Chapter 25

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The two woman stared at each other. The yawning silence between them seemed almost intolerable. Both wolves assed each other. One was confident and her stare unwavering, the other wolf with panic in her eyes. The she wolf really believed she would not make it out of this meeting alive. She curled up defensively as if it would help but deep down knowing her frail body would offer no protection if attacked, even her wolf was no match for the alpha of alpha's who was opposite to her. So she sat there still, pretending to blend in to the background as her fight instincts had all but abandoned her.

Roma studied Serena carefully, this wolf was petite and blond, a beautiful wolf. What was she supposed to feel? Should she hate her? Somehow she could not...Serena looked so lost and vulnerable that all she could feel was pity. Pity for the terrified wolf. This was Lockbourne's las living relative, the blood of the person who caused her family, her mate irreversible damage. Should she not be clamoring for vengeance? But how could she? Especially looking at the state of the girl. Somewhere deep down she could relate to this lost, terrified wolf. Somehow she could see herself in her, both of them trapped by fate, in situations they never expected to be in.

But what if all this was a ruse? That may be this she wolf was more devious than she thought? It would be foolish to believe blindly. She had learnt that lesson. Serena would have to prove herself and her intensions. But even if her intensions were not friendly could she blame her? She had after all killed all her family members and to top it off what could she do? How could she knowingly harm Alex's mate? All this was so fucked up.

"Serena" Roma called out to the wolf.

The girl's eyes flicked to her but otherwise she remained unmoved.

"I know this might sound ironic but I mean you no harm" Roma felt the words funny coming out of her own mouth, has she not ordered her execution less than forty eight hours ago? Irony at its best.

"You are mate to one of my men...someone who I consider family..." Roma tried to explain to her "I could never harm you...I could never cause you pain." She wanted to let her know why she would not harm her.

"Alex is like a brother to me." Roma said again.

The girl showed no reaction, but her eyes were sharp and attentive.

"I need to explain to you how this whole mess began, I hope you can hear me out and then judge the events yourself." Roma said and continued "Your grandfather is responsible for the death of my parents, they were killed in cold blood in the very pack land we are on. They lived a simple life and had nothing to do with politics but they were killed and their only fault was they were my parents" Roma said, emption lacing her voice "My mate is in coma, because of your grandfather. His father executed, his mother killed in ambush because of your grandfather. You may not believe me but I have proof." Roma paused letting her words sink in.

"Proof that you are free to independently verify because I do not doubt its authenticity" Roma continued "Your grandfather also tried to have me killed...multiple times. So, I had to kill him. It's pure survival it was either me or him and I came out alive. His family, was also responsible for some of the attacks against mine. So I had to take them out." Roma said and paused.

"But you" Roma said softly "I wanted you killed purely out of spite" Roma confessed. The girls eyes widened in shock, the only outward emotion she displayed.

"Well I had justified that under a lot of other reasons but deep down I knew why I wanted you dead. I wanted him to feel the same loss I felt when he killed my parents, when he put my mate in coma, when I had to end up killing my own mother-in-law as that was the only way our pack could survive." Roma revealed.

"Do you know what I have nightmares about?" Roma asked rhetorically "If my mate wakes up, how do I look him in the eyes and tell him I killed his mother. Which son would understand the reasons, which son would see beyond the fact and realize that I had been tricked in to doing something I would never have done otherwise." Roma whispered out her fears.

She looked at the girl steadily in her eyes "Yes, I killed your grandfather but I had my reasons. I hope one day you can understand those reasons." Roma concluded.

The silence between them was interjected by occasional sniffles of Serena. Roma did not know what to do but just kept quiet.

"I knew my grandfather well" Serena broke the silence softly "I am a firsthand witness to what he could do to keep wolves in line" Yes she knew him very well, she knew the extent he would go to keep his pack in control, to make an example of someone who failed him. He was a man few wolves could meet eye to eye.

"I would not say we was a good man or a kind man to most...I have seen him do things to wolves that would give nightmares to them for years to come...but that is what it took to keep his pack in line. Can you blame him for it?" Serena asked rhetorically "He is capable of everything you said, but to me he was a different man. To me he was a mother when I needed love. A strict but gentle father who kept a watchful eye on a pup. A grandfather who would not hesitate to put his granddaughter on his shoulder and horse around the pack, in front of all his pack so he could hear her giggle. Do I not mourn his loss?" Serena asked.

