Now I am a wolf

The city is bustling with different people. The carriages pass by in a flash. Everyone sees to be busy as the rain stopped. Sill the gloomy sky announces that another flood will come soon.

Sigurd has the hood of his rain coat on and holding his head down. A surge in the crowd behind him jolted him forwards. He pants as his belly throbs from the sudden stumble.

'I need to push myself …. The rain will hit the city soon ….'

He boosts his pace advancing in the direction of the Circle's building that peeks behind the houses. A breeze causes him to shiver. He overlaps his coat more around his neck and strides forward.

In the Circle, leaders are debating what happened in the past month. A meeting was announced by Frey with the intent of assessing what issues where remediated.

"You told us that you will find the wolves!" A man bawls having a scowl on his face. Others nod elaborating further.

"He is right! Why are Yrsa and Kai still in the prison? They should be punished!"

"They need to serve as demonstration for the wolves that did this to the Circle's leaders!"

Voices rise continuously, and a big fuss is in the room. Frey watches them without saying anything to defend himself.

As the debating is no longer a debate he stands up and rises his hand.

The leaders glance at him and they immediately stop.

"We gather here to find a more appropriate method of finding the wolves. If you think that blaming me will solve the problem than please continue. I assume that you have plans! The one who has an actual plan to finding the wolves should rise and speak. Otherwise, it is better to keep our mouths shut."

Frey sits on his chair and glares at the leaders.

All of them sit on their chairs. The silence fills the room as no one is proposing anything. Blaming it on Frey is the easiest way of tossing the guilt they feel. The army had a team after the wolves and the leaders had their men searching in their villages. But not a hint found.

The killer wolves were no where to be found as if the earth split and swallowed them whole.

The door of the room opens and everyone turns to see who dares to interrupt the meeting.

A man with muddy boots and dressed with coats appears. His head is covered by a hood. One leader yells at the intruder.

"Who are you! This is the Circle's room!"

"That's where I wanted to come! Glad I arrived! "He takes off his hood and strides towards the table. He pulls a chair and sits on it." What's the meeting about?" A smile appears on the face of the boy.

Frey is surprised.

"Sigurd! What bought you here? You are suppose to be home." He stares at the boy and smiles.

"Don't worry! I had my transformation. Now I am a wolf! "Every one whispers and Frey is shocked. He tries to hide his hatred but the frown gives away his feelings. Frey was suppose to be happy.

'So that's how you really feel…. I had a suspicion about you and now I am sure of it.' Sigurd grins and smirks under the mustache.

"Now that I am a wolf and part of Dalgaard family my presence here should not be this unwelcomed! Where are my congratulations?" He rises his eyebrows waiting for the leaders to follow his words.

"Congratulations for becoming a wolf, young man." The leader of the Army, Edzard, stretches his hand.

"Thanks! May I know your name? After all some presentation is needed. I am Sigurd, son of Kai Dalgaard. " He doesn't stretches his hand remembering what the man at the tea shop told him.

"I am the leader of the Army, Edzard Hansen. Glad to finally me you in person! "The man smiles and diverts his eyes towards his daughter. "This is my daughter, Thora Hansen. And the boy there was my son once. " Edzard frowns as he gazes over Karlen.

Sigurd feels his anger rising considerably when the man talked about Karlen like that. It was true that he may be a killer but what did he do to deserve being treated that way? He bites his tongue and glances at Karlen who is over the table, right in front of him. His face was calm and unbothered.

"Congratulations, Sigurd! I am happy for you! "The women sitting close to Karlen is smiling as she nudges Karlen to talk too. But the man is on default. His thoughts are a mess!

'Why are you doing this?' Karlen feels like all his cells want to crush Sigurd despite from usually having no reaction to nothing. All his suppressed feeling are boiling in his heart as he detects the Aura glued to his man. His poker face is really something!

Sigurd glances at the man who looks nonchalant but senses a dark Aura coming from his back. Could it be that he hates Sigurd?

'Baby … your father is hating me for sure …. 'His heart aches as he shifts his gaze on the women rubbing shoulders with Karlen.

Talis looks at Karlen and hits his shoulder multiple times to make him talk.

"Congratulations! 'Karlen's deep voice has a seed of coldness. Even Talis is surprised to hear the man talking like that.

