Dimitri

Pulling the Beta to his feet I assessed his injury again. It would heal within an hour or so and I decided what my plan of action would be. I grabbed a hold of his shoulders and angled his body to face mine as he grimaced in pain.

"If I get you an opening will you leave RedFang to go and find Beta Matthew and Violet? To ensure they do not come onto these lands. To keep her safe".

He scowled.

"What about you"?

"Dont worry about me Beta. As long as I know my mate is safe that's all I care about. Now, can you do it"? I asked with more urgency.

"I think I can endure the journey. But I have no knowledge of where or how close they might be... I would have to track her scent and that could take days....".

I shook him roughly...

cutting him off again I said

"I will not allow the same fate which befell you're Luna to also be the same fate for mine. I need your promise Beta. Find her and protect her with your life. Make sure she never comes back here".

He looked conflicted and I capitalised on the moment.

"This is your chance to take care of her and I'm giving it to you. But it will only come once". I made sure to put force behind my words.

"But you're in love with her.... if she finds any of this out..."

"She won't, because you won't tell her! Let her carry on hating me. It will be easier for her if the worst should happen. It is my duty to protect my pack and I have no time to argue with you Beta Alec. This is an order. Protect my mate at all costs and make sure I never see your faces again".

He nodded and I grabbed him under the arm forcefully leading him out of the cells and onto the ground outside. When the light hit his eyes he scrunched his eyes together to block out the suns rays. I scanned the area and removed the rope which bound his hands captive and pointed in the direction he needed to go in.

He turned..

"How will you buy me time"?

"You leave that to me and remember your promise".

I held out my hand, an offering of respect and he took it in quiet awe.

"I won't tell her". He promised

I struggled to look into his eyes. Not quite believing that I was giving this wolf my blessing with Violet.

"Go and get word to the remaining Alpha's not to come here tomorrow. RedFang is compromised" I said between gritted teeth.

I watched his back fade into the distance just as a few wolves came out of the forest. I shifted into my black wolf and blocked the Beta's path with ease. No way in hell were they getting passed me. That wolf was my last hope in procuring Violets safety. They were small grey wolves and I took them down with ease. Throwing their lifeless bodies to the side I did the one thing which I knew would draw the Rogues to me.

I howled an Alpha's battle cry and made my way towards the pack house. Mind linking with my warriors who were all gathered to protect our women and children. I picked up speed when I saw the rogues fighting my men. I pounced with a force which knocked fifteen wolves down like dominoes. I clawed and bit my way through the throng of mutts hearing their cries and howls of pain. I could care less. A red fog of anger clouded my wolf's senses and all we saught after was blood. I watched the bodies pile whilst keeping an eye on the pack house. The Rogues kept coming but luckily for me my wolves were fighters and we were about even in terms of casualties. My wolves were holding their own and my chest swelled with pride. I spotted Milly within the house and I shift as she opened the window to speak with me.

"Get the women and children into the safe room".

When she looked stunned with shock I reassured her..

"Its just a precaution".

She nodded with freight but I stopped her again..

"Where is Peggy and the siblings"?

"I have no idea Alpha. All I know is that they are not in the house".

I dismissed her with a hand and she resumed her task with the women and children. The Rogues appeared to be at a great disadvantage. One by one they fell and all of my 120 warriors who were left remaining were able to hold their ground with ease. No real challenge as of yet. I spotted Gareth in formation and mind linked him to shift. Once he did I said..

"How did this happen"?

He shook his head out of breath from battle.

"We have no idea. Our warriors were guarding the borders. A few of them stopped mind linking with us and the next thing we know we are completely over run".

I looked down to the floor in thought.

"RedFang has not been attacked in almost 40 years. This is an absolute embarrassment to us. Investigate and find out what went wrong".

He nodded and left.

When the last of the Rogues who attacked us stopped breathing I walked over to it to investigate. My warriors moved aside to allow me access. I bent down to observe the coat. Something about it was off. I have no idea why I said what I did next...

"SHIFT" I commanded and the wolf shifted to reveal a younger male wolf in my pack who was not even 19 years old. I stepped back and so did a few of my warriors in absolute disbelief.

No.

"GARETH"... I shouted.

He ran up to me from behind and peeked over my shoulder to our fallen pack mate. Everyone remained silent waiting for me to speak.

"This was an inside job. The only way they could have entered our lands is if someone let them in and some of our wolves sided with them"..

No one said anything as we all looked to one another in suspicion. Silence was followed by faint clapping which came from the distance but slowly became louder as the individual responsible for it got closer. My wolves bent low in preparation for the assault and my head turned towards the wolf in question..

"I'm impressed. You're not as stupid as your father was".

No.

This can't be.

