Fated Hellhound

Landing at the airstrip. Alicia decided she was going to escape. She took off running across the field and Brian asked “shouldn’t we catch her?” Renata smiled an evil little grin and shook her head “Nope! This is a lesson only she can learn “ and just then, a tree branch hit her in the face…knocking her down. Then several vines lashed against her back..drawing blood. She’s whimpering and trying to crawl back toward the airstrip.. A tree root snapped around her ankle and tossed her in the air. A vine caught her and held her suspended by her ankle while branches and vines lashed at her skin. She was bloody and her clothes were in tatters.. the vine swung backwards and tossed her out of the treeline to land practically at our feet..unconscious.

Orion said “Damn baby! That was brutal!” and laughed. Renata looked at him “That? That wasn’t me! I simply told Polly what Slagicia has done..to Paulie and Maggie! That was nature’s way!” Abraham shook his head saying “I’m going to regret this…Polly? Paulie? I know Maggie..” Renata laughed “Polly Pine…she’s Paulie’s sister..and my sweet baby Maggie Magnolia! People don’t realize…fucking around with the children of Alice can cause repercussions! Mother Earth has no problem providing for our every need…all she asks in return is that we replenish and replace what we take..and to not abuse the earth. When it is abused…or used for malicious intent..they will retaliate and that’s what happened just now!”

They pulled up the driveway at the pack house and Orion saw his whole family waiting…He barreled out of the truck and asked “what’s wrong? What’s happened?” They all looked at him in confusion…Charles says “I have need of my daughter…in the kitchen..It feels like we have been eating cardboard since she went away!” And his brothers nodded.. he remarks “Y’all know she’s not staying here forever…right!?” Their shoulders drooped and they walked inside..leaving DarkShadows to follow…laughing at them!

Matt signaled for Orion and his men to follow him..opening the door to the conference room. Matthew sat…watching everyone find their seats. He said “This is an update of everything that’s been happening here… We have had three failed attempts of hackers trying to access our security system..Thank you Brian, for the extra firewalls. Our trackers have located two rogue camps..with about 30 men…huddled in place. Tobias sent news that 4 of the brothers have pulled their support on the revelation you’ve mated. That has cut their fighters by over half. Elden is recruiting rogues…and his own warriors are starting to rebel. Orion..Alistair contacted me to request an audience with you. I have granted it. Now before you jump all scary double voice bullshit at me..hear me out!” Abraham nods..saying “yeah..that’s some scary shit!” Matthew continues “Alistair may have some useful information. He may be able to tell us exactly where the book is kept..or even what it may say! I am not asking you to go all hearts and flowers on the dude..just to listen to him!” Orion sits a few minutes..then nods “Fine! I will hear him out…but when he bleeds all over your pretty gray rug..don’t be mad at Heracles. He won’t care…never does!” And the entire group chuckles..

Alistair is escorted in..and Orion looks closely at him. He feels nothing for this man who shares his DNA… hardly recognizes him..his six year old memory had practically erased the faces of his biological family…and he couldn’t care less… as Alistair sat..Orion spoke “ I am willing to hear you out.. Do NOT preface this conversation with useless apologies… those are 20 years too late.”

And Alistair began to speak “We were never allowed to be close to you. We were told you were an abomination..a freak of nature..a danger to our society. We were literally being conditioned to hate you. When you turned six..and Robert broke your leg..I always believed that’s why Heracles made his presence known. To protect you. The beatings you had endured until that day..were nothing compared to what happened that day. The mark on your forehead started glowing and Dad went crazy. Eight brothers. Eight older brothers did nothing to stop him. We were ordered to beat and kick your little body all the way out of our territory. You were unconscious… they kept kicking you in the air..laughing as you crashed into trees…rocks… everything in the path to the border. I want you to know..Henry nor I touched you. We didn’t try to stop them…and to be honest, I was too afraid they would do the same to me, if I did. Daniel heaved you high above his head, once we reached the edge of the pack land…and hurled you down the ravine. You lay there. Still..and we thought you were dead. I snuck out later that night to bring you some food and water..a blanket to help you stay warm. I didn’t find you..but I left everything I’d brought..just in case”

Orion responds “I found them. Why, Alistair? Why did my birthmark set him off like that?” Alistair sighed…he replied “I didn’t know, at the time. And none of us knew you had transcended to hellhound.. except Dad! He blamed your mother…saying her demonwolf caused it.. which everyone knows is nonsense. I found a book in Dad’s office a few years later. It described how hellhounds come to be..and why they are necessary. But…it also talks about the Legend..the hellhound that appears only if there is a great evil coming. He is recognized by a glowing paw print on his forehead… When he meets and marks his mate beneath a full moon..he will become the most powerful wolf on earth. The book explains that the Legend’s mate is almost never a wolf…and is born with the same mark as the wolf. I read that, eventually, the Legend and his mate will be crowned King and Queen of wolves.. We haven’t had a king in 2000 years. But the book also states..the Legend cannot be King without his true mate…and if that mate is marked by anyone else..the one who marked her would become king.. The only catch being no one can mark her without her express consent. A forced marking guarantees the death of both.”

Matthew says “Fuck me! That’s a lot to process!” And Orion retorts “Too much! Heracles is chewing a hole in my head. He needs to run and kill something! Alistair..how many warriors does your father have at his disposal? And why have 4 of you pulled back?”

Alistair drops his eyes..and said “Henry..Xavier, Sheldon, and I..refuse! We have caused you enough hell. You are Legend. You will be King. We were misguided..but we aren’t stupid! We have chosen to stand behind you..to support You…instead of fighting against you. As it stands…Dad has about 450 fighters.. Anthony…William, Eliot and Robert are all standing with him. Their warriors all have different fighting techniques and none of them are training together..all believing they are better. Definitely no teamwork happening. And the rogues…now they’re funny. They have no agenda..no motivation… they are there for the money and couldn’t care less about any fighting protocols..they don’t follow orders and I never noticed them training. It’s chaos..not organized chaos…just a ramshackle bunch of warriors with no direction. At least, not yet. Dad has ordered training from 6 in the morning until 5 in the evening..hoping to whip them into some kind of military. Nobody listens, though. I haven’t heard plans or of any attack looming.. Dad holes himself up with Robert, mostly.. Another alpha shows up from time to time…a friend of Robert’s..I believe. Other than that..any information I received was second hand, after I told Dad I wouldn’t help. I have sent my warriors home to ready our defenses. I have a feeling Dad is going to try and attack us first! Thinking he will force my warriors into his service like he’s done with all the smaller packs around him.”

Orion looks up and smiles “If you think I am buying this seemingly change of heart…think again! You have a lot of proving to do. I will tell you this..if your dad comes for you..and attack is imminent..send word to me. I will stop it! Now..Matthew..about those camps…”Men! Call up your hounds!! Heracles wants to hunt!” And all his men jumped to their feet and hit the door running!