SOL - Generation Six - Chapter Six
Here I am, back again! The next chap is all written up, as soon as I get the pictures, it'll be here for you to read! We get Lauren's and Emily's plots starting next chap :D
You guys have to bow down to my amazing photoshop skills. You'll see what I mean. THEY'RE AMAZING OKAY?! shuttup
Last time...
The one spot Ares would be left alone - the only spot - was a hidden nook on the edge of town, on the edge of his territory. The pack knew to leave him alone when he was here.
The lazy sun was setting. It had dipped below the tops of the hills long ago, but it was only now that Ares was shivering.
There was no wind; the water was quiet and still. It was a dark, murky blue. Ares sat by the edge, looking into the pond. Fish danced. His mind was quiet, too, and Ares was glad.
He played with his phone. His fingers smoothed over the edge of the plastic device. He pressed a button; the screen lit up, cheerful in the dusk. Ares took a deep breath and looked at the time.
His last phone call had been to William.
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“William, don’t hang up.”
Whether it was the urgency in his tone or simply the lingering traces of their friendship, William didn’t end the call. Ares could hear him pull in a long, deep breath.
“Ares,” William greeted. His voice was even, with no judgement or expectation in it. He said nothing; he waited.
Ares paced around the room. It felt like the restlessness and anxiety were driving him insane, and this time it wasn’t because he was doing nothing - it was because he needed to do more, and fast. Every sense he had was on high alert and if that didn’t mean this war was happening soon, then Ares would be damned. “I was talking to Quinn.” He chewed his bottom lip. “I have to stop this war, William.”
William cleared his throat and Ares heard a door shut. He breathed in deeply again, and that was how Ares knew that he’d passed into the library - the soundproofed library - because William did it every time he entered the room. “How do you plan on doing that?”
“I’ll tell them to stop. It’s all I need to do. I’ll make them listen.” Ares spun on his heel and paced to the other end of the room. He felt caged. He felt claustrophobic. “I need to know exactly where on the Bays’ territory this is going down, and when.”
There was a long pause on the other end. “Ares -“
“William, as much as I love and respect you, you’re going to answer me.” He didn’t need to put any compulsion in the sentence to know it was the truth. “You have a conscience. You know there has to be a better way to go about this than slaughtering the Roys and having your pack suffer in the attempt.”
William seemed to be weighing his words carefully. “If you think that telling the packs to stop will be the end of it -“
“Of course not,” Ares cut in, flippant. “I know the Roys, William. They’ve been haunting my pack for years. I’m not going to let them off lightly. I know what I’m going to do.”
“And what is that?” the older ‘wolf asked, in a tone that Ares didn’t appreciate.
“I’m not a murderer,” he snapped. “I’m not going to abuse my power like that. I’m not going to kill the pack and their pups, for fuck’s sake!”
William made some low, calming sounds - sounds that Ares knew he made to the young pups of the pack - and he felt his breathing even out despite himself. “I’m glad. Had you wanted to murder them in cold blood, I would be seriously rethinking what I know about you.”
“We’ve known each other for years, William, did you honestly think -“
“No, but I had to check all the same. I trust in whatever plan you have.” He drummed his fingers on some surface. It was the only clue Ares had about his anxiety. “It’s happening today.”
Ares sucked in a breath. No wonder he couldn’t keep still. To think he’d only been at Quinn’s yesterday... “What’s the rush?”
“Your hesitation to step in worried Mary and Samuel. They do not want other packs to back out because you are not there to prove their action is not justice but revenge. It is at noon. We were just about to leave here.”
Ares swallowed. “Where?”
“Past the cinema - on that road. There is a strip of forest blocking the fields from the roads. There is a small dirt track you can take through them and onto the fields.” William paused. “Ares, be very careful. The Roys have done this just for a shot at you. They may not be playing fair, and the war will be won so long as they have taken you out.”
“I know,” Ares said.
“You don’t seem to understand the severity,” William continued. “You know what lengths they go to. You know how dangerous they are. Don’t look over it because you are the True Alpha with packs on your side. They want to kill you. That is all they want. I need you to remember that. To leave the Williams’ without their Alpha would be very grave indeed, especially as no one but your papa would be able to fill the hole.”
Ares frowned. “I get it. I’ll be careful. I won’t take my eyes off David and his pack. I only need a few seconds between getting to the field and joining you and Mary and Samuel. If anything happens in that time, I’ll be ready for it.”
There was a long pause. “...I hope you are,” William said evenly. “I’ll see you there, my friend.”
