Garrett Hunter sat impatiently in his office at the pack house. Although he had another office in his personal residence nearby, he had opted to hold this meeting in the pack house office. The space was as dark as his personality, with walls painted in dark hues. In one corner, a bookshelf brimmed with files, and opposite sat comfortable chairs with a middle table. In front of his desk, there were two armchairs for visitors. Otherwise, the office was sparse.
Impatient for his visitor, Garrett demanded an update through a mind link with his Beta, Davies Harris. "He is on his way, Alpha," replied Harris.
Garrett said nothing, waiting for the footsteps he heard approaching his office. The door swung open, and Garrett's cousin, Drake, strolled in nonchalantly. Garrett reacted swiftly, grabbing Drake by the neck and pinning him to the wall. Surprised, Drake looked down at Garret, his hands clutching the king's grip.
"What do you think you're doing?" Garrett demanded. "Is it your hand that has been responsible for the killings?"
"They deserved what came to them," Drake retorted.
Garrett tightened his grip, furious. "You have no right to decide that. I make the decisions, not you."
"You're becoming weak, cousin," Drake taunted.
Garrett threw Drake across the room, where he collided with the chairs. Garret followed, delivering blows to Drake's face and grabbing his neck. The two males held each other in a deadlock, growling and glaring. The room shook with their roars.
Garrett managed to control himself before shifting and gave Drake a good blow to the head, sending him crashing to the floor. Drake raised his hand in surrender, but Garrett, blinded by his anger, ignored it and pinned him down.
"You do not interfere in things that are not your concern," Garret said.
"Fine," Drake conceded.
"You're not getting it," Garrett snapped.
Just then, a new voice interrupted. "Are you back, Garrett...?" Garrett knew without looking that it was his grandmother, and Drake seized the opportunity to escape.
Garrett's grandmother, Mrs. Hunter, entered the room, dismayed to see her only grandchildren at each other's throats. "What is going on?" she asked.
"I was alone, talking to Drake," Garrett lied.
Mrs. Hunter surveyed the disheveled office, unconvinced. She wished the two could get along. "You're excused from my office," Garrett dismissed Drake.
Drake tenderly kissed his grandmother on the forehead, and exited the office. As he left, Mrs. Hunter approached Garrett's desk, slowly taking her seat in the chair opposite him. She studied Garrett, whose anger was palpable. She knew better than to tread lightly when dealing with him.
"Son," she began after a moment's pause, "what is going on?"
Garrett's gaze shifted to his grandmother, who, despite being in her seventies, still appeared remarkably youthful. She was concerned for both him and Drake.
"There have been killings among the humans," Garrett replied.
Mrs. Hunter nodded gravely. "But do you think your cousin is involved?" she inquired.
Garrett's response was swift and certain. "Yes."
"But Garrett," Mrs. Hunter pressed on, "what if he is not?"
Garrett was aware that there was little he could say to change his grandmother's mind; she had always held high hopes for Drake. "You should rest, grandmother," he urged, hoping to steer the conversation away from this topic. "I will handle the matter. You needn't worry."
Garrett needed to dismiss her before she could delve into her next matter of concern: his mate. "I feel like you are driving me away from your office, son," Mrs. Hunter lamented.
Garrett reassured her. "I am not, I am simply exhausted. I need to rest before training, and I am sure you need to rest as well." He used his own health as an excuse, and Mrs. Hunter nodded in understanding. She gave him a motherly smile before leaving the office.
"Davies, get me a list of the packs that are involved in these killings," Garrett instructed his Beta.
"Certainly, Alpha," Davies responded through their telepathic link, demonstrating his respect for Garrett's authority as pack leader.
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Garrett sat in his opulent office, situated in the confines of his home, engrossed in paperwork that Davies, his loyal assistant, had delivered. As a werewolf Alpha, Garret had to stay up-to-date on the happenings of the packs under his jurisdiction. He flipped through the pages, searching for something specific.
"What about this one?" he asked, holding up a file.
Davies looked at the file before answering, "That's the Skyline pack, Alpha. They recently appointed a new leader."
Garrett's eyes narrowed as he examined the file, his wolf bristling with suspicion. "Arrange a meeting with their Alpha. I want to see things for myself," he commanded before placing the file back on his desk. "And keep an eye on Drake's movements."
"As you wish, Alpha," Davies replied with a respectful bow before exiting the room.
Alone in his office, Garrett walked to the window overlooking the water at the back of his home. The tranquil surface of the water, reflecting the sky above, and the lush greenery surrounding his home did nothing to calm his raging emotions. He knew what he had to do to release his inner turmoil - go for a run in the wild.
As he made his way to the pack's patrol, he punished anyone lagging behind, as his pack's welfare was his top priority. Garrett was known for his fierce loyalty to his pack, and he handled any issues with fairness and justice. Any Alpha who dared cross him faced his wrath, and their pack would be left bare until they found a new leader. Garrett didn't care about that as long as the human world didn't discover their existence.
