AUTHOR'S POV
"Well? Do you have anything to say, Dolphus?", Stanley turned to the wise elder, who sat unfazed with his pipe. Stanley shifted his fierce stare at everyone in the room, who seemed wary of him. "Don't give me that damned look! You are all aware that Scott was forbidden to imprint. For whatever terror it might bring, we all have done our parts to not let that happen.", everyone stood too still, eyes not blinking. "Cutting the imprint through the death of the Luna will save not only us, but my son too. So don't you all dare glare at me, for I'm just a father saving my son", Stanley slumped on a chair, as if he lost all of his strength on his knees. Yet, his voice was stern, desperate beneath the steel. "You had the chance, Dolphus. You could've just ... poison her or strangle her for all I care. You should have chosen to save my son", his voice didn't echoed. It sank and left everyone in the room seem to forget how to breath.
The pack had no plans to invalidate Stanley's feelings, for they cannot relate so much with a father's pain. However, their loyalty stays with Scott no matter what. "She is his", Lucas finally said. It was not loud, not defiant. Just a fact laid on the table. Truth settled heavier than any command.
Dolphus chuckled loudly. His laugh cut through the room, confusing everyone there. Alarick thought he was the only one who have gone mad, cringing at the blind elder who's laughing out loud. "You wouldn't dare Stanley.. if you only saw what my eyes did, you won't even lift a finger on that precious girl", Dolphus said as he puff a smoke. "You'd probably pamper her yourself too, like the one who's taking care of her", Dolphus leaned back, putting down his pipe.
"Who, Elder Dolphus??", Cory blurted out, as David pinched his nose not to engage with the complicated conversation of the elders. The pack shifted their gazes back on Dolphus and then on Stanley as they continue their heated confrontation.
"Pffft.. Dolphus, for once you are mistaken. Not all visions that you see is true", Stanley assumed in doubt, as he curve his lips downward.
"That girl is of great value to a quiescent Alpha wolf, perfectly made with an absolute purpose", Dolphus said with a smirk.
"Is it something to do with her blood, Elder Dolphus?", Lucas asked. "The vamps shadow her. They stay at a close distance as if her blood is essential to them. Her mother is extremely secretive and vigilant too. Concerning and extremely scary. Not to mention a nagua, poised to pounce at every chance it can get", he caressed his chin trying to put together the scrambled pieces of puzzles laid in front of them. Dolphus just smiled with his lips closed.
Alarick, who's superstitious as always, widened his eyes hearing Dolphus' prophecy about the Luna. However, for the first time, he refuses to believe that the Luna is not a threat to their existence as claimed by Dolphus, the only elder he respects. "Elder Dolphus, are you sure? We cannot ignore the fact that she did spoke with a nagua..", Alarick asked.
"That is true. They might be scheming their evil plans now", Adoff added as he stood behind Alarick.
"Either way, she deserves a proper investigation, before we jump to conclusions. We do not want to make decisions we will regret", Velvet encouraged.
Scott then entered the room followed by Reina, making Alarick descend the podium like an impulse. As he fix his coat on, something heavy fell from his pocket, echoing a resonant metallic sound in the hall. He was taken aback. With haste, he picked it up... but Scott beats him to the familiar silver dagger laying on the floor. "Well, well.. the ever dearest Alpha of the Grayback clan have already recovered", Alarick greeted. With a clenched fist, Scott suddenly gave Alarick a quick blow, shattering that smug on his face. Everyone flinched. Some smiled with satisfaction, while some tried to break them apart.
"I know what you did to her!!", Scott clutched on Alarick's shirt up to his neck as he lifted him up from the floor with his bare hands. Driven with angst, Scott grunted as he pin Alarick against the wall.
"Scott!!", Reina meddled, but was only pushed against Damon. The pack and the rest of the wolves clamored insistently with divided judgment. Alarick should have seen it coming, yet violence isn't the way to deal with it. Lucas stepped forward, with his voice ready to put Scott into a halt - yet, he swallowed his words when he saw the madness stirring in Scott's eyes.
"How dare you attempt to kill her?!", Scott hurled Alarick away, crossed the space between them before breath could catch up and punched him a couple of times that his knuckles bleed.
"That's enough, Scott!", Stanley shouted as he prompted Damon to stand between the fight of Alarick and Scott. All pumped up, Scott released his tension at every jab, with his eyes widened like a crazy man. He heard no voice to stop him as he fly into rage. No hand could knock him off. Seeing his brother uncontrollably angered, Damon just stood there unsure what to do. Seeing him this way, they all realized Scott isn't the same man they all knew.
"Please stop, Scott...", Elder Velvet plead the boy she watched grow up. This isn't just being physical, Scott is making it symbolic. A lesson for everyone in the room that flesh will meet stone if they touch his Luna. This is simply an Alpha's instinct wearing his crown.