“Thanks,” Ares said. The silence that replaced the call was too much. Ares walked out of his room, wishing that Eve was here or that she wasn’t doing an exam so he could call her. She could always calm him.
There was nothing to do but to leave. He had already ordered all of his pack to stay out of this mess.
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The journey was quiet. Ares’ hands were white knuckled on the wheel. He felt power gathering around him like a storm. The air was heavy with static.
He left the car by the trees and ran through the woods. The time on his phone was counting down and inching closer.
When he broke out from the forest, he had to stop.
The number of ‘wolves was greater than he expected. Mary and Samuel stood by the front of their allies, their pack and the Alphas and enforcers of the allied packs behind them in loose but tense groups. No one had noticed his arrival. Not even the Roys - whose two allied packs were waiting behind them in dread. David stood at the front with two of his brothers and one sister standing close to them. One looked so much like Cam that Ares felt it difficult to breathe.
The sheer number of ‘wolves - more than half of which owed alliance to him anyway - had drenched the field with power anyway. Now that he was here, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He could taste the static in the too-humid air. Clouds began to roll in faster, and they were darkening and darkening within seconds. Ares shivered and thunder boomed.
He walked towards Mary and Samuel, but he didn’t take his eyes off David. With each step the grass flattened around his foot.
He saw the moment that everyone realised he had come. William had told no one; Samuel looked relieved, and Mary suspicious. The packs beside the Roys grouped closer. The Roys themselves did nothing but exude lazy satisfaction. He met David’s eyes and there was nothing but a cruel determination inside them. Ares curled his hands into fists and lightning burst through the dark sky, striking a tree somewhere in the forest. Thunder roared. Fire began to caress the unfortunate tree.
He stopped beside Mary and Samuel. William closed the distance until he was between Ares and his Alphas.
“You are not going to do this,” Ares said. Although his words were quiet, they were heavy in the air, and even he shivered at the power wrapped around them. Mary and Samuel did not take kindly to his words.
Another flash of lightning lit up the field brilliantly. Ares hadn’t taken his eyes off David the entire time, but it was when his eyes were adjusting to the sudden darkness again that his narrowed gaze fixed on the shining piece of metal.
Oh.
Oh.
The next boom wasn’t thunder.
The breath was knocked out of him. Sharp pain blossomed up his side. The stench of silver was overpowering. He felt to the floor -
wait -
he’d fallen the wrong way, the thing that had knocked him had been from his side -
wait -
the side was the only thing that hurt, there was no extreme telltale burn that suggested the silver bullet had stuck inside him -
The next roar was Samuel’s. Ares blinked, focusing on the dark sky above him and the legs of ‘wolves, some fully Shifted, running past him.
Shit, shit, he had to -
had to -
Ares pressed a hand to his side. It hurt, but it was healing. The bullet had missed. He’d been pushed out of the way.
“William,” Ares said with relief, and that was the only thanks he could give. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, consciously gathering power around him to order everyone to stop, and it was then he noticed that the ground was wet and that there was no rain.
Ares looked to his side and he saw William’s staring eyes.
The power he had been gathering shattered. The thunder quietened. Rain poured. Somewhere in the forest, the fire began to be beaten back.
Ares breathed. He reached out with one shaking hand to touched William’s warm face. The bullet had grazed him and struck William, Ares saw, and there was a bloom of blood on his chest. The wound was too close to his heart. The bullet was too silver.
Ares began to shiver. There was nothing he could do. No amount of power could bring him back. He stared down, becoming wetter and wetter. Tears streaked down his face.
The rain washed the blood away. A cold droplet hit the back of his neck and traced its way down his warm back. The icy touch of it shocked him back into reality. The sounds of fighting flooded back. The pain in his side reminded him of the bullet that had missed - that had missed him. Because of William.
In one breath everything changed. Ares felt his choking sadness curdle into rage, and then his breaths came faster and faster until he was up on his feet and striding towards the front line, the power running to clutch at him, being drawn to him, being swallowed by him, being consumed inside him like a spring being pressed harder and harder and -
Then -
It -
Released -
“STOP!”
Grass flattened. ‘Wolves less steady stumbled to the ground. The clouds above darkened more. Wind picked up.
Everything was silent.
Everyone was staring at him.
Mary, teeth barred. Samuel, eyes wide with grief and rage. David, muscles tensing with the effort to move under Ares’ power. He wondered what he would look like to them. He wondered if they could see the power covering him in a fine mist.
Seeing David only spiked his rage, and although Ares didn’t move, his gaze narrowed on the acting Alpha. He felt fire in his veins. David’s eyes widened. The white mist had covered him. He fell to his knees. The gun dropped from his hand. His chest heaved as the mist filled his lungs.
