Married to Darkness- Chapter 26

The heels of the antiquated boots echoed loudly through the open bay of the large metal structure. The dull thud of the cane followed each set of steps in the cold room. Red laser lights appeared and concentrated around the heart of her black Victorian age dress as she moved from the darkness of the overhanging metal floor into the lights. Her eyes settled on the woman that stood on the opposing side of the room that looked more to be an industrial kill chamber than a warehouse meet up.

Monroe addressed the elderly woman, "You aren't what I expected. For the matriarch of a werewolf family, I expected someone a bit more spry."

One of the many hunters that stood from the overhand chuckled, "I hope she doesn't slip and break her hip before we kill her."

Another hunter laughed as Gran clicked her false teeth and took another step towards Monroe, "You aren't what I expected either, dear. But I guess in another respect, you and your menagerie are exactly what I expected."

Monroe stepped towards Gran as she pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the matron. "What do you mean?"

Gran softly chuckled, "You and your men look to me like I am a joke and you forget how many of your comrades thought the same thing before their last breath."

Monroe smirked before she responded with disdain, "Do you think we are afraid of you? You don't have your precious grandson, your weapon."

Gran smiled knowingly, "I don't need a wolf to deal with your kind. Which is why I am here to offer you a deal."

Monroe plastered a fake smile as she asked, "What are your terms?"

Gran continued, "Give me back my grandson and I end my campaign against you. Decide against it and I will end you. A fair deal, if I say so myself."

Monroe laughed as she approached the woman, "You walk in here, defenseless, and expect us to hand over an alpha because of a weak threat? What's stopping me from killing you right now?"

Gran laughed softly, "The thing that is stopping you is the thing that led you back here, the thing that drives all of your actions, fear."

Monroe walked to Gran and grabbed the front coat of her dress and threatened her, "I'm not afraid of you, old woman."

Gran balanced herself on her cane as she responded, "I may be unarmed but I am far from defenseless. And my plan is working just as I devised, something you wouldn't know about, Monroe."

The hunter pushed her gun into the woman's chest and said, "I'll kill you before you have a chance to do anything else."

Gran's smile darkened as she coughed up a spray of blood before she whispered, "I'm sorry, dear. Age and illness beat you to it. However, you've failed to stop me from doing anything."

Theo crawled through the duct work of the building. He hated the plan but understood that it was Gran's plan but that hadn't stopped him from messaging the pack of their whereabouts. He hoped his Little Wolf would make it there in time to stop the woman's planned martyrdom. He followed the sounds and scents of torture.

When he reached the grating near the underground section he saw Erik, strapped to the iron gating, the electric current surging through the wolf but left completely unattended. The chimera laughed to himself as he opened the grate and slid out to the concrete floor. He caught himself as his feet hit the ground.

The chimera ran over to the assortment of electronic equipment and ripped the machines from their power source which instantly stopped the power surging through the alpha. He stepped around the mangled cords and table and faced the exhausted wolf. Erik slowly raised his head, his eyes clearly foggy from the torture as he mumbled, "Mr. Raeken?"

Theo reached around the grate and snapped the first handcuff as he replied, "Yeah, Erik. It's me. Your Gran sent me to fetch you."

As the chimera snapped the second cuff, Erik asked, "Gran? Is she here?"

Theo nodded as he replied, "She's distracting Monroe while I get you out of here." The chimera slid underneath the alpha's arm and began to carry him out the door. Erik raised his head and his eyes glowed red, "Gran's in danger, I have to help her."

Theo argued as he pulled the alpha towards the door, "We have to get you out and safe first."

When they reached the door, Erik shoved Theo away and opened the doors. He caught his Gran's scent and ran down the hallway. The chimera grumbled as he caught himself and muttered, "I hate rescue missions" before he chased after the alpha.

Mason stomped the gas and lurched the car forward as they sped down the empty streets of Beacon Hills towards the building Theo told them about. He glanced down and saw that he was clearly exceeding the speed limit, but Liam shouted from the back, "Mase, we need to go faster."

Mason responded, a bit annoyed, "If I go any faster Liam, we won't make it in one piece."

Liam huffed to argue more but Corey interrupted, "What's the plan when we get there?"

Liam anxiously bit his lip before he responded, "I'm going to fight Monroe and stop her men while you two find Erik and Theo."

Corey responded, "Do you think that is such a good idea Liam? We should stay together and neither Mason or myself want you fighting Monroe alone."

Mason took a turn especially harsh as they continued to the warehouse, "Corey's right. If this is a meeting set up by Monroe, they'll have to have traps."

Liam argued, "Maybe not. It was a meeting between Monroe and Gran. Why would she set traps for an elderly woman?"

Mason responded as he looked back in the rearview mirror, "That's just wishful thinking, Liam."

