MATED TO THE BEAST ALPHA BROTHERS
Chapter 37: War amongst blood.

Chapter 37: War amongst blood.

"This doesn’t make sense."

Archer’s voice was raw, his hands braced against the marble conference table in Cerius’ estate. The air was thick with frustration, every person in the room reflecting it in their own way....Cerius stood rigidly near the fireplace, Artemis paced like a caged wolf, Rowena watched the flames with an unreadable expression, Seraphis sat in tense silence, and Marlyil, Xander, and Ravi standing in the background, their faces grim.

It had been months.

Months without a trace of Haelyn. No scent. No whisper. No lead.

Archer’s fists slammed against the table, rattling the crystal decanter.

"She’s my mate. I should be able to feel her!" His voice was edged with something desperate, something raw.

Artemis exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "And yet, you can’t. Neither can Seraphis with her magic, nor Cerius with his tracking. It’s like she disappeared into thin air."

Rowena’s voice was quiet, but firm. "Disappearing isn’t possible. Not completely. Not unless...."

"Unless she’s dead?"

The words came from Archer, hollow and sharp, slicing through the room like a blade.

Silence.

Seraphis’ head snapped up, her silver eyes burning. "She’s not dead."

Cerius spoke for the first time, his deep voice commanding. "We’d know. I would know."

"Then where the hell is she?!" Archer’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood abruptly, his body trembling with pent-up rage.

Marlyil stepped forward, arms crossed. "Maybe you should start asking the right questions."

"And what questions would those be?" Archer bit out.

Marlyil met his glare evenly. "Who took her? And why?"

"We’ve been through this a hundred times."

Artemis gestured at the stack of maps and reports sprawled across the table.

"If Haelyn was taken, it had to be by someone who could cover their tracks perfectly. That narrows it down to three possible groups.....Arthur and his people, Zareth, or someone we don’t even know exists."

Seraphis spoke slowly, calculating. "Arthur would have made a move by now. If he had Haelyn, he would use her. He wouldn’t stay silent."

"Unless he’s afraid." Cerius murmured.

Archer scoffed. "Arthur? Afraid? Of what?"

Cerius’ jaw tightened. "Of whoever took her from him."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Rowena’s gaze sharpened. "You’re saying someone took her from him? That she was his captive first?"

Cerius nodded once. "Think about it. If Arthur had Haelyn but lost her, he wouldn’t announce it. He’d be scrambling. And Zareth...."

".....Wouldn’t be scrambling. He’d be burning the world down." Seraphis finished.

The pieces clicked into place, the weight of realization sinking into their bones.

"So if neither of them has her now..." Ravi’s voice was quiet, dark with understanding.

"Then we don’t know who does." Xander muttered.

Archer inhaled sharply, his wolf growling inside him. He turned toward Seraphis. "There has to be a spell. A locator, something....."

Seraphis shook her head. "I’ve tried. Every spell leads to nothing. It’s like she’s beyond my reach."

"Then what do we do?" Artemis asked.

Cerius spoke with finality. "We find out who took her."

Arthur stood near the grand windows of his estate, the golden glow of lanterns illuminating his sharp features. His fingers tapped against the crystal glass in his hand, swirling the amber liquid inside.

Behind him, Helen, Layla, Malcolm, and Tiago sat stiffly.

The tension was suffocating.

"This isn’t good." Helen broke the silence, her voice tight.

"Of course it’s not good." Layla snapped. "She’s vanished. Gone. No traces, no leads. If it was Cerius or Archer, we’d know by now. But it’s been months, and nothing. That means whoever took her is bigger than we thought."

Tiago exhaled through his nose. "Zareth isn’t happy."

Arthur’s grip tightened on his glass. "Let him be unhappy. He’s not the one dealing with the consequences. I am."

Malcolm leaned forward. "Are we sure we’re the only ones who don’t know where she is?"

Helen’s eyes flickered with calculation. "That’s the problem. We don’t know anything. We have no control over this."

Arthur’s jaw ticked. "We need leverage. Something to force them out of hiding."

Layla smirked. "And I think I know exactly what we can use."

Arthur finally turned, arching a brow. "Oh?"

Layla’s smirk widened. "Archer’s curse."

Arthur’s eyes gleamed with interest.

The air in Zareth’s estate was heavy with rage.

The walls seemed to tremble with the force of his fury, shadows curling around him like smoke.

"You lost her." His voice was like thunder, shaking the room.

Arthur, standing before him, barely concealed his irritation. "I didn’t lose her. Someone took her from me."

Zareth’s silver eyes darkened to steel. "You were careless."

Arthur bristled. "You think I wanted this? You think I planned for her to vanish?"

Zareth stepped forward, and the sheer power of his presence made the air grow colder. "You. Were. Careless."

