Chapter 9There was nothing to prepare for the decision that Laurel Kris, the Alpha of the Sacred Moon pack had made to marry Earl Malory, Alpha of the New Knight Pack. She barely picked a shawl from her room and hurried out as soon as she entered, shouting orders at the guards by the door to prepare for a journey. Her mood was sour, but she knew that there were worse days ahead, at least for her. Laurel prayed silently, she doubted that she was doing the right thing, wished she could ask her Papa for directions one last time, but this was a child's dream and she knew that now. Kristen had told her she was now a ruler countless times and that she had to act like one but it was only dawning on her now. Laurel made for the horses which had already been prepared for the journey. She did not take anything with her, didn't even know if there was anything she had to take. Kristen followed closely behind her, one hand clutching tightly to her sword which was installed and strapped firmly t
Chapter 10The ride was a quiet one, with each person riding fast on their horses and only having one thing in mind- their direction and the outcome of the meeting ahead. Everyone had something to think about, families they left behind, friends they hoped to go back to meet alive and they all hoped their journey this time would not be in vain. Perhaps everyone was afraid, except one person, Rick Adams. He was a lonely man who was oftentimes considered emotionless. In his mid thirties, he was without a family, wife or siblings. He spent most of his days training young wolves who hoped to be great warriors someday. His emotionlessness and lack of feelings had gained him the position as the Gamma of the Sacred Moon pack. He had only one agenda, to protect the Lady Alpha and her family at all cost, because with them, the future of the pack was secured. Rick had spent the last fourteen years training Kristen how to be a good swordsman. And he was glad that that knowledge, fueled by her f
Chapter 11"What are you doing?" Kristen yelled after Laurel as she tried to catch up with her. "What do you mean?""What the hell are you doing with that man?!" "Letting him go." Laurel replied calmly. "I can see that, but why? Certainly not after they just killed one of our men and made our horses go agog and leaving us stranded in this bush?" Kristen said angrily. "We have killed a number if their men too, let him go back and tell his Master that we do not want trouble." "And you think he'll buy that?" "He will. This whole thing was a misunderstanding, they will realize it." Laurel said adamantly. Kristen stopped walking and turned around in anger. She ran her hand through her hair and kicked the grass in front of her. Laurel stopped to pacify her but she shifted out of her sister's reach. "Look Laurel, I know you are all about sending a message but we don't know these people. For all we know, they could be vampires or even just serial killers. We can't risk a war with anoth
Chapter 12Rick and the rest of Laurel's men were assigned a special chamber in Earl's castle, the men were grateful for that after the long stress in the woods. Except for Rick who did not want Laurel and Kristen out of his sight for even a second. Laurel was given a separate room from Kristen too but Kristen insisted on staying with her sister, not even taking her hands off her sword for a second. Earl watched with keen interest as his soon to be bride and her entourage struggled to get comfortable in their soon to be second home. For some reason, the thought was funny to him but he was relieved that he didn't have to go and beg her for help. How it turned out that she appeared in front of his gate at the exact same moment he was about to go out to meet her was still a welcome puzzle to him. Gregg was right after all, in a good way, but he hated to admit that. Even Gregg had not stopped smiling from ear to ear since the Lady Alpha's arrival and each time their eyes met, he could sw
Chapter 13It was Kristen's loud grunt of anger that had Laurel running out of the room in alarm. Earl, who had been standing behind her all the time, aware of the commotion going on outside the door because he was listening keenly, came out from behind her. She saw Rick's face and checked to make sure that Kristen was alright, when she was satisfied with her appearance, she asked in a shrill voice."I heard your voice, are you alright?" "No, I'm not. Thanks to that annoying Beta." "You meant Gregg?" Earl asked with a half smile.Laurel's eyes flashed at him with anger, "Why are you still here?" "I told you already, I thought you could use my help settling in, besides we need to talk about how things are going to be from now on." "I don't need your help settling in, besides there's nothing to talk about." "Here we go." Kristen muttered and stalked off in anger, "Goodnight, sis. I don't think you need me to protect you, seeing that your husband is at your beck and call." She was to
Chapter 14That morning, Laurel thought she woke up first but was surprised to find Kristen and Rick already outside her door. Maybe she had slept longer than she expected, but she couldn't blame herself, it was the first time she was sleeping without being dragged out of bed to the news of another death or another victim. "Good morning." They both greeted each other simultaneously."It's a fine morning." Laurel replied, "I guess I slept longer than expected." "You deserve it," Rick smiled, "The Alpha and his Beta are outside already." Laurel paused to look at Rick, the sound of that was strange in her ears, he was referring to Earl and Gregg and yet it felt weird to her. She was used to being referred to as Alpha, even Earl called her Lady Alpha and now, if she eventually marries Earl, she knew she would have to get used to being called Luna and having to share everything with that man, including her men. She didn't know if she liked that idea at all, but she was sure that Earl wou
Chapter 15The healing process began immediately when they arrived at the castle. The flu had not gotten better the one day Laurel was aware from her people, but the mortality rate had surely gotten worse. The healers set their equipment in the large halls where the most sick ones were kept and began grinding and mixing the leaves with other things they had brought. The Sacred Moon healers joined in the process to assist in anyway they could and also to learn, that wasn't a problem to the New Knight Pack healers too, because they had been instructed by their Alpha to teach the ones that were willing to learn and to prevent any further death in the pack if it was avoidable. Laurel paced outside anxiously, waiting for good news, any news that would relieve her of the tension she was feeling inside. The first thing the new healers did was to separate the living from the dead amongst the worst cases and then they proceeded to stop the flu from being further spread by asking that every u
Chapter 16By evening, half the sick ones were already getting back on their feet, the smell of death was no longer in the air, neither was that of sickness. There was still a lot to do for everyone, even the Omegas and the locals. The kitchen maids had to prepare a large meal to feed the entire populace since most of the locals were not even intent on returning home until every last one of them was confirmed sound and well.That night, Laurel went to bed feeling fulfilled and satisfied, there was a lot to be grateful for. The New Knight healers did not relent though, they kept working even during the night. It was magical how something as disastrous as the flu could be cured by just a leaf and even more surprising how that cure could only be found in one place. Laurel was genuinely happy for the progress so far, but her thoughts were still plagued by what lay ahead. After this all was over, she knew what would follow next, and it was not something she looked forward to. Her thought