Chapter Thirteen

Thane's POV

I stare out my window, numerous tents surround my brick home. I've built quite an empire for myself from scratch. No one will believe that I'm right under their noses. I've always used the rogues for my dirty dealings, they are easily dispensable anyways.

It was so easy to take advantage of their various grievances against the numerous packs they initially belonged to. A little freedom speech laced with vengeance was all I needed to control them. I've made the impossible, possible having countless rogues answer to me.

The strong Alpha blood running through my veins has given me the brute force I need in keeping the rowdy rogues in order also inflicting fear.

A loud knock pulls me from my reverie, who dares to interrupt me after giving strict rules to not be disturbed. 

The knock persisted, “What?” my grouchy voice says.

“Alpha, you need to hear this,” the deep voice of my Beta, Shaw answers back.

“It better be good,” I say, the underlying threat obvious.

Shaw steps in with a bloodied rogue, wounds littering his entire body. My gaze darkens, I just hope it's not what I'm thinking.

“What the hell is this about, Shaw?” I growl out. “Can't you take care of irrelevant scuffles between pack members.”

He heaves a heavy sigh, “Alpha, we have bad news.” He then pushes the injured rogue to his knees.

“Tell him what you told me,” he orders. 

“Alpha, I am a part of the rogues sent to the Cantara Pack for a surprise attack. The first eight you sent were surprisingly overpowered by the border patrol. They had silver arrows laced with poison, killing wolves shot almost immediately.”

A loud snarl escapes my lips, I crash the table beside me hard, cracking it in two. That stupid Alpha keeps soiling my plans. I have overpowered other packs with even less effort.

“Continue,” I say, schooling my features. 

He shivers in fear, “W…we did everything according to plan. B…but the Cantara warriors sliced through us like butter, especially their Alpha. We stood no chance. It was like they anticipated every move we made. I was tasked by the leader to come and deliver, in case there were no more survivors.”

“So you all failed, a simple job. The task was to easily pounce on them with the element of surprise and leave.”

“I…I'm sorry, Alpha, next time will surely…..”

I slit his throat in a swift swipe, I hate failure. It would seem no one can do things right these days. Excuses are all I keep getting from these useless rogues.

“Well, hopefully the last three I sent as back up will be back with good news,” I say to my Beta who gives me a weary look.

“Get rid of this trash I wouldn't want his filthy blood to soil my carpet and wooden floor.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Shaw said, his head hung low.

“Call our informants to come immediately, I want to know why the tips given were useless.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I walk towards him, heading to the door, “I'll be waiting, for now let me, let off some steam with the female prisoners, you should join me sometime.” 

“I'll call the informants, Sir,” Shaw says subtly, refusing my offer. Looking everywhere but me.

I give him a sly smile then walk past him, bursting in a fit of laughter. Well this will be fun.

***

The stench from the prison burns my nostrils. I'm completely drenched in sweat, zipping my pants up. The female prisoner I just finished having my way with, is crying softly against the damp, dirty wall. A skinny younger she-wolf is rocking her gently and shoots me a dirty look. 

“Keep your dog tightly leashed, Cassia, you never know what might happen” I spat at the disrespect. 

She quickly wraps her arms around the younger wolf, hiding her face in her breast.

I chuckle at her protectiveness over the young pup, Cassia is the longest female slave I have kept. I don't feel like getting rid of her or selling her off yet.

“That's a smart choice, you wouldn't want her to leave just yet right?”

She keeps her head low and doesn't make a sound, probably to get rid of me. I feel disrespected and approach her to give her a beating when my Beta speaks to me through the mindlink.

“The informants are here, Alpha.” He says plainly. He has never been comfortable with my wild tendencies but he has sworn loyalty to me with blood and there is no going back. It was a naive and irrational decision that I'm pretty sure he regrets.

“On my way, Shaw.” I give Cassia a long look but I need to leave, there are more important things to deal with than a pesky little Wolf's disrespect. 

I step out of the faintly lit cell and lock the doors firmly with numerous locks. My firm footsteps hit the broken concrete floor, I step out  of the prison and head towards my house.

When I entered my house, there were three figures standing in my sitting room. 

“You're late,” the first figure closest to me mutters furiously. 

“Don't forget who you're talking to, mutt.” Very few people dare disrespect me to my face.

A heavy silence fills the room, save for the breaths released. 

“You called for us, you know it's very risky to meet.” The second figure says with irritation.

“You're all lucky, you're still useful to me, if not your heads will be on heavy spikes by my borders.”

“Anyways, it seems you have failed me yet again,” I say, staring at them intently. 

“What's that supposed to mean, we gave you good Intel,” Figure one screams at me.

These little fleas have no idea what I have in store for them. They should pray to their little moon that they remain useful or else, their fates may be worse than most.

“Watch your tone,” Shaw snarls, stepping forward. I raise my hand signalling him to leave it be.

“No need to raise your voice now, the intel you gave me states that the Eastern border is the least guarded and that your Alpha's drink had been laced with Wolf's bane to weaken him.”

I step closer to them, “So how come I've lost over ninety wolves in one day, if we continue at this rate I won't have any left, would I?”

“Look we have no idea what went wrong, we did everything you asked and still things got out of hand.” Figure two, murmurs at least a bit remorseful. 

“I sent three seasoned wolves as back up but they seem not to answer at all,” I say, each word venomous. “Do you have any idea where they might be?”

“Look about that,” Figure one says nervously, “Before we left, it seems the Luna and the Alpha's cousin killed three wolves by the waterfall, the trap they set backfired.”

I turn around and give the wall a powerful hit in rage. Bricks fall off forming a hole in the wall. The two “guests” looked surprised at the strength I had just shown.

“Oops, my bad, you shouldn't have seen that.”

“You told me the Luna would be an easy target.” I finish, distrust evident. 

“S..she is, she doesn't even have a wolf,” Figure one stutters fear evident.

I smile like a maniac, “I hate excuses, hopefully this never occurs again.”

“Well, Kael thinks he is smart right, I will get him soon enough. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“He'll never see my next move coming, just you wait.”