Claimed By Vengeance

Chapter Two

Killing him would’ve been incredibly stupid on my part but what I had just done put him right where I wanted him. I knew Moonstone well enough to know how badly he wanted his ego stroked. I walked away with my head held high and a victorious smile plastered on my face.

“I will not sit here and support this ludicrous quest!”, one elder objected furiously, slamming his wrist on the table. Word had travelled far, my council of elders had discovered that the Moonstone pack had declared war against us.

“The lives of our people are in danger and you’re just being selfish?”, another spat disgusted.

“Enough”, I raised my palm up. When my father died, I had to fight tooth and nail to show these same men I was worthy.

“Your insolence is going to be the end of this pack,” the first elder chimed in.

“I say we vote for a new leader!”, one who had been quiet the entire meeting yelled. “You’re incompetent, you do not deserve the throne!”

“How dare you?”, I rose to my feet, fuming. “I fought my way here because I am a woman even though I was entitled to this from birth! You think you can easily take this title away from me?”

The elder tsked, looking in the faces of his fellow elders for their support but they looked away.

“I fought for the title of the Alpha”, I emphasized. ”I deserve this title and as Alpha I declare this meeting over. There is a war we need to focus on.”

“A war we didn’t ask for! One we definitely didn’t need but your selfishness blinds you,” another spoke.

Their words were fanning the flames burning within me. “He killed the Alpha! He deserves to die. This meeting is over. Gather the men for war!”

My chest heaved as I stormed out of the meeting. This was our best chance in proving to other packs that we held as much power as they did. This wasn’t just about the death of my father…this was a statement the pack needed to make.

I spent the rest of my day on the training ground, away from the negative energy of the council.

“Phoenix,” Kol called, interrupting my training.

“What is it?”, I turned to his direction. Kol would’ve been my mate if fate allowed. He was the son of my father’s beta and my brother’s best friend.

“I’m worried you’d tear your arm off if you should continue so aggressively,” Kol stepped closer.

I ignored his remarked and raised my sword at the dummy but he gripped my wrist.

“I know what your intentions are Phoenix, and I know the words of the council are eating away at your heart…”

His words held not an iota of a lie, I looked up blinking back the tears pricking my eyes.

Kol pulled me into a hug. “Let it out, Phoenix. I’ve got you.”

His words struck a nerve; I buried my face in the crook of his neck and let the tears flow silently.

“You’ve got me, Phoenix. I’ll never turn my back on you,” he smoothed my hair. Days like these, I hated the universe for granting Kol a different mate. When I looked up at him, he smiled and wiped a stray tear with his thumb.

“Come on”, he put an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go get you some food, I’m certain you’re starving now.”

Something about how he put it made me chuckle. “Thank you, Kol. Seriously…”, I stopped walking. He stopped too.

“Thank you for always sticking by my side.”

Kol gave me a knowing look and waved my comment aside. “Who’s this dramatic girl and what have you done to Phoenix?”

I punched his arm playfully while we continued down the hallway.

“We need to talk about this war, Phoenix. How do you intend to handle the Moonstone pack?”, Kol broke the silence.

“Maybe I was wrong to have started a war with the Moonstone pack. Maybe I should offer myself freely to Mason but whatever happens, he will pay for what he did to my father. And yours.”

Kol stiffened a little at the statement but he quickly masked it. “We need to act fast, Phoenix. Mason Moonstone is known to be as charismatic as he’s ruthless. He’d probably not spare you or our pack.”

“You’re right,” my brain began to churn. “We need an intel. To know what Mason plans to do, to be a step ahead of him.”

Kol nodded. “I’ll go…”

“What? No”, I interjected.

“That’s the only logical thing to do Phoenix. We cannot trust anyone within the pack. I will leave at dusk tomorrow.”

I let out a loud exhale, I didn’t like the idea but I knew Kol had a point. I nodded in agreement. Kol and I talked for a while before he took his leave.

Once again, I was on the training ground when I was told I had a visitor. When I got to the living area a very old lady stood waiting for me.

“Luna”, she said firmly when I entered. I wanted to correct her, to tell her I was Alpha.

“Hi, how can I be off help to you?”

“The hidden mystery of the Moonstone Pack lies on your shoulders, Luna. You are the chosen one”, she kept rambling.

“Wait, who did you say you were again?”, my brows creased.

“You are not who you think you are, Luna. You do not belong here; you hear your mate crying out for you yet you ignore the pull”, she paused to smile. “Do not fight it, child. Else it’ll consume and destroy you.”

My face was scrunched up as she continued spewing up gibberish. She probably was some lost old woman.

“No, I’m not lost,” she spoke.

“Excuse me?”

“They want you to be strong. The heir will seal the bond. Keep in mind Luna, you do not belong here”, her voice became eerie.

“You do not belong here, Phoenix.”