Sigurd ignores it and looks at the leaders around the round table. Lukas and Thyra are here too. The two are still in shock from the way he announced the big news.

Frey stands up and asks something that he wishes to make leaders suspicious of Sigurd.

"Now that Sigurd is here, should we ask him more about Didrik's death? He was in the same carriage. Tell us more about the wolves that you saw. "His expression is calm but a fire is lit in his eyes.

Sigurd stands up and stories the events that took place.

"There were not more than six wolves. I think is useless to try finding them as long as they are between us. Here!"

A commotion starts as he indirectly accuses the leaders. He observes their reaction and Frey's in special. He is just surprised and no worry is seen on his face.

'He is not with the wolves…. What is he after?'

"Calm down, I meant in our kingdom. Please sit! I have a plan!"

"We might as well listen!" Frey claps his hands, happy that Sigurd wasn't tossed out of the window by the leaders. He was a little curious about the plan the boy will disclose.

Sigurd strolls to the window and looks outside with concern. The leaders are muted.

"This kingdom is vast …. I want you to answer a question. Have you ever caught a tiger without a bait?"

The big men tilt their heads. What is he trying to say?

"A bait is something that you use to lure something. For example : I have a piece of meat and I place it somewhere I saw a tiger. After I set the 'bait' I hide waiting for the tiger to come. Understood ?" Sigurd gives them a lecture.

"We never use baits! I mean we don't even knew what baits are." Edzard shakes his head.

"We fight them front on!" A leader shows his muscles.

Sigurd hits his head and turns to the window again. What is he going to do with them?

Thinking a little more ….. Could it be that the madam was a reincarnated person too? She was very good at setting traps! He shivers. No way !.....

Now he knows one think about the madam. It seems that they will be on equal grounds.

He is sure that the women is like him, coming from the other side.

"We will set a trap for these wolves!" Sigurd continues his speech.

"What is the bait then? I mean what can lure these beasts? "One leader scratches his head.

Sigurd gets closer to the table and points his finger to himself.

"I will be the bait. Think! I am the next leader after my father. As my father is in prison, if I were to take the place of Frey, I will become the perfect target. Don't you get it? They attacked the leader! They want to change the leader."

The leaders put their hands under their chin and think about, having a dumbfounded expression.

"You are right! Leaders were attacked and Didrik. We might as well follow your plan. I am with you!"

Edzard communicates his decision followed by Lukas, Thyra, Thora, and Talis as she rises Karlen's hand too.

"You are telling me that you want to become the Great leader?" Frey yells at the boy.

"Do you want to be killed next?" Sigurd grits his teeth and closes the distance between them.

Frey gets back and looks in his eyes serious.

"After we catch them, promise to let me be the leader. You are still too young to be one."

"How you want .." Sigurd strolls and sits on his chair. He just wants to save the kingdom not to be the leader.

'So this is what your after …. You want to be the leader.'

Frey sits down too and their discussion continues peacefully.

The plan is done. They will make a coronation and set a game for hunting as an apology to the hunters. The winner will receive the title 'The greatest hunter ' and the leader himself, Sigurd will participate. The goal is to hunt the white tiger that is in the depths of the west mountains. The hunting will finish in a week.

Well, the hidden plan was to lure the wolves to hunt Sigurd down in the woods. The army will be hidden following Sigurd and catch the wolves as they appear to hunt Sigurd down.

"Perfect! No one except for us should know about this plan. "Sigurd looks intently at Karlen and moves his gaze over the leaders.

Talis is giggling and stands up.

"What if your plan is a failure? How should you be punished? Let's make this more interesting."

The leaders gasp. How can she propose this to the next Great leader?

"Well, I can bet on my life! Are you satisfied?" Sigurd grins and gazes in Talis' eyes. A beautiful women that likes to play with danger.

'What is her intention….'

"I am satisfied! This proves a move done by a true leader."

She sits down and closes her legs giving a seductive image.

Sigurd is not letting himself be scared of the possibility of his plan failing. After all he just wanted to see the real face of all present in the room.

"This resumes our meeting. Everyone should do their part starting tomorrow. I will announce the hunting party and the ceremony. Dismiss!"