Blood splattered from Alarick's busted brows and lips, curling on the wooden floor whimpering in pain. Gasping. Gurgling blood. Straightening up catching his breath, Scott stopped after he landed one last kick on Alarick's chest, breaking a rib. "I have made myself clear several times!! DO NOT TOUCH MY LUNA!", Scott grunted, chest heaving. Every wolf inside the hall understood the same quiet truth. They have learned who Scott may turn into when it comes to Diana.
"Take him to the cellar, I don't want to see his face.", Scott ordered as Adoff and a couple of omega wolves carry Alarick out hastily. As he wipe his bloody hands on his shirt, Scott looked at his pack with a stern gaze. "Prepare the town with weapons, mainly silver and wolfsbane. On the next full moon, we shall be all out to slay that monstrous beast", Scott gritted his teeth. The pack listened intently at Scott, in approval of his commands. "Hold a mass burial for the deaths of the wolves in the town. They deserve a short prayer and offering, Elder Dolphus", he added. Dolphus nodded, clasping his hands together, admiring how Scott took back his crown, and fixed himself on his throne. "As the Alpha of this clan. The Luna will remain mine, and I have no murderous intentions on her. I need not an investigation to prove her innocence. Anyone who is against my orders are free to leave the clan. Diana will remain my Luna.", Scott gave a quick glance at Stanley after delivering his message.
After the meeting at the hall, the wolves departed one by one. The pack headed out to prepare for the last mission of the day - the search for Diana. "I'll see you in my hut, Scott. I have important matters that I need to discuss, privately", Dolphus left, leaving a trail of smoke on his way out. Elder Velvet went after Dolphus, with a lingering stare at Scott. The door closed, and the hall went into silence leaving Scott and Stanley alone together. Scott did not sit. He did not need to.
"I met Alva at a dinner party of a business partner years ago.", Stanley broke the silence, as he remain seated. Half hearted to talk to Stanley, Scott turned around and listened either way. "She was the only person who had no scent that night, very human-like. I never.. doubted her nature. She spoke at most to a selected people, particularly wolves with Alpha bloodlines. While I on the lower hand, stayed at the corner with the betas, where I'm supposed to be.", he exhaled sharply. "I was at the verge of suffering early stages of dementia and degenerative bone diseases when she walked up to me and offered one of her greatest creations… It's as if she could see right through me when she gave me one of those tiny round blue pills.", he added. Scott lifted his eyes, piquing his interest. "Alva told me, that night will be the best night of my life for she's feeling generous to give me a sample of her work of genius, something I needed she supposed. I was astonished and credulous for she has this energy that makes every word sound beautiful, so convincing that it made me take the pill with my mouth straight from her hand. After swallowing that pill, I started to see my surrounding vividly and the sounds in the room became clearer. My legs can bear my weight, as if youth returned over me", Stanley smiled at the carefree feeling on his first time taking the drug. "To cut it short, I never felt more alive. Once again, I could dance with my both feet. I could carry your mother in my arms, and we even had the best sex we haven't done for years.", Stanley gave out a soft chuckled. "Ahh.. how magical those pills were. Days later, the effects worn out. The same old problems I had came back. I could barely remember whom I talked to or what document I signed. I easily forget if I had my meals, or where am I. When I come to my senses, I remember Alva and her magical pill. I came running around everywhere to find her. And when I did, I bought her pills at the amount I could buy. I remember giving her a blank cheque once. From then, I got my life back. But then..", Stanley stared blankly up ahead.
"You got addicted", Scott figured, keeping it calm. Shoulders stiff.
"I did. It's something I knew was coming. From one pill a day, I added a few more. Then more.. and then more.", he exhaled sharply. "I was too euphoric forgetting the pills came with a warning. The more pills I ingest, the more strength I gain day by day. When I'm left with empty canisters of the blue pills, the adverse effects tripled. I started to feel odd. My hands and knees shook aggressively, my heart pound like crazy. I see things that aren't there.", Stanley scoffed at himself breaking apart.
"All that just because of your hopes to feel alive again? You have your family, old man. You have me", Scott reminded.
"What could have you done, Scott? What would you do if you were given a chance to regain your old self?", Stanley's voice didn't waver.
"I don't think I need to answer that. You know me", Scott said with a long sigh. He has always been a believer in the natural order of things. No hands of time to be turned back, and no age should reverse. "It's her blood", he uttered.
"Huh?", Stanley squinted his eyes at Scott, leaving his mouth open.
"It's Diana's blood that Alva put in those pills. The pills you are addicted to.", Scott admitted blandly, as he watch Stanley's face turn white.