Chapter 106 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX

Chapter 106 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX
CAIUS
“The council’s gone! Burned to the ground!” a burly alpha screams, his face twisted in rage. “Some bodies still haven’t been recovered. Where the hell are they?”
I clench my jaw, scanning the crowd. I know the alphas who we still haven’t found their bodies. I went there when we got the call about the attack. Maeva and I went with some pack warriors and when we got there, we found the place empty of rogues but full of dead alphas. It was a massacre. Luckily, Alpha Brent and Alpha Haze made it back to their packs but they were the only ones.
This doesn’t make sense, Alpha Hills was my main suspect, and now he’s gone. Maybe the alpha working with the witches isn’t on the council. Maybe he used to be on the council. Many alphas have stepped down to focus on their packs.
“They want us on our knees!” another voice cuts in, a she-wolf this time. “Swear fealty to the werewolf king or die. That’s the message they’re spreading.”
When we came back, we met this crowd waiting to talk to me.
“They won’t even say who the werewolf king is.” Alpha Caleb says.
Alpha Kol. It wasn’t a surprise to find out that he’s part of those leading this. What came as a surprise was that Alpha Ryland is also part of it. I’d seen him a few times and he seemed upstanding. A few hours after the council fell, both of them started leading rogues throughout the packs, killing the alphas who refuse to bow to this nameless alpha king.
“One at a time!” I shout and they all calm down. “At this point, we can’t do anything except protect our packs from these wolves who have chosen to kill their fellow wolves for an alpha king who refuses to show himself. When alpha Brent heals, we’ll find out what to do next.”
It’s quiet for three seconds before the shouting continues. “Kol’s wolves were spotted at the council ruins,” someone yells. “Leading the charge with those feral rogues. They’re everywhere!”
It would have been better if it were just the alphas and betas that are here, other pack members came to scream and lay their complaints.
A truck rumbles in the distance, engines growling over the shouts. Then more – four heavy vehicles riding steadily towards us. Now what? Heads swivel and my muscles tense, ready for whatever comes next. The trucks pull up at the edge of the gathering, doors slamming open. Wolves pour out, their clothes torn, and faces streaked with dirt.
Maeva starts moving towards them even before Taron comes out of one of the vehicles. More vehicles approach and the ones that dropped pack members turn around and start leaving. What is happening?
“What’s going on?” I hear Maeva ask Taron.
“We received warning that our pack had an hour to clear out if we didn’t want to submit to the Alpha King. I thought it was a joke by one of our neighbors and was about to call you when the attack started. There were too many rogues, we would have all died if we tried to fight them all.”
Maeva hugs him and them some of the other pack members who were standing around.
I signal Clayton and Owen who come forward.
“I’m sorry you have all been displaced from your home. You’re welcome to my pack. We’ll get you settled right away.” I say and nod to Clayton who starts leading them away.”
I turn my attention to Taron. “How many rogues did you see and who was leading them?”
“Too many rogues. I don’t understand how there are that many rogues. Rogues don’t live very long once they turn rogue.”
“We don’t understand it too. Did you see the Alpha leading them?” Maeva asks.
“I didn’t. The moment I saw that the rogues greatly outnumber us, I became focused on getting as many as I could out of the pack. The trucks are going back for those who are running here.”
“I saw the alpha, alpha Maeva. It was alpha Kol and alpha Luca.” A quiet voice says behind us.
The crowd behind us gasps. So alpha Luca has joined them. We turn to see one of Maeva’s pack members standing with tears running down her cheeks. Maeva runs to her and pulls her in her arms. “What is it? Why are you crying?” Maeva asks.
“My parents stayed back at the camp. They want to serve the Alpha King.”
Maeva looks back at Taron who sighs. “Some of the older pack members refused to come with us. They knelt down in fealty.”
“This is what we’re talking about!” Alpha Grayson says from behind me.”
I scratch my head then turn to them. “If you’re not an Alpha or a Beta, go into the pack house and find something to occupy yourself with.”
They don’t move. They stand in place, watching me. I growl and let my wolf show and they all start scrambling. They could’ve just moved the first time. Once everyone has gone, I’m left with three alphas and two betas outside.
“Let’s go in to my office and figure out what the rest of us who do not want to submit to the alpha king are going to do.”
As we all start walking to my office, another shift ripples through the air. Not wolves this time, something different. Our heads turn toward the tree line. Figures emerge from the forest path, cloaked in flowing robes. Witches.
We all half shit and get in stance, ready for whatever the witches want to pull this time. The force field was not put up after they brought it down during their last attack. I will correct that mistake after this encounter.
“Witches are here.” I tell Clayton through the mind link.
The witches stop a respectful distance away and one steps forward, her gaze locking on mine. “We mean you and your pack no harm, Alpha Caius.” she says.
I take in her appearance and see specs of blood on her clothes.
“Our Council has been destroyed and the High priestess has taken charge of the territory. She attacked us with rogues and dark witches and anyone who didn’t kneel before her had to fight for their lives.”
I look behind her at the number of witches she came with. Fifteen. The alphas and Betas behind me start murmuring about how untrustworthy they are.
“Why should we believe you?” Maeva asks, stepping forward.
“They’re not lying!”
We turn to see the witches running towards us. They must have felt their sisters. Aliyah flies past us and runs into the arms of the witch who was speaking. She hugs her tightly and they cry. Moira and Elaine join them and they all greet each other.
Aliyah takes the witch’s hand and pulls her forward. “They’re not lying. We’re part of an order of witches that will only ever serve the light. They helped me escape after the priestess tried to kill me for helping you.”
“I trust don’t trust them. They might just be lying because that’s what the priestess wants you to believe.”