Chapter 3: Serena Borealis

Morning came on still and bright, the sun floating high among the clouds.

Grey shuffled forward, his hands connected to his feet by lengthy silver chains as he was escorted towards the Alpha Manor.

Silver had as much an effect on him as it did on humans. Among other things Grey's body defied, a wolf's reaction to silver was one of them.

He could very well sense the air raging with tension of powerful authorities, six Alphas gathered on one territory. He couldn't see any of them but he knew they were already here.

Shadow lake territory, a pack town built of modern brick houses in block formations with quiet and clean roads for a civilization deep in the heart of the woods.

The Alpha Manor, standing tall above them all like a hawk watching over its hatchings keenly. A three story building with polished glass windows and redbrick exterior walls. The meeting room wasn't much different from others Grey had seen. A square room furnished with chair-like thrones for each Alpha in the council, heavy carpeting and a silver cage for whoever was accused.

The Alpha council, created after the great war to define territories and broker a form of peace with a set of rules dubbed 'The Sacred Accord'. There was still a good amount of rivalry and disputes but there was peace, for the most part.

Once Grey was securely sealed, the Alphas began to troop in one after the other guarded only by their second in command, their Betas.

First it was Alpha Bernard Logan of Moons peak walking to his seat. Shoulders high in a leather jacket above blue jeans and a pair of Ash coloured sneakers. He was the youngest among all Alphas taking over from his father at the young age of twenty. The only Alpha that projected trust and truthfulness over brute power as he sat. His loyal beta standing guard behind him.

Alpha Tobias Kent of Lycaon Order strolled in on three legs. Even behind the expensive black suit and cane crowned with an emerald, the dark shiftiness of a fox radiated off him in huge waves. He gave Grey a once over in the cage and chuckled out loud before taking his seat next to Bernard who was not in any way please to see him.

Then walked in Alpha Barry Monroe of Equinox pack. He wore a brown trench coat under the umbrella of his hat. His pack having different methods and beliefs from the bunch, handled their issues with utmost secrecy. All who have been in the Equinox territory left without any memory of their time in the pack of hidden wonders. A useful Beta gift.

The one Grey recognized as Alpha Gerald Colt walked in chatting heartily with Alpha Benjamin Raquel of Blood moon. Best friends as they were, their packs shared borders. The two smallest packs in the US co-dependent to form the most secure one.

All five Betas took position behind their Alphas leaving two empty seats vacant.

It suddenly occurred to Grey that Alpha Krystal from the Rogue Nation was not in attendance which was a wonder as he would have loved to watch the downfall of his number one enemy...

The Great Pack Of The West and Rogue Nation ran almost the same way, accepting lone and rejected wolves from different packs. The only difference was The great pack of the west protected the rogues giving them freedom within a territory while the Rogue nation was all about enriching its army..

A bronze bowl sat on a tray in the company of a silver knife by it's side as it traveled across the room going from Alpha to Alpha.

Searing a deep cut, blood from each flowed into the bowl. The blood of all signifying unity.

"With this blood union I declare this council session open!" Alpha Gerald being the host addressed the council. His stance formal and direct, he turned to the cage going straight to the business of the day.

"Alpha Grey, In line with the Sacred Accord, you are here to account for the murder of the wolves in your pack. How do you plead?" When he was about to voice in favour of his innocence a thought strolled into his head. 'what if I am guilty!?' The demons attacked because of me, my pack mates: dead because of me. Lana is dead because of me...

His thoughts raced on cutting him off completely from reality..

"Since the accused refused to plead, the council shall put it to a vote base on the intelligence gathered from our respective scouts." He took his seat while his beta came fort with a ballot box. Each alpha placed a vote with either of two bronze coins. One for guilty and the other for not guilty.

The vote took up to one hour as each Alpha delegated with their betas which was a total waste of time. The council consisted of leaders looking after their own best interests. An alpha off the table meant an enemy gone and free land where his territory once was. So, there was no way it was ending well for Grey.

After the vote was cast, all betas tallied the results in a concealed book that was passed to Alpha Gerald.

"By decree of this council, you Alpha Grey, is found guilty of crimes against the Accord. You shall be executed at the first crack of dawn in accordance with the rules of this council. With this verdict I declare this council session closed!"..

Grey could just as easily scorched his way through everything but part of him held on to the thought that he deserved the verdict. He deserved to die even though he knew an execution was useless. By either a blessing or a curse he was binded to life for life.

A storm of guilt ridden thoughts ran around his head as he was escorted back to his cell.

