Chained by Bond

Chapter 7

The Alpha’s courtyard was packed with wolves in their human form. They stood shoulder to shoulder, most of them were bandaged and bloodied, their eyes tired and desperate. The warriors from the rogue pack stood opposite them, looming over. The two groups of people faced each other, looking like they were one step away from starting a ruckus.

Silver came out of Alpha’s quarters after visiting her father. The feeling of reuniting with her father after that night was still reeling in her chest, and the guilt of keeping away the fact that she met her mate, and it turned out to be Arthur, was not something she was ready to share just yet.

She walked over to the courtyard, feeling every gaze on her, and could feel the questions hanging in the air. Almost immediately, someone started. “They march in like they own the place, bloody rogues,” a young wolf spat, his right arm secured in a bloody sling. “And we are expected to let them in.”

“They are here because I asked for their help,” Silver said, defeated, tired of repeating things she had already said.

“Or because their leader wants stakes on our land,” an older wolf muttered, with bitterness.

Matt stepped to the front, his voice firm. “Alpha Arthur of the rogue pack sent us at the request of silver. We are not here as invaders; you need steel at your side, and we are here to provide that.”

“And what price do we have to pay for that?” someone growled from the back of the crowd.

“Enough!” Silver snapped, turning to face her people. “Would you rather we bury more people? The rest of our houses burned to the ground? Being caught off guard once again?”

“They are not here out of loyalty, how can we trust them?” someone on the front line snarled, glaring at Matt.

Matt only adjusted himself and folded his arms against his chest, his voice carrying the weight of Arthur’s authority. “You are correct, my loyalty lies to Alpha Arthur. But I am aware of what happened during the war, the sight of a pack crumbling. We are here to make sure the Hollow moon pack stands.”

His response was received with mixed reactions; while some people agreed, others seemed not convinced.

One of the older wolves stepped forward. “I do not care who gives the order; if you can fight for us, fight. If you can keep chaos away for another night, then you are welcome to stay where you are.”

The young wolf with the bloodied sling fumed, shaking his head. “And what happens when the war is over and they decide they want to stay?”

Silver responded immediately, her voice cutting sharply. “Then you’d face me, not them.” Her eyes swept over the crowd, begging for them to understand. “ I will not let Arthur take claim over us, but I also will not let us die out of pride.”

The courtyard was quiet for a while until Matt spoke. “We are not asking you to trust us. We just need to do our job.”

“And what if you were ordered to turn against us?” one of the elders questioned

Matt’s patience was wearing thin. “I’d follow his orders.” His response hit the crowd and, ironically, it seemed to steady the tension.” Silver snapped her head at him. “Why would ..”

He held her gaze. “I am not going to lie to them, or to you. My loyalty is to Arthur, and I’m only here because of him.”

The pack started to disperse, reluctantly making way for the rogue warriors. The hostility was still there, but it was contained,

Silver sighed and glanced at Matt. “ You could have lied.” Matt shrugged. “I don’t tell lies.”

The sun was about to set, and the council chamber was lit by lanterns. The hollow moon elders sat in a crescent shape around the table, looking weary from the previous attack. Silver stood by her father’s bedside as he was transferred to the council chamber for the strategy meeting. Matt leaned against the table, breaking the silence, in a calm voice that held authority. “We need a clear view of the incidents. Do we know who led the attack? Who is the beta of this pack, and who commands the warrior?

Elder Marcel spoke up first. He was hesitant, shooting a glance at the others. “That would be Lucien, the beta and the commander warrior, he hadn’t been seen since the night of the attack.

Silver asked. “Is he missing or was he taken?”

Elder Rhea responded coldly. “He could be dead. None of the scouts found any trace of him after searching the grounds.”

Matt interrupted, his jaw hardening. “That leaves an opening in your line of command, the Alpha is indisposed, and the Beta is nowhere to be found.” He takes a seat, studying the elders. “Has there been another attack after the first one?”

Elder Tyler shook his head. “Not since the first one. They came and vanished before daybreak.”

