Where is Adrian Bianco?

Vermin

When I was informed that we were finally going to attack the bluewinters, I knew the time had come that I would see Yeneffer again. I had waited for years, knowing this day would finally come. All the other packs had been destroyed, scattered into tiny fragments across the face of the earth. The Bluewinter pack was the last one standing, no allies. It was time for it to go down too.

In the battlefield, I tore down their men into shreds. My wolf was a kind they had never seen before. The serum invented by the pack doctor was quite a wonder. With the extra power it gave me, each wolf in my path went down in total annihilation. I announced myself to the bluewinters again, not as the boy whom they all tried to murder eight years ago, but as a man who had come with the sword of brutal justice.

I was happy for a while, then everything changed in the blink of an eye when I beheld her from afar. Yeneffer Bianco, the reason I had been filled with hate for eight years. I thought we would clash in battle but she was running away with her sister, eloping from the field of battle like a coward. Not what I had expected.

"Hey Oliver! Destroy that safehouse!" I mind linked with the commander of our air force. In another moment, the giant building had been reduced to sand. But Yeneffer and her sister kept running, this time into the woods.

"Where are you going?" My beta asked me as I jumped in their chase.

"Going for a little reunion."

In the woods, I followed quietly. The way she ran, it was obvious she didn't have her wolf yet. They would soon run out of energy. When they finally did, I watched and listened from my spot, a good distance away. Yeneffer had only grown taller, but her facial features remained the same. Her hair was no longer as black as it used to be, but in a way, she was just like that same little girl whom I used to know.

When she saw me, I chased after them and boy did I capture her? The fear in her eyes as she shivered before me. It was a bit satisfying. When I turned human, she recognised me immediately. For some reason, it felt good and I even considered freeing her.

But then she said, "Please Vermino, let me go. My sister needs me. She can't be out there on her own."

Arrogant girl! She still did think I was that little boy she used to boss around. That simp who would do anything at her behest and request. I was no longer that weakling, I had to let her know.

Choking her was supposed to be a pleasure, but I felt bad doing it. The pain in her eyes, I couldn't ignore. Yet I had to show no mercy.

"I belong to the great Sunfyre pack, the only true pack of werewolves. And you are my prisoner. I will take you back to father and you shall serve as one of our slaves just like all weak girls like you."

Then some of my men arrived.

"Master, the alpha wants you back. He has sent out men to find you. We have exterminated the members of the Bluewinter pack, including their alpha. Our mission is complete."

"What about Adrian Bianco?"

"Dead. Killed by the alpha himself."

I watched her eyes fill up with water. As she fell on her knees, I managed a frown. I had intended to make sure the Biancos survived. But maybe it was better if Adrian died. My father would torture him for the rest of his life if he didn't.

"Take her and bind her. We are going back." I commanded.

The servants kicked her, pulling her hair violently. It raised a fury in me that I struggled to contain. I felt like strangling them to death, but why would I do that? She was supposed to be the enemy.

She stopped midway, facing me with that poisonous glare which I hadn't seen since the last day we both saw each other.

"You will regret this, Vermino. I will have my revenge".

As they went away, I heard a voice behind me.

"Are you already regretting it? Capturing her?"

It was Darius, my beta. I didn't notice he was present too.

"No." I scowled. "It's just that... They don't have to treat her like that..."

"But that's the same way we treat every prisoner." He reminded me, wearing that sheepish smile as he handed me a pair of trousers.

He had a point. Yeneffer was no different from all the others. But I still could not shake off the feeling.

"You know, you should have just let her escape with her sister instead of letting her know you are alive. Now that she is captured, you have to face her every time, knowing she thinks you are a monster."

"Am I not?" I faced him before bending to wear the clothes he brought. He had no answer.

The memories in my head were awry and dreadful. The things I had done in the past few years. Evil things, dark and gory. All to prove myself to father. I was the devil himself.

As we returned to the battle ground where father was waiting for us, I could feel Darius stealing glances at me.

"What is it?" I knew he wanted to say something.

"You know, Vermin, your father already chose you to succeed him as alpha, but that can still change. Your brother is not the type to give up easily, if he finds out about this girl... He must not find out about her."

"Sure. That's why she's going to the Slave Island." I acted unbothered but I knew Darius was right. Yeneffer might end up being my weakness. But I believed I had no weakness. I was strong and cold just like father. She couldn't be my weakness.

When we appeared before the pack leaders, cheers of victory welcomed us. Father was seated at the far end of the place which used to be the meeting room of the bluewinters. The pack leaders spread out on his left and right sides, forming a semi circle while the young wolves stood behind them. There was blood and bones in the soil, but only Sunfyres stood above them.

"Where have you been?" Asked Malcolm, standing proudly by father's right side. He was my brother, my biggest rival in the entire world.

"I dealt with a few runaways." I responded as silence returned to the environment.

"That is duty for the lowly wolves, not the heir to the alpha." Malcolm scoffed.

A little eruption of laughter from among the pack members. Then silence returned as father's fingers twerked just a little. But not for long.

"My alpha! My alpha!" A young wolf came running. "We have a problem!"

He fell on his knees.

"Speak!"

"The corpses of the bluewinter pack leaders... One of the corpses is missing!"

A shock wave cut across us all. Everyone murmured in disbelief. Malcolm came forward and slammed his staff on the ground.

"Which of them?" He demanded.

"Adrian Bianco."

The murmurs grew even louder. How did this happen? The alpha had killed Adrian Bianco himself. How could he survive Alpha Denver's strike. He was just a beta.

I could see the fury in father's eyes already, he despised failure so much when it came from his subjects. How more from himself?

"Vermin! Find that son of a bastard, he can't have gone far. And when you find him, bring him to me. Alive!"

He rose up at once, followed by his council of pack leaders, and we all bowed in respect.

"Yes father." I responded, noticing the displeasure on Malcolm's face.