Chapter 57
“ARE YOU SURE-” Alpha Perez’s sentence was interrupted by one of his warriors who urgently called for him. They both turn to see the warrior running towards them, clutching a familiar envelope in his hands. Without even holding it, the alpha knew exactly where it came from and he had a foreboding feeling about its contents.
“Forgive me for the intrusion, Alpha and Luna, but a message has just arrived from the Alpha King,” the warrior said as he politely handed the envelope. Then, after excusing himself, he bowed and left. Serena and her husband exchanged a knowing look before he opened the envelope. The tension in his jaw and the hardening of his eyes told her all she needed to know about what was inside.
“He was summoning me to the palace,” he stated as he crushed the paper in his hand, clearly displeased. The fact that the Alpha King had sent a letter instead of calling indicated that the request was formal and required Perez’s immediate attention.
“Did he state the reason?” Serena reached out and gently touched his shoulder, hoping to provide some comfort. But it didn’t seem to have much effect this time as he was visibly angry
“No. He simply said that it was urgent.” Perez shook his head, still visibly upset about being summoned during such a crucial time. It almost felt intentional to him. “The spread of infected rogues here in the northern region could be the reason for it.”
“It was obvious to me that he was just using that as an excuse. His true intention was to lure me away from my territory so he could carry out whatever plan he had in mind,” he added, letting out a frustrated sigh.
“Did you mean to say that the unexpected attack could potentially occur again, similar to what happened while you were at war?” Serena wondered, recalling why Alpha Perez had left the war just two months before it ended. As far as she could remember, the rogue attack was also instigated by the Alpha king himself, and it seemed he was planning to do the same trick again this time.
“That’s right,” Alpha Perez sighed again before taking her hand, “Let’s go, I’m going to call the high–ranking members again for an emergency meeting.”
Serena nodded and walked beside him as they headed back to the meeting room. It hadn’t been too long since he called for an end to the meeting, but now he needed to gather everyone again for a different matter. It seemed like there was never a moment of peace from the constant stream of crises they faced every day.
“When are you going to leave?” she asked while waiting for the others to arrive, giving his hand a light squeeze.
“Tomorrow,” Alpha Perez responded, still clearly annoyed as he reclined in his chair and tapped his finger on the table in a rhythmic manner, attempting to control his emotions. He hated how the Alpha King was becoming too overconfident, thinking he could do whatever he wanted simply because of his title.
Alpha Perez was aware that he needed to take action before it was too late; otherwise, his pack and loved ones would suffer, or worse, meet the same fate as his father.
So, when the high–ranking members entered the room one by one until they were complete, he stood at the head of the long table as the members took their seats, each of them sporting a concerned look on their faces.
They knew that whenever Alpha Perez called for an emergency meeting, it meant that there was trouble brewing.
“I have received a summons from the Alpha King,” he began, getting straight to the point. “He wanted me to come to the palace the next day so, I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
“Was that just another ploy to get you away from the pack?” Beta Jarren questioned, voicing what was on everyone’s minds. After all, they already knew how cunning the Alpha King was.
“That’s right.” Alpha Perez confirmed with a nod. “I suspected he had something up his sleeve, and I cannot abandon my pack at a time when the infected rogues were spreading in the northern regions.”
12:36 Fri, Nov 29 ti.
Chapter 57
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“We already lost one warrior because of them; we can’t afford to lose another.” He added, glancing at everyone, “So, during my absence, Jarren would assist my wife in taking charge, along with the help of Priscilla and Taylor.”
“We must prepare for the worst; in case my suspicion was correct. Secure the pack house and the borders as much as possible to avoid any harm or casualties.” Everyone nodded, focusing their attention on the Alpha as he continued to speak, “Taylor, once this meeting is over, gather the warriors and relay our plan to those who were stationed at the border.”
“We have a limited supply of special bullets at the moment, so only half of our warriors can use them while the others will have to shift into their wolf forms to fight.” Alpha Perez locked his eyes with his gamma and received a nod in response. “I’ll leave the strategy to you.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Taylor answered.
“Jarren, your primary responsibility was to ensure the safety of my wife and sister. As for the rest, prioritize protecting the children and elders who were unable to fight in the battle.” He paused as if debating whether to continue speaking. After a brief moment, he made up his mind and continued talking. “Let’s pray that there won’t be an attack this time. Unlike before, it could result in loss of lives, considering the rogues we might face were infected.”
The members forced themselves to swallow the lump that formed in their throats, the mere thought of something bad happening without their Alpha present made them anxious. But they pushed those worries aside, knowing they needed to stay prepared and focused during this emergency situation.
“I’ll make every effort to come back as soon as possible, even if it means defying the King’s commands.” Alpha Perez reassured, and as soon as the meeting adjourned, Taylor gathered a group of warriors and asked someone to head to the border to relay their plan.
As Alpha Perez returned to his chamber and started getting ready for his departure the next day, Serena wrapped her arms around him from behind. He stopped packing his belongings as she hugged him tightly, savoring the moment before they would have to say goodbye.
“Are you worried?” He turned to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He couldn’t help but feel guilty; he had already caused her to worry the other night, and now he was giving her another reason to be anxious. This time, she would have double the worry as he would be leaving the north and traveling far to the capital. Aside from that, he would be facing the King who harbored deep–seated resentment towards him in secret.
“I am, both for our pack and you… What if the Alpha King were to harm you while you were in the palace?” Serena’s voice quivered; her thoughts consumed by these worries during the meeting. While he was focused on their pack’s safety, she couldn’t help but worry about his. After all, he would go there alone.
She wanted to tag along, but she knew it would be irresponsible of her. As the Luna of this pack, she needed to act in her alpha’s absence and fulfill her duties as the leader’s wife. In a brief moment, she considered how she could ensure her husband’s safe return, and when an idea struck her, she grasped Alpha Perez’s face and gazed intently into his eyes.
“Please, return to me unharmed. And when you do, I’ll let you leave your mark on me.”
SEND GIFT
