Alpha Bennet steps forward. 'I suggest you leave and not return until the humans are all dead,' he warns, his voice carrying a chilling command. Then, with a deliberate stride, he moves toward Nina, his intentions clear. A malicious grin stretches across his face as he strikes her, a cruel action that draws blood from her lip. Nina winces with a mixture of pain and defiance in her eyes. 'The longer you delay, the more harm your precious Luna will sustain,' he taunts, relishing the torment he inflicts upon her.
Alec and I share a glance, a silent exchange of concern.
'If we approach Nina, Alpha Amir will kill her, and with the mage shielding them, we will be too late to stop Alpha Amir,' I convey.
'Then there is only one thing I can do to save her,' Alec declares, determination flashing in his eyes.
Alec extends his hands, a commanding gesture that summons forth the eerie legion of Shadow Reapers and Grimghouls. They emerge in a spectral swarm, materializing from the very earth beneath us. The air becomes charged as they gather around Alec, ready to heed his every command.
'If we approach a human city, the humans will deploy their army and all they possess, including soldiers, tanks, and jets. What if I destroy one of their cities without harming the civilians and lure the army back here? The Wolf Council and the mage would be caught in the crossfire, forced to battle for survival against us and the humans. It will provide us with an opportunity to rescue Nina. Additionally, they forget that when I attempted to exterminate humankind hundreds of years ago, they lacked the weapons they possess now. Therefore, even if I desired to wipe out humanity with their bombs, chemical weapons, and arsenal, I would most likely be unable to accomplish so,' Alec explains with strategic insight.
I glance at him, surprised. 'You are right. None of this occurred to me. Why did you not bring this up earlier in the dungeon? You might have been released sooner if we had considered the strength of humankind now in comparison to centuries ago,' I question him, a note of regret threading through my words.
Alec shrugs. 'I guess I was waiting for one of you to figure it out and realize I'm no longer as significant a threat as I once was. I hoped I would get the benefit of the doubt from someone, and I did from Nina. She knew in her heart she could trust me.'
Remorse flickers across my expression as I absorb Alec's words. 'She pleaded with me to release you sooner, but I refused. I'm... sorry, Alec.'
'I'm sure you are,' Alec smirks. 'Now, let us proceed to make our presence known to humans.'
I nod, agreeing to Alec's plan, and shift into my wolf form again. The Grimghouls and Shadow Reapers, a haunting entourage, follow suit as Alec and I embark on our mission towards the nearest city, as Nina's pleas and cries resonate in the air, pleading for us to stop.
Amid our journey, I initiate a mind-link with May, detailing our plan.
'That might just work, Alpha. I'll put the television on and mind-link you to what the humans are planning when they go live. Yiselda has somewhat relaxed now that she knows you only intend to destroy some buildings without harming humans, but I'm worried, Alpha Magnus, even if we get Nina back safely. What will happen to us if humans know we all exist? What if they don't back down?'
'I'm not sure, May. As long as they don’t know where our settlements are, then we should be safe.'
Alec controls the Grimghouls and Shadow Reapers to spread out across the urban landscape. Grimghouls, in their ghastly forms, climb onto parked cars, ripping mirrors off and effortlessly chewing through metal like paper, triggering a tumult of car alarms. The chaotic scene induces panic among the unsuspecting humans—men, women, and children—whose screams resonate through the air.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Reapers coalesce into a giant swirl of dark matter, flowing beneath the vehicles and launching them into the distance. Alec ensures there are no humans inside the cars before the cars are carelessly tossed aside. In my wolf form, I unleash a resounding howl.
Armed with smartphones, the terrified humans capture the mayhem before hastily retreating from the surreal scene. I deliberately give chase to a few, adopting a deliberate pace that affords them an opportunity to escape. Police cars swarm the streets, officers opening fire at the Grimghouls and Shadow Reapers while others urgently call for backup. Overhead, a helicopter from a news network hovers, capturing the unfolding chaos for a live broadcast.
'Magnus,' May's voice echoes in my mind. 'We can see you on the television. They are filming it all live and announcing that the military is on its way. They are advising residents and shop owners to remain indoors and out of sight.'
'Perfect. As soon as the army arrives, we will draw them back to the territory of the Wolf Council,' I respond.
'Good luck, Magnus,' May encourages, a fleeting moment of support I appreciate.
The urban landscape resembles a nightmarish tableau as more vehicles are violently flipped over and street signs and poles contort into twisted metal. The chaos manifests in the form of rubble from crushed automobiles and crumbled buildings strewn haphazardly across the terrain.
As the hours drag on, the military finally arrives, an imposing force wielding tanks, aircraft, and a multitude of soldiers. Their authoritative voices pierce through the mayhem, commanding us to stand down. However, my response is an echoing howl.
A sudden blur in the chaos catches my attention, moving so swiftly that I struggle to comprehend until figures approach Alec and me with supernatural speed—vampires. In a display of deference, they bow before Alec, their movements a fluid ballet, contrasting sharply with the bewildered expressions exchanged among the soldiers.
‘Our king has been freed!’ The decree, delivered by a powerful female vampire, resonates through the tumult.
‘King?’ The soldiers murmur, confusion etching their features.
Seizing the moment with regal pride, Alec steps forward and bellows, ‘I am Alec, the Vampire King!’ His proclamation echoes.
The vampires, now a growing assembly, bow to acknowledge their king. Among them, a male vampire steps forward. ‘Master, give us your command,’ he implores respectfully.
In a silent exchange of communication, Alec mind-links with his vampire subjects, conveying the urgency of the situation. Nina, their queen, is in imminent danger, and their assistance is crucial in luring the army to the territory of the Wolf Council without causing harm to the humans. The vampires nod in unified understanding, their movements synchronized as they disperse across the street, strategically positioning themselves just behind Alec and me.