Liam nodded and made eye contact with Mason before the teen looked back to the road, "Mase, I know. I'm hoping that Theo is able to stop them enough so you two can rescue Erik. No one else is dying because of that woman."

Monroe gazed into the elderly woman's face. She looked into her eyes and saw a smug certainty that should be possessed by a person facing their death. She stated in a breath with very little force, "You plan to die here."

Gran shrugged in her grip and clicked her dentures before she replied, "Dear, my plans have always been about revenge for your group slaughtering my family. This is the one time where I gave you the option to change my mind. Yet, here we are. Your hatred will be your undoing."

Monroe released her grip and took two steps back as she leveled her firearm towards the elderly woman, "Any last words, Mildred?"

Gran glanced towards the overhang and counted the men and her eyes drifted to the men on the lower level with her. She smiled as she announced, "There are six men up top and three down here with myself and the ringleader. I leave the rest in your capable hands."

Monroe's eyes widened as she saw the double door behind Gran open and the angry wolf with golden eyes step through it. She caught the movements of two figures behind her hunters on the overhang. She yelled, "We're under attack" as she squeezed the trigger and the shot discharged from her handgun and the round struck the old woman in the left side of her chest. Gran's body crumpled to the floor.

A loud roar was released from the overhang which echoed and stunned the hunters as she brought her hands to cover her ears. The angry wolf charged her as she heard two screams from the upper level. She brought her gun down but felt the sharp claws tear into her shoulder. She lost control of her hand and dropped the firearm as she screamed, "Kill the wolf down here."

She slipped away from his claw and grabbed her stun baton with her good hand. She activated it and brought it up to block his slash, connecting with his chest. He growled in pain as the red dots moved to his head. The current surged through him, and she smiled through the pain. Another howl was heard as a figure jumped from the top floor and tackled the wolf just as the rounds were fired by her hunters.

The dark-haired man collapsed as three separate rounds tore through his chest. Monroe stumbled backwards and ran towards the back door. She was surprised as the wolf didn't chase her and counted her blessings as she pushed through the double doors into the hallway.

Her shoulder throbbed but she continued to run, with the baton in her good hand. She hated that she lost her chance to kill Liam but maybe her men would finish the job since she still heard firearms being discharged. The hallway narrowed as ran towards the stairs to the lower level. She thought that if she could just make it down there, the emergency escape would give her just the opportunity to survive this night.

Just as she made the turn, she collided with something and her baton made contact. A strong electric pulse travelled through the object which materialized as the chimera teen and his boyfriend. It coursed through her and the pain concentrated in here head before it discharged enough to throw her body against the wall. She let out a final scream as the current continued and focused on her head.

Mason slowly came back into consciousness, the impact with Monroe and her electric baton did a number on him. He felt Corey holding his hand and the back of his head as he lay on the cold, concrete floor. He mumbled, "Corey? Are you alright?"

Corey smiled down at his boyfriend and replied, "That's supposed to be my question, Mase."

Mason smiled as he began to sit up and looked past Corey, to Monroe. The hunter was still unconscious, and he asked, "What are we going to do with her?"

Corey glanced to her and replied, "Jail? The sheriff did want to stop the violence."

Mason leaned towards his boyfriend and kissed his cheek, "I love you Corey."

Corey beamed his nervous smile, "Love you too, Mase."

Monroe slowly began to move, and the two teens got to their feet. They walked over to her as the woman's eyes slowly opened. Mason addressed her, "Monroe, you aren't going to hurt anyone anymore. You'll spend the rest of your life behind bars."

Monroe looked up at the teen and a smug grin formed on her face and she spoke in a deep French accent, "Mason, it is so good to look at you with eyes that belonged to someone else."

Corey and Mason's eyes widened as Monroe continued, "Boys, why do you seem so surprised?"

Monroe stood up, dropping the baton, and pressed her good hand to the claw injury on her shoulder. She remarked, "I expected a little less damage, but this should do."

Corey weakly asked, "Sophie Marie?"

Sophie Marie smiled and nodded her head, "Oui, Monsieur Bryant." She looked to Mason, "I hope I haven't been too much of a burden during our time together."

Mason stared in disbelief as he asked, "But Monroe? What happened to her?"

Sophie Marie casually mused, "This Tamora Monroe? She is no longer with us. When the currents dissipated anything left of her thought process and personality faded with it. I do have some access to her memories, but I assure you, she is dead."

Corey asked with a hint of fear in his voice, "How can you say that so easily? She's dead?"

Sophie Marie nodded, "Just as Mr. Raeken would've been had I transferred into his body. This one will do though." She looked to Mason, "It seems everything worked out, no?"

Mason slowly nodded before the three heard a pain filled howl from the bay area.

