Under the Moonlight

First prey

Gavril looked around him and when he saw confused faces staring back at him, he frowned lightly. No one was willing to speak up even though most of them knew what he wanted to say. But why? He wondered, his face mirroring their expressions, only for a different reason altogether. His face turned serious as he looked at his Alpha who was waiting for him to continue.

"Alpha, before we start searching for the assassins, we first need to find who is betraying us."

"Betraying us?" Allerick's brows quirked up and he stared at the man curiously. "Do you think someone is betraying us, Minister Gavril?" He queried, intrigued by the young man who he was seeing in the courtroom for the first time. The minister had left a deep impression in his mind on the day he was accepted into his Council of Ministry.

One the day of the ceremony, he had seen how the young man had hugged his parents when he had been accepted into the council after he had taken the oath. He vividly remembered how his sister had run to him suddenly and had held out a yellow rose, surprising Allerick and all the others in the arena. The entire kingdom was looking at them and the girl, without any fear for her Alpha or his powers had given him the flower.

Though she had not spoken a word, he remembered her adorable face and her twinkling eyes. Although it was the young girl who had left behind a deep impression in his mind, he still remembered Gavril for she was his sister.

'Young and hot-blooded.' He thought when Gavril had stood up immediately. This was the first time he was attending the court session. Allerick realized. Yet, he did not stop him from speaking. The young man was willing to speak to the truth that none of his other wise and experienced ministers had even dared to bring up in front of him.

Allerick was astonished by Gavril's courage. The young man was true to his position and there was no malice in his eyes whatsoever. In his gaze, all Allerick could see was the admiration he had for him, his Alpha and the throne and his desire to help the kingdom of Avolire flourish.

Nodding lightly to himself, he fixed his attention on the man again.

"Yes, Alpha. There has to be a traitor in the kingdom who is relaying all our plans to the assassins. Otherwise, how is it that the assassins escape unscathed every time while we are losing our brave warriors?" Gavril reasoned and Allerick's eyes gleamed in delight.

'He is intelligent.' Allerick noted. 'He is a worthy addition to the court.'

Although the man had been subtle, Allerick understood what he was trying to convey. He glanced at Elliott who held a similar expression as his.

Elliott lifted his eyes when he felt a gaze on him and was stunned to see his Alpha smiling at him. But he calmed down when he perceived the reason behind it.

Their plan had worked. Although they had expected one of the older ministers to bring this matter up, the young and inexperienced Gavril had taken the bait instead. However, it did not matter who had raised the topic. Their aim was achieved and now, it was Allerick's turn to take the matters into his own hands.

"I am impressed, Minister Gavril." Allerick commented after a long time.

By then, Gavril was sweating profusely. He knew he had been disrespectful towards the other ministers by speaking before them. He had broken the code of conduct. But he had been unable to control himself this time. The issue had been gnawing his mind and he had been unable to sit still. The faces of the dead warriors kept flashing before his eyes every time he closed them and the loss he and the kingdom of Avolire had suffered had been deeply engraved in his heart.

Until he found the assassins, who had caused the death of his people, he could not calm down. So, he had taken this opportunity to bring up the notion he had in front of everyone.

Gavril was dumbfounded when he heard his Alpha praise him, instead of reprimanding him and blinked at him in wonder. Even the other ministers in the court were surprised to hear their Alpha compliment the new minister.

"Minister Gavril, I admire and appreciate your courage. No one in this court was willing to even speak, you were brave enough to bring it up. I am now convinced by your wisdom and courage. Elliott, reward him for his good work." He ordered, shocking everyone in the courtroom.

Even Elliott was surprised by his Alpha's words. But he composed himself immediately and smiled faintly at Gavril, who was looking back and forth between him and his Alpha.

"Thank...thank you, Alpha." He did not know what else to say. He had only intended to make everyone think from his perspective. But in the end, he had impressed his Alpha and had even been rewarded for his work. He did not know what to make out of it.

Whispers erupted in the courtroom and Allerick ran his gaze across the hall, not at all surprised by his men's reactions. This was the first time since he had been coronated as the Alpha and King of Avolire that he had rewarded someone for their work. This sudden change was bound to shock everyone greatly.

Allerick waited for the whispers to die. But when they did not, he raised his hand and silence ensued in the hall immediately.

"As Minister Gavril said, there is a traitor in the kingdom, precisely among us." He stated, his expression now cold and frightening and some of the men stiffened in their seats when they felt the change in their Alpha's temperament. He was angry. They sensed it and a furious Alpha was never good for them.

"The traitor has to be a minister of court. Otherwise, it is impossible for the assassins to find out our plans every time. It is impossible for all our warriors to die every time while none of them is even injured. Does this even make sense?" Allerick's voice raised at the end and the people in the court lowered their heads instantly.

Allerick stayed silent for some time as he observed the people around him.

"It is interesting that I only intended to catch the traitor among us. But why do I sense fear from many people here? Do we have more than one traitor?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Allerick immediately saw a man at the corner of the room tremble and take a deep breath and his eyes turned sinister at once. He had found his first prey for the day.