Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Nyx
Alpha Daxton orders everyone to return home, and somehow, I manage to make it back to the guest houses before my legs buckle out.
I don't know what it is about dying, but it sure drains the energy out of you.
Lex helps me shower which makes me feel better. When I make my way into the living room, Maverick is sitting on the couch, leaning back and staring at the ceiling.
Sensing my presence, he looks up, a tight, forced smile on his face.
"How are you feeling?" He asks.
"I'm okay," I answer honestly. "Are you?"
Maverick shakes his head. "Not in the slightest."
I make my way over, sitting down next to him. We move at the same time, his arm slinging around my shoulder as I lay my head on him.
Cade appears on the other side of me, resting his hand on my leg. "Daxton wants to see everyone soon," he says quietly. "But if you don't want to go, I'll tell him to shove it."
I manage a tiny laugh. "No, I'll go. I want to know what happened."
It's the thing I've been dreading. If it wasn't for the fact everyone was naked from shifting so rapidly, I would have demanded we stay at the field. But I needed a shower and new clothes.
Apparently, someone didn't vanish and they have been taken into Alpha Daxton's custody. My curiosity wins out, wanting to know who and how someone survived from Orson's Pack.
Even worse, I need to know who got injured and killed. Part of me wants to remain optimistic, but I know the truth. I saw it with my own eyes.
We've lost people. From all the packs.
Lex confirmed that Knox was dead while we were in the shower, and I can tell it's hurting him.
I'm still in disbelief, oddly grieving as well.
I was adamant that Knox hated me, yet he saved me without hesitation.
I'm so scared that Lex will blame me, but he reassured me it wasn't my fault.
Still, I can't help but feel responsible.
Maybe I should have shifted sooner, maybe I could have done something differently to save more people.
Maverick lets out a deep, troubled sigh, his own chest rising with the sharp intake of shaky breath he takes. I tilt my head to gaze up at him, hating how much pain he looks to be in.
"I'm okay," I tell him, voice barely above a whisper.
He nods, tightening his arm around me. "You killed yourself, Nyx. I need time to process that."
"Hey," I poke him, trying to lighten up the mood. "It worked though."
Maverick doesn't appear to share my positive attitude, just grumbling under his breath until it's time to leave.
We find Alpha Daxton on the edge of the field, standing with Alpha Kingston and Alpha Wyatt. All of them wear hardened, matching expressions and I start to brace myself.
Luna Grace is nearby, helping direct people and checking on them. Likewise, I see Dr. Madison doing rounds, determining who needs the most help.
For the most part, everyone seems pretty okay. But my eyes linger to the field, blankets and covers now draped over the sea of bodies.
"Stevens," Alpha Daxton says as we approach. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," I tell him, offering a tight smile to everyone. There's a mixture of all the packs here, and to my surprise, Alpha Kingston reaches his hand out. I shake it slowly, confused.
"You saved everyone, little wolf. That bastard is gone now."
Suddenly, I feel a little awkward with everyone's gazes on me. "It was a team effort," I reply. "Thank you for coming to our aid. Both of you."
Alpha Wyatt smiles. "Of course. I mind linked Eve and she sends her best."
"How is the baby?" I ask, hating how desperate I sound.
He nods. "All is well, thank you for asking. And now, thanks to you, we can return home knowing that our pack is no longer in danger. There's no greater fear than bringing a child into a world full of carnage and a war."
The thought suddenly hits me. “This was never a Great War repeating, but rather one man deciding to be selfish. And in that, people panicked without proper information, leading to dangerous decisions."
Cade steps up beside me. "I disagree, Nyx. Wars are created by man. I think the Moon Goddess knew this was coming, that’s why she sent you to us. Like Ophelia, fate put you in our path, to put an end to this mess."
My shoulder slump slightly. "You're right. Wars are created by us. Ophelia already fixed it once. But clearly it happened again. We need to ensure this never occurs again. We need to figure out a plan so that in years, decades to come, our children or ancestors aren’t dealing with the same problems."
"What do you propose?" Asks Lex.
I frown. How do we stop this happening again?
Sure, Orson is gone but who knows what might happen next.
While lots of packs vanished, there's still an endless amount of wolves out there.
The same thing can start all over again next week.
That's the problem when packs only answer to themselves and can make these kinds of terrible decisions.
"We need a system in place," I start. "An authority to reign over all wolves. Alphas would still be in charge of their packs, but they need to answer to someone. Someone who can be the ultimate voice and hold them accountable."
"Like a ruler?" Asks Alpha Wyatt with a look of bewilderment.
"Or a governance," I offer. "Some type of system and laws in place to deter events from repeating."
Alpha Daxton folds his arms. "A hierarchy. No—a monarchy."
"A king?" I mutter in amusement.
"Or a queen."
