Chapter 4
I raised my hands to the people who were already anxious to hear my judgment. I had already decided what I was going to do but I had to make sure it was the right thing. I had to do what was best for the pack, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. I didn't want to pass a judgment clouded by emotions and selfish thoughts. I was the alpha after all.
I thought about all that the man had said and I understood that he was forced. No man could ever want to allow his family to go down for any reason. No man would be willing to let those rogues destroy his wife and two children. The pain must have been too much for him to bear. Hence, his decision to betray his people.
In this pack, no life was more important than the others, except that of the alpha and the members of his family. It was something that everyone was aware of. It was a law that had lasted for ages and every child was taught the same. He knew this, yet, he chose to betray the pack. He chose the life of his family over that of the pack and the alpha too. Had we lost, he might have had an exalted position, whilst the rest of the pack would be either dead or the slaves of the rogues. Such selfishness!
"Come close to me," I said to him, stretching forth my hand towards him as he reached out and grabbed it. "What's your name?"
"I'm Tim… Timothy is my name," he answered. His hands trembled in mine and he did his utmost to avoid staring into my eyes. I could tell what went on inside him, and yeah, it wasn't out of place given what he had done.
"You acted as most men would act in the circumstance you found yourself in," I continued. "Can anyone blame him for doing what he did?" I asked the crowd.
There were a few whispers here and there. Some nodded in approval while others screamed, "Away with him!"
"Look at me," I said, forcing him to gaze into my eyes. "You protected your family, Tim. You only thought about your family. What about the other families here? The fathers, the mothers, the children! What about the many lives that we lost in battle today? Did they not all have families? " Turning to the crowd, I shouted, "Who amongst you lost a family member today?"
"I lost my mother!"
"Two of my children died in battle. They were my only children."
"You're a traitor! The blood of my brother is on you!"
Lots of people raised their hands. Others chose to voice out. Some audibly, others having their voices lost in the crowd.
"If you weren't so selfish, we probably may have won more comfortably and perhaps, we could have saved your own family. But you chose to slay us all instead. You have chosen your path!"
"No, I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do any of these. Please, have–"
I thrust my hands forcefully into his chest and ripped out his heart. I raised it as the people cheered me on, letting go of his lifeless body which fell to the floor. His wife and children cried aloud but their cries fell on deaf ears. The man deserved what he got.
"This is what happens when people choose to be traitors in this pack. We're one family and we must stand by one another. No traitor or rebel will be spared as long as I live. I'll rip their hearts out and throw a feast for the birds. What do you say?"
"Aye! Aye! Aye!"
I turned to the woman and her children and something struck me. Tears freely flowed down their cheeks as they all looked at me with apparent contempt. It wasn't what I expected. I had thought they'll miss the man but understand why it had to be done. Sadly, they were also as selfish as he was, preferring to be alive at the expense of everyone else like they were the custodians of life. I decided to take theirs too.
"Danny!" I called out, as he drew close to me. "I need you to dispose of these three. Do it in front of the people. We would not have any member of a traitor's family left in this pack, lest they pick up from where the traitor stopped. Kill them all!"
Danny summoned one of the warriors and asked him to hold down their heads, one after the other, as he sliced through their necks with his sword. The crowd looked surprised. They may not have expected me to kill his family too. Yet, it had to be done.
I raised my hands and four warriors ran to where I was and began to pick up the dead bodies so they could be disposed of. I dismissed the other wolves and began to walk back to my mansion with Danny by my side.
"I'll be taking a tour around a few packs in the coming days," I said to him.
"May I ask why?"
"You may, but wouldn't that be such a surprise?" I asked. "The full moon is in less than two weeks. Surely, you should know that I have to participate in all the festivities."
"That's true, Darrius. How could I have forgotten something as important as that?"
He paused and began to smile and I wondered why. "What's the problem, Danny? Have you gone mad?" I asked.
"Far from it, my alpha," he replied. "You do know what happens during the full moon, right?"
His smile was justified. The prospect of having me choose a mate seemed to amuse him, especially given the fact that I had a lot going on with so many women.
"Of course, that's what the festivities are for. The full moon does bring good tidings and I hope it'll be the case here. I need a mate. I need someone I could count on who would help me rule this park and this journey should help me find her."
"You're right. Having a mate would always make the people hold the office of the alpha in even greater regard."
"Especially if she's also royalty. She has to be strong, she should be fierce and tough. A daughter of another alpha would be perfectly suited to the role. Power, confidence and strength are always my three watchwords. Every leader must possess them."
"You're right," Danny said. "Yet, we don't get to choose our mates, do we? It's always the goddess. Whoever she deems fit is fit enough for anyone including an alpha. Still, we must hope for the best."
"Could you imagine having a mate who is an omega? Are the servants and slaves who work in the palace not the same? How possible could it be that such a person could make a good Luna? Who would give any regard to a woman like that?" I asked.
"May the goddess bring favor to you and our pack, alpha," Danny said as we began to walk faster.
I thought hard about what he said. He was right, our mates are decided by fate and no one had control over that. Yet, I couldn't afford to have a wimp as a mate. I had to continue my father's legacy. I had to ensure that the laws of the pack were held in high regard by everyone. A weak Luna would be nothing but a liability.
As we got to the door, I got into the sitting room and saw a picture of my parents. I remembered how fierce my father was and how my mother fought by his side. The many stories that they always told me made me yearn for a union like that. I wanted to do things that my father couldn't; to take this pack to much greater heights and make it the most feared pack in the entire history of werewolves.
"Alpha, there's someone outside to see you," said one of the guards. "Her name is Lita." "Lita?"