Chapter 46 Kai
Kai
NO TURNING BACK
I’m tempted to take a day off, follow the example of the girls, to just hit pause, be selfish.
Lose myself in my head, tinkering with my bike, drinking, smoking, letting the chaos Avilyna stirs inside me pour out.
Maybe even try to trap that storm on a canvas with some charcoal.
But then I remember, I’ve already pushed the General’s patience to its breaking point.
Sure, I’m a psycho, but I’m not reckless enough to be suicidal.
That’s why I’m here instead of my bed. Sergeant Blake’s voice cuts through my mental fog like a shotgun blast.
“There are no cures, and the attacks keep multiplying. Small villages have already been hit.” Behind him, the scene flickers to life, dust swirling through the air as a grim projection unfolds.
More towns have fallen to the same devastation we faced.
Outside Elgar, in the Mundane World, corpses lie strewn across the ground, rats tearing at the flesh of those that aren’t exterminated by soldiers.
The vermin seems to be another carrier of the virus.
One who doesn't transform into a demon, but once infected, they become savagely aggressive.
“The damage is contained for now, but if we don’t move fast, this thing’s gonna spiral out of control. Waiting isn’t an option.” His tone cuts through the room, no fluff but facts, making everyone swallow hard.
“Each gate gets a permanent patrol. There’ll be rotations, sure… but we’re short on troops, so expect to be stuck there longer than a day. Be ready for anything. Promotions are already rolling out, and the rest will get their orders within the week. Got questions? Sergeant Sinclair is your go-to.”
Sergeant Blake’s brown eyes narrow slightly, the importance of the next words settling heavily.
“One more thing, this virus. It spreads through DNA exchange. If you catch it, you’ve got twenty-four hours before you start changing.
No second chances unless we put you into a permanent coma, and that’s before it’s too late.
The process is brutal; once it kicks in, there’s no turning back.
This isn’t something you can screw around with. Be vigilant.”
He lets that sink in before adding, “Until you get official missions, it’s all training. Fix your weak spots, because after the festivities, things are gonna get real fast.”
With my squad already assembled, I head to the manor to train with the boys.
I watch Caleb block Wyll’s powerful punch.
They both have weaknesses; Caleb lacks raw strength, while Wyll struggles with his defences.
I’m aware I have flaws, but without someone to push me to my limits, it’s hard to see them clearly, let alone fix them.
And, as usual, the universe is eavesdropping, amused as it throws us into the fire.
A familiar voice that chills me to my bones cuts through the tension.“Well, well, son. Looks like you’ve gotten a little too comfortable playing leader. Even we need to stay sharp, you never know when an enemy’s lurking in the shadows.”
General Randall strides into the yard, his presence swallowing the space.
Two soldiers trail behind him. One has been at his side since I was six.
Private Roan never smiles, except when my mother offered him one.
A gesture that would’ve earned a harsh reprimand from my father, lucky for Roan, Dad was too busy building his legacy.
“Yes, General, I’m making sure my team’s ready. Unlike some people who just stand around flexing their control like it’s some kind of workout.”
General Brackwell’s eyes narrow. The flicker of surprise vanishes instantly, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze I know all too well.
As the insubordination register, his posture stiffens, jaw clenching so tight I swear I can hear it.
He takes a slow, deliberate step forward.
The silence between us stretches tight, as a wire ready to snap.
Wyll and Caleb edge closer while his soldiers stay rigid, waiting for a signal, an order.
My father’s eyes flick over my team, then snap back to me.
“Watch your mouth,” he growls, but it’s never just about words with him. No emotion, just that predator’s stare I learned to be wary of. I raise an eyebrow. The challenge burning in my chest, and a slow, cold smile curls my lips.
“You want me to watch my mouth? Well, that will depend on whether you still have what it takes to back up your threats?" The General rage cuts across his stoned features. The only emotion he is truly capable of feeling. My heart’s pounding loud enough to echo around the yard, but whether it’s fear or excitement, who can say? All they see is how wild I’m feeling.
The General’s muscles tense, then ripple as he drops into a crouch.
