the blood of hades

Chapter 11: Malachi

Cairo's presence in the palace was enigmatic. She was elusive, often vanishing just when someone sought her out. Now, she had returned to the Moonlight pack with Lucas and Ryan, supposedly to see her own doctor for an ankle injury that should have healed quickly. This injury raised further suspicions about her true nature and the extent of her powers.

Adding to my concerns, I had begun to detect a captivating scent in the palace—a warm, sweet aroma of freshly ripe peaches and pure vanilla. It called to me in a way I couldn't ignore, signaling the presence of my mate. Yet every time I got close to the source of the scent, it would disappear, leaving me frustrated and perplexed.

Now, I stood alone in the war room, surrounded only by my packmates and the other alphas. The room was filled with a tense anticipation as we prepared to discuss our next steps.

"Thank you all for coming," I began, addressing the alphas who had gathered. "Our realm faces unprecedented threats, and we must stay united if we are to overcome them."

Alpha Carl, still skeptical, spoke up. "What of the prophecy, Malachi? Do you truly believe this child of three exists? And if so, why haven't we seen any sign of them?"

I took a deep breath, considering my response. "The signs are subtle, but they're there. We cannot dismiss the prophecy outright. Cairo's behavior alone suggests that there is more to this than we understand."

"I told you guys we should have brought her immediately to him, she's hiding something. all women hide stuff." Victor growled under his breath, Victor was right in a way she was hiding something but for all we know it had nothing to do with the prophecy child, and I also hated the way he talked about women. I have yet to see her own person so I don't know what exactly she could be hiding, I can try to get into her head but I need to be face to face with her.

"You do not discuss what you will do within my territory without my permission! remind you that even though you guys are all Alphas I am your king" I said in a Stern voice. I would wait till Cairo Lucas and Ryan arrived back here to be able to have a conversation with all three. until then the speculation needs to stop and we need to focus on the attack at hand, I have a feeling that this was just the Calm before the storm. but the next attack would be worse.

As the murmurs of discontent subsided, I took a moment to gather my thoughts. The alphas needed to understand the gravity of our situation without letting their personal biases cloud their judgment. Cairo's elusive presence and the mystery surrounding her only added to the tension.

"Alpha Victor," I said, my voice cold and authoritative, "your remarks about women are not only inappropriate but unhelpful. We are here to protect our people and our realm, not to indulge in baseless assumptions."

Victor's eyes flashed with anger, but he held his tongue, sensing the weight of my words. I continued, turning my attention back to the larger group.

"Until we have concrete evidence, we must focus on the immediate threats. The hybrid's attacks are growing more frequent and deadly. We need to bolster our defenses and prepare our warriors for the inevitable battle."

Alpha Darius nodded, his expression serious. "Agreed. We cannot afford to be distracted by speculation. Our priority is to protect our packs and our realm. But we should also keep a close eye on Cairo and gather as much information as we can."

"I will speak to Lucas and Ryan when they return," I assured them. "We need to understand Cairo's connection to the prophecy and the true extent of her abilities. Only then can we formulate a strategy that addresses all possible threats."

The alphas nodded in agreement, the tension in the room easing slightly. We spent the next few hours discussing our defenses, troop movements, and potential alliances. Despite our differences, we were united in our determination to protect our realm from the hybrid's menace.

As the meeting drew to a close, I couldn't help but think about the scent that had been haunting me. My mate was somewhere within the palace, and I needed to find her. But with the looming threats and the mysteries surrounding Cairo, my search would have to wait.

Later that evening, I stood on the balcony overlooking the vast expanse of our territory. The moonlight bathed the land in a soft, ethereal glow, and the air was filled with the scent of pine and earth. My thoughts drifted to Cairo and the strange occurrences that seemed to follow her.

Lucas and Ryan would be back soon, and I would finally have the chance to confront them. Until then, I needed to stay focused on the immediate threat. The hybrid was out there, plotting and scheming, and our realm was in grave danger.

The days passed slowly, filled with preparations and strategy meetings. I could sense the unease among my packmates, their anxiety mirrored in my own heart. The hybrid's attacks had left us on edge, and the uncertainty surrounding Cairo only added to the tension.

Finally, the day came when Lucas and Ryan returned. I summoned them to the war room, eager to get answers. They arrived together, their expressions grave.

"Malachi," Lucas began, "we need to talk."

I nodded, motioning for them to sit. "Tell me everything. What happened at the Moonlight pack?"

"She said her ankle should heal within 3 days, that she must been scratched with wolfbane" Ryan said sternly without any room for argument, glanced towards Lucas who narrowed his eyes slightly.

" I don't think she's telling the truth, you've been scratched with Wolfbane before you've been injected with it and you still heal quickly" Lucas quickly said, that was true and she's a hybrid like me which means it shouldn't affect her the way it is.

" do you have something to say to me? why do you keep accusing my Beta of lying" Ryan said sternly, he was protecting her but from what? then that sent came back it was almost too sweet to deny trying to follow, but I didn't need to because it was getting closer. and when the door swung open and revealed a gorgeous woman with blonde hair with a hint of blue in it, gorgeous vibrant blue eyes, pouty lips, and a cute little nose staring back at me with wide eyes.

mate.