CHAPTER 9

Ryan and Valentina who were playing upstairs in her room were sitting down on the couch.

After much playing, Ryan said

"Happy birthday Valentina." Ryan said

"Thank you Ryan, I feel so sleepy." Valentina said

"Come on, go to bed you must be so stressed out." Ryan said

"Could you read me a story to put me to sleep?" Valentina asked

"Sure." Ryan said

Valentina placed her head on Ryan's laps and before he could read one line from the book she had selected, she fell asleep, she had always found comfort in his arms even before she knew of his existence.

★★★

Meanwhile over at the Black Wolf Pack, Alpha Nathaniel was in his room with his wife drafting plans on how to go to war and overtake the Silver Moon Pack.

"Nathan, I think we should attack them with just half of our armies because our scouts said they are not as much as we are and besides we have the upper hand." Stella said

"Yeah I think so too, then we have less territories to worry about once they are removed." Nathan said

"We will start with them and then with time, gain more territories and thus expand our lands, they have taken us for granted for far too long." Stella said

"Also, the elders who have been a pain on my neck will eventually stop whining when they see that I am taking their pack to the next level and also when I come back home in one piece, I will demand some respect. It wasn't easy to get to this position as the Alpha and I will not let this crown leave my family at all. My son will take my place and his son after him." Nathaniel said with all conviction

"It's time to take my revenge, I am going with you." Stella said

"What? You are not, Why would you want to go to the war fronts of all places?" Nathaniel asked

"I am your Luna, Nathaniel Hunter, and as such it would be a great example if I left with you to war. You demand some respect, and I need to be respected as well and not just be termed as a barmaid. Besides, I want to see that thing fall to the ground with my very eyes and let's see if her alleged Majesty will save her from my wrath." Stella replied

"But Stella you need to be here with the kids okay?" Nathaniel said

"Kids? They are both seventeen (17) they are one year away from being an adult, and will soon start manifesting their wolf self. It's time they start taking care of themselves and living their lives the way they know how to. So, I am sure they can survive some few days that their parents will be away. Our reputation needs to be upgraded... I'll go get ready for battle and sharpen my arrows, I am coming with you and that's final." Stella said sternly

"I hate it when you get like this *sighs* seems there is no stopping you... we'll leave in three days from now, is that okay?" Nathan said

"I have waited for two whole years for this, so three days is just a minute compared to that." Stella said

"Alright dear, I better talk to my gammas and address them personally, so they get prepared for what's to come." Nathan said

Stella kissed her husband and said

"You do that honey, show them how strong you are."

★★★

The day came when the Walker's will have to go back home to their pack.

Valentina was sad that her friends and especially Ryan would be leaving.

"Do you have to go uncle?" Valentina asked amidst tears

"My pumpkin, we have to dear one. The pack needs us and a lot needs to be done back home." Miles said trying to soothe her

"I don't want you to go just yet." Valentina said

"Okay sweetheart, you know what? On our next visit we'll take you home with us so you can play all day with Ryan, is that okay?" Miles said

"Do you promise to do that uncle?" Valentina asked

"I promise you sweetheart, I will do that." Miles said reassuringly

Valentina's face lit up and she wasn't upset anymore.

She hugged them all and Ryan pecked her on her cheek and whispered into her ears

"See you soon okay?"

"Okay..." Valentina said and smiled

Both parents signaled themselves and they were happy seeing such display of affection from the kids.

The Walker's after bidding farewell to the Hudson's, all got into the car and left for home.

Avery held her daughter's hand and they went back inside the mansion.

The Walker's got home and then continued with their daily lives.

★★★

Miles went into his son's room and they decided to go out on a drive.

They entered into the car and Miles drove out of the great gate.

"Dad, I don't know why whenever I leave the Hudson's I feel so sad." Ryan said on their way

"Like how son?" Miles asked wanting to get to the bottom of it

"I always feel like I shouldn't leave Valentina's side, I feel like I always want to be around her." Ryan said

"Well the thing is, I think you are drawn to her because she might be your fated mate." Miles said to his son

"Really? Not just because we are friends?" Ryan asked excited

"Yeah, but then let's wait until your eighteeth (18th) birthday then we'll find out for sure. But I strongly believe she is... there were signs to show that she is your mate." Miles said

"What signs?" Ryan asked

"Well, when you were little you wouldn't let her out of your sight when she was newly born and you were just five then." Miles said

"Wow!! If it is true, I would really love that, I like Valentina a lot dad." Ryan said

"We all do son... come on, there is something I want to show you, since you are the Alpha in the making, there are things you need to know." Miles said

So they left to a hidden cave known to only Alphas, it was shown to Miles by his father when he was at that age, so since his son is of age, he wasted no time in showing him the secrets only the Alpha of Crescent Wolf Pack knows. They were blessed with a flourishing land and to add to it they were blessed with the will of the moon goddess herself.

"Look at this carefully and memorise them. This is the will of the moon goddess... Ryan, as you can see, it is in our power to either spread peace or bring war and desolation to the entire lands. Son you are to keep this to yourself no one must know or everything will come crumbling down." Miles said to his son who was looking around the cave in awe...

