"I don't know what happened really," a young man with dirty-blonde hair said as he sat up a little more. Sira looked at Elena calmly as Elena kept her attention on the man. "After Kael defeated Sloan and we couldn't find you, Elena, we just gave up hope." He sighed as he looked down and Elena put her hand on his uninjured shoulder. He had bandages on a part of this face and his other shoulder, covering his healing wounds. "I guess we started believing in some of the things he was saying about you, and that you were never coming back."
"It's alright, Fredrick," Elena replied softly as he looked at her with regret in his blue eyes. "You were just following orders like we're trained to do, but you're here now. You're safe from him."
"He's done awful things to us," the man replied as Fenrir walked up to them. "We don't have a choice but to follow him."
"He did that to the Greysmoke Pack as well," Fenrir stated as he rested his hand on Sira's shoulder and she stood.
"Excuse us for a moment," Sira said gently before they left Fredrick and Elena.
"I've been hearing the same story over and over again," he stated as they stood next to the bodies of the fallen. She nodded, looking over to the uninjured. At least they were in good spirits.
"I have too. What do you say that we do about it?"
"I don't want to lose any more men because of this. I want to strike a deal with Kael." She looked at him, her eyes filled with her shock. After one fight, he was already backing out. But wasn't that what Kael always wanted? He didn't want to kill Fenrir, he just wanted his position.
"You'll be playing right into Kael's hands," she stated, causing him to eye her suspiciously.
"How do you know that?" he questioned, causing her to let out a round sigh as she looked him straight in the eye.
"I just do," she stressed, feeling her irritation and her regret increasing with every passing second. She felt like she was cornered, like an animal. She knew he could see through her right now. She could see his suspicion and he had every right to be, but she wished that he could just trust her this one time without questions. She doubted he would though.
"Come," he snarled quietly as he took her by the wrist and led her back to their tent. Once they were both inside, he looked at her and she could see the irritation in his yellow eyes. "You're hiding something from me," he stated firmly. Automatically, she wanted to go on the offense, but she couldn't will herself to do so. She stayed quiet and refused to look at him. "Sira, tell me." He was becoming more desperate and irritated, but she still refused to say a word. With a rough sigh, he slammed his hand down on the countertop, causing her to jump and finally look at him. He was angry, but he seemed more upset than anything else. Her blue eyes watched him cautiously as he stared at her. "Speak to me."
"A while ago, Kael wanted me to convince you that you needed to give up being Alpha and go live out your life with me in the Wizarding World," she explained softly. "We wouldn't be harmed if you did so and we could take Elliot and his family with us as well. He'd never bother us again. That was before he took over the Nightwind Pack. He struck a similar deal with Elliot as well. The cost for us not doing so was the same. We'd be persecuted by the pack when he killed you and became Alpha."
"Why didn't you tell me this?" he questioned, his irritation fading slightly.
"I didn't want you to worry," she stated firmly. "I knew you would send me away if you thought I was in danger."
"I wouldn't have done that."
"Yes you would've," she stressed, "and even more so now, Fenrir." Her blue eyes were like daggers, fueled by her old fire. He couldn't help but stare into them as she moved closer to him. "Don't you remember when we were fighting at Hogwarts? When Voldemort thought that Harry was dead and wanted to rub it in everyone's faces that he had defeated him? Remember how you took me away from the fight and protected me from him and told me to leave because you had found out that he was going to kill me? Remember that, Fenrir?" Her face was completely stoic as her eyes sparkled with her fire. "You wanted me to run, but I refused to. What makes that moment any different from now?" He set his jaw, looking down, realizing that she was right.
"Maybe it is time for you to go home," he whispered flatly, knowing that she had just gotten herself deeper into this pack than what he ever wanted her too. "You've become too dedicated to this pack."
"And what was I supposed to do?!" she questioned loudly, angered by what he was saying. "Just sit around idly while you did everything? That was not my assignment-."
"Yes it was, Sira," he stated, knowing that he was upsetting her more and more, but maybe it would convince her that she didn't need to be here right now. She wasn't safe here, and neither was he. "Your assignment was to help me get used to my new life and protect me from those who wished to hurt me. I asked you to come help me with the pack, which you agreed to, but you were never ordered to do so. Now, I'm telling you to leave because I don't need your help anymore." She looked as if he had just slapped her, maybe it would've stung less if he did.
