Chapter 228 - 228

"It's muddy and smells like dead dog." Ares said as they walked deeper into the forest. He had a huge frown on his face and his nose was wrinkled, revealing how disgusted he felt. He wiped some sweat off his face and kept going, pushing branches away. He didn't know why they had made him walk first, he had to step in all the animal shit fist and get hit by all the stray branches. He already had a little tear underneath his eyes from not being careful. 

"Stop complaining. If it smells like a dog it means we're getting closer. If you stopped talking all the time and taking breaks we would have found him by now." Ea scolded him and slightly pushed him to move. "My King please be careful there is a mud puddle over there." The loyal boy said and pointed at the shallow mud pit so Allias could avoid it. The King laugh and jumped over it. 

"It's fine, nothing will happen to me if I step on some mud." He said. "I think things will be slightly difficult for them. The Council will visit. I also left Mark at the compound. He didn't seem that well so I need us to return soon." He said and Ea nodded eagerly. 

"You heard the King. Move!" he shouted and punched Ares on the shoulder. 

"Ouch! I am moving stop it." The boy said and walked faster. 

They had been in the forest for hours now. It was almost noon and the sun was torturing all of them, shining brightly above their head. Combined with the humidity of the area a very unpleasant feeling was created. Their clothes were sticking on them and all of them had thick beads of sweat on their forehead. Theseus walked right next to Allias, holding his hand as they got deeper into the thick trees. The area was huge and they were trying to cover it as fast as they could. But as it seemed they would be there for a while. 

"Alexander!" Theseus shouted, his heavy voice echoing everywhere around him. A flock of birds flew away, scared by the sudden sound. There was no answer and it was highly expected so no one was disappointed. Theseus turned his gaze to his lover, his eyes scanning his expression. He had been tortured by something, a very important information that he had kept hidden from him. The fact that there was an Avgee elf alive. He had told Joe to take her into a safe place until he went there to find her but now he wasn't so sure that acting behind Allias' back like this was right. "Allias I need to tell you something." The general said with a serious tone and the king looked at him with a faint smile. 

"What is it?" he asked him, his head slightly tilted to the side when Ares interrupted them. 

"Here!" he shouted and ran away, for a second getting drowned by the big branches and bushes. 

The rest of the elves followed him into a small clearing. There was only a little space for someone to sit down and rest, at the trunk of a huge oak tree. There were rays of light escape the thick leaves, shinning like small spotlights. On that trunk they found Alexander, sitting on the ground, filled with mud and blood. He looked exhausted, his body completely numb. They approached him, all of them having concerned looks on their faces as he didn't seem to respond. His green eyes were open and he was breathing but he almost looked as if he was hypnotized. 

Ares shook his palm in front of him, watching his irises move and actually yelled into his ear, making the young wolf flinch and growl at him. 

"Hey, Alexander." Allias called out and crouched, standing in front of him and getting to his eyes level. He cleared up his face a bit from the mud, the boy not actually resisting. His eyes were focused on Allias, giving him a clear sign that he understood. "You must be exhausted. You did good out there." He said and patted his dirty head. Alexander's eyes widened and teared gathered in them. He did good? He had killed so many people, all members of his pack. He had brought destruction and death and Luke had seen all that. He had instantly turned into the person he least wanted him to. "Don't cry." Allias said, looking at him with pity. "It's alright." He told him and hugged him not caring about his clothes or horrible state. "Can you talk? Let's talk about it a bit." 

"I, I killed all of them." He said and Theseus sighed. He knew very well that the scars this boy now had would not be easily fixed. For now, all he could have were emotional crutches, hoping to not collapse. 

"I, I killed all of them." He said and Theseus sighed. He knew very well that the scars this boy now had would not be easily fixed. For now, all he could have were emotional crutches, hoping to not collapse. 

"Alexander, those people were trying to kill you too. You wanted to save Luke. It was inevitable." Allias told him, he needed to comfort him somehow. Get him back into the compound and fix at least a little bit his state for the arrival of the council. Thankfully all the people who had seen his transformation and might have wanted to talk about it were already dead. So keeping his secret from the council was actually possible, as long as he controlled himself and nothing happened to trigger him. 

"Was it?" Alexander asked Allias and the King found himself unable to respond. "I am not stupid. I know." 

Allias didn't know what to say. There were no right words for these moments, no remedies for the scars created in the soul. Those could not be healed. Not even with magic. Alexander needed a force now, something to get him on his feet and not just a few kind words. Sweet lies whispered in his ears. That's why Theseus stepped in. He walked closer, looking at the young wolf with a strict expression.

"You chose this, didn't you? So why are you surprised? This is the price you have to pay for your power. Do you think that killing or controlling yourself would be easy? I think you are indeed stupid. You said you wanted to be by Luke's side but the moment you did something bad you got scared and ran away. Wasn't this supposed to be your chance to stand next to him? The boy back there just lost his father. He is so young but he has to take the burden of the pack in his shoulder and soon he will have to go a very humiliating interrogation by the council. He is ready to collapse but you, the man who said that wanted to be by his side just ran away, resting under a tree. Also, you stink." He said and everyone looked at him wide eyed. 

"I…I don't know how to face him." Alexander confessed. "I feel so guilty."

"Want me to cut your hand off? That's what Allias did" Ares said and Ea elbowed him in the ribs, making him fall to the ground. "We are getting a divorce! This is domestic violence!" he shouted and Ea actually kicked him slightly. 

"Can I divorce you for being stupid?" he asked. 

"Shut it. Both of you." Theseus said, glaring at them before returning to look at Alexander. "There is no how, if you keep thinking about it you will never do it. Fixing yourself won't be easy. You need to learn to exist with this power or else you will lose everything. The more you run away, the more it will haunt you. The regret and pain of killing someone never goes away, but you do learn to live with it too." Theseus said and extended his hand. "Luke needs you and you need him too. So do me a favor and let's get out of this forest." He said. For a second Alexander hesitated. 

He was divided between his heart and mind. Should he really return? As what? What if he made things worse? What if he exploded again and hurt someone he cared about this time? The council would be here, if he exposed himself he would make things even harder for Luke. But Theseus was right. He needed him, Alexander chose this so he could be proudly by his side, he could not turn back now. He had taken a huge leap, canceling it was not an option. The boy took Theseus hand and stood up, the king smiling relieved. 

"Finally! I need a bath." Ares said and walked back in a hurry. 

"You are always out of context!" Ea shouted at him. 

What would happen now, only time would show. Alexander was still hoping for a happy ending, for a way to make Luke smile. He had to fight for that.