Chapter#47

Chapter#47
Leandro’s POV

“Leandro!”

Alpha Gavric sprawled on a carved throne with a goblet of piss-weak wine in his hand and two whores draped over his lap. His bearded face split into a grin, “You’ve kept your word, I hear. My Stormhowl wolves are here?”

“Every last one,” I raised my voice, “Get up, Gavric. Come to the main grounds and see it for yourself.”

His eyes lit with pride, “You’ve done well, Bloodclaw.” His grin widened. He rose from his throne and walked toward me as his long fur cloak swept the floor. “I trusted you’d free my wolves. I had to keep you here only to show Bloodclaw our hospitality. And it sounded like a fair trade as well.”

I mockingly smirked. 

Nothing in Lunareth was fair, and Gavric was a fool to believe that. 

The main grounds of Stromhowl stretched out in front of the packhouse, a wide stretch of hard, dusty earth surrounded by old stone walls. The midday sun burned overhead.

My Bloodclaw knights stood tall and still, lined up like a wall of steel. Gavric’s steps faltered as he emerged. 

The crowd was already gathered at the edges. Stromhowl’s lords, their painted whores, and the common wolves. 

Gavric’s face opened in awe. “What…”  His eyes bulged as he stammered. “What is this?”

All of Stormhowl's Lords stood tied to wooden stakes hammered into the dirt. Their heads hung low. Next to each one stood a Bloodclaw knight holding a lit torch. 

Just beyond them, three huge iron cages sat like a monster in the sun. Crammed inside were two hundred of Stormhowl’s men, women, and children, the ones I swore to set free. Their faces were pale, and their eyes were wide with fear. Some clutched each other. Some just stared, too numb to cry.

“Leandro,” Gavric whispered. His words trembled, and his face turned pale. “What is this? You came in peace, and you said you’d free them. You gave your word.”

My bitter laugh silenced the crowd. “My word? You think Bloodclaw bends to promises, Gavric?” I growled, stepping forward, “Look at the bright side. I’m being merciful.” 

I raised my hand, pointing to the cage, “Those are your people… knights, wives, daughters, pups. You’ll let me and my wolves pass through your lands in peace, or I’ll burn them alive too. Their blood will be on your hands, Alpha Gavric.”

Gavric’s face twisted. “Release them!” he roared, “Those men… You can’t burn them alive! They’re my pack, Leandro! You swore…” 

“Your pack?” I mocked him and then gave a nod to my knights. One by one, their torches touched the kindling at the base of each stake. Fire burst to life. Flames climbed the wood, then caught on the lords’ torn clothes.

Screams filled the air as Stormhowl lords were burned alive.

The crowd gasped. Some screamed. Others bent over, vomiting. The smell of burnt flesh and fear spread fast.

“Stop!” Gavric shouted, lunging toward me, but my knights blocked him. His eyes locked on the burning lords, he always favored. 

“This is what happens when you try to outsmart Bloodclaw,” I raised my voice, addressing everyone watching. “Your filthy alpha knew better than to enslave a wolf from my pack, to kill her wolf and make her his whore. That wolf wasn’t just any Bloodclaw; she was my beta, Rhea.” 

I gestured to her, standing at my side.

“In any other pack, she’d be shamed, cast out, or killed for being wolfless. But in Bloodclaw, she’s risen. She’s now one of the first female lords in all of Lunareth, and you will address her as Lady Rhea, or I’ll carve your tongues out.”

Gavric’s eyes darted to Rhea. His mouth opened, but no words came. 

“Listen well, Stromhowl,” I addressed, “What you see before you… Bloodclaw has nothing to do with it. This is the price of your alpha’s greed. Gavric thought he could toy with Bloodclaw, close the city gates, and demand my mercy. He thought only of himself to show his power. But I am not your alpha. I am Leandro of Bloodclaw, and I answer to no one. I could slit his throat here, now, and none of you would dare question me.” 

I paused, letting my gaze sweep over the crowd, then spoke again.

“Believe me, my heart ached when those men burned. But I did it to send your alpha a message to not ever cross Bloodclaw again. Now it’s your choice. Let us walk out of Stromhowl in peace… or watch the wolves in that cage die next. Either way, we’re leaving. It’s up to your alpha to save those mothers and children. And when I return, Stromhowl’s gates will open for me, or I swear by the old gods, every mother in this city will clutch the hearts of her children, ripped from their chests by my hand.”

The crowd gasped. A few collapsed to their knees. Others grabbed whoever was close. Fear spread through them like fire.

Gavric staggered, “Leandro, you bastard… you’ve made your point, let them free.”

“My point?” I laughed, stepping into his space, “You don’t dictate terms to me, Gavric. You live because I allow it. Your pack breathes because I chose it. Keep your gates open, or Stromhowl will be ash.” 

I turned and nodded to my knights. “Release the cages.”

The iron bars groaned as my knights unlocked the cage. The men, women, and children stumbled out, many falling to their knees, crawling through the dirt until they reached Gavric’s feet. 

I stepped closer.

“You’re an Alpha because they made you one,” I hissed. “Look at them, Gavric. Look at your people. Look how helpless they are… with their Alpha standing right there.”

I raised my voice. “You built this city for your lords. For their sons. For their glory. Where are these men in your plans? Where are their wives? Where are the daughters and sons of these wolves? Where is the protection for them? Every other daughter, some not even old enough to understand what’s happening, is turned into a whore. Their wolves are slaughtered, and then they are forced to please your lords.”

I let out a long breath and then continued, “And the sons? They’re sent to die at the borders with no training. Half of them don’t even know how to hold a sword, but they’re shoved into armor and thrown into bloodbaths. Stormhowl’s sons are killed and tortured every day. They’re branded as Ferals. And your alpha, Alpha Gavric, denies every activity related to the ferals and discards them as rogues.”

I raised my sword, “Is this the Stormhowl you’re proud of?”

“Leandro!” Gavric snapped, grabbing me by my collar. “Get yourself and your men out of here!” My knights took out their swords, but I stopped them. 

“Get down on your knees Alpha Gavric,” I hissed, “Or I’ll cut your damn head off myself.” Only a warning was enough to make him fall to his knees.

“This is your Alpha. Look at him, on his knees, begging me to spare his life. He didn’t kneel for you when your homes burned. He didn’t kneel when your sons were dragged to war. He didn’t kneel when your daughters cried out behind locked doors when they were being raped. This is the leader you follow. This is the man you fear! Tell me, how many of you are still proud to call him your Alpha?”