Chapter 390: Pack Revelations 2
"Our elders knew that it would become quite obvious what was occurring if there were too many members of the pack who went missing, so they sought to keep alyko from even being... born," Graeme frowned, having difficulty with relaying this next part. "The miscarriages that have plagued our pack and grieved so many females and mates is a direct result of their actions. With help, the elders administered a drug that prevented those pregnancies they deemed more likely to result in alyko pups from going to term."
Cries of anguish erupted from several people in the crowd, and it was becoming obvious that the continued revelations of this kind were going to make it difficult to control the emotions of these pack members from drowning out the rest of what must be spoken. Should he allow them time to grieve before he relayed the rest?
Graeme glanced back at Greta who had her own look of despair despite having known all of this already. Her hands were clasped together and head bowed as she felt the overwhelming emotions of the crowd, but she felt Graeme reach out to her in question, and she looked up to meet his eyes.
Greta stepped forward next to her brother. "I understand your pain," she said, addressing them in her softer voice but somehow captivating them nonetheless. She had a way with the pack members. They respected her and loved her for the way she was always at their sides with a comforting word or healing way about her.
"Sam and I have experienced our own loss. These are things we will grieve together for many years to come, but I can assure you that we will heal together as well. This is the time for healing. Uncovering these lies and deceptions makes it so that we can end them. We can reclaim our pack and by knowing and naming the threats against us, we can stop them and protect the differences among us that make us unique and strong."
With a reassuring smile, Greta’s words seemed to quell the pack enough for Graeme’s authority to step back in.
"I must apologize to you all, for my emotions have gotten the best of me. I should have come to you all with this in the beginning when it was unfolding to my attention, but I didn’t have all of the facts. And when they all came to light, I took it upon myself to end the life of not only Auden but Andreas. The elders plotted against my parents and this pack, and they have also plotted against my mate in an attempt to silence the truth and keep an Alpha and Luna from reclaiming power. My mate has been taken," he choked on the last sentence, his eyebrows threading together with the difficulty in admitting it.
"She has been taken by the same creature who took the other alyko. The same creature who took our pups and continues to threaten the members of this pack. But after she was taken by him, she freed some of those alyko he had who were kept imprisoned, and they are back with us," he said proudly, gesturing toward the back doors of the pack house where Camila, Elsie, and the three alyko pups appeared from where they had been waiting to make their entrance.
Everyone turned, more gasps of surprise peppering the crowd as the five alyko made their way through the people and toward were Graeme, Greta, Sam, and the female elders were standing to receive them.
"It is a blessing to have them back with us, and we will protect them with everything we have so that they will never be threatened, taken, or harmed again. I vow it. I vow it them, to Livvy, to all of you. You all are equally valued in this pack, and there will be nothing that sways me in my resolve to protect each and every one of you the way that you were under my parents’ leadership. There is no deal that will ever be struck again that sacrifices any number of us."
"Now there are a number of things that must be done before we can get back to normal, but I ask that you all view this as an opportunity for renewal of our commitment to one another and of our strength as a pack. The pure fire was lit yesterday morning on Samhain to bring us light and unity through the dark winter months, and that is still what we are called for," he roared.
"Your Luna is like no other Luna who has lived. She is unique, and her ability as an alyko is why she was sought by the creature. She went willingly, believing it would protect you all from being ruthlessly killed and also believing that she would be the one who could finally put an end to all of this. I trust her in this, as her mate and as your Alpha, and I ask that you do the same," he said, his eyes burning an intense gold as he spoke proudly of the one whom he was blessed to have been given as a mate.
"What kind of ancient creature has been doing all of this?" someone yelled from the crowd.
A muscle feathered in Graeme’s jaw. He had avoided saying it, as it sounded almost ridiculous to name the creature. It was not long ago that he had considered those like Zagan to be myths, so he could only imagine what others in his pack would think should he start this whole series of revelations by saying exactly what was after them.
"It is a vampire," he finally said.
Shocked responses prickled through the crowd as he heard the word repeated on the lips of his pack members.
"It is an ancient vampire who has existed for centuries," his sonorous voice continued, reverberating within them like it was coming from their own chests—such was the voice of an Alpha.
"This vampire is neither living nor dead, which is why killing him is not an easy task. It has not been accomplished in hundreds of years, but your Luna has been brought to this pack by the Moon Goddess for a reason. You have felt just as I have the extraordinary presence she has and the power she wields that is from the Moon Goddess herself. She will be the one who can end this. Do not fear. She has already returned five alyko to us who were kept by this vampire for a decade. Your Luna will be the one to kill the vampire."
