A rough kick at the back of the leg forced them to their knees, Judith stared at them with a hardened expression.

"It's the both of them, I caught them trespassing on our territory! " Judith explained to Daniel whose face was tense from thinking.

Daniel rubbed his chin before gesturing to Ryan who stepped forward and grabbed a fistful of their hair, tugging their head backward, and took a sniff.

His nose wrinkled, " Confirmed, they're really from the Ranger Park " he then took a step back.

Judith and her team had been on patrol when they caught the two werewolves encroaching on their border.

She brought them to the dungeon and mind-linked the alpha and his beta at once.

Daniel took a seat in front of the two prisoners, he scratched the space between his eyebrows, then asked

"Why are you both here? " He readjusted himself on his seat and crossed his leg over the other in a business-like manner.

No answer.

"I don't remember sending you guys an invitation, so why did you come into my territory without my permission? " He repeated his question, this time firmer and sterner.

One of them lifted his face and Daniel couldn't help but wince internally, Judith really beat him black and blue.

His face was a mass of purple bruise and his eyes were bloodshot and almost hidden under puffy skin with swollen lips.

Also, his partner was not left out, he too featured a bruised face and busted lips.

Judith was really savage. Well, both of them were werewolves and would heal in no time, no hard damage done - but the pain was real.

" Why? Are you that scared? " He scorned outright at Daniel.

Ryan hissed and took a step forward, with the aim of beating the fear of God into him but Daniel raised his hand and he halted his plan.

Daniel leaned towards the prisoners who were on their knees with their hands tied strongly behind their back.

"Why should I be scared? " He asked them amusedly.

"Just admit that you're scared we might take over your pack " He spat, making Daniel literally shoot fire from his eyes.

It's a known fact that werewolves are territorial creatures and encroaching on it means serious trouble that could even lead to war.

Alphas greedy for expansion and vying for the territory that belongs to other packs wasn't a new thing and often leads to war or fighting to the death in which the winner takes over.

In a situation like a war, both sides would continue to destroy each other until their alphas compromise and form a treaty.

But lives and properties would have been lost in the process which was why some considerate Alphas prefer fighting to the death and saving their pack from experiencing the misery of war.

That was how Daniel had lost his own father. Though his father won the battle, he suffered many injuries and couldn't survive. His mother who couldn't bear the pain of losing her other half - her destined soulmate- ended her own life and Daniel became the youngest Alpha to lead a pack - He ruled starting from the age of ten.

It wasn't easy to keep the pack of power-hungry and hierarchical werewolves together; his relatives being the number one oppressors.

Werewolves were naturally loyal creatures but not when greed sets in. His relatives wanted to rule the pack, reap where they didn't sow but thankfully, Daniel had been born an Alpha.

Yes, he was stronger but he was younger, so he had to train more than the average Alphas did and studied more than others just to keep his position.

Luckily, Aunt Phoebe and some of his father's faithful followers who had not been soiled by his relatives' , helped him out.

Daniel couldn't just sit and watch all his father's efforts to go to waste. His father had fought and sacrificed himself for the pack and for him - no one would take what rightfully belongs to him.

Eventually, his perverseness paid off cause he finally grew stronger than they could ever imagine. Since they wanted the throne, they must go through him first.

A fight to the death duel was organized again and this time, Daniel used that opportunity to wipe away his oppressors.

But as cruel as he looked to the public, he still had a heart.He gave their remnants an option: live quietly in the pack or be exiled.

Many agreed while the rest were banished, never to return. But it seems his relative's ignorant and dumb descendants really want a death wish.

Daniel wasn't stupid, Alpha Tristan wouldn't dare provoke him unless he had an insider - a spy in his pack.

"Does your alpha know he's asking for a war he can't win? " Daniel asked coldly.

The prisoner snorted demeaningly,

"What? We can't win? Your pack is nothing compared to - "

Ryan, who couldn't take his degrading comments anymore, punched him right on the face and shut his mouth up.

"You would not talk to our alpha that way " He warned, baring his teeth threateningly at him.

The prisoner gave Ryan a hateful look but couldn't do anything, he wasn't in his territory and was bound, he couldn't find back.

" Back to our discussion," Daniel told him and dismissed Ryan with a wave of his hand

"What do you want from my pack? You both must be here for something "Daniel asked his other partner this time.

"As if I would tell you " He sneered.

A cruel smile crossed his face, Daniel took a deep breath and stood to his feet.

" Make yourself comfortable then," he told them as Judith approached him.

"Inject a reasonable amount of wolfsbane into their bloodstream, let's see if it would help loosen their mouth a bit " he instructed her, and saw the panic on their faces.

Everyone knew how lethal Wolfsbane was to a werewolf. Even being in close vicinity would make them sick, talk more inside of them? It was torture or instant death if not monitored and controlled.

"Yes Alpha " She bowed and got moving.

Daniel strutted out of the dungeon amid the prisoner's rageful curses, his beta following along as usual.

"Tristan is declaring war " Ryan opined immediately.

"Let's not jump to a conclusion, " Daniel objected.

"But it's obvious, what other sign do we need? It's obvious "

Daniel stopped in his tracks and stared at him, "Choose a dispensable werewolf and send him to the Ranger pack as a delegate, let him inquire of Alpha Tristan, the intention of his men encroaching on my territory "

Ryan's eyes narrowed, he perfectly understood what he meant by

"dispensable ".

If Alpha Tristan really plans on waging a war against the Silvermoon pack, whosoever they sent as a messenger wouldn't return alive.

"As you wish " Daniel acknowledged his orders just as one of the guards called his attention.

"Alpha Daniel, you have a visitor "

Daniel frowned, a visitor at this time of the night?

" Who is it? "

"It's the vampire, Asher "

Daniel's frown deepened, had something happened to Lia? Why would Asher come to see him this late at night?

" Where is he? "

"In the visitor's room "

" Thank-you "

The guard turned and left to his position.

" Why do you think he is here? " Ryan questioned.

"Something must have happened to Lia " Daniel replied but inwardly, instinctively knew it wasn't the case.

If their mate was in danger, he would have felt it through the bond but nothing came to him.

Daniel started towards the direction of the receiving room and flung the door open.

Ryan eyed the guards at the door and dismissed them at once, taking their place behind the closed door.

Whatever discussion there was top-secret and should not be heard, anyone could be a spy.

"Why are you here ? " the words hardly left his mouth when Asher began to unbutton his shirt right in front of him causing his eyes to widen in shock.

"Whoah, seriously Asher, I'm not interested in men. Just because we share the same mate doesn't mean we should share each other - "

"What rubbish are you talking about? " Asher interrupted the stupid werewolf who shielded his face with his palm.

Daniel lifted his hand away from his face but his throat dried up at the sight of Asher's pale and perfectly sculpted body - Why was his heart beating so fast? Seriously, he's straight!

" What are you doing then? " He asked

Daniel took a step back when Asher stepped towards him causing him to frown slightly.

"What is wrong with you? "

"Y-you.. what are you doing then?" Daniel's hands flew to his chest protectively, " I'm not going to let you take advantage of me even if you're our mate's other mate "

"Idiot " Asher rolled his eyes in disbelief and reached out his hand, grabbed Daniel's head and brought his face closer to his neck.

" See that? "

Daniel's eyes widened from shock to disgust, " Eww, you're here to show off your hickey? Didn't we discuss this in our rules - "

"It is not a hickey " Asher interrupted him, " I think Maya's werewolf side marked me? "

" What? "

No no, this can't be happening, Daniel refused to accept that.