The keys were quick to work and the chains came off easily. The bars were shut just as he found a comfy corner to seat at the far end of the cell.

"Back so soon! Guess the Alpha council didn't see you as much of a threat!" He heard the lady from earlier say. Concealed to the dark parts of the cell, he could only make out a silhouette figure but caught a whiff of blood mixed in a sweet she-wolf scent. Every breath of her's carried pain even though her voice held none of it.

"They voted execution!" Grey Said. His earlier thoughts subsiding to just one. If fate decides to free me from my curse and give me death tomorrow, why not ride today on..

"Eeesh.. tough luck! If it's any consolation I'll be your execution buddy!" She said a little pain tainting her voice.

"Then we better get acquainted. Am Grey!" He said waving his hand towards the figure in the dark.

"Nice to meet you Grey am Ten!" She replied moving out of the dark. The left side of her face bruised leaving a faint shade of blue beneath her skin. Lines of dried blood ran from her nostrils towards a similar one from a deep cut in her lower lip. Her face looked like a used up punching bag but her spirit held firm.

Grey wanted to reach for her and erase her wounds, feeling an urgent need to protect her. with no reason why every part of him screamed to help her, he shoke his head pushing all confused emotions and thoughts to the others at the back of his mind.

"Ten? That's it!?" He asked, a black eyebrow gone up jokingly.

"You are one to talk, you are named after a colour!" Her voice offended but layered with premature laughter.

"Fair enough!" He said feeling the conversation growing cold by the second.. he didn't want it to end, he wanted to listen to her voice forever.

"So, what brings you to Alpha Gerald's dungeon?" She asked itching her already healing lip.

The feeling of freedom blossomed from her all calming presence, he felt like telling her everything that had gone on in his life. His jaw came apart ready to open up to her..

"Problem with the alpha council. You?" He asked summarizing his troubles to the least.

"My family history!" She did the same. An image of her father's wolf form going after her infant brother flashed before her eyes.

"Well that isn't going to cut the introductions. Too vague!" He said scratching his chin like a thought crossed his mind.

"Then story for story Mr Vaguesalot!" Her eyes closed up and her back went to the floor exhausted. He noticed the tiny smile on her face after the spark of hurt from before.

"The Alpha council wants me to account for some deaths in my pack!" He said going around the painful bends carefully. His mind not clouded with guilt, for once he had a clear-head and something else... A powerful, new feeling that seemed to be growing in him, one he couldn't understand. Whatever it was seemed to be coming from her.

"How are happenings in your pack any of the council's business? I thought they only settled disputes between two packs!" A mini scowl grew on her forehead.

"According to the Sacred Accord the council has a right into the proceedings of any pack within it if it perceives there to be an unjust act.." He explained laying next to her. Their heads on opposite sides almost touching as he stared into stone above him.

"Your pack must be really impressive for the Alpha council to care. Who's your Alpha, maybe I've heard of him!" She asked. Her question threatening to push Grey back into his storm of guilt but he didn't let it.

"Enough about me, It's your turn!" He moved the spotlight.

"My father wants my brothers gift for himself, I hid him somewhere safe but now the Alpha wants to find him by all means necessary!" She said, her voice swirled with emotions that vanished as soon as the second word came out.

A wolf's gift is powerful and everlasting binded to their very life force. In some cases some werewolves get the gift to take power. But the one who gives never lives after..

"Your Alpha didn't take your word against your father's!?" He asked, the words dropping one after another turning the question into more of an exclamation.

"Yup, he backed my father up. They were childhood friends so I didn't stand a chance!" She resigned. Her only consolation was knowing her brother will live to reach his first turn.

"So, what do you want to do for your final hours, What's on the bucket list?" He hoped to cheer her up with a little dark humor and it worked. Her face lit up like a giant Firefly's glow.

"I want to hold your hand?" She offering a hand over her. He didn't picture her as one for 'Romantic cliche' he didn't mind. He didn't mind at all...

"Sounds cheesy but okay!" He gave his hand and she held it. She gave a long heavy exhale activating a soft green glow in her eyes.

At once, a blanket of peace washed over Grey, a body full of nothing but calm and silent peace. Streaks of Light-green light floated above their joined hands spreading slowly till it was all around them.

"What is this!?" Grey asked. Eyes glued to the beautiful northern-lights in the roof of stone clouds..

"My brother calls it Serena Borealis. It's my gift, I incepted the sensation of peace." And that was the last said in that cell as they both laid completely at peace for seconds turning to minutes going towards hours till a well deserved sleep joined the mix..