Chapter 2: Haaland

***Bryan***

I leaned close to the wall to take a close view.

My prey had just stepped out of Lois Wold's house. They appear to be having an argument of some sort.

Today must be my lucky day!

Killing Alpha Ashley's daughter will put more fear in them. I've been chasing the unimportant members of the Anderson pack since I started my hunt. I had my eleventh kill last week.

I know the Andersons are scared but it's Alpha Ashley that I desperately want to see in pain. Taking his daughter away from him will be the onset of his misery.

That pretty wife of his will die at my hands too. I'll destroy his businesses, take everything away from him, just like he took everything away from me.

When I'm done with him, if his misery doesn't end him, I'm left with no choice but to finish him off.

After I'm done with the Andersons, those cunning bastards, the Foss pack, are next!

I continued to follow Lois and her friend closely from behind, watching as they walked slowly down the illuminated street.

The street lights would make it hard for me to abduct Scarlett. I'll patiently wait until they've taken a bend leading towards the next street. That street is not as brightly lit as this one.

I only hope Lois gets away from this so-called friend of hers before I strike.

Lois and I are from the same pack, the Mo pack; that's why I'm concerned. I din't want her discovering this side of me.

Lois placed her arm around Scarlett's shoulder. "It's going to be okay. Curtis can be like that sometimes. You'll be surprised to discover that it's not a big deal."

"I doubt that." Scarlett shook her head. "Did you see the look your mate gave me? That was a look of pity."

"You are overthinking this. You're well aware that your father doesn't bluff. This marriage has to take place because that's the only way you can protect your pack. It's what you told me. And If you ask me, I doubt there's anything you can do; that's if Curtis were to tell you whatever it was he was keeping to himself."

Listening in on the conversation these two ladies were pumping out caused me to miss a step.

I quickly balanced my weight before I came crashing behind them like a bloody human mountain.

Marriage! I heard them mention marriage. That's some twist right there. Why didn't I hear about anyone getting married in this town?

I focused on them again to find out more.

"You're right. Asking to know what wrong Evans Foss has done might be of no help to me," Scarlett said. "Looking at it the other way round or in a positive light, I'm the one who would be gaining from this union. I and my pack need the protection."

Aha! So that's the shit they've been planning. A marriage of convenience. The Andersons need the Foss to help protect their pack.

Realizing this almost makes me burst out laughing. The Foss don't know they're in trouble too. This is interesting.

For twelve years I've struggled to sleep well at night. The disturbing images still give me nightmares. For twelve years I've seen the same faces, one by one, fresh in my memory as they all lay in the pool of their blood that horrible night.

My parents were killed. Every member of my pack was annihilated that night. The Andersons and Foss followed every member of the Haaland pack to their homes, pierced a stake through their hearts and burned everything to the ground.

Nothing and no one survived. Just me.

It just feels like yesterday when everything happened. I left Silvercrest Range years ago to prepare for my revenge. I've been carrying it out for the past few months. I don't care how long it will take me to achieve it. I'm sure I'm going to get my revenge.

"Why didn't you drive here in your car?" Lois asked Scarlett.

I was happy they had taken the bend leading to the darker street.

"There are days I feel too lazy to drive. Today is one of those days. It's not that late. It won't take me thirty minutes with a cab."

"You should head back in time. Have a good sleep and clear your head before tomorrow, okay."

"Thanks dear." Scarlett leaned in for a hug. "I appreciate your kind words."

"You're welcome." Lois hugged her back. "Hurry now."

I slipped deeper into the bushes as I watched Lois leave Scarlett to head back home. This was the perfect time.

It excites me to know that Alpha Ashley is so scared and weak that the only option he could think of is to offer his daughter up for marriage to the most ruthless werewolf in Silvercrest Range. Pitiful! They can't protect themselves from me. Never!

I only got back to town five months ago but I already know Evans Foss is bad news.

Asides what he and his father, Fred Foss did twelve years ago, Evans Foss has outstandingly outshone his father when it comes to viciousness.

My plans for him are grand. Evans would be saved for last, so I'll have all the pleasure in the world to repay him the same way he treated me twelve years ago.

With each step Scarlett took, my feet followed, slowly and quietly behind her. She seemed calm and comfortable. Do I feel bad that I am about to do this? Hell no!

Scarlett didn't do anything to me but it's bad enough that she shares the same blood with my enemy and she's getting married to another enemy of mine. This automatically makes her my enemy too. Such a terrible fate…so why would I care?

I quickened my step to close the distance between us. I don't abduct all my victims in human form. I shift before I attack them.

None has ever been able to escape me when I've turned into that big vengeful beast. My claws extend. Fangs dropped. Fur begins to sprout out of my skin…

"Bryan is that you?" A female voice called from behind.

My claws quickly turned into fingers. Fangs and fur disappear, I turned around. "Hey, Lois," I said, smiling shrewdly.

Why was she back here? I just saw her head back in the direction of her apartment.

"What are you doing?" She asked, looking at me suspiciously.

"Taking a stroll." I turned around but Scarlett was gone. This made me so angry. I bit my bottom lip to control myself.

I almost had her. Damn it! I clenched my fist. Lois just destroyed my whole plan. "And you. Why are you here?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"I escorted a friend but while heading home I saw you. I wasn't sure if it was you, so I followed."

"Ah. I see. I was taking a stroll. Who is this friend of yours by the way." I asked, pretending not to know what she was talking about.

"Scarlett Anderson," she happily answered. "She's getting married to Evans Foss tomorrow."

"Hum. Why am I just hearing of this news?" I continue to pretend not to have an idea about what she's talking about.

"Almost everyone in town knows, even Curtis. Although her father only informed her today."

"Well I haven't really spoken to anyone lately. Alpha Westby sent me to take care of some stuff."

"I feel bad for her," Lois said sadly. "She's going to be stuck with someone she doesn't love all her life."

I shook my head at Lois' words in disagreement. "They deserve each other—"

With narrowed eyes and a shocked expression, she asked, "What did you say?"

"What did you hear me say?" I shrugged.

"That they deserve each other. That's a mean thing to say. Bryan, she's only going into this marriage to protect her pack."

"Like that will ever work." I hissed. I was beginning to get tired of this boring conversation.

"Bryan, I don't like the way you're speaking today. You are next in line as Alpha of our pack. Don't be so cold. I know you don't like Evans Foss but Scarlett is a nice person." Lois cried out.

I didn't want to get more furious. She made my prey slip away from me. Getting away from Lois right now was for her own safety.

I turned around to go back home. "I'll head back now. Goodnight."

"You're done strolling already?" She blurted out.

"It looks like that," I said, without turning to face her.

I could feel Lois staring at me as I walked away from her. She was speechless.

I don't care if she vouches for her friend's good behavior or how she's a sweetheart.

I'm not dispensing rewards for good character. I'm dishing out punishment. It's sad her friend had to be caught in the middle of all this...