"I will dad." Ryan said overwhelmed

"I don't think you understand me, no one can know about any of this not even your mate, that is if you ever find one." Miles said

"Dad you mean to say mum doesn't know?" Ryan asked shocked at the revelation.

"No, she doesn't, not even my mother had any idea about it." Miles said

"Why? Why would one need be secretive about any of this to someone you are in love with or mated to?" Ryan asked

"I don't know the reason why, only that an Alpha must keep it to himself and under no circumstances should someone else know about any of this. At least that's what my father and your grandfather told me and now I pass that knowledge to you it's your burden to bear now for when you are made Alpha." Miles said

"So what am I to use this knowledge for?" Ryan asked

"You are to keep it with you and use it to rule and lead, that was why I signed the peace treaty with the enemy pack and I hope that decision brings peace and not the opposite." Miles said

"Now I get it..." Ryan said

"Listen to me, no one must know okay? Promise me." Miles said sternly

"I promise you dad." Ryan said

"Good... come on boy, let's get us home, it's getting late we don't want to be late for dinner or your mum will have us for dinner." Miles said and they both giggled and went towards the car.

Miles and Ryan got home and and was met with a rather disturbing and grievous news.

His beta was found dead and he didn't know why. Who would kill his younger brother what happened to him? No one knows.

"Dad..." Theodore called out to his father Aaron who wouldn't wake up.

Ryan hugged his cousin and tried soothing him.

Miles was devastated he didn't know what to do, he was downhearted and called his best friend Nolan Hudson so as to break the news about the death of his brother to him

After two rings, the call connected

"Nolan... Aaron is dead." Miles said sadly

"Oh no, what happened?" Nolan asked

"I don't know, still investigating." Miles said

"Oh so sorry, we'll come over this weekend so sorry Miles." Avery who was passing by heard the news and said over the phone

"Thanks Avery." Miles said

"How is Theodore feeling?" Nolan asked

"Poor boy is devastated." Miles replied sadly

"What really happened?" Avery asked

"I don't know what to do and who would do something like this, but I'll find out before the weekend. When I do, I will let you know." Miles replied

"Really sorry about this, Miles." Nolan said sadly

"Thank you buddy." Miles said

"We'll see you this weekend." Nolan said

"Could you say hi to Madison for me, is she there with you?" Avery asked

"She is with Theodore trying to calm him down." Miles replied

"Okay please say me hi to her, we'll come over next tomorrow, really sorry." Avery said

"Thanks, see you soon." Miles said and hung up and then went to look at his younger brother's corpse.

'I'll find out who or what did this to you and they will be sorry.' Miles thought

★★★

"My dear gammas and loyal soldiers, it's time to take, law into our own hands. The other packs treats us with disdain and calls us trash, but the truth is that they fear us more than they hate us. We will be attacking one of those packs soon and when we take over this particular territories our land will be extended. We will have less packs to deal with. If we want to be the most respected and powerful pack there is in all eight territories, then it starts with taking a step." Nathaniel Hunter said giving an encouraging and motivating speech to his soldiers.

"Yay!!!" The soldiers chanted happily

"My beloved gammas will you march with me to earn and fight for a great reputation, to gain more respect and become our enemy's nightmare?" Nathaniel asked his crew

"Yes Alpha..." They chorused

"Are you willing to expand our territories and prove to them that we are not as useless as they say we are?" Nathan asked his crew again

"Yes Alpha." They chorused in unison again

"Your Alpha and your Luna will march with you to the Silver Moon Pack there we will take it our selves, we will not run and hide. Together we will take what belongs to us. The time for fear is over, we will no longer cower at their mercy. It's either they are with us or against us." Nathaniel said sternly

"Hm... Hm... Hm..." The armies all chanted hitting their poisoned spears hard on the floor.

"Get the trucks ready, today we set out to claim our victory, they will regret ever looking down on us..." Nathan said

"Yeah!!!" They all chorused and dispersed

Everyone of them got busy with packing up, it was going to be a long journey.

So some healers began packing some medicines just in case anyone suffers great injuries from war. They are heading towards the battlefield and some are bound to get injured so they needed to be uber prepared.

Others stocked some food on the wagons and trucks, its no day's journey. They were werewolves of course they could just charge towards them in their original selves but they decided to attack them in their human self. So that if there were any casualties they will be able to carry the fallen soldiers back home to be buried.

The soldiers decided to fight the war with their shields and spears that are poisoned with Wolf's bane so that when a wolf is struck with it, there is no coming back.

Stella had earlier covered her crossbows with poison, it was more like poisonous darts.

"Mum are you certain I can't come with you? Dad has been saying I shouldn't and that I should stay back home, how am I going to prove myself if I am stuck here?" Alexander asked his mother

"Alexander my dear, this is war and we want the pack to be safe and still be ours when we return. You need to be here and guard it." Stella said

"If you return... I mean, why go to war?" Alexander asked