There was a noise behind him. A murmuring like the angry noise of the sea before a storm. With it, a surge of speculation via the Elmwood pack-link so strong that Blake felt it press against the edges of his consciousness. Sweeping outward like a rising wave, the news washed over every inch of the territory and soon, the attention of every wolf was fixed firmly on the hall.

But while Blake braced himself for imminent attack, Rothan exuded a supressed agitation. Unable to shift and end the confrontation swiftly, an unusual impatience had taken hold, and it niggled at the edges of Blake's mind playing havoc with his own calm demeanour.

Meanwhile up on the dais Syrus half-lay against the Seat, a series of strange, strangled, noises emanating from his throat. Whether he was trying to communicate or simply struggling to draw breath, Blake couldn't tell. The look of smug pomposity had crumbled away to reveal parchment like skin and a face aged ten years in just a few seconds.

Gareth also seemed frozen in a moment of pure horror, his eyes wide with disbelief, a litany of damning emotions flashing clearly across his flaccid features. Hatred, fear, guilt and tellingly, no hint of surprise to see Kaden return to life right in front of him.

“Bu – Bu – Bu – ” His mouth opened and closed uselessly, whatever he was trying to say lost behind a mind struggling to comprehend how swiftly the tables had turned on him.

Now what?

Kaden glanced at Blake, then took a breath but the words died on his lips as another ripple of thunder, this one more severe, shook the windows. This time, everyone noticed.

Meagan’s trembling form struggled against his rogue instincts. Spit dribbled down the corner of his mouth and his eyes, dark and murderous, were turned on his half-brother. Barely in control, he had never looked so feral.

The Gamma, Aiden, was clearly out of his depth casting wild and frantic eyes repeatedly at his Alpha.

“What are you doing here?” Meagan growled at Kaden.

“I live here,” Kaden snapped back. “You're the one out of place.”

Had Syrus been slower to recover, it was likely no force in the world could have held Meagan back at that moment. But with great difficulty, the Alpha wrenched himself out of his stupor to assert some control over his volatile son. Still, it took the full force of his Alpha dominance to sate Meagan enough that he stopped trembling.

Yellowed teeth barely showing behind his thin smile, Syrus pulled himself out of his seat.

“My son!” he exclaimed in a sickly sweet voice. “You have returned to us.” Holding his arms out limply in the most insincere welcome Blake had ever seen – he resembled a man who had just offered an embrace to a live snake.

Kaden ignored the gesture, staring at his father with silent, accusing eyes that spoke volumes.

Syrus let his arms drop, licking his lips nervously in the face of his son's cold glare. His eyes flicked towards Blake. "But you return in such dubious company," he deflected. “How did you find yourself with the Blackridge pack? And, where have you been all this time?"

"He reappears at the side of an invading army," Gareth commented, regaining his voice. “Perhaps his loyalties have changed since he's been away.”

Kaden followed his gaze, his face not changing expression. "You always did have a habit of hearing only what you wish to hear. Alpha Blake is the reason I made it home.” He glanced at his father, a challenge in his eyes. “Perhaps you should try thanking him for my safe return?”

"Indeed," Syrus agreed, sounding less than grateful. "He has my eternal gratitude. Alpha Blake's interest in Elmwood affairs continues to surpass all expectations."

“Your affairs are your own,” Blake said with a shrug. “Until they impede on mine.”

“I can't imagine which of our affairs crossover in a manner that requires such careful scrutiny,” Syrus grated.

Blake raised an eyebrow. “Would you like a list?”

Syrus pressed his lips together so tightly they disappeared entirely between his teeth, but he seemed to make a monumental effort to supress any further evidence of his anger. His gaze went meaningfully to Kaden.

“Have you no embrace for me? No kiss for your aged father?” He narrowed his eyes. “No respect for your Alpha?”

Kaden choked back a bitter laugh. “You ask where I've been? I've been right where you left me, father. A prisoner of them.” He nodded towards his half-brother.

