Nexus Bond

Band of Wolves Arc: Part 5 

Akira gently placed Grandma on the bed, tucking the blanket around her frail figure.

"Akira, please bring Mel back," she said, her voice trembling with desperation.

Akira leaned closer, his voice soft but firm. "Please don't push yourself too hard. I promise I'll bring her back."

Grandma's eyes filled with tears. "Mel is my everything. My daughter Hena was my only child. She was playful and energetic, just like Mel. She grew up mastering Stone Magic and her codices faster than anyone. Talented and ambitious, she left home at 18 to become a warrior in the kingdom."

Her voice cracked as memories overwhelmed her. "After five years, she came back home—distressed and with a one-year-old Mel in her arms. She handed me her daughter and left without a word. I waited and waited, but she never returned. I even went to the capital city where she used to work, but no one knew where she was. I lost my daughter once, Akira. I can't lose Mel, too." Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Akira held her trembling hand, his expression one of unshakable determination. "I'll bring Mel back. No matter what. You need to rest now."

He stood and walked outside, the night air sharp against his skin. His gaze turned toward the dark, foreboding forest.

"What are we going to do now?" Raz asked

"We're going to bring Mel back," Akira said firmly, breaking into a run toward the trees.

"Do you have some magic some sort of...

Maybe some secret wolf-tracking magic up your sleeve?" Akira asked 

"Nope," Raz said

"Fine" Akira said 

 "we just need clues that lead us to the pack."

The forest was dense and eerily quiet. After running for some time, Akira spotted blood trails glistening faintly in the moonlight.

"There we go," Raz said, nodding toward the trail.

"Let's follow it," Akira replied

The wolves gathered near the edge of a rocky cliff, their snarls and growls echoing in the night.

"There's no way we lost to just two humans!" a wolf growled, pacing angrily.

"They weren't just humans," another snapped. "Didn't you see the Asurs helping them? That boy was one of them! He even transformed into a girl in the middle of the battle!"

"It was a full moon," another chimed in. "We had our transformation and our powers. Even then, we lost."

A low voice growled from behind them. "And you think saying this makes it better, even Eldric was not able fight,"

The wolves turned as Eldric, towering and menacing, stepped forward. His sharp gaze settled on the one who had spoken last. Without warning, Eldric's fist struck the wolf's face, sending him sprawling. The pack recoiled in fear as Eldric grabbed the fallen wolf and, with a sickening crack, tore his head from his body. Blood splattered the rocks as he tossed the severed head off the cliff.

The remaining wolves backed away, trembling.

"Eldric, what are you doing?" one stammered.

Eldric's eyes glinted dangerously. "What am I doing? He mocked me. Said I was defeated." His voice turned cold, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Listen well. Eldric was not defeated. I retreated for your sake—to save you from dying like cowards. Some of you were on fire. Others were bleeding out. You were weak. I spared you, but I will not tolerate disrespect."

He laughed, a low, chilling sound. "Now, what should we do?"

"Prepare for another attack?" a wolf ventured cautiously.

Eldric's smile widened. "Yes. This time, it will be a sneak attack. Destroy everything in your path. Leave nothing standing. But leave the boy alive. I want to fight him myself and prove my strength." He howled, and the wolves joined in, their voices shaking the forest.

Another wolf stepped forward, dragging an unconscious Mel into the circle.

"We don't need to attack just yet," he said, throwing her at Eldric's feet.

Eldric's eyes narrowed as he studied her. "This child was with the boy." He began to laugh. "Perfect. He'll come to us. Take her to the cave."

Mel stirred, her eyes fluttering open to darkness. The cave was cold and silent, the only light filtering through cracks in the stone above. The faint moonlight illuminated jagged rocks and damp walls.

"So you're awake," a warm, feminine voice said from the shadows.

Mel sat up, her heart pounding. "Who are you?"

The voice chuckled softly. "You're a beautiful child. Green hair, green eyes, such a round little face. What might your age be?"

Mel glared into the darkness. "That's none of your business."

"Oh, my! Such a stubborn child," the voice said, amused. A figure emerged from the shadows—a magnificent white wolf with black eyes. Her coat shimmered like diamonds in the moonlight.

"I must warn you," she said, her voice dropping to a menacing tone. "Eldric doesn't like stubborn children. He's known to rip them apart." She laughed, the sound echoing eerily in the cavern.

Mel stumbled back, fear gripping her. The wolf's expression shifted suddenly, her eyes filling with sorrow.

"Just like that time," she murmured, tears glistening in her eyes.

Mel hesitated but asked, "What happened to Eldric?"

The wolf tilted her head, intrigued. "You don't know who he is?"

Mel shook her head.

"Well," the wolf began, stepping closer, "it was that time when Eldric shunned everything beneath him. Everything."

"Everything?" Mel asked, her voice small.

"Even me," the wolf said, her tone turning cold and heavy with each word.

Mel's curiosity overcame her fear. "What happened to him?"

The wolf's lips curled into a sad smile. "You're the first to ask about his story. I'll tell you, child. I'll tell you everything."

Her laughter filled the cave again, chilling and broken, as the moonlight dimmed.