Chapter 24: Silly Fools

Ares trudged through the forest, the vodka he had been drinking burning in his throat. He couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that had consumed him since Vanya's abduction. Three days had passed, and he was running out of time to find her. He had spent every waking hour searching for any clues, but so far, he had come up empty.
He spent most of his time in Vanya's room, trying to pick up any scent of the rogues or Vanya. And what was most torturous for Ares was that the scent of the rogues was still present in Vanya's room, as if they had deliberately trapped it there to torment him. Her distinct scent was also there, and it was as if it was calling out to him, a constant reminder that she was still out there and that she needed him to find her.
As he walked, his mind was consumed with thoughts of Vanya. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed her, that he should have been able to protect her. He knew that he had to put these thoughts aside and focus on finding her, but it was a constant battle to push the guilt and regret aside.
The wind picked up, and Ares felt a sense of determination wash over him. He would not rest until he had Vanya back in his arms. He would find her, no matter what it took.
"Quick! We can't let that rogue get away!"
Ares heard the cries of his men ringing through the woods, and he took off running towards the commotion. As he approached, he saw a hunting team of three in their beast forms surrounding two large, growling wolves, with Rowan and another of Lachlan's trusted hunters further back.
With his eyes turning a steely blue, Ares approached Rowan, ready to shift in case his men needed his help. "What's going on here? Are you having trouble securing these rogue wolves?" he yelled, causing everyone to turn their attention to him.
"We found these two snooping around the prison where the other rogue wolves you and Cassian caught on the night of the attack are being held, young general," Rowan explained.
Ares' anger boiled as he turned to face the two howling beasts. "Ah! They've come to save their friends. And have the imprisoned rogues assumed their human forms yet?"
"They're still in their beastly states," Rowan replied.
Ares sneered. "So Moira's potion didn't work," he remarked, waving his arm towards the wolves as they turned to face one of his men.
Rowan shrugged. "Lachlan ordered us to wait until midnight before we try again."
One of the rogues growled, spewing spit at one of the hunters.
Ares' expression twisted into a fierce snarl as he glared at the massive rogue wolf in front of him. "Let me handle this one for you, fellas," he growled, his eyes scanning the beast for any weaknesses. To him, the enormous rogue was nothing more than a filthy animal that had taken his beloved Vanya.
"Come here, You scum-of-the-earth, filthy animal," Ares spat, his voice dripping with venom. "If your friends in there aren't willing to talk, you will. And you will tell me where you've taken Vanya! You low-life, filthy animal."
The enormous rogue lunged forward, its eyes filled with rage, but Ares was faster. He struck the rogue with a powerful punch that sent it flying back. "Where is Vanya?" he shouted, his chest heaving with anger. "Where have you taken her?!"
Rowan and the other hunters watched in shock as Ares unleashed his fury on the rogue, his fists pounding against its body with merciless force. But Ares didn't let his guard down for a second, as he was aware that the smaller rogue was trying to make a run for it. He transformed into his lycan form and let out a deafening growl, ready to take the rogue down.
Just as the smaller rogue was about to attack Rowan, a voice echoed through the woods. "Enough!" Alpha Callum, with Lachlan trailing behind him, appeared on the scene. Ares was faster and got to the smaller rogue first, using his sharp claws to sever its neck.
Rowan gasped in shock as he looked down at the rogue that had almost taken his life, and the rest of the hunters stood in stunned silence as they watched Ares' fierce display of power.
With a clenched jaw, Alpha Callum commanded the hunters to clean up the mess, his eyes meeting everyone's. He then turned to Ares and said, "Get a hold of yourself and put some clothes on."
All of the hunters, except for Rowan, who couldn't believe he would have died if it weren't for Ares, complied and began to clean up after the smaller rogue. Lachlan and his men made a defensive circle around the bigger rogue so they could take it.
Ares shifted back to his human form and followed his father. "Any word on Vanya?" he asked, his voice tight with anxiety.
"The rogue wolves aren't shifting, so they're not talking," Alpha Callum replied as they approached the internment camp.
"But are you sure Moira's potion will work?" Ares pressed.
"I have no doubt that the potion works, I have used it before on rogue wolves and turned them into humans to question them. Now go put some clothes on and meet me there," Alpha Callum said as he gestured towards a building in the distance, smoke billowing from its chimney.
