His Luna

'Til sunrise

"That's…that's questionable, Alpha." The hunter was too nervous to even asked the same question at him. While the head was silently listening to the conversation.

Draken observed the skepticism in the eyes of those present, understanding the weight of the situation and the need to bridge the gap between what they knew and what he had come to understand. The return of the Wolfsbane was a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few within the pack. It was a revelation that had not yet been made public, awaiting Draken's approval and the right time to inform the wider community.

With this knowledge in mind, Draken recognized the challenge he faced in convincing the hunters and the head of the warehouse. The evidence they had gathered, at first glance, seemed to point directly at Rodolfo. His presence at the scene of the crime, coupled with his holding of the knife used in the killing, created a strong circumstantial case against him.

However, Draken possessed a deeper understanding of the signs and symbols associated with the Wolfsbane. He had dedicated years to studying their history, their methods, and their hidden meanings. His knowledge surpassed that of anyone else in the pack, allowing him to see beyond the surface and perceive the subtleties that others might overlook.

"We want to know more about your conclusion, Alpha." The head can no longer hold his silence and he uttered those words.

"It wasn't Rodolfo who killed your hunter," Draken said and looked intently into the head's eyes.

"And who it might be?"

Draken didn't answer the man, as he was planning on presenting the facts that he found in the knife.

"I concur that the blood in this knife belonged to a human, and it's from your right hand. However, when I checked the ricasso, smelled different blood, and it came from a werewolf, it's from Rodolfo."

The men were taken aback by what they heard. The knife was a substantial tool and evidence that led them to conclude who the killer was, even the fact that they saw the pack's member holding the said knife and the hunter's dead body was on his side.

"That's…-"

"The knife was made of silver, and the unhealed wound on his leg, which continued bleeding, was stabbed using this knife." He raised it and loudly put it back on the table, causing a loud bang inside the room.

“How?” The head was confused. Everyone present in the room was confused about what he found out.

“The knife used contained poison, which was the reason for Rodolfo’s hallucinations.”

“Poison?” The head stood from his seat and closed the window inside the room as it widely opened, and the cold wind of the night went past through it. No one ever thinks that the killing was plotted against the member of the Trowbridge pack, and to the point that the knife used contained poison.

“Check the knife.” Draken extended the knife to the head, as he knew that the man had great knowledge of poisons and anything about the packs and witches, knowing that the head had lived even before the attack happened eight years ago. And Draken was so sure that the head knew how the Wolfsbane leaves traces on things that they poisoned.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as the head carefully examined the knife. Draken watched intently, his eyes fixed on the head's reaction, knowing that the truth lay within the traces left by the Wolfsbane.

“There’s nothing unusual-” The head's initial skepticism was soon replaced by a growing realization. As he scrutinized the ricasso, his fingers tracing along its surface, a flicker of recognition crossed his face. His eyes widened, a mix of fear and disbelief clouding his features. Something had caught his attention, something that confirmed Draken's suspicions.

Silence filled the room as the head slowly lowered the knife, his hands trembling ever so slightly. His voice quivered as he spoke, struggling to find the right words to convey the magnitude of his discovery. "They... they are back," he finally managed to utter, his voice laced with a mixture of dread and astonishment.

“Yes. they are back, it's been eight years.” Draken said, and sat on the opposite chair, facing the head whose face showed great fear and terror upon realizing who came back.

The head's voice rose in both volume and intensity, his disbelief echoing through the room. "This... this is unbelievable!" he exclaimed, his tone filled with a mix of terror and anger. The realization of the Wolfsbane's resurgence brought with it a wave of uncertainty and fear, threatening the stability and safety of their pack.

“They plotted this against Rodolfo. The knife was burned causing that small lump in the ricasso, as you noticed. That’s where they put the poison…and that caused his hallucinations.”

“I…I thought what I found out the other week was the remains of the attack.” The head’s hand was shaking as he put back the knife in the briefcase.

“What do you mean?” This caught the Alpha’s attention.

The head's mind reeling from the revelations that had unfolded before him. He struggled to gather his thoughts, his voice quivering as he attempted to explain the extent of his previous discovery.

"I... I found remnants of a previous attack a week ago," the head confessed, his voice filled with a mixture of regret and disbelief. "I believed it to be the work of a rival pack or rogue werewolves. I never anticipated that it was just a diversion, a carefully orchestrated plan to deceive us."

“Should I exit the said room, Al-Alpha?” The hunter interrupted them, as the man was thinking that what the head and the Alpha were planning to say does not concern him.

“Stay here,” Draken said.

“I…went to the city the other week, the very same day that an attack from unnamed people broke in.”

“My members were there.” Draken declared.

“Yes, Alpha. I was present in the said area, even before the attack happened. I stayed in the nearest food house, in the opposite street from where the attack happened.”

“And?”

