Chapter 34. The Stench of Betrayal
Jack's POV
The celebration continues with the three of us trying to enjoy each other's company. As the other three Alphas celebrate the food and drinks with their mates. My father the King, and me is sitting with Alpha Zero. Persuading him that the alliance is for the benefit of all the wolves.
I watched in the corner of my eye, as my mate enjoyed the night with my Queen mother. It's a relief that she is having a moment with Queen Luna, she could learn a lot from her. My mother is a great mentor in socializing with the wolves. We at least need them to be around whenever one of the other alphas needs anything.
"So you're majesty. Before we proceed with this plan of alliance, do you mind if we visit that room you have told me about? I wanted to see with my own eyes if the scroll that my Beta is holding right now does not have a replica, hiding between those shelves."
Alpha Zero asked boldly of the King.
My father stays still before sipping from the glass of his favorite wine.
" I assure you Alpha Zero, the person who can open that place is a member of the Langstone family only and our most loyal wizard Maleficus."
"My daughter who is not here today has not even visited that place, not once".
My father furrowed his brows while holding his head high. The tone where no one in the palace questions him. But Alpha Zero is a cunning and dangerous Alpha. He doesn't fear anyone.
"Let's go, father, I don't see any reason why we should delay this scheme ".
My father looked at me in a dignified manner. We should be more aware now that this matter is the only thing holding back an alliance or another war.
Alpha Zero is the only Alpha who doesn't fear the commencement of battle. He doesn't care if the blood of the whole Cold Mountain Pack floods the lands, as long as he gets what he wants. The three other Alphas have no match in their strength. And if we don't have the gift of being immune to silver, if our ancestors had not won the war thousands of years ago, Alpha Zero would have already seized the crown from us!
But he will never be the King of all Alphas without a Luna. His killings and massacres of the rogues that surround the North show no mercy. The blood of the wolves that have fallen is screaming under his rule.
And by his own mouth tonight, we're more than surprised to realize that he had masked himself from the ability to smell the scent of a female mate. He never wanted one, he considers it a weakness in his strength and power.
"I'll call on Maleficus to lead us the way unto the sacred archive."
My father waved his hand directly to our loyal wizard who was standing at a distance. When Maleficus noticed him, he soon came to our service.
"Yes you're majesty, how can I serve you better this evening".
The old man noticed Alpha Zero and smiled while the latter arrogantly twisted his mouth.
My father urged Maleficus to lower his ear so that he could say something. Making the words that he speaks only distinct for the four of us. He wanted no one from the servants to notice the name of the place that we will be heading to tonight. It is a secret place for the Langstone family and Maleficus.
"Of course, you're majesty, right away sir".
My father rose from his seat while I followed before Alpha Zero did. His Beta immediately stood up to follow us but Maleficus was quick to dismiss him.
" I apologize Alpha of the North, sir. No Beta is allowed to enter the secret archives".
I noticed how the big Beta glances at Alpha Zero for approval.
"Beta Derek, stay and enjoy the evening. Hand me the scroll, I can handle this myself."
The audacity in Alpha Zero's voice made me think of how he would handle my father and me, if it came to the possibility of having to fight us. Is he seriously thinking he has a chance of winning between the Alpha King and his son?
"As you wish Alpha!
His Beta answered shortly, stretching out his big arm with that thing they wanted to ascertain. He obediently stayed and was accompanied by two gorgeous she-wolves from our pack that was glad to make him stay.
When Maleficus opened a door taking us into the conference hall, he closed that door quickly and took a black stick in his hand. Which was just hiding in his coat pocket. He waved it in the air and held hands with my father while my father held mine in his other hand.
"Please Alpha Jack, hold the hand of Alpha Zero so he can come with us".
I didn't hesitate to take the hand of Alpha Zero beside me, I knew this was going to happen. It's necessary to hold hands and get connected to the old man so that he can take us to the place without delay.
Alpha Zero held my hand and we travelled in thin air. It was just five seconds when our surroundings changed into the inside of an archive. It is a huge place full of books from floor to ceiling. Scrolls and papers are being placed neatly on different shelves from the hard books which were as old as the earth below us.
The place is full of ancient wolf history and the ancestors of the Alpha King. The evidence of the Langstone family tree is also there. This is not fair to the other alphas if they learn that only Alpha Zero was here. And Alpha Zero is the first privileged outsider to have witnessed this place.
"Alpha King Darius let me get one of the scrolls so you and I can see from that and distinguish the difference."
My father nodded and just watched the old wizard.
I closed my arms between my chest and watched Maleficus not even bothering to move away. He just took a scroll in the wave of his black stick. It flew from the shelves and came to him.
He took it with his hands and then started unravelling the message.
It was a message from King Darius, with his seal and signature below it.
"Let me have a look now."
Alpha Zero stood beside Maleficus opening the scroll that he had in his hands. My father is standing beside me and allowing the two of them to have their own analysis of the scrolls.
"I don't see the King's seal in that scroll Alpha Zero. And that piece of scroll did not come from any part of the palace. The paper used is very ordinary."
"Let me touch it and feel if I still see the presence of the first person to hold that scroll".
Alpha Zero smirked and gave his scroll to Maleficus and diverting his attention from the scroll inside our archive.
"I can see that the paper is different, and the seal is not present. This is something that only means someone from the pack might be the culprit. That message tried to wage a war between the King Alpha and the Cold Mountain Pack."
Maleficus closed his eyes and ran his black stick up and down the scroll.
"Concentrate on that one Maleficus let us know who is the person behind that ridiculous statement ".
My father ordered with anticipation. I stood still and waited until Maleficus opened his eyes. His eyes turned darker and he gritted his teeth.
"The paper holds the energy of an individual next to someone supreme! It has the smell of pines.."
I stood still and waited for the moment when Maleficus opens his lips again. But he didn't, instead he closed his eyes and brought the scroll to his nose. Sniffing and trying to uncover the secret behind the message.
"Now, tell us, wizard! Who is this traitor who wanted to make the Cold Mountain Pack fall?
Alpha Zero groaned and his face became darker, his strength is trying to invade the old room where we are standing.
"Maleficus....
My father mentioned his name to keep him back in the present as he looked like he had escaped to another world by the scent of the scroll in his hand.
"I knew where the paper of this scroll came from and the first person to hold this."
I glanced at Maleficus when he opened his eyes and connected it with mine. A silent message is written all over his face, no one in the room understands it except me. What does he mean by this? I don't understand, what does the piece of scroll have to do with me?
"Speak now! My patience is nearing the edge, old man. I want to know who! Give me a name and the pack that wanted to watch my downfall?
My father took the few steps beside Maleficus and answered Alpha Zero.
"Alpha Zero, give him a moment to make no mistake in condemning the right culprit! There is no room for mistakes, if it's a defector's name we need to be a hundred percent certain about all this!
Alpha Zero shut his mouth but is still gaping at the wizard Maleficus.
"He is a Beta that lives in this palace! I am for certain that the paper is bought in the small town where the future Luna lives, his energy and strength surround the paper."
"I could only sense three people in this scroll, The first is Alpha Zero. Then his Beta who constantly touches the scroll is the one holding onto it. And the last one is...is Beta Matias!
What!?
My father and I almost dropped our jaws at that one question we both shouted at Maleficus's face.
And I heard Alpha Zero grunted and took a step back, away from the three of us.