Chapter 389: Pack Revelations
The whole Hallowell pack was gathered around the rear of the pack house where the pure fire was still burning. The cool night air had helped bring the flames down, but it was likely that the fire would continue on for another 12 hours until it was low enough for Calix to cover it with dirt and sand. The ritual of the pure fire did not allow dousing with water since its light was considered to be sacred, and the slowly lowering flames made it so that any families who had missed bringing part of it to their own hearth would still have the chance to do so.
Graeme stood in front of the fire with the members of his pack surrounding him. A few seemed surprised by his glowing golden eyes, but perhaps it was because of how magical the previous night was that most were not fazed by it. Their Luna occasionally had golden eyes, and if anything this was just another sign of how strong the mate bond between their two leaders was. They still felt the bright flame of unity burning in the deepest core of them, and it was like a renewal of hope for all.
"Thank you all for returning here this morning. This was a historic Samhain in many ways. Your Alpha and Luna are devoted to making this pack strong in the way we care for and cherish one another, which is something that has been missing since my parents’ deaths," Graeme spoke, his deep, sonorous voice hushing the chatter of those gathered.
"There is still much that needs to be figured out. My Beta, Samuel Wilde, and I will be reevaluating security and leadership positions for the various posts that have served for the council as well as training for all of our guards and scouts. These are things that will take time, and I appreciate all of your patience while we establish a process that works well for the pack and in serving the pack’s interests," he told them.
"I stand here before you now humbled. This pack has been through so much, and I was not here for you as I should have been. But with recent revelations regarding how members of this pack have been manipulated and deceived, I think you will understand how much more was at work in preventing me from naturally taking my position following my father’s passing than most are aware."
"As you may notice, the elders are not with us this morning," he turned and acknowledged those who were gathered next to him instead—Greta and Sam as well as Sylvia and Charlotte representing the new wisdom of the elders that he had appointed. "I beseech you to listen with your hearts as well as with your minds—with your intuition given by the Moon Goddess who guides us in all things—while I explain what has been discovered. It will not be easy to hear."
At this, the crowd of those gathered began murmuring and shifting slightly as people looked around to see that indeed, the elders were nowhere to be found. What was this about?
"It is difficult to even know where to start, so I will start from the beginning," Graeme’s voice rose, hushing them once again as all stood riveted, anticipating what news was to come that was so upsetting to their Alpha. "Listen to the whole story. Each detail is important, and I do not wish for you to miss anything. We will do our best to address all of your questions at the end."
"In the time leading up to my parents’ murders, they had been approached by an ancient creature who sought to take the alyko as his own for their remarkable abilities. This creature knew of the prejudice that has often been harbored against those in our lycan family who do not have the gift of a wolf, and he wanted to exploit that—removing the troubling individuals from our pack so that he could use them to his own ends. My parents, feeling that every member of this pack is equally a valuable part of our family and therefore must be protected, refused. At the time they were killed, they were working with others outside of our pack to find a solution that would not sacrifice any of our pack members. They were determined to protect us all, as an Alpha and Luna should."
"Our three elders at the time—Andreas, Pearce, and Auden—disagreed with the Alpha and Luna and approached this creature on their own. They offered to give this creature our alyko, but it would come with the price of my parents’ deaths. A plot to kill our Alpha and Luna was created to remove them as an obstacle was created, and as we know, it was successful," Graeme released a heavy breath.
"Only a few days later, the alyko were given to the creature, their wrongful blame for my parents’ deaths allowing us all to stand by as they were apparently killed in such a horrific way," he grimaced and swallowed back the ache that all of these memories still brought to the surface. "But the fire at Magnolia’s cottage was only a ruse. They were not killed. They were sent elsewhere."
A wave of shock and surprise rolled through the crowd as people gasped, having no knowledge of any of this. The murders of the Alpha and Luna plotted by their own elders? The alyko who were killed but in reality given away? And what was this ancient creature?
"There is more," Graeme silenced them again. "I am sorry to have to report all of this to you, but my friends, there is more. The sacrifice of our alyko did not stop with just those who we thought were killed that day. The elders promised this creature that they would continue handing over any alyko members of our pack who were discovered. That is why some of our pups have gone missing without any clue as to where they have gone. They were given to the creature, but thankfully one of them was retrieved," Graeme smiled as he picked Livvy out of the crowd. "Livvy, we are overjoyed to have you back with us, and I vow to protect you from ever being threatened again," he said, speaking directly to the pup.