It was seeing his eyes squeeze shut and his lips move silently that snapped Ares out of the trance. He knew what the ‘wolf was saying even without reading his lips; he praying to the moon. Ares blinked and let the ‘wolf breathe. I am not a murderer, I am not a murderer, I am NOT a murderer, Ares chanted silently to himself, reminding himself that he controlled the power, not the other way around.
But David fell to the ground anyway. White mist curled around from his open mouth. The staring eyes unsettled Ares.
He watched David’s body for some time, not allowing himself to shrink away from what he had done. When he was satisfied, Ares addressed the ‘wolves, who were still unable to move.
“We are not having a war. There will be no more deaths. This isn’t justice, it is revenge.” Ares stared at David’s body. Was that justice, or was that revenge? “The Roys have made trouble long enough. You will renounce Mal as your Alpha. You will move away, to another country, and keep no contacts with other packs or with Mal. You will not return. You will not make treaties with other packs. If you do, I will bring my and the Council’s full power down on you. Not a single ‘wolf with the surname Roy or Reaves will survive.
“If I hear of anything bad about your pack from the packs in the country you move to - and I will listen for it - the same will happen. The only way for your pack to live on is to abide by these rules. You won’t get a war. You won’t get a trial. We will simply kill you. That is your warning.
“As for the Bays and Hardings; you are free of the debt you owe to the Roys. I expect better things of you in the future. Any voluntary contact with the Roys from your part will end the same way.” In turn, Ares located each of the Alphas and stared at them until they nodded.
Satisfied, Ares forced his power back. He felt the air grow heavy around him, but the ‘wolves could move once more. He turned to the loose group that had scurried to their fallen brother. They stared at him. The youngest, the one that had reminded Ares of Cam, gave him a nod.
He walked over. One reached for the gun, but the boy grabbed his wrist. “Don’t you dare,” he whispered. Ares stopped beside him.
“You have three hours to get back to your territory and take the necessities. You have a day to get out of this country.”
The youngest nodded again, and Ares found himself watching the boy. “What’s your name?”
He stood. “Leo,” he answered. His gaze didn’t waver.
“Leo,” Ares repeated, nodding. “Keep in contact. Keep your pack in order.”
His eyebrows rose. The boy couldn’t have been more than fourteen. What was he doing on this field? “My pack?”
Ares folded his arms while his brothers gathered David up. He couldn’t care less what was happening around him; as far as he knew, packs were retreating. Mary and Samuel were hovering over a body. Ares didn’t let himself look. it hurt too much to think about the body. “You’ll be the Alpha, Leo. Can’t you tell?”
Leo watched his brothers in the same way that Ares would watch his pack. “I always wanted it,” he said slowly.
“You were always meant for it,” Ares shrugged. “There’s always a born Alpha in every pack.”
“I know,” Leo said. He watched his brother for a long time. There was no sadness in his eyes. “Thank you.” He didn’t bother to lower his voice. Some of the pack turned to glare at him; the rest either agreed silently or didn’t care. “It wasn’t that much better for some of us. David was almost a clone of dad.”
Ares nodded. “Do you want Cam’s number?”
Leo’s eyes lit up. Ares tried to forget that he was hardly a teenager. “Yes, yes, please,” he babbled and then bit down on his lip. “If that’s okay, with the no contact rule. I miss him.”
Ares clapped Leo on the back. “I know Cam, and I trust him. It’s okay, and it means I keep a closer eye on you. Good luck with the pack. Keep them in line. Make them something to be proud of.”
Leo nodded fiercely.
Ares, who had been feeling a little more positive about the Roys, turned around. The good mood left him.
Mary and Samuel had placed William on a coat in order to transport him back. If there had been any other casualties - and Ares guessed there were at least a couple, if the smell of blood was anything to go by - they had already been taken away.
He walked up to them. They were both crying openly.
Ares didn’t apologise. They wouldn’t have taken it if they blamed him, and it would mean nothing to himself.
The Alphas looked at him. Samuel was stony; Mary was hostile.
Ares said nothing to them and reached out to press his hand to William’s cold cheek. “Say hi to Briony if you see her, William. I’m sure she’d like you if what dad and papa say about her is true. I’m sorry you had to waste your life because I wasn’t quick enough. You’re with the moon now, at least.” He sat back on his haunches, wiping away cold tears. It was useless; he was drenched from the rain anyway.
“We’ll let you know where he’s buried,” Samuel said. His words were clipped but polite.
