Chapter 111 The Blessed Moon Triad

*Ethan*

We brought the prisoners to the Lockwood dungeons. They might be immune to silver, but the rocks and heavy doors could keep them imprisoned. I covered their eyes and placed duct tape around their mouths so they couldn't speak, utter a spell or worse, a curse.

"Wrap the duct tape over her hands so she won't be able to use any magic," I told Wyatt. I knew a binding spell was casted by Emmett, but I wasn't taking any chances. I chained Theodora's wrists behind her and used thick rope to bind her arms below her elbows. "Make sure to chain her ankles and duct tape her feet together while you're at it. The same goes for Amos. Once you're done lock them up."

"I told the chopper to wait so we can go to the penitentiary after we have secured the prisoners," Matt said. He was waiting by the stairs, eager to get back to the penitentiary.

"We need tactical gear and weapons of any kind," I told him. "We better ask Athena. She must know if they have any of the things we need."

"We have to hurry. A lot can happen in thirty minutes." I nodded my head and followed him out of the dungeons. I understood the urgency. We both had the same bad feeling; Diana and and the men with her were in grave danger.

When we stepped out of the floor hatch into the mansion, we found Otis already taking out tactical gear and weapons for the men to use from a secret wall panel that led to an artillery room behind the big couch of the living room.

"I took the liberty of asking Miss Athena if they had any military equipment," Otis said, smiling at us. "Forgive me if I had overstepped my bounds. I assumed we were going back to help them."

I patted him on the shoulder. "You assumed right. Give these to my men. Matt, let's check out what the Lockwoods have."

We walked to the living room and saw there were various weapons and tactical gear. I knew the Lockwoods had the things we needed. They were a rich pack and had many enemies. They needed to be ready at all times.

"Let's suit up," I handed Matt a combat uniform, took one for myself and headed upstairs to change. Before going to my room, I went to see Colt who was still keeping an eye on Chase. "Colt, I need you. Grab a combat uniform, a weapon and take as much ammo as you can." He was about to leave to head downstairs when I stopped him. "Colt, you know what? Have Chase come with us. Tell him, we need to rescue his father from a monster."

I hurried to my room and changed. When I came back down, my men were ready as well as Chase and Matt.

"Ethan, the High Lord Wolf just called. Lucas, Michael, and Connor are headed back to the penitentiary for Diana," Matt informed me.

"They left her there?" I asked, surprised. He nodded his head and gave me a look. Aranck was already there. "I see. We need to leave now then."

"Alpha Ethan, excuse me, your Beta said we have to rescue my father. What has happened to him?" Chase asked, worried.

"His body is being used as a vessel thanks to those black sapphires he had with him. These black cloaked entities want mages." I coughed to grab my men's attention. "Men, the Black Cloaks are already at the penitentiary. Diana is there, alone and outnumbered. I need everyone to board the chopper now."

"So we are going to war?" Chase asked. He had a tone of a coward. Anyway, he fit the type who had his minions do all his dirty work. I picked up a gun from the table, checked if it was loaded and handed it to him.

"Why look so scared, Chase? Look at Otis. He isn't scared." Otis smiled. He was in tactical gear, a far cry from his usual black and white uniform. He was willing to risk his life and fight. "We're wolves and wolves never back down from a fight." I turned to the men. "Men, let's make sure we bring our family back home."

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*Diana*

Emmett was lying on the ground. My dad, Uncle Mike, Alpha Connor and the High Lord Wolf were running to get to the upper floors. The inmates, who had just stopped cheering, were at it again. Cheering for Aranck. How ironic. These wolves didn't understand their lives were at stake.

The hooded figure, who knocked Emmett out, swung at me, but he hesitated and missed. Before he could swing at me again, I swung back, my claws out, scratching his neck. His red eyes couldn't hide the surprise he felt. He lifted his hand to touch his neck then stared at the blood on his fingers, awestruck. I took advantage of this and grabbed his arm, twisting him around so he could stand in front of me, a sharp claw pointing at his already wounded neck while the fingers of my other hand wrapped around the amulet hanging on his neck. I tugged on the amulet, breaking the chain that held it, and placed the amulet in my pocket. Then I hit him in the back of the neck and knocked him out cold. These disciples of Aranck, although powerful than the average wolf, were just too eager to get their work done that they didn't pause for a while to plan things.

"I see you were able to convince the good doctor to touch a black sapphire," I said. I glanced at the corridor where Aranck stood. Aside from the two from the bistro, three others stood behind him. "And also three Wolf Troops." He grinned, happy I had noticed his men had increased in number.

"Ah, the black wolf can count," Aranck said aloud, snickering. "As you can see you are clearly outnumbered." He raised his hands in the air and the inmates cheered. "You know, that was the problem of the black wolf before you, she was uneducated. Once she tapped into her power, she wanted all wolves to treat humans as equals." Aranck liked to talk. Let's keep him talking until the others were gone.

"The black wolf before me was uneducated? Then how did she defeat you?" I asked sweetly. "You know, I'm just a half-breed. More human than wolf," I said, adding a tinge of fear in my voice to distract him, make him believe I feared him. The others were already on the third floor helping Captain Hathaway and his men escape.

