Golden Rule

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 – the brothers

             When Brandon got back to the alpha’s residence, Anthony was waiting outside for him. He looked antsy, ready to explode and Brandon could tell he wanted to hit something. He quickly got out of the SUV not bothering to park it in the garage.

             “I’ve been trying to reach you for a while now man. I took the call you had with Alpha Dean, he didn’t want to talk to me at first.” Anthony began.

             “Was the call about the same s**t as always?” asked Brandon.

             “Hell yeah, waste of f*****g time, he’s hell bent on getting ‘his cut.’ He’s delusional. We went back and forth and he said you disrespected him by not taking his call. He threatened to come here and take what’s rightfully his, blah blah blah. Then he hung up. I recorded the call like we always do, so he can’t tell lies on me. Aggravating f***er.” Anthony said exasperated. “At this point, I don’t know if to take him serious about coming here. No pack would dare come up against us, but you never know. He got deranged and s**t on the phone. The call was two hours ago and it’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive from his pack. I informed Nathan and he didn’t take the old man serious, but said he would have the warriors on standby, he added two more patrols to each post, and the guards in the village are at the ready. What do you want to do alpha?”

             Brandon started making his way to his office. “If I could let him take whatever the hell he wanted just to get him to shut the f**k up, I would. He’s been non-stop about this s**t for years now.” He walked into the house with Anthony at his heels and started making his way to his office. Before he turned the corner Nathan was coming down the stairs.

             “You gonna call the old geezer?” Nathan asked Brandon and Brandon only nodded his head. “I’m going to head out and meet up with the warriors, keep me posted.” Added Nathan.

             “I’ll let you know as soon as I know anything.” Brandon responded. Nathan made his way out through the kitchen to meet the warriors in the field. There was a training session, the last of the day and he would go oversee it and wait for word from his brother.

             Brandon and Anthony continued to his office and once inside he picked up the phone and dialed Alpha Dean from Moonstone Pack. Years ago, the two packs were great allies. But not long after Golden Cross lost the Tenok family, Alpha Dean began to try and lay claim to gold at Golden Cross. He claimed Montez, the patriarch of the Tenok family promised him gold. Alpha Richard always dismissed him and the twin alphas did the same. But both brothers had the same thought, give the old man what he wanted and let him deal with any curse that came from taking that gold. Legend said only a Tenok could gift the gold from the mountain, and truth be told, no one knew how or where to mine the gold. Even for the twin alphas and their father, it was a mystery. But they wouldn’t admit that to anyone. They also didn’t want the curse to extend to them. They had heard stories all their lives about the cursed gold, they wanted nothing to do with cursed objects. They had already suffered great losses of their own without adding more damnation into the mix.

             The line rang and it went to voicemail. Brandon took his cell phone out to look if he had a different contact for alpha Dean. Anthony took out the directory book they tried to keep up to date. They tried all numbers they had for the Moonstone Pack but had no luck. After a while Brandon decided to update Nathan. He mind-linked ‘no luck getting in touch with alpha Dean.’ Nathan began to say something when they got a link from one of the guards at the main entrance.

             ‘Alphas, the Alpha from Moonstone is at the main gate and he brought with him about 10 trucks full with his warriors.’

             At that, the Alpha brothers sent out a pack wide mind link to let everyone know there was a security breach. They didn’t want to cause panic, so they just wanted every able-bodied pack member to be ready at their assigned post. Be at the perimeters, the wooded areas, or the village. The elderly, children and mothers went on lockdown if they lived in the outskirts or close to the woods. Only the humans in the village continued as if nothing was threatening them. Even then, the ones who knew or who were mated to a werewolf followed pack rules and helped with other humans.

             The alphas made their respective ways to meet Alpha Dean at the entrance. Nathan would stay a ways behind with the warriors, close enough to listen. Brandon, Anthony and their crew shifted into their wolves and took off like a bullet to meet the old alpha. They made it to the entrance within 10 minutes.

             By the time Brandon and Anthony got there, there was a loud argument between some of their guards and wolves that came with Moonstone.

             “What the f**k is going on?!” roared Brandon as he shifted back. He was handed shorts the guards kept around their posts.

