The Wolf Kingdom

Chapter Three

            Coming to the crescent pack unannounced wasn’t the first choice it was the only choice. The fighting was getting worse on the out skirts of the kingdoms. Humans and supernatural loyal to each one were being slaughtered in the middle of night. This time the fighting had broken through the wolf territory in the between lands used by the nomads. I had to come to see Alpha Efrom.

            His son David walked beside me through the pack house to the alpha’s office. He was going to make a strong Alpha the youngest in a few hundred years but still strong. His future betas are with mine walking behind us. Some of the pack members see us and stop to whisper and gawk at us. What I did by coming here hasn’t been done in a long time, but this couldn’t wait till the weekend for the celebration we had planned to bring more unity to the packs.

            David stops in front of solid mahogany door and knocks. Its open by the beta Paul who smiles till he see me and then my betas. He shoves the door open “Get in here” his voice is stern, and I can here the worry in it. We all move into the space, mine and David’s betas move to sit on the couch while Paul moves to stand behind Efrom at his desk. Efrom looks worried then mad I can understand that. His pack will now know that not all is well in our kingdom.

            “What have you done and why Landon. This couldn’t wait till the celebration or be said with a phone call?”

            “I am sorry for the uproar this will cause for you but no it couldn’t wait, and we can’t trust the phones. I have someone working on getting secure lines for the three of us, but Alpha Kevin stayed in his land to help clean up the mess left behind by this attack.”

            At that both Alpha Efrom and Paul went white, “There was an attack in the kingdom?”

            My beta and second in command Andrew answers, “Yes, the beasts came through the nomad lands of there kingdom and tore apart a small village. The same thing as the outlands. They killed the men and the woman over thirty. Left the children alone in a hut and after words lit it on fire only this time, they missed one. Luca, he saw them, but they didn’t see him in the trees.”

            “Oh my god. Has he told us yet anything that we can use to find these beasts and rid the kingdoms of them?”

            Andrew looks to me and I take back the room. Looking at everyone’s faces I see the anger and worry. “He told alpha Kevin that they were looking for someone a girl. He wasn’t sure why but that wasn’t the most interesting part. The most interesting part was that they were just wolves. The boy watched them and recorded some of the attack. He figured no one would believe him if he didn’t. In the video they went from wolf form to human but then they fed on the victims like vampires. They are hybrids.”

            “How is the possible?” David sounded doubtful and if I hadn’t seen the video I would have too.          

            I look to Alpha Efrom and Paul for me to answer that he has to okay it. The true story of what happened eight hundred years ago had been cut and pasted together so that certain parts were left out. He looks at me and then sighs. “Axels lock the door. Paul we are going to need a bottle of scotch.”

            The beta’s move to get the drinks and lock the door. When everyone has a drink Efrom takes a big sip and leans back looking at everyone.

            “The story of the white wolf was only partially told. Back when the wars were going on the whole story says that four people came together. The white wolf Ishtar, the vampire prince Valin, the fey prince Asher and a witch Mara. They sought to find peace, but they also had selfish reasons for wanting it. The fey prince had fallen in love with the Mara and Ishtar and Valin had also fallen in love. They eventually brought peace, but the council wouldn’t abide the species mixing. Now we don’t really care. But then it was considered blasphemy. They left in the agreement that they would stay in the outlands and never return. Over the years we had heard that there was a group of men and woman in a small village that had some remarkable talents but could never prove them.

            The stories heard told that each couple had children and their children had children. Eventually the bodies of each were sent back to their families they had each died about four hundred years ago. The village that everyone hearing about kept moving and eventually the families stopped looking for it. The children if there were any never came forward.”

            It was Axel that spoke first, “So these beasts slaughtering our people could be kids of the people that brought out to peace?”

            I spoke, “We can’t confirm that or deny it. There could have been others that mixed the bloodlines.”

            “So, what do we do now?”

            Efrom finished his drink in one gulp and set his glass down. “We go into lock down. The walls need to lock down we will offer shelter to any nomads that wish it. But the borders need to be reinforced. Paul get the witches to rebind their spells and add any additional touches they can.”

            “I will.” Paul looks to me, “Can we assume that you are doing the same?”

            “Yes, the only ones allowed in or out are the upper pack members and anyone that means the pack or nomads of my lands harm can’t enter. The witches did warn that they may be able to break the barriers if they have a strong enough witch, I have members of the pack on rotation and installed cameras in more areas. We also restocked the pack house and cellar rooms below in the event that we do get invaded.”

