That is the look that now grows across Remus’ face.
Something that Romulus said to him, or perhaps everything that Romulus just said to him, is causing him to lose control. The energy between the packs shifts.
They’re preparing to fight. Any second now, this forest will be painted red with blood.
Lydia releases my hand quickly and pushes her way forward between her husband and son. She stands facing Remus with the kind of beautiful and graceful strength that I imagine only a woman who has been through hell and back can muster.
“The eclipse is nearly here,” she says to Remus. He eyes her as if he would like nothing better than to tear her limb from limb. “If we engage in this conflict now, we will all miss it. Lives will be lost and blood from all three packs will be shed on the ground blessed with the sacred moonlight of the eclipse.”
I divert my eyes to the ground for a moment as that horrible sense of dread comes over me.
I’m afraid that Remus is going to do something like shift and swipe Lydia’s head from her shoulders before anyone has a chance to stop him … and I can’t bear to watch that. I couldn’t live with that image burned inside my head, even in the unlikely event that I live to see another night.
But instead, as angry as he still remains, Remus looks like he suddenly deflates. All the anger, the torment, the burning indignance–it drops from him all at once.
It’s an incredible occurrence to see the rest of the pack follow suit, as if their emotions and reactions are directly linked to their leader.
“You’re lucky that the eclipse is mere moments away. If not for that, I wouldn’t hesitate to give the order for my pack to tear you all limb from limb. But even the eclipse will not stand in the way of consequence. There must be an agreement made here before I let you leave. And this time, the agreement will be made in blood, since one of you has failed to adhere to our last agreement.”
“What is it that you want?” Romulus asks. I see him touch Lydia’s side slightly to bid her to step back behind them again. He loves her dearly, that much is very apparent; as is the fact that he doesn’t trust his brother at all.
“You will promise that this woman will never be turned.” Remus points his curled finger between the men’s shoulders at me. “EVER. Never again will a human girl come between our packs.”
“Agreed,” Romulus says without hesitation. “You have my word.”
For the first time, hearing it doesn’t immediately make my heart sink. All I want is for this to end. All I want is for the boys I love to survive, and if my never being turned is what it takes—then so be it.
Remus laughs at his brother. “Your word no longer means shit to me, dear brother. You obviously can’t control your pack, or even your pups,” he says as he glances toward Rory. “Nor keep them from making foolish decisions that affect us all. This time you will promise me with blood.”
Romulus doesn’t seem to be thrilled with the idea, but he accepts.
He steps forward toward his brother and I watch anxiously to see what’s happening.
I’m terrified when I see both Remus and Romulus open their jaws to reveal elongated and lethally sharp canines, as they both grab each other firmly by the shoulders and then lean forward to clamp their teeth down into each other’s necks.
I put my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming as even Lydia looks away.
The three boys watch with a brewing look of hatred toward their uncle. I see Rory’s lips curl and his hands clench into fists at his sides.
The whole thing lasts only a few seconds, and then both men pull away from each other as a spouting gush of blood pours from the puncture wounds in their necks. There are no more words said, no glances exchanged. Each of them simply clasps a hand over their wound and turns to lead their packs away from each other.
I should be glad.
The packs are saved.
But in doing so, I am lost.
25
Sabrina
Or so I think.
The walk back out of the forest is unhurried and silent. Vivian walks with her pack, following behind us on our trek well beyond the boundaries of Remus’ land.
I walk behind Romulus and Lydia, with the boys walking closely behind me. I want to say a million things to them, but I can’t bring myself to break the tense silence.
So, instead I just keep quiet and keep following Romulus as he leads everyone further away from his brother’s territory. I don’t dare look back at them. I know once I do, I won’t be able to stop the flood on emotion that’s sure to follow.