Chapter Four

                                                              Wren

   I sat here at this table, listening to them all chirp at one another. How do they expect to solve anything when all they do is talk over one another? 

  I know my father insists I sit in on all these meetings, as it is needed for me to know what is all going on in the Kingdom. It's not that I do not want to know, but I'm more at use being out in the field handling battle strategies, not in here listening to politics. 

I was known for my fighting skills and the victories I have had over the years. It's what I do best. I'm not one for paperwork and listening to these old men complain about everything. They only look out for them self then the goodness of the kingdom. There are times I wonder why my father keeps them on. All they do is create issues and overlook important problems. 

My brother is the one who is better at this kind of things. He is more patient than me and can talk around these idiots. I want to just reach out and hit them, or bang their heads together. 

I have already told my father that I will not take the throne alone. I will share it with my brother. He is only two years younger than me, but there are things he is better at than me like this, and I'm better at fighting and leading the warriors, so we both agreed that we will share the leadership when it comes to us taking over. But I can not take over till I find my mate. My brother has found his mate. I on the other hand am still looking for her. 

"What are we going to do about the vampires? They are making moves and gaining ground." One of the Elders spoke out over them all, making them all stop and look at him. 

It also pulled me from my thoughts. 

This was a sore subject, as none of them wanted to admit to the fact that the Vampires were gaining ground and had taken out a few of the lower packs in our Kingdom. But they make no move to help, as they are the Werewolf packs and they feel we as Lycans are safe behind our golden gates. But that is not the case. If it weren't for the werewolf packs, we wouldn't have a Kingdom; they make up over fifty percent of it. We only rule because we won the war against them, but they do not cause us trouble, and they follow all the laws we put forward. 

"What would you like us to do, Walter? They haven't attacked us, so why is it our problem?" 

I felt my Lycan stir at those words. This is the problem with these Elders that have sat on their asses so long they have no interest in doing what is to be done and helping the Kingdom. They are only in it for what it gives them. 

"Oh I don't know, Henry. Maybe the fact that they can wipe out Werewolves and that alone can kill our Kingdom, and then we will be weak and then they will strike." Walter shot back at him. 

"Enough, both of you." My father barked at them, making them shut it. "That is a topic we need to go over, as I have gotten a few letters from the lower packs asking for help. I have sent out scouts, and they have reported back to me that the Vampires gotten in with Rogues and are using them to do the attacks on the packs, so we need to get to the bottom of this and get it handled. Whether any of you want to, it is a must. Walter is right; if too many of the werewolf packs are wiped out, it will weaken the whole Kingdom and that will leave us open to an attack."

"The werewolf packs need to learn to protect themselves. They have always relied on us for protection. It's time they stand on their own." Henry spoke out, making the others nod in agreement. 

Dad let out a scoff, "That is because we WON the damn WAR against them, making us the ruler, so it is our job to protect the lower packs, you moron!"

 I could see Dad was pissed. He had a right to. Henry has been an issue on the council for a while now, and he was about to get the boot. 

"Here," Dad said as he pulled out some papers, tossing them on the table top. I reached out, taking one and opening it. I read over it, and it was from the Sandstone Pack. 

The letter stated that they have been getting attacked by rogues and have lost a lot of their warriors. They feel that one more attack and it will be the end of their pack. He was writing to ask for help; he was fearful for his pack. He also added about some of the rogues and how they were different from others. They were bigger, faster and stronger than the warriors, and they seemed to be able to slip in without being noticed. 

I didn't pay attention to the bickering going on around me. Something with this letter seemed to pull at me. It wasn't like it had a lot in it, but something with the writing or maybe the name of the pack. But there was something I couldn't explain. I suddenly had the urge to go there, like I needed to go to this pack.

"Dad," I called out, pulling him from a disagreement with Henry. "I would like to check this pack out. If you read the letter it states about the rogues, and from what it says, they are not normal rogues."

He held his hand out for the letter. I slipped it across the table, ignoring the others. Dad looked up; he was about to say something when there was a knock on the door. 

"Come in," Dad called out. The only time someone dares to interrupt a council meeting is if there is important information or something major has happened. 

The door swung open as my dad's intelligence team walked in. That's what I call them; they do all the digging and hard footwork; they find things out that you wouldn't believe. 

"My King." One bowed, greeting mt father. "We have important information that we needed to inform you right away." 

"Speak," Dad grumbled out.

"What we found has to do with the Vampires and all the attacks on the lower packs."

I noticed everyone at the table went quiet as it was the topic they tried pushing off. Morons. I thought to myself.

"And what is it?"

He pulled out a folder that was tucked under his arm. He laid it on the table, then shoved it towards my father. Dad's hand slapped down on it, stopping. As he opened it, the one started to speak.

"They have somehow figured out a way to find Lycan mates."  He paused, letting that sink in. 

"You are telling us a bunch of lifeless freaks have figured out how to track down a Lycan's mate?" Henry barked out, shaking his head in disbelief.

"They somehow got a hold of some of our blood samples. They are hunting down Lycan mates, and if they have to wipe out the pack to get to them, then they are."

He continued, not bothered with what was just said. 

"Are they working with the witches?" I asked. He looked at me. "I do believe so. But our main branch was hacked a while back; some blood samples had been taken."

I nodded as I recalled that we double checked everything but couldn't find out who gained access and how.

"It seems they are mixing the blood samples with something I'm guessing a spell and it's showing them where our mates are. My guess is it's probably having the help of a seer and a witch. It also seems they have figured out a way to control rogues, and that is who is hitting these packs."

His eyes moved to me. 

"My Prince, they have your blood as well; it was one of the samples that was taken, so they are able to hunt your mate."

I let out a growl as I flew to my feet, the chair crashing to the floor behind me.