Dayla

Chapter 3

-Dayla

The annual alpha meet was one of the most anticipated events of the year. It was a conference, held in a different pack each year.

This year, it's being held right here, in the Earth Pack.

I had personally presided over the security measures, making sure that every inch of the territory was safe and protected.

Nothing could interrupt the important meetings that had to take place the following week.

Since the events over the past few days, I wanted to put up this issue and discuss it with each and every member of the meeting. The Alphas of the different packs were concerned about  the safety of their members, the general peace which had been established after years of war.

I watch in front of me as different alphas dressed in their tailored suits wandered around with a drink in their hand. They had just arrived in the meeting hall which was the room which had a long table, almost medieval looking.

I cleared my throat and all of them stopped chattering.

"We should get to business, alphas. Please take your seats."

In front of every Alpha, was a file with the details of where our investigation had finally been concluded. The file was extremely detailed, so I spoke up.

"A few days ago, I had met with Brenner. He was an informant of mine, who was... situated in the Chaos Pack. He went missing the day after I talked to him about the information he had gathered. Myra and I tried to track him, and we found a cave hidden deep inside the forest. We didn't realise it was a trap, and we were ambushed by... Seth."

At this, everyone sucked in a deep breath. They all knew how close it would have been. Seth was dangerous, and all of them knew it.

I continue, "Seth has made it till here. I want your co-operation in catching this fool so that I can guarantee the safety of my people, even your people. He's evaded us for far too long. He thinks I'm weak, at this point- because he's here, right now. He's here inside my pack, my territory. And he's going to use that to his full advantage." I finish, looking around at the different Alphas.

The Alpha of Magic, Romina, who is incidentally the only female Alpha other than me, clears her throat. I'm struck by her appearance. She wears a plane white shirt- but it is enough to make me gawk. She's naturally beautiful, with vivid green eyes and brown hair. Today, the flower crown on her head shimmers as if she's not able to fully control her powers. It is too bad that I don't get along with her. She's too... in a trance to have a friendship with.

However, I'm surprised when she speaks up in that soft voice of hers.

"Why would he be here?" She speaks in an accent. It's exotic, but so unnatural. Ironic.

But the question leaves me unsettled as well.

The Chaos Pack has never stepped up and actually threatened war against another pack- they didn't have the motive, or the capability. Aside from a few appearances of Seth over the past five years, everything has been noticeably lax.

"That's a good question, but we'll ponder over it later. The urgency of the matter is that he's planning something. We need to find out what, and who." I pause in the middle, and look at all of them. They seem unsuspecting.

"But... I have reason to believe that they may want to blackmail me. I have discovered over the past few days... through my own investigation, that my brother is alive and he is being held in the Chaos Pack." I try to keep a straight face, managing not to break down into a puddle of sobs right there and then.

Every second of the day has passed with me pondering over what my brother must be going through.

How he's being treated- if he's even still in the right frame of mind after what the vile creatures in that pit did to him.

The Alphas stay silent. They stare at my face pitifully. But I notice Romina's face has gone pale. She stares at my face for what seems like eternity, before looking away outside the window.

Romina clears her throat, and looks at everyone. The look on her face is unsettled.

"I advise removing all of your informants from there. That's the only thing I can advise doing right now." She speaks, dazed.

I see beads of sweat on her forehead, unnoticeable if not for the tone of her voice.

Soon enough, we all agree. But I'm not satisfied with it and I'm going to talk to Romina, find out what she's hiding because the stakes have never been so high.

--------

The leaders sit around here and there in the huge hall. They hold plates of food and drinks in their hands. I hold a golden coloured drink in my hand- Ivory, its called. It tastes good enough, sweet and then turns sour. I sip it occasionally.

I spot Romina twirling a finger around her perfect brunette hair, and not noticing anyone around her, I move towards her. She notices me as well, and rests her hands on the table, giving me a friendly smile.

I smile back, although it doesn't reach my eyes.

"You seem happy." I remark, and sit across her.

Romina smiles, "Yes, the Alpha meet is an important convergence to solve the problems which we face everyday."

I steel my gaze.

"Cut the crap, Romina. We both know that you're hiding something. Are you in league with Seth?" I demand an answer. Her face changes from carefree to furious. I see a storm raging in her eyes- they slowly turn like swirling pools of rage. I see her hands twitch, and I sit back. So, I have her where I wanted her.

"I am not in league with Seth. The idea is preposterous, and I won't sit-"

"Is it? Is it really? Your magic guards our boundaries, Romina. I don't mean to sound accusatory, but if your magic really is that great, how was Seth able to sneak inside? Please forgive me if I'm sounding a bit irrational, but my rationality lies in the words I'm speaking right now. You said, our borders would be safe. Well, then how did Seth sneak in and harm my second command without even being seen?" I question her, resting back on the soft chair. Romina stares at me with newfound emotion.

Her eyes glisten with tears, and she looks down. I'm hit with a wave of sympathy for her. It's clear that she has a huge responsibility on her shoulders- defending her pack, and ours as well.

"Seth is a master of disguise. He could be here, disguised as one of the Alphas and we wouldn't even know it. He's powerful, Dayla. So powerful, that my magic couldn't detect him. He came to my pack three years ago, dressed as someone who had been rescued from the Chaos Pack. He was so deceptive, that I let him join the my pack, and train along with my apprentices. And he was good. Very good. But on the night of his initiation into the force, he disappeared, leaving with but a trace. The only evidence he'd even been there? A motif on the wall of the border- an 'S'."

She continued, "I conducted my own investigation in secrecy. I went to the Chaos Pack. There, I had a close encounter. A very close encounter with your brother."

My heart stops. He's still alive. But what I hear next is the worst part.

"He's my mate, Dayla. And I left him there."