Unnamed

Please do you know what's going on?" Derek asked in confusion.

"Our clan warriors have been attacked by the vampires in the woods, the alpha is deciding our next move," the person answered, not bothering to turn back. This is the first time Derek has heard of a vampire attack on our pack since their last defeat about twenty years ago before he was born.

The rowdy crowd became quiet after some figures came out of the clan house. Led by Achilles, Nicholas and Kyros stood before the crowd.

"Some of our clan warriors who went out to hunt were injured by the vampires! But we won't take that lying down!" he said. "We have some moles in our clan and I promise them a fate worse than death!" he added after a brief pause which sounded more like a growl.

"From today, everyone is banned from leaving the clan and the clan warriors who go out for hunting would go in a ten men group. You all are dismissed" he said and walked into the clan house followed by Nicholas and Kyros.

"The world is getting more dangerous," the clan member who answered Derek earlier said with a shake of his head.

––—

Alpha apartment

Everywhere is dark except the pale moonlight that spilled through the window showing a cloaked figure without any features.

"How was it? Have you carried the mission out?" said a gruff and deep voice.

"Yes master" replied Achilles who's kneeling on one knee. He has his head bowed respectfully, an attitude a servant would have towards his master.

"Okay, phase one is done and we will quickly move to phase two," the voice said. " Which is…?" Achilles asked.

"I would tell you when the time is ripe, have you gotten the evidence?" The voice asked. "Yes master," Achilles replied.

"Hold on to it I would tell you when the time is right" the voice said and disappeared. The electric lights in the room flickered and came to life, but the figure is long gone.

Achilles who was kneeling stood up, dusted his body and set about his business.

––––

Gamma apartment

"Dad, how did our pack members get attacked by the vamps? I thought that the nearest vampire coven was eliminated by you, you are still suffering from the sequelae?" Derek asked in confusion.

"How was today's training?" Kyros asked without giving him an answer. "Training went fine, it was tiring but satisfying" Derek answered with a grumble.

"What about the…." But he was cut off by Kyros. "Forget it Derek, the water runs too deep. Don't get involved in it"

"But am I not part of the clan, as the son of the Gamma at least I have the right to know" Derek insisted.

"Forget it, I don't want what happened to your mom to happen to you too" he said. Opening and closing his mouth Derek couldn't find a rebuttal.

"You can close the door after you exit," Kyros said, sounding tired all of a sudden. Seeing his dad like that, Derek thought it must be hard on him to raise him alone and he shouldn't demand too much from the man.

Closing the office door, he moved to his room and sat on the bed. This is the first time his dad has ever talked about his mom. Any other time he asked about it his dad always brushed off the topic.

–——

"Ring!! Ring!!" The alarm clock rang , Derek woke up , went to the restroom. After some sound of water he came out dressed in his gym clothes, but thought better of it.

He changed to the clothes he received after the registration the previous day. Leaving the clan house he slowly jogged to the barrack.

He was surprised to see oldman Jack in the training square when he got there but nevertheless, he went on to perform some basic calisthenic exercise while he waited for the other cadets.

"Come over," said oldman Jack who has been staring off at the space all this while as he waved Derek over. Confused Derek went towards him.

"Which weapon have you trained with before?" He asked Derek who stood behind him

"None sir, just some basic punches and kicks" Derek answered. "Good.. good that's good" oldman Jack nodded his head. "It's better to write on a clean paper than a smeared one."

"Since we have time before the lessons, come at me with all you got," oldman Jack said. Looking at the old man jack who is in his seventies with a thin frame of not more than skin and bones. "Are you sure sir, I don't want to hurt you?" Derek asked hesitantly.

"What! Do you look down on this old man!" He said as his face turned red in anger. "Okay, here I come" Derek said as he charged at old man Jack with half of his speed.

Oldman Jack sidestepped Derek when he almost slammed into him with his elbow, tripping Derek with his toe when he moved. 

Derek almost fell on his face after he tripped on oldman Jack's toe, but he pushed his hands on the floor sumasulted in the air and landed on his feet. He turned and looked at the thin frame of old man Jack in surprise.

"You can't always bulldoze your way in everything, sometimes speed is better than strength" oldman Jack said, from the look of delight on his wizened face he seems to be enjoying every bit of it.

Feeling indignant, Derek charged at oldman jack again this time with his full speed. He threw a punch at oldman jack when he was close, but oldman jack dodged it as if he predicted it. 

He slipped through Derek's defense and slammed his palm on his sternum with such force that is impossible to be generated from his slim frame.

Derek's body flew for three meters and slammed on the floor raising up dust. Derek stood up as his anger rose, his blue eyes flashed like lightning tinted with a slight red color.

Screaming he charged at the smiling oldman Jack….