“Where I left you?” Syrus tilted his head in an astonishing display of confusion. “I can't imagine what you – ”

“Can't you?” Kaden cut him off with a grimace. “You know you can. If you truly believe I'm here to return to the loving fold of my family, then I need seek no further proof that you are no longer fit to rule your pack."

Syrus paused then sat down and leaned back against his Seat, watching them both through calculating eyes. “So, you have been entirely poisoned against me, then?” He turned accusingly to Blake. “What lies have you poured into my son's ears?”

“No lies. I think you'll discover that your son is perfectly capable of coming to his own conclusions.”

Syrus sneered. "You know, your father once strode into a pack much as you have done and demanded its Alpha step down. My father regaled me with the whole sordid affair. When I picture it play out I see a mirror of the arrogance you display here today. Truly you are your father’s son."

"Thank you," Blake murmured, for what else was there to say? He knew only the tale his own father had told about how he had acquired what was now Asher's pack.

Rothan growled impatiently, his attention still split between the hall and a distraction only he could feel.

What’s wrong with you?

The quicker Meagan's neutralised, the quicker we can leave, right?

Yes, but –

Then do it, and get this over with. Let Kaden deal with his father.

Blake sighed inwardly, but cast a critical eye over the rogue.

Meagan's muscles rippled constantly under his clothes as he fought for control, his eyes a liquid black. Beads of sweat ran down his bare arms, the alcohol he'd consumed literally pouring from his skin as his metabolism worked overtime.

He’s close. Syrus’s control is tenuous at best. It won't take much to tip him over the edge.

Rothan grunted, and Blake smothered his irritation. When this was over they were going to have a long chat.

“You talk of arrogance – " Blake rubbed the side of his nose with one finger. "But your own astonishes me. I would have thought an Alpha would have more sense than to allow a rogue to carry on breathing inside his pack. Let alone legitimise them."

The shocked expressions on several of the Elmwood wolves confirmed that Syrus had somehow kept the truth from the majority of the pack, and they grew progressively uneasy.

Syrus let out a humourless laugh. “Lies,” he said dismissively.

“Really? How many times has he shifted since he arrived? How much force are you using to supress him? You can't hide his true nature forever.” Blake gave him a knowing look. “His wolf must be itching to regain control.”

“You would have him break pack law to prove you wrong? How convenient."

"You chose to conduct our meeting here, where you knew he couldn't shift," Blake countered. "I'd argue the convenience is entirely yours." He watched Meagan’s hands kneading the empty air at his sides. “Though if I had to guess, you've bitten off far more than you can chew.”

“You have no authority here!” Meagan spat out.

“Neither have you, rogue,” Blake growled back, and Meagan's muscles spasmed violently.

Syrus shot an irritated glance at Meagan, and Blake felt the Alpha's authority press down once more on his son's wolf, cowing it into a reluctant submission.

You old fool. Can't you see how close his wolf is to snapping?

Born outside of any form of hierarchy, Meagan had never known any element of subjugation – never been forced to cede to another’s will, smother his base instincts or exert any kind of control over his wolf. And, while his human half was willing to put up with the restrictions for the sake of the reward, his wolf glared balefully at their father with hate-filled eyes, waiting for the chance to break free.

“This has to end, father,” Kaden demanded harshly. “You're destroying your own pack with this insanity!”

To everyone's surprise Syrus let out a humourless chuckle. "Are you challenging me? Is that your purpose here?" He leaned forward slightly, his eyes burning with a ferocity that would make a lesser wolf's blood run cold. “It is my pack, Kaden, and don't you forget it.”

The flicker of indecision behind Kaden's eyes was subtle, lasting only a moment as he stared at his father before he squared his shoulders, a look of steely determination settling across his young face. “No, it isn't.”

The witnesses shrank back, appalled by the turn of events. Recoiling in horror at Kaden's open challenge, all but the warriors retreated as far as they were able, frozen in silence.

“You dare to stand against your own father?” Gareth finally spluttered, his eyes darting back and forth in alarm.

“No.” Kaden scowled. “I am an Alpha accusing an Alpha. I accuse you, Alpha Syrus.” His voice rang through the hall. “Of betraying your pack and creating an alliance with rogues.” He braced his legs like a sailor on a rocky ship. “Of handing your own son over to be tortured and tormented while you installed your rogue’s bastard in his rightful place.”

