The Alpha King and his army approached the Lunar Pride Pack’s castle. Clary sat on a throne-like chair that was placed in front of the castle’s door with Malachi behind her. When the Alpha King got close enough, Clary zapped a few inches in front of him.
“That’s close enough,” she yelled as the Alpha King’s warriors growled at her, some even shifting, ready to attack. The Alpha King held up his hand to calm them before returning his gaze to Clary.
“Where is my wife,” he growled at her.
Clary’s only response was a smile as she looked at every warrior except for the Alpha King. She could feel him getting angrier by the second.
“ANSWER ME!” The Alpha King's aura washed over her and her werewolf wanted to submit to it but Finnick’s presence blocked it. Though Clary knows it’s the demon in him. She watched as Malachi had no choice but to bend at the Alpha King's will. This made the smile on her smile spread even wider.
He has no power over me, she thought.
“Feels good, doesn’t it,” Finnick remarked before addressing the Alpha King. “Just like the Mad Alpha King. Barging in here, throwing your power over everyone, forcing those around him to do his bidding. No matter how atrocious.”
“How dare you compare me to that monster,” the Alpha King growled. “I’m nothing like him.”
“Really,” Clary laughed. “Do you know how many white wolves have been tortured or killed by your so-called subjects? How many of us hide in secret just to survive? What do you have to say about that, huh?”
“I have done all I can to keep white wolves safe,” the Alpha King said. “I created this castle-”
“This,” Clary interrupted, pointing to the castle behind her, “prison! You packed us in a little castle like a can of sardines. You say it’s to keep us safe. Oh no, it’s to keep us in check. This false sense of security is laughable. You just want to control and use us for your own purposes. And what about the other white wolves out there being killed by your favorite subjects? Were they punished? No, because you didn’t make a stand to protect us, yet you expect fealty from us.”
Clary stood up from her throne, bolts of lightning flowing from her body. Shadows surrounded her and her eyes turned black as the ground began to shake. “Well, no more. We have a voice now. I refuse to see my people in pain and do nothing. You left me with no choice but to bring forth those you let down.”
Clary reached out her hands and the shadows danced through the warriors and into the forest around them. The warriors created a circle around the Alpha King but he kept his eyes on Clary.
“Stay on your guard, Wolves,” the Alpha King commanded as they searched the tree line for the enemy.
Figures moved through the tree lines surrounding them and a collective gasp escaped their lips as the figures stepped into the light. What stood before them with rotting skin and fur, and foam building around their mouths were zombies. Lots of them.
*****
“This is a bad idea,” Mary said, waiting for Celeste to force open a window. “The last time I snuck in somewhere I almost died.”
“Well, you’re with me,” Celeste said, pushing the window open and helping Mary through, “and this is the most exciting thing I’ve done in a long time. So humor me.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Mary said. “Just being a dragon is exciting.”
“It is, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I just want to bust through some shit like a castle without getting chased by an angry mob or hunters. Besides, the Alpha King said to save Queen Luna at all costs. That means something or someone is going to be burned if they get in our way,” she said as a puff of smoke blew from her mouth.
Mary and Celeste climbed into the kitchen and moved towards the door to the dining hall. There were many doors leading to different places, so Mary and Celeste split up, looking for a way that was clear. After a few minutes, the ground began to shake. They braced themselves as items fell from the shelves and dining tables. It only lasted for a moment as they looked at each other.
“That wasn’t me. I swear,” Celeste said defensively.
“Well, whatever it was,” Mary said, moving towards the door, “I think I’m glad I’m in here rather than out there right now. Let’s just pick a door, find Queen Luna, and get the heck out of here.”
Mary was about to open one of the doors when it burst open, pushing her behind it. Celeste ducked under one of the tables as a young boy scrambled on the floor towards the kitchen. Speeding right behind him was a…
Zombie?! At first, Mary thought it was the same creature she saw Clary raise, but it was different. Pieces of flesh were hanging off and she could see the ribcage as plain as day. This one had to be different, she thought as she watched it. It gained on the boy quickly, picking him up by the back of his shirt. The boy screamed and thrashed against the zombie.
Celeste made eye contact with Mary, pointing to her mouth, which started to burn bright with fire. Mary knew Celeste wanted to fireball the zombie but she would hit the boy too. Mary shook her head vigorously and pointed to the kitchen before making a smashing sign. Celeste rolled her eyes and disappeared into the kitchen as Mary stepped out of her hiding space.
“Hey, that’s not how you treat a kid. Let him go.”
The zombie turned around and stared at Mary. The appearance almost made Mary jump back in regret. The zombie moved towards her quickly, dragging the boy behind it. Mary readied herself to fight it, planning ways to keep the boy from danger. Before the soulless got close, a frying pan flew from the kitchen and hit the side of the zombie’s head.
The zombie let go of the boy and he ran into Mary’s arms, causing them to fall. The zombie turned its head in the direction of the kitchen to see another pan flying into its face, splitting its head down the middle. It fell to the floor as silence inhabited the room for only a second before Mary and the boy screamed at the sight. Celeste ran out of the kitchen, ready to pounce, only to see them hugging each other.
“Celeste, that was gruesome,” Mary yelled at her while calming the boy in her arms.
“Hey, it’s better than whatever it was going to do to him,” Celeste argued before dousing the zombie with fire. She looked at Mary, who looked even more shocked than before. “Just in case it decides to come back.”
Mary helped the child to his feet. “Are you OK?” The boy nodded. “Are you the only one left?”
The boy shook his head and they followed him to the kitchen. He tapped on the refrigerator in a sequence and after a few seconds the refrigerator moved from its place to reveal a secret passageway. Out from the shadows, Mary saw more children and a few adults huddled in the passageway.
“Ethan?” The boy ran to an older woman and whispered to her before pointing at Celeste.
“Thank you for saving him,” the older woman said. “We didn’t think anyone would come.”
“The Alpha King has brought his warriors and set up camps outside the borders for the injured. Is this all of you,” Mary asked, looking at the meager number of white wolves cramped in this space.
“I don’t think so,” the older woman said. “When we ran out of space here, most searched elsewhere to hide. I can show you some of the hiding places.”
“That’s great. Any chance someone knows where Queen Luna is?”
“Library,” Ethan said. “That’s where I was hiding first before Malachi showed up and tied the Queen there.”
“OK, first we have to get you all out of here,” Mary said, thinking out loud as she moved to the door.
“Some of us are not afraid of fighting,” one of the white wolves said with a few agreeing.
“That’s cute, but since it seems you are all targets, I think it’s best to get you to safety,” Mary said. “Hallways look clear for now. I’ll get to the library while you can help get the others out, Celeste.”
“It won’t work,” another white wolf said. “She blocked us in. We can’t leave out of any doors or windows leading outside.”
Mary groaned in frustration. “I hate when the villains actually think about things. Okay, think, think. If we can’t use the doors…”
“...Or windows,” Celeste felt the need to add.
“...or windows, then how can we get them out,” Mary pondered. It took only a minute before Mary and Celeste looked at each other as if the same thought came to their minds.
“Then let’s not use the doors or windows,” Mary said, sharing a smile with Celeste.
“Let’s bust some shit up,” Celeste asked with eyes full of fire and a smile growing bigger by the second.
“Let’s bust some shit up,” Mary agreed.