AUTHOR'S POV
"Leave, we don't need you here", Scott cut Roman's gaze towards Diana. When Roman learned that Diana was tracked nearby, he seized the great opportunity to finally take a hold on her... especially now that the entire town of Vrkan is on a chase for his Luna. Seeing her now made his decision to track Scott instead perfectly fair.
It wasn't relief that Roman brought to Diana and Scott. His presence was cold, like another storm is brewing over them. "You don't have much choice, Scott. Either let her die here, or I'll take her", Roman smiled faintly, revving up his black vintage motorcycle. He was not kind. Not mocking. But, more like considering. He caught a glimpse of Scott's profusely bleeding wound dripping down his leg, thinking that he might be in a very bad shape to transform. While Scott takes his time to respond, Roman glared at the three omega wolves creeping in. He sent more of his powerful aura, making them wince and bow to the Black Creek Clan's true Alpha. "I can help. Really.", his eyes shifted to Diana.
"Why don't you get down and help us instead? Much better assistance for us", Diana urged the man whom she recognized have helped her before. Seemingly that Roman is a much stronger wolf who could send out a certain magic to take down three wolves at the same time even at a distance, Diana ought to seek help to this stranger despite his gazes pinned on her were uncomfortable.
"Darling, this is the best help I can offer today. And, it only applies for you. Not just for anyone else", Roman said as if it was the simplest thing in the world, flashing a gentle smile at Diana. Turning away, he then made a tensed look at Scott, who stood there undecided. "Think quickly, Alpha. You know this place isn't safe for.. Diana. An entire town? No way you can beat them all in that condition", he squinted his eyes to Scott, clicking his tongue.
"I'm not going anywhere without Scott.", Diana squeezed Scott's hand unfazed, as she take Scott's words out of her mouth. Though Roman's words sounded like mercy, it somehow felt like ownership, she thought.
The silence was stretched. Roman became even more fascinated at his Luna's strong resistance to take his hand. Never have he ever seen such reluctance from a Luna to his mate. "Scott is an Alpha, he did what he could but.. looking at him right now..", Roman honored Scott but pivoted a deceptive course as he shift his gaze from Diana to Scott's bleeding leg. "He can only protect himself, Luna", convincing her more of his words laced with poison wrapped in silk that kept stirring Diana's thoughts.
Scott stood like a wall in front of Diana not wanting to give her away. With all of Roman's persuasions narrowing a path for Diana led with good options, Roman surely placed himself as the only door left open for her towards a sanctuary. And with Roman refusing to touch her without permission, it was a certain bait to spool Diana's trust. In the end, Roman wanted his surrender at this very crucial time, and coincidentally, force his Luna to make a choice between the two Alphas. 'Well played, Roman', Scott thought.
Moments later, the two Alphas elongated their necks as they sniff the air as if something more is coming. In a while, they heard more wolves heading their direction. Scott's frustrations grew like pressure under his skin. The wound chaining the wolf in him. His failure to shift breaking the balance of his reasoning. The presence of his Luna fueling his desperation. And Roman who's about to take what he cannot afford to lose.
Time is running out. A decision has to be made. Even with Roman here, Scott doubted that he would intervene against his clan. He came here for one, and only one reason - Diana. Scott's eyes stayed on Roman, as he make a decision. "Diana, go with him", he said with a heart so heavy. Roman sighed softly, containing the joyful victory in his silence.
"No, Scott! I'll stay with you", Diana resisted, as she clutch on his shirt, on his chest. He never graced her even with a single glance, for he might take back his very hard decision.
If there's anyone Scott can trust with Diana's life... it was hard for him to admit that it is Roman. Being an imprinted Alpha on her, Roman would surely protect Diana with his own life as much as he would. "This place isn't safe for you, I'll figure things out first. Then I'll get you back, I promise", Scott lowered his eyes on the ground, refusing to meet her eyes.
Diana felt like a burden being sent away. However, she tried to understand their situation seeing how tough it was for Scott to make such choice. Then, she snaked her arms around Scott's neck, tiptoed on her bare feet, and gave him a quick kiss on his lips. Before she pulled away, Scott grabbed the back of her head and kissed her some more, glaring at Roman making sure he sees it clearly.
Roman received Scott's clear message. He grimaced and looked away seeing the two being intimate. How complicated it is to imprint with a taken Luna, he thought. "Time to go, Luna.", Roman insisted, as he smirk at Scott, believing that it will their last kiss anyway, and the rest will be his.
Left with no other choice, Scott unenthusiastically let Diana ride the motorcycle behind Roman. It was unwilling, and such a heavy sight. Roman placed his leather jacket over Diana's shoulders, and secured her with his helmet. Diana, not removing his gaze at Scott, took long heavy breaths trying her best not to cry. She then held Roman's sides, grasp them tenderly as the motorcycle rev even more. Suddenly, Roman snatched both her hands and extended her arms around his waist. "Like this Luna, so you won't fall", he said, grinning a little at Scott. Scott seize hold of Roman's arm and held him contentiously, showing his beyond doubt displeasure as if he's legitimately giving him a warning not to touch Diana. "Thanks Scott, I'll take her right where she's safe", Roman lifted his brows and forcefully removed Scott's hand on his arm as they departed.
