The Inauguration
Chapter 5

The cars came to a stop outside of what Lucius presumed was the packhouse. He could hear the calm setting of classical music playing inside and the chatter of lycans from every corner of the building as they discussed whatever pleased their minds.

The wind blew against the vehicle and he opened his window wanting the fresh breeze to calm his nerves but the smell that he was familiar with and yet so foreign at the same.

His brows raised at his irked expression trying to remember what memory was triggered by this smell. The smell of mint mixed with some kind of men’s cologne made his nose itch.

The sound of doors opening brought his reminiscent mind out of the clouds and he focused on his pack as they each got off the cars.

He turned his attention to the soft pelt of the animal his fingers were running through. His eyes matching that of the beast before him. They looked at each other in such a comforting manner, in a way as if understanding each other without having to say much at all.

A knock on his window brought his attention back to the situation at hand. He sighed and his door was opened as he stepped out and the door shut right after the beast jumped out too.

His eyes took in the building and the surroundings all at once. His wolf within him was vigilant and riled about the circumstances of being here. Lucius didn’t have to talk to his wolf to know that he also didn’t like the situation at hand.

“I don’t like this Lucius,” his eyes shifted to meet brown eyes that belonged to his delta, ” I don’t trust them”. “We don’t have to trust them,” he replied.

“And either way, I already gave him an earful about it,” she starts, “but I still couldn’t change his mind,” she finished with a wave of her hand as if swatting away the memory.

Lucius just smiled and the beast beside him nudged his head for attention. He rolled his eyes before running his hand through his black mist fur. He turned back to the two, watching as his delta starred down at Genhji in an adoring manner as she fixed the grease in his suit. He noticed how their outfits seemed to match.

From Genhji’s black tux that seemed to highlight all her curves to his black tux that had a white handkerchief sticking out of the pocket, matching her white heels and earrings. Mates.

Lucius remembers the love between his parents, how inseparable they were till the very end. How his father would do anything for his mother, and he remembers little of their fights. Of course, mates fight but his parents made sure that whenever they did, it wasn’t ever in front of them but that never stopped the walls from whispering.

But he most admired the way they handled their fights, they weren’t like other mates who start beating each other and acting like animals. They never cheated on each other just because they couldn’t handle what was at home.

They were perfect, in a sense, well in the eyes of the pack they were and for a while, he wanted that for himself. Now, he isn’t sure.

The wind howled once again and the brush it made against his skin made him aware of that scent again. It wasn’t enticing or alluring so he knew it wasn’t his mate, all the scent did was irritate him and his wolf. It bugged him, made his nose itch and ruffled his wolf’s pelt.

He didn’t like it.

“Do you smell that?”, he asked making the mates turn to him with a question look, “the smell of mint and mixed with strong cheap cologne”.

They both shook their head and he looked down at the beast below him, watched how its ears twitched at the sounds in the area and how its nose twitched the same way he could imagine his own wolf within doing.

He turned to assess the dark ground around him, “keep your eyes open”.

His eyes adjusted to the dark before looking at all his warriors, happy that they’re heeding his caution and warning. His gut didn’t feel right and his mother always told him to trust it, it was either hungry or always right about something.

He climbs the stairs before but stops when his wrist is held in a hand, “We don’t have to do this, we can still turn back”, Genhji whispered.

“Unfortunately Gen, they already know we’re here,” and with that said.

As if the hosts themselves that their conversing was over, the two wooden doors of the building opened gradually and the light from the inside brightened up the outside, brightening the blue suit he wore.

The once loud classical music that was playing was now muted and the chatter that had once filled the corners of the room had now been silenced by the appearance of the unknown guest.

He stood at the top of the stairs, his Gamma- Genhji- being on his right and his delta flanking his left. They eyed the room with caution and the scent that he smelled before was now tenfold stronger and it only made his wolf growl.

His attention is caught by the shaking pup standing on the side looking like he’s expecting something from him. He guessed that they were supposed to tell him what pack they belonged to.

“The FantomHide Furs,” he told the pup who weakly nodded. Turning his head back to the crowd, he smiled when the pup repeated the name announcing their arrival and his pack warriors growled at their clan. They’re growled in recognition and pride of their pack and title.

The music played but the chatter had still been silenced as they all watched this pack stroll down the stairs. A black beast following behind the three, they stared at the animal before them bewildered and also somewhat hesitant of what to do next.

They were left so baffled and intrigued that they didn’t hear the announcing of the hosts until the cannons were heard.

“Her Beginning”

The sky was clouded by black mist and fire flakes contaminated the air as the wind blew it all around the pack. The echo of wolves crying and screaming in pain, the clashing of claws against claws and teeth tearing through the skin. The sound of souls leaving their bodies rang in her ears as tears ran down her face.

The scene before her was gruesome, women and children were being slaughtered like cattle and men were either captured or killed as a result of their rebellion but what hurt her the most were the lifeless eyes that stared back at her.

And she couldn’t figure out the emotions running through her, not sure if it was relief or guilt. All she knew was that it, the eyes, will always haunt her.