Mathias (#1 The Chronicles of the Demon Wolf)
Chapter 32

Ryker carried Mathias’s lifeless corpse and walked through the portal which connected to the one located in the basement of the Council. Enzo followed close from behind along with Tanto. The moment they stepped out, they froze when they saw their mother was waiting there with tears falling from her eyes. She rushed to Ryker and held onto Mathias’ body dearly. Ryker slowly lowered him to the floor, allowing his mother to mourn for the loss of her firstborn.

The younger siblings, Cynthia, Bonnie, and Rinzler barged through the door. Bonnie collapsed to the floor, shaking before crawling to Mathias’ body. Cynthia tried her best to withhold her tears but eventually, she failed. Their mother’s cries in the portal room. A moment later, their father, Cohen, was walked in while being helped by one of Eva’s siblings.

“Reporting in,” Ryker said in restraint to his father. “Mathias couldn’t heal after he was wounded by Chelsea. The impact from the fall had…” he paused, unable to proceed with his report.

“At ease, son,” Cohen replied. "It's okay. I know what happened. Go get yourself cleaned."

“No, we still have wounded survivors in the field. We will return—”

“Ryker…” Cohen cut him off. “Let’s talk outside.”

Ryker nodded and followed his father out of the portal room.

“After Mathias’ funeral, you will be appointed as the next Alpha of our pack. You have to choose your Beta and Gamma. The rest of the ranks could be appointed slowly,” Cohen says with seriousness as he glances at the slightly-open door. “I will step down immediately to accompany your mother full-time. It’d probably take time for her to recover.”

“Father, I have no intention to be—”

“It’s not a request.” Cohen looks at his son. “Your mother’s health comes first. I can’t focus on both matters at the same time. I’m not who I used to be. Our pack needs a leader who could lead them properly.”

“Of course,” Ryker replies with a nod.

“You have to remain strong, boy.” Cohen squeezed Ryker’s shoulder lightly. “I know how close you were with Mathias. This is the sole reason why your mother forbade any of her children biting someone else. Mathias broke that rule.”

“Momma never told any reason why. All she did was tell us not bite someone.”

“When a normal werewolf turned someone into a werewolf, there would be no string attached between those two. But when a demon wolf did that, blood ties formed. Just like your mother, Chelsea had to kill her master in order for her to be free.”

“Did you mean that—”

“That’s the result of blood ties, son. The subordinate would do anything in their power to cut it. Chelsea was driven by the blood ties and revenge. It was Mathias’ fault.”

“Why are you solely blaming him on this? Arthur was involved.” Tanto barges out of the room. “Mathias died because he tried to stop the war.”

“Tanto, watch your tone,” Ryker warns him. “Dad’s still the Alpha.”

“That’s his son lying dead on the floor. Our older brother. Arthur played a key part in this problem too. If he hadn’t kidnapped Chelsea, we could have turned the situation around.”

“Tanto!” Ryker pushed his younger brother. “Cut it out, dammit. Don’t say anything else you’d regret later on.”

Tanto pushes Ryker back before storming off from the place. Ryker wanted to chase after him but his father stopped him, telling him to let Tanto cool down. Cohen enters the portal room and carries Mira out as she had spent all her energy mourning for Mathias’ death. Ryker helps to carry Mathias’ body to prepare for funeral along with other people who died in the battle.

“Rest a bit, love,” Cohen said, tucking Mira in the bed.

“I saw it.” her eyes were swollen. “I saw his death before it even happened.”

“How did you see it?”

“When I helped Chelsea to free her demon wolf, it showed me Mathias falling to his death. I could have stopped it.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“A few months after the boys were born, Stefano came to see me. You were out patrolling at that time.”

#

Twenty-two years ago,

A portal opened just outside the lake house. Mira, who was busy taking care of her triplets, came out to the front deck and saw Stefano step out of the portal. There was a grim expression on his face indicating she was about to receive bad news.

“May I talk to you for a few minutes?” he asked.

Mira nodded and led him to the chair at the deck. “What is it?”

“I’ve received words from above.”

Stefano often referred to the Kingdom of Moon Goddess as above. She wasn’t sure why he preferred to call it that way and she never questioned it either.

“About what?”

“You know, the Angels were talking that they didn’t agree with you being free and all after killing Alistair although you were trying to prevent the war he wanted to lead. It was his fault but the Angels still saw you as the one who made the mistake. They still think that Alistair should be judged by the Goddess. His death should have been carried out by one of the Angels, not an immortal.”

“And?”

“Alistair was the first born. Therefore, the Angels would seal the fate of your—”

“No!” Mira shook her head in disagreement. “I killed Alistair. Why did my family have to bear the consequences?”

“Your firstborn, Mathias, has twenty-five years as Alistair had lived for twenty-five million years.”

“No, no, no. They can’t do this. Please…” Mira cried. “He’s my son. He did nothing wrong.” Stefano hugged her as she cried. “How could they do this? I killed Alistair. I was supposed to be punished. Not my son.”

#

“Mathias’ twenty-fifth birthday is just three days away,” Mira sobs. “But his fate was sealed because of something I did.”

“Baby, please, don’t think too much. It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.”

“His fate was sealed when he bit Chelsea.”

“Baby, please.”

After a while trying to comfort her, Mira finally falls asleep. Cohen kisses her forehead before leaving to let her rest. He goes to the lobby and sees bodies upon bodies carried by the surviving Enforcers. The Commanders are doing their duty, trying to identify each of the fallen comrades.

Once again, the war had claimed so many lives. Nothing is a surprise to anyone anymore.

#

The search and rescue team had begun their work to look for any survivor in the collapsed castle. Heavy machinery was transported to the area to clean the debris. Far from the castle was Chelsea standing behind a tree, watching the search and rescue team.

She's covered in blood and there is a metal sticking out from her left torso. Chelsea pulls it out and walked away. Arthur’s death had been avenged. Mathias is dead.

All that is left is her parents. Sebastian died when she killed Zeke.

She smiles sinisterly as she walks. “I’m coming home, mommy and daddy.”