Chapter 4

West's POV

Every waking day, I wake with a desire to burn the Crescent Pack to the ground, but one thing my late father always taught me is that patience is a virtue. I've experienced a different level of emotions for a year now, and nothing beats the revenge I've been longing for—the burning desire to hold those who killed my family accountable and dish out the exact cruelty they meted out to my pack and my family.

“Rio!!!”

“Yes, Alpha,” my brother answered from within the den.

“Come out here.”

He rushed out as swiftly as possible.

“Where were you last night when I was helping the new shifters?” I asked him with a venomous tone.

"Urhmm... I was right th—”

“Think twice before you lie to me. I know everything going on within the pack and at the pack borders,” I cautioned him.

“I'm sorry, Alpha... I took a stroll in the opposite direction,” he said with his head bowed.

“Hmmm. Did you encounter any werewolf who wasn't from our pack?”

“No... no, I didn't go far ahead. After a while of going into the forest, I had to come back. I was scared of getting lost.”

“I suggest you stop lying to me, Rio,” I raised my voice at him.

“Alpha, Alpha, your presence is urgently needed in the lair,” my Beta said to me through the mind link.

“I'm coming,” I quickly responded.

“You're to remain inside my den for the time being until I pass across another instruction,” I said to Rio just as I got up and started heading to the lair.

After a while, I turned and looked at Rio, who's the only family member I have left after my father and daughter were killed. Rio is a fast bloomer, and he shifted for the first time at age sixteen, a year before the Crescent Pack attacked.

Walking as fast as I could, I quickly got to the lair, where the secret planning had been going on between my most trusted squads in the pack.

Left to me, I'd have attacked them on my own, but my Beta outrightly refused, saying it's his duty to protect me.

“What's going on?” I asked immediately I entered the lair.

“You need to hear this, Alpha,” my Beta called out to me.

The Beta has been in that position since my father was Alpha. Beta Sage was fit and capable of being the Alpha when my father stepped down due to ill health, but he chose to retain his position and allow me to take over. However, the Omega of the pack planned on challenging me, and I killed him in a duel.

Looking at the faces in the lair, I noticed the spies we planted in the Crescent Pack were present, together with my childhood friends, Liam and Willow.

“Tell the Alpha what you just told us here,” Beta Sage said to one of the spies.

Looking at them without a hint of a smile on my face, he seemed scared to say it. I glared a bit harder.

“Alpha... the Crescent Pack now has a new Beta, and I've discovered who initiated the attack on our pack,” he said.

“Who?” I said, my interest being piqued.

“The former Beta. He came here with their Alpha but was able to escape together with some other members of their pack. He has a daughter, but they...”

“I don't care about what or who he has. I'm taking it all from him,” I said, addressing my squad, who were here with me.

“By the next lunar eclipse, we will attack, and the main purpose of that attack will be to get the former Beta and his family. We are not to try and fight or wage war with the other pack members. Do I make myself clear?” I said.

“Yes, Alpha,” they all chorused.

“Alpha, can I see you for a minute?” Sage called out.

I quickly dismissed the others and instructed the spies to return to their posts.

“What's the matter?” I said, turning to address Sage.

“Don't you think you are being too hasty? Can't we still strategise for a while before we take action?” he asked.

“Why do we need to strategise to capture one family? Why?”

“So we don't make mistakes.”

“What mistake can we possibly make?” I asked, already getting frustrated.

“We have a whole month to plan for this, and we are going as I've announced, so get some men ready,” I told him.

“And mind you, I don't intend coming back here without capturing the so-called Beta, either dead or alive. I want him here,” I growled.

“Okay, Alpha.”

Beta Sage might be around the same age as my father, but his respect for me never dwindled. He was as loyal as they come.

“You can leave,” I said, turning away from him. Being left alone is what I desire since the incident. I miss my baby girl so dearly. She reminded me of my late wife. Now there's nothing left to remind me of her. The rage in my body doubled. I can't stop thinking about how I'd make them suffer. Someone must pay for the death of my daughter, and I will surely draw blood. At the very least, the whole pack will pay for the actions of their Alpha, but the death of Beta Tim will have to suffice for now.

After a long while, I decided to go back to my den or preferably take a run so that I could clear my mind. Immediately I stepped out of the den, I saw Willow, my Beta's daughter and my childhood friend, waiting for me outside.

“Why are you still here?”

“West, how are you? Are you okay? You don't look fine at all.”

“I'm fine, Willow. Why are you here?”

“I was worried about you. Honestly, we've barely had time to talk since the death of...”

I shot her a sharp glare, which silenced her immediately, knowing she intended to talk about Kaida.

“I'm not in the mood for this type of conversation,” I said, shutting her up.

“Head back to your place. I'm off for a run,” I said.

Taking off my clothes as fast as possible, I shifted into my wolf form and took off into the woods.

I ran and ran until I was out of breath. I knew where I was headed. I'm not supposed to be here, but I'm still here. I stopped by the border deep in the forest and looked at the other side of the forest where my enemies lay. I really can't wait until I tear them all apart.

They are not deserving of my mercy, and I shall not spare any of them.

The days flew by, and it was finally the full moon. It was time to go after the man who orchestrated the attack on my people. I couldn't help but feel elated because judgement would finally be meted out to them.

After making sure that my newly appointed Omega followed the new shifters and situated them in the opposite direction from where we were going, I gave instructions to my squad.

“It's simple. Kill anyone in our path and capture the Beta, his daughter, and possibly whoever is in his den. Do I make myself clear?” I said, looking them all in the eyes.

“Yes, Alpha,” they bellowed.

We shifted and grabbed our clothes in our mouths, then ran into the forest. We passed the border where I spent most of my nights and crept into the Crescent Pack. We then changed to our human forms. Silently, we moved to the den of the former Beta.

Immediately we entered, I heard a sound upstairs. I ordered Liam and Willow to remain outside. I entered with Sage and walked into the room where the Beta was together with a younger girl. He was lost in his thrusts, and from what I'd heard, I knew this was not his wife.

“Get up!” I bellowed.

Immediately, they both disentangled, and she quickly covered herself up.

“Sage, capture them. You guys can go. I will look through the house, and I'll meet you back at the pack.”

Ignoring their whimpers and pleas, I stepped out of the bedroom.

Seeing a door down the hallway, I hastily walked towards it. Immediately I opened it, I was hit by a smell that was so strong. I immediately recognised it.

My wolf screamed within me.

Mate!

I chose to ignore it and walked into the room, but my knees grew weak. The smell was so strong, and I could no longer keep ignoring it. I picked up a gown that had been left on the bed, brought it to my nose, and inhaled deeply.

Immediately, the door opened. I turned back and looked at the girl who had just walked in.

My wolf growled.

Mine!

I couldn't help but agree. She was stunning, just a bit dishevelled. Immediately, I perceived a different odour.

“Why do you smell like mine and, at the same time, smell like you've been with another man?” I barked out, anger covering my features.