CHAPTER 5

Alpha Crawford Shadowbrook was staring at his soldiers doing the marching parade from the verandah in his palace, his mind racing.

The training the soldiers had to go through nowadays was greater. It was more meticulous, more difficult and generally harder than it usually was. It wasn't his fault, the stakes had gotten higher, the line between war and peace was slim, it was literally a blur. That was why he was training his soldiers.

War was coming, and it was only a matter of time. Everybody had to be prepared, everyone had to be on their guard.

His hatred for the Ravenwood pack had made him send his daughter to their kingdom to gain information. He wanted no sight of them. He wanted to crush them, he wanted to destroy them. He wanted to let them know that there was only one superior power amongst the six communities that were huddled together in the Asheville mountains.

The Shadowbrook pack was a superior race, a superior pack, and he wanted the world to see that. He wanted the world to bow down to him.

That was why he had sent his daughter to the Ravenwood kingdom. It was a risk he was willing to take, a risk he wanted to take to prove the superiority of his people. He wanted nothing more than to prove that Shadowbrook was the superior race, a superior pack, and the best pack in the six communities that made up the Asheville mountains.

As usual, he had sent Hero, the Beta of the kingdom, to bring home the usual monthly reports. He was praying for something better, a change at least. Something that would establish that they were on the right path, that his daughter being in the Ravenwood kingdom instead of being in the comfort of her home wasn't in vain.

He was still looking at the marching parade when Kingsley, his personal guard, came in.

"The Beta is here to see you, sir. He says you told him to come up here as soon as he gets into town."

Nodding, Alpha Crawford smiled, anxiety finally kicking in. He was excited to know the news that Hero came bearing, if there was anything to be joyful about just yet. He wanted to know his stance, he wanted to know what type of training his soldiers should undergo next.

While the other kingdoms were thinking there was peace and harmony, a war was brewing. They couldn't see it, but it was coming. It was going to hit them hard, it was going to hit them unexpectedly. Alpha Crawford wasn't going to stop until each and every wolf Kingdom in the werewolf world gave his pack the respect they truly deserved.

He turned just in time to see Hero come in through the ajar door that separated the verandah from the corridor of the palace.

"Alpha Crawford."

Hero Hemsworth bowed, showing his respect. Alpha Crawford was pleased with his Beta. He was a hard man, just like him, and he had seen him punish younger and junior soldiers without flinching. He always wanted the soldiers to know where they were, that the Shadowbrook pack was a superior race, and thus, their soldiers ought to be a different breed.

He liked Hero because Hero shared the same views as he did, because the passion that was in his veins regarding his people was the same passion that ran in Hero's veins. He was a great man and a great soldier.

"Hero Hemsworth. Come, I want to show you something."

Taking him to the verandah, Alpha Crawford showed his commander in chief the soldiers who were training below.

"These men you see today, Hero, are the best set of soldiers that the werewolf world is going to see. Not only are we going to conquer the Ravenwood pack, any other pack that refuses to bow to our authority will be burnt to the ground.

Alpha Crawford paused, staring at Hero to make sure he was following up, to make sure he understood him perfectly.

"These soldiers you see today, Hero, are our ticket to becoming the superior race we've always dreamt about. And thus, we must treat them well and train them well. They are our tools, Hero."

"Yes, Alpha Crawford. We are the superior pack, and though it may take time, the werewolf world is going to bow to us soon."

Nodding, Alpha Crawford smiled. He was happy that Hero understood him.

"Now, tell me you come bearing good news. Tell me that we're gaining massive ground in the Ravenwood pack."

"I come bearing good news, Alpha Crawford. The Alpha of the Ravenwood pack, Alpha Jasper rejected his chosen mate to be with your daughter. Apparently, he is smitten by her. He is in love, Alpha Crawford."

Smiling, Alpha Crawford smiled. That was what he wanted to hear. His daughter was the smartest wolf he had ever known, and he knew he wasn't going to regret sending her there.

"Come and have a drink with me, Hero Hemsworth. For in a few months from now, the world will hear of our dominance and superiority. War is coming, Hero Hemsworth, and we are not going to be the casualties."

Smiling, Alpha Crawford led his commander in chief of the Shadowbrook army to his bar. He was celebrating because it was only a matter of time now.

It was only a matter of time before the world would hear the name "Shadowbrook" and shiver.