"Fine, Fenrir Greyback, the Alpha of the Pack," she spit, her blue eyes on fire, "the Blood, the Life, and the Future of the Pack, I won't give you help anymore, if that's what you want. I, Sira Volkov, the Alpha Female of the Pack, the Love of Your Life, the Mother to Your Children, the Blood, the Life, and the Future of the Pack will sit around and wait for your orders like the dog you want me to be. I'm not leaving though, no matter what you say. I am still an Alpha of this Pack." He gazed into her eyes and realized how much he had hurt her in that moment, how angry he had made her. They'd be able to get through it, he knew it, but she needed to stop acting like a general and allow him to do what was best for the pack.
"You're more of a wolf than I am," he whispered tenderly as she turned away from him. She paused for a moment, before walking to the door and exiting the tent. He leaned up against the counter as his exhaustion returned to him. He just wanted this to be over with. He hated having to upset her, but he felt like it might have been necessary. She was getting reckless, and she knew she would ended up getting hurt if she didn't stop and think about her actions. He didn't want to have to see her lying there in the tent with the dead.
"Heros," Elena spoke softly as he looked up from his planning. "Can I talk to you?" He nodded and they walked out of one of the tents and headed into the forest. "How have you been doing?" Her question caused him to smile, something she hadn't seen him do in a while.
"I've been alright," he replied. "Like you, I'm just trying to help out the packs as much as possible." She nodded as she relaxed a bit. She had been worried that he was upset with her. "I'm sorry that we haven't had much time to hang out together."
"I miss talking to you," she admitted with a soft smile, his smile grew even warmer.
"I miss talking to you too." She paused and looked at him, her brown eyes glittering with her question. He stopped as well, gazing back at her as he took her by the hands, gently holding them in his. "I honestly couldn't stop thinking about you," he admitted, causing her cheeks to grow red with her blush.
"I like you a lot, Heros," she breathed, looking up into his eyes. His amber eyes lit up with her words. Slowly, his hands cupped her face as she moved in close to him, closing her eyes as she wondered if this all was a dream. It seemed too real to be a dream.
"I like you too," he replied as he brushed a strand of her brown hair away from her face. She smiled as he leaned in close to her, just before their lips met in a kiss. His mouth was gentle on hers as she slightly deepened the kiss, getting carried away by it. It just felt so right to be with him. So perfect. She never wanted to be away from him. After a little while, he pulled away just enough to look into her eyes as she put her arms around his neck, still smiling.
"I love you," she whispered. He rested his forehead against hers as he put his arms around her waist and pulled her a bit closer to him.
"I love you too."
"Elena?" a male voice questioned as Heros pulled away from her and moved between her and the voice. The man with black hair put his wand down as he approached them. He had to be from the Nightwind Pack.
"Lane?" she asked back as she stepped around Heros, who relaxed as he realized that he was no threat to them. He smiled at her, just glad to see her.
"How are you? Are you coming to take the pack back?" His eyes were bright like he knew she would be doing so. She shook her head and his smile faded from his lips. "Why not?"
"Kael's too strong," she stated gently, "you know that. I've heard of the things he's been doing to you and what he did to Sloan. There's no way I could take him down without help." Lane nodded as Heros continued to watch him, making sure that he was no threat to her. "I'm sorry." She took Heros by the hand and started to lead him back to the camp.
"There's been whispers of you, Elena," Lane said loudly, causing her to stop and look at him. "We saw you fighting with Greysmoke and we've happy to see that you're alright. We're ready for you to take back the pack, and when you decide to, we'll come to your aid. I can promise you that." She nodded as Heros watched her carefully as they both hoped that there was truth to his words.
"Thank you, Lane," she replied. "You better be getting back to your pack."
"Yes, ma'am." He turned and walked back the way he came from as they did the same. Heros put his arm around her shoulder as she lost herself in her thoughts. She wanted to go back, she wanted to help her pack, but she knew that it would be no easy task. All at once, she wished that Sloan had defeated Kael. If he had, they wouldn't have to be dealing with this war.
"Thank you for asking me to come with you," Sira said calmly as she checked her hair in a mirror after running her hand through it. Fenrir watched her carefully, knowing that she whole-heartedly rejected his idea and was extremely irritated with him.
"Thank you for agreeing to come," he replied flatly as she didn't look at him. "It means a lot to me."
"I hope you're happy with this decision," she said a bit too sharply, causing him to sigh as he looked down.
