Lucy appeared beside Darren who was now seated under the canopy of a tree. A dark miasma could be seen oozing off him. The dark vein-like line had covered most of him, it had climbed to his face as if threatening to swallow him whole. He had his eyes shut and his countenance surprisingly very peaceful. This was unexpected but it was also very unsettling. It felt like the calm before the storm.

"Alpha," Lucy walked two steps to where he sat to close the little distance but with much caution. She didn’t know what he would do if she unexpectedly provoked him. Mateo and Levi had also put some distance between themselves and Darren just a bit closer than those behind them to serve as a shield should the Alpha suddenly attack them.

"Alpha, can I have a look?" Lucy said, her voice is soft and mild, being careful not to do or say anything that just might result in an unwanted outcome. "Luna sent me here to make sure that you are alright," she said vioung this would have him open his eyes so she would know what he was hiding behind those eyelids.

Just as expected, he gave a reaction but he still did not open his eyes. He just cocked his head to the side as if trying to hear her clearer.

"Be careful Lucy," Levi said when she reached her hand to touch Darren’s shoulder. Being so close with a beast that has lost control was not advisable for anyone.

"Don’t," Mateo held him shoulder, stopping Levi from taking another step forward. "Trust her. We have other things to worry about," he looked in the direction of the pack, right now it was nothing but a burning rubble. Jared was approaching them and he was close, taking reckless actions now would cost a lot more than necessary. "I do feel another presence nearby, so be more careful from here on," their aloha was not the only one whom they needed to be wary of, two more threats were coming and it wouldn’t be long before the caught up to them.

"But Alpha... we can’t leave him. Those coming..." Levi paused when Mateo smiled and let go of his shoulder

"I know. I am fully aware that they at here for him," Mateo replied. Anyone who saw the Alpha now would think that he was in a vulnerable state and would want to take the opportunity to attack him but they were wrong, he was calm and silent but if they would just listen a bit further beyond the sound of his heartbeat, then they would know. He was like beast waiting for the right moment to attack.

"We are here if you are worried about the Alpha," Leo said ad he he and Logan came to stand beside them.

"It is too late to hide now and I am tired of it. We would have attacked the humans before now but here we are," Logan gritten teeth and clenched his hands. He had been feeling weird tonight especially as the humans drew nearer, he didn’t know what it was but he wanted to go there and see for himself but his sense if reason had stopped him from doing so. What if he goes there and dies before he was able to do anything?

"Fine, but what about you?" Levi stopped dragging the matter. He looks at Mateo with concern in his eyes. His brother looked better than perfect tonight and it worried him almost as much as Darren’s calmness. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I am fine, don’t worry, Ezra was right, so I took his advise. I will focus on the now. If she was meant to be with me she would have been here and she wouldn’t have tried to take Luna’s life or mine," he shut his eyes as she said that. Drawing a deep breath he opened his eyes again and smiled, "So don’t worry, I am myself tonight."

"Lucy..." Darren spoke and that drew all of their attention to him.

"Yes, Alpha..." Lucy looked on alert. He had called her name but he was still the same. His head still bowed to the ground and his eyes still shut but something different could be felt as well.

"Your hand, take it off," he said, referring to the hand she had placed in his shoulder, taking advantage of that to try using her magic on him and sooth him if possible but he knew it was useless. "Find Kora and tell her I said she should stay away from goddess tonight," he raised his head and opened his eyes, they were as dark as the tattoos that had covered his body. "Go now," he instructed.

Lucy was too stunned to move when she saw him like that. His words also caught her off guard because she knew Kora did not tell him anything about it. "How...?"

The words were swallowed up when he suddenly pulled her towards himself and she slammed against his chest and then she heard the sound of a gunshot and something flew just by her ear at an unimaginable speed. It did not take long before she smelt blood, his blood but he did not flinch.

"Alpha," she placed a trembling hand on the spot that was shot. "Let me take care of this..." he pulled her hand away and dug his claws into the side if his breast and pulled the bullet out. The bleeding stopped immediately it was out and thrown away.

"Everyone should get ready for an attack," Darren stood up and said to everyone. He gave a glance at Lucy who was still too stunned to even stand on her own.

"....There is a witch here, Alpha, allow me to stay and help. I promised Luna that I will take care of you," Lucy said after getting back her composure. But his gaze remained on her which had her feeling uncomfortable but could not bring herself to ask him to look away.