Unrelenting Destiny

10. Hercules

Luciana Faith Moore

It was the most stressful six and a half hours in the Beta's life. He was speeding back to his territory, much to Luci's fear. She had tried to ask him what had happened but he had so little information himself.

"Gamma Embry was frantic. I don't know what happened but he says something is wrong with my Alpha." Jasper had told her soon after they had left her pack territory.

They had spent little time stopping for gas or breaks for him to rest. He had even allowed Luci to drive a short amount of time so he could nap for half an hour without losing any time. She had watched over him with worried looks the entire time, feeling his unease and stress like it was her own. As if their situation wasn't strained enough, now there seemed to be trouble with his pack.

She selfishly wondered if this would affect their announcement to the pack. What if they had to handle this new situation and she was left to the side while he dealt with it? She had no where to stay in Astral Twilight, especially not if Orianna wasn't aware of her existence. Luci almost wished she stayed back home.

Their speeding and nonstop drive got them to Astral Twilight in record time. When they crossed the borders, Jasper had tried to mindlink with Alpha Ivan and then Gamma Embry, not reaching anyone. He had even tried to contact Orianna, but even she had been difficult to reach. His eyes were dark, his wolf feeling some sort of evil the moment they crossed the border.

Eve murmured in Luci's mind, Something is off...something dark. I can't put my paw on it, but it is not good.

They reached the pack house, a crowd had gathered, two ambulance lights shining in the afternoon sun just outside. Jasper stopped the truck, hopping out and practically running towards them. Luci sat frozen, unsure of what to do. She decided to stay in the truck for now, shrinking down in her seat as she stared out the window with fear.

Jasper Orion Deveraux

Jasper pushed through the crowd of his pack, barking in his Beta voice, "Out of my way! Someone tell me what's going on!" The crowd parted, eyes boring into his back as he made his way to the entrance. The scene in front of him made his eyes widen with surprise.

Alpha Ivan sat on the steps of the pack house, his wrists cuffed behind him with a tightly wrapped rope. Four bodies covered in sheets were being brought out of the house - one of them very very small. Jasper growled, "What the hell happened here? Ivan?!"

Alpha Ivan remained silent, staring blankly at the ground like he couldn't hear him. Jasper moved to one of the sheets, the responder who had been carrying it, moving aside for his Beta. Jasper stared in horror as he pulled it back, the bloodied face of Luna Saravie underneath. His Luna's face was clawed, deep gouges of dark, still wet blood raked across. Her shoulders were bruised and battered, the remnants of her clothing torn. Jasper heaved with a sudden wave of nausea, the responder covering her once more as he stumbled backwards. He watched as another body was carried out and headed to the ambulance. Jasper reached out with a shaky hand, seeing the outline of a child unmoving beneath. But he could not bring himself to see, overcome with shock as he fell onto the dirt.

Gamma Embry emerged, covered in blood, carrying the baby Ilyana in his arms. The baby was swaddled, hidden from the crowd that had gathered. Jasper looked up, stumbling to his feet as he met the Gamma.

"What happened here, Embry?" Jasper demanded weakly, gaze unblinking at the bundle in the Gamma's arms. It wasn't moving.

Embry was a tanned man with long black hair and dark eyes, he was tall and built but at that moment, he looked weak. His grip on the baby tightened, tears gathering in his eyes as he turned his back to the pack. He murmured to Jasper in a shaky voice, "He killed them, Jas... Luna Saravie, the boys... Ilyana." Jasper's chest caved as Embry moved the little bundle, the colorless face with blueish-purple eyelids exposed to the Beta. Jasper stumbled backwards, shaking as he stared in fear.