Chapter 4 : The First Sacrifice

Two days. That''s what Duncan had said.

Two days until the hunters arrived.

Alan watched Lucas train. Harder than ever. Faster. More desperate.

The morning sun cast long shadows across the training field. Lucas moved through combat forms. Fluid. Deadly. But his eyes held fear.

"Enough," Alan called. "You''ll exhaust yourself."

Lucas didn''t stop. "Not enough. Never enough."

He attacked a practice dummy. Wood splintered. Straw scattered.

Alan approached. Placed a hand on his shoulder. "Lucas."

Lucas turned. Golden eyes wild. Breathing hard. "They''re coming. With silver. For me."

"For the sacrifice," Alan said. Voice calm. The special tone.

Lucas nodded. "My father''s gift to his new allies. His bastard son. The perfect offering."

James joined them on the field. Face grim. "We have a plan."

Alan looked at him. "What plan?"

"Lucas surrenders," James said. "Voluntarily. To me. I take him to London. To the werewolf council."

Lucas''s breath caught. "The council? They''ll..."

"They''ll exile you," James said. "Three years. Standard punishment for a young werewolf who can''t control his nature."

Alan stepped between them. "No. We fight. We run. We hide."

"Where?" James asked. "They know the Highlands now. They have descriptions. Silver weapons. They won''t stop."

Lucas looked at Alan. "He''s right. There''s nowhere to hide. Not anymore."

Sacrifice. Always sacrifice. My mother. Now me. But this time... my choice. To protect him. To save him.

Lucas met Alan''s gaze. "I''ll go."

"No," Alan said. Sharp. "We find another way."

"There is no other way," Lucas said. "If I go voluntarily, the council might be lenient. Three years exile. Not death."

James nodded. "The council has rules. Procedures. Your father''s political games... they might not work there."

"But if they catch you hunting me," Lucas said to Alan. "If they find you protecting me... they''ll kill you. Human protecting a werewolf? Against the law."

Alan''s jaw tightened. "I don''t care about their laws."

"I do," Lucas said. Soft. "I care about you."

The sound came from the woods. Not one horse. Several.

Too early. Not two days. One.

James cursed. "They pushed hard."

Lucas moved. Fast. Grabbed Alan''s arm. Pulled him toward the manor. "Inside. Now."

They ran. Across the field. Through the garden.

Horses emerged from the trees. Four riders. Dark clothes. Silver glinting at belts.

One called out. "Lucas Blackwood! By order of the werewolf council!"

Lucas didn''t stop. Pushed Alan through the kitchen door. Slammed it shut.

Inside. Panting. Heart pounding.

James barred the door. "They can''t enter without permission. Not a human dwelling."

Alan looked at Lucas. "The council? They''re here already?"

"Not the full council," James said. "Enforcers. Hunters with authority."

A heavy knock at the front door. "James Blackwood! Open in the name of the council!"

James looked at them. "Stay here. Don''t come out."

He left. Went to the front hall.

Alan and Lucas listened from the kitchen. Voices. Harsh. Demanding.

"...warrant for the arrest of Lucas Blackwood. Charge: uncontrolled transformations endangering humans."

James''s voice, calm. "He''s under my protection. I''ll bring him to London myself."

"Orders are to take him now. The French delegation arrives tomorrow. The sacrifice must be prepared."

Lucas''s hand found Alan''s. Squeezed. "They want me for the ritual. Tomorrow."

Alan squeezed back. "We run. Now. Out the back."

"Where?" Lucas whispered. "They have horses. They''ll track us."

"Then we fight," Alan said.

Lucas shook his head. "No. I go. But... I need to do it my way."

He pulled Alan closer. Looked into his eyes. "Trust me."

Alan saw it. The determination. The plan forming. "What are you going to do?"

"Protect you," Lucas said. "The only way I can."

Lucas released Alan''s hand. Stepped into the hall.

Alan tried to pull him back. Too late.

Lucas walked toward the front door. Stood tall. Fifteen years old but looking older. Alpha power radiating.

