The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 24: On Edge ()

Zariah strolled through the woods, her large black cloak billowing behind her.

She had left the company back at the clearing and had been walking for a few hours.

The borders of the Royal Lycan Pack was not so far ahead and so Zariah was careful not to stray too close to it as the warriors of the Royal Lycan Pack were known for their aggression.

It was quite late into the night and Zariah had been walking since noon, yet she did not feel like heading back to the rest of the company.

Zariah had always found it easier to think when she was in motion and precisely at this time, Zariah had a lot to ponder over.

After over ten days of journeying through the woods, Zariah and her company were just a day’s journey from the Royal Lycan Pack.

Zariah had found herself on edge the closer they got to the Royal Lycan Pack.

Zariah was not certain of much else, only the fact that in a matter of a day or two, she would finally meet him... the Alpha King.

That monster who ruled the werewolf species, that power hungry tyrant who had orchestrated all the events of Zariah’s past life from the shadows.

In a matter of a few days, Zariah would arrive at the place where it all began, the origin of it all.

Zariah was not certain how to feel about it, in some ways, her mind churned in anticipation fueled by her hate and rage, yet in a deep dark corner of Zariah’s mind, Zariah could feel that familiar bone chilling feeling of terror.

The closer she got to the very people who had ruined her life, the more Zariah realized she would have to relieve it all again.

Zariah feared she was not strong enough to face it all again, to face the people who had caused her so much pain, the people who had taken everything she knew and loved away from her in the most brutal way possible.

Zariah feared if she saw them now, she would not be able to contain her rage, she feared she would fall into the madness of hate and danger and lunge for their throats, damning all consequences.

Zariah had not come all this way just to grant them the relief of death, death was too easy, too merciful a punishment for the injustice they had done to Crimson Moon.

Zariah had come because she needed to see it all play out for herself, she needed to understand everything that had happened in the past lifetime.

What exactly had been their plan? What exactly was their motive? What was their ultimate goal? When had it all began? Just how deep and far stretched did it spread?

Where did the massacre of the crimson moon come in? What had gone wrong with the element seal and the Crimson barrier?Just how had they falsified the sacred mate bond and what connection did the witches and the rogue Alpha have to do with it?

Who exactly was Caedmon Grey and how did he play the part of an omega while possessing Alpha blood?

How exactly had this plot skipped the attention of the supernatural council? Or perhaps they had been in on it and just what part had they played in it?

How was this all related to the darkness and the forsaken? How could they create a serum that had turned Zariah into a forsaken? Just what was it the Alpha King was after? Just how much farther did the tendrils of his greed and ruthlessness spread?

There were so many questions Zariah needed answers to, she needed to know just why the Crimson Moon had to be sacrificed, and just how many more had been sacrificed after them.

"Where does it all lead?" Zariah murmured quietly as she stopped, lowering herself down to sit on the chilling cold forest soil, leaning against the tree, her eyes fluttered closed.

’It doesn’t matter how deeply you have hidden it all, I will unearth every last one of your horrid deeds and I will ruin it all. I will never let things go the way you want. As long as Zariah Torin Moonstone still lives, you shall never have your way this time...I will ruin you entirely and then I will claim your life.’ Zariah swore within her heart.

Zariah remained leaning against the tree for a while, her mind drifting off to thoughts of the past.

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"Tell me about the outworld Caid, what is the world beyond the barrier like? How are the territories divided? Who are the greatest powers? What alliances have been formed?" Zariah asked him as they walked hand in hand through the training grounds of the Alpha’s domain.

Zariah could feel the disapproving stares of her warriors on them but she ignored them, sooner or later, she knew they would come to accept the fact that Caedmon had come to stay.

"You already know all these Alpha Zariah, there is no pack more informed than the Crimson Moon and your information network is impeccable even from within these borders." He replied with a casual shrug.

Zariah laughed quietly knowing he was not wrong, the Crimson Moon may have retreated from the supernatural realm for centuries, however that did not make them ignorant of the happenings beyond their borders.

"Still, I want to hear it from you. I know of the outworld from reports of my scouts and ancient texts...you are far traveled Drùha(Beloved), I want to see the outworld through your eyes." Zariah insisted.

He chuckled softly, passing Zariah an adoring look.

"You know of all the supernatural species and how they have their own territories. I have never been beyond the werewolf territory and so I will only speak on that."

"The werewolf territory is more popularly called the Ethereal domain and the domain is under the rule of the Alpha King of the Royal Lycan Pack."

"The Royal Lycan Pack sits at the heart of the Ethereal domain, however the vast Ethereal domain consists of hundreds of wolf packs both large and small and all Alphas answer to the Alpha King." He said.

"Khan Wulf." Zariah murmured in agreement.

"Khan Wulf?’ He asked curiously.

"It means ’ King of Wolves’ in the ancient wolven tongue." Zariah replied, shaking her head at his ignorance.

"The ancient wolven tongue? You mean the wolven tongue from before the dark war?" He asked in surprise.

"Yes Caid, that wolven tongue. " Zariah replied in amusement.

"But it has been lost to the Ethereal domain since the dark war." He argued in amazement, Zariah chuckled softly.

"This is not the Ethereal domain Drùha, the wolven tongue has never left Crimson Moon and it is passed down the generations. Besides, I am sure there are still some in the Ethereal domain who remember the wolven tongue." Zariah replied with a smile.

"I did not have the chance to be taught our history or to learn alongside the rest of my pack...such privileges are not bestowed to an omega." He said in a quiet tone.

Zariah was quiet for a moment, her heart aching at the thought of just what he must have suffered, being neglected, hated and scorned merely for being born an omega wolf.

"Then I will teach it to you, all the knowledge I have, I shall give to you, every privilege that is mine is yours," Zariah stopped, turning to him, she gazed into his eyes so he saw clearly the truth in her words.

"And you are no omega, not anymore. You are Caedmon Grey, mate of the Crimson Alpha and you shall rule at my side."

"On this side of the Crimson barrier Drùha...you are royalty, you are King...Khan Wulf." Zariah said in a tender tone.

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’A fool...a fool through and through.’ Zariah thought to herself as she shook off the memories.

Zariah was about drifting off to sleep when her ears twitched, picking up the sound of movement approaching her.

’Rogues this close to Royal Lycan territory? Just how low has the outworld fallen?’ Zariah thought to herself, but she made no attempts to move.

Zariah heard the movement of the rogue wolves the closer to her they approached, from the sound of their paws, there were about five of them.

Zariah slowed down her heartbeat, she had already masked her scent before leaving the company at the clearing as she did not want a possibility of the warriors of Royal Lycan Pack catching a trace of her scent.

Zariah knew the rogues would not take notice of her presence so she did not bother moving at all, however her senses remained on high alert to trail their movements.

The rogue wolves approached closer and closer and it was clear they would be passing right through where Zariah sat.

Zariah scrunched up her nose as that putrid odour of rot and unwashed bodies became even more apparent.

Soon Zariah could hear the voices of the rogues seemingly engaged in a serious debate.

"M’tellin you Roy, tis perfectly fine. The Royal Lycan border is far enough and with the Alpha King’s enthronement nearer, the Royal Lycan warrior’s to have a lot keepin’em occupied, border patrol is always lax at such times." A scratchy voice with a strange accent reached Zariah’s hearing.