"He was my world, he gave me everything I needed...he was my hero, until I grew up. I saw the other side of him the Alpha side, never with me but I saw how he could be with the pack wolves...with rogues" she shuddered recalling a memory that still was deeply embedded in her memory, they day the image of her grandfather shattered "They violent cruel way he dealt with them" She said with tremor in her voice. "That day I realized that good and bad were matters of perspectives, a man who would not show a fang to me even when I drove him mad would tear out the hearts of other wolves with the same fangs with the slightest provocation. I hated it, I hated what he had to do to keep his position, I hate the werewolf structure, the confines it possesses. I wanted nothing to do with it. That next year I moved to a boarding school and came back to pack only when absolutely necessary and when I was done with school, I moved out to collage. I want nothing to do with packs and their structures and the things we do to cling to that power." Serena said and looked at Roma "Can you say that you have not done those things Roma? Have you not done things to ensure you of your position, your family's positions? How many wolves were sacrificed to build the throne you sit on?" Serena asked with simplicity of a child, her voice held no accusation or malice, like a child who wanted to really know the answer to something.

Roma did not blink an eye at the girl "Too many to count" she replied straight faced, the girl was right? What was the point of hiding?

"But, not all of us have the luxury of thinking of the world in such simple terms. I of all people know that, at least you had a chance to go to college. My mate found me when I was in high school. I am eighteen Serena...eighteen. My parents murdered, my mate in coma and I live in constant fear of being killed by my enemies because I am eighteen. So while you can sit there and talk poetically about right and wrong...I simply don't have the fucking luxury!" Roma spat bitterly and Serena was taken aback by the bitterness in Roma's tone.

"I was an eighteen year school girl with very different plan, do you think I wanted this? I wanted all this that happened to me? Do you think I have the luxury of thinking of right and wrong? Unfortunately not, it is kill or get killed out there and I chose to live." Roma said "Now, how will you judge me? The things I need to do to ensure I survive? Yes, I killed wolves, yes, I ordered your family to be killed, I personally ordered your execution but only because I was cornered to do so...because I was left with no little choice, because I would choose my family over anybody else's any day...and may be your grandfather was doing the same thing, did you ever think that? The reason he used his fangs was to ensure you were safe?" Roma asked.

Both woman fell silent for a few minutes, both gathering their thoughts.

"However" Roma broke her silence.

"I have not come to discuss the past or to justify my actions or the actions of your grandfather. Nothing will change what had happened. I have come to discuss the future."

Serena looked at Roma her eyes full of unasked questions.

"You are the only surviving member of the Lockbourne pack, you will inherit the pack by wolf law and your mate will become the alpha." Roma revealed.

A Flicker of understand went through Serena a look of disappointment came across her face. She was being used as a pawn in the very politics she abhorred.

"Now you have a few choices in front of you, the American wolves would want to retaliate for the death of their elder. They cannot let this go unpunished. The head of American council's execution cannot remain unanswered. So they will come after me, count on it." Roma stated confidently.

"You can also count on the fact that I will destroy them all" She added with equal confidence. "I have weapons and technology at my disposal that will ensure this outcome. I am not being overconfident I am simply stating a fact. Roma as a country has access to military hardware that no pack in the world possess. I destroyed your uncle's pack using helicopters, I wiped out his entire pack in minutes with them. I am telling you this so that you understand that I am not making thing up or that I am arrogant about our abilities. I have missiles, infrared vision guns and high explosive bombs that will obliterate any werewolf and I will not hesitate to use them." Roma assured.

"A lot of wolves are going to die, unless you help me stop it..." Roma added, surprising Serena.

"Me?" Serena asked surprised.

"Yes you. You can either choose to avenge your grandfather or you can choose to save lives of wolves."

"Save lives? How?" Serena asked confused.

"You accept your mate and declare your loyalty to me. With the Lockbourne pack surrendering, the other packs will blink and mostly will come to the table to compromise rather than an outright war. You inherit the biggest pack in America which carries lot of economical and muscle power. You surrendering to Roma would be a blow to them." Roma explained.

"Or you choose to avenge your grandfather. In which case I will obliterate the Lockbourne pack, destroy everything your grandfather fought and built for you, he always knew one day you and your mate would succeed him. Did you think about that? Everything he was doing was to secure that future. So if you do love your grandfather you can either choose to save a part of his legacy, his legacy he wanted to leave behind for you or destroy it all for vengeance or some sense of self-righteousness." Roma added.

"What if I choose to walk away from it all" Serena asked, she was curious more than anything.

"You...like me...do not have that luxury anymore" Roma stated the fact "You will be used as a means to an end and if you do not comply you will be martyred and wolves will be rallied on your name on the very altar they killed you on. You are as trapped as me in this now."

"Like you are using me now?" Serena asked bitterly.

"No Serena, I am not using you. Using you would be to strip you naked, beat you to the inch of your life and then drag you to the border of the Lockbourne pack and demand that the surrender and if not we slit your throat for all to see" Roma said with a straight face.

Serena recoil in horror at the cruelty of her words.

"You have no idea what being used means. I am giving you a choice. I am asking you nicely, you might want to remember that for not always you will be afforded that luxury." Roma said getting up.

"Now sleep on it but I need your answer in the next twenty four hours" Roma said and started walking out.

Roma paused near the door and turned back.

"Serena" She said softly to the girl "Think hard and choose wisely."

And with that she was gone leaving the girl in absolute turmoil.