Chapter 122

Kael had followed Maxwell closely after his angry exit and deadline for finding Ella. No matter how great he was as a tracker, it wasn’t possible that he would find her as quickly as he said he would.

Unless… He already knew where she was.

He had followed Maxwell closely moving through the shadows like a ghost, Maxwell was fast but he was versed in stealth.

Finally he had seen what he needed to see and now he had to speak to Derek.

“I have something you’d need to hear,” Kael whispered urgently.

He took Derek aside to explain what he had seen to him.

“Okay. What is it?” Derek asked sharply, his mate was unconscious inside and there was an impending attack.

According to Valen, Ella had been having nightmares about this war revealed to her by the Moon goddess and now it’s finally coming to pass.

He wasn’t thinking about being subtle or calm at this point.

Kael inhaled. “After Maxwell left, I followed him and I think he knew where Ella was all along. I couldn’t match his speed but he went directly straight to a specific space in the forest and he wasn’t tracking her.”

“He was moving like someone that already knew where she was and if that’s the case then something else is at play here.”

Derek’s stomach twisted in rage. “You’re sure about this?”

“I wouldn’t be speaking to you about it if I wasn’t sure.”

Derek clenched his fists, his own claws threatening to break through his skin. “No wonder it was so hard to track her, she was kept away by a tracker.’

His eyes narrowed. “Not all of these vampires can be trusted, most are completely submerged in their hatred for werewolves.” Kael nodded.

Derek thought about it, telling Valen that his own tracker and spy was in alliance with who captured Ella without any evidence would not yield results.

“Then we need evidence, we need to tell Dorian. Can you tell the exact location?”

“Yes. I can show him.”

“Dorian is the closest to Valen and if anyone could speak to him. It’s him.”

***

When Dorian heard Karl’s report, his jaw tightened. He hissed, “If Maxwell dared to work against us, then he’ll face the consequences but we need proof. I’ll go myself, just let me know where.”

Kael gave him the exact location he had seen Maxwell go through. “Be careful, we don’t know what’s out there or how many there are.”

Dorian merely nodded before disappearing into the night cold air.

He masked his scent, a skill most vampires had so they could move around undetected. When he reached the so-called Lair, what he saw sent a chill down his spine.

A small crowd gathered, a blood soaked Sebastian stood in the middle. His coat was deep black and he could feel a surge of energy within.

Something was off about him.

There were others around him, he spotted Theodore and some other powerful fallen vampire leaders who had gone rogue. There were some he wasn’t so sure he knew but he knew he smelt werewolves as well. Sebastian had clearly grown his own little army.

He suspected Alpha Kevin was the one standing beside Sebastian, his cold expression betrayed nothing.

He spotted Drake and Maxwell in the crowd.

Dorian’s hands curled into fists. “Traitor..”

He strained his ears to listen as they spoke, he needed to hear some part of their plans.

“The attack is set in three days,” Sebastian said, his voice rumbled in the lair.

“We strike hard and fast. At night when their defenses are weakened. Valen and that werewolf leader Derek must die, from there we move to other werewolf packs and vampire clans till all our enemies are all wiped out and you resume your rightful positions.”

Cheers erupted.

“Mobilize your armies and stand alert.” Sebastian ordered.

Sandra spoke. “What about Ella?”

Sebastian spoke, his huge fangs bared. “She is useless now, I drained her today and even if she recovers. She won’t be a threat, Maxwell can go in and end her. He’s the one who will let down their defenses for us, they shall be slaughtered in their numbers.”

More cheers erupted as they could already sense their victory.

Dorian didn’t need to hear more. He vanished into the shadows, his movement quick.

His mind raced, they had less than three days to strengthen their resistance against the war coming.

***

By the time Dorian returned to the Manor, Ella’s wounds had begun to heal but she was still unconscious. She looked like she was in a trance, Valen sat by her bedside, his look on her doting. Derek stood beside her, his hands curled into fists.

“We have a problem.”

Valen’s gaze snapped to him. “What’s the problem?”

Dorian’s voice remained sharp. “Maxwell is a traitor, he’s been working with Sebastian and Alpha Kevin all along. The attack is happening in three days right before sun down. It will be a surprise strike and Maxwell is their inside man.”

A low growl came out of Derek’s mouth. “That treacherous bastard.”

Kael growled as well. “I knew it.”

Valen’s voice was dangerously calm, his jaw tight. “If that is the case, then we act as though we know nothing. We mobilize quietly so Maxwell has no clue when he returns.”

His eyes shone crimson bright with pure anger.

“And when he does return, make sure he knows where he stands. I do not expect a public fight, I want a private execution, news of his demise must not travel.” Valen said.

“That’s not all My lord.” Dorian said.

“Speak,” Valen commanded.

“All the fallen lords are with him now and they are all coming with their armies, including some rogue werewolf leaders.”

His eyes darted to Derek. “I think we will be needing more reinforcement from your kind.”

“This war isn’t about us alone this time, your kind is at risk too, as Sebastian and his armies are bent on wiping the Werewolves once they are done with the Vampires.”

Silence immediately followed.

“Alpha Kevin.” Kael growled, his fist clenched.

“Then we won’t let them win.” Derek said authoritatively.

This information is an advantage to us.”

He turned sharply to Kael.

“Alpha Kael, please inform every Alpha about the impending attack in three days and they need to be here with their best soldiers discreetly before the day of the war.”

“And Dorian,” Valen called out.

“Inform the other vampire leaders from different clans. We need all the reinforcement we can get.”

Dorian swung into warrior mode, Kael closely behind to mobilize the werewolves.

Ella stirred once again, her voice weak but better than before.

“Sebastian…”

“I know.” Valen’s throat was tight.

Her eyes opened this time, full of life and unknown energy, “We have to stop him.”

Derek pressed a hand to her shoulder. “We will.”

Outside the night was deadly still, they had no idea what was coming to them but one thing rang in their mind for sure.

This war will be bloody.

And there’d be no mercy for the traitors.