The Alpha's Blind Fate
Chapter 97: One True Vision

Chapter 97: One True Vision

ZINA

Zina stood on the highest pavilion of the Capital Square as her wolf sensed more and more people streaming into the place.

She could sense their hesitance, at the same time she could sense their curiosity as to why the Theta was summoning them instead of their own Alpha King. But Zina simply stood on the pavilion, her eyes covered, and the wind blowing against her hair and dress while the sun hung in the sky.

The stream of sunlight bathed her skin. But Zina knew it wouldn’t be for long. Soon, very soon, daylight would recede and its place will come a different kind of darkness like none other.

A darkness submerged in light that it was in reality hard to make a coherent distinction between the two.

Zina could read the charged air, and she already knew that Daemon or his representatives were already doing their part, so this was the time for her to do her own part. Ablanch kept on ringing the udong bell while she simply stood straighter, blindfolded eyes upturned to the sky.

In the moment Zina had left Bella’s presence and entered her room.... Just as the vision slammed into her, Zina knew that she and Sybril had got it all wrong. There was no need or use to rectify the past and the lies submerged with it. To usher new things, one didn’t have to mend the old.

No, what one simply needed to do was to sew a new future. And that was exactly what Zina had to do; she brought Daemon NorthSteed down with a false vision. Who said she couldn’t put him back in his rightful place despite the heavy objections that would be against him with a true vision?

In a red blindfold, wearing a green flowing dress studded with Red MoonStones and holding her staff in one hand, Zina would tell the true vision that would end all of this. And she would tell the vision in such a manner that the high packs will not have the opportunity to object to Daemon, nor will the common people.

Was this what rebellion seemed like? Upturning one leadership for another? Did it usually come with so much thrill such as the one that she was currently feeling?

Zina breathed in deeply as she heard footsteps occupying the pavilion that was a few inches lower than the one that she stood on. Without opening her eyes, she knew that the five Thetas of the five high ranked packs were present, some probably sneerering up at her more than the others.

It was Byrle, the Theta of the IceSavage Pack that first spoke in a voice that didn’t conceal her brewing anger. "Theta Zina, for what reason do you have that you have called for such a gathering? What gives you such authority?!"

A staff struck against the hardened floor of the pavilion, and Zina knew it before the older woman spoke that it was the old Theta of the Howling Pack that was bracing herself to chide Zina. "Theta Zina, this is blasphemy! I ask that you come down from the highest pavilion! Only the Alpha King and whoever he chooses to stay by his side can stand there."

It was then that Zina smirked, finally turning her blindfolded eyes down. But she said nothing because she was in no mood to speak.

It was Audrey, the Theta of the IceStorm Pack that spoke. "Sisters, I am sure Theta Zina has a good reason for this... flamboyant summons. Isn’t that right, sister Zina?" The woman finished in a fake sweet voice.

Besides being the only actual Theta that Zina managed to relate to, Audrey was good at forging alliances and making friends. She knew when to pick a fight and when to not, and Zina could feel it that the wheels of the woman’s brain were running wild as if she was being extra careful on what to say and what to not.

Still Zina didn’t respond to her either until Ablanch walked up to the pavilion where she stood to give Zina a response to the errand that she had sent the man on.

"The Eldermen could only spare us ten bolts of silver arrows." The man whispered to Zina in a voice low enough that only both of them could hear what he was saying amidst the commotion that surrounded them. "I was also able to procure a gram of Wolfsbane."

Zina sighed on hearing those words. She wondered if those would be enough to fight off what she had seen in her vision.

"And what of the banished prince?" She asked, "Has he or the Alpha King been sighted yet by the Temple Warriors?"

"Apologies, Theta, but not yet. But I’ve it on good word that some of the Epsilons of the NorthSteed Pack under the Alpha King were sighted at the BloodMoon Pack."

Zina immediately turned her furtive, blind glare on the lower pavilion where the five Theta’s stood. It occurred to her that she hadn’t heard the reclusive Theta of the BloodMoon Pack speak... the only Theta who was a male amongst them.

"Tell the warriors to control the crowd and make sure no one comes close to any of the Pavilion. It is important that the common pay stay away from the High Place, not unless they want to lose their lives." Zina warned Ablanch.

"I understand Theta!"

Grimly, Zina added. "And do not stop ringing the udong bell until you’re sure that the banished prince’s army has started attacking."

Abalanch, without inquiring as to what Zina spoke so dreadfully of, took off to do her bidding.

"Theta BloodMoon." Zina spoke up, staff clutched in her fingers in a death grip.

Zina could hear the disgruntlement of the rest of the Thetas over the fact that Zina had all but ignored them while addressing the one person who hadn’t bothered to speak up in the first place.

There was no response on the man’s part at first, but then an eerie, even voice spoke. "Theta NorthSteed."

"The time of reckoning is here, has your Alpha truly braced himself for what is coming? Has he aligned his intentions with that of the Luna Queen?"

"Do not worry about us, Theta NorthSteed. I would advise that you worry about yourself, for in all my years of living, I’ve not met a woman truly as audacious as you’re."

The chatter of the crowd about them grew louder until Zina was sure that the Capital Square was already filled with thousands of werewolves from different pack’s in the Arctic North who were all expectantly waiting for her.

But Zina said nothing. Not even when the five Alpha’s and Betas of the Five High ranked Packs gathered, standing by their Theta’s side... not even when they screamed at her, asking her what she was on about, not even when the fear and tension in the square grew so palpable that she could taste it on her lips.

It was until twelve in the afternoon when the udong bell finally stopped ringing. And when the noise receded, the chatter in the square died a natural death as anticipation grew in its place. Almost as if everyone knew that finally, it was the time for the Theta to speak.

Zina didn’t tug off her blindfold. Facing the crowd squarely even though her legs almost shook from the effort of standing for hours, she gripped her staff tightly in her fingers.

A thousand pairs of eyes on her pierced through her skin like a needle... but not even their heavy stares on her was enough to weaken the resolve she had managed to build in the six hours she had been standing on the pavilion.

Zina struck her staff against the floor of the pavilion, the sound echoing through the room and shutting out any residue of noise that lingered. Now, she truly had all the attention on her.

Finally, Zina opened her lips and spoke words that naturally echoed through the square. "The Northern wind blows in another direction; are you ready to welcome your new Alpha King? The only reincarnation of the Great Beast Wolf?"

There were exactly two seconds of stunned silence where nobody spoke. But then, cries of outrage and support mixed in, drowning the square once again with noise.

Perhaps she had committed a fool’s act by making such a daring proclamation when Eldric had not been defeated yet by Daemon, but if she were to die for this, at least she would be glad that she was dying for the truth.