Ares nodded and quickly returned to his room, getting dressed and hurrying back to the camp. As he approached the entrance of the room where he was supposed to meet his father, he heard movement behind the door.
Cassian.
He took a deep breath, opened the door, and was greeted by a young omega who offered him a cup of black coffee. "No, thank you," Ares said as the omega quickly left the room.
"Cassian and the other scouts just arrived," Alpha Callum informed him.
Ares let out a scoff. "Let me guess, no border breaches, no disturbances, and no evidence of rogue wolves in the area."
His father gave him a tight nod, but his face had always been perpetually stern, with a gaze that could numb even the wildest rogues.
"We know rogues kidnapped Vanya," Cassian said, his voice heavy with concern. "As for getting her back, that will be difficult because we have no idea where to begin our search."
Ares could feel the anger and hostility rising within him as he glared at Cassian.
Alpha Callum went on to say, "I've asked Lachlan to put together a team to survey the rest of the west-"
But his Ares interrupted him, "A team? That won't be enough, Ares. It is imperative that every hunter and fighter in the pack is involved in finding Vanya."
"As much as I understand your obsession with her, Ares, I must warn you that our pack is in for far greater trouble than you think," Alpha Callum bellowed. "Following the assault on our pack and Lord Alaric's convoy, the Royal Council has requested that I come to The Capitol for a meeting. You and I are both aware that when the Royal Council calls a meeting, change is almost always the result. We, on the other hand, are not interested in change. For the past decades, our pack has resisted change."
"But father-"
"Lachlan will put together a team, and since Cassian has decided to stay and volunteered to help, he will lead the team to track Vanya and the rogues who attacked our pack. Lachlan and I are going to The Capitol tonight." With a short nod in Cassian's direction, Alpha Callum strode out of the room, Lachlan trailing behind him.
Ares's eyes blazed with rage as he glared at the knight. "You've offered to help?" he seethed, his fists clenching tightly at his sides.
"You stated it yourself, a team wouldn't be enough. It would require a highly trained knight to track down the rotters who kidnapped Vanya," Cassian said, not a hint of fear in his voice despite Ares's intimidating stance.
Ares bared his teeth in a menacing smile and stepped closer to the knight. "A highly trained knight. You mean you?" he taunted.
"Well, as far as I know, I'm the only knight around here," shot back Cassian, undeterred.
Ares gave him a low growl, and glanced towards the closed door before returning his gaze to Cassian with a renewed snarl of rage.
Ares bore down on him with a savage snarl of rage. "Look, we've got this, okay? Why don't you return to the Capitol, where you belong? I'm the only one who can lead this team and find Vanya—she's my mate!"
Cassian took a step towards him, an icy smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, you really believe you're her only mate."
"What the heck are you talking about? Of course, I am his only mate!" Ares roared, spittle flying from his mouth.
"Vanya is a little special. Hasn't she told you?" Cassian declared, his voice booming in the night air. I'm her fucking mate, too."
Ares lunged forward, his hands clenched at his sides. "You lying bastard!" he roared.
"I just got a whiff of what she tasted like. Didn't you pick up my scent from her?"
"You filthy bloodsucker," Ares snarled. Suddenly the fury in his voice warped into a ferocious growl, and he shifted into his lycan form, baring his razor white teeth.
Cassian mirrored Ares' actions, baring his razor-sharp fangs, as claws began to protrude from his fingers like knives. His eye burned a deep crimson as the two lunged forward, ready to battle.
Just as they were about to collide, the door flew open and revealed Moira standing between them. "Don't you dare wreck this place!" she yelled with authority. With a firm stance, Moira prevented the two from getting any closer. "Ares, shift now!"
The next few seconds seemed to last an eternity, as they faced off in a heated standstill. Eventually
Ares reluctantly shifted back into his human form, naked and angry.
"You two are behaving foolishly right now, and you haven't even met Vanya's other mates!" Moira exclaimed. A breathless silence passed between them as they both gave her a long, confused gaze.
"Wait, what did you just say?" Ares asked in disbelief.
"Vanya has what?" Cassian added on edge.
With a heavy sigh, Moira dropped her bombshell news. "I'm sorry to have to break it to you both, but Vanya has two more other mates, you silly fools!"
Both men were frozen in shock, their minds racing with the new revelation.