"I am Lucas Blackwood," he said. Voice carrying. "I surrender to the council''s authority."

The hunters turned. Four men. Hard faces. Silver chains in hands.

One stepped forward. "Lucas Blackwood, you are charged with uncontrolled transformations endangering human life. Do you submit to council judgment?"

"I do," Lucas said. "But I have conditions."

The hunter laughed. "You''re in no position to make conditions."

"I am," Lucas said. "Because if you don''t agree, I''ll fight. And some of you will die."

Silence. The hunters exchanged looks.

"What conditions?" the lead hunter asked.

"First," Lucas said. "Alan Miller is innocent. He knew nothing of my nature. I compelled him to help me. Used my Alpha power."

Alan stepped forward. "That''s not true—"

"Silence!" Lucas snapped. Alpha command in his voice. "You will not speak for me."

Alan felt it. The compulsion. Not strong. But enough to make him hesitate.

Lucas continued. "Second. You leave this place. Now. No searching. No questioning. Alan Miller is a victim, not an accomplice."

The hunter studied him. "And third?"

"Third," Lucas said. "I go voluntarily. No chains. No silver. I am a Blackwood. I will not be treated like a common criminal."

James spoke. "He''s right. He''s nobility. Even as a bastard. The council respects bloodlines."

The hunter considered. Nodded. "Agreed. But any resistance, any attempt to escape..."

"I understand," Lucas said.

The hunters stepped back. Waited outside.

James looked at Lucas. "Three years exile. Standard punishment. You''ll survive."

Lucas nodded. "I know."

He turned to Alan. "I need to pack. A few things."

Alan followed him upstairs. To Lucas''s room.

Lucas didn''t pack. Just stood by the window. Watching the hunters below.

Alan closed the door. "You didn''t compel me. You never did."

Lucas turned. Golden eyes bright. "I know. But they need to believe it. To protect you."

"Why?" Alan asked. Voice breaking. "Why sacrifice yourself?"

"Because you would do the same for me," Lucas said. Simple. True.

Alan crossed the room. Stood before Lucas. "There has to be another way."

"There isn''t," Lucas said. "This is the only way you live."

He reached out. Touched Alan''s face. Fingers trembling. "Three years. It''s not forever."

"It feels like forever," Alan whispered.

Lucas leaned in. Hesitated. Then pressed his lips to Alan''s.

Soft. Tentative. A boy''s first kiss. But filled with everything. Fear. Love. Sacrifice. Promise.

Alan kissed back. Hands coming up to cup Lucas''s face. Holding him. Memorizing him.

The kiss deepened. Desperate. Hungry. Three years of growing love compressed into one moment.

Then Lucas pulled away. Breathing hard. Golden eyes wet. "I have to go."

Downstairs. The hunters waiting.

Lucas carried a small bag. Nothing more.

He looked at James. "Thank you, Uncle. For everything."

James nodded. "I''ll visit. In exile. Bring news."

Then Lucas looked at Alan. Last look. "Remember me."

"I will," Alan said. Voice steady. "Every day."

Lucas turned. Walked to the door. Stopped. Looked back one more time.

Then he was gone. Out the door. Into the sunlight.

The hunters surrounded him. But no chains. No silver. Just escort.

They mounted horses. Lucas on one. Looking straight ahead.

Alan watched from the window. Heart breaking.

He''s gone. Sacrificed himself. For me. The boy I saved. The wolf I loved. Gone.

James placed a hand on Alan''s shoulder. "He''ll survive. He''s strong."

"Three years," Alan whispered. "What will they do to him?"

"Exile," James said. "To a remote territory. Other exiled werewolves. Hard life. But life."

Alan watched the horses disappear into the trees. "I should have stopped him."

"You couldn''t," James said. "It was his choice. His sacrifice. Respect it."

They sat in the library. Fire burning. But the room felt empty.

"What now?" Alan asked.

"Now we wait," James said. "Three years. Then he can return. If he survives."

"If?" Alan''s voice sharp.

"Exile is dangerous," James said. "Territory disputes. Rogue werewolves. Harsh conditions. Not all survive."

