Chapter Two

CHAOS UNFOLDING

MILA

The accusing stares had quickly given way to panic, and as the Alpha and his right hand started to make their way away from the chaos, I snuck after them.

My hatred for the royal family stemmed from many years. I had heard the news on the streets last night - the Luna's kin had borne twin pups.

The irony wasn't lost on me. After years of killing innocents, they finally called off the old laws at a time when it favored them.

No! I wasn't going to let my years of pain be vanquished by nothing more than just a change of laws.

I was going to avenge my family.

My foot got stuck on a small broken step in the narrow tunnel, and I stumbled, catching myself against the wall.

Elias, Alpha Garron's second, turned to me, eyes wide with surprise.

“Mattias? What are you doing here?”

My eyes raked over his face. I recognized him, and I remembered the pain he had caused me. That scar on his forearm, it was the same one that my mother had scratched in when she fought to save her kids.

“Mattias?” He asked again, fingers inching toward his weapon.

I moved faster than he did, sending a silver dagger straight through his chest. The pool of blood flowed only second to the disbelief that covered his face.

I leaned over him. “You held my family to the pyre. I'll take back their honor.”

Without second thought, I went after the Alpha. I wasn't going to let revenge slip through my fingers today.

“Alpha Garron,” I called, coughing like the smoke was getting to me.

“Mattias?” He asked as he turned back to face me. “What are you…?”

The question died in his throat when my pistol raised to his face.

“You killed my family. You wouldn't let them live because they bore more than one child, and now you take that back when your Luna has two?”

Recognition dawned on his face, and he moved - he wasn't an Alpha for nothing. But I was quicker, more driven given the pain that anchored me.

I slid my smaller frame just out of his reach, then planted a small silver stiletto underneath his ribcage. Blood pooled around my fingers and I took a step back, pistol aimed at him a second time.

“You really think I'll let you kill my whole family?” I mocked. “You underestimate me.”

He coughed, dropping to his knees as silver spread through his blood. “You broke the law.”

“No, I didn't. You killed a child, and now I'm avenging that child.”

I clicked the trigger and another small silver lodged itself into his head, sending him toppling down with wide, unseeing eyes.

A gasp tore my attention in the direction of the bend ahead. Wide brown eyes were watching me.

Shock ground me to the spot, but that was soon replaced by terror. The man on the other side was reaching for a gun, and if I stayed here any longer, I would be dead.

I did the only thing that made sense in this situation; I turned on my feet and fled.

*******

“Who are you?” The guard, in his attire of black with silver lined armor, asked as I approached the gate, spear already pointed at me.

I paused, hunger and exhaustion beating at me like I was some kind of drum. My whole body felt weak, like I had been dragged through a wringer and left in shreds.

The past month had been spent faking my death, and fleeing Silverclaw, and up until now, I hadn't stumbled on any settlement that indicated human life.

“My name is Erwin.” I lied. “My pack was attacked and I had to flee to succeed.”

That wasn't too difficult to believe given that I was covered in soot and dirt, and smelt like death.

“You look half-dead,” the guard commented.

His second watched me, eyes taking me in like I was being weighed.

“What pack are you from?” He asked.

I took a deep breath. “Silverclaw.”

Pity filled their gazes and they exchanged a look I would assume was private conversation.

“Go with him,” the older man said, jerking his thumb in the direction of his younger counterpart. “You'll have to earn your place here.”

I nodded gratefully. “I can do a lot of manual labor.”

The way into the pack lets me see the difference between Nightveil and Silverclaw. There was more wealth here, and it showed on their wide, perfectly cobbled streets.

We finally got to a huge building but I was led around the back, a narrow wooden door pulled open for me to walk in.

“Marge,” the young guard with me called.

An elderly looking woman stepped out from behind a wooden shelf.  “Ferb? What is the matter?”

Her eyes landed on me and she froze. “Oh dear. You look near-dead. What happened to you.”

“Escaped war in his pack,” the guard explained. “He says he's food with labor. Put him to use in exchange for food and shelter.”

The woman, Marge, scanned me from head to my worn-leather covered toes. “And clothing.”

She led me down a narrow hallway, bringing me to one that was lined with small doors. She pushed one open and asked me to step in.

“There's a few used clothes in the dresser. Take a bath and change. Someone will get you down for food later.”

“Thank you,” I said and she left.

Getting clean and dressed left me feeling even weaker than I had before, and I dropped into the small bed that sat in the center of the room.

Just as sleep started to reach for me, a knock pulled me out. I groaned as I walked in the direction of the door.

A smallish looking boy, no more than twelve if I had to guess, was standing on the other side of the door.

“Mrs. Marge is asking for you.”

I followed behind the small boy until we reached a wide space that smelled like all the nice things of the world rolled together. My stomach instantly grumbled.

A young girl with wide blue eyes and a happy smile stepped up to meet me, her eyes studying. “Who are you? You look familiar.”