The Werewolf King

CHAPTER ONE

"We should head home" Scarlet heard Miranda's voice as the wood began to grow dark around us. She could see the tightness around Carrisa's mouth, the barely suppressed anger under the thick black cloak.

Sensing that the rest were not ready to leave, Scarlet gathered some firewood. She lit it with her lighter.

"When is the so called shadow going to emerge?" Miranda asked, shivering as she clutch tightly to her perch. They sat down around the burning flame. It was the period where a warrior from a random pack will be picked from a random pack and join the mission in increasing security for the elite werewolf. They were sitting in an open field. On their body was a paddled leather armour. There were five. Only Jenny wore a helmet.

"Just leave if you are not interested" the question was directed to nobody in particular but Shirley answered instead.

"I'm less concerned about this. I'm so excited, I can't wait to fight whatever shadow is coming". Fel giggled. She was the fifth person and she was grinning from ear to ear.

"Not like you would get the position" Shirley growled. She was known for being ambitious and would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

Miranda wiped the beads of sweat already forming on her forehead. Even in the cold, she was feeling hot. She also wants to be chosen. It was every girls' dream. The fear of what shadow might appear keeps weighing her. She moves closer to Scarlet who paid little or no attention to them. She was not interested in becoming a warrior for the elite werewolves and she didn't hide it.

The elite werewolves are a group of alphas and the Darklord, who is often regarded as the Alpha of the Alphas. His powerful aura intimidates any other werewolf. His voice was said to be deep, alluring and husky. Every Alpha bows for him. The elite groups are made up of fallen and aged Alphas. They are mostly at the mercy of their warriors. Except of course, the dark lord.

"What if I get to protect the Darklord?" Fel asked, with a serious face. Her black hooded eyes and fangs, ready to attack whoever argues with her.

"Wait?" Scarlet stopped them all of a sudden. She was not interested in the drama and she cared less. She sniffed the air and everyone looked at her weirdly. "I can smell someone" she paused, "it's not human. I really can't put my hand on whatever it is" she concluded.

They stood up quickly. They knew better than to argue with her. Her sense of smell is the sharpest amongst them. Their sense of smell only gets sharp in their wolf form but while in the human form, Scarlet's sense of smell beats theirs. They once ignored her observation and got attacked by some rogues.

They are the warriors protecting the Blood Moon Pack. They are one of the best warriors in the pack with everyone having a special talent.

"What if..." Miranda wanted to yell but her voice betrayed her. It came out as a whisper.

They all knew what she wanted to say.

The shadow.

Since they would be protecting the Elites, fighting the shadow is a test they have to pass through. Winning against the Shadow is not the only criteria. They would go through their past data, the bravest and fearless of each pack would be chosen. And again, they have to pick just one person.

Scarlet eyes swept back and forth over the abandoned campsite. Only the warriors use it, they work on shifts which make them few at the moment. Once they leave, another group will take over protecting the camp. Her eyes stopped at a double bladed battle axe. Not knowing what to expect, she picked it up.

A shadow emerged from the dark of the wood. It stood in front of Shirley. Tall, it was, and giant and hard as old bones, with fresh pale as milk. Its armour seemed to change colour as it moved; here it was as white as new fallen snow, there black as shadow, everywhere dapped with the Green grey of the trees. The pattern ran like moonlight on water with every step it took.

"Come no farther" Miranda yelled. Her voice cracked. She threw the cloak over her shoulder to free her arms for the battle and took her swords in both hands. Though she was scared. There was no option than to fight.

The other slid forward on silent feet. In its hand was a long sword like none that Scarlet has ever seen. Scarlet was not surprised. After all, they feel they are the most superior so they would send the strongest thing they could think of to get the bravest to protect them.

A strong wind blew, sending chills to their spine. It was alive with moonlight, translucent, a shard of crystal so thin that it seemed almost to vanish when seen edge-on. There was a faint blue shimmer to the thing, a ghost-light that played around its edges, and somehow Scarlet knew it was sharper than any razor.

Shirley met him bravely. "Dance with me then." She lifted her sword high

over her head, defiant. Her hands trembled from the weight of it, or perhaps from the cold wine that didn't seem to stop.

