Chapter 173

Dylan POV

I'll be the first to admit that seeing Oliver stood so out of breath and delivering the news about Lewis's fate, caused my breath to hitch and my heart to race, I felt my chest clench as my hands begun to tremble. The moment I felt my quicken was the moment I knew I had to get out of there. I didn't think twice about fleeing and I certainly didn't wait to hear the rest of the information from the current royal beta.

I simply ran up a flight of steps and stopped in my tracks as realization crashed over me like a tidal wave, I was having a panic attack.

Obviously I had experienced them before, but it had been so long since the last one, that it honestly caught me off guard.

I hadn't even told anyone where I was going, I just knew I needed space away from prying eyes, and so I opened the first door that I saw and slammed it shut, settling on the floor of the supply closet trying to catch the breath that was being kept from me by my own brain.

Gilliard found me first, then bought his aunt in to help, she put things into perspective. She made me realize what King Josh's actions actually meant for the rebellion and how I had to pull myself together for what was about to transpire.

With Lewis's capture a wave of uncertainty and haste washed over me, and Ygritte was right, I had to focus on what I could do in that specific moment.

The other countries needed to know what was going on.

I was panicking so much, as I fiddled with the communication device, trying to establish a decent link between myself and that of Jack, the Australian rebellion leader. I needed to get a grip of reality.

The notion of losing Lewis was so prominent in my mind and the thought of going face to face with King Josh again bought out more anxiety in me than I ever thought would have. Still, I had a job to do, even more so now that Lewis's life was in jeopardy.

The holographic phone rang for less than 30 seconds before Jack was seen, his sunglasses on his face, hiding his missing eye. It was almost as if he was sat waiting for more news about our movements.

"Hello." He sounded sure, as if he was ready for whatever information was about to fly out of my mouth.

"Jack... it's Dylan." He held no reply as he looked at me, I felt a bit stupid realizing he too could clearly see it was me in the projection of my own body. "The battle is in two days, so be prepared to lead your group... while I lead mine."

"Wait what?!" He exclaimed loudly. It was clearly short notice and I couldn't help but wince as I knew I was bringing the fight forward for selfish reasons. His shocked expression was practically screaming at me for an explanation, and so I sighed, before meeting his lens covered eyes.

"I know it's hasty, but I wouldn't be saying it unless it was absolutely necessary. The moon goddess herself told me that the fight against the king would take place during a full moon..." I explained watching his face transform from shocked to confused. Of course with his sunglasses on it was difficult to see what emotion lay behind his eyes. 

"The moon goddess?! You're talking as if you are a Lycan yourself. The moon goddess, if she's even real, doesn't give two shits about us. Otherwise she would have intervened and killed the royals when they began to show signs of human oppression." I understand that my actions and views are now quite radical in comparison to how I used to be, but I had had my eyes opened to the world and everyone who lived it in.

“There was a time when I thought then exact same thing as you. She was just a mythical being that the lycans made up to give themselves a superiority complex… then I met her, twice actually. She’s real, and she wants the king off the throne almost as much as everyone else. She only paired me up with that sadistic asshole because she believed me to be the one to usurp him. Hell, she’s turned my life into a living hell, all for the sake of human kind.” I knew her reasoning for everything, but still, my hatred for her benevolence wasn’t misguided or misplaced. “She has made me suffer, for years without any explanation, she healed my wounds, she stopped me from harming myself, and she did it all for an equal world. I guess sacrificing one person for the lives of many really does get results. “I hate her, but I can’t deny her existence or the fact that she wants equality too.”

“Equality? You look like you’ve been puked on by a ghost. If you have really spoken to her, then it’s safe to assume that your change is down to her… Wait… Holy shit? Are you actually a Lycan now?” I could see how it may look like it, I truly couldn’t deny that my change was radical, not only was my hair a dead giveaway that something mystical had occurred, but my muscle and my knowledge was proof.

“No, I have just been gifted the knowledge of the wolf hunters. I can kill him now… Jack… I know I can kill him.” There was no hint of a lie in my words my honest option was that I could beat the king. Whether his death goes hand in hand with my own was another matter entirely.

“Ok, so what would you like from me?” The exact same thing that had always been planned.

“Our plan stays the same, it just needs to be brought forward slightly. You attack when we do.” He nodded his head, and hung up quickly most likely to begin preparations for his own attack on the oppressive Lycan forces.

