Chapter 142 Release Him
Killorn would've gladly traded his life to be in Ophelia's position. He'd rather take the fall than her. The moon dangled in the sky, tucked behind a thick veil of clouds, almost like a silent witness to the unfolding tragedy below.
Killorn struggled against the edge of his cliff, ready to leap into the abyss with his beloved Ophelia. Desperation, despair, and a searing rage clawed out of his throat, echoing through the forest trees, as multiple hands grabbed him, wrestling him backward.
"Alpha, please!" they begged against the kicking and blinded husband. Killorn roared against his restraint, his muscles tensed as he threw people off of him. But it was no use, as his loyal men jumped back onto their feet to hold him back. His eyes were wide and wild with denial, locked into the unforgiving cliff below, where his wife had disappeared.
"Let me go!" Killorn bellowed, his primal scream resonating with anguish that tore through his stony heart. Cracks formed on the surface of his chest, reminding him that this organ beated for a woman who no longer lived. Those who restrained him attempted to speak words of reason.
"There's still time to find her!" Geralt demanded, furious and panicked, at the desperation in their powerful leader's eyes. "Alpha!"
Killorn broke free with a violent surge like a lone wolf that unleashed upon the mountainside. Monstrous and huge with black fur that shone under the moonlight. "Wait for us!"
Killorn dashed through the forest trees, the cold night tugging at his fur, animals darting out of his line of sight. He ran with an urgency mirroring his pleas as howls filled the air. His people descended with equal fervor, racing against the frigid wind that carried whispers of despair.
A torrent of emotions raged through Killorn, tearing at his rationality, and rattling his sanity. Ophelia. Please. God. Please. Killorn was blinded by the fear of losing her. He knew jumping off the cliff to join her would be meaningless. At least, he had a chance to save her. Yet, deep down, he knew the odds were slim.
Eventually, the Mavez Pack descended to the bottom of the mountain, their breaths ragged and their vision blurry with exhaustion. As they approached the rocky sides of the racing river, their hope clashed with the stark reality. The fast-washing river was filled with a current that dashed with relentless force. Rocks that fell from above were immediately sunken under and carried downstream.
"F*ck…" Geralt murmured under his breath, his realization striking everyone like a blow to the heart.
If Ophelia had survived the fall, the river's relentless flow would've claimed her. By now, she'd be swept into the vast expanse of wherever this rushing stream ended. Killorn's eyes glistened with a storm of emotions at the reflection of the cruel truth.
Determination flickered in his gaze as Killorn let out a monstrous declaration. "Dead or alive, I want her found!" His resolve echoed through the mountains, a vow that reverberated mercilessly.
Yet, everyone knew, this was an impossibility.
Whatever was left of Ophelia was long gone.
Their Luna, dead or alive, would never resurface. Ever again.
- - - - -
Day and night, the mountains echoed with the haunting howls of a wolf on a quest to reclaim what had been lost. The night bore witness to a husband's fury that transformed into desperation and an unwavering resolve to reunite with his wife.
Everyone knew it was a meaningless search. They combed through the surroundings, but nothing was of use. The night embraced Killorn and his pack for days on end as the haunted echoes of their Alpha's demands grew more and more impossible.
Moonlight cast silhouettes of their desperation. The men searched and clawed through everything until their fingernails bled and split from their relentless pursuit. The river's roar accompanied them, a constant reminder of the treacherous impossibility. Killorn never reset. Time seemed to warp in his eyes, agony etched into his haunted gaze. His cheeks were sunken, the bags under his eyes dark and unforgiving. The moon almost mocked him, never once lighting a path in the night.
The search felt like an eternity. Killorn pushed his men and his pack to its limits.
Finally, a voice of reason spoke up.
"Do you mean to kill your men?" Everest was in the center of the forest. He was covered in sweat, searching all the grounds. By now, they've covered every inch of their territory, and nothing could be found. Not even her clothes.
Killorn ignored the vampire as he continued storming through his land, accompanied by his men with shovels. "Let her go," Everest pleaded softly. "She is no more—"
Killorn seized Everest by the throat, his bloodied fingers digging into pale flesh. "Don't f*ck with me."
"Enough!" Lupinum's voice echoed through the first, a command that cut through the chaos and sent every werewolf jumping backward at his command. He grabbed onto Killorn's wrists in protest. "Killing this bloodsucker won't bring back your wife!"
"No, but it'd give me great satisfaction," Killorn snarled, continuing to clench down on his grip. He strangled Everet, meeting the vampire's cool, composed demeanor.
"Release him this instant!" Lupinum spat out, his tone darkening with warning as his eyes glowed amber. His command echoed in the air, sending shock waves through Killorn whose entire body began to shake. The Werewolf's Sovereignty. Not a single werewolf would be able to disobey, their body simply won't let them.
Killorn stood his ground for a brief second, his veins popping. His hands trembled like an earthquake before he finally dropped Everest. Killorn heaved hard, his chest rising rapidly and falling as sweat dripped down his rigid spine. The air around him crackled as he exhaled, darkness dripping from his glower.
"I know you had something to do with her rash behavior that night," Killorn spat upon a choking Everest on the floor.
Everest touched his tender neck, releasing a scoff, his lips curling upwards on one side. They were both madmen under the moonlight. "It isn't like I told her to escape into the midnight all by her lone and feeble self. Do you seriously think I would endanger her like that?" Everest shot back, rising to his feet with gritted teeth.
"If it wasn't for you…" Killorn realized to himself, his entire body beginning to quake with fury. "If it wasn't for you wretched bastard of royalty, she wouldn't have run out to sacrifice herself in the empire."
Everest narrowed his eyes. In the midst of their turmoil, he had a hint of admiration for the grief-stricken husband who dared to challenge the very fabric of their world. Killorn's words were a deadly concoction of rage and sorrow, lingering in the night air.
"There is nothing you can do to hold me back," Killorn slowly began, his face blazing with a determination that transcended the immediate conflict.
"What are you implying?" Everest wagered. "Don't do something you'll regret."
Suddenly, Killorn's figure seemed to grow taller, casting shadows that danced with threats of vengeful resolve. His men exchanged knowing glances, for the thought had long rang through their minds. They were simply loyal creatures, waiting with bated breaths as he made up his mind.
Emotions ran high in the forest, whispering of loss, the rage of vengeance, and the chill of impending omen. The forest itself had stilled for the past week, monsters hidden and tucked away. The trees almost mourned the tragedy of a hidden death.
"On the honor of House Mavez," Killorn's voice thundered, his declaration beginning to ring through the silent stunning. "We declare war upon the Helios Empire!"
Foll𝑜w current novels on fre(e)w𝒆bnovel