The throne room was noisy, with everyone saying one thing or the other. Every elder was present, and they stood at both sides of the large hall, speaking words to one another as they waited to be addressed. The council meeting had come as a shock to all and no one knew what to expect as they stood in the throne room. Ever since the fight, there had not been a serious meeting so it was understandable why everyone was nervous.While the elders from the Blood-Moon pack occupied the right-hand side of the large hall, the elders from the Night Scars pack stood by the left-hand side. There was an air of hostility settling above them as some of the Blood-Moon elders glared at the Night Scars elders. While some were getting along really well, the rest weren't and as they stood in the throne room, waiting, some threw insults at one another. However, the noise died down when the door flew open and Aiden walked in, accompanied by Alpha Velvet, Kunata, and some other deltas from the Night Scar
"I totally agree with Elder Thunga." A voice said and all eyes turned to him. It was Salutary Jimoh, the head salutary Jared had imprisoned for no reason. He had been released after the Night Scars pack took over, so of course, he supported Alpha Velvet and Aiden. Why wouldn't he?"Jared was a bad Alpha. He treated us like slaves. He imprisoned me for no reason and tortured me just because of his insecurity. I'm most grateful to you for showing up at this time. I would have lost my life if you didn't. I am indebted to you both." Salutary Jimoh bowed."Nonsense! Blasphemy! Is this how you speak of your alpha behind his back?" Another elder countered. He was the head of the scout group."Strangers invade your pack and here you all are, licking their anus like dogs? How much were you paid to do so?""You insult us by thinking we were paid," another elder retorted. "We should be asking you how much you were paid because no one in his right senses will support Jared after the hell we have
Jared was tensed. He was so tense that he could not sit down. He was at the training field, watching the Greystone warriors train rigorously as usual even when their Alpha Rio was yet to announce the day they were going to attack the Blood-Moon pack. The training field of the Greystone pack was just as big as that of the Blood-Moon pack and they had as many resources as the Blood Moon pack. The Greystone pack was just as mighty as the Blood Moon pack and this was one of the reasons Alpha Lundamous had accepted Rio's proposal and allowed him to take Adelia with him. His father had always told him that he didn't always have to fight or subdue everyone but could sometimes befriend mighty packs like these to live peacefully and become allies. Being enemies with the Greystone pack was definitely not a good idea — so his father had said and Jared was beginning to see how true that statement was. If he had not maintained his relationship with Rio even as alpha as the Blood-Moon pack the
Jamal and Andrew were surprised to see Aiden walking towards them and they exchanged confused glances before rising to their feet. "Oh, don't do that!" Aiden waved his hand at them, shaking his head vehemently as he approached them. "Sit down. You don't have to stand up for me." The two friends exchanged another puzzled look but they did as they were told and sat back on the steps they had been sitting on. They were at Andrew's house. Jamal had followed Andrew home to make sure he was okay because he started to feel nauseous during their gamma's training. He was about leaving but seeing Aiden walking up to them made him stop. It was a huge surprise to see Aiden there and both friends could not hide their shock. "You guys look like you've seen a ghost. Are you that surprised?" Aiden chuckled. "Well, it's not like you to show up so I think we have a justifiable reason to be surprised," Andrew replied in a low voice. He was trying really hard not to roll his eyes at Aiden. Wasn't
"Well, yes!" Aiden snapped too. He had been trying to pacify them but since they felt like they had something against him, then he should let them know that he wasn't completely happy with them. "Haven't you? Haven't you guys been making up shit about Calix just to make me doubt him? What's your point? Why are you backstabbing your friend?" "Backstabbing?" Both Jamal and Andrew shouted in shock. "What the fuck, man? Who is backstabbing who? Just because we told you the truth about Calix, you call us backstabbers?" Andrew yelled again. "You guys gave me that impression." Aiden shook his head, feeling a little bit remorseful for using that word. Maybe that wasn't the right word to use but he couldn't find a better word to qualify how they were behaving. "That's so uncalled for, Aiden! And I'm disappointed in you for saying that. We don't have anything against Calix. What we told you was nothing but the truth. I have no idea if Calix's reason for being the beta has changed but as o
Aiden found himself regretting ever coming to see Andrew and Jamal. If he had known their meeting would end up this way, he would never have come. He would have just stayed back at the training ground — watching the prowess of the warriors, was much better than dealing with some overgrown babies who felt like they owned him; like he had no right to choose other friends or enjoy other's company. He had never known the guys to be that possessive or clingy so it was all too surprising to see them act up this way. But should he even be surprised? A lot had changed in the pack. It felt like he was in a whole new world and there was a lot he was yet to discover. Every day unveiled a secret that left him in nothing but shock. It was as though he was on a treasure hunt, discovering new things he didn't know existed in the Blood-Moon pack. So should he really be surprised at his friends' behaviour when the truth was that he didn't know them anymore like he had thought he knew them? They ha
