As soon as Luna Anya's trial was over, all of the pack were told to make our way back to the same wooded areas we were first held hostage in prior to the trial. I looked around at the faces of our packs and their mood reflected my own. We were absolutely tongue tied at what we had just witnessed. It was surreal.

Anya was dead!

My Luna had just been mutilated and murdered right before my very eyes and as Beta of this pack, I could only stand by and watch.

I swayed from side to side, dragging my silver chains along the ground with me as we were told to create lines in single file. The sound of our chains clinking was the only thing to be heard as our packs heads remained bowed in somber mourning. Still trying to process our Luna's sacrifice and the absolute horror in seeing a young boy being ripped apart like a peice of paper by a fully grown male werewolf. A wolf who was supposed to defend and protect the weak. Not be the cause of their nightmares. I was shook to my very core and my mind drifted to Liam.

He must be in total agony now that his bond had been severed. I knew from past experience with Evelyn what that pain felt like and the crushing agony of failure which followed with the feeling that maybe you could have done something.

And if you had, maybe they would still be alive...

Liam would not be in any position to fight right now and it was down to me and the remaining males of this pack to try and escape and take as many of the women and children with us that we could. I would have to come back for him later. Scanning the faces to the side of me I spotted Trevor. He gave me a slight nod and I returned it. An understanding passed between us and we both slowed our gait even further. I noted that the Rogue King and his four mercenaries had left to return to his own camp or army. We were now being led to our death in the forest by a few invalid rogues.

I could have bet my life on it. If we had any chance to leave.. it would be now.

Luckily for me, the males were following behind the women as they walked in front. This gave me the opportunity I needed to gain eye contact with the last remaining 5 warriors we had. They nodded their heads and pulled back along with myself, Brad and Trevor. Up ahead I could hear sounds of shovels and dirt being thrown.

So they did plan on burying us!

One of our jailors was momentarily distracted whilst glancing at one of the women and I pounced on him from behind. Without my wolf, I had to be quick. I snapped his neck to the side and Trevor leaned over to help me lower his body to the floor with limited amount of sound. The other warriors in front covered for us and blocked us from view of the wolves up ahead.

"What's the plan Beta"? Whispered Trevor.

He was ready for war, his eyes were stormy and his spine held a resolve I was still waiting to feel. In that moment I heard the sound of a slap further up the que and craned my neck to get visibility of the person through the legs of my warriors. One of the wolves who had been perving on our women had made an unwanted advance it seemed. When she refused, he struck her.

Oh yeahh....

I had my resolve.

My eyes hardened and I ran up the line. My legs were still attached by the silver chain to the men who followed suit behind me. We had to move as one so they acted on instinct along with me. I punched the wolf in the gut and began to gauge out his eyes. The women gasped at the sudden assault and Trevor covered his mouth in warning to them to remain quiet. Once I felt the scum bag had felt enough pain.. I dropped him like a sack of potatoes. He must have fainted because he lay there like the dead as I scanned the forest ahead. Two more wolves were talking amongst themselves in the distance and I nodded to Trevor and our men to deal with them. Within a few moments they were incapacitated and I put my plan in motion from earlier.

Brad and I had discussed this previously. One of the women in the pack had been wearing a hair pin and we quickly sourced this from her for this very moment. Our locksmith survived our packs attack so he got to work with undoing the chains which currently tied us to one another. He released Trevor and myself first and got to work releasing the other men before the women and children.

Trevor quietly made his way over to me as I began to think of our escape in more detail.

"We have no idea how many of them there are. Where they are, or if we can out run them".

Trust Trevor to lighten up the situation. I knew our position was in dire straits. I looked into my Gamma's eyes and nodded in agreement.

He was right.

This was the easy part. Slipping passed them and remaining un detected on our way to Redfang during the two day journey it would take to reach there, was another matter entirely. I pinched the bridge of my nose in thought.

"We have to try"... I said desperately.

"Even if one of us makes it to Redfang alive... we must! Alpha Demitri and the council have to know what transpired here".

He sighed and stared at the ground in thought.

"Then maybe we can create a diversion. We will have more of a chance if we split up".

I agreed.

"You take the rest of the men and women to Redfang.. I will attempt to break Liam out of his cell and allow them to capture me".

His eyes turned sad at the prospect of his Beta sacrificing himself and it could all potentially be in vain if were were captured.

"Promise me you will inform Demitri of the plot, how they infiltrated our ranks and what their intention is".

.....

He held out his hand and I shook it. It felt like we were saying goodbye...

I looked over his shoulder and smiled at the women.

"Gamma Trevor will now be in command, follow his orders and obey him implicitly. If you want to live... move fast and don't look back".

They bowed their heads in respect and I turned on my heal and ran in the direction of Liam's cell.

It was a suicide mission. But if I could create enough of a distraction, it would give our pack enough time to leave unnoticed.

Without the silver chain, I slowly began to feel my wolf stiring in my mind and I allowed my thoughts to drift as I ran passed the countless trees on my way to Liam.Violet's face sprang to mind as I could only imagine the pain I would feel if the same that happened Anya were to happen to Violet. Pushing these unhelpful thoughts away I came upon the cells door....it was unguarded.

Odd.

It seemed that all of the men who had attacked the pack had now left with their master which gave me an opportunity to sneak inside unnoticed. I'll speak with Liam for a few moments and then ....

Tuning the corner of the darkly lit cell I saw that it was not just Liam who greeted me. The Rogue King stood above my Alpha with his hands around his neck from behind. Obviously awaiting my arrival. Miriam was holding a small and terrified looking Peggy under her arm. If she pulled any harder I'm sure she would snap the childs collarbone. I gulped as I made eye contact with Liam.

He blinked In my direction. The only sign I had that there was still my best friend locked away in here. He was devoid of all emotion, he looked like a dead man. Well and truly like a man who was ready to welcome death in the face. He had no fight left in him now that Anya was gone.

Anya - I had to keep him alive for her.

I held my hands in front of me. Showing I was no threat here.

"Beta Alec, it's a pleasure to finally meet you... conscious that is".

He grinned and I schooled my face trying not to give anything away, least of all my pack members currently on the run. My face had yet to recover from his minions assault on our pack earlier today and I knew I looked like shit.. but at least I could feel my wolf returning to me. If I could rip this monsters throat out I would do so gladly.

"You have knowledge of someone that I've been looking for and I want you to tell me everything"

Violet

"I'm sure I don't know anyone whom you would be interested in". I said

"Oohhh but you do. And I've been waiting a very long time to be formally introduced.. tell me where the real Luna of Redfang went and I'll allow your best friend here and this girl to live".

Glancing over to Liam I saw him smile a sad smile. He knew the decision I had to make. For the sake of us all, i could not trust for one second that this 'King' would keep his word, especially after knowing the powers Violet possesses. He would only covet her to reap more suffering on our brethren, knowing his penchant for honesty I decided to give him the only information I knew.

"When she left, she never mentioned where she was going"..

He grinned again and showed me his teeth.

"Ohh but I'm sure if I press enough, she will find me and that's not the answer I was looking for...... shame!".

Within a second the lights in my Alpha's eyes dimmed as his neck was broken in front of me. I dropped to my knees as I stared open mouthed at my best friends lifeless body. I heard the hit across my skull before I felt it.

I collapsed to the cell floor and struggled to keep my eyes open. In the back ground I overheard the 'Rogue King' give one final order to Miriam as he looked down to a shaking Peggy...

"To avoid any issues like last time...

Cut out her tongue".

Miriam grinned and everything went black.