Chapter 6: DEMAND

Edward Knight and the Alpha of other packs waged a war against the humans who turned to be werewolf hunters that kept on killing off werewolves and nearly sending them into extinction.

The war had gone on for two years and finally they were in the last fight. The werewolves ready to fight with their swords, fangs and long claws ready to fight, the humans who were with swords laced with wolfsbane and mountain ash.

They collided together from opposite sides and the battle begun, many humans died as the wolfsbane and mountain ash only worked on the werewolves few hours after it came in contact with their body.

The werewolves were finally free of the werewolf hunters and now they can live peacefully in their four lands.

“Edward, are you okay?” Hugo said as he rushed towards Edward when the fight was over.

“I’m not fine Hugo, I’ve been stabbed” Edward said as he fell on his knees, the thought of what would happen to him when the mountain ash starts working is what still makes him very scared.

“You’ll be alright but for now you need to go home” Hugo said as he signaled one of the banner men to assist Edward by putting him on a horse to go home as he couldn’t run because of his condition.

“I need to stay and fight till the end, I can’t run away from a battle where my people need me” Hugo said knowing how stubborn Edward was, he did not expect him to go quietly.

“No, you need to go, what good will you be to your pack if you are dead on a battle field” Hugo said with a stern expression in his face.

“No I will not go, I’m fit enough to here” He said still insisted.

“Don’t do this to yourself Edward, we need you alive” Hugo said.

“Alright then, you and the other Alphas can handle it from here” Edward said after contemplating for a while and agreeing to heed to Hugo’s words.

“Safe ride Edward” Hugo said and watched Edward disappear into the woods before he charged back into the battle they were already winning.

After sometime, Edward got back to the Red stone pack house and was attended to by the maestros who treated his wounds to the beat of their abilities but the wounds were not healing and even if the mountain ash was butned out with fire, the wolfsbane remained and was killing Edward slowly.

Few months after the war, Edward became very desperate and he invited a witch, it was wrong of werewolves to interact with witches but Edward was trying to do everything he could to stay alive . The witch that was popularly known for healing impossible cases came to the red stone pack house, Edward thought that this will be the solution of his problem but it was only the beginning of his very sad end.

As Edward lay in his bed, weakened by his injuries, the witch began her ritual. She chanted ancient incantations and brewed a potent potion, hoping to cure Edward's ailment. But as the night wore on, it became clear that her efforts were in vain.

Days turned into weeks, and Edward's condition worsened. The wolfsbane continued to ravage his body, defying all attempts at healing. The pack watched helplessly as their beloved Alpha faded before their eyes.

Desperate for a solution, Edward asked the witch for a last resolve, something she was sure was going to work no matter what the consequences were, he was ready to do it. Finally, a glimmer of hope. The witch discovered a legend of an Alpha many years ago who cured himself completely of his ailment by taking a portion of the stone of each pack, melting it and injecting into his blood stream and it healed him completely.

The witch informed Edward of this and he was happy and conflicted at the same time, the stone has been rumored to possess extraordinary healing properties. Edward called upon the Alphas of the Blue Stone pack, which was his best friend Hugo. The Alpha of the green stone pack, and the alpha of the Yellow stone pack . He invited them to his home and told them his problems and they all understood him and were ready to help.

Determined to save their brother and friend, the alpha of each pack gave a part of their stones and healed him. Edward became well again and was fit to carry out his duties as Alpha of the pack and head of the council of Alphas.

Things were rosy for a few years until Edward falls sick again he consults the witch and she advices him to demand for the other half of the stones of each pack.

“I want you all to help me again, I have fallen sick and will need your stones to heal myself” Edward said in a council meeting and there were whispers amongst the Alphas and their betas.

“Edward, all of us have passed down the other half of our stones to our heirs so that it replenishes back to its full strength as they grow older, we cannot help this time. If we give you the other half, we are vulnerable with no source of power” Hugo said speaking for all other Alphas who agreed with them.

“There will be no way to replenish the strength of a stone that isn’t even there” the alpha of the Green stone pack, Reginald said.

“So you all are trying to say that after everything I have done for this continent and the four lands none of you can make a sacrifice for me to live out my days completely” Edward said trying to victimize them.

“Stop being a child Edward, you did no more than every other Alpha seated round this table, and you have no right to request for something we cannot give to you. You will have to be the one that sacrifices something this time” Yellow pack Alpha, Claudia said blatantly as she looked him straight in the face.

“What do you mean Claudia? How dare you speak to me like that?” Edward said growing angry as he attempted to stand from his chair but couldn’t as his legs were too weak to carry him.

“We are all equals, you not in any way more powerful than me, don’t make me show you your place” Claudia said as she smirked slightly.

“Do you want me to die?” Edward said painfully.

“Tell them the truth Edward, you can survive this without our stones all you have to do is loose the ability to change into your wolf” Claudia said and they all turned looking at Edward waiting for him to confirm Claudia’s claim.

“It’s true. But I don’t care.. I will raid your pack houses and take what I want and if you do not give me willingly, I will slaughter your whole families one by one till there’s nothing left of them. I swear it by the red gods” Edward said and the room fell silent. He had sworn with the gods, there’s no going back.