"I don't know what your problem is, Leah," Aiden sighed once again as he tossed the pouch back into his pocket, "You asked me to pay and now, you are not accepting my payment. Can you see how indecisive you are?" "You're the indecisive one, you fool! Just so you know, you might show up with shiny golden armour and force everyone to bow to you, but you can't stop anyone of us from seeing you for what you really are: a worthless wolf who is cursed by the goddess. That's what you are, Aiden, and that's who you will continue to be." "Leah!" Her mate looked so horrified, especially when he saw Aiden's brow furrowed in anger. He took a step back when Aiden took a step forward, but Leah remained in her position, trying to hold Aiden's gaze so he would not think she was scared of him. "I'm not in a good mood, Leah," Aiden's voice was low and grave, "so I'll advise you to watch what you say." "And if I don't?" She held her chin up. "I won't hesitate to treat you like those bunch traitors t
No one was meant to be in the throne room when the alpha was not there. Aiden could only go in because he was the mate of the alpha; he had the right to go in and out without being questioned. But Calix didn't have such a right so why was he in the throne room and why was he there alone? What had he come to do in there?So many questions were running through Aiden's head yet he could do nothing but gape at Calix who also had the same shocked expression on his face. It was as though he had not been expecting to see Aiden standing before him and Aiden wondered why."Em. . ." Calix cleared his throat as he struggled to get out of his shock. "I was just. . .I came to . . ." He stuttered but soon composed himself and cleared his throat again. "I came looking for you." He said in a much clearer tone and Aiden raised a brow at him."Why will you come here to look for me?""Because I couldn't find you anywhere else. You were not in the training field. I didn't know where you were.""I shoul
They were lying on their backs in each other's arms gazing at the dark sky which was decorated with beautiful stars and a half-moon. They had spread a mat on the grass and were lying quietly with a plate of fruit beside them. It had been Aiden's idea to do this. He had told Velvet that he wanted a quiet moment with her without anyone interfering and Velvet had suggested this. The Riverside was quiet; not a single soul could be seen except them. Aiden wanted it this way so he was not bothered. The quietness brought a soothing calmness to the couple and as they gazed at the sky, a smile settled on Aiden's face. Though Velvet could not see his face for she was lying sideways with her head on his chest, she felt him smile. "Why are you smiling?" She asked, amused. "I don't know," Aiden answered, now giggling. "Maybe I'm happy?" That brought a smile to Velvet's face and she turned to the side so she could look at his face. He was still smiling, his dimples appearing on both cheeks
Aiden froze, shock rushing down his spine like gushing water. For a moment, he was still, feeling nothing but numbness. But the numb feeling soon dissipated and an avalanche of emotion flooded in: Anger, pain, grief, pity and many more emotions he could not explain. He was angry at Alpha Lundamous for doing that to his father. He was pained that his father had to die that way; grieved because he didn't have a chance to grow up with his father; pity because he felt sorry for himself, his father, and his mother who were prey to Lundamous and his son.But he didn't express these emotions, rather he sat rigidly on the chair, looking at the wall,"Why are you just telling me this now?""What would you have done if I told you earlier?"That lone question broke the barricade that had besieged his emotion. He sparked."What sort of stupid question is that? I would have killed that motherfucking idiotic piece of shit with my bare hands. I wouldn't have allowed him die that way. I would have
They were sitting opposite each other, staring into each other's eyes as one waited for the other to speak. They were seated in the throne room, Elder Theodore sitting on one of the seats for the elders at the right-hand side while Aiden sat on the left, abandoning the throne. With this old man, he was not an alpha but a servant. This old man was the reason he was alive and every achievement of his was because this old man had saved him. So Aiden didn't want to sit on the throne and act as an alpha before him.Elder Theodore had changed so much. His hair was grey, not even a black strand could be seen. His face was wrinkled with folds crumpling and sagging his cheeks. His once fearful eyes were dull but piercing still, and his skin was pale, so pale and weak. His beard was whiter, fuller, and longer as though he belonged to the tribe of ancient India. The once slight stoop of his back was now more pronounced, making him look so short when he had been a tall man of 6'4. He had aged
