BLOOD TIES

CHAPTER 1

BETA JAY'S POV

The moon cast an eerie glow over the battlefield, illuminating the ferocious battle between werewolves. The sound of ripping flesh competed with that of war howls into the deepness of the forest as each wolf fought with deadly intent. I looked around as the war raged on, more bodies of my pack mates scarred the ground. The air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat.

War between werewolf packs were not common but when it happened many lost their lives to the extent of wiping out a whole pack. I had seen it before, I was in the middle of the very battle that took my parents. Looking around, it was clear that we were losing. I looked on helplessly wondering what to do. Alpha Caliph was on the front line but he was exerting himself more than he was supposed to especially at his age and with his deteriorating health.

The Alpha from the rival pack attacked him and overcame him. Within seconds, I lunged forward and pounced on him and by sheer luck, I managed to throw him off. Everyone knew that no one could take on him. There had been only one Alpha bigger in strength than him but that was until several months ago. Alpha Caliph had been the strongest in the whole clan until he fell ill which marked the beginning of the end of his reign. He could no longer hold a fight to the end and that had raised eyebrows amongst several pack members and even the council. It was clear that he was wanted off the leadership mantle but the truth was, I wasn't sure anyone in the pack was fit to take over yet that was another battle between his two sons who despite being the strongest from the bloodline, their arrogance was enough to make our pack extinct all the same. If any one of them took over, we could as well accept that our fates had been decided on the very ground we were standing on. Either way, death was just a scent away.

"Alpha, too many of us are dead. If we go on there will be no one standing to fight another day," I said through the mind link as I tackled another wolf.

"Fall back," he responded immediately. "Get everyone to the pack house. They won't follow us there."

"Okay Alpha."

I quickly gathered everyone of us who was left to safety then hurried to my Alpha's chamber. He was in his human form and a couple of healers surrounded him attending to his wounds. I transformed back to my human form and quickly joined him by the bed. He was bleeding all over with deep wounds. He groaned in pain and turned to me. His eyes were filled with desperation, something I had never seen in him ever since he took me in twenty years ago.

"What can I do?" I asked, already starting to fear for the worst. It was clear that this time he was likely not to wake up from that bed and he seemed to realize it too. Before he managed to speak, the head of the council walked in together with the alpha's sons. Slowly, he turned to the interrupters and swallowed painfully. I could see the repulsion in his eyes but unfortunately it was too late to keep holding on. His time as leader had come to an end and whether he liked it or not he had to name one of his sons Alpha and step down as it was customary.

"Alpha Caliph, the time has come," the elder announced. I noticed the sly grin on his eldest son's face and gods know just how many times I had wanted to wipe it right off his face. Capheus was twenty nine and thought the whole world belonged to him and leadership was just something he deserved despite the fact that he didn't know the first thing about being Alpha. Andre was twenty six and always had his head up in the clouds and if not, nightclubs were his first home. I couldn't even remember the last time I saw him in the pack house or even near his father. None of them were fighting in the field with us yet one of them had to take over. Sometimes I forgot just how stupid rules could be because sanely thinking, none of them was fit enough to lead. I looked down and wetted my lips sadly because there was nothing I could.

"No!"

The alpha's response alerted me and I quickly looked at him in surprise, just like every other person in the room.

"What did you just say?" the elder asked firmly.

"I said no," he repeated and his eyes were a confirmation of how serious he was with his response. The elder stepped forward and met his gaze from up close.

"Alpha Caliph, do you realize that you are going against the rules of the clan?" his voice boomed and echoed around the room. "It is customary for the ailing or dying Alpha to name the next Alpha from his bloodline. The leadership can only be taken by another bloodline if the descendants of the former Alpha are over or if the named person is too young to lead of which the council takes over until the young Alpha comes of age."

"I know the law, Elder. But I am not naming any of them, not today."

I looked at the exchange and couldn't help but admire the Alpha's boldness. No one had ever stood up against a member of the council as they were considered the most supreme in the pack. Their word was final, whether they were right or wrong. I couldn't wait to find out what the Alpha was up to but at the same time I feared for him. His response could easily be considered as treason which was punishable by death but luckily he was just buying some time which I couldn't tell why.

"You are on your death bed."

"Then you can consider this my dying wish. I believe that I am strong enough to last another day. Come back for my answer tomorrow."

The features of the elder twitched angrily as he struggled to say something but ended up puffing out heavily. I looked at the two sons, Capheus giving his father a murderous look of which I was sure he wouldn't hesitate to do given a chance and Andre as usual disinterested. For him nothing mattered more than his drugs and whores.

"One day," the elder announced. "If you are not ready by then, we will be forced to take the matter into our own hands.

As soon as they left the room, Alpha Caliph sent the healers away and turned to me.

"Why did you do that? You are going to have to name one of them eventually."

"None of my sons are going to lead, not if I am still alive," he replied and struggled to get out of bed. I knew that trying to get him to lay back down would be futile so I helped him up. He walked over to a drawer, removed from a key from underneath it and opened it. I observed him with wonder, confusion getting the better part of me and I frowned.

"What do you mean? You know the law, only your blood can take over and you only have two options."

Alpha Caliph turned and leaned against the wall, breathing hard but a smile extended on his face as he handed me a folder.

"If I could, I would say f**k blood and name you Alpha. You are way more of a son and a leader to me than those two spoiled brats will ever be. You are stronger than both of them yet something as little as blood makes it impossible." I swallowed hard and swelled with emotions. No one had ever said those words to me or loved me as Alpha Caliph did despite me not being his blood. However his next words jolted me from my self pity. "But there is another one."

I looked at him in confusion, "What do you mean?"

He smiled, "A daughter. The last gift our Luna left me before she died."

"But... I thought she died too."

"So the story goes," he nodded. "But she lives. And I need you to bring her home."

I looked at him in bewilderment. So many questions popped in my head. Why did he say that she had died if she hadn't and why had he hidden her for all those years?