Chapter 3

Alpha Elliot of the moonlight pack was among the most respected Alpha's in the entire region of Astra. Even though the moonstone was not in his pack he was still among the strongest and most strategic Alphas. Together with his team of elite soldiers he was doing their usual rounds at the pack boundaries. There had been reports of a vampire lurking around in the woods. With the competition for the moonstone around the corner Elliot did not need distractions but he took up the challenge to measure his readiness for the task ahead. He needed to test his strength against the beasts of the night although some could walk in the sun.

"I think I found something", one of his men far ahead said.

The whole group marched right where he was. They however created a path for their alpha who went down on one knee to inspect the drops of fresh blood on the ground. He smeared it on his finger and licked it.

"Human blood" he said spitting it out.

"We can't catch their scent" one of his men said.

"They couldn't have gone so far, let's get them before the vampire does come on people spread out! The vampire won't come to us" he psyched them up getting back on his feet.

They split in a team of three walking through the woods following the trails left by the vampire. Most of them were scared. They were doing Arnold's job. For the five years he was the one mandated to protect all of them and even that he had failed. Now they had to take matters in their own hands.

"There is someone here I can feel it" Elliot said to the two gentlemen who were following him closely.

They all stopped to listen keenly looking around for any signs of a person. Then they heard a typical whooshing sound before a head rolled on the ground.

"Stick together, He is here!" Elliot announced.

"Hello Elliot!"

They turned to look up a tree as the vampire ripped the tree bark with its claws on its way down.

"Lord Gilbert what a pleasure" Elliot said, "Had I known it was you I would have brought some wine"

"Elliot my friend, here to kill me again?" Gilbert asked licking the blood remains on his fingers.

"You still have time to run you know" Elliot threatened.

Gilbert was one of the oldest vampires in Astra. He was fast, strong and above all very brutal. All other supernatural beings shook with fear at the sound of his name and he enjoyed it. Drinking human blood was not enough for him. He also drew a lot of comfort terrorizing the werewolves. According to him the vampires were superior. They ruled Astra and the witches were only helpers. They did not need the wolves. That theory had changed a few months back when he discovered one of his enemies. The vampire he feared most, Luca Ferdinand was after him. After trying to talk Arnold into helping him fight back proved futile he wanted Elliot.

"Am not here to fight" he said with a sick smile.

Perhaps he was telling the truth but no one could trust him. Vampires could not be trusted.

"What are you doing here?"

"Am here to make an offer" He said confidently walking towards Elliot.

All his men retreated. As their leader he was left standing in front. Gilbert would have killed them all but all they needed was one bite.

"Am not interested last time I checked you want us all dead or far away from here" Elliot said.

"Priorities change my friend. Anyway here is what I wanted to say", He stopped to think of something creating a suspense, "How about I help you get the moonstone even before your stupid little competition gets underway"

Elliot burst into laughter. What he was proposing was good but impossible. First, the moonstone was protected by magic and only Ava the witch could unlock it. Second it could not work unless the witch and elders did their rituals not to mention Gilbert was a vampire. What if the moonstone fell into his hands? He was old enough to have a way of destroying it and that would have meant the end of the werewolves. He could not risk wiping his own species on the face of the earth because of his greed for power.

"I can't see what's funny there, you guys see anything funny?" lord gilbert asked spreading his arms.

"That's impossible and stupid too besides what's in it for you?" Elliot asked curiously.

Gilbert and his convent were known to ride solo. He was not good at making alliances the best explanation being he could rip out ones heart the moment they turned their backs.

"Your friendship is enough" He said nodding.

There was something he was keeping away from them. Elliot wanted to know what it was because it was scaring the shit out of him. And what could be better than that? Knowing the great Lord Gilbert's secret? He could use it against him. If he was not in desperate need of an ally he would have attacked them already but he had not shown any signs of ripping their heads off.

"I don't trust you, No one does"

"Jokes on them. Trust me Elliot this is the best offer you will ever get. A tide is coming and you will need allies the moonstone will not be enough. You take some time to think of it I will meet you here in five days"

"You..."

Before he finished only a blurry shadow of Gilbert was seen disappearing in the woods.

"Typical vampires, I wanted to ask him to bury this human looks like you boys are up" Elliot said walking away.

******

The room was filled with the smell of sewage, it was super-hot in there. Rats were walking all over him and he could hear faint heartbeats above the ground. Even without opening his eyes he could tell he was in a dungeon. He was vertically spread on the wall with his hands tied with big chains and he could feel excessive amounts of wolfs bane in his system. His head was heavy and his legs were numb when he opened his eyes a bucket full of water was splashed on his face making him soaking wet.

