Pact to Destroy
1109 Words
E͟t͟h͟a͟n͟
"Are you positive?" Alpha Landon has his arms on the table, leaning forward, disbelief on his face.
I nod curtly.
I'm in Landon's office, meeting with the leadership of the other four main packs. The other Alphas look grim.
It's hard to believe that a pack could be so cruel, especially to the weakest. Even children are used to manipulate the parents into doing what the higher ups want. The air is tense. The uncertainty is palpable as is the rage at this injustice.
I squeeze my hands together. I know that I must choose my words carefully. We have to agree on a plan. It would be disaster for all packs if there's not one. Disagreement on such an important subject can mean the breaking down of each pack, affecting tens of thousands of people. Perhaps several hundred thousand as we have sworn to be protectors of the smaller and weaker packs.
The pact is we will help them as long as they don't try to attack an innocent pack. If they don't live in peace, they will be kicked from the pact and we will destroy them.
However, attacking troublemaking packs like Brookshire isn't deterred. As long as they bring the situation to the main council, we won't intervene.
Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.
This is the last thing I wanted to deal with. But c'est la vie.
This attack had been the last straw.
I drum my fingers on the table, breaking the silence. "Different pack members, school staff and warriors, as well as parents and children saw it happen," I sigh.
"There weren't any deaths, only injuries. Most of the injured were teenagers who tried to protect the little ones. They fought bravely but they're not as trained in combat as the warriors; they were bound to face more injuries."
I look around the table before dropping the hammer. "Several of the attackers were captured and are now awaiting questioning in the dungeon."
A murmur spreads across the room.
"We were wanting to bring them to justice but I think it would be better to wait until we put a plan in motion and take the others in. Unless," my eyes swing back around to Landon. "You think it would be better to interrogate them sooner than later."
He contemplates for a moment before looking over the remaining Alphas. I study their faces, each one angrier than the next.
Landon turns back to me, his face set in determination. "I don't think that's necessary. We already know their plans and I'm assuming that Brookshire thinks the missing ones are dead."
I feel a smirk creep onto my lips. My reputation precedes me. I am known to not put up with bs. I torture at my leisure and kill if I'm not interested.
I have no mercy for traitors and evil doers and will kill them without a second thought. If anyone is left alive, it's always with an ulterior motive.
And no one is safe from the threat of torture.
The Alpha of the Greenview pack, Pietro, nods his head. "They may think they're safe." He looks around the table. "... which works in our favor."
There are head nods of agreement. I grasp the edge of the table, the wood solid in my hand. "So we are in agreement then?" I lift my eyebrows in question.
One of the Betas speaks up. "Are you sure this is the most efficient way to take care of the problem?"
Alpha Shawn of the Mountainview pack beats me to the punch. He stands and plants his hands firmly on the table before leaning forward. He's a mild mannered man who has a larger than life presence and the wisest Alpha among us. When he speaks, people listen and the room is filled with hushed anticipation.
He eyes each of us, a thunderous expression on his face; his eyes filled with fire.
"This is the ONLY way to get rid of the problem," he growls. His aura is strong enough to have the rest of us bowing our heads, even the younger Alphas.
I bow my head not because I'm compelled, but because of the great respect I hold for this man. He's the only one who ever called out my father for his behavior. He stood for me and the other pups in my pack. However, he could do nothing for us without starting an out and out war.
So he held his tongue while secretly supporting some individual pups, myself included. Every time I was around him, I could see the struggle and helplessness in his eyes. His desire to help and the need to keep peace were constantly at war with each other.
When he spoke, we listened and right now his words fill the small space, power unfolding in each syllable.
"If we don't take care of them, there will be untold deaths... torture..." Shawn looks straight at me. "...suffering."
I bite my tongue, understanding his look.
"We must destroy the pack," he thumps the table with his index finger, eliciting a quiet crack from the wood under his hands.
"We have no choice... They MUST be destroyed," he repeats, his tone grave.
A few of the younger ones try to protest saying that surely there is another way. But those had not seen the evil that was perpetrated on the innocent; the poor and weak.
Alpha Shawn slams his hands into the table, cracking it all the way across. This shuts the mouths of the naysayers. He's angry now and those who have sparked his anger have made a grave mistake. I brace myself for what is to come.
"Unless you wish to see women and children hunted down, innocent women r***d, untold numbers of children molested and abused, I advise you follow the rest of us and stay in line," he ends with a fierce growl, Eli coming to the forefront. His eyes flash red and yellow, showing the power behind his words.
The protesters cower in their seats before his aura, unable to hide their fear. Eli directs his fiery gaze at the remaining leaders. "Do we have an understanding?" he says, his tone firm.
The room is silent. The protesters say nothing. Eli takes a seat, power emanating from him before Shawn is back in control.
"Eli has spoken." Shawn's demeanor is calm. He nods towards me. "Alpha Ethan will be leading."
I bow my head to him in acknowledgement.
Shawn claps his hands. "We are in agreement... It's time to plan their comeuppance."
- Writer
