Chaos In Two Worlds

Chapter 2

When Kristen Kris returned to the castle the next week, it was to the news of her parent's death. Her elder sister, Laurel Kris had sent word for her to return to the castle the next week, not informing her of their parent's passing.

Somehow, on the journey home, Kristen knew that something was amiss, what she did not expect however, was the news of the death of her both parents.

She had hoped at least that one of them would be alive for a while longer. Even though her mother's condition had been worse than her father's, she learnt that her father had died first.

Sitting beside her sister now, Laurel could only sigh in exasperation. She had no time to mourn because there was a lot to do in the castle in preparation for their parent's burial. The ceremony had been delayed due to her absence, but now that she was back, everything was kick-started.

"I am not ready for this." Laurel muttered for the umpteenth time.

"Neither am I." Kristen replied curtly.

"You don't understand, Kris. He anounced to almost the entire pack, in front of everyone that I should take over him. And now, the masses, The Council of Elders, I'll have to resume his position as the… as the Alpha of the… of the Pack, Kris." She only stopped to breathe.

"Enough, Laurel, nobody chooses their fate, and you know it. Father made that much clear to us before his demise. Now if you are going to sulk and cry, why don't you do it when you are in your room? Right now you are no longer that little princess you were, you are now a queen, a Alpha. So get your ass up and do what matters!"

Typical Kris, Laurel thought. Her sister has always seen crying as a sign of weakness. Their mother had said she was destined to be a boy, but for some reason, she turned out as a girl.

But even that did not stop Kristen from acting like a boy which she did. From joining the royal army at the tender age of ten, to killing a Rogue the first day she wielded a sword at twelve, the list of her sister, Kristen Kris' wild escapades went on and on.

Now, at sixteen, she was no more a grown woman than Lauren was at nineteen. Laurel wiped her eyes and placed one hand on her sister's palm, "Papa wanted you to know that he loves you, he did, Mama too. They just never got a chance to tell you for the last time."

Kristen scoffed, "Or maybe they could have stayed long enough for me to come back with a cure and then tell me themselves."

"Hey… Kris. You know Papa, he wouldn't leave you if he had a choice in the matter, they tried, Kris. I watched them fight, Mama fought, Papa too. They really tried, I watched him gasp for each breath as life slowly slipped out of him while he struggled to get those words out… he never wanted to leave, Kris. That much I know"

Kristen blinked back the tears, she was not going to let this break her now, not when she had promised not to shed a tear over this. "I understand. Maybe if I had been faster and searched more…"

"Shhh…" Laurel cut in now, turning to face her sister, "You are not going to blame this on yourself now, everybody tried to save them, you did, I did, we did but it just turned out… like this. Let's do our best now, to stay strong, for us, for our people."

"The sickness was very strange, nobody knew the symptoms, and even one healer who could cure it, how they came in contact with it, I do not know." Kris sighed.

"We are only grateful that it was not communicable, we would have been long dead by now, Kris. An entire Pack, wiped out"

"Well we are not, and we will fight to keep our Pack, Laurel, stay strong for me, through all this."

"You too, Kris. I promise."

They hugged then, crushing all the emotions in that one hug, Laurel couldn't help the tears, even Kristen dropped some too, just then, a maid came in to announce,

"My ladies, members of The Council are gathered in the hall, they demand to speak with you concerning the Alpha and his Luna's transition"

Kris nodded to his sister and moved towards the door, waiting.

"If you'll assume the position of the Alpha of the Sacred Pack, sister. I assume the position of your trusted man henceforth, I shall protect you with my life." She bowed.

"Kris…" Laurel began.

"Give me your blessings, sister. I was trained for this"

Laurel hesitated, "So shall it be."

Hand in hand they moved down the hall together, Laurel knew then that it was the beginning of a new phase for her, a phase she was made for.

Her wolf turned.

______

Earl Malory of the new Knight Pack was a man of few words, talking was not his thing. Even now, as he sat in the council of elders, he silently prayed they would finish up on time so he could leave.

If he thought talking was difficult, then talking to a bunch of old men was even worse, listening to them was a pain in his ears. But when you are the Alpha of a Pack which happens to be under threat by the Rogues, there is no choice but to listen.

Earl already had a solution in mind, but listening to elders was a sign of respect, one which he could not overlook or ignore. At twenty eight, he had seen and fought many battles for a man his age, that came with taking on the crown of the New Knight Pack after the death of his own father in what seemed like a planned attack.

Now, it was almost like the past was coming back to him, just yesterday the oldest man in the New knight Pack had been attacked on his way home from a party. The attackers, Rogues, left a warning message with the only maid whose life they spared to carry the tale. The message was cryptic and simple;

"The sins of the fathers shall befall their sons. Expect us one after the other, every elder of the council.

For Alpha Earl Malory, your death shall be slow and painful as your father's sins were the greatest.

With love, Lambert."

That message prompted this impromptu meeting today. To discuss the old man's burial and to discuss the cryptic note which had left most of them shaking and afraid to even step out of their houses. Earl hated impromptu meetings as much as he hated unplanned emergencies like this one.

"I say we mount guards in every street and gate in our houses." Lord Lasik was saying.

"Just us? What happens to the locals? The villagers, the women, our young men and every child in the pack?" Lord Kayl, the bearded one beside Earl asked passively.

"One of our own was killed by these miserable Rogues, they are still around, I know it. I feel their eyes watching me when I make any move, even around my house. It's just a matter of time before they catch up with all of us here. What do we do? Wait around and die?" Another old man said.

Gregg Braden, Earl's Beta and only friend who was also seated beside him tapped him lightly to draw his attention, Earl gave him a tired look to which he nodded and returned an apologetic look.

"We understand that everyone is in a panic state right now, nobody expected this. I say we go back home, bury the dead and gather later to deliberate on this." Gregg suggested as he scanned the faces on the table.

"We go home and die, one after the other. Is that what you are suggesting, Beta Gregg?" Lasik asked in a pensive tone.

Earl spoke for the first time, "There will be no second gathering, you are all old wolves, strong and capable enough to protect yourselves and your families. I say we all go back home, be alert and protect our families the best we can." He scanned the men's faces and saw Lasik's raised hand, Earl made a mental groan. "You have something to say, Lord Lasik?"

"We can never be too careful, Alpha. I say you give us an heir. I was here in your father's time, we were careful but he still died, in the same way our old man was killed. This might be the end for…"

"Enough!" Gregg cut in, "The Alpha will not be questioned, if he says we go home, we go home and wait. We have not failed to serve and protect you in the fifteen years of his rule, the Alpha will not start now. Concerning his marriage, he will do that when it pleases him."

Earl smiled and lay a hand on his friend's shoulder which he gave a thankful squeeze, "Actually, I have a plan. I will reach out to the neighboring packs for every support we can get. For now, you all will have to go home, as a preventive measure, guards will be posted as Lord Lasik suggested. I pledged my loyalty to protect you all, I'll not fail now and dying is not even an option." He stopped speaking and scanned the men's faces again, no one looked like they had anything to say.

He motioned for his Beta, Gregg and they both stood up and left. Their guards followed behind them while the Elders stared after them in awe.

"That boy will definitely get us all killed!" Lasik muttered to himself.