The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 22: Capture Them ()
"The Crimson Moon Pack is known for their secluded lifestyle, they never honor an invitation no matter how many we have sent over, could it truly be from the Crimson Moon?" An elder asked in a doubtful tone.
Askel sat on his throne, watching as another elder brought in a small box, inside the box sat a rolled up scroll, sealed closed.
"It bears the seal of the Crimson Moon, however there is a powerful force surrounding it, clearly it is enchanted. I believe only the Alpha King can open it." The elder reported, handing the letter over to Askel with a bow.
Askel picked up the missive, watching as the sealed missive opened up by itself the moment it came into contact with his hand.
Askel unrolled the scroll and glanced through the contents before handing it over to Luther who read it out to the gathered elders.
"Alpha Moonstone of Crimson Moon recognizes the Alpha King’s enthronement and offers her congratulations."
"She accepts our invitation, however as she is unable to grace the Alpha King’s coronation in person due to restraining pack affairs, she has delegated a party of six led by the head warrior of Crimson Moon, Zariah Torin to attend the occasion in her stead."
"Of course, Alpha Moonstone indicates clearly that the presence of her delegate is not solely on account of the Alpha King’s enthronement but in regards to other affairs of which we have sought her aid over the past years."
"Alpha Moonstone declares Head warrior Zariah Torin eligible to act in her stead in regards to all deliberations and make decisions on behalf of the Crimson Moon Pack."
"The delegates have departed the Crimson barrier as at the moment this missive was dispatched and should be arriving soon." Luther concluded and rolled up the scroll.
"You have heard the words, this is the first time in five decades the Crimson wolves will be gracing the Royal Lycan Pack with their presence, prepare accordingly."
"The delegate from the Crimson Moon Pack are to be treated with the highest regard." Askel instructed as he rose to his feet and headed out.
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"My King has sent over multiple invitations since your return, yet there has been no reply. Alpha Moonstone of Crimson Moon is firm in her stance not to venture beyond her borders except the danger is apparent."
"She clearly could not care less that a new Alpha King is being enthroned, why do you think she has changed her mind?" Dechlan asked.
Askel ignored the words of his Third in command as he placed down his pen, rolling up a scroll and handing it over to his second in command Luther.
"The Crimson Moon Pack has always been mysterious in their dealings, it will be difficult to guess the thoughts of Alpha Moonstone." Luther replied.
"Dare I say, we have no reasons to fear...we can be assured that the Crimson Moon Pack have no care for wordly affairs, neither do they covet power or influence, if they did, they would have been Supreme rulers of not just the Wereshifters but the supernatural world." Luther reasoned.
"Perhaps then... yet what is the certainty that nothing has changed now?" Dechlan asked the obvious question.
"What does it matter? The Crimson Moon Pack is worthy of every glory and prestige it enjoys and the supernatural world is right to respect them."
" And if they should choose to return to the supernatural world now, as long as they do not pose a danger to my people, I am willing to stand side by side with them."
"The Wereshifters swore an oath of fealty to the Crimson Moon and the Royal Lycan Pack swore an oath of mutual respect, I very well intend to honor it." Askel said in a firm tone.
"Dispatch the orders and regulate border control." Askel ordered as he rose to his feet.
"As My King commands. Will My King be leaving the Ethereal palace tonight? Her grace has taken notice of your continuous absence and the disuse of your quarters." Luther pointed out.
"If she would tone it down even just a bit, perhaps this palace would be a little habitable. Why retire to my quarters when I know I will not be getting any sleep? If I am needed, you know where to find me." Askel replied in a dismissive tone.
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In a different part of the Ethereal domain entirely, a man hurried down a hallway with hastened pace seeming to hold a very important message.
"Alpha, an urgent report!" A voice said, rushing into a dimly lit study.
"Speak." A voice from within the study permitted, the figure who had just spoken was completely doused in the shadowy darkness of the study and one could not make out his features clearly.
However from his broad build and the imposing aura he exuded, it was clear this figure was a male and his aura was unmistakably that of an Alpha wolf.
"Our spies from Dawn Fang report a strange group of unknown travellers, they journey for the Royal Lycan Pack." The first voice reported.
The figure covered in shadows was quiet for a moment before he finally spoke.
"Is it the party he has dispatched orders to all the packs to grant passage to?" The figure asked in a chilling tone.
"Indeed, Alpha guessed it correctly." The first voice replied.
"Whoever they are, we cannot let them reach the Royal Lycan Pack." The figure said in a dark tone.
"But Alpha, the Alpha King decrees they be granted passage. They seem to be highly revered guests of the Alpha King." Another voice reasoned.
"Alpha King?! What Alpha King?! He is yet to be enthroned and he already thinks he can order us around as he pleases! Not even his father was so absurd! Blindly domineering and overbearingly arrogant!" The figure seethed in a furious tone.
"All species and packs across the supernatural realm will dispatch representatives to bid congratulations to the Alpha King. This is merely one of such parties, we have never bothered with the others passing through, so why this?" The first voice asked in bafflement, seeming unclear as to why this was such a worrisome situation.
"To dispatch an order to grant entry? Which other party have received such high respect? I know his temperament well enough, he would never accord such high regard to even the rulers of the realms."
"He deems himself independent of worldly affairs, refuses to be affected by political considerations and he cares not for propriety, a complete brute. Yet he accords a traveling party with such high regard? How could they be ordinary?" The figure said thoughtfully. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"If we are to directly defy the Alpha King, the repercussions will be too heavy to bear." The first voice said in an apprehensive tone.
"You fear him... like the rest of them do and for good cause, he is a heartless beast." The figure said calmly.
"Yet I do not fear him and there are still some who do not. Fret not, whenever have I had to move my own hand for such matters? It is just fine to make use of a gullible weapon instead." The figure said.
"Who does Alpha have in mind?" The first voice asked dutifully.
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The moon had just reached it’s peak and it’s rays shown down on a sight.
At the borders of the Silver moon pack, Zariah and her company were besieged, completely surrounded on all sides by fiercely growling wolves.
The Silver Moon Pack was one of the last few packs Zariah and her company needed to pass through to arrive the Royal Lycan Pack.
Over the past days, Zariah and her company had chosen to restrain their journey to the unclaimed lands despite the extra time the detour would cost them.
This was because the Crimson wolves were not particularly certain on the situation of the wolf packs of the Ethereal domain, however the one thing they could count on was the fact that wolf shifters were extremely territorial in nature.
It was a fact that the wolf shifters they would encounter would not be so welcoming of strangers traversing their borders.
Beyond that, the Crimson wolves had come for a mission and Zariah firmly believed the less interaction they had with the wolf packs, the better it would be for them in the long run.
However the unclaimed lands sometimes spread out far too close to the borders of some wolf packs and so were actively patrolled by the warrior wolves.
This was the case of the Silver Moon Pack, the unclaimed lands stretching along it’s borders was a small and insignificant expanse and so it was impossible to avoid straying too close to silver moon borders.
Zariah and her company knew this clearly and so her company had decided it was only appropriate to seek to be granted passage in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
Yet the very moment Zariah and her company had arrived the borders, they had met a scene of over thirty battle ready warrior wolves awaiting them.
Standing right at the front was a middle aged man with a muscular build, dressed in extravagant robes.
Zariah did not need to enquire to know this man was the Alpha of Silver Moon, his imposing aura and his scent was inarguably that of a seasoned Alpha.
With a voice thick with his Alpha command, the middle aged man roared two words.
"Capture them!!"