Scott could only watch his Luna ride like the wind with Roman. His chest tightened. He watched her leave without blinking. Then, he clenched his fist in annoyance for as they move farther, more of his regret hits. And then she was gone. His instincts scream wrong, yet, there's nothing more he could do at the moment but be more patient and trust Diana's love for him.
As soon as they were out of sight, the omega wolves who were taken down by Roman finally got to their senses. Weak, but standing. Injured, yet still willing to fight. In a moment, more pack of wolves arrived as the veins on Scott's arms started to show their prominence. "Call the pack and get the elders, NOW", he furiously exclaimed.
Later, at the town of Vrkan
The day seemed long, that many things have happened with only at a time when the sun is shining the brightest. Its light was merciless, bleaching the ruins into something bleak and indisputable. The people of Vrkan, broken and wounded, moved around stoked with despair. No good rest was formed, and no meals was enough to sustain their hunger. Most were swamped wrapping the bodies of their loved ones, and some were deliberately mending what was left in the town. The anguish was screaming, and there was muted silence. The day is terribly long.
The clan elders were summoned. The pack gathered under the heat of the sun. Except for the Devlin family, everyone in the town answered the howls of call of the Alpha of the Grayback Clan. They surrounded him, with eyes squinting not from the brightness but from mistrust. While the dried blood clings in the air, nothing softened meeting the eyes of their Alpha. Not grief. Not blame.
"This only happened when she came!", someone broke the silence, trying to justify their means for hunting the Luna.
"It doesn't mean that she woke the lycan", another snapped.
"See where it took us? We're burying our dead!."
Scott listened to the whisper chains spreading like wildfire. He heard well how they begged the moon to be saved by their Alpha. Yet, he was never there for his Luna, not even for his people. His nails dug deep in his palms. The tension was no longer on the Luna alone. A civil war is within them, between grief and loyalty.
"Where were you then, Alpha? To think that our people needed you", Alarick uttered, silencing the crowd. Eager for his answer. Adoff, with his jaw broken wrapped in a white cloth, nodded with furrowed brows. Scott gaped, looking for his words, but none came out. Not even one fragment of memory.
"He was knocked out by the lycan first!", one shouted. "I was near them during the moonbath when the Alpha's scent disappeared, the one who remained in their spot was the Luna.", he continued, as the crowd make way for a young man who claim to have witnessed the gruesome onset of the town's nightmare. Elder Dolphus refrained from puffing his pipe, hearing a different side of a story "She left, looking wary. Then... suddenly, the lycan rose from the dark.", on tenterhooks, the crowd listened. And it was then they noticed the wound on Scott's leg, thinking he did had a good fight against the monster. "I couldn't tell what it was doing. I think the Alpha caught its neck or something. The beast kept clawing itself before it ran off". A flicker of recognition hardened Scott's jaw. He was the only one around Diana during that time. He clutched in his pocket, where he kept the necklace which have burned his skin. In the young man's words, something in him started to come in shards hurting his head, cutting open his buried memories.
The crowd began to clamor once more, doubting the dominance of their Alpha. Fractured as they take sides. But what prevailed was Scott's authority slipping away right from his hands and his voice couldn't immediately silence the crowd. He met resistance, thick and unyielding. The pack and some of the elders answered back at every glare, and blame there is. Meanwhile, in the middle of the chaos, Alarick chortled, hoping this ends well according to his plan. To regain his crown at the downfall of Scott without even challenging him.
"I know!", he dismissed the angry mob, with a strong wave of his powerful aura. It was a quick rush, just enough to hush the people. Not to control them. "You have lost blood. Home. Family. And I know words cannot mend that.", the people found their silence to finally listen to their Alpha who's standing on thinning ice. "I was not there to stand between you and what came for us. I have no words, for a sorry is never enough", his words were heavy, unadorned. Stripping himself of excuses, he knew that the people wouldn't care on anything. What they knew, he was not there. But then, somewhere in his mind made him think that the apology is heavier than the situation alone should justify. He couldn't understand why.
"Your apology won't bring back my son!!", a grieving mother wailed in tears. Murmurs rippled - both in anger, and grief. Scott felt a weight in his chest becoming disproportionate, almost suffocating but he went on. Never looking away.
His gaze hardened, not in defiance but in resolve."You may curse my name. You are not wrong.", taking the blame, Scott circled around, looking in the eyes of the people. Others met his gaze, while a few refused to look at him. He received their anger for he knew it was something he deserved. "But I am still here now", the clamors lowered down, and the tension sharpened. Scott was like pressing a hand over a wound, stopping the bleeding from getting worse. "Do not turn your grief into a weapon against one who has done nothing but exist among us. Blame it all on me", he looked at what remained in his people. "Something came into our lands, and tore through us. I will hunt it. I will end it. And if I fail---" he paused, letting the weight settle. "---then I am not the Alpha you deserve", for a moment, the crowd wavered as they caught themselves between fury and the familiar weight of their Alpha's presence. However, beneath it all, something in Scott was twisted, sharp... unseen and far too deep. Angered and disheartened, Alarick left the scene... surprised at how Scott was able to thread a needle through glass. He was followed by Adoff who was wincing in pain as they weave through the hopeful townspeople.
