2. Torn Hearts

...Three Months Ago...

...Alpha Cameron POV...

Five years. This war lasted five years. I close my eyes, trying not to think about the destruction brought to my pack. The number of deaths we incurred nearly broke me. Whenever a member is killed, I can feel their pack link break. Each link feels like a small heart attack. It's like having your heart ripped out of your chest and a piece removed in the process. Leaving you to mourn for the life that once was. Knowing that nothing can be done to make you feel complete again. 

12,569. The total number of lives taken over the past five years. Nearly seven deaths a day for the past five years. That's nearly the equivalent of two families a day. While our pack may be large, with over one hundred thousand members, I can't help but feel the pain of all those we lost. 

In all my years as Alpha, I've never heard of so much bloodshed. We have been lucky to avoid all wars for the past thousand years, which is probably why this one hurt so badly. However, I should've expected this to happen. The moment I found out our firstborn child was to be a girl, I knew that tough times were ahead. 

The moon goddess rarely grants a female alpha. They are said to be blessed by the goddess herself in times of uncertainty. Typically the firstborn from an alpha is male. So that when they grow up, they assume the role of alpha and continue to lead the pack. Alpha females are rare as they are required to follow their mate to their pack. This would mean the legacy would die, and the title would have to be transferred to another member. 

When I knew we were having a girl, I began preparing for her arrival. I trained her extensively, making sure she was stronger than any alpha out there. I knew we needed to be prepared, but I wasn't sure for what. It was just a matter of when. Since Calyssa was only sixteen at the time, I doubted the war had anything to do with her. Rather it was just a fluke. 

It's no surprise that other packs are jealous of what we have. But never in all my years has anyone tried to do anything about it. Normally, we hear the disgruntled murmurings from the other packs, in which we try our best to settle their grievances. They normally are in need of money or shelter, and we have always gone above and beyond to help all those in need. 

I had hoped that by keeping Calyssa away, she would be protected, and perhaps the feuding would stop. It wasn't until recently that I began to question whether or not I had made the right decision. Calyssa was indeed safe, but at what cost? If she had remained, would fewer lives have been lost? Would fewer families be torn apart for the sake of someone else's greed? Unfortunately, I will never have the answers to those questions. I just need to hope that I made the right decision.

For now, I needed to focus on our future, which is why we were having this meeting. As one of my last acts as Alpha, I needed to make a decision I never thought I would ever be able to make in a million years. 

While we may have won the war, we were nowhere close to putting it behind us. In order to move on, we needed to rebuild. However, the destruction from the war cost more than physical buildings. Due to the war, we were practically bled dry of all resources. Our city has always been able to thrive on its own. But last year, the Nightshade pack targeted our main sources of income. The mines, farms, and power resources. They flooded our mines, killing thousands in the process. They bombed our farmlands, eliminating our food supply. They also sabotaged our power centres– forcing other packs to avoid us completely. 

Due to our pack's long history and size, we controlled a large majority of the country's economy– providing the essentials to other packs. This was the main reason why the Nightshade pack went after us. They didn't like that they had to rely on us for the things they needed. Not only that, but they had the messed up mentality of thinking that by destroying our resources, that the resources would somehow be shared across the other packs. 

I shake my head at their stupidity. We own the resources we have because of the topography of our pack lands. Just because you shut down our mines doesn't mean you can open one somewhere else. But try to get Alpha Shiro from the Nightshade pack to understand that. 

A knock on my office door disrupts my thoughts, turning to see who is at the door. However, before I could ask, I watched as my Beta walked through the doors with a sombre expression on his face. 

"Beta Colt. What can I do for you?" I ask as Colten takes a seat across from me. Ever since we were kids, I've always referred to Colten as Colt. He never liked his full name. Always preferring to be called Colt by those he's close to. Only those that we don't know refer to him as Beta Colten out of respect. 

"I think you know why I'm here." Colt replies with a sad look in his eyes. It's no secret that this war took a toll on me. But what many don't realize is the toll it takes on those around us as well. Being my Beta, Colt also felt the snap of each pack link as our members were killed. Being a Beta meant that he was my second in command. While I may be the face of the pack, Colt is the brains behind it. With the onslaught of the war, Colt was forced to work overtime, even recruiting his son early to help fill in where needed. 

Zavian was three years younger than Calyssa and wasn't supposed to become the new beta for another three years. Though with the war raging on, Colt no longer felt he was capable of continuing without some help. 

Against our better judgment, Colt pulled Zavian from school to assume his Beta responsibilities early. Working alongside his father to prevent our pack from ruin. But while our attention was on the physical destruction taking place, we soon realized that we had overlooked one major factor. Money. 

We may have defeated the Nightshade pack, but at what cost? We were now officially broke. Unable to provide assistance to any of our pack members. I had sent Colt on a scouting mission to see how long it would take to reopen the mines or our power resources. If we could get at least one of them up and running by ourselves, we may be able to dig ourselves out of this mess. But from the look on my Beta's face, I can tell that option has gone out the window. 

Before we could discuss anything, I heard another knock at the door. Knowing it must be Zavian, I patiently wait for him to enter the room. Taking a seat next to his father.

