Alpha Jake was in the middle of arranging the things he would send to the Crimson Stone Pack when the door opened.
The messenger from the pack greeted him and said in a rush, "Alpha Prince Kael has been found, Alpha! You were right. He didn't leave the territory."
The mateship rite was canceled due to the sudden storm. During which, Kael was nowhere to be found. Alpha Jake assumed he had gone to see his rogue mate. She was also supposed to be one of the candidates for his official mate position yet she didn't arrive on time. Something must have happened on her way.
"Is Luna Sierra still at Alpha Prince Felix?" Alpha Jake asked.
"Yes, Alpha. The entire night, she's been watching him. The doctor said he is getting better now," the messenger announced.
Alpha Jake nodded. "Then I shall visit Alpha Prince Kael first."
Before she could proceed, however, General Argus appeared at the entrance.
"Alpha, I'm here to report something."
They exchanged looks and Alpha Jake quickly understood it couldn't have a lot of audience. He dismissed the rest and walked back in with the pack general.
"What happened?" He asked.
General Argus said with a serious tone, "One of our best hunters got caught in a confrontation between two packs outside the South Border. His companions said they escaped before it got worse. But on their way here, that hunter died. They all said it was due to poison."
It took a lot of control for Alpha Jake not to explode, feeling intense anger for their pack's hunter. He clenched his hand and asked, "So he's poisoned by those two packs? Is that what you're saying?"
The devoted general nodded. "Yes, one of them should be responsible for this. His body has been brought to Healer Aida. She's investigating it now."
Alpha Jake released a sigh, "These things are happening now... We need to prepare for the worst."
He couldn't help but think about Sana Azalea's readings.
War among packs. Was it really inevitable?
"One more thing, Alpha," General Argus said, taking a step closer. "I went to the Southern Spring earlier. With the storm yesterday, I expected it to be full. However, when I got there, I found that it was half empty."
Eyes wide in surprise, Alpha Jake said, "Are you implying...?"
With some difficulty, General Argus straightforwardly said, "I am afraid it has started."
Alpha Jake's face turned paler. It wasn't only the war they had to face. There was also that drought ー and it would be coming first.
"Have you contacted anyone from the Moon Seed Lake?" The pack alpha asked.
"Yes. We found there are two packs existing across the lake. One is small and the other is slightly larger."
"What are their names and who are their leaders?"
"The small pack is called White Crescent Pack, the larger one is called Light Shadow Pack."
Alpha Jake froze.
"L-Light Shadow?" He asked, his face turning white as a sheet. Memories of the past flooded his mind. With clenched hands, he forced himself to ask, "Who is their leader?"
"They are a pack who lives in seclusion so it was difficult to find information about them. Do you want me to go there and do more investigation, Alpha?"
Alpha Jake looked at General Argus in serious consideration. He was about to speak and give out his order when a knock came from the outside.
"Alpha, Prince Kael is here to see you."