DRAMATIC REWIND

Rewind back to before the fateful night when the beautiful young Luna Miriam was running for her life with her infant son in her arms.

Alpha Mike and his brother were born Michael and Mortimer. Twins, with Michael being the elder brother and heir. Mortimer was the "spare." But Michael loved Mortimer as himself and the brothers did everything together. They even fell in love together - with the same woman.

From the day they had met the beautiful Miriam, the brother's bond soured. Mortimer could accept his twin brother becoming Alpha, and even their parent's constant bias, but for this woman, he had Michael locked deep in the dungeons and then stole Michael's identity. He told everyone that Mortimer had attacked him and he had accidentally killed his younger twin in self defense.

For some reason, nobody questioned it, even though they could not find his body. His parents actually said it was not unexpected and probably for the better. Mortimer had been behaving rather suspiciously, and some of the family had already suspected that he was plotting against his brother.

By wearing his brother's clothes, and rubbing his fresh sweat over himself daily, (Eww...) Mortimer managed to pass himself off as Michael. He mated Miriam, his love, and they had a son.

If it were only because of the Alpha position, Michael would have been content to spend the rest of his life in that dungeon. But he could not bear it - smelling her scent on his brother, but he had been led to believe that Miriam truly loved Mortimer. How could he end the life of the one who made his love so truly happy?

And then one night, Mortimer came down rather drunk and confessed to enjoying some really perverse activities.

"I love the sight of her crying face." That was the last thing coherent thing Mortimer ever said before Michael shifted and murdered him in a fit of rage.

After that, Michael tried to rush to his love's side, but she was terrified of him. This could be because he was in a wolf form... or human form (would that mean he was naked?) Either way, I believe there was good reason for the young luna to have been terrified. Believing Mortimer to be her true love and soul mate, Miriam took her baby and ran away.

Mortimer's deceit and death had been a shock to everyone. Michael had to deal with the upheaval of his pack's leadership. In between proving his identity and sorting out the mess his brother had made of the pack administration, the fact that his love might leave was the last thing on his mind.

He had assumed she would remain in her room where she had locked herself in. Where else would his beautiful love go? She was so young and fragile.

But she ran into the Green Packlands, and of all places, into Night Leaf Pack Territory at that. Everyone knew only a fool would trespass. Michael wanted to chase her in, but his men stopped him. Mortimer was already dead. Who would be Alpha if he lost his life too?

He had planned to send messengers to the Night Leaf Alpha Kingsley, but the very next day, his pack was banned from the Green Packlands. All his letters and calls were rejected. He could not understand it, nor could he do anything about it.

"I was only a Minor Alpha in a small pack along the grey veins of No Man's land." Alpha Mike explained, "Our political situation was sensitive. We could not afford to offend a larger pack like Night Leaf."

Plus, Alpha Kingsley's reputation preceded him. He would be a fool to make an enemy of Alpha Kingsley.

It was weird because Alpha Kingsley was Dad right?

Anyway, after much difficulty, Alpha Mike found out that his love was well and safe. Maybe that was for the better. Mortimer had caused some trouble with a neighboring minor pack and there were talks of war. Alpha Mike decided that his love might be safer away from him after all.

Perhaps his love was never meant to be with him.

So it turned out to be a wonderful thing when Mimi actually left the Green Packlands (and Alpha Kingsley's protection) and straight into his arms. Alpha Mike could barely contain his joy to be reunited with his love, his heart broke at her story.

Of course, he would take in her lost boys. She fell in love with her true soul mate, his beautiful heart, his gentle nature. Michael was really different from Mortimer and Mimi quickly came to trust him.

One night, she finally poured her heart out to her mate. All these year, she had thought he was the enemy, it was so strange to suddenly find in him her savior. She was infinitely grateful to be with her true soul mate, but her heart could never be at peace. How could she rest in her happily ever after knowing that her son was on trial for treason back in Night Leaf?

Therefore, they came back to face the demons of her past. Which I think they meant the bad memories or something and not Jude.

Alpha Mike risked his life to enter with Mimi. He had hoped that this would give them direct access to Alpha Kingsley. He pretty much made it sound like it would be terribly difficult to meet Dad face to face, so much so that risking his life was the only way to do it.

Anyway, they were hoping to negotiate for Jude to be exiled from the Green Packlands... alive.

Alpha Mike shrugged, "Alpha Kingsley does not seem to be open to negotiations though."

Mimi sighed, "Thank you, Mike. For everything. But I don't think there's anything else left that we can do at the moment."

Jude had made his bed. Now he had to sleep in it. At least that was my thought. I didn't say it aloud though.

Actually, was no one going to come negotiate for Ron's life? No one going to come save the beta? No? #betalife. But I didn't say anything about that either.

I just didn't think Mimi needed to hear any of these things. That's not to say I knew what Mimi needed to hear. I really could think of anything to say to make things better.

"I'm glad you and the boys have found a safe home." Mum said kindly, "Let me talk to my mate. You know he cares very much for Jude too."

"Oh, would you, Luna?" Mimi looked hopeful, "Thank you so much. I really don't know who else to turn to."

"I can't promise anything, Mimi." Mum shook her head, "This isn't anything like the trouble Jude and his boys had gotten into before."

Yeah. This was treason, right in the middle of war. This was a war crime. It wasn't just Night Leaf. The Morning Light and Lorents, and quite a number of Minor Packs wanted justice served on a silver platter - where justice was Jude's head. It wasn't all for petty revenge either.

I mean, I know Mimi just wants to save her son, but there are families who had lost their sons because of his betrayal. I know the death count wasn't high on our end during the war itself, but leading up to it, Jude had helped smuggle hundreds of rogues into the hidden rogue village. The frequent skirmishes along the border patrols had taken their toll. Many of the local wolves were blaming the increase in rogue population for their deaths - and thus Jude. Because he was the insider who let them in.

Eventually, Mimi and Alpha Mike took their leave. Bob and another warrior came to our door to escort them out to our borders. I won't lie. I was glad to see them gone. But even after their departure, there remained a thorn in my heart.

This wasn't the first time I had heard a mother beg on her child's behalf. I'm sure it wouldn't be the last either.

{Even though we might not ever beg for our own lives, for our children, what would we not do?}