Chapter 31

Shock.

Sitting in the chair at the head of the table I couldn’t help but feel fear, who is dead?

Everyone’s eyes were on Mick who was breathing heavily but otherwise seemed perfectly fine.

“Mick....... who is dead?” I asked in a small whisper dreading the answer could it Kevin or Evan who is it?

“Alpha its ...........Victor” Mick said I could see the mask he had placed across his face crack as the anguish underneath was clear for all to see.

I couldn’t get my head around it Victor was dead.

He had just turned nineteen; he hadn’t even had the chance to meet his mate yet his life had not even begun how he could be gone.

I stood up unable to process what I was being told my emotions were all over the place I felt like curling up into a ball and crying.

As I stood for what seemed like hours in the same position my head down unwilling to show others what I was feeling. Though I had forgotten there was already someone in the room that could read me like a book.

His large hand wrapped around my smaller daintier one and he gave it a small squeeze. Alek pulled me closer to him lifting my head so I could look him in the eyes.

I could see the pain in his eyes for it had already begun we had just found out about this war that was inevitable and we had already lost Victor before it had actually begun.

I took a deep breath as I looked into his eyes calming myself I could not stand hear and weep for my loss when I had a pack to take care of. My focus would have to be on taking care of the rest of my pack I had already failed Victor but I would not fail anyone else.

I turned towards Drew “Take Elder Drake to his rooms and escort the other alphas to their rooms also we will have a meeting after I am bought up to date on what has happened today This meeting is dismissed” I spoke my voice surprisingly strong disguising the inner turmoil I was feeling.

As The alphas piled out they all offered their condolences, Alek never left my side as the last of the alphas left the room I motioned for Mick to come closer.

“Mick tell me how this has happened” I said in a demanding tone.

“Alpha were not sure exactly what happened but what we do know is that Victor went missing a few hours ago he was taking his patrol and for some reason he deviated from the patrol path.”

Mick took a deep breath I dreaded what he was going to say next for I could see the tears that were trying to escape from his eyes.

I knew that Mick saw Victor as another son Victor didn’t have any blood family so the pack made it their job to be his family but Mick had grown especially close to Victor.

“Alpha ....... Leila we sent out a search party to find him because he wasn’t responding to through the pack link, Trevor.... he found Victor and he was..........he.......um.....he...”

I could see tears dripping down his face I moved my hand to his shoulder and squeezed and waited for him to compose himself before we talked.

I wished that I could just fall apart and cry but I couldn’t I have a responsibility to my pack to look after them and wallowing in grief would not help them.

I could see Mick berating himself in his mind as he tried to get control of his emotions.

“I’m sorry Alpha, Trevor found him in the clearing outside of where you found Kevin he was hardly recognisable ..... the rogues and hunters had ripped him to shreds...I....I couldn’t tell if it was his but I recognised his scent and the clothes it’s him alpha”.

I couldn’t help but let the horror show on my face “Is he still there“I said not realising that I had spoken my voice surprised me as it held no emotion at all.

Mick looked as if he was unable to speak so he simply nodded his head as soon as I saw the small movement I rushed out the door running towards the clearing.

I could hear Alek and Mick racing after me calling for me to stop but I couldn’t I needed to see what they had done to Victor he had been a close friend of mine, someone I had relied on especially since Drew’s injury.

As I came closer to the clearing I could smell the stench of blood.

I froze I couldn’t believe what I was seeing a few of my warriors were surrounding the clearing all shocked to see my sudden appearance.

A few of the bowed their heads in greeting but I couldn’t respond I was too shocked and horrified at what I was seeing I could feel bile rising up my throat.

Victor body had been quartered with his arms and legs cut off and thrown in different directions but that wasn’t all.

He had a large cut going down his body from his chin down to the bottom of his chest you could see the entirety of his organs. I knew that I should look away but I couldn’t I had lost the feeling in my legs.

My body was suddenly twirled around and my front was against Alek’s chest as I blinked the tears away I couldn’t help but feel thankful that Alek is my mate even though I had snapped out of my frozen state he still held me not questioning the fact that I needed nothing else but his simple presence and his arms around me.