“The city was quiet but a group of unnamed and unknown people, more or less, there were seven of them, no horses, they just walked in the streets. But…they were using hoods, and that was the reason why their faces weren't visible.”

“Rex, get it.” The head ushered the hunter to bring to him what he found out in the city.

The hunter nervously went inside the other room inside the office.

“So, their presence was normal not until, they get something from inside their clothes…and that’s it, they attacked the people, but no one was killed. It was somehow an attack that gave warning.”

Draken knew it was the Wolfsbane.

“They left the place and they took the path to the woods. I didn't see any pack members during that day, and I followed those unnamed people in the woods, to check for any traces of their whereabouts but they vanished immediately.”

“And why you didn't inform me of this?”

“When I get back to the place, the pack’s members were already there. The ones you tasked to protect the boundaries of the city. And from then, I knew you were already informed about the attack.”

The head was spitting some facts, even Draken went personally to the said area to check for traces and he made sure that his identity was hidden from the people living there and from anyone.

“What did you find out?”

It was at the same time that the hunter named Rex went back to their place, holding something that was wrapped in black clothing. The head ushered for the man to put it on top of the table and the head immediately opened it, revealing a knife, not the same as what was used in the killing, but it was a different one, unstained, but Draken knew it was made of silver.

“Silver.” Draken uttered.

“It is Alpha…but here…the same lump I saw.” The head was pointing to the blade of the knife, the same lump because of burning it on fire, and where the poison was put into. It was identical to the other knife used and some weapons that Draken hid inside his study.

“It’s identical. Now, we can say that they are back.” Draken stood from his seat. And went to the window as it opened once more because of the wind.

“I can't believe this…” The head’s face showed disbelief.

The hunter was still listening to what they were saying.

“The knife used in the killing was first used on Rodolfo, and the pack’s members were vulnerable to silvers. But that knife was contained poisoned.” Draken said as he roamed his gaze around the room.

“But his hallucinations?”

Draken's gaze hardened, his eyes piercing as he addressed the head's question. "The poison within the blade triggered hallucinations in Rodolfo. It was a deliberate tactic, designed to incapacitate him mentally and emotionally. The enemy sought to render him defenseless and manipulate the events that unfolded." He chose to keep Rodolfo's weakness hidden.

“And that means that Rodolfo was attacked first before my right hand.” The head declared. The head's declaration aligned with Draken's deductions, solidifying their shared understanding of the situation. The evidence was coming together, revealing a meticulously woven web of deceit and treachery. The same knife that had been used against Rodolfo had found its way into the hands of another pack member, implicating him in the crime. The enemy's handiwork was becoming clearer, and their motives began to unravel.

“Precisely, since he hallucinated and can't fight for himself, the enemy used it to plot the killing against him, and the same knife was used against the hunter.” Draken was raging with anger as he remembered the existence of the enemy that he tried to bury in his memories.

The revelation hung heavily in the air, the weight of its implications sinking in. The hunter, still present in the room, listened intently, his own disbelief etched across his features. The magnitude of the enemy's cunning was becoming increasingly apparent to all those involved.

"Rodolfo's hallucinations were a direct result of the poison coursing through his veins," Draken continued, his voice resonating with a mix of anger and determination. "The enemy wanted to create an illusion, to deceive us into believing that he was the perpetrator of the heinous act. By planting the knife in his hand, they aimed to cast doubt and sow discord within our ranks."

The head's expression shifted, his disbelief transforming into a blend of concern and realization. "So, Rodolfo was targeted first," he murmured, the weight of the revelation settling upon him. "The enemy planned to frame him for the murder, using his vulnerability and the poisoned blade as their weapons."

Draken nodded in agreement, his conviction unwavering. "Exactly. They knew that the wounds inflicted by silver would take longer to heal for our kind, and they exploited that knowledge. By poisoning the weapon, they ensured that Rodolfo's injuries persisted, further strengthening the illusion of his guilt."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the gravity of the situation sank in. The enemy's meticulous planning and execution became all too clear, their ability to manipulate circumstances and turn allies against each other evident. The pack was facing a formidable adversary, one that understood their vulnerabilities and preyed upon them with calculated precision. The enemy resurfaced in his memories, their reputation for brutality and treachery preceding them. He knew that their return marked a dangerous escalation in the ongoing power struggle between their factions.

“I will be hosting a feast by next week, and I request your presence in the pack, including your men. We will be having a talk on this matter in my place.” Draken uttered and nodded his head, leaving the fear and disbelief faces of the people inside the place.

"The Wolfsbanes is back," the head uttered, his voice filled with a mixture of resignation and determination. His words reverberated through the room, carrying a chilling reminder of the battles fought in the past and the ones yet to come. The echoes of this declaration lingered, a rallying cry to prepare for the inevitable clash that awaited them.

The head uttered and Draken heard it clearly.