Chapter 234

Almara’s Pov

Arthur and I continue to fight against the invisible restraints, but it’s like trying to swim against the current. The more we try, the harder it gets and eventually the only thing able to break loose is a sob.

Grace has never seen me cry before because I know it would break her heart to see her mother upset, but now she’s looking at me without any emotion, as though she would be impartial to anyone’s distress, let alone her own mother’s.

I keep trying to sit up until I know I’ve reached my maximum strength capacity. I sink back into my sweet, noticing how Zayne is enjoying watching us fail at protecting our daughter who stands mere feet away, yet is also so far gone.

Beside me Arthur heaves and pants, I can sense the blood pumping through his veins. His breath is hot and heavy, laden with rage. The room no longer feels cold, instead, it’s become unbearably stuffy.

“What do you want?” exhaustion creeps through each winded word. I’m so tired of guessing what to do or fighting just to chance survival of another day. And even now, if I was able to get my paws on Grace, what would I do? Where would we go?

It’s not like having Grace in my arms would cease the imminent threat of the familiars, we’d still have a war to endure and still even with knowing this there isn’t anything else I want more right now than to be with my daughter.

“I thought I made that pretty clear,” Zayne says and turns to his assistant, “I made it known what it is I’m after, haven’t I Dudley?” The little rabbit-like familiar nods enthusiastically.

“Yes, of course,” Dudley speaks and his voice is squeaky and pinched. His eagerness in his reply to Zayne reminds me of the way sires to the vampires. I wonder if this is something the familiars adopted from the vampires.

If they did, how long would it be until there became a power struggle dynamic between familiars? Perhaps this would result in their own civil war. Lily points out and yet another stirring of ideas courses through me.

I decided to test this theory out. I gather my composure and orient myself towards Dudley. “Dudley, could you explain your sidekick's desires? Zayne didn’t make this clear to me,”

I become acutely aware of Zayne’s vicious gaze. Eyes like daggers cutting into my skin, probably a look that would make any regular gamma squirm, but under Zayne’s intense glare it’s my turn to delight in his discomfort.

Clearly, Dudley is taken back by this as well as his jaw goes slack, but he quickly falls into the position I bestowed on him and straightens his posture as though summoning an air of power. Arthur looks at me and I know he’s wondering what I’m doing, but I don’t answer him. I nod at Dudley to go on.

Dudley clears his throat and opens his mouth to speak, but before he has the chance Zayne backhands Dudley’s throat causing Dudley to choke on the words stuck in his throat and gasp for air.

Grace lets out a small giggle and for a moment all our attention is on her. She straightens her smile and part of me wonders how much of a spell she’s under, maybe she’s pulling her own game here.

Afraid to give away my suspicions, I advert my eyes back to Dudley who’s become red in the face from excessive coughing.

“You stupid dog, Dudley is not in charge. I am.” At that Dudley lifts his eyes up at Zayne, his expression a mix of anger and defensiveness, though unable to speak his mind.

“It’s just hard to tell,” I say purposely trying to sound dismissive. Zayne’s whiskers twitch. “That won’t be a problem for long, as per my desires it’s really quite simple. Dominance.”

“But how will that work out if you and the vampires are going to work alongside one another?” I ask sounding like I really had no idea how any of this would play out.

“Ah, yes. I suppose your kind will already be either taken out or under our dominion by then, but in due time we will rule over all. Each species will bow to the familiars. It just so happens your kind is the first to go, starting with your daughter here.” Zayne eyes Grace like she’s a prized possession and I try to keep my face stoic.

However, something in his eyes shifts to inquisitiveness, like he’s wondering about the power he does seemingly have over Grace. Grace doesn’t give him anything to work with. She keeps her expression blank and her body slack, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular.

It’s just a wonder if this is on her own accord or not. “I know you think this is the end of the werewolves, that we’ve been captured and the rest of the wolves back home will fall in line but you are greatly mistaken,” Arthur says, but he’s looking at the camera.

Dudley has finally regained normal breathing levels and goes to chime in, but Zayne casts him a warning glance which causes him to fall silent, standing still next to Grace.

Another thought occurs to me then, each of the familiars are incredibly narcissistic. There’s no way that many will all bow down to one. Even if one does make it into the top power, how long would that last?

If familiars do take over and rule over werewolves and vampires, and the goal for each familiar is for them to be the singular one in power then it’s only a matter of time before there’s utter anarchy and civilization completely falls.

The familiars won’t just destroy us and the vampires, they’ll destroy themselves.

Arthur was right to look in the camera and encourage the gammas back home to prepare to fight. That’s the core difference between us and every other group out there. We know how to function as a group. We have loyalty and that’s what gets you through war.

The familiars may have deadly weapons and innate skill, but in due time they’ll turn on each other. Werewolves stick together and that surpasses everything else. It’s with this understanding that I know we’ll win the war.

I don’t know how or when, but it’s not over until the werewolves come back to their rightful spot on top.

“So, what do we say to the camera?” I ask with a new sense of confidence. It doesn’t matter what we say, Arthur already sent out the important message.

“Glad you’re coming to see things my way,” Zayne says and reangles the camera. I settle back and snuggle up next to Arthur. Let’s send the message to those back home that we’re all still in this together.

“Take the girl,” Zayne says to Dudley. He wraps his matted-fur paw around our daughter's waist and I swear, I saw her shudder. It could be wishful thinking, but I think our baby girl is outsmarting these familiars.

Still, it does sicken me to see Dudley lead our daughter toward the dark back room.