Barbarian: Chapter Two.

“That was the last of them, Alpha.”

Another lifeless wolf dropped to the ground just like the rest that has been in this tavern. The smell of blood was heavy in the air, mixing with the burnt scent of spilled ale and broken wood. It wasn’t the first time his attackers had tried to assassinate him, nor would it be the last.

The High Alpha wiped his blade against the body of a dead wolf before tossing it on the nearest table. His silver hair now streaked with stains of blood, stuck to the side of his face as his eyes scanned the room.

“How many of ours?” He asked the wolf who had spoken, his winter eyes were chilling enough to freeze anything on his path.

“Four dead, three wounded, Alpha.”

The High Alpha nodded slowly, almost in thought. “Burn them outside. They deserve the flames, not the cold.”

The soldier bowed slightly before turning to drag the bodies out with the help of other wolves. The High Alpha’s gaze lingered on one of his fallen wolves.

For a brief moment, his face softened but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

He stepped over the blood-soaked floor, boots squelching with each step. His eyes moved toward the back of the tavern where a table had been broken in half, and behind it, blood led up the stairs.

He frowned, ignoring the pains from the cut on his shoulder.

“Check around for any Ironmoon survivors” he instructed his wolf warrior. His mind went back to the stranger who had tended to his cut, would he still be there?

He pondered if he should go and check if the stranger was still there but decided against it, after all the mute lad was agile and would’ve fled the tavern the moment he knew about the commotion.

Still, it would be polite to track him down and express his gratitude.

But he was not a man of gratitude, doesn’t mean he was ungrateful. His father, the late high Alpha had always said.

“Give to others what they gave to you” Each word was embodied in him with a harsh lash. His father had always lashed him, whenever he breathed the wrong way.

But the late Alpha’s end was befitting for him, he got what he gave and created a monster with no feelings, just a flame that burns everything on its path.

“Alpha, we found these two trying to escape the tarven” the wolves dragged two young men in.

“They look suspicious”

“Kill them” The High Alpha had said without a glance, still frowning from the stings that came from his shoulder.

“Wait! Please…” Adrian shouted. “Spare us. We’re travelers”

The high Alpha turned and glanced at him, his eyes went to Caierre who stared at him blankly till what seemed like a recognition flashed in his eyes.

‘It was him!’ The thought ran through Caierre. ‘So he was the high alpha’

His eyes remain cold as they still fixate on Caierre, wondering what he should do to the both of them.

He shouldn’t let any survivors live, or it would ruin his plans to take over Masbrook.

“Travelers you say?” He finally broke the silence. “But you stink of Ironmoon blood.”

“You must be mistaken.” Adrian's face tightened.

“We just arrived at Masbrook and decided to stay here for the night.”

“I don’t make mistakes.” His eyes were now dangerous as they still remained on Caierre, as if he was trying to read the poor lad’s soul.

“You don’t talk, do you?” He asked.

Caierre's eyes met his cold as the memories hit him hard. If he moved a little, he would be able to wipe that arrogant smug off the silver eyed monster.

And there was no one in the room who was as fast as him, so if he couldn’t escape then he would be happy knowing he had taken revenge for the Ashborn pack.

It was brilliant and a stupid idea, reckless yes! Not to mention he doesn’t know about his enemy’s strength. If he failed, that would be instant death.

“Interesting,” the Alpha chuckled. “A silent wolf with eyes that could kill. Tell me, mute one. Do you bite?”

“He doesn’t like strangers.” Adrian moved in front of Caierre who was unshielding his blade.

“Neither do I,” the Alpha replied, his smirk fading. His hand moved subtly to the side, resting near the dagger on his belt. “Yet here you are, in my way, after my men are dead.”

Every muscle in Caierre’s body coiled, ready for a fight. His grip on his weapon tightened, his expression steady waiting for the worst outcome.

‘Bless be the Moon goddess. If we’re to die here, I’m taking him with us.’ Caierre said through the mind link, causing Adrian to turn back to look at him.

‘We’re not dying here. Damn the moon! I haven’t bought my vineyard yet’ Adrian said back.

The Alpha exhaled slowly and let out a soft laugh as if he could hear their conversation before turning away.

“Relax. If I wanted you dead, you would be.” His tone was calm but that mischievous glint in his eyes lit up.

Caierre didn’t lower his guard, but he didn’t attack either.

The High Alpha glanced at them once more before walking toward the door. “You should leave Masbrook by morning. There’s no safety here for wolves with secrets.”

“Consider this my gratitude, for helping me” He said before leaving with the remaining wolves.

Adrian counted to ten before releasing the breath he was holding back because of the tension in the room, he laid on the floor trying to calm himself down.

“That was him,” he muttered. “The high Alpha of Silvermark” he turned to Caierre who still knelt on the floor.

‘He looked right at me’

‘Probably because you helped him, that’s what he said right’ Adrian got on his feet. ‘But how did you though?’

‘It’s a long story, let’s get out of here’ Caierre took the hand that Adrian offered and stood up.

‘Something’s not right’

He barely said before they were attacked by a little needle, causing their vision to blur and darken after a few seconds. The last thing he saw before passing out was a man’s boot walking towards them, then everything became dark.