I took a deep breath as soon as the rebel was gone from my screen. My chest still remained heavy, and my mind raced with endless possible outcomes from what was about to transpire.

“Are you ok?” Gilliards voice sounded out, his tone was soft, as I turned to meet his gaze while it remained directly on me.

“I am fine. We need to come up with a plan…” it was fairly obvious that we were about to throw ourselves into the lions den, with barely enough weapons that could actually make a difference to a Lycan. I grabbed the silver bulleted gun out of the draw in Gilliards desk, and holstered it in the waistband of my pants, before turning back to the alpha and his aunt. “Where’s Oliver?”

“In the dungeons, where traitors belong.” Traitors? I doubt Oliver had actually caused this, and if he did it was unlikely to have been intentional.

“You think Oliver actually had something to do with all this?” I was skeptical, of corse it wasn’t too long ago that I would have been the first person to point my finger, however, now after everything I trusted him.

“What? Don’t you? I think it’s really suspicious that he just happens to get away from the king while Lewis, of all people, gets taken. He’s lucky I didn’t throw him out of the pack altogether.” I shook my head, I really did think that was the case.

“If he wanted to do something that betrayed us he would have turned me in when he had the chance, not Lewis. Instead Oliver saved my life when we went to speak to the packs, now that he’s found out Vee is his mate, I think he wants a world we’re he knows she’ll be as safe as he is.” I couldn’t see the possibility of him betraying us for some reason.

Of course, I understood the concerns, it just didn’t make any sense why he would do it now, and to Lewis of all people.

“I’m going to go and let him out. I’ll talk to him about what happened… we can’t afford to lose someone like him.” Gilliard nodded but still didn’t like the idea. I could tell he had a lot of distrust, but I suppose he was Lewis’s cousin.

“Dylan, people are counting on you now. So keep it together, you’re stronger than you believe.” Ygritte placed her hand on my shoulder and I smiled kindly at her, I was only strong when I had someone to lean on, or something to focus my mind on. However now the only thing on my mind was that Lewis was in trouble, and it was all my fault.

Having Ygritte there too didn’t help, she made my wish for my own mom to be with me was much more prominent in my mind, I ended up simply turning my head away from her in an attempt to cover up my sadness.

On my way down to the packs dungeons, I became completely distracted by the blasting voices coming from the large tv in the sitting room. I made my way in cautiously and was greeted by non other than King Josh’s smug face plastered on the screen. He appeared to be giving yet another one of his horrendous speeches, however, it was his words that enticed me more than I care to admit.

“Obviously the closed sectors border has been a large concern for both myself and my family, as such I have taken it upon myself to investigate and help to find a solution that would allow the border to once again open…” I heard him continue from where he had obviously started before I arrived. “It came as quite a shock to find out that not only was the border compromised by a group or rebels, but leading that group was non other than my previously appointed beta!” Lots of chatter began around the lounge as wolves and humans alike watched the screen, with both fascination and worry clouding their features.

“Is it true that the once lord beta, held the scent of the queen Luna?” One of the news crew asked in pure curiosity.

“Unfortunately, yes! That is true. It is my understanding that not only was my beautiful mate stolen by the rebels, but she has been held captive by Lewis for these past few months. Justice shall be sort, and I pray now that we have him, the truth will come to light.” Truth my ass, everything out of the kings mouth was complete nonsense and drivel. Captured? Had the world forgotten how I set fire to the punishment stage? Destroying the lashing posts and leaving my chains out for every one to see? Surely no one believed these lies. “I shall have my mate back with me very soon indeed.”

“What sort of punishment are you planning in regards to the criminal acts?” The king thought about his next words to the reporters and all I could do was roll my eyes. Whatever the punishment may be, it was fairly certain that his grace would make a spectacle of it. Broadcasting it for everyone to see.

“Kidnapping one’s mate can simply not be over looked, and not only that, but attempting to force her into accepting him in the place of the goddesses choice, is breaking almost all the laws of old…” What would Lewis be put through? Was he about to be tortured? Most likely it would be much worse for him that what I had ever experienced. The king, probably in his sick way, went easy on me.

“Gone are the days were humans could defy us all… we are superior… And so I announce that Lewis… when the moon his high and round, and the moon goddess herself can bare witness to the even… Lewis shall be put to death.”