And there he was, struggling to walk with the flowing white robe that seemed to drag as he walked. They finally arrived at the Great throne room and the guards that had escorted them began hitting the drum attached to the door to inform the council that the royalty was around.The council which consisted of the elder and the high-ranking deltas were already seated on their decorated stools made from silver with foams covered with silk. While the elders sat on the right side of the room, the deltas were seated on the left side.Following the beating of the drums, the council rose to their feet, their eyes on the door as they watched Aiden walk in with Alpha Velvet and the rest strolling behind.Despite his sour mood, Aiden could not help himself from marvelling at the beauty of the throne room as they walked slowly.The great throne room had been decorated with garlands of flowers and other decorations Aiden could not describe. He turned to Alpha Velvet and asked, "How did this all ha
Aiden didn't sleep well. He kept tossing about the bed, rolling from one side to the other and waking up Alpha Velvet in the process. He was restless and the dreams he was having were not helping issues too. They were all about Calix and all the dreams reminded him of all the happy times he enjoyed with this man while growing up. In one of the dreams, he had been sitting with Calix playing a board game while Jamal and Andrew argued about who would win. This had happened about ten years ago when they were only teenagers and Calix had ended up winning. Another dream was about them all sharing a plate of food prepared by his mother and they all talked happily, laughing and playing with one another.These dreams were torturous and they made Aiden very restless. Finally, he jumped out of the bed to stand by the window, and there he remained till daybreak, just staring into space from their big window which enabled them to see ongoing events around the pack house. It had been a day since
Alpha Velvet followed, her facial expression still stoic as she walked away without a glance back. Kunata followed finally, making sure to scoff aloud and jeer at them before leaving.Calix remained on the floor, watching them leave and walk away from his life forever. A lump had settled in his throat, such that it was difficult to swallow or even speak. All he could do was gape at them, his heart shattering with every step they took. Was this how it felt to be abandoned? Was this how it felt for people you loved to walk away from your life? So many questions were filling up his mind but before he could come up with answers, he felt himself being pulled to his feet and being dragged out, cold pair of hands holding onto him from both sides.Jared was being dragged too and his growls and threats resounded in the room. He was making empty threats, refusing to accept defeat when defeat was staring at him right in his face. Their downfall was so glaring.As they walked out of the dungeon
Kunata's frown deepened. It was clear he had been looking for an avenue to hit Calix and he took this as a cue."Are you calling me a liar, you piece of shit?" He advanced but Alpha Velvet held him back. She was looking at Aiden with a frown on her face. Andrew was watching Aiden too, but not with a frown but with an understanding. He understood why Aiden was being silent. He was speechless too.Never in his wildest thought did he think he would feel sorry for Calix but watching him cower in fear did something to his heart. As much as Andrew didn't want to admit this, he knew he couldn't deny it. He had been so sure he wanted Calix dead but now, he didn't know what he wanted anymore. He was suddenly in a dilemma. So yes, he understood Aiden's silence. He knew why Aiden was silent."Aiden! You're not talking to me!" Calix shouted, and then stood to his feet."I can't stay here anymore." Jamal dropped his hands in reckless abandon, as one would do when one was tired and frustrated. "
Jamal's heart was now slamming hard in his ribcage as they entered the dark dusty cell. The torch flames the deltas were holding lightened the room up a bit and Jamal watched as Calix shut his eyes tightly at the sudden light that was now shining in the room. Why he was looking at him, Jamal had no idea, but he could not stop looking at Calix who was still squeezing his eyes shut. Definitely, the light must have hurt his eyes. Jared, on other hand, was not that quiet. He left the bars he had been holding and lurched at Aiden immediately after Aiden entered the cell, grabbing a fistful of Aiden's overcoat and snarling into his face. "You!" He growled.Aiden shut his eyes for a moment before opening them."Get off me!" He pushed Jared violently. "You smell like shit."That comment didn't go down well with Jared and in a bid to retaliate, Jared tried to hit Aiden but the deltas interfered, holding Jared in place while Jared struggled to break free from their hold."Let me go. Have you
They were done with the interrogation and were heading to the prison where Jared and Calix had been locked in for days. Behind them were Cider and Calix's mate, Harper, being dragged along by some deltas and their cries echoed as they walked down the grassy path. Davina had gone back to her room, saying she could not bear to watch anyone die and Jamal wished he could do the same without being accused of being weak. It was not as if he was scared to watch them get killed — he had fought quite several wars so he knew what blood was and had seen the sporadic movement of a body before its death many times, so he was not scared.However, he felt sick. Calix was once his friend — that was a truth Aiden and Andrew were trying to deny. There was no way he was going to watch Calix's death without being haunted. They had grown up together, laughed and fought together. Those memories were forever stamped in his head and no matter how he tried to erase them, they would forever remain.And then