I touched my chest to rub over my heart which felt like it was breaking in two. There was no way....

Beta Richard walked closer to our lines and many of our men shifted back into their human form. For most of the men standing here they were all trained by the Beta in front of us. This betrayal was totally unpredictable.

"You and your father are so alike. So much so that I could almost always preempt your every movement and every thought".

He waged his finger at me and grinned.

"But you were not as easy to read lately. And I think that might be Violet's influence. It seems that the more your drawn to her the less you're willing to be manipulated. You were so happy to throw me over for a young wolf half my age".

Words completely failed me.

"You planned this"

"Of course I did. And you want to know why don't you? All things come to those who wait". He sang.

I said nothing. I couldn't even move. My wolves whom I 'think' were still loyal to me shifted from one foot to the other. Waiting on my command and the Beta's explanation. They watched the exchange between the two of us.

"It was I who convinced your father to make you reject Violet. It was me who trained and influenced her to be the cold hearted killer we needed her to be for all those years. I spent years grooming her for this and then you had to return to the pack to ruin everything. Your mate bond was an inconvenience, especially when she ran away. Something I had not factored into my plan. A small bump in the road so to speak".

"Who is we?" I caught the reference and my mind was confused.

He smiled.

"Your future king of course".

Beta Richard stepped to the side to reveal the presence of the man I presumed to be the "Rogue King" and I growled lowly.

"Well if it isn't the man of the hour. THE Alpha Dimitri". Said the Rogue King with laughter.

A few of my wolves growled and a few stood straight and left our line to walk casually towards the Beta. Once they stood behind him they grinned. The wolves next to me had the same expression I'm sure I did. One of complete horror that our own people had turned Rogue against us. These were our brothers. We all grew up together in this pack and now they go and do this? Turning their backs on their own families?

The Rogue king spoke again.

"For those who join us, I will offer clemency on your fellow women and children. Those who don't will watch them burn".

Most of my wolves stayed still but one or two went to walk towards him....

"Move and I'll kill you where you stand"! I commanded.

They cowered and returned to their lines.

Cowards.. I thought.

"Come now Demitri, we have your pack surrounded. Your 80 or so wolves who are still loyal to you cannot hold out forever. We have you cornered and its time to give up". He grinned.

"WARRIORS" I shouted and they all turned their heads towards their Alpha.

"Defend your women, your children, your pack and your lands. Till the last wolf is left standing you will not give an inch of where you stand".

All of us shifted and howled in unison.

I snapped my jaws, eyes trained on the Rogue King as I felt Gareths fur brush up against my own in support. At least my third in command still remained loyal to me.

"Very well Alpha, we can do this the hard way". Said Beta Richard.

**********

Hearing Alpha Demitri's battle cry I hid as more wolves zoomed passed me intent on their kill of RedFang's Alpha. He seemed to have successfully diverted them away from me. I had no time to reflect on his sacrifice as I knew the great responsibility I was now tasked with. I continued the rest of my journey without much difficulty and when I reached the end of the RedFang's border I heard odd sounds to my left. Shifting out of my wolf I touched my shoulder. It was healing which was a good sign. I heard the sound again. Someone breathing heavily. The sound was not threatening mind you so I decided to investigate it.

In horror I discovered Beta Matthew's body lying on the floor of the forest. A gaping wound on his abdomen and neck. My wolf knew that his chances of survival were low. I scanned the forest in panic. Where was Violet? I rushed over to him and lifted him towards my chest. Placing my hand on his neck I tried to the stop the flow of bleeding. His eyes widened when he saw me and his mouth opened. It was difficult to make out his words threw his gasps of breath.

"Shh don't talk Beta".

"Get ... Lu .. lun"

Finishing his sentence I said

"Luna Violet"?

He blinked in reply.

"Where is she"? I looked around panicked.

He pulled on my arm to pull my focus back to him.

"Moon.... light.... ca..mp.

Safe".

I blew out a breath of relief.

"Well done Beta.. you did your duty. You kept her safe. I'll tell her of your sacrifice and how you fought with honour". I reassured him.

He smiled and pointed towards my chest. His breathing becoming slower as the blood continued to drain from his abdomen. He was turning white with the bloodloss.

"Your .... job...... now". He gasped with his final breath.

A tear rolled down my eye as I held my brethren. Another Beta had fallen in this Rogue King's pursuit for power. Laying the lifeless Beta on the forest floor I bowed my head and spoke our wolves prayer for the fallen.

"May your bones forever be strong

May your love not ever be wrong

Be free my brother

For you were one of the wronged

Be free my brother to the Goddess we relinquish thee"

Closing his eyes I stood. The Beta told me where to find Violet and I had to get to her and the other Alpha's to warn them and I knew I was running out of time.