"Was that really necessary" Clyde complained.

"You are not a visitor mate you are a spy" a rough male voice said in a mocking tone.

"Yeah that one am sure of"

He tried to remember his last encounter before ending up in a dungeon. He remembered meeting a guy named ted who took him to the witch Talia. From there his head went blank. It was like that piece of memory just got ripped out of his head.

"Where am I?" Clyde asked struggling to break free from the chains.

Clearly his attempts were proving to be futile but he kept trying anyway.

"In a dungeon I thought you figured that part out" his host said with disdain.

"I did what I mean is whose dungeon?"

"You ask too many questions"

Clyde might have pissed him off. The colossal man marched towards him, kicked him in the belly and tightened the chains around his neck and arms.

"Enough!" shouted a man in the shadows.

Even Clyde was scared of him. Owen was bad news.

"In war my friend", He started off.

He walked closer to the light. His eyes were bloodshot as he could remember them last time they met and his beard was well trimmed. Dressed in a black three piece suit with no tie. A gold chain hanging down his neck. For a bloodthirsty beast he was too handsome. And that's what lured his victims. Especially women. But under that suit and pretty face Owen was one cold, arctic and Antarctica type cold bastard who drew a lot of pleasure making other people very uncomfortable. With the moonstone he would have wanted to rule the world.

"Every war has friends and enemies, coalitions are formed others are broken but what matters at the end of the day is winning"

"I don't understand anything you are saying Owen, look man you got it all wrong am not here to spy..."

"You are looking for a witch to cure Arnold, yeah I know that one" Owen interrupted him taking a seat.

"Then you should let me go. Trust me I will run and never look back" Clyde promised.

Owen looked at his guard and smiled then frowned.

"Untie him why did you make him feel like he couldn't leave?" He asked angrily.

"He would have escaped"

"No he can't do that we are just getting to know each other right Clyde?"

"Yeah" Clyde said nodding.

The guard untied his hands and legs then his neck and disconnected the wolf bane tubes. A chair was brought for him and placed opposite Owen's.

"Now tell me Clyde are you ready for war?" Owen asked.

"Which war do you keep talking about?"

The only big thing Clyde knew was going down in Astra in the near future was the legendary league of five alphas but Owen kept talking about a war as though he knew what other people did not know. He had every reason to wonder which war he was referring to. For years there had been peace among the five packs despite other packs not having the moonstone. The only war they had was with vampires which had been there for centuries. But with time some packs were starting to feel left out and they were planning to revolt the competition. It was just the tip of the ice berg, the vampires were also flocking in.

"I have exclusive Intel, the vampires are planning to sabotage the league and destroy the moonstone" Owen said.

It sounded as a joke to Clyde until he realized Owen was dead serious about his worry.

"Oh you are serious?"

"Yeah dude, I don't know why the damn moonstone can't allow all of us to morph at will"

"You know that's not possible, can I go now?" Clyde asked.

"Then all the effort of kidnapping you will be a waste of time" Owen said signaling the guard to tie him.

Owen was a real definition of a sadist.

*******

Kate roamed through the woods not knowing where she was going or what she was going to do about Alcott and his cronies. They were not going to stop until they got what they wanted and it was just matter of time before the rest of them joined him. With a sick husband, tensions for the league of alphas coming and with no ally at her corner she did not stand a chance protecting her loved ones. All their hopes were on Clyde but he was no show. She had morphed back to human form and snack in the nearby human settlement to steal some clothes.

"Mum!" Kai called from behind.

"Kai, what are you doing here who is watching over your dad?" she asked worriedly.

"He asked me to find you"

"You shouldn't have left him alone with those imbeciles" she said rushing.

They ran all the way back. The pack house was deserted. Unusually deserted because there was always a couple of guards at the door. Kate could smell that something was not right. Kai was still not getting it. He did not know the seriousness of the situation and how in danger he was. Never in his life had he faced a rebellion. What did he know anyway? He was only a twenty year old. Nineteen maybe. He still had a lot to learn from his father and mother.

"Mum where is everyone?" He asked the two of them looking around.

"I don't know but this doesn't look good" she said.

"Let's check on dad" Kai said.

They walked to the house, it was quiet. They found Arnold sound asleep facing the wall.

"Dad?" Kai called out.

There was no response. Kate rushed back outside to try and get the nurse.

"Come on dad" Kai said getting worried.

She came back all alone.

"Turn him around!" she ordered.

Kai gently turned his father around that's when it hit them. His throat was slit.