**Dagen's POV**
“Thank you, Alpha Dagen. You have spoken well. When we began the investigation into the Blood Moon pack, we were led to believe that Alpha George's plans did not extend beyond his pack. We have been able to confirm that he used dark magic to kill his brother, Rowan, and his bride, Marilyn, so he could take over the throne,” Elder Thaddeus began. We all exchanged looks amongst ourselves. Even if he had wanted the throne for himself, could he not fight for it like my uncle had attempted to do?
“Elder Thaddeus, I believe it is important that you narrate the series of events that led to the creation of the Council of Elders,” said Elder Davis.
“Of course. Many years ago…”
*Elder Thaddeus then went on to narrate a part of history that many of us had learnt as children but had forgotten as we grew up. Apparently, thousands of years ago, there were several packs and also small vampire clans that resided side by side. In fact, there was such unity between the two races that a particular clan had hybrids, which are now the Dark Moon clan. In those days, too, people were allowed to practice magic openly and back then the underworld was a lot more easy to access than it is today. Unknown to the werewolves, a vampire lord had emerged who believed that werewolves were of an inferior breed to them. This particular Lord wanted to exterminate the werewolf race. This Lord then made friends with Argon, the Alpha of a pack called Eclipse. The vampire lord then influenced Argon to take control of the entire werewolf clan. He told Argon that he could make all the werewolves answer to only him. Of course, for him to do this, he would have to amass great power which would require sacrifices to the underworld. These sacrifices would claim lots of lives.*
*Gradually, whole werewolf packs began to thin out. Sometimes a flood will wipe them out, at other times a strange illness and sometimes a series of unfortunate accidents. It was becoming a cause for concern. However, Alpha Argon’s pack continued to prosper and do well. People began to ask questions, but before they knew what was happening, the fiery red moon was in the sky and Argon was about to make the final sacrifice. He had kidnapped Perisphone, daughter of the hybrid clan, to perform the ultimate sacrifice. Perisphone refused to allow herself to be used by committing suicide.*
*Regardless, Argon had grown so powerful by that time. He began killing all those werewolves who refused to bow to him. After several long years of war and much shedding of blood, Argon was captured and killed.*
*This caused the werewolf clans to band together and create a council that would ensure that vampires would never influence one of their own again. The council also made the packs autonomous so that another pack could not come to dominate the other. Unfortunately, the hybrid pack refused to join the werewolves or band with the vampires. They had lost their princess and wanted to be left alone.*
“That, my people, is the story. I believe George has taken inspiration from Alpha Argon’s story and has decided to impose his time on all of us,” Elder Thaddeus said as he concluded his story.
“Do you think he has solicited the help of a vampire king?” asked Raphael. It was a valid question because I had not failed to notice the bite marks on some of the victims of Alpha George.
“It could be, but we would have to make the connection.”
“How about King Napoleon?”
“King Napoleon is king of a hybrid clan.”
“Maybe they want to avenge Perisphone’s death?”
“That seems unlikely.”
“What does Alpha Dagen's mate have to do with all this?”
“She has Perisphone's soul within her. Alpha George will need her to complete his ritual.”
The room fell so quiet that one could have heard a pin drop. No one said a word for the next few minutes. We all understood the implication. Should Alpha George use Regina, our entire race was done for.
“We must find her first. Without her, his plan cannot work,” someone said, and we all nodded in agreement.
“We also need to prepare for war. Alpha Dagen tells us that Alpha George is already very powerful. Without Regina to complete his ritual, he would fight to make himself ruler over us all.”
“We will prepare for war, but we must do our best to prevent a war. We need to find out those that are conspiring with him and discuss how we can eliminate them all.”
“I still believe King Napoleon has something to do with Alpha George. Do you remember that he asked for my son to be betrothed to his niece?” quipped Alpha Raphael.
“I remember it well. I found it strange, seeing as the hybrid clan does not like to get too friendly with us,” remarked Elder Walker.
“I was introduced to his niece, Princess Regina, mother of Charlotte. At the time, we had assumed Alpha Dagen's mate was dead, so I had not made the connection, but I have cause to believe they are the same person.”
“How so?”
“Why would King Napoleon deny the existence of Regina and go even further as to lock Alpha Dagen up for asking about her?”
“I do not know much about the Dark Moon clan, but King Napoleon's ascension to the throne is not without suspicion. Some say that he killed his father and then declared his mother insane for him to become king,” said Elder Walker.
“I think the take home is for all of us to prepare for some very dark time ahead. We need to start pulling together our military force and start filling up our reservoirs,” said Elder Thaddeus.
“I do not wish to keep you any further. I understand that you are all busy men. I believe we shall have more meetings in the future.”
People began to leave after that until it was just me and the Elders.