Later
Scott is half way through his turmoils after making a stand before his clan. He may not be able to fully gain their trust but at least, he was able to tame them not to hunt for Diana anymore. His presence was more than the apology that he gave. With his pack, they buried the bodies of their people, fixed their homes, and tried to rebuild what was breaking apart. He stayed, every step of the way.
Shortly after, Scott called for the elders at the town hall for an important message. On his way to the rendezvous, he met Reina who may have noticed the lingering injury in his leg. Reina insisted to have it cleaned and dressed for better healing. Almost immediately, Scott obliged as they proceed to the infirmary room, adjacent to the town hall. Gladly, Scott's wound have partially healed. No more needs for stitches, and no infection at hand. Regardless, Reina was careful cleaning it and wrapping it up. While wrapping his wound, Scott observed Reina's trembling hands and eyes that seemed cautious with the surrounding.
"What is it Reina?", he asked.
"It's Sebastian", she whispered.
"What about him?", Scott furrowed his brows, what of his brother.
"His leg wound has been cured, right?", she told him cautiously. "Nagualli.. they don't do anything without something in return.. I'm just worried", she sighed.
Scott didn't answered right away, and just gave her a long moment of silence at how he is triggered by one problem at a time. As his brother dance on the edge of something darker, Scott is worried that his problems are getting more out of his hands. "Find Sebastian. And don't let him get out of your sight", Scott said, as he pat his sister's head and left for the town hall.
Every step doesn't remind Scott of the pain anymore. It is bearable now, as if he could run free with ease. As he come across his own reflection on a mirror by the hallway towards the door to the town hall, Scott paused and stared at himself. The stacked crises were like storm clouds hovering over him to pour the heaviest rains. He stood before the mirror looking at the version of himself who is about to get drenched in the great outpour. The mirror didn't returned what he expected. It gave him someone sharper, realizing that it was already eating him alive.
Everything tasted wrong in his mouth. His Luna gone, and taken. His people's trust and respect thinning into something more fragile. His own blood cutting out a part of him as if Diana is some sickness. And now his brother... another force slipping beyond his reach. He leaned closer, searching for something under his skin. It looked like a man breaking and yet, he chose to straighten away.
The town hall was roaring with multitude of raised voices exchanging. Amongst the voices, Alarick's and Velvet's tones were most dominant, matching each other's high emotional energy. "SHE IS CLEARLY UNFIT TO BE THE LUNA AND SO IS SCOTT AS THE ALPHA", Alarick said, as he stood at the podium at the corner of the hall. He came first at the meeting, winning the hearts of many to join hands with him against Scott and Diana. Something that turned to a fiery debate amongst the wolves. "A Luna with no scent who speaks with nagualli casually? She's unquestionably unsuited to be in this clan. I know all of you will agree with me", he scoffed, his knuckles have turned white grabbing the side arcs of the oakwood podium countertop.
"Elder Alarick, I think it is too rash to sentence someone to death without proper investigation. She's not the first person who spoke with a nagua anyway, Viktor once did and yet, wasn't he punished for it?", Velvet retaliated. For a while now, she has been repeating herself over and over that it's becoming troublesome now. The pack stopped reasoning with her after the seventh time Alarick have raised the same concern.
"Investigation?", Alarick hissed. "She might be a nagua in disguise!! We all know nagualli are obsessed with wolves, especially Alphas. Scott is not himself because of that Luna, making him inept and weak!! A Nagua under that filthy skin!!", he added while Adoff grunted in approval at the corner.
"If you dare kill the Luna and demote the Alpha, you just have to challenge Scott. Don't you think, elder Alarick?", Allen, who have reached his limits listening to Alarick, made an offer as if it was an easy way to partake leaving Alarick with darkened eyes and tightened jaw. Austin raised his brows at the defied elder, knowing he's an all-talk contender just like he have always been.
The doors suddenly opened, and Stanley entered catching his breath in fury."The plan to kill the Luna has been decided. What is this meeting for?", he scowled slamming the door close. "And what are you talking about replacing the Alpha??", he snapped at Alarick, giving him an eye.
"That hasn't been approved by the Alpha, Mr. Devlin", Lucas replied calmly, as he stand by the entrance with Cory and David. "And please, choose your words when talking about Diana. We don't encourage anyone talking anything unpleasant about our Luna", he insisted with respect, yet surging with ire.
"Why you.. rascals", Stanley sputtered turning his one hand into a fist.
"Dad!", Damon called. "She can't shape shift, that's true. She's fragile and very unlikely to become a wolf. But, I doubt that she's a nagua. My brother imprinted on her, which confirms she is like us.", he glanced at Alarick who' steaming at the podium.
Stanley exhaled sharply, feeling ridiculed. His decision to kill the Luna is only for the safety of Scott. Nothing more. Watching everyone's faces, he was caught off guard at Elder Dolphus' subtle smile as puff his pipe. "Well... what do you have to say, Elder Dolphus?", Stanley asked as the elder cleared his throat.