            He nods his head, “I will start making plans to up our security. We need to consider telling the members something about what is going on. They won’t buy everything is okay now.”

            “You haven’t told them? Is that why your daughter was running with David and her friends early?” He asks in surprise.

            Efrom startles and looks at David. David doesn’t look anger more resigned, “She was getting restless me, Axel and Jeremiah took her for run with Annie. We stayed close and together I also had other guards farther off.”

            Efrom relaxes some. Thinking of his daughter I have lightbulb moment. “Your daughter is the grey wolf?”

            Both him and David looked to me, Efrom answers hesitantly, “Yes”

            “They are rare. So rare that one has been born in about two hundred years. They usually are born with a mark, right?”

            Efrom goes ridged but its David that answers me, “Yes it sits on lower back it’s a half moon from what we can tell.”

            Efrom looks at me with anger and fear. “The attacks started about four years ago. From when I met her that means she would have just been able to start transforming. Correct?”

            This time Axel get defensive and jumps from seat. “If you think that she has something to do with this your insane and should leave. She doesn’t have the heart to hurt anyone that way.”

            He doesn’t say it like he loves her more like an older brother coming to the defense of his sister. My betas go to get up, but I put my hand up. Before I respond though Efrom does, “That’s not what he is saying.” Looking to me his voice gets firm, “You think these beasts are looking for her don’t you.”

            “It would make sense from what Luca said only checked the women of about her age before throwing them into the church.”

            David looks angry and then at his father. “We need to tell her what’s going on she is set to head back to college with Annie soon and we can’t let her go if this true. If she knows of the danger, she won’t risk it father. She also won’t tell the other members if we ask her not to.”

            Efrom nods and looks at the clock, “Thank you for bringing this to us Landon. And I think it’s a possibility your right about what they are looking for. Please it is late and with all that has happened stay here with your betas for the night. Dinner will be done shortly David can show you all to rooms that you can use to get ready.”

            “I should return to my pack but with what’s happened the wiser choice would be for us to stay. Thank you we will get washed up and be down for dinner.” We stand and shake hands and then David leads us out of the room.

            We are quiet as we head upstairs, and David doesn’t stop till he gets to a set of doors. He opens the first and it’s a large room with two full beds and a bathroom. “This is for Andrew and Oscar its usually where visiting pack members stay so everything is clean and stocked if you need anything just use the phone and dial one it will go the kitchen.”

            Andrew and Oscar move to the room and look back at me, “Call if you need us Landon. We will meet you in the hall in thirty for dinner.”

            I nod and Andrew and David closes the door. We move further down the call walking by three more rooms and he stops outside one. He opens it and I step past him he stays in the doorway. I turn back to look at him and he is staring off out the window. “Are you okay David?”

            He looks back at me his brows furrowed. “If your right and they are looking for my sister…her life is in danger. She doesn’t deserve this, she’s always been so kind and happy, helping others even when she doesn’t have to.” He pauses for a second looks at me with determination and continues. “If anything happens to us can I send her to you for protection. She doesn’t deserve the what ever they have instore for her.”

            I think back to when I met her. I was shocked to see a grey wolf and they she turned into a beautiful woman with dark hair and hazel eyes. She was shorter too closer to five foot from what I could guess. She seemed strong and innocent in some ways. “If you can’t protect her my pack will take her in.”

            He nods and leave the room closing the door as he goes. I take a minute to look around, the crescent pack house is beautiful much like ours but ours was built into the ground as well there are three floors buried in the ground and spelled so they stay hidden. In the event that war comes again we have the room to house three thousand people in there. The top part of the house is spelled as well, and no one can get in with out being with a pack member. It’s designed to house and keep eighty percent of the pack for up to a hundred years. Longer with some of the improvements that I father made.

            I go to the restroom and get ready for dinner. After finishing up I move to the hallway to find Andrew and Oscar standing outside my door. “You don’t need to stand guard here.”

            “We weren’t we just got out here. Thought we would wait a minute before knocking.” Andrew smiles at me.

            “Well let’s make our way downstairs I want to be able to lay down early and leave earlier tomorrow morning. I don’t like being gone from the pack for so long.”

            They shake their heads in agreeance and we move down the stairs to the dining hall in silence. I honestly didn’t want to go we were most likely everyone would be staring, and I never did like public attention. It’s one of the reasons I kept the Fallen pack sealed after my father passed on. Stealing my features, I walk with my family determined to get the dinner over with and go to bed.