A low, guttural growl rips from his chest. Bones snap, joints twist, the shift comes fast. Thick tufts of white fur tear through his skin as his body contorts.
He grows, hulking and brutal, undeniably an alpha.
But his fur, once brilliant, is now dull, graying with age.
The harsh weight of control has worn it down, dimming even the fiercest lycan.
The wolf inside me surges, power flooding my veins as the shift begins.
Bones stretch, muscles twist, and fur erupts from my skin in a radiant burst that makes the very air vibrate.
My coat gleams blinding white, catching the dim light as flame on snow.
I feel my lycan, stronger, taller, and more dominant.
Rising above the General, my frame towers as my eyes glow with power and certainty.
A guttural growl tears through the night just before he lunges.
No hesitation, only brutal force as his massive body bolts toward me.
I twist aside, and claws rip through the air inches from my skin.
But in a single savage swipe, I tear down his side.
Deep, ripping flesh and spilling hot blood onto the stone.
He staggers, snarling, and eyes blazing.
The rage pouring off him is primal and growing stronger by the moment.
This fight isn’t over, not by a long shot.
My father strikes again, this time faster than I’m ready for.
His massive claws rake across my chest, tearing through flesh and flooding me with burning crimson.
The pain is brutal, but I use it, turn it into fuel, a vengeful drive.
Yet, I’m too slow. Before I can fully recover, he hammers into me, a shockwave rattling my bones.
I snarl as the alpha slams me down, pinning me beneath his crushing paw.
His claws dig deep into my skull, sharp and unyielding, stealing my breath.
For a moment, I feel the full weight of his power.
The years spent spreading fear, all packed into the strength coiling in his muscles.
{You managed to hit me. That’s impressive,} he snarls through our mind-link, his jaw snapping closer, pressure building. {But you still have so much to learn.}
I catch sight of Wyll restraining Caleb. He knows no one can stop this. When lycans follow the law of nature, nothing breaks its course.
{Now that your little tantrum is over,} he continues, voice sharp, {you’ll follow my orders. Starting with the Grianstad Eve Ball. You’ll go with Heather. Am I clear?} My vision flares, rage surges unleashed. A deep, bitter chuckle escapes me.
{Or what? You’ll kill me? Nah, I don’t think so.}
{Maybe not you, boy, but them. Your precious mundane, your pitiful pack. Easy to make them disappear.}
Something inside me snaps. Pure rage floods my veins, burning away all pain.
In one brutal motion, I’m on my feet, jaws clamping down on his neck, slamming him to the ground with a force that shatters stone.
A low, desperate whimper escapes him, but he scrambles back to his legs.
Four steps away, trying to keep the distance.
We circle each other, snarling, eyes blazing the same hue and yet so different.
{Tell me, what’s got you more furious? Being responsible for your brother’s death or that whore dying?} His voice is a knife, sharp and cruel.
The mention of Sammy cuts through me, and for a flicker of a moment, my focus slips.
He strikes without mercy, canines shredding into my side, ripping through muscle and skin.
Pain crashes over me as a tidal wave, but the anger inside me roars louder, drowning out the agony.
This isn’t about me anymore. It’s about her, about my people, the only ones he will never be allowed to threaten again.
Claws tear through the air, slashing into his flank.
The General howls, pain ripping as I sink deeper, shredding flesh and muscle.
He lashes out, trying to shove me back, but I ignore the burning cuts and drive my claws further into his ribs, twisting him down to the ground.
It’s his turn to be powerless. Fury blazes hotter with every breath as I snarl close to his face, towering over him.
{This is the last time you threaten my family.
The last time you speak her name. You don’t deserve that honour.
Cross that line again, and I’ll show everyone who the real alpha is.
} My growl echoes through the minds of every lycan gathered in the yard.
Devoid of any care, I withdraw my claws, followed by a red river crashing to the paved floor.
Shifting back to my human form. Naked, bloodied, and utterly indifferent to the sight of the bleeding wolf on the ground, I walk away. He stopped being my father a while ago, but tonight, he’s officially nothing to me.