Scarlet saw its eyes; blue, deeper and bluer than any human eyes, a blue that burned like ice. His blade was pale blue light. She quickly stopped thinking when the glimmer of a blade shot into the air, aiming at Shirley. In a speed they couldn't comprehend, she threw the axe she was holding into the air. It slashed the blade shot in the air.

Not wasting time, she took a sword lying on the floor and ran into the ugly looking thing. It was hard to tell if it was human or not. She slashed the arm where the blade was broken with the sword. To retaliate, the Shadow raised Jenny who was also coming to help. He threw her and stuck his blade in her right palm.

Shirley left her position and jumped on his back. She covered the two hooded eyes with her palm. The huge body whose back was bent slightly started whirling. It's vision was blade and unclear.

Sensing what Shirley was doing, Scarlet and Carrisa ran to get a wood. Fel also jumped on its back. The wood was placed behind the figure while Scarlet and Carrisa pushed backwards with Shirley still covering the eyes. The figure inched in pain and tried to strike them back when Jenny stood up and clashed her sword with his blade. It eventually got to where the wood was. It staggered and fell. Scarlet took a sword and pierced it into it's stomach with blook gushing out.

She had the last strike.

She always do.

Exhausted, they went back to sit. Miranda who didn't get a strike all through also sat with them

"I don't like the elite werewolves a bit. How could they send something huge enough to hurt us just because they need a warrior" Scarlet snorted. Her fangs were now shorted.

"I'm glad we survived and I'd be chosen to guide them. At least I faced him first" Shirley said, proudly. Scarlet could not help but laugh. How they seem blinded by the elite position is something she might never understand. She is a warrior and her life is difficult enough, ranging from the time she go for war and defeats them to now, adding the elite position is the least on her mind. Miranda raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you obsessed with them? What is wrong with you?" Scarlet was forced to ask.

"I should ask you what is wrong with us instead. This is a position everybody wants. How come you don't want it?" Jenny fired back.

"Even you? I'm not surprised. The darklord is too mysterious for my liking" she replied.

"I like him because he is mysterious. No one knows the real him" Carrisa said.

"The whatever selection is no meaningless" she stood up in anger and headed home. It was time for the switch after all. The darklord was the person she would ever associate with. The way everyone praises him seem to annoy her.

"To hell with y'all and the darklord" she muttered under her breath.

She got home with anger boiling in her. She met her father packing his bag. Curiosity got the best part of her.

"Father, where are you going?" She asked him, trying to keep her anger aside. Whatever happens outside, remains outside. She tried to cajole her wolf.

"The darklord called for an emergency meeting. I need to leave" Her father, Darren, said. He rushed his words as he zipped his bag.

"Why do I keep hearing about the darklord?" Scarlet yelled. She tried to keep her anger but her father bringing up the topic, was not helping matters. "Why can't I have a day without hearing about that name?" She screamed as she held her palm to her ears.

"Calm your nerves, okay?" Darren said, not giving in to her sudden outburst.

Knowing her father so well, she only muttered "I don't know why you all are so obsessed with this man" under her breath. Darren won't give her the attention she wants. The fact that everyone won't stop mentioning that name around her makes her sick.

"How old are you going to be next summer"

Scarlet sighed at the question. She knew the direction her father was going and she was not ready for it. At least not that night when her anger was enough to burn the house.

"20" she muttered under her breath. She moved backwards a bit as she hit the bookshelf that was filled to the brim.

"Every other wolf meet their mate at the age of 18. What the fuck is wrong with you?" He asked as he turned sharply, pointing his big middle finger at her.

He was the commander of the warriors protecting the elite werewolves. It was a shame that his daughter is still without a mate. Only people whose parents have betrayed the pack appear wolf less or without a mate and he knows he didn't do any of that. He has heard people saying it a couple of time that he has probably betrayed the pack secretly, that was why his daughter was wolf less.

"There are seven packs in total, why don't you try to mingle with people? Drop your damn pride and be friendly with people" he yelled at her. He continued, "That's the only way you can avoid rejection on the full moon" he ended calmly. One could not believe he was the one screaming earlier.