Garrett leaped out of his office window and mid-air, transformed into his giant black wolf, Beast. He ran into the wild, releasing a thunderous growl into the night. The moon shining above illuminated his path as he sprinted with the speed of a bullet. He felt free and alive. But his mind couldn't shake off the Skyline pack's file. Something was not right, and Garrett was determined to get to the bottom of it.
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THE ESCAPE
Emily overheard the conversation in the Skyline common room where Alpha Anon and his mate Annabel were discussing the letter that arrived that morning. "Is it a good thing that the Alpha king is coming here?" Annabel asked. Anon was busy packing the room when his father and former Alpha walked in with his wife Sidney. "I heard the Alpha king is coming here," the former Alpha stated. Sidney was uneasy about the news and turned to her son. "What have you been up to?" she asked. "Nothing, mother," Anon replied.
Annabel frowned at the former Luna of the pack and asked, "Are you suspecting the Alpha?" The former Alpha interrupted, "Stop. We need to prepare for his visit. Make sure the Omegas are scared, get your warriors in order, and dispose of anything that may implicate you for now. Watch how you speak to him. The king is known to be merciless. Your goal is to win his favor."
Emily quietly left the common room and went to their hut to share the news with Fanny. "That's great news. If we don't have to serve the king, I don't think we would last in his presence. The king is evil," Fanny shivered. "He is known to be merciless, cruel, a killer. He is a very bad nightmare, a story to scare little ones. On top of it all, he is cursed, cursed by the greatest evil witch. Have you forgotten his story?"
"No, but I hope we will be safe from him as long as we do not cross his path. I don't mind seeing him if it is just once," Emily replied. Fanny was shocked and said, "Emily, are you out of your mind? We should be planning how we can use this opportunity to escape."
"We should?" Emily frowned.
"Yes, do you want to remain here for the rest of your life?" Fanny asked.
"What if we are captured again? Or fall into the hands of people far worse than this?"
"At least we tried. We can die smiling," Fanny said with much conviction.
Annabel walked in with a cruel smile and interrupted their conversation. "So you are planning to run away?" Emily shared a deadly look with Fanny. They knew they were caught by Annabel of all people. The girls went on their knees directly. "Please, Luna, we were just kidding," Emily pleaded.
"Why don't we take you two to the Alpha and let him decide what to do with you? Killing you lowlifes to entertain the king is not such a bad idea too," Annabel smiled at her own suggestion. "We never planned on running away, Luna. Please," Fanny begged.
"We have an issue on the ground, dear," Annabel mind-linked Alpha Anon. "Get yourself to the pack house, dogs. The Alpha king is here."
"Please, Luna," Fanny pleaded.
"Do I need to drag you two out? The king wants to see everyone in the pack, and I guess that includes the two maids. After that, we can report your evil plot to him and let him decide what to do with you," Annabel clapped her hands together for her bright idea. "Out with you two," she pushed them out of the house with force.
The girls knew they were in deep trouble, caught by Annabel of all people. With no escape plan in sight, they could only hope for the best but prepare for the worst as they headed to meet the Alpha King. The thought of what fate awaited them left a knot in their stomachs as they walked towards the pack house, wondering what would happen next.
Emily tried to quell the terror rising inside her as they approached the main hall, but it proved to be futile. With every step they took, her body trembled more violently with fear. Fanny, too, was visibly trembling with anxiety while Annabel strode ahead of them with regal poise. When they finally arrived at the hall, there was a smaller crowd and Annabel hurried over to Anon. The former Alpha and his mate were nowhere to be seen. The king was also absent from the hall. Annabel surveyed the room with a puzzled expression, then lightly touched Anon's shoulder. Lost in thought, he hadn't sensed her approach. Annabel frowned at that, his mate should be able to sense her presence even before he sees her. "What is going on here? Where is the king?" Annabel demanded. "He's already left," Anon replied. "What? He didn't even acknowledge my presence. Why did he leave so abruptly?" Annabel asked with frustration. She had hoped to see the king and win his favor with her beauty, in order
The heavy door creaked open, and Emily and her captor were ushered into a dimly lit room.The air was thick with a palpable sense of power and desire, but not the kind that could be sated with food. Emily tried to conceal her trembling body from the lecherous looks of the men in the room, but it was a futile effort. She was the center of attention, and she knew it."Kneel," the man who had brought her here barked, and Emily complied. But before she could adjust to her new position, he kicked her legs out from under her, and she landed hard on all fours. Her hands were still tied behind her back, making the fall even more painful.There was a moment of eerie silence as the men in the room sized her up. Emily felt like a piece of meat on display, ready to be devoured.The man who brought her here moved to take a seat, leaving Emily alone at the center of the room."What are we to make of her, Alpha?" A new voice broke the silence, and the others started to murmur in agreement."We can