"From the looks on your faces, I can only guess you're not here to give me good news." I say in an attempt to lighten the mood. However, neither Colt nor Zavian looks happy. The sombre expressions on their faces remain as we try to figure out a way to dig ourselves out of this mess.

"I think we need to look into another option." Colt says, looking up from the floor. I can see how much the war has taken a toll on him. He looks like he's aged nearly ten years in the past year alone. Making me wonder how rough I must look. 

"What other option is there? Our last option was to get the mines or our power resources up and running." I state, wondering if perhaps they have another solution they haven't discussed with me. 

"There is another solution." Zavian states forlornly, unable to raise his gaze from the floor. Almost as if he's worried about how I'll react, which only makes me even more nervous. 

Colt looks over at Zavian, his eyes clouded over, indicating that he must be mindlinking him and making me wonder what they're keeping from me. Being my Beta's, they're naturally unable to hide anything from me. So to see them mindlinking each other in my presence makes my curiosity peak.

I wait for their eyes to clear before interrupting them.

"What are you two discussing?" I ask, waiting to see who will crack first. My bet would be on Colt, as he has always been more loyal to me than Zavian. Not to say that Zavian is anything other than a dutiful Beta, only I know his loyalty isn't with me but with my daughter. He has been raised to treat her as his Alpha, so while I may be the current Alpha, I know I don't have his full loyalty. But for that, I respect it. I wouldn't want it any other way. As it means that when Calyssa takes over for me in a few months, I know I can trust Zavian to have her best interests at heart.

Zavian shares a look with his father, practically staring him down to say what's on his mind. Confirming my thoughts that Colt will be the first one to spill the beans.

"It's not really an option..." Colt nervously begins to speak, turning away from his son to look at me. However, before he can finish, Zavian fills in for him.

"No. It's not an option, as it's our only solution at this point." Zavian interjects, making my eyes widen at his comment's severity. 

"That's not true. There are other..." Cole attempts to argue, only for Zavian to cut him off once more. 

"No, Dad. We've been over this. There is no other option. We've depleted our resources." Zavian comments, standing up in annoyance that Colt wasn't getting on board with whatever plan they discussed. 

"We don't..." Colt once again attempts to explain, only for Zavian to huff in annoyance and step in front of his father. 

"I'm sorry, Dad. But no. We need to be honest with ourselves." Zavian says, turning to look at me for the first time. I look back at him, sitting back in my chair, waiting for him to discuss whatever it is they're keeping from me. 

"Zavian, sit down." Colt instructs, making Zavian huff out in annoyance as he runs his hand through his hair before resuming his seat next to his father. I remain silent, knowing it's only a matter of time until Zavian spits it out. 

Colt seems to sense the same thing as I see him look to the floor, running his hand through his hair. Bending his head low to the ground, placing his hands on the back of his head as he waits for Zavian to rip the band-aid off. 

Zavian sighs before sitting back in his chair and looking me straight in the eyes. 

"I've gone over the books a thousand times. The war efforts bled us dry, and we managed to use up all of our savings attempting to rebuild the power resources. All of which have failed. So now we only have two options left." Zavian states. 

"Which are?" I ask, with a brow raised. 

"We either declare bankruptcy, or we sell the pack." Zavian states as if he's discussing lunch orders. 

I sit back in my chair, taken aback by the extremity of their claims. To file for bankruptcy would mean the pack would have to be dissolved. If that were to happen, all of us would be deemed rogue and forced to find a pack that would be willing to take us in or die in the process. Most packs don't take in rogues as they have a bad reputation. While that wouldn't be the case for us, the problem goes down to our pack size. There isn't a pack out there that would willingly take in and house over a hundred thousand wolves. Even a pack of our size would have problems finding homes for everyone. We are the largest pack in the country. Chaos would ensue if we had to go rogue. 

But to sell the pack? Would that be any better? Taking our chances that whoever manages to buy our pack isn't some ruthless dictator and wouldn't enslave all my pack members the moment they came into power? 

"There has to be another option. Perhaps we could salvage the farm grounds..." I say, attempting to find another solution: any solution but this. 

"Unfortunately, there isn't. I have already looked into every viable option. Even if we did manage to salvage the farm grounds, it wouldn't sustain us long enough. We would run out of food faster than we can grow it. We would then be forced to decide whether to sell or share the food amongst our people. Not to mention that the little money we would make in the end wouldn't even put a dent in our debts." Zavian explains, making my eyes go wide. 

I knew Zavain was smart, but I didn't realize how gifted he truly was. It's clear he has an eye for the financial sector. Making me wonder how much smarter he would've gotten had he had the opportunity to finish school. Though, from the looks of it, perhaps his school was holding him back. 

"But to sell the pack? Do you realize what risks are in play?" I ask, wondering if he truly thought this out. 

"Yes. I have. I have done a firm assessment of each and every risk. And while the outcomes may not look great, our survival odds drastically increase." Zavian replies. Showing me that he has, in fact, done a thorough risk assessment. So while I may be averse to this plan, it seems as though it may just be our saving grace. 

"What if no one makes an offer?" I ask, wondering if we are putting ourselves through all of this for nothing. 

"Then that's an obstacle we'll have to climb if it comes down to it. But if my assessment is correct, then it shouldn't be long until we have a bidder." Zavian comments, looking firm in his statement.