Unconditional support

"Isn't the moon beautiful today, Vasili?" Azimir kept staring at the golden moon, not once moving his gaze away from the sky. Even though he was lost in his thoughts, he did not miss his Beta's presence from behind. His acute senses detected him the moment he stepped inside the room.

Vasili was stunned for a moment. But soon, he relaxed his body and approached the man who was standing by the window.

"Yes, Alpha. It is beautiful." He agreed and looked at the golden moon adorning the dark sky.

Azimir stayed silent for quite some time while Vasili stood behind him, watching the moon.

"Alpha..." He started when he could not tolerate the silence anymore. Even though not a word had been spoken, he could still sense the sorrow in the air, and Vasili at once realized the reason for it.

"Yes, Vasili?"

"We have received a letter from Aranill." This broke Azimir's focus for a brief moment and he held onto the window sill, the veins on his arms appearing prominent due to the sheer pressure he had used.

"What have they written?"

"Alpha, they have invited us to the Moon Festival. If you accept the invitation and attend the festival, you will..."

"I will be eligible to compete for the Alpha King's throne." Azimir completed his words and Vasili nodded lightly.

"Yes, Alpha."

Azimir detected the change in Vasili's tone and he turned towards his slightly. "What else have they mentioned in the letter, Vasili?"

"Alpha, that...." Vasili hesitated and lowered his head.

"Vasili." Azimir's tone carried a threat, a warning and Vasili trembled in fear immediately. Despite him being his friend, he knew what his limitations were, and one among them was to follow all his orders unless they were not against his morals.

"Alpha King Conlead has added another rule to the competition."

"Rule?" This got Azimir's attention and he raised his brows in wonder.

"Yes, Alpha. The one who emerges victorious after the competition has to fulfill another condition, and as to what the condition is, we will only find out at the end."

Vasili waited for his Alpha to react. Although the added rule was not that troublesome, they were still at a disadvantage as they had no idea about the condition they had to fulfill.

But all he got in return was his Alpha's silence. The man's back was facing him. So, Vasili could not make out what Azimir's emotions were. All he could do was wait quietly and patiently.

"Do you know, Vasili, why I had been waiting for this night all these years?" It was only after a few moments that Azimir started speaking. He lowered his gaze and stared at his Beta from the corner of his eyes. "Do you know why I was waiting for the year of the moon?"

Vasili stayed silent as he recalled all that he had heard from his father, the previous Beta of Ideni. A frown marred his face as he pursed his lips, remembering the gruesome incident of the past.

Azimir's lips arched up when he did not get any response from Vasili and turned to face him immediately. A sense of melancholy and grief filled him, his eyes flashing with sorrow for a brief moment.

"My past is not hidden from you, Vasili. Everyone knows and has seen how my parents were killed and you know the person responsible for it." His voice was filled with a sadness that appalled Vasili. Never had he heard his Alpha, his friend reveal his emotions this blatantly. He had only seen him remain composed and hide his thoughts from everyone, including him who he had grown up with.

"Alpha...." Vasili started but Azimir shook his head at him immediately.

"You do not have to, Vasili. I have already come to terms with it." Azimir smiled at him in assurance but his smile did not reach his eyes.

Vasili was not convinced. His Alpha was still in pain, in misery due to what happened in the past. His parents' death hit Azimir hard, turning him cold and ruthless when in truth, he had a soft and warm heart.

"I have already accepted that my parents are gone. But..." Azimir turned away from his beta suddenly, hiding his fury from him. He stayed silent for a few moments as he gazed at the glowing moon while trying to calm his raging heart.

"It is the betrayal I suffered from my trusted ones that I am still unable to accept."

Even though there was not much change in his tone, Vasili detected his anger and he clenched his fists, unable to see his friend, his Alpha in agony. But there was nothing he could do either other than watch him bear with his loss all alone.

"This was the reason, I was waiting for this beautiful day all these years. When I held my father's dead body in my arms, I had made a vow. I had promised him that I would avenge his death, his as well as mother's."

Azimir sounded sinister all of a sudden, and Vasili realized what would happen in the near future. His Alpha was now filled with bloodthirst and he would not settle until he destroyed everyone who destroyed his life.

"It is now time I completed my vow."

Vasili sucked in a deep breath as soon as Azimir approached him which did not go unnoticed by him.

"Are you frightened, Vasili?" Azimir walked to him, his face devoid of any expression. But Vasili did not miss the darkness and aggression in his eyes. It was as though he was prepared for the hunt, and all he needed was his prey.

Vasili fixed his eyes on his friend, a faint smile taking over his lips. "No, Azimir. I am not afraid, never was I and never will I be. I trust you to be righteous and I trust you to do what is correct. And," Vasili smiled at him, his face now filled with resolve. "Whatever you do and whatever you wish to do, you will always have my support."

Vasili's declaration stupefied Azimir. It was not unknown to him that his Beta trusted him wholeheartedly and never had he doubted his decisions. Even in the past, he had killed people to save his people and kingdom. But this time, it was different for he was avenging his parents and the people he was dealing with were powerful, even more than he was. There were high chances of a war erupting due to his actions. Yet, Vasili did not object to it, agreeing to support him until the end.

Azimir did not know what to say. He was touched by his friend's sincerity and his unconditional support. It was rare for him to trust anyone, especially after what had happened with his parents. But he realized that Vasili was one of the few people who would never betray him and he had witnessed his loyalty time and again in the past. And he perceived that this is how it would be even in the future too.

Vasili sensed his Alpha's emotional state of mind and his urge to suppress all his thoughts. A smirk landed on his lips and he looked out of the window towards the moon, only for his smile to vanish the next instant.

The moon was now turning red, and it would soon be time when they would lose control of themselves completely, with their wolves taking over them.

"Alpha, it is time to address your subjects. They are already waiting for you at the forest clearing."

"Is it?" Azimir pushed away his emotional thoughts and looked at the red moon before he nodded curtly at Vasili. He now had to address his people before they lost themselves completely and shifted right before his speech.