In a cold icy voice, the man reminded the woman, "This is just the first sacrifice. We need three more in order to get the master here." His white hair came out when he removed his hood. He looked deathly cold.

"You don't have to tell me. I know that," she replied in an equally cold voice. Her pale white face looked like that of a ghost in the moonlight that filtered through the trees.

​​

"In that case you better bring more of these beasts, else-," the man warned.

The woman's heart jumped with terror but she kept her emotions well hidden. "Why don't you go and get them?"

His eyes became cold, hard and flinty with her curt answer. "Don't make me sacrifice you next," he threatened her in a nasty tone.

The woman exhaled deeply and walked past him. She was dead scared on the inside.

The man watched her leave in her car and then got sucked in a vortex. There were too many kinds of people in the cult that he had to manage—wizards, witches, humans and werewolves. Each was necessary for the mission and had been handpicked by him.

---

"I would like to go back to my Kingdom, Adrianna," Shang Kui said. "It has been quite a few days now."

"I understand," Adrianna replied with a nod and a faint smile. "However, it would be an honor if both of you can stay back for the grand victory celebrations." She looked at Enya.

Enya took a deep breath. "I can't say no to that because it has been a long time since anyone invited me for a feast like that." Inside she was planning to stay over for a few more days and enjoy the country like Inyanga.

Shang Kui nodded. His eyes were glowing. He leaned forward and said, "Thanks Adrianna but there is one thing I would like to mention."

"Sure?" she asked, maintaining a strong eye contact.

"I had asked me if you could give me one of the clones of Kayla," he reminded her.

"Yes, Shang Kui. I remember that very well. In fact why don't you go to the lab where the clones are developed and choose one? I believe there are more than ten over there," Adrianna offered.

Shang Kui smiled and sat with straight shoulders and back. "That would be nice! When can I go?"

"You can go anytime you feel. I will send someone to assist you." Adrianna smiled at his eagerness. "But if you don't mind, may I ask why are you so interested in Kayla's clone?"

Shang Kui became absolutely quiet and stared at Adrianna. He quirked an eyebrow and then lowered his head. She understood that he didn't want to share the reason and it was none of her business. She changed the topic again.

---

Dmitri had gone to the Werewolf Realm to meet his parents. Although they had been brought back first, he hadn't had a chance to meet them. He was looking forward to his betas gathering with their wives, but the turn of events was too quick and at the moment he wanted the safety of his wife.

They discussed how to clean the lake water and what all precautions to take next. "Father, please send an instruction on my behalf to all the packs that they should not leave the Werewolf Territory for the next few days until I give a green flag."

"Why is that so Dmitri?" asked Pierre as he stood to make himself a glass of whiskey.

Dmitri blew out a long breath, "I have a vague hunch that things aren't over yet. There is something in the shadows that is waiting to jump out. And when that will happen, it might be too late. So I want all the werewolves to not venture out. We will be sustaining all the territories with whatever supplies we have in store."

"Okay," said Pierre looking in the distance. "How is Adrianna doing? We would like her to come here."

"She is doing good. I have asked her to stay in Wizard Kingdom strictly. There are going to be grand victory celebrations in two days. So she will not be able to come. However, the two of you have to be there."

Pierre chortled. He said, "Dmitri, that is nice, but I want another victory celebration in our realm too. After all it has been a collective win. All the werewolves are looking forward to it. They want to see their Supreme Alpha and his Luna. It is important to display your strength at this time."

Dmitri's face became as hard as a stone. "If it isn't necessary, I would like to pass."

"It is necessary," Pierre replied coldly. He took a sip and went to sit with Cora.

"Okay, let me have a talk with Adrianna," he answered. After a pause, he said, "I have to go back father."

The messengers spread Dmitri's message throughout the packs the next day. However, Deba and his wife had already left for the hospital before they heard the message.

---

Deba's wife got discharged from the hospital a day later. She waited for her husband to come and pick her up but he didn't come. At first she was angry with him for neglecting her but her anger soon turned into worry. She got herself discharged from the hospital and with the baby somehow managed to reach her pack. She didn't find him at home so went around searching for him in that condition. An hour later the entire pack knew about it. A massive hunt was launched for Deba but he couldn't be found.

She became too anxious. With a small baby and a lost husband, she was on the verge of panic. It was then she heard the message that none of the werewolves were allowed to go out of their territories but for her it was too late. She decided to go to meet the Supreme Alpha.

---

Haldir was enjoying his time with Inyanga. The two of them toured to various cities in the country. He remained by her side all the time but never demanded anything. She reveled in her holiday. She drank in a lot, ate a lot, flipped and freaked, got high, and lived it up. Because of the fact that she was so pretty, there was never a dearth of men around her. And this peeved Haldir the most. Every time he would see them wooing her, he would hate them, feeling angry at their banter. All Inyanga did was to stand up with a grin that would light up the world and all boys would make a beeline for her attention. It took him a while to realize that those feelings were becoming his problem. Was he envious of them? In the end, he decided to talk to her about it, to understand himself in her eyes. What he never realized or even took care of was that wherever he went, his perfect, out worldly features were becoming popular with the girls. A girl even took his video, which she later discovered that it was a corrupt file.

So just before the holiday ended, he called her for an exclusive dinner in a private, resplendent dining area.

Sitting across him, Inyanga looked seductive in her blue dress. Her hair was open and the only jewelry she wore was diamond earrings. They had dinner in silence. During that time Haldir garnered courage to tell her about his feelings. Over the desert he opened his mouth, "Inyanga?"

She looked up at him with a question in her eyes.

"I- I wanted to say something."

"Sure."

"I-"

Suddenly a wizard servant appeared.