The madman of the Moonblessed

Salcan's POV

“You were supposed to guard the gates,” I said, striking him again. “You had one job but instead you let those Bloodborne mongrels stroll into my land.”

The gamma tried to speak, his mouth bleeding. “My Lord, I… they came in the storm, we didn't see them…”

“Didn't see them?” I said, letting out a gut-wrenching laugh. “Maybe you were too busy plotting to take what is mine. You did this. You worked with Blackthorne to raid us.”

I pulled on his hair, forcing him to face me. “Do you know what your reckless mistake cost me? And you think I would let your bloodline live to breed more weakness?”

The Gamma screamed. His pain was like food to me. I wanted him to suffer. I had no one else to blame. Before I could deliver the final strike, an omega stumbled into the room, panting.

“My Lord, forgive the interruption, but a messenger from the Tarlock pack is here. He requests your audience. He says he was sent to ask about Ronin. He hasn't written home since the last full moon.”

My hand froze mid-air. “It's not been that long,” I said, pushing the gamma aside.

I adjusted my fur mantle and walked towards the throne chamber. It was forged from the blood and bones of Alphas I had conquered. The messenger was led inside. Before he could bow, I raised a finger.

“A word,” I said, glancing at my Betas and guards. “No one says a word about Ronin's capture. If I hear any of you speak of it, I'll personally stitch your tongues to your throats.”

They bowed in obedience, but mostly out of fear.

“Good,” I said, smiling. “Now, tell him to come closer.”

The messenger stepped forward. A half breed young wolf. “Don't they regard me enough to send a real wolf?” I murmured.

“My Lord, Salcan,” he said, bowing low. “I bring a message from the Tarlock pack. Ronin hasn't written home since the last full moon. His mother…”

“Worries,” I said cutting him off. “As mothers do. But you may tell her Ronin is fine,” I said, smiling. “In fact, he is thriving.”

“But he is not here,” the messenger said. “Have you heard anything about his whereabouts?”

“More than heard,” I said, leaning back. “I sent him to the Blackthorne lands on an envoy.” I stood, placing my hand over his shoulders. “You see, young wolf, we recently called a truce and Ronin insisted on going to Blackthorne to seal the alliance.”

I chuckled softly, a sound that didn't reach my eyes. “He's working with Alpha Damien himself to finalise our mutual understanding. I have no doubt he'll be back soon, bearing good news.”

The messenger smiled widely with relief. “Thank you, my Lord. I will carry your response to Tarlock immediately.”

“Do,” I said, sitting on my throne. “And remind your alpha that peace can easily be shattered by doubt. We wouldn't want that, would we?”

The messenger shook his head. “No, My lord, of course not.”

I smirked, intending to scare him a little. “Then go, before I change my mind.”

The messenger hurried off shutting the heavy doors behind him.

“Out,” I groaned. “All of you.”

No one hesitated and within seconds, the chamber was empty.

I paced for a while, worried that everything I built was falling apart. “They think they can take everything. Stupid Blackthorne,” I said, slamming my fist on the wall. “Yet, it's me who must pay the price.”

“And that stupid, ungrateful child. I took a big risk performing those rituals years ago. It was all for her, Lira, to make her stronger for my glory. But she ended up caged and useless. A waste of blood and magic. But all will be well soon. I will fix it. I will make them pay.”

The messenger had barely stepped out of the gates when I came out to the courtyard. The stench of smoke and the ruins enraged me.

“Look at this,” I said, looking across my lands. “ You all eat my food and walk my halls but when the enemy comes, you leave all the fighting to me.”

You'll all work tirelessly, day and night, until everything that was destroyed is rebuilt. And if I find one of you resting, I will feed your hands to…”

My words were cut short by a powerful vision. It was the goddess. She saw my pain and blessed me with a solution, a way to regain what was lost. She said there must be blood. “I know what must be done,” I said, turning to my pack.

“Did you all see that? It was the goddess. She has spoken, brought an answer,” I said, joyfully.

“How do we reclaim everything, you might ask? Well, to call her favour back upon us, the goddess demands a blood sacrifice, a pure offering, the last born of each line. It is only then that we will return to our former glory.”

I let the words hang in the air and watched their expressions change to horror. I liked it.

An older Beta stepped forward. “You ask us for what we cannot give, Alpha. We have already given everything, our lives, blood and our honour. We cannot give our children.”

I expected that response. They were all ungrateful. I smiled, revelling in the tension that my words spread across the yard.

“You think this is a new demand. For years, I have turned the goddess's ear towards us, and it is because of me that you all breathe. And you know this, but it seems you have all forgotten your place.”

Whispers spread across the pack.

“If you refuse, you will be cut out of the pack. Exile for a family means death. You'll be stripped of your lands and ranks. You have until dusk to make a decision. I will do what I must, one way or another.”

I returned to the throne room to begin preparing my potions. A little wolfsbane, powdered Alpha's bone and a trickle of my blood. It was ready. I left it to marinate for some time.

I watched from my throne as everything was falling into place. They won't see me coming and neither will Damien expect betrayal from a wolf who sits at his table.