Emily knew she was in serious trouble the moment she heard Matt's wife's voice at the door. Matt had abandoned her and turned to his wife, while Emily clutched herself in shame and fear, not knowing what was to come. She had never met anyone in the room before, so she had no idea that it belonged to Matt and his mate.Matt gave his wife a look and then turned back to Emily. "Can you believe it? She wanted me to touch her," he said, pointing down at Emily.His wife said nothing and walked further into the room, looking exhausted. "You know what? I'm not in the mood for your nonsense tonight. Get out of here," she commanded Emily. "OUT!" she bellowed.Emily stood on trembling legs and rushed out of the room, unable to believe her good fortune. Matt sat down on the bed and asked his friend, "You're just going to let her go like that?""I'm exhausted from training all day. I'm not going to waste energy on a mere Omega. I'll only end up breaking her in two," she replied."You should have d
Emily quickly covered the pot on the stove, which had caught fire. The pack members had already eaten, but Kane came looking for the Omegas.Mary had instructed Emily to prepare something for him since there were no leftovers, and Emily quickly got to work.She stood facing the stove, aware that Kane was watching her from where he sat on a stool at the table in the middle of the kitchen."When will that be ready?" he asked impatiently."It will be ready in a few minutes, sir," Emily replied. She rarely ran into Kane during her daily chores, and he didn't disturb her as long as she remembered all he had told her on her first day."You are doing well, fitting in with no issues," he commended her."Thank you for your advice on my first day, sir," she said gratefully."Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm starved right now. I need food," Kane said, tapping his fingers on the table."I'm sorry, sir. It's almost done," Emily told him."Fine," he said, looking irritated.A few minutes later, the food was r
Emily ran until her feet ached, the wind whipping through her hair, but she didn't stop. She arrived at a river and filled her jug, but She refrained from washing herself, as she believed the dirt was crucial to keep her scent hidden. As she climbed up a slope, she caught sight of a road in the distance, with vehicles passing by. Was this the same road Mary had mentioned? The gap between the humans and werewolves? She peered at the drivers in the passing vehicles, wondering if they were human, and if they would stop if she waved them down. However, looking at her dirty appearance, she knew they would think she was a thief or a crazy person. Emily descended the slope and hid, keeping watch as the cars passed by. When the road quieted down, she crossed to the other side, shaking her head before running deeper into the forest, Perhaps she would come across a human village on the way, but at least she was far away from the Rogues. She rested for a brief period, eating the remaining bre
Garrett had Davies by the neck, and Nani was trying to intervene to stop the fight. She slapped Garrett's soiled back, telling him to release Davies. Davies had revealed to Nani about the Omega, which was not his right to do so. However, he knew why his Beta did so; he was aware that if Nani was involved, it would not be easy to reject the Omega as his mate. Finally, Garrett had to let go of Davies. Nani touched Davies' face to check for any injury and gave Garrett t an annoyed look. "Were you going to choke him, Garrett?" she asked. "Nani, he doesn't even feel the pain," Garrett pointed out. Davies gave Garrett a smug look, but when Nani turned to him, he went sober, gaining more of Nani's pity. "Davies, dear, you were saying something about a mate," Nani reminded him of their previous conversation. "Yes, that's right, Nani," Davies replied. "Tell me, child, has he found his mate?" Nani asked. "Yes," Davies confirmed. "But where is she? Who is she?" Nani inquired. "Well," Dav
Emily regained consciousness once more, finding herself in the same room. However, this time, a lady was waiting for her in the chair beside her bed. Emily recognized the lady from the first time, and watched her warily as she gazed back cautiously. Emily wondered why someone was watching her. Was it to prevent her from escaping?“I'm harmless,” the lady reassured Emily. However, Emily wasn't sure whether to believe her. The lady showed Emily her empty hands and said, “I am your doctor. I have been treating you for days.”Emily continued to observe the doctor, keeping her gaze locked on her. What would happen now that she was awake? But it seemed that the doctor still had a lot to say. “I'm going to ask you a few questions. You can nod or shake your head in response. Is that okay?”Emily took her time before nodding her head. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail on top of her head, and she wore a large gown that failed to conceal how skinny she was.“Good. Are you feeling any pain?” th
Lois must have said the wrong thing, because, Emily was shaking furiously, she pulled away from Lois and that was it, they were going to lock her in to prevent her from escaping. They had been so good to her for a reason. Emily should not have trusted Lois, what was she thinking of in the first place, that she would be accepted here, forgetting she was only an Omega.“Please, calm down Emily, I’m not going to hurt you” Lois saidEmily would have loved to shout the word liar at her, they are all lairs from the pit of hell.“Please, listen to me Emily, I was only joking” Lois said with a quiet voice, she was distressed, her eyes filled with tears for Emily.Emily paused enough to notice that Lois was actually crying, why would Lois be crying? She was the one who should be crying not Lois.“I’m sorry for scaring you Emily, I never meant it, I was only saying that to avoid people coming here anyhow, I’m so sorry” Lois said as she turned and ran out of the room leaving Emily confused.If sh