Aranck roared with laughter and threw a black sapphire in the air. He needed three more to join him. The black sapphire zipped through the other end of the corridor and flew upstairs. It must be on its way to Andrew.
"SHE didn't defeat me. Not by herself. She had help from her Beta and the Green Emerald of Harmony. Her Beta was wise and powerful, a worthy adversary. As for the Green Emerald, Black Wolf, once it merges with the Blood Pearl and the Pink diamond of the Lotus Ring, it forms the Blessed Moon Triad, giving the bearer undeniable strength and power. I see you do not have any of the gems I have enumerated. All three gems are needed to control the wolves. Without them, the wolves will not follow you." He smirked at me. "You are just as stupid as the black wolf before you. Without your Beta and the Green Emerald of Harmony, Black Wolf, you will not be able to defeat me." The Green Emerald of Harmony was in Emmett's pocket while the ring was hanging on a white gold chain underneath my clothing. I gave the emerald to Emmett for safe keeping. I knew it was important to bind the three, but I wanted a proper ceremony. Something my family and I could celebrate.

Unfortunately, my family was upstairs saving a mage who wanted to cut me up into little pieces for his elixir business. Andrew was a strong-minded wolf and knowledgeable in cursed gems. He did not yield to the black sapphire. I had to admit that was impressive.

My attention reverted back to Aranck as the inmates roared with excitement. They all began to chant in unison, "Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!" Over and over again. Obviously, none of them liked me.

Sorry, Dad, I know you wanted a nice ceremony, but I'll have to become Alpha among the Alphas in a run-down penitentiary surrounded by wolves who would never repent. Unlike humans who always say they are innocent, the wolves believe their victims deserve their fate. At least, the wolves could admit to their guilt.

"Alpha," I heard Emmett say through mind-link amidst the noise. Before I could answer him, all the cell doors of the prison cells along the corridor suddenly opened as well as all the cell doors on the upper two levels. Great, I needed to deal with more wolves. One by one the inmates shifted, howling and growling, ready to fight. The wolves slowly exited their cells, all of them moving towards me. I could hear the howls from the wolves on the upper levels. The howls were directing all the wolves to me.

"Emmett, stay down and don't move. Let them believe you're still unconscious. Bind their magic when the three newly transformed members of the Black Resistance show themselves. Then we destroy the black sapphires and kill Aranck. But, before we do, I have to deal with these wolves. Toss me the emerald when I'm done so I can merge it to the ring and end Aranck," I instructed Emmett. He grunted his response. I guess that meant a yes.

"Onyx, we need to put these interfering wolves down," I told her.

"My pleasure," Onyx said. And just like earlier, the lights flickered then the corridor went dark. I quickly picked up Emmett and placed him in an empty cell.

I then shifted into Onyx. It was time for the Black Wolf to finish this.
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*Emmett*

When the lights dimmed, my Alpha picked me up and pushed me into a vacated cell to keep me safe. Her glowing green eyes were the only thing I could see in the darkness. Even the red eyes of Aranck and his henchmen were engulfed by the dark. Nothing could compare to the luminescence of the Black Wolf's green eyes except for the moonstone of my bracelet.

The sound of the whirling propellers above us including the feelings of relief I felt from Alpha Connor and Lucas signaled a job well done. The mages were now out of the penitentiary and the wolves who had rescued them were far from the ensuing madness in this building. It was a riot!

"Wolves, kill the Black Wolf's Beta and I will see to it that you will live long basked in wealth or perhaps I could give you what you truly desire," Aranck announced loudly for all to hear. "If you are strong enough or even crazy enough, kill the Black Wolf, and forever you will be seated by my side as I rule the world." Some of the wolves growled, accepting the challenge which Aranck presented, while several others whimpered as the Black Wolf tore into their flesh. The overwhelming smell of fear, blood, urine and sweat began to envelope the entire corridor.

A growl near the opening of the cell alerted me a wolf was nearby. I may be old, but I was not an invalid. When the wolf's head was far enough into my cell, I quickly raised my hand and slammed the cell doors shut, breaking his neck. He collapsed on the prison floor with his tongue out. I twirled my fingers to move him aside. I have had enough of this madness.

I walked out of the cell towards my Alpha who was busy mauling a much smaller wolf. The Lotus Ring with the Blood Pearl and Pink Diamond was hanging on her neck on a white luminescent chain. Unfortunately, we could not wait for tonight to have a proper ceremony. It was time these wolves bowed down to their queen. I took the emerald from my pocket. I needed to bind it with the ring so the chaos would stop.

"Where do you think you're going?" A disciple of Aranck asked as he blocked my path. I did not recognize him, however I assumed he was one of the newly transformed henchmen for he had his amulet casually hanging around his neck, out in the open, for everyone to see. I raised my arm and brought the moonstone to his face. He automatically shielded his eyes while his freely swinging black sapphire turned into dust.  He immediately collapsed to the floor. Ba-bye!

"The Black Wolf's Beta!" Aranck hissed. "Shield yourselves! He bears the white light." His disciples hid their amulets inside their cloaks and made sure their eyes were shielded by their hoods. "WOLVES, KILL HIM!" Aranck yelled angrily. Apparently, he hadn't moved from across the corridor. I turned to face him, so he could shield his eyes while I casted my binding spell.

I heard growls and snarling advancing from behind me so, I quickly turned to face the source. Two wolves, side by side, were slowly moving towards me. However, a more menacing growl was heard above them. Before any one of them could pounce, the black wolf yanked each one by the tail and threw them on top of each other in a cell. I flicked my fingers and closed the cell door. They should be happy, they get to move on, still breathing.

It was time. I threw the Emerald of Harmony into the air and with a clap of my hands, it fused with the ring, taking its place as part of the Blessed Moon Triad.

Time stopped and a blinding light burst from the body of my Alpha, knocking all who stood.

"It can not be!" Aranck exclaimed. Aranck probably thought my Alpha and I were stupid.

My ancestor was right. He was truly a narcissistic imbecile.