11. It has begun

“Stop the car,” Grant ordered, and Leonardo instantly slammed on the brakes. It was after he did that he realized how lucky they were that there was no accident. He was so used to doing everything that the alpha commanded him that he didn't take a second to think about what he was asked to do and just did it.

The screeching sound of the brakes of the cars behind them as they came to a sudden halt filed the air. Leonardo cursed under his breath at the disturbing sound.

“Your Majesty…” the car's door slamming shut was heard. Grant was already out of the car before he could say a word and he let out another curse before unbuckling his seatbelt and dashing after the alpha.

‘Some of you come with us while the others find a good place for the cars, don't disturb the people here,’ Leonardo commanded through the mind link. He then heard a collective, “Understood,” from the warriors before cutting off the link.

Meanwhile, Grant dashed through the street, his beast in full control and his blood red eyes a perfect contrast to the snow white fur. All those walking along the road could feel the overwhelming aura of the beast even before it came to sight and instinctively, they bowed their stance and postures respectful.

Although he still wasn't sure, he could feel it now. There was this pull that he just couldn't ignore and it was what had his beast on edge. Knowing this, he willingly relinquished control to Ares, letting him guide them. But still couldn't help asking,

“Can you tell me what we are looking for?” Grant asked his wolf but all he got was grunt and he sighed in defeat. He could only wait until they found it.

***

Esme sat beside the window of her room, her blank eyes stared at the last rays of sunlight, it looked as though she was relishing the view but her mind was as blank as her gaze. A soft knock on the door cracked the silence that enveloped the room, causing Esme to look over her shoulder.

“Come in, Alicia,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper but she knew that Alicia would hear her. Unlike her, Alicia had a better hearing because she had Wolf.

“Everything is set, my lady. But…” she hesitated. She may not have thought about it before, but now she has. “Where would you go from here? There is no one out there who would…”

“Staying here wouldn't help either. The pack will fall tonight,” Esme said, interrupting Alicia mid sentence. She turned and rose to her feet. “I want you to come with me, Alicia. It's not safe to stay here.”

Alicia hesitated, reluctant at first but eventually nodded her head. The vision was hard to believe but after seeing how Esme's wounds healed so quickly without leaving even a scar behind, she had a feeling that Esme's abilities may have just finally awakened.

Just before the last of the lats light of day would disappear from the horizon, the earth shook. Alicia flinched grabbing hold of the nearest object for support but Emes stood stil as if she were not affected by the tremors. The packhouse shook violently, debris falling off the walls and ceiling.

“Is this an earthquake?” Alicia uttered, her voice laced in fear and her grip on the bed getting tighter until there wood holding it cracked.

The screams of children outside and within the packhouse echoed through the walls drastically increasing the gravity of the situation. How much Esme wanted to yell ‘I told you so’ to the entire pack but she didn't have the strength for that. They wanted to break and they had almost achieved their goal but that ends now.

“It's has begun. We have to leave now,” she said to Alicia but the girl wasn't moving. “I'll leave you behind if you wish to die. The packhouse will crumble to dust and set ablaze. Those creatures will kill all those who survive the demolition and fire.”

Alicia flinched at her words and the fact that she said with a straight face and evident detachment in her tone. Her eyes lacked the care and love that it always had towards this pack that was the only thing that made her feel connected to her family, albeit having long passed away.

“Uhm… understood,” she said hurriedly, as she ran to catch up to Esme who was already walking out of the room.

Loud growls and whimpers graced their ears as soon she they descended the stairs. The stench of blood filled the air and Alicia had to place a hand over her mouth to prevent herself from throwing up.

“Call the healers and have the children sent to the safe houses,” Alpha Dane barked out his orders but Esme didn't care to look for him or help carry out those orders. Whoever survived was lucky and she didn't want to have any thing to do with them.

As they walked, people ran passed them, either running out of the collapsing packhouse or running in to help carry those who were unfortunate enough to have part of their rooms collapsing on them and getting injured in the process.

“This is horrible,” Alicia said in hush whisper. Her eyes scanned the place, meeting with a familiar pair, her breath hitches and her feet faltered.

“keep moving if you don't want to end up like them,” Esme's voice pulled her flack from her trance.

“Where do you think you are going? Everyone is helping and you are walking as if talking a leisure stroll across a park,” Ophelia's voice came, filled with annoyance and irritation. She stormed her way to Esme and Alicia, raised her hand to slap esme across the face but to shock, Esme grabbed the hand and pushed her aside.

“If you all had you all listened to me, you would have been prepared for this. But what did I get for giving you a warning? Nearly sent to Death’s door. Why should I care about what happens to this wretched pack ever again?”

Ophelia blinked unable to believe her ears. Did Esme just shove her away? And what's with the monolog? “How dare…”

Opheliola was rudely interrupted by Esme who shifted her gaze to Alicia, “Are you coming?” Once said that, she resumed her steps, ignoring Ophelia's presence completely.

“Y…Yes,” Alicia said, smiling inwardly that Emse finally spoke up to Ophelia. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise for Esme.

But as soon as they exited the packhouse, the earth shook once again and the earth cracked almost dividing the packhouse in half and even the ground on the outside cracked and stretched as far as the eyes could see.