Chapter 11: Redwater's Customs and Politics

"You’ve arrived after the expected time." 

Marla's piercing voice sliced through the morning atmosphere like a knife. She positioned herself at the heart of the Redwater training area, arms crossed, gaze focused in unmistakable disapproval. 

I had just exited the Alpha's lodge when she noticed me, her braid with silver streaks shining in the sunlight. 

I gulped nervously, instantly becoming acutely aware of how much I was different here. In contrast to the powerful, war-ready wolves of Redwater, I was an outsider—a frail omega from a pack that prospered through compliance and subservience. 

Marla released a deep breath and nodded her head. “We begin our mornings early here." Nobody is waiting for you, omega. "Stay in the loop, or don't even try." 

I adjusted my posture, resolute in not appearing feeble before her—or the warriors who were now watching me with barely hidden intrigue. 

"What should I be staying updated on?" I inquired, maintaining a calm tone. 

Marla lifted an eyebrow. “Every single thing.” 

Before I had the chance to ask her more, a strong horn sound resonated across the settlement. 

Suddenly, the fighters nearby straightened up, their relaxed stances turning into ones that were stiffer, more focused. 

“Orders from Alpha,” Marla whispered. “Seems you’re on the verge of receiving your initial lesson in the laws of Redwater.” 

She motioned for me to come after her, and I had little option but to comply. 

The Sphere of Assessment 

In the centre of the settlement, Redwater wolves assembled in a large circular space constructed from stone and compressed soil. The air was electric, heavy with unexpressed tension. 

Derek was present, positioned at the centre alongside his Beta, Caleb. His face was inscrutable, yet his mere presence was sufficient to evoke complete silence from the pack. 

A short distance from him, a man was on his knees on the ground, hands tied behind him. His face was bruised, his clothes shredded, and his smell was off. 

A wolf of the Midnight Moon. 

A chill ran through my veins. 

“What is this thing?” I murmured to Marla. 

She kept her gaze fixed on the spectacle in front of us. "Fairness." 

Derek's voice pierced the stillness. 

"This individual entered our borders last night," he proclaimed, his voice steady yet infused with clear authority. "He bore a message from Jared Whitmore." 

A whisper circulated among the assembled wolves. I sensed a knot in my stomach. 

Jared. 

Just hearing the name triggered a new surge of fear within me. 

Derek directed his attention to the man who was kneeling. "Talk." 

The Midnight Moon wolf cleared his throat, raising his head. "Alpha Whitmore extends his greetings." He ejected a mouthful of blood onto the ground. "Plus his requests." 

Derek's jaw tightened. "Requests?" 

The man's puffy lips contorted into a sneer. “He is aware that you are concealing something that is his.” 

I sensed the pressure of a hundred stares abruptly focusing on me. 

My breath got stuck in my throat. 

Derek's face remained the same. "And what if I decline?" 

The man laughed softly, his voice raspy yet filled with derision. 

“Then Midnight Moon will incinerate Redwater completely.” 

An ominous hush fell upon the arena. 

Nobody shifted. Nobody said anything. 

Suddenly, in an instant, Derek made his move. 

A quick movement, a nauseating snap. 

The Midnight Moon wolf fell, his neck broken quickly in Derek's hold. 

A united breath resonated among the crowd, yet no one appeared astonished. This was Redwater. That was their form of justice. 

Derek stood up, cleaning his hands as if nothing occurred. When he spoke once more, his voice was steady and definitive. 

“If Jared Whitmore wants a war, he’ll get one.”

I hardly had a moment to absorb what I had seen before Marla pulled me from the crowd, her hold strong on my arm. 

“Lesson one,” she stated in a soft tone. "We do not yield to intimidation." 

I compelled myself to nod despite the throbbing of my pulse in my ears. 

Marla guided me to a spacious stone hall at the village's edge, where a few wolves were already gathered around a rustic wooden table. Council of Redwater. 

Derek showed up shortly after, his aura authoritative, unfazed by the recent events. 

“We have to get ready,” Caleb stated, with his arms crossed. “Jared will not accept that as a response.” 

Derek nodded, his expression inscrutable. “He won't strike immediately.” “He will attempt to evaluate our defences initially.” 

A woman with striking hazel eyes leaned in. "And what can be said about her?" 

I tensed as everyone’s gaze shifted back to me once more. 

"She's the cause of this war about to begin," the woman went on. "If we return her—" 

“Negative.” 

Derek’s tone was conclusive. Unbending. 

The woman sneered. "Are you ready to jeopardize our whole pack for her?" 

“I’m ready to jeopardize our pack for the right causes,” Derek clarified. "And I won't surrender wolves like a coward." 

A perilous tension permeated the room. 

The woman frowned, yet she didn’t press on. 

Rather, Marla let out a sigh. "This indicates that we have an issue." She faced me. "You must learn the art of combat." 

I closed my eyes briefly. “What?” 

Marla's face showed no emotion. "Redwater offers no refuge to the vulnerable." “To remain here, you must prove your worth.” 

I sensed a lump develop in my throat. I lived my life as an omega, conditioned to be obedient and to remain quiet. Midnight Moon had always prevented me from being anything different. 

However, Redwater? 

This was distinct. 

I pushed aside my fear and looked into Marla’s eyes. 

“I want to learn.”

She studied me for a long moment, then nodded.

“Then let’s begin.”

Training commenced at daybreak. 

Marla was tough on me. The other warriors did not either. 

My body hurt. My muscles yelled. However, for the first time, I sensed that I was evolving into something greater. 

Yet, just when I began to gain my balance, everything shifted. 

One night, while I was coming back to the lodge, I caught a quiet chat between Derek and Caleb. 

"She's unaware," Caleb remarked. "Does she?" 

"Negative." 

Derek's voice was soft, nearly hesitant. 

Caleb breathed out sharply. "She deserves to be informed, Derek." "You can't hide it from her indefinitely." 

“I will,” Derek replied, his tone decisive. "Until I am certain." 

I pushed myself against the wooden wall, my heart racing. 

What were they not revealing to me? 

I felt the urge to crash through the door and ask for answers—yet something restrained me. 

Since deep inside, I was already aware. 

Jared had a motive for wanting to retrieve me so badly. 

And I had a dreadful sense that Derek understood precisely why.