Arthur clenched his jaw. "Then why don’t you find her yourself, if you’re so damn powerful?"

Zareth’s expression flickered.....just for a moment.

Arthur’s lips curled. "Oh. You can’t, can you?"

Zareth’s silence was lethal.

Nyx stepped into the room, watching the exchange with cold amusement.

"You’re slipping, father," she murmured.

Zareth’s hands clenched into fists.

"Get out."

Arthur exhaled slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "And here I thought we were partners."

Zareth’s eyes flashed. "We were. Until you failed me."

Arthur scoffed, turning toward the door. "Then I suppose it’s time I start making my own plans."

Nyx’s gaze followed him. "And what do you plan to do?"

Arthur smiled darkly. "Summon the council."

Zareth stilled.

Arthur met his gaze. "You’re not the only one who can play games, Zareth."

And then he was gone.

The great hall of the council was filled with hushed whispers.

Alpha leaders. High Elders. Representatives.

All gathered for one reason.

Haelyn.

"She must stand before us." Marius’s voice declared.

"She’s missing." Alpha Erinn countered.

"Or hiding."

"Or being hidden."

The debate grew heated.

Until the highest elder raised his hand.

Silence.

"If she is alive, she will answer our summons." His voice was final. "If she does not... then we will assume the worst."

A messenger was sent to Cerius.

And the game truly began.

"Is this really the man you call Alpha?"

The words rang out like a war cry.

The crowd gathered in the courtyard of Archer’s estate swelled with unease, their voices murmuring in agreement.

Ronan, a broad-shouldered wolf with sharp eyes and a knowing smirk, stood at the front. His stance was easy, confident—too confident for someone merely voicing his concerns.

"Our Alpha....our leader....is weak." Ronan’s voice boomed over the restless pack. "He disappears for days, he refuses to address us, and now...." He let his words hang in the air, his smirk deepening as eyes turned toward him.

Artemis, Xander, Ravi, and Rowena stood at the mansion’s entrance, scanning the crowd. The moment was slipping....tension rising, control weakening.

Artemis stepped forward, his voice steady. "Archer has protected this pack through every war, every betrayal, every loss. Have you forgotten who you are loyal to?"

"Loyalty?" Ronan scoffed. "Loyalty is earned, not begged for. Our Alpha is cursed, and you all know it."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. The one thing no one dared to say out loud.

Artemis’ jaw tensed. "Mind your tongue, Ronan."

"Why? Because the truth makes you uncomfortable?" Ronan took a step closer, eyes gleaming. "Or because you’re afraid?"

A murmur of agreement rumbled through the pack.

Rowena’s eyes flickered dangerously as she stepped up beside Artemis. "I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish, but if you want a fight, I’ll gladly give you one."

Ronan smirked. "No need for threats, Rowena. The people just want answers. Where is our Alpha?"

Pain.

That’s all Archer felt.

His body convulsed, his breath ragged as the curse clawed at his insides, demanding release. He gritted his teeth, nails digging into his arms as he tried to hold it back.

"Damn it....." he hissed, his voice breaking.

The room was spinning. His vision blurred.

The walls felt like they were closing in.

A flash of white-hot agony shot through his chest, and a strangled cry tore from his throat.

His wolf was slipping.

"No...." Archer growled, pressing his forehead against the cold floor. "Not now."

He clenched his fists, his body trembling violently as his muscles spasmed. The room darkened, shadows curling around him like chains, tightening, suffocating.

And then....

A whisper.

A touch.

Cool fingers brushed against his cheek, tender and light.

His breath hitched.

His body, raging with pain, suddenly stilled.

The shadows receded.

His chest loosened.

His curse, for the first time in months, settled.

A figure stood above him, cloaked in darkness. Their face was hidden, but the energy was unmistakable.

His lips parted as a single name left him in a broken whisper.....

"Haelyn..."

And then....darkness.

Archer’s body went limp, his breathing soft, his pain gone.

The figure stepped back, watching him for a lingering moment before vanishing into the shadows.

"You think you can just silence us?" Ronan’s voice was a growl now, his wolf just beneath the surface.

"We are trying to keep the pack together," Xander bit back, his patience running thin.

"And what if the pack doesn’t want to be held together?"

That’s when it happened....

A shove.

A snarl.

A fist flying through the air.

The crowd exploded into chaos.

Rowena lunged, knocking one of Ronan’s followers to the ground, her movements fluid, precise.

Xander and Ravi engaged, deflecting blows, keeping the fight contained.

Artemis dodged an attack before delivering a punishing kick to another wolf’s ribs. "Stand down!" he barked, but no one was listening.

Ronan stood back, watching with a satisfied smirk.

Blood stained the ground.

The pack was tearing itself apart.

And deep inside the mansion, Archer lay unconscious, unaware of the war erupting outside his doors.