8 Consciousness

Gavrill's POV

I watched Alistair as he sat at his desk, his body sagged and the bags under his eyes darkened by the day.

The attack happened almost three fortnights ago but shortly after escaping, he began to become a hollow shell of his former self especially after his episode that caused some of the pack to brand their alpha as mad.

Leaning back against the wall, I looked over to Alistair's three in command along with Haaken, Khinn, Herlief and the now healed Evenora who looked almost as bleak.

**Flashback**

"Alpha, after searching the troops, it was confirmed that there was indeed two separate caravans and Noir was transferred to Stonehenge Keep, West of King Garrick's main Kingdom, the Kingdom of Betanid," Nebo said, shifting with unease under Alistair's gaze.

"What does that mean," Alistair said, his voice to low for anyone's liking.

Looking to one another, I sighed but before I could respond in Nebo's stead, Alistair shot up and yelled, his aura definitely suffocating to those not equal to his status, around him.

"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR NOIR?"

When no one answered, I spoke.

"Bróðir...," I began, "Stonehenge Keep is meant to torture and to demoralize those that the Kingdom of Betanid bypasses in the sense of "divine retribution"... it's for extreme criminals or those they deem unfit for regular punishment..."

When Alistair heard this, he didn't say anything as he straightened himself, turned and left but he didn't even get to the packhouse before he dropped writhing in pain.

The main bulk of us that followed immediately stopped and rushed to his aide.

"Get Eira and have her bring Ama," Nebo shouted.

"Get Thyra and Macario," Cuyler demanded.

"Get him to the apothecary," Valenner said, his voice riddled with emotion yet he tried not showing it.

In a simple movement, I dropped and picked up my brother, putting him on my back as I turned to look to Herlief and Evenora who were emotionless aside from avoiding eye contact before I moved towards the apothecary.

Days following that, Alistair fell into fits of rage as he destroyed his room, clawed at his neck along with his face and was screaming utter nonsense.

Sighing, I pressed my back against the door.

"What is the matter with Alpha," Cuyler asked with crossed arms and leaning on the wall adjacent to me.

"He keeps clawing at his neck screaming that Noir is dead and staring at himself in the mirror, claiming his mark has vanished and he can no longer feel the bond but I personally see his mark," Nebo finally spoke, unease evident in his voice.

Cuyler pondered on this for a moment.

It's true... he was under the impression his mate died. He was feeling the effects ten fold due to his status as well as hers but his mark was still there but it seemed only he was blinded by it.

Sighing, Cuyler stood straight and looked at me. "I would ask your witch."

Evenora.

Leaving Alistair to Nebo and Valenner, I stormed off to find the witch only to be met with more troubling news.

I was greeted by the duo before I even noticed them, halting me in my tracks and immediately crossing my arms.

"Alpha, pl—."

"Save it, Herlief," I growled, looking at the witch. "SPEAK!"

I had never seen the witch show any solid emotion within my presence, let alone the presence of others but she very visibly flenched at my words.

"Alpha...," she began, "I... what is it that you want to know...?"

"Why is my brother, your actual alpha, acting in such a manner? Why is he delusional and seething in anger and hurt," I questioned, grinding my teeth.

"Alpha Gavrill..," the witch began but before she could even finish that sentence, I backed her up against a stone wall and slammed my fists down, caging her in.

"ANSWER ME," I snapped.

"There is a possibly t—that she died but also, if Olufemi is in alliance with Calder, an illusion spell could of been casted... if that is indeed the case, our alpha will feel certain things... along with feeling the absence of his Gods appointed partner...," she finished.

When I didn't say anything, I kept my position but looked to Herlief who wouldn't meet my gaze. When I hit the wall again and Evenora whimpered, Herlief spoke up.

"Alpha... don't be mad at Eve, she did what she could at the time to save the alph—."

He was cut off when I turned on him, rendering him the same fate as the witch.

"The ALPHA is my brother and the one missing is his mate, your Luna, Noir. Regardless of my rank, I am below Alistair. WHAT DO YOU TWO KNOW," I boomed.

When they shared a glance to one another, it was Evenora who caved.

"From what I can see, Alpha, is there was a spell that was done, to torture both but condemn one... it is made to torture one and continually torture the other... but the one to break is the one of higher and more influential power... the other is just collateral damage..."

By the end of her speech, I stumbled back.

**End of Flashback**

Looking back to Alistair, there was no way I could explain it to him and he understand or begin to fathom in his state.

He has already killed three servants, a nursemaid, Noir's lady-in-waiting, a messenger and seven warriors. If I told him him he was under an illusion or any kind of spell for that matter, he may snap further.

I need him to calm down before I tell him the news and I wanted to investigate it further in case the information was illegitimate.

Breaking me from my thoughts, Khinn and Haaken both pushed themselves off of the surface they were leaning on and approached me, both with intent to kill evident in their gaze.

"Come with me, boy," Haaken said as he walked past me and out the door.

Following him was Khinn, who didn't say a word but walked behind Haaken.

Sighing, I nodded to the others and to Alistair who stayed stationary in his spot before following suit.

I hadn't shared the news with anyone in case the chances of it possibly hindering further information only to be met with a fist.

Taking me by surprise, I fell back only to be approached by Haaken.

"What do you know and don't say you don't because I know you're in alliance with that wolf who had abandoned his own pack to come here and the witch that killed an entire coven with a simple incantation. Now, YOUR Alpha... YOUR own brother is being drove to the brink of insanity and possibly Skelmar while Noir... RÚNA... MY DAUGHTER, is missing. So speak up, boy," Haaken all but growled in my face, partially shifting.

Before I could answer, Khinn was at his side in the same shape before he too pulled me so close, our foreheads were touching.

It was then I realized he was crying but his tears didn't match his anger as he stared at me.

"Everyone here knows how you feel about Noir or at least how Eskil does. If you won't answer for our sakes, answer for his," he snarled before dropping me.

I could of fought back but I didn't.

They're right.

Haaken.

Khinn.

They're not wrong. They were both correct in their conviction of knowledge.

After a moment of thinking it over, I stood and told them everything I knew so far and when I was done, both looked at each other, growled in frustration, shifted and howled causing an uprising from the house which also caught Alistair's attention.

When everyone burst through the packhouse, Alistair looked at me and then all hell broke loose.

Fortnight - 2 weeks per labeling