As I calmed my breathing I hardened my features I could feel my grief being replaced by anger how they could do this, something so barbaric.

“Alpha there is something you need to see” Trevor spoke breaking the silence that had covered the clearing. It didn’t matter that he had spoken in the smallest of tones it echoed across the clearing.

“What is it Trevor “As I spoke I walked towards where he was standing. He didn’t say anything he just raised his arm pointing to something on the ground.

As I loomed closer I could see lumps of blood on the grass it wasn’t until I was standing next to Trevor that I realised what it was.

It was a message from the rogues and hunters written in Victor’s blood.

“Hello Alpha I guess since your reading this you found our little present for you I hope you like it because there is much more to come your people will pay for the crimes of your ancestors and I will make you watch as I kill everyone of your pack members. Oh and how’s that son of yours, his name is Kevin isn’t it I think he will be my next target what do you think?” As I read the message out loud I couldn’t control the growls that left my mouth my wolf was calling for blood.

Kill them, first they kill our pack member and then they threaten us how dare they threaten my pup they will die.

I couldn’t help but second my wolfs deranged chanting they were going to die whether they like it or not if they wanted a war they are going to get it.

I could see that Alek was shaking out of the corner of my eye he obviously hadn’t reacted well to the threat against me and Kevin. I walked up to him gripping his hand calming him.

“Trevor, Mick I want you both to take care of this make sure that no one patrols alone no matter what the rank and add some more wolves to every patrol.” I took a deep breath glancing at what was left of Victor’s body.

“Also I need you to gather Victors remains for his funeral he deserves that from us” I said dismissing them with a nod of my head.

I may have seemed calm to everyone in the clearing but the anger I had felt since I had been told of Victors death was growing.

I practically ran back to the pack “Drew where are the alphas” I asked as I made my way towards the front of the pack house.

“Alpha they are all gathered in the meeting room waiting for you” he said.

I raced up the stairs Alek close behind me as soon as I walked in the room all the Alphas who had previously been seated stood.

Before any of them could say anything I held up my hand for silence my wolf and I were not in the mood for a long drawn out conversation.

“As you already know the hunters and rogues have struck killing one of my most trusted pack members in the most horrific manner. I have had enough this needs to end for too long has the werewolf world been crumbling under the lack of correct leadership and corruption. What was once a powerful race has become just a shadow of what it once was I have no doubt that the hunters and rogues will stop at nothing to get what they desire and that is power. We are the only ones who have the power to stop it If we do not do something know then it means that in the end we will be the ones to die because we simply gave up and refused to fight for what was right.”

I took a deep breath looking across the room at the rest of the Alphas who were looking intently towards me as my voice combined with my wolf’s dominated the room along with my golden eyes displayed for all to see my power.

“Our ancestors did it before us they rose up to defend their people to protect those who are weaker and defenceless against the tyranny of the Wicked Queen. This is much the same will you join with me as our ancestors did, will you become my Ordinem lupus?”

As my voice echoed around the room nothing followed but silence as I waited for their response.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alek lower himself down on one knee bowing his head as if his actions was what broke the frozen states of the other Alphas one by one they all lowered down onto their knees with their eyes glowing showing that there wolves had come to the forefront.

“Yes alpha we will follow, for you are our leader you have shown us countless times your dedication to your pack and to us know it is our turn we pledge our allegiance to you as our ancestors did to Markus” Alpha Dane spoke as the others nodded their heads in ascent.

“Rise for we are equals, I may be your leader but the decisions that will need to be made will not just be my own but yours also for what we do today is for the future of our packs” I said.

“Alpha what should we do know?” Alpha Jacobson asked.

“War has been calling us for a long time we have denied it for the protection of our packs but no more Victors death has proved that no one is safe” I turned to look all the Alphas in the eye before saying.

“It is time we showed these hunters and rogues that we are not to be messed with they must pay for the countless deaths they have caused it is time”.

“Time for what Alpha” Alpha Gabriel asked.

“It’s time to fight” as I spoke these words I heard the alphas of the Ordinem lupus growl in ascent it was time for us to show these Rogues and hunters who they were dealing with.