197. The revelation
Alpha King Vincent
"Good morning Alpha Xander! Now you look better than yesterday!"
I exclaimed with a hint of gladness in my eyes, the young Alpha is awake early yet we have prepared everything before he comes to join us. The dining room of the mansion seemed to have a lot of tension, however, I did my best to make sure that everything would look and feel normal.
"Good morning Alpha King Vincent. Your majesty, I must have slept too much please forgive me for showing up a little late."
His eyes roamed around the long dining table. The two warriors are present and also Calib and Alex plus the two lower rank warriors as a prison guard whom I invited. They were very nervous but my cheerful attitude today made them calm down.
There is also a questioning look from both Sudhir and Alkhir as the lead warriors but they keep their mouths shut.
"It's alright Alpha Xander it's not long that we are waiting. Please sit beside me and get something to eat, I have a very important announcement to make afterward. One that made me happy despite our situation."
The others on the table greeted him before he sits beside me. His face is now full of curiosity as he glances at me before he let the servant prepare his cup and saucer. He looks young but the frown on his brow made him a wise young man that one could be mistaken for telling him he is a sixteen-year-old young wolf.
"Thank you for the preparation, your majesty. I am very much honored to have you with us. Maybe I was relieved of your presence yesterday when you came that is why I had a very peaceful sleep. The first time since Beta Kasim."
He stops in the mid-sentence of mentioning the death of his Beta. I cleared my throat noticing the fact that he did not remember how he have fallen asleep yesterday. Or maybe he understood what I did and is not going to confront me for it to help him regain his strength. Now I can feel how much his wolf strength has grown in a few months.
I watch the men eat their food as I didn't have the appetite to do so. My anger is hidden in the smile I put on my face. The traitors will not notice how they will be revealed later on. I could not wait, I have to remind myself to calm down and be patient until they have finished their breakfast.
"Your mother is not joining us for breakfast?"
I raise a question pretending that I am interested in Mrs. Harger's whereabouts just to divert the idea of convicting the murderers at the moment.
"My mother must be feeling intimidated by the male presence in the dining hall that is why she refuses to join us. However, if you insist your majesty I shall mind link here now."
I shook my head in disapproval. "It is alright, I understand the situation. Mrs. Harger can join us next time."
My hand gestured for the plate of baked eggs to Alpha Xander so that he could start eating. The long exhale of his breathing made me rise my eyes toward him. He must be thinking of Beta Kasim again.
"Eat Alpha Xander, I need you more with the strength to conquer the enemies who would attack the pack. The strength of your warriors relies on yours. It's not their Alpha who is lost, it's the second in command. I want you to raise the question of who will be your next in command soon, to delegate the tasks that Beta Kasim left behind."
The two warriors gasps in a surprising reaction to my words. "That is a wise idea your majesty, may I suggest a worthy wolf from the pack?"
Alkhir proudly uttered with his back leaning against the chair. I indulge him with a twist of my upper lip in a mocking smile.
"Tell me who you have in mind Alkhir."
"Your majesty, I would like to recommend Sudhir as the next Beta. He has stayed with the warriors more than me and he possesses abilities quite similar to Beta Kasim. Sudhir also is a very strong warrior willing to lay down his life to protect our young Alpha Xander better than any other wolf."
Alpha Xander whose name is mentioned furrowed his brows and stop from chewing his food. His eyes questioned the look on Alkhir's face.
"I won't be needing that protection when my training is done Alkhir. When I am strong enough, I can be the one protecting myself and the wolves in our pack."
My hand reach out to tap Alpha Xander on the shoulder while Alkhir lowered his head on his plate. Sudhir showed a triumphant smile on his face. He must be thinking that I would just agree it doesn't matter to him if the words of Alkhir have made Alpha Xander upset.
"Alpha Xander, you have great warriors. I am in a state of confusion about choosing the right wolf to replace Beta Kasim. The selection has to be done before we send him to the Moon Goddess."
My eyes secretly passed through the warriors of my pack, Calib, and Alex also the lower rank warriors on the jail grounds which I invited to bear witness. They all are waiting for my declaration.
"However, before the selection of the next beta, I will convict the murderer who ends the life of Beta Kasim. I arrived here more than twenty-four hours but I have already discovered the culprits. It's not a work of only one wolf but another wolf is involved."
Alpha Xander drop his utensils on the plate creating a noise that made everyone on the table stay seated silently.
"Your majesty! This is a matter that only you can figure out soon enough. Please reveal to me these culprits and I will give an adequate punishment! Beta Kasim has done nothing but provide his full support to me as the Alpha and he worked even more than me, yet he never brags about anything to anyone in this pack. He did not deserve to die like that! He deserves justice!"
Whatever self-restraint that Alpha Xander tries to muster vanishes through the air. His eyes blazed in anger and his fangs came into view, the strength of a young Alpha. I can feel his grief and frustration however the two warriors responsible acted like they don't care. Alex meets my gaze, I know he does not have an idea who. His eyes slowly look at Calib and a sarcastic smile appeared on his comrade's lips.
"The culprits are present today, I invited them both. There are two of them conspiring to bring you down by killing your Beta Alpha Xander. They are dishonoring your leadership as the Alpha. I already know it is them even before they kill the sole witness in the prison!"
Abruptly, the two both stood up from their seats and answered me with wide eyes. "Your majesty, it's not what you think! Sudhir and I did not kill the prisoner, not intentionally! The traitor tricked us! She wanted to escape prison, we had no choice!"
"Yes, your majesty we veg you to listen!"
I could almost laugh at how they acted.
"Huh! Spare me with your lies, you two knew that I was coming to interrogate the witness, so you did the crime before I even get the chance to meet her!"
My word echoed throughout the entire mansion, the two lower-rank warriors got out of their chairs and kneeled on the floor. Alpha Xander growled loudly.
"You two! What have you done?! Why did you kill Beta Kasim?"
He shifted before I could even hold him, the young Alpha was very quick. His wolf emerges above the table and into the two warriors showing his sharp claws and fangs. The fur all over his body is dark just like his anger. His movements are fast and sure, I can see now the result of his training.
"Alpha Xander, don't!"
My loud voice slowed him down a bit but he was fast, he clawed the warriors who stood with their mouths open showing their fangs. One of them shifted and fought him back. Alex immediately took the initiative to protect Alpha Xander when the two warriors completed their wolf form as fast as they could and decided to take the young Alpha by their claws that move rapidly.
"Stop!"
I commanded loudly, gathering all my strength to make them submit. Alex grab Sudhir's wrist while Alkhir landed his claws on the back of Alpha Xander then all of them heard my command, and drop to the floor.
"Let us settle this with dignity! I am your Alpha King and I order you to shift into your human form right now!"
The two lower-rank warriors made a whimpering noise while they bend their heads lower and stayed kneeling on the floor. All of them shifted back into their human form, exposing the wounds on Alpha Xander's back that made me grit my teeth. He has yet to develop the ability to heal his own.
"How dare you, Alkhir!"
Before anyone could blink, my feet took me behind his back and in a split second his neck broke from my hands, the loud snap sound that prove his life just ended was followed by a loud thud on the floor when I let his body loose.
"No one dares to hurt his Alpha under my watch! The Alpha who gives his life, his freedom, and put the lives of the pack before his own!"
Sudhir shut his mouth with his eyes that almost pop out of his socket looking at what just happened, he kneeled to the ground as hard as the lower rank warriors. I can see the fear in his eyes and smell his regret deep inside, if he gives me what I needed to know then maybe his life will be spared.