             “Alpha Brandon, this son of a b***h dared disrespect the Luna. We will not allow some b***h a** pup to come to OUR territory and disrespect our Luna or Alpha.” Responded Walter, top leader for the guards. Brandon felt his blood boiling.

             “Alpha Dean, I hope for your wolves’ lives sake you didn’t bring them all the way here to disrespect Golden Cross. You’ve interrupted our pack’s evening. It better be worth it!” Brandon said as he felt his wolf coming to the surface getting ready to pounce on the old alpha. Alpha Dean took a hesitant step forward. Brandon could tell the old wolf was intoxicated, as were some of his younger pack members. No wonder his wolves were acting like f***ing teenagers.

             “Alpha Brandon, my warrior was only asking about that pretty little human Luna your brother had running around. Rumor has it she is-.” The old alpha began to say with a chuckle. Everyone stiffened when there was a loud roar through the trees. Nathan came out his body trembling with anger and his eyes completely pitch black. He walked straight up to alpha Dean and growled, “repeat that now, I f***ing dare you old man.” Brandon walked up to Nathan and put his hand on his shoulder. Their twin brother bond always helped each other calm down in many different situations, but Nathan noticed something faint in his brother’s bond. Nathan gave Brandon a side eye glance. Brandon noticed the look of confusion on Nathan’s face when their attention was redirected to the old alpha.

             “We don’t care about your Luna, we’re here for our gold! Just let us through and we’ll f***ing get it ourselves!” said the old alpha running on courage from being so intoxicated. He was trembling under Nathan’s gaze. But he couldn’t let his pack see his fear.

             “We’ve told you a hundred times before, you have no claim to the gold. I’ve had it with this same old s**t Alpha Dean. And now you come here and show blatant disrespect. If you really want to come into our pack, challenge my brother or I for that claim!” Brandon bellowed. Nathan smirked at that. Alpha Dean’s face paled and he was now visibly trembling. The twins’ attention stayed on the alpha waiting for his response.

             “Well, old man. What’s it going to be? Challenge my brother or me; or you can run back to your hole with your tail between your legs.” Nathan said with an air of humor dipping from his words as Golden Moon warriors and guards laughed at those from the Moonstone pack further humiliating the old alpha and angering and embarrassing his pack members.

             “Some f*****g challenge, you both are younger than me.”

             “You picked this fight old man. You came to us and disrespected and demanded of Golden Cross. Now show your sorry excuse of a pack what their alpha is made of.” Said Nathan. The Moonstone members had no idea what to do. Most knew they were no match for the Golden Cross warriors, they had joined the group because of an alpha command given by the drunk alpha Dean. But they were willing to die for their pack. It was a matter of honor and that was the bottom line. Families at Moonstone began to doubt of their alpha’s claim to the gold years ago. But they were stuck out of loyalty. Their once grand pack now not even a slither of what it used to be. All because of this deranged drunk they had to submit to.

At that moment, before another word was said, another wolf was seen running up to the group. The Moonstone group tensed not knowing what would happen next. The new arrival shifted back and a guard immediately handed him shorts to cover up. Father Fred turned his attention directly to Alpha Dean.

“Alpha Dean, I can’t say it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Look Priest, tell your alphas to give me what is rightfully mine and we will never have to see each other’s faces again.”

“There is nothing here that belongs to you Dean, I suggest-“

“I don’t f***ing need or want your suggestions priest! I’m here for what’s mine!”

“This is the last time I save your tail. You’ve come here and interrupted our pack and disrespected my alphas. Next time, there won’t be any talking. Come here again for any reason and you and your pack members WILL pay with your lives.”

“F*** YOU PRIEST! I swear if you didn’t wear your dresses, I would have killed you when she choose you over me! And then you f***ing abandoned her! I will have my gold and I will have her back! You piece of s*** mother f***ing bas-“ At that moment Nathan ran to the old, drunken alpha and grabbed him up by the throat and lifted him from the ground. The old man tried to fight but his struggles were futile. Meanwhile, the Golden Warriors stood at attention ready to pounce on Moonstone, they only needed a sign from either of their alphas to attack.