Syrus snarled, dropping all pretense, a deep, resonant sound that belied all his accumulated years. An Alpha still resided within that frail body.

Kaden pushed on. “The evidence against you would be more than sufficient to bring you to trial, but I couple it with my knowledge of your true relationship with the rogues and call upon the wolves gathered here to witness... you are a traitor.”

“You’re not an alpha. Not yet.”

“I beg to differ,” Kaden returned, his voice grating but clear. “I claim right of succession. Stand down or face my challenge. Your reign here is over.”

Syrus leapt from his Seat quicker than should have been possible for his age, his fists clenched in fury. Gareth's jaw dropped, his incredulous expression emphasising the saggy folds of skin around his neck. Even the Gamma dropped his defensive stance to stare dumbly at Kaden.

“The succession is mine!” Meagan suddenly screamed at his brother, all hope of control shattered by the very real possibility his claim would be snatched from him. “Mine!”

“Never,” Kaden snarled in reply, torn between dealing with his father and the very real threat bearing down on him. In his weakened state Kaden would never be able to withstand the rogue’s attack alone, and they all knew it.

“You will rue the day you ever crawled out of that filthy hole to challenge us!” Meagan spat, forgetting entirely that he should have no knowledge of Kaden's recent accommodations. “This pack is mine!” he repeated, jumping from the platform wielding a long handled axe he'd snatched from the wall. “And you are nothing but a stain on the floor!” Wild with rage, Meagan barrelled towards his brother, his slavering jaws wide open.

Radiating a calm he did not feel, Blake stepped between them.

Meagan was so far gone he barely registered the change in target, sweeping the razor sharp blade at the Alpha's head and, like a wave crashing against rocks, the silence broke. The warriors leaped to join the fray, forcing Blake to dodge multiple blows at once.

The warrior's skills left much to be desired. They jostled for position, getting in each others way and leaving themselves unprotected at crucial moments. Still, there was an advantage in numbers and Blake gritted his teeth, grateful for once that his father had drilled him endlessly in hand to hand combat – a skill he had never fully appreciated when he had far deadlier weapons at his disposal.

A blow landed true, a sharp pain radiating across his shoulder, and his responding growl rattled windows and reverberated around the walls. Deep, primal and filled with an Alpha's anger.

Lost within a feral rage Meagan neither heard nor cared, striking blindly, axe viciously sharp, teeth snapping as though they'd rip flesh from bone if only they could get close enough. How he continued to resist a complete shift, Blake couldn't fathom, his wolf was clearly calling all the shots.

It was taking all Blake's skills to hold his multiple attackers back without shifting – sweat trickled down his neck and brow, stinging his eyes and irritating the small cuts Meagan's blade opened up every time he grazed Blake's skin. His muscles began to ache, then burn.

He returned with his own barrage, unable to make any progress against the powerful rogue, his arms a blur as he dodged a blow, blocked another and broke a rib with a powerful strike at an unprotected chest.

Blake risked a glance in Kaden's direction. Gareth, his mottled face rigid with fury, had propelled himself toward Kaden, forcing the younger wolf backwards.

Buoyed along by the knowledge that he was fighting for his own position as well as his Alpha's, Gareth didn't hold back, landing blow after blow, throwing his own warriors out of the way in his eagerness to get at Kaden.

But despite his weakened state, Kaden seemed to be holding his own. The warriors not currently irritating Blake were clearly hesitant to attack the future heir, proving more of a hindrance than a help to the enraged Beta. Taking full advantage of Gareth's lumbering, unhealthy stature Kaden stayed just out of reach, dashing in again and again to strike at the soft, flabby areas he left exposed.

Meagan's next attack came swiftly and without warning, forcing Blake to dodge a swing that sliced the hairs from his arm. Neither bothered to hide any of his moves; Blake was skilled enough to recognise a trick when he saw one, and Meagan's strange duality with his wolf meant that he could react far quicker to any deception than his opponent could.