"It's going to be for the best," he stated and she finally looked at him. Her eyes didn't show her irritation or her disapproval, but showed her disappointment. After all of their work, he was giving up. She wished he wasn't. "We'll be safe then."
"I've never been safe in my life, Fenrir," she said gently as she came over to him, kneeling down in front of him as she took his hands in hers. "I've always been in danger and I always will be," she rubbed his hands tenderly with her thumbs. "I hope you know that." A slight smile spread across her lips as he watched her intently. "I doubt you've ever been safe either."
"It's one of the many things that has eluded me all of these years," he admitted. "But love had been one of those things as well and look at what we have now. I need to give safety a chance, just like I gave love a chance." He found himself smiling at her with his words, forgetting how much he had upset her. She scoffed as she shook her head slightly, seeming to be at a loss with herself. She knew her hands were tied. He knew she wanted to tell him how stupid he was being, but she knew she was keeping her opinions to herself because of what he had said earlier. "I'm sorry about what I said to you."
"It hurt me a lot, Fenrir," she stated, "after all I've done for you."
"I know," he answered. "I just thought it would make you reconsider what you're doing here. You're treading on dangerous ground and I don't want to see you hurt."
"So are you." She looked up into his eyes, knowing that he was in more danger than she was. He sighed as she stood and dropped his hands from hers. "We better get going." He nodded as he stood up before her, looking down at her, knowing that he was making the wrong choice. He hoped his feeling was wrong though.
As they walked into the Nightwind Pack's grounds, Sira looked over her shoulder to see a small flash of red light in the woods. She smiled slightly as her nerves calmed with the sight. It made her feel better about all of this. She returned her attention to what was ahead of her as she felt Fenrir stiffen beside her as he took her hand. They reached the small campsite as she felt the eyes of those still out in the night fall on them as they huddled around their fires. It was eerily similar to the first time she set foot in the Greysmoke Pack.
She dropped her eyes as Fenrir squeezed her hand as he led her to the Alpha's tent. "Ready?" he asked as they paused at the entrance of the tent. She sighed and nodded as he opened the tent up for her. Hesitantly, she stepped into the tent like they were told to do and he stepped in behind her.
"Fenrir, Sira," Kael said with a cocky grin, "it's good to see you again. Come in, have a seat." He motioned to a table where Sage sat and Sira and Fenrir took a seat across from her as Kael sat next to her. "I'm so glad that you're doing this, Fenrir. Trust me, it's for the best." Fenrir nodded stiffly at Kael as Sira watched them carefully, noting how sure of themselves Kael and Sage were.
"Do you want something to drink?" Sage questioned as she motioned to a young man to come over to the table, which he cautiously did. She whispered something to the man, which caused him to nod, and he stood and went to the kitchen. Sage smiled lightly as Sira's nerves told her that something was wrong.
"Let's get down to business, Kael," Fenrir stated firmly, wanting to be done with all of this.
"Why?" he asked. "The night has just begun and you two just got here. You might as well enjoy your last moments as Alphas of the Greysmoke Pack for just a little while longer." Sira's eyes fixed on the young man in the kitchen as he got out four glasses and uncorked a bottle of wine, pouring it into the glasses equally. "I know how much you enjoyed being Alpha, Fenrir."
"I used to enjoy being Alpha, but you made it increasingly difficult as of late." Kael chuckled darkly at his comment while Fenrir stayed stoic. Sage gave Kael a slight smirk as she placed her hand on his forearm. The young man glanced at them as Sira looked down before pulling a vial out of his pocket and pouring it into the glass on his left.
"Yes, and I'm sorry about that. Trying to find the rogue Alpha of this pack drove me to do things I didn't want to do against you." The man came over and placed the glass on his right into front of Sage and placed the one beside it in front of Kael. He moved around to the other side of the table and was about to place the glass on his left in front of Fenrir when Sira drew her wand.
"Imperio," she whispered, barely audible as the spell hit it's mark. She held her eye contact on him as she made him set the glass in front of her and give the other one in front of Fenrir. Then, she broke the spell and he shook his head, breaking from the trance.
"I'm sure our guests would like something to eat," Sage said to the man as he nodded and went back into the kitchen. Kael, Sage, and Fenrir took sips of their wine as she raised the glass to her lips, smelling the drink. It had a faintly bitter smell to it and she put it down and looked at it oddly.