Scarlet shrugged. She doesn't care if her mate rejects her on the full moon. She secretly wishes not to meet him. Been mated to a man is to be become submissive. She has only wanted to be in control. To be in power and she won't sacrifice those feelings for a man.

"Okay" she snorted and proceeded to go into her room. Darren grew her back. His eyes darkened in the semi darkness of the room.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He yelled as he held her arm firmly.

Okay, this is the last drop of it.

"Let me go" she said calmly. Even though she was boiling in her, she didn't let it control her thinking.

"And if I don't?" Darren asked in reply. He held her with his left arm as he used his right arm to turn her face to him.

"Maybe it's all true. Maybe you didn't get a mate because your mother left all of a sudden" he whispered into her ears.

That was the news going round. Her mother left all of a sudden. She got home and searched the entire house but she was no where to be found. She waited for days, days turned to month and months to years. She had hoped her mother went to pursue the dream she wanted and would come back to her one day.

It was part of the reason she never want to get involved with the other gender; they would restrict you from getting what you want. She has heard almost everywhere but her father using it against her was extreme. She didn't expect it from him. She looked into his eyes with her blood shot eyes that showed no emotions.

Darren has said it before he realized what he said. Somehow, he didn't feel guilty. If she had agreed to mingle with the male population, she would have found her mate by now. She even decided to be on shift with females while guiding the pack entrance. Even if her mate was some where out there, there was no where they would meet. She hardly interact with the male population.

"You made her leave. It is all your fault" she yelled at him. She held back the tears that threatened to fall. She wasn't going to show her weakness to anybody, not even to her father.

"How is that my fault?! I'm sure you made her leave. You were not the normal female child everyone wishes for. Maybe that was she left" he said and let go off her arm. He was going to stop at nothing to make her get a mate. He knows Scarlet well. She would always want to prove a person wrong. He breathed in slowly, hoping it works the way he wants.

Scarlet couldn't hold in the tears anymore. She wiped her face with the back of her palm. She had thought she was the daughter everyone wishes for. She has won countless wars. Even when the rogues tried to gain entrance to the pack. She protected the pack.

"She didn't leave because of me. I'm sure you made her feel this bad that was why she left" she yelled on top of her voice. Screaming as hard as she could. She knew if the person before her wasn't her father, he would be six feet's below already. She silently hoped it was true. She hoped her mother didn't leave because of her.

Darren either doesn't know why she left. He returned from the pack meeting one day and met Scarlet outside, crying. He assured her that she just went to get foodstuffs from the market only for her to disappear forever.

"I married her. She met me before you. If I was the problem, she would have left before she had you" he replied, breathing heavily. "Just get a mate and prove me wrong. Prove everybody in the pack wrong" he yelled again. That was the hundredth time he was raising his voice that night.

"Have you ever thought of the fact that you made her leave her dreams? I'm sure you became selfish at a point. You wanted everything your way, just the way you're acting now" Scarlet said. Her voice was becoming low but she was trying her best to yell as loud as she can. Her head was banging so much that it was her brain was revolving round it walls.

In as much that she wants a mate to prove them wrong, she won't do what they want. She never supports the majority which makes her stand out most of the time.

"Whatever" Darren said as he grabbed his back and left.

Adolphus felt a rush of heat flood his heart and burn his face. He starred at the tons of men before him. He had called an emergency meeting and none of them dare not to comply. The darklord was sitting on a throne in the large hall. It was where he receives his vassals. His legs were places on a small stool. On his hand, was a cup dressed in gold and filled with wine. The throne was decorated with gold in the lower part while the higher part was sprinkled with silver.

Before he turned around an address the main issue why he called them, he noticed the red linked triangle tattoos on their right cheek. He smiled to himself; it was the loyalty mark he gave each and everyone. No one dare betray him. He cleared his throat..

"All hail the dark lord" their voices echoed in room.

He looked around the room, looking for anyone who broke the rules. He knew no one would dare but again, he doesn't take chances and doesn't let things pass by him either.

He had a long face with prominent cheek bones, topped with brown, slanted and hooded eyes. Slightly plump mouth with a perfect archbow on the top of the lip; straight nose and procelain-like shade of skin. His skin was smooth as it shone brightly in the semi dark room. Their were lot of bulbs run the castle but only a few was turned on and it was coloured bulb.

