Ultima Trials

The Ulltima

Camden’s POV

I could see the wheels turning in Hayden’s mind. It was a little too suspicious that all of the ranked members all died the same night. In different ways, but with rogues, there was no way to follow the trail.

We drove to the packhouse. It looked almost the same. Apart from the dead flowers in the front, and the cracks up the stairs. My mother had made sure there were always flowers, she would spend what little free time she had gardening. The cracks would be fixed as soon as she saw the first sign of them. I couldn’t say how many times I had found my mother covered in concrete and dirt.

The worst part of being back here was seeing Noah standing where my parents had stood so many times. Where I had stood to introduce Jeri. The same spot I had stood to meet new allies. Behind him stood his Beta. I think he was a rogue at one point, and his Gamma, who had his arms wrapped around a tiny she-wolf who looked like she would rather be anywhere else but there. I vaguely remembered her. She was just getting into high school when I graduated.

“Luna Hayden.” I heard the voice of Noah even through the windows.

“Alpha Hayden.” Bentley corrected him, “And her mate, Alpha Camden Tarain.”

A growl came from Noah. I could tell he was trying to release his aura, but he wasn’t the true Alpha. He couldn’t intimidate me any longer. I stepped out of the SUV and wrapped my arms tightly around Mav. Just because I wasn’t afraid of Noah doesn’t mean that Mav wouldn’t be.

“There’s the runaway.” Noah snarled. “Warriors, escort the runaway to the cells.”

The two warriors that stood on either side of Noah looked at me confused. To them I had been dead, so how could I be dead if I was a runaway? I smirked.

“Looks to me that someone has some explaining to do.” I looked among the other pack members that had begun to gather around us.

“I am your Alpha! I said take him to the cells.” Noah growled.

Hayden released her own Alpha aura, forcing Bentley to bow his head, along with our warrior. Her low snarl stopped the pack members in their tracks.

“Anyone touches my mate and it’s your head,” Hayden said lowly.

“You do not get to come into my territory and command my pack.” Noah moved to stand in front of Hayden. Closer than I would have liked, but she could take care of herself. He inhaled her scent and growled. “You’re marked.”

It was my turn to snarl. I moved quickly and wrapped an arm around Hayden’s waist. A different low rumble echoed off the ground as the council of Elders came from behind us.

The council was made up of ‘tapped’ older Alphas. No one knew who would make it to the council except the Head Alpha. It’s rumored that Ultima Wixx was the only Ultima Wolf to ever exist. He was the Alpha that controlled three other Alphas. Dad also said he was our relative, but I was never really sure. Guy certainly didn’t act like family.

Even though the council was made up of former Alphas, none of them looked old at all. My dad gave me his title when he had turned 45, which isn’t old, but the Ultima Alpha looked my age, if not younger. He had blonde hair, almost white, but not the old white, the white that comes from being in the sun too much or albinism. His black eyes showed that his wolf was at the helm, and I noticed that every other wolf had bowed their head in submission. I stared at him.

“Camden Tarain.” Ultima Wixx spoke.

“Elder.” I nodded in respect.

“It seems that this convention just got more interesting. Alpha Noah, Alpha Camden, and Alpha Hayden, I would like to speak to you three.” The Ultima turned on his heel and led us into the packhouse. As Ultima, Wixx, he could pretty much do whatever he wanted. No one had ever been dumb enough to go up against him.

“Mav.” I whispered to Hayden.

“The boy may go with the Gamma Bentley. I can assure you that no harm will come to him while out of your sight.” Ultima Wixx said and locked eyes with Noah.

Mav and I’s very appearance was the very real threat to Noah’s right to Silver Star. Bentley took Mav to a different room, while Ultima Wixx led us to a conference room. I pulled Hayden into my lap. Her scent calmed me down almost enough not to want to rip Noah’s head from his body. Until he walked into the room. His smirk plastered on his face didn’t match the fearful look in his eyes. He even knew that at the end, if the Ultima didn’t believe his little story of my death, his reign of terror would be over.

“First, I would like to hear from Camden. How is it that you are alive?” He spoke to me, but his eyes stayed on Noah.

“I was in a car accident with my first mate, Luna Jerica. The next thing I know, I wake up and my mate is dead, my parents and ranked members are dead. I was in a coma for three weeks according to the doctor. My son, Maverick, was ill from stress. The doctor said that he had spent just two more minutes in his…” I swallowed the words.

“I see. You never received a challenge of any sort?”

I shook my head.

Ultima Wixx looked at Hayden in my lap, “Is she your second chance mate, then?”

I nodded. “I was taken to Black Storm after my son was sick and we had left the pack. When I left, I rejected the pack and my title.”

“That means this pack is rightfully mine!” Noah smiled in triumph.

“Sit down and shut up, Noah.” Ultima Wixx growled. “I have not asked you to speak, it is in your best interest not to until you are called upon.” Ultima looked back at me and Hayden. “Alpha Hayden, do you have anything to add to your mate’s story?”

Hayden nodded. She explained the letter and silver nitrate poisoning. Naturally, Ultima wanted the letter. Hayden stepped out to make the phone call. It would arrive by the end of the day. Noah was visibly shaking at the idea of a letter from someone as powerful as Gloria. I had known her my entire life and had no idea where she came from. If I hadn’t been paying attention to the Ultima Wixx I would never have noticed the slight smile on his face at the mention of her.

Ultima Wixx asked Noah his side of the story. Of course, it was even more bullshit. He said that he was my father’s Beta’s little brother, and when all of the other ranked members died, it made him the only ranked member in the pack. My father’s Beta didn’t have a brother. He had four older sisters who were all mated to different packs across the country. My father’s Gamma, had a brother but was killed in a rogue attack when he was only six years old. I was an only child. He should have said that he was my bastard uncle. It’s not impossible for my grandpa to have fathered a child before meeting my grandma. Werewolves are incredibly s****l creatures and Alpha’s were the worst. My grandfather told me stories of his ‘conquests’ from the time he was sixteen until he was 22, when he met my grandma. Grandma said that she knew who he was and had stayed as far from him as she possibly could.

“I grew up with the Beta family of Silver Star. I do not remember your name ever coming up.” Ultima Wixx raised his eyebrow. “If I’m not mistaken, your father was the Alpha of one of my packs. Harrison Shultz, correct?”

Noah’s face paled. Busted, mother fucker.

“Hmmm. It seems there is a bit of a mystery occurring here. As Harrison said, he had banished his middle son after he killed his older brother. So exactly how could a rogue become Alpha of a pack as secured as Silver Star without breaking the law? The murder was enough for your death, but your father showed you mercy. I will not. If I find one shred of evidence that you killed the rank of Silver Star, it will be the last thing you do.”

I wanted to laugh as the scent of urine filled the room, and it wasn’t coming from me. Noah had better be scared.

Hayden came back into the room and her face scrunched at the scent of Noah’s piss. There was a knock on the door, and a tear-faced Gloria came into the room. She was holding Mav, who clung to her as if his life depended on it. She was the only mother he knew and, though he didn’t mention her often, I knew he missed her. Hell, I missed her.

“Gloria.” Ultima Wixx breathed softly.

“Randy.”