Brandon didn’t move an inch. He could feel the fright and embarrassment from most of the Moonstone members. He would not have innocent wolves on his conscience but there was one thing that they would address. He linked his brother and Nathan choked the old alpha into unconsciousness and threw his limp body into a group of about six that had showed him and his family disrespect.

“You’re on notice. If I ever see you around here again, you will die!” he let his wolf to the surface. The six Moonstone members were shaking at the sight and sound that was Brandon’s powerful alpha aura. There was no mistaking his words or his intent. The Golden Cross warriors they had had the disrespectful bout with were eyeing them. Committing their faces to memory, next time they saw each other they would die. They knew that. Everyone was silent now, Moonstone dared not make any sudden movements. The ones who had arrived intoxicated with their alpha had now sobered up.

“I suggest you take your alpha and go!” Father Fred roared. At that, the Moonstone crowd began to move to get the hell out of there. Golden Cross didn’t move until they saw the last truck with its bed full of Moonstone pack members leave. They could see a few faces turned back toward them in appreciation in letting them go back to their families. Their crowd slowing began to disperse as well.

“We need to dig into Moonstone’s situation. I get the feeling there’s more to what’s ailing the pack than just that f***er’s obsession with the gold. He’s losing his mind.” Said Anthony.

“Might have something to do with what he said to Freddy here.” Said Nathan.

“Don’t be a little s**t Alpha Kid. He’s an old wolf whose life didn’t go the way he wanted. But I agree with Beta Tony, his pack is suffering his short comings.” Said Father Fred.

“There is more to it, and I agree too. Those wolves are losing respect for their alpha, its only a matter of time before rogues get to them.” Added Brandon. They began to make their way back to the alpha’s residence when Brandon decided to address his brother.

“You good Nate?”

“I’m perfect.” He answered dryly, he took a deep breath and quickly turned to his brother. “What’s with your scent today?”

Brandon shrugged, “nothing’s different, I don’t know what to tell you.”

Anthony added with a smirk, “might be that pretty teacher’s scent on him.”

“It’s not like that” Brandon said quickly.

“Damn right it’s not!” the three men turned to Father Fred in surprise at his outburst. “Just… show more respect boy. A male and female can have a healthy friendship. Don’t be so daft.”

Nathan’s wolf was drawn to the priest’s scent as well. Nathan smelled something different on both his brother and the priest but could not pinpoint what it could be. It was faint on his brother and stronger on the priest. He shrugged it off, for all he knew it could be the new teacher’s scent and he wanted nothing to do with another woman. As much as his wolf was whimpering about the damn scent, he decided to let it go. He pushed his wolf to the back of his mind.  

“Are you going to tell us what that drama was Fred? I would have never took you for a heartbreaker.” Nathan said grinning at the priest. Brandon and Anthony waited wanting to know the answer themselves.

“That’s in the past and its not like he said. And that’s none of your business. What you need to be asking about is how your case is going. You were supposed to go see me about it alpha kid Nathan.” Retorted Father Fred.

“I was on my way to see you about that today when I ran into Miriam.” Spoke up Brandon.

“Already on a first name basis, that’s my alpha!” exclaimed Anthony. Father Fred glared at him. Anthony pursed his lips together and held up both hands in surrender.

“Why are you being so protective of her? You just barely met her today and only for a few minutes at that.” said Brandon.

“She came here from another pack to help our kids. She’s alone and I just want her shown respect.” Father Fred answered. He had promised to keep his niece’s identity a secret. After hearing her story, how her life was turned upside down after rebuilding, he understood her need to find out who killed Regina and her other two loved ones. Father Fred didn’t believe the alpha twins could be responsible. He had known them their entire lives. He knew their schedules, who they talked to, if they ever left the pack, and even if they had visitors to the pack.

But he would not put his niece’s life in danger and someone was after her. He had formed a hypothesis while listening to her story. They had always been under the impression that rogues attacked the Tenok family and Golden Cross pack that night. But now, he was beginning to think there was more to the attack on his family. An alpha had ordered the murder of Fernanda and her new family twenty years after killing her parents and others. Could the same alpha be behind both attacks?