Theo felt the rounds enter his body, the small but powerful surges of fire and force as they tore through fragile tissue. His eyes clouded some as he witnessed Monroe in her escape. He smiled to himself as the side of his face found the cold, hard, concrete forcefully. The sounds of screams and howls filled the air as he smelled blood, his, Gran's, Monroe's, and the other hunters. He devoted his energies to breathing as he heard the quick movement of feet and the expenditures of ammunition. He coughed up blood and felt the pressure in his chest increase as the sounds of battle faded around him.

As the last hunter on the ground floor fell, Liam ran over to Theo. He grabbed the chimera's hand and rolled him over to look at him. The wounds on his chest were larger than he expected and had already soaked his shirt and jeans. The wolf looked to his boyfriend's face as he instinctually drew his pain. Theo's eyes opened, and he looked up to him. The chimera whispered, "Little Wolf, you're crying? Why are you crying?"

Liam's voice cracked and betrayed him as he answered, "Because you said you weren't going to die for me. You lied."

A grin formed on the chimera's face before he chuckled, a light spray of blood coming from his mouth, "I did say that, didn't I?" The chimera fought against the pain before he replied, "I don't suppose Mason has any of the purple vials nearby?"

Liam shook his head as he firmly gripped the chimera harder, "You should be healing but you aren't."

Theo took a deep breath, "Maybe I am, it's just too much. You know when I said that?"

Liam slowly nodded, his vision blurred from the overwhelming tears, and Theo continued, "What I meant was I'd do anything for you. I guess I'm just bad at communicating."

The two shared a painfilled laugh as Liam leaned down and they whispered I love you to each other.

As Liam ran to Theo, Erik ran to Gran, his eyes still blazing red. He knelt beside her and her eyes slowly shifted to look at him. She smiled softly, "I'm so glad you're safe now Erik. I'm sorry for what I put you through just know, I did everything to protect you."

Erik nodded his head as he took her hand and her pain, "Gran, I know. I need to get you some help."

Gran shook her head, "Don't bother Erik. If not this bullet, then the cancer. I didn't want you to be alone, but it seems that life is telling me different."

Erik shook his head and pleaded, "Don't talk like that Gran. I can help you. I can use the power."

Gran mustered enough energy to slap away his hand, "Don't! Erik, be a good grandson and do one more thing for me."

Erik looked into her eyes and nodded before she continued, "Use you power on Mr. Raeken. I can't make up for what I put you through, but I owe it to him to make something right."

Erik argued, "But the family- "

Gran interrupted him, "Will continue with you and hopefully with your new pack."

Gran closed her eyes and the alpha heard her last breath. He howled deeply, a roar laced with the pain of profound loneliness.

He released her hand and walked over to Theo and knelt beside the chimera. Tears filled the young alpha's eyes as he met the chimera's gaze. Erik said, "Theo, my grandmother wants you to have something."

Theo coughed, and Liam leaned back before the chimera responded, "Whatever it is, it should be quick. I don't have a lot of time."

Erik nodded and placed his hands over the wounds. The alpha closed his eyes and channeled the power as he pulled the pain from the chimera. Theo's body arched into the alpha's hands and Liam slid back as a wave of energy poured from the two. After a few moments, Theo's body collapsed, and Erik's body slumped on itself.

The wolf watched his boyfriend open his eyes and gasp. The chimera sat up and checked his chest, the wounds already closed. Liam's eyes widened as he hugged his boyfriend and looked to the crumpled alpha.

Erik's eyes slowly opened and the two noticed the difference immediately. The once deep red eyes of an alpha glowed electric blue.

Liam gasped as he asked, "Erik, you gave up your power as an alpha to save Theo?"

Erik slowly nodded and replied, "It was Gran's final wish." The new beta stood up, his face torn with sorrow and loss, "I guess that means I'm alone now."

The Little Wolf released his boyfriend and stood up, "No. Erik, you saved Theo. You gave up your families' power for my pack. I can't just let you become an omega. Join us. We aren't family, but we can hopefully, be your pack."

Erik reached across his body and held his arm as he looked away. Theo stood up and placed a hand on the former alpha's shoulder before he remarked, "I told Gran I would look after you. So, do me a favor, accept Liam's offer so I don't have to track you down and watch you from a distance."

Erik turned and faced both Liam and Theo. He took a deep breath before he responded, "Alright. At least for now, I'll join your pack."

Liam smiled as he looked to Theo and the rear double doors opened with Mason, Corey and Monroe stepping through them.

Liam and Erik glanced back and flashed their eyes as their claws came out. Mason quickly held up his hand and stated, "Stop. We've got somethings to talk about when we get back and no, she isn't Monroe anymore."

Sophie Marie spoke as the two wolves slowly calmed down, "Mason is right. We have things to discuss and hopefully before more of these ruffians show up."

Theo looked to Liam, "Let's head home."

Liam smiled to his boyfriend, "Yeah, let's head home."