I pause, staring incredulously at Alpha Daxton’s suggestion. He’s not possibly saying that I should rule over all wolves. Right?
“Maybe we need to figure out some options and vote on it. Establish a council or something.”
“I vote that Nyx be crowned Luna Queen,” Lena says cheekily, startling me. I glance over, guilt filling me as I notice her eyes are blood shot red from crying but somehow she manages to flash me a smile.
“Shut up,” I whisper at her, unable to hide the smile on my face. Of course she’d volunteer me. Great—put me in charge of all the alphas. That will go down well with my history.
Before I can argue more, another voice chimes in, this time from the one person I don't expect. Alpha Kingston.
“I second the motion.”
“No, stop,” I try to interject weakly, perplexed that they are taking this joke way too far. Maybe everyone is concussed. “There are probably better options. Let’s explore them—”
“Third.”
“Fourth.”
"Me too!"
The voices come from all different directions, and I realize they are all members of different packs. Then suddenly, to my shock and utter horror, Alpha Daxton drops to one knee, crossing an arm over his chest as he bows his head in confident decision.
What the fuck?
One by one, people follow suit around him, bowing and dropping to their knees. Soon enough, there's only four of us standing. I turn to the guys, to look for solidarity that this is ridiculous, when they copy.
My lips part in disbelief, unable to form words. "I can't be queen. I'm—"
"Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, Night Pack and New Moon Pack," Alpha Daxton says sharply, lifting his head. "I can't think of anyone better for the role. I think the higher beings would approve."
"It's a full moon, Red," Lex says, standing up. "It's still in the sky. We could do the luna ceremony now."
"It's the daytime," I point out. Suddenly, it feels like my encounter with Ophelia was more realistic than what I'm currently in the middle of.
Maverick stands too. "So, what? Let's do it now.
The light can be a sign of change, our new direction.
Get it over and done with. We have all these people here and having the Moon Goddess be witness might help guide our lost pack family home.
Plus I'm done waiting to make you mine, Nyx. I'm ready for you to be my Luna."
My eyes scan the field, heart sinking.
"Do it for them," Mira says. "For the ones we lost. Don't let their deaths be in vain.
Since the witches only had enough magic for you, they deserve the honor of being guided home by the Moon Goddess, and the respect of knowing their deaths are the end of a world of chaos. That it wasn't for nothing."
"Okay," I say out loud, wiping away a stray tear. "For our people—our loved ones who don't get to go home today. Alpha Daxton… would you please do the honors? I can't think of a more fitting person to officiate my luna ceremony."
After the ceremony, Alpha Daxton leads us to his office building. We bypass his door, heading downstairs to the cells.
My heart is pounding erratically, unsure who I am about to find.
When we enter the cells, Alpha Daxton stops, crossing his arms. "Here you go, Stevens. The decision is yours."
Tobias looks up at me, his face marred with blood and dirt. But to my surprise, he's in old clothing, indicating he hasn't recently been naked.
"I had no idea," he says, voice cracking. "I'm so sorry."
"What the hell is happening?" I whisper to Alpha Daxton. Wait—do I still call him Alpha? It seems weird not to.
"We asked around to confirm his story," he replies sternly. "He didn't shift or harm anyone."
My brows crease as I turn back to the younger boy. "Your father orchestrated this entire thing," I tell him. "He's killed thousands of wolves, had a hand in the kidnapping and rape of females, stole land."
Tobias lowers his head. "I understand if you need to punish me on his behalf. I accept whatever you feel is fitting. I don't have a home to go back to anyway."
That comment stops me in my tracks. I turn to Cade. "What would Ophelia do?"
Cade smiles softly, reaching for my hand. "The better question is… What would Luna Nyx do?"
Frowning, I mull over my options. Finally, I glance at Alpha Daxton before facing Tobias.
"The Seventh Circle land now belongs to Alpha Wyatt. If he agrees to it, will you join his pack?"
Maverick tenses up next to me, pushing Cade out of the way to lean down so he can whisper. "Nyx—are you sure?"
I nod, this time, feeling confident in my words. "I have no reason to doubt him. I don't want to paint him as a monster just because of association. The Moon Goddess spared him for a reason. I believe good can come of this."
He stares at me for a few seconds before slowly, he nods. "Okay. I trust you." Sending a glare at Tobias, he adds, "But I'll be watching you, kid."
Tobias nods. "Thank you."
As we head back outside, I pass Lydiana heading toward the outskirts of Shadow Creek with Forrester. She gives me a smile and nod before heading in the direction of the woods, clearly keen to get away from here.
I owe her everything now. And she was right.
Maybe I was always meant to die—that was my fate. But in death, a new legacy was born. A new era.
With death came peace. While we will always grieve the lives that we lost, their deaths won't be in vain. They are a part of our history now, their sacrifice will live on forever.
Legends never die. And I vow to protect my kingdom and honor them for the rest of my life.