Alan stood. Paced. "Then I''ll go to him. Find him."

"You can''t," James said. "Exile territory is secret. Council knowledge only. Even I don''t know where they send them."

"So I just... wait?" Alan''s voice broke.

James looked at him. Sympathy in his eyes. "Yes. You wait. And you live. Because that''s what he sacrificed for. Your life."

That night. Alan couldn''t sleep.

Went to Lucas''s room. Empty bed. Empty room.

The scent of him still there. Wolf. Boy. Lucas.

Alan sat on the bed. Remembered the kiss. The feel of Lucas''s lips. The taste.

Three years. A lifetime.

He lay down on Lucas''s pillow. Breathed in his scent.

Tears came. Silent. For the boy sacrificed. For the love lost.

For the first time in three years, Alan felt truly alone.

Dawn. Alan stood at the training field.

Where Lucas had trained. Where they had worked together.

James found him there. "What are you doing?"

"Training," Alan said. "Learning."

"Learning what?"

"Everything," Alan said. "About werewolves. About the council. About politics. About how to get him back."

James studied him. "It won''t be easy."

"I don''t care," Alan said. "He gave up three years for me. I''ll give up everything to get him back."

Over breakfast. James explained.

"The werewolf council," he said. "Seven elders. Representing the major families. My brother is one. That''s why he could arrange this."

"Arrange what?" Alan asked.

"The sacrifice demand," James said. "The French pack wants proof of loyalty. My brother offers his bastard son. The council approves because... well, Lucas is a problem. An uncontrolled Alpha. Dangerous."

"But he was learning control," Alan said.

"Not fast enough for them," James said. "And the political timing... perfect. My brother looks strong. Eliminates a threat. Pleases his new allies."

Alan''s fist clenched. "So it''s all politics."

"Always," James said. "Werewolf society is politics. Power. Alliances. Sacrifices."

A week later. Another rider.

Not Duncan. A stranger. Young. Nervous.

"Message for Alan Miller," the rider said. Handed over a letter.

Alan opened it. Recognized the handwriting. Lucas''s.

Alan,

I''m safe. For now. The exile territory is... harsh. But I''m alive. The other exiles are wary of me. A Blackwood. An Alpha. But I''m learning.

Don''t try to find me. It''s too dangerous. The council watches.

Wait for me. Three years. I''ll come back to you.

Remember our kiss. I do. Every day.

Lucas

Alan read it three times. Then looked at the rider. "How did you get this?"

"The exile network," the rider said. "Messages sometimes get through. For a price."

"What price?" Alan asked.

"Information," the rider said. "About you. About James Blackwood. About... weaknesses."

Alan''s blood ran cold. "You''re a spy."

The rider nodded. "For the council. They want to know if you''re a threat. If you''ll try to rescue him."

"And what will you tell them?" Alan asked.

The rider smiled. "That you''re broken. Grieving. No threat at all."

He mounted his horse. Rode away.

They think I''m broken. They think I''ll wait. They''re wrong.

Alan went to James. Showed him the letter.

James read it. "He''s alive. That''s good."

"And they''re watching me," Alan said. "The council. Spies."

"Of course," James said. "They want to make sure you don''t cause trouble."

Alan looked at the letter. At Lucas''s words. Wait for me.

"I won''t wait," Alan said. "I''ll prepare."

"Prepare for what?" James asked.

"For when he returns," Alan said. "Three years. I''ll learn everything. About werewolf politics. About the council. About how to protect him. Really protect him."

James nodded. "I''ll teach you. What I know."

Three years. That''s what they had given him.

Three years to become someone who could protect Lucas. Really protect him.

Not just from physical threats. From political ones. From family ones. From the entire werewolf world that wanted him dead.

Alan stood at Lucas''s window. Looked out at the Highlands.

Somewhere out there. Lucas was surviving. In exile. In danger.

And here. Alan would prepare. Would learn. Would become strong.

For the day Lucas returned.

For the day they would face his family together.

For the day they would be free.

Three years. A countdown began.