His eyes beamed as he scanned the gathering. His hair was neatly packed in a ponytail which dropped slightly above his waist. His full succulent lips were deep pink. He stood up and walked slowly round the room, making everybody catch a glimpse of him in his elegance. His gaze went from the Alphas that were lined up in front of the throne. From their range to when they resigned as Alphas and to their superiority.

When he was fully satisfied with what he saw, he walked back to the throne with his high boots clicking the tiles.

"This meeting is mostly about the rogues lurking around our borders" he said calmly. Though he was very calm and is voice was soothing to the ear, it sends chills to the fallen Alpha's spine. Immediately he said it, a loud crashing sound hit the sky. They were not surprised. Whenever he gets pissed, they feel like thunders support him always. However, how he was able to do was confusion to them all. He is mysterious and strange.

He is darkness himself!.

The Alphas hummed in reply. Tho they don't know the exact thing he wants to say, still; they dare not keep quiet. He wants full attention always and everyone must give a sign that he or she is listening.

"We made a boundary a few miles before the border. I inspected it" he nearly yelled as he beats his chest with his left hand while laying emphasis on the word, "I".

" How did they get to the borther?" He asked no one in particular as his eyes glanced through the room. Even in his human form, he could see each and every expression on their faces. He was the only one in the whole seven packs that works efficiently in his human form as he does in his wolf form.

The whole gathering started humming and glancing over each other faces as if to read their minds through the look on their faces. They knew what he was insinuating, there is a betrayal among them even with the loyalty mark.

"Who dared betrayed me?" He yelled as a lighting flashed around the sky and the thunder trailing behind it. Their heart was beating so fast and any mistake from anybody would lead to the death of that person.

At this point, the Alphas didn't know what to do. Either to hum or keep quiet. He was very angry and they could feel the heat erupting from his body. Instead, they kept quiet.

"Only those at the scene that day knows how the secret boundary was made. It was meant to be a trap. How come they didn't falll for it?" He asked as he snarled, his long fangs coming to view. He growled as he points his big middle finger at the people standing people him.

They were in the palace. The biggest that exists in the city. The Fallen Alphas were twenty five in number with couple of other people holding high positions. The likes of the Commander of the warriors and the Pack Doctors, they were there in case of emergencies. The youngest fallen Alpha in the gathering was a hundred year old. They all leave the position for the next of kin at the age of hundred. Most of the time, they are the oldest in each packs which made know the in and out of each packs. Little wonders they were the prime suspects.

"Each and everyone one of you is my suspect. Alpha Osiris?" he called out. A man in his late 300's came out. He was shivering yet his heart shows no fear. He was still the oldest fallen Alpha alive. He knows the darklord well. He likes when people pleads for mercy. When he torture and makes them beg for death.

"I notice you were there but was not helping. May I ask why you were checking the way the warriors were doing it? Was it to tell the rogues?" He asked accusingly. Everyone in the room gasped. Osiris had no reason to sell them out to rogues but the darklord doesn't trust anybody.

"I...i... I have no reason to do that" Osiris stammered at the accusation.

"Oh, I see. Move away" he ordered and Osiris complied. He moved from the center of the room to a small corner.

"Alpha Kai" he called out again.

A old man in his early 300's came out.

"You were at the scene too but was ordering the warriors around. Was it to know exactly what they are doing to sell us out?" He accused again.

"No, my lord. I've no reason to sell us out" he replied and bowed respectfully. Adolphus scanned him from head to toe. One could tell he didn't believe what he said but still he told him to move away.

"Alpha Levi" he called out again. All the members have always wondered how he managed to know the head without changing any book and according to their superiority. He can call each of them out without missing a name.

"No, never mind" he brushed it off. "You all would deny it but I promise to find the black sheep"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up and stopped abruptly. They nearly had a panic attack, wondering what next.

"The elders should pick the warrior to get the elite werewolves. Whoever is picked would not be protecting me directly. I can't trust any of you anymore" he ended. Not like he trusted them before.

And with this, he left the room.