XXIV

„You stupid, stupid wolf! How could you let this happen? He was our only source inside Ironblood! I hope you will come up with something good or else I'll have your head!"

„My lord.."

„Quiet. You don't get to speak." The man looked at the wolf, siting on his knees. Such power... he moved around in his chair. Looking around the oval table, he analyzed his brothers. Each of them was strong, but he was the strongest, born to rule.

„What do you want to do, brother?"

„Hmm.. that pitiful wolf is of no use to us anymore. We need more!" Glaring at the weak alpha on the ground, he thought of how they can move further.

„Get me more, you pathetic wolf! I want 10 more by the end of this month."

„But master...10 is impossible is such a short time and, and everyone will notice.." He grabbed his neck.

„Did I stutter, wolf? When I tell you to do something, you do it with no questions!"

Trembling, the alpha nodded his head. „Yes Master. As you wish". He was sent away and the room was silent once again.

„Brother, do you think it is a good idea? He will notice something is wrong."

„Do not worry. With these 10 wolves, we will have our army. It is just a matter of time."

„What about the girl?" His other younger brother asked.

„Do not speak to me of that creature! She is an abomination! Erebus is to be ruled by a werewolf, not a human."

„But.. you saw what she can do."

„So? Are you afraid, brother?"

„No.." He said stuttering.

„Is any of you afraid? Fear is not welcomed here. Remember our goal, brothers, and everything will be as we want."

„We trust you. How do you plan to proceede with the woman?"

„I will get rid of her. And she will pay for what they did."

The cells were surrounded with a smell of death, decay. There was blood on the walls and Selene could see some small bodies cowering in the corners when they stepped inside. You could see their bones sticking out.

„Maximus, what is this?"

„Moon, these are some of the most veil creatures. I told you I don't use the Banishment and this is the other option. I assure you they are given water and food. They look like this because their wolf is no longer with them."

Selene kept quiet. She felt pity for them, but everything else was better than the Banishment. She trusted Maximus's judgement. At the end of the long hallway, she saw Troy waiting for them.

„Alpha, Luna"

„Troy, I told you to stop calling me Luna."

„No can do Luna." He grinned at her, knowing the title annoyed her, especially coming from him.

„Let's get to it". All 3 of them stepped in the dark room. It had a very high ceiling, with silver chains hanging from them. In the middle stood a wooden chair with the traitor in it.

„What's his name and status?"

„This is Clay, Alpha. He was one of the lower level warriors, in charge with patrolling."

Maximus moved closer to the wolf, who began whimpering at the sight. He was tied to the chair with silver strings, unable to move.

„Please Alpha.."

„Quiet." Maximus circled him a few times with his hands behind his back, a very composed stance.

„Tell me Clay, why did you betray me?" He was silent. „You do not wish to speak? I can not cut out your tongue now, but I can do other things." Maximus took one of the silver knifes from the table in the corner of the room. Selene didn't even see it, too mortified of the sight. Maximus moved in front of the wolf. „I will ask you again. Why did you betray me?" Clay looked at him and closed his eyes, as if he wished he was just imagining this. Suddenly, Maximus plunged the knife in one of his legs and left it there. The traitor screamed, making Selene cringe back. The silver burning his flesh made a sizzling sound and the smell was insufferable.

„He made me do it! Please, I had no choice!"

„Who made you give information of the Luna?"

„Alpha Magnus! He came to me...he said he will kill my family if I didn't tell him everything about the Luna! Please.." He began sobbing hard. Selene took out the knife from his leg, the wolf already feeling relief at the silver gone.

„Selene.."

„I don't want to hear it. He is telling the truth. I know his pup. He talks about his father all the time."

„Selene, you know I can not accept a traitor in my pack. He poses a danger to all of us."

„Then let him leave."

„What?"

„Let him leave, be a rogue."

„Selene.."

„Please Maximus, you know it's not right to condemn him to a life in these cells for protecting his family. He can stay in the forest, in my cottage. He will be close enough for his family to visit him and he can not come out on his own." Maximus looked at her, proud of her qualities as Luna and her care for the pack members. She was mercyfull and could see the good in people even through their mistakes.

„Ok"

„Thank you Luna! I will be forever in your dept. You don't know how much this means to me."

„It's ok Clay." Selene crunched a little, to reach his standing height and looked into his eyes with a death glare.

„If you so much as take a wrong step, I won't be so kind." The wolf nodded his head rapidly. Maximus was fascinated at the strong voice she held.

Troy released him from the chains and grabbed his arm harshly. „You can say goodbye to your family and we'll go"

„I'll come with you."

„No, Selene, you know what happened the last time."

„I am the only one who knows the way into the forest and out of it. It is my home. I'm going." She turned her back to them, heading for the border.

After a lot of crying from Clay's mate and confusion from his pup, Selene opened the path into Bloodwood Forest. Her, Troy and Clay, who had a backpack on his shoulder, started walking towards Selene's old home.