Dammit, I need an opening.

Blake took a deep breath, then, gripping one of the warriors in his arms, he heaved with all his strength, hurling the startled wolf towards his Gamma, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

Seeing them fall he whirled around and propelled himself straight at Meagan, driving his shoulder into the rogue's gut with all the strength his Alpha training had given him. It was a blow that would have killed a human, but it only knocked the wind out of Meagan, the force of Blake's charge sending them both crashing backward into the wall.

While Meagan gasped for breath, he grappled for the weapon. But just as he wrenched it from his grip, Meagan recovered. Howling with anger, he brought both hands up under Blake's chin with a blow that sent the Alpha flying back into the centre of the hall.

Landing heavily, and groggy from the blow, his warrior's instincts took over. Catching a glimpse of movement to his left, he rolled over just as Meagan's powerful claw landed where his head had been.

Blake struggled to regain his feet, shaking his head to clear it, but he could hear Meagan snarling and growling in bestial fury and knew he could never hope to avoid the rogue's second strike.

Help came from an unexpected quarter. Blake heard an outraged cry from Gareth followed by a body flying in from the left, slamming into Meagan and sending him tumbling back to the floor. The Beta had flung a hapless warrior clear across the room with both impressive effect and unintentional results.

I knew I liked him, Rothan murmured.

With no time to comment, Blake swung back round to focus his attention on the warriors plaguing his flanks. The rain of weak strikes continued, the duel efforts of multiple wolves battering Blake's sides like a mallet tenderising meat. As his ribs began to ache he realised he could ignore their assault no longer. Meagan was still down, struggling to extricate himself from the unconscious warrior temporarily disabled by the dead weight, leaving Blake free to deal with the Gamma and his warriors.

A weapon would be really handy round about now.

Shifting would be really handy round about now, Rothan snarled. Left boot, he hissed, and Blake spotted the glint of a silver blade poking out the top of a warrior’s fur-lined ankle.

That'll do nicely.

Blake edged forward allowing the warrior to land a blow to his stomach. Feigning a reaction the weak punch had not elicited, he dropped to one knee. While his right arm swung upwards to block a second swing, his left neatly plucked the small, leather bound knife from its make-shift holster. Slicing swiftly across its owner's left thigh, the blade cut cleanly through tendons and he fell to the floor writhing in over-dramatic agony.

Then he turned on the two remaining warriors. The first abandoned his attack instantly, scrambling away from the furious Alpha, torn between self-preservation and duty. The second maintained a ludicrously high level of cocky confidence; clearly in possession of far fewer brain cells than his companion. A sharp uppercut to the chin left him sprawled out on the floor with what looked to be a broken jaw.

All alone now Aiden moved in to attack.

"Impressive," he grunted, looking around at his fallen warriors.

"Not really," Blake shrugged. "They're poorly trained, and somewhat lacking in loyalty. Not surprising if you're their Gamma."

On the other side of the hall, Kaden was still locked in a vicious battle with the Beta. A fight which came to an abrupt end when Kaden roaring with rage, picked up the discarded axe, the light glinting off the blade as he lashed out and caught Gareth across his face.

Gareth howled in pain, streams of blood pouring from the gash, one eye lost in a mass of blood and oozing jelly.

Aiden came to a halt, his eyes wide open in alarm at the sight. Taking advantage, Blake raised his leg and kicked, shattering his kneecap. It was a painful, crippling blow, and sent the Gamma stumbling to the ground.

Stay down you stupid bastard, I don't want to kill you.

I do, his wolf disagreed.

Blake whirled, blocking Aiden's sudden counter thrust. Even limping on one leg, the Gamma's strength was such that he easily compensated for the painful injury. But, as he hurtled towards his opponent, his balance was compromised and as a result, he could not stop the blade that buried itself deep in his chest.

Instantly, Blake's hand was awash in red, warm blood.

Aiden gave a fiercesome shriek. "N- N- no, no," he began jabbering as Blake's stolen blade sank between his ribs. "N- No... I... please..." His frantic plea turned to a gargle, as his lung began to fill with blood.