Chapter 7: RETRIBUTION

Filled with so much desperation and anger, Edward swore a vow that he wasn’t sure he could keep to, he sent out his soldiers to the three pack and told them to make sure they bring him the stones of each pack. His men went out on this quest, and none were able to come back with any of the stones, he sent them for the second time and none came back alive but instead news got to him that his best friend Hugo and his wife had died in the hands of one if his men who was later killed by their daughter, Elaine.

Edward, regretted ever bringing the witch into his life and allowing her control his decisions. He was burdened by guilt and grief. Having realized the destructive path he had taken, he sought out Sapphire, the daughter who had lost her parents due to his misguided orders but she was gone into thin air.

Things went from bad to worse as Edwards health deteriorated drastically, he needed to proclaim an heir to his position as Alpha. He had two sons, Edgar and Skylar of which Skylar was the older one and Edgar was the legitimate son. He had laid with whore in a brothel and she bore him Skylar whom he took in and raised him as a son.

He called his two sons to his death bed and proclaimed the heir to be his legitimate son Edgar, and Skylar to be his beta. But there was dissatisfaction in Skylar’s countenance, he wanted to be alpha, he wanted to rule the pack.

“But Father, I’m the older one with more experience and skill” Skylar said to his father hoping to convince him to change his mind.

“I pass down my title to my legitimate son born by my mate because he is the true protector of the red stone pack and anybody that holds the stone inside of him must lead the pack” Edward coughed as he clenched his chest which was obviously in so much pain.

“You Skylar are incapable of holding this stone because you were not born of my sacred bond. I have given you the honor of being the beta, accept it” Edward said not wanting to talk any further.

“Yes Father” Skylar said and stormed out of the room leaving Alexander with his father.

“I hope you get well soon Father” Edgar said and turned to leave when Edward stopped him.

“I’m never going to get better, I will die very soon and when that time comes, nothing stands between you and Skylar’s greed. You need to look out for yourself and never trust him, he is cunning and very malicious, be cunning and malicious too” Edward said and Edgar stood there looking at him with a blank look.

“I know that, Thank you Father” Edgar said bowing slightly before he walked out his father’s chambers.

Few months later, Edward dies and every wolf of his pack mourned him for a week, there was no hunting, no feasts and no celebration whatsoever, just as they always honored the past Alphas, they honored Edward. The funeral was done afterwards and his body was burned and his ashes kept in the sept below the pack house.

Skylar knew what was coming immediately after the funeral, he thought hard and deep about what he was going to do to claim the position as Alpha from Edgar, and the only way to do that is only if Edgar is dead. And he was going to make that happen.

He started off by turning most of the Elders against Edgar and also threatening them with the lives of their wives and children, then he sends some men to kidnap Edgar and and kill him in the woods.

“Where are you taking me?” Edgar said as he couldn’t see anything with the cloth covering his face.

“Just walk, it will all be over soon” one of the men said and the others laughed

They took him deep into the woods and when they were far enough, they tied him to tree and shot him arrows on every corner of his body till he finally took his last breath and turned into his wolf, signifying his death.

They didn’t burn the body as they usually to all pack members but instead they left him there so that passerby could see it as the handiwork of werewolf hunters. They returned to the pack house and gave the report to Skylar.

“Are you sure you did as I said?” Skylar asked his men immediately they came back from the woods.

“Yes my Lord, he even changed into his wolf, there is no way he can be alive now” One the men who seemed to be the leader said.

“That’s good. You’ll get your rewards from the guards outside, I’ll kill you all if I hear a word about this from someone else.

Edgar’s best friend, Brandon knew that there was definitely something wrong, his friend was not the type to disappear for days without letting anyone know his whereabouts. Brandon set out to look for him in the woods just to check if it was the position as new Alpha that sent him into hiding.

“Eddy!! Eddy!!” Brandon shouted his name, he was picking up his scent but it was very faint and was more of blood than Eddy. He panicked, he knew that Eddy had a short time remaining and if he didn’t get to him quick he will die .

Brandon ran through the woods in the direction of the scent he perceived and when he got close, he saw a gruesome sight, Eddy tried to change to his human form to heal faster. His wolf was already dead.

Half of him was human while the other half was wolf. Brandon ran to him immediately and trued to help, he held his hand and passed some of his energy to him and it aided Egar who now transformed fully into his wolf form.

“I need to get home” Edgar said trying to stand up.

“No Eddy, you cannot go home your brother will only kill you again. You need to grow another wolf, your previous one is dead. You are an Alpha and you can grow another, and you have to do that very far from the pack house or they will murder you” Brandon said trying to talk sense into Edgar.

“How long do I need to be in this isolation?” Edgar said.

“A year at least” Brandon said.

“What? I cannot be away for that long, what happens to my position as Alpha” Edgar said looking alarmed.

“Your position as Alpha remains but you can only rule when you are alive” Brandon said and Edgar calmed down to listen to him.

“I know how you feel but this is for the best, trust me,” Brandon said reassuringly and Edgar agreed with him.