Wolf of Stone novel Chapter 15

I nodded my head in understanding. I would've probably done the same thing as well.

"My Uncle and his mate were banished from our pack, which was a light punishment in my opinion but Dexter didn't see it that way. I guess us pushing him away was the driving factor that caused him to snap. He used Tianna to create an army for himself... hellhounds."

My eyes widened in disbelief as my mouth dropped open, "hellhounds!? Like the ones that were created by Hades? God of the Underworld?"

Axil nodded gravely, his eyes flashing with pain briefly before he willed it away.

I've read this in an old history book when I was about nine years old, I think. Wolves were basically the living version of a hellhound. When a wolf dies, their soul is sent to the underworld. Hades saw the potential in their souls and created his own version, which he called hellhounds.

Witches were basically the balance between life and death, the gatekeeper between portals and the link between good and evil. If a witch was powerful enough, she could manage to open a portal from our world into the underworld... but that was some serious black magic type shit. It was strictly forbidden because of the effect it left on the soul, turning the witch who cast the spell completely evil to the core. I shuddered just thinking of it...

Was she out of her mind!?

"Not only did she summon a bunch of hellhounds as their puppets, she summoned the demon of stone and venom, Medusa."

"Holy mother of all things crazy," I breathed, positive that my eyes couldn't get any larger. "Medusa!? The Medusa!?"

"That was one powerful witch," I acknowledged.

Axil grimaced, "sadly she was. We thought we could win the battle at first but when Medusa appeared, it all went downhill for us. All of our allying packs turned their backs on us, and we had no witches in our corner to fight for us. We were truly defenceless."

Sympathy churned in my stomach as I gazed at his helpless eyes. None of this was his fault. Witches who chose the path of ruin were unstable and dangerous. As wolves, they had no idea what they were dealing with.

"I'm so sorry for what you've been through," I sincerely apologized.

A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head, "the most agonizing part of it all is knowing that my people are out there right now, trapped and suffering beneath stone while I'm out here free and helpless."

"You're not helpless. You're doing the best you can in a situation like this. Besides... you managed to find a witch, didn't you? I'll find a way to free your people, I promise," the words left my mouth before I could think them through and I cringed, mentally scolding myself for making a promise I wasn't sure I could keep.

Axil watched me closely, peering at the inner turmoil that was raging in me. He said two simple words that managed to warm themselves around my heart and strengthen my resolve to help as best as I could.

Axil nodded and watched me as I left, causing my stomach to twist in knots at his searching gaze. Why was he always staring at me?

As soon as I reached out to open the door, it opened on itself, a pile of bags immediately being shoved into my face as Liza struggled through the door with them.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed, quickly taking a few bags from her to ease the weight, "you could've just called me for help y'know," I muttered as her face finally came into view.

Liza rolled her eyes, "I can handle a few bags Ms. Witch."

I raised an eyebrow at her and could literally sense the tension that was lingering in the air. I mentally sighed. Liza wasn't over my keeping this secret from her, not that I was surprised really... but still, I knew for a fact that she was dying to get me alone with her to speak her mind.

Which means that I had to avoid being alone with her for as long as I could!

"Axil is waiting in the living room, let's go," I said, leading her into the house and back to Axil.

Liza beamed at him when she saw him, "Alright, wolf boy! It's time for your makeover! I'm guessing Ezzy already got you settled in so I'm about to get you blended in."