Chapter 2

As the carriage rolled into the palace, I could already see someone waiting at the entrance for me. Someone I told earlier to go home, rest and….mourn.

My would-have-been-brother in law, Asher.

  "Alpha…" his voice cracked as he stood before me. His face reminding me so much of his sister. I didn't know what to say or offer condolences. We have both lost something.

 "It was Riverton," I said and saw his brows raise before settling into a frown.

 "Johan did this?" He said, his breath becoming heavier as his eyes constantly shifted from his to his wolf's. "Johan murdered my sister?!"

 "Calm down, Asher—" Demitri tried to say but was instantly stopped by Asher.

  "Calm down? Are you fucking serious Demitri?" His anger was elevating as he took hard steps towards Demitri who didn't flinch for a second, "My sister just got murdered and you're telling to calm down?? Are you—"

  "Enough." I said. This wasn't the time for arguments at all.

Asher sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair, taking deep and unsteady breaths. Demitri on the other hand just stood there like some nonchalant statue.

   "We have to make them pay" Asher said, the rage evident in his voice. I nodded and he walked towards me, his gaze steady, then he slowly went on one knee and bowed his head "Please Alpha.. I need you to swear to me that you will avenge Kya," he said, "that you will avenge my sister and your mate."

I put a hand on his shoulder and beckoned for him to get up, "I already swore to her spirit that I will." I said to him, "We will wage war on Riverton, we will burn the land to the ground and spill the blood of it's inhabitants, OverCrest will show the full force of it's wrath and I will have Johan's head."

Asher took a deep breath and nodded. With one look around, I walked inside closely followed by Demitri.

As the Alpha of my pack, I know my responsibility to protect my people from every and all possible threats and Riverton is that threat.

I still don't understand why my father and his fathers before him never once thought of destroying Riverton or having that ultimate war like I'm planning, to decide its fate.

OverCrest is not in any way weak, in fact it is one of the strongest packs in the east, so why is Riverton still in existence? Did they have that thought that perhaps, peace could resolve anything?

I took a deep breath as I tried to focus. I still remember the day Kya died, actually the day she was brought in.

A loud cry was heard throughout OverCrest. Kya Adams, the late Beta's daughter, was gone. Murdered.  The pain of losing her is something I'm not sure will go away any time soon, and I know that I cannot rest until I have avenged her death.

That is why I am currently sitting in my war room, planning our attack on Riverton. I am joined by  Demitri, my right hand man, and lieutenant Ozii, the commander of the third battalion and who is as loyal as they come. We are going over every detail of the attack, making sure that we have covered all possible contingencies.

As we go over the plans, I can feel the anger building inside me. I know that this attack will not bring my mate back, but it will give me a sense of closure. Johan needs to pay for what he did, and I will make sure that he does.

"Alpha Adrian, are you okay?" Demitri asks, noticing the anger on my face.

"I'm fine," I replied, trying to control my emotions. "Are your men ready?" I asked as we concluded.

He turned to look at his lieutenant, his sharp grey eyes staring closely.

 "Yes, the men are ready Milord." The man responded smartly.

 "The archers?" Demitri asked.

  "Yes, Sire. They're all ready and the cavalry too—"

   "That won't be needed." I said as I stood up and walked over to the window of my nicely decorated and furnished war room. Maps and coordinates pinned to the walls, axes, spears all of them arranged nearly as well. And a round table for the planning, the same table where the final touches to our plan was made.

  "The Cavalry wouldn't be needed, Milord?"

  "No. We are not going for a fancy war, we are attacking and horses will slow us down." I turned to them, "I need the men ready to shift immediately. I need this whole affiar rough and bloody"

 They understood what I meant and nodded, before Ozii bowed and left.

"I don't think there's any saving Riverton from me, Demitri." I said.

"I understand," Demitri responded, standing up and standing beside me. "We just need to stay focused on the task at hand. We can't afford to make any mistakes."

He is right, of course. We are planning an attack on a rival kingdom, and any mistake could cost us dearly. I take a deep breath, trying to push my anger aside, and focus on the planning.