The Coup

They say that the enemies of a man are the members of his household; No truer words could ever have been said about Cyrus and his household.

As soon as the news about Alicia got to the palace, Gedoni had ridden fiercely, without any stops to the enemies clan, the Rosewood Clan. They were a pack of wolves that governed a rebellious territory. A territory that had stood against Cyrus for years, threatening to take over his throne.

They had been waiting for an opportunity and Gedoni, just like his father was ready to give them one. Gedoni’s father had failed at the coup he planned, but Gedoni had no intention of failing. He wanted the throne and the news of the death of two future Lunas was enough for him to overthrow his brother.

Gedoni had served his brother, rebelliously for years, waiting for the perfect opportunity. And it had simply fallen into his laps.

“Gedoni,” The leader of the Rosewood moon pack barked out his name, immediately his horse pulled up. Gedoni came to a halt, pulling the neck rope of his horse.

“Tobias,” Gedoni called out to the leader, “I come in peace.” Gedoni got off his horse and followed Tobias into the little settlement. The wolves of the settlement started to bark as they picked up his scent.

“I would have offered you a seat, but seeing that we aren’t friends, I will go straight to the point while you are on your feet,” Tobias spoke, his voice, transmitting the displeasure he felt towards his uninvited guest.

“I’ll offer myself a seat anyway,” Gedoni replied as he pulled up a seat, throwing his weight on it.

The men grumbled and made moves to challenge him but Tobias stopped them.

“Leave him,” he commanded and the men stepped back, then he turned to Gedoni, “speak.”

Gedoni cracked his knuckles, “ I have some news that might interest you and I also have a proposal. But before I say what it is, you have to give me your word, one wolf to another, that this stays between us.”

“haha. You come bearing secrets? Why should I trust whatever it is you have to say?” Tobias doubted, the crowd murmured.

“Because like you, I have been marginalized. And like you, I want to take what is rightfully mine.”

“Gedoni, you speak in parables, out with it already.” Tobias was pacing, he was beginning to get impatient.

“Okay, I want to take over the throne from my cousin, Cyrus. And I need your help. Yours and that of your men.”

There was utmost silence. For minutes, everyone stood still and didn’t say a word. Including Tobias. Gedoni could hear the cracks from the old roof.

Finally, Tobias broke the silence, “and why are you telling us this? Why have you come to us with this piece of information?”

“because I need your help. And because we have a history. Your father worked with mine when they tried to overthrow the previous king and Alpha, but they failed. Now it's our turn and we cannot fail because I have solid insider information that will help us.”

Tobias broke into a song. An old war song that his ancestors had passed down from generation to generation.

Gedoni continued, ignoring the song. His voice eventually triumphing over Tobias’s voice.

“I have useful information, and I have a strategy that will help us win. But before I go on, I need to know your stand. If you do not want a part of this, I will leave your settlement and we can forget I ever came to you. But if you do want this, and you help me become king, I will make you my war chief and you shall lead our joint armies. Your people shall have fertile lands assigned to them for their farms. Your children shall have the right education. Your women will learn trades and your daughters will each have their own dowry.”

He took a deep breath before he continued, “generations to come, will sing of your name and together, we shall form the biggest pack and kingdom that the world has ever known.”

By the time he finished his speech, he had Tobias’s full attention.

“tell me Gedoni, isn’t Cyrus’s son warming up to take after his father? Didn’t he find his mate barely one week ago? Why should we suddenly trust you?”

“Give me your word, Tobias, and I shall bear it all out to you.” Gedoni fixed his eyes on Tobias. His gaze, unwavering.

Tobias called a few of his top men aside, and they spoke in whispers. Then they returned.

“I cannot send my men off to die, Gedoni. Yes, I want to have a seat at the king's table, my people need a place in the kingdom. But I need to know that you have a solid plan and that you’ll stand by us. Otherwise, I cannot give you my word. I need your word first.”

Gedoni got up from the seat and threw his wolf tag (which all wolves always wore around their neck) on the floor, “I swear by my wolf tag, you have my word.”

The men started to howl. That was the ultimate sign of commitment in wolf territory.

Tobias smiled, “you may proceed.”

The group put their heads together and they hatched the perfect plan. The one that was set to overthrow Alpha Cyrus, because he was distracted with the evil that had come upon his people.

Their crops were dying.

Their animals were dying.

The river had turned red, after the death of Alicia, the people had no means of getting water except from a smaller stream.

His son, Darius couldn’t be mated to anyone.

His people were whispering.

Cyrus was in trouble, and he knew it.

One week after Gedoni’s visit to the rosewood moon pack, his new army infiltrated the kingdom, killing off half of Cyrus’s army of wolves. Raping their women and seizing their king.

Alpha Cyrus had been taken as a prisoner, and now Gedoni demanded a total surrender of the kingdom, from Alpha Darius.