"Is something wrong, Sira?" Sage asked as she looked at her, her eyes shining with dark confidence as she glanced at Fenrir.
"This wine tastes a little funny," she answered as the young man came back over with a tray of meat and crackers. She looked at the man as she picked the glass back up. "Would you be willing to tell me what you think of this?" she questioned as the young man took the glass from her hand.
"Of course," he said kindly as she felt the gazes on her grow suspicious. He put the glass to his lips and took a sip. He sat the glass back down on the table as he shrugged. Almost instantly, he started coughing and gasping for breath as he buckled to his knees.
"You bitch!" Sage barked as she stood up, her hands gripping the table violently. "That wasn't meant for you!" Kael looked at her darkly as he stood, snarling.
"I told you not to do that," he growled cruelly as the man coughed harder and Fenrir's gaze landed on her. Outside, shouts broke out from the pack as Sira took Fenrir by the hand as she stood and Kael slapped Sage hard across the face, yelling at her. Fenrir grabbed the poisoned man by the collar and dragged him out of the tent with them as Sira pulled a bezoar out of her pocket and forced it into the man's mouth. He eventually swallowed it and his coughing stopped.
"You okay?" Fenrir asked the man as Sira looked up to the battle that started between the two packs. The man nodded and Fenrir helped him to stand as they broke into a jog to get to the pack boundary. Spells whizzed past them and after a few minutes, they finally reached the boundary where they saw Elena, Heros and Anthony giving orders to the pack members.
"Elena! Heros! Anthony!" Sira shouted as they broke out of the woods into the little clearing they were in. She was panting hard as Fenrir helped the young man to sit before running his hand through his long hair, panting as well.
"Lane," Elena whispered as she kneeled in front of the man.
"He was poisoned," Fenrir breathed hard, looking at Sira as he realized how thankful he was to have her there. "How did you have that bezoar?"
"I thought that I may need one," she said with a slight smile.
"What happened down there?" Anthony questioned, looking at his father.
"Nothing," he answered, "other than your father making a stupid choice. Thank goodness it didn't come to life." Anthony nodded, but didn't ask any more questions. Sira looked at him with forgiveness in her eyes, smiling warmly, just happy that they were safe. He returned the smile gently. "Pull back the pack," he said to Heros as he looked at him. "There's no reason to waste our strength."
"Yes, sir," Heros said as he sent red sparks into the sky as the pack started to fall back. Fenrir went over to her and pulled her into a hug as she put her arms around his neck. She closed her eyes as he held her tight.
"I'm so sorry for everything," he whispered as she hugged him tighter.
"Stop," she breathed back. "It's okay."
She was glad he didn't go through with it. Truthfully, she was happy that he was alive, that they were both alive. She knew she would get into trouble with the Ministry because of the use of the Imperius Curse, but she hoped that they would forgive her. The offense was minor compared to some of the things that she had done in her life. She saved at least one life by doing so. She pulled out of his arms a little bit as Arian and Cain returned with the rest of the packs, both smiling with the thrill of battle.
"Too bad we didn't get a longer chance to fight," Arian stated. "It was a fairly tough battle."
"We need to see what we need to do next," Fenrir said as he pulled away from Sira the rest of the way and looked at the pack members. "They're falling apart internally, so it won't be long before they completely destroy themselves."
"We might as well act now then," Cain said, looking at Arian and Sira. Sira shook her head.
"We need to wait them out, put some tension on them. Like Fenrir said, they're already falling apart, so let them fall," she explained carefully. "In a few days' time, they will bring the battle back to us and we'll get the chance to defeat them once and for all." Fenrir nodded as he looked at the packs.
"Go on and get some rest, you all deserve it," he stated as they started to walk back to the tents. Sira watched them as they went as Fenrir looked up into the sky. The moon was starting to get close to being full. He sighed and her attention turned to him. She looked up into the sky as well, watching a cloud move slowly across the night sky.
"You need your rest as well," she said warmly as her eyes fell onto him. She took his hand as he finally dropped his eyes.
"Am I doing the right thing, Sira?" he questioned. She hadn't seen him this unsure with himself for years.
"You are now. Trust me."
He nodded, taking her hand as she gently leaned against him, closing her blue eyes as she forgot of how upset he had been with him. Nothing else mattered in that moment. They were together. They would be together to see the end of this. That thought was all they needed.