“That’s odd, coming to raid a pack and disappearing without taking what they came for,” Matt muttered audibly.

Silver defended sharply. “Do you think we’re hiding something?”

“I don’t think they’d waste blood for no reason unless they were after someone or something. And if I do not know what that is, I cannot protect you from them.” Matt said.

Elder Rhea bitterly interjected. “We have no idea, we don’t have anything they could want. But they weren’t just ordinary wolves; they were coordinated and ruthless.

Matt frowned. “And you’re sure you don’t know why they came?”

Elder Rhea, his voice breaking and snarling. “Do you think we would sit here and act oblivious if we knew and let our people continue to suffer?”

Matt exhales loudly. “We need answers, and we need to find them sooner rather than later.”

The council murmured amongst themselves, and silver clears her voice. “ We can start with the warriors patrolling the borders, and until my father stands on his feet, I shall take charge.”

Her words didn’t sit right with the elders, while some nodded reluctantly, others did not meet her eye. The Alpha backed her up, pale and trembling. “ My strength declines, and I cannot hold this pack much longer; it is time I hand over my rights.”

Elder Marcel rose sharply.” You must not mean silver, she is just a girl.”

The alpha responded. “Yes, to silver. She is my heir, and she will be succeeding me.

Elder Rheaa snapped. “ This is madness. How can a girl with no experience rule a pack that’s falling apart?”

Elder Tyler muttered, but loud enough to be heard. “She is not only young, she has not even shifted.”

The room fell silent. Silver’s breath caught, her jaw clenching.

Matt, who had been watching them go back and forth, turned sharply at silver. “You haven’t shifted?

Elder Marcel scoffed. “An Alpha must command respect. How can she lead an army of wolves when she herself cannot shift?

Silver snapped. “Enough!” She glared around the room. “I may not have found my wolf, but I am my father’s daughter, and while you whispered I safe rooms, I was out looking for help.”

“Words are not claws, our enemies will not listen to speeches,” one of the elders said.

“My decision is final. Silver will be Alpha.” The Alpha ended the conversation.

Silver left the council chamber with her jaw tight and hands folded in a fist. She could feel the stares from the council drilling into her back. The hallway was quiet, her feet making the only sound until another footsteps caught up to hers.

“Hold on, Matt called out.

“I am really not in the mood for whatever you have to say.”

“Why didn’t you mention this the entire time?”

“And say what? That I have not shifted before? Why would I announce my weakness to everyone, especially Arthur?”

His voice dropped. “How old are you?

“Twenty,” silver responded, wishing the conversation would end.

“Twenty and no wolf, that’s not just late, it’s unheard of.”

Silver responded irritably, “I am aware of that. I have tried everything, but nothing has worked yet. Please, Arthur, cannot find out about this.”

“You cannot ask me to lie to him, my silver; he is your mate.”

“Just help me protect my people. If I shift or not, I am still the heir. It does not change anything.”

“It changed everything. There’s no Alpha without a wolf.”

They held each other’s gaze as the silence stretched, before Silver walked away.

Matt was very uneasy about finding out that Silver did not have her wolf yet. He did what he thought was best and called Arthur. It did not ring twice before Arthur answered the call.

“Matt, talk to me,” Arthur said immediately. Matt glanced over his shoulder before responding. “This situation is a lot more serious than we thought. I just found out from the council meeting that Silver has never shifted.”

There was silence on Arthur’s side of the phone; Matt could hear Arthur’s controlled breathing.

“What do you mean she has never shifted?”

“I am saying that Silver, your mate and the heir to the Hollow Moon Park, hasn’t found her wolf. And that makes her vulnerable, and if the attackers should get wind of this, she’d be in grave danger.”

Arthur’s voice was tense. “Are you certain of this?”

“Yes, I am Arthur. It’s true.”

There was another pause before Arthur spoke up again. “Send me the location.”

“I just did.”

“Keep her alive until I get there, no matter what.”

Matt nodded subconsciously even though Arthur could not see him. “I will.”