of emotions on her face, from surprise to relief, in a moment she likely never anticipated.
'Alpha Magnus, I'm glad you kept your half of the agreement. Now Alec must do his share and kill the humans,' Alpha Bennet says with an eerie smile, his expression holding a sinister satisfaction.
Nina gasps, 'Alec, please don't do it,' she pleads with desperation.
Alpha Theaton, however, shows no mercy and smacks her hard across the face, leaving Nina stunned and tearful.
'Touch her again, and you will die!' I warn. My eyes flash with a fierce protective instinct for Nina.
Alec, driven by the urgency of the situation, speeds ahead but comes to an abrupt halt as the hooded figure conjures an enormous ball of flame, sending it spiralling towards him. Alec, caught off guard, is unable to react in time, and the flame strikes his arm, causing a searing burn. He hisses in pain, visibly tightening his grip on the injured arm.
Alpha Amir, holding a knife against Nina's neck, takes advantage of the chaos. He puts the blade softly against her skin, drawing a trickle of blood. 'Any closer, and she dies,' he warns, a malicious smile playing on his lips. 'I won't hesitate to cut her throat open. She wouldn't be the first she-wolf I've killed,' he adds with a cold indifference.
Aware of the imminent danger to Nina's life, Alec takes a cautious step back, his eyes never leaving her. Torn between fear and hope, Nina alternates her gaze wistfully between Alec and me.
I glance at Alec with concern. 'Alec, he will kill Nina if we get any closer. Do you know who the hooded guy is and how he made that ball of fire?' I ask, seeking information that might help us.
'No idea. I'm just as stunned as you are,' Alec replies with frustration.
Reaper, perched on Alec's shoulder, mind-links him, conveying vital information.
'What is it?' I ask, eager for insight.
'Reaper thinks he is a mage,' Alec replies, his eyes narrowing in contemplation.
'What? They exist too?' I ask, bewildered by the revelation.
'It appears they do,' Alec says, a note of caution in his voice.