“That is the only communication you’ll have with us,” Mary told him.
Ares nodded. He wanted to stay, but it wasn’t his place. He made himself stand up and walk away.
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Melissa Bay was standing by his car. She straightened up when she saw him. He knew that she didn’t miss his red eyes.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said quietly. “William was...” A faint smile. Ares raised an eyebrow and Melissa gave a quiet laugh. She must have been jubilant that she was free of the Roys. “We were good friends, years ago. When we were both young. I always wished he had taken an interest, but the Trun’s was always where his heart was anyway.” She rubbed her hands over her arms. “If you ever need anything...”
“My father may be in touch,” Ares said. She bowed her head, acknowledging that he wanted to end the conversation, and she walked back into the forest.
Ares stared at his car for a long time.
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The sun was well below the horizon now. The rain had eased up a long time ago, but his clothes were still damp. He had to go home. He had to let the pack know what happened.
Ares wiped hands over his face. He stood up, trembling, and walked back to his car. He cranked the heat up and drove as slowly as he could get away with until he had returned home, and although he hadn’t spoken to anyone, they would have known through the pack bond how things had gone.
Ven was the first to pull him into his arms, and Ares clutched at him as if he was a child again.
He allowed his papa to take him to the kitchen, sit him down, and clean up the dried blood and new pink skin over his wound. They did this in silence.
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Graduation was enough to cheer him up. To see the massive smile on Eve’s face put one on his own, and Ares felt like this was the turning point in his mood - his mood and guilt that had left him down for two months, affecting all of his pack.
Eve kissed him first, and then hugged her family and the pack, and then Ares took her back into her arms and the next thing she said was Turn me.
“Leo, now isn’t a good time,” Cam said, wincing as Lauren started to scratch his leg.
“Sorry,” Leo answered. “I was just checking up on things. Our delightful brothers are driving me crazy.”
Cam huffed. “As they usually do. Why is it that Mal seems to make the worst kids?”
“Current company not included,” Leo said.
“Yeah,” Cam grunted, reaching down to pick Lauren up. “You’re a handful,” he accused her. She giggled and hugged him.
“I wish I could see them,” Leo said sadly.
“I’ll skype you,” Cam promised. “Ares isn’t going to let you bend the rules on this.”
“I know,” Leo said. “Trust me, I know. Look, I’ll get you another time.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea - Emily! Don’t think I don’t hear you scratching that chair!”
Leo laughed. “Good luck,” he snorted, hanging up.
Cam threw the phone down on the desk and scooped Em up.
“Hello daddy,” she said, looking innocent.
“Don’t pretend you aren’t in trouble,” he scowled, hardly noticing Lauren shimmy out of his hold and land on the floor, scampering away while her sister provided distraction.
Cam sighed.
Emily nuzzled her father. “You’re not allowed to get Lauren into trouble,” she reprimanded.
Cam sighed again.
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Ven looked at the time. “You know, I’m glad we decided to get the house soundproofed.”
Dova glanced up from his book - another loan from Tore. “What?”
“It’s two o clock.”
“So?”
“Ares and Eve have been gone for two hours.”
Dova threw a cushion at him. “I don’t need to think about that, thanks.”
Ven sniggered, mature as ever.
There was a cheerful ping! from the computer. Ven swivelled around and read the pop up. “What the hell? Seriously?! Leo, you adorable little genius.”
“Mal’s kid?”
Ven snorted. “Cam’s brother. There’s a difference.”
Dova made a sound of agreement. “What happened, Scooby?”
“Looks like Mal had a lot of old council information hidden away on hard-drives.” He gave a whistle. “More than a lot. Holy crap. He didn’t tell anyone what was on them, apparently, but Leo took them with him knowing they were important. He paid a hacker to break one of the locks on the data, saw it was Council stuff and gave it to me. Damn.” Ven was silent for a few moments. There was a lot of mouse clicking. “He only opened up one section though. There’s tons of other locked stuff. This is going to take ages.”
“Must be quite a goldmine though,” Dova said.
“Yeah,” Ven agreed. “Wow. Warlock families. Elf mythology. Greek mythology. The Fey realm. Hey, look: the creatures and data of the Old Ones.”
“That’s quite a lot of stuff for you,” Dova said, looking up to see Ven grinning. “Does this mean I don’t have to get you a Christmas present?”
Ven, distracted, threw the cushion back but missed by miles.
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I always forget how much I hate big fight scenes. And that was with 16 sims on a lot. I didn't want to put anymore on in fear of crashing, so...