It Has Begun

[RINZLER]

"Rinzler wake up, Rinzler!"

"Savannah, leave me alone," Rinzler mumbled, trying his best to appear nonchalant. He couldn't remember falling asleep. The last thing he remembered was going to see his father. "Shit." He cursed.

"Come now, our father is getting impatient waiting for you," Savannah said, shifting her weight from one foot to another.

"What time is it?" Rinzler asked getting off the bed, an unsettling fear settling at the bottom of his stomach. When Savannah informed her what time it was, he spat, "why didn't you wake up?"

"Brother." Savannah spun around, and placed a hand on her brother's forehead, she could hear his heart thumbing slowly inside his heart. Like a robot, she leaned in, placed her head on his chest, and then mumbled, "your heart."

"I thought you left." Rinzler heard his father speaking. He removed Savannah's head from his chest and tucked her head into his chest.

"Sorry." He managed. He couldn't get himself to say more. What was worse? Making his father wait? His mate arriving at the Fishers Pack? Or him not recalling what happened earlier?

Authoritatively, Alpha Aspen said, "follow me."

"Savannah," Rinzler whispered as he pulled away.

Beta Tetra rose when he saw them. Rarely does he do that and it made Rinzler panic a little bit. His father motioned him to take a seat, Rinzler grimaced as he sat and made himself comfortable.

The wince couldn't go amiss and Alpha Aspen thought it was because Rinzler was getting late to the Fishers Pack. So, he told him, "It was your fault you didn't come as soon as I sent your sister to call you."

"Sorry, dad."

"It is okay, anyways, it won't take long." Alpha Aspen paused and looked up.

Beta Tetra hovered above him, Alpha Aspen could practically hear his brother's breathing on his ear. If his beta wasn't his brother, he would have renounced him a long time ago. He shook himself, showing his discomfort. Unfortunately, Beta Tetra didn't see that.

The scene in front of him helped his heart a little bit, the annoyance on his father's face and the expression Beta Tetra too good not to smile at. It was hilarious because Beta Tetra didn't see his brother wanted space.

Finally, Alpha Aspen stood, "a little space, my dear brother, a little space."

Deep lines formed on Beta Tetra's forehead as he straightened up, "oh!"

[EARLIER]

Alpha Aspen waited for his son to come and meet him, and when he was no show, he went to his room and rested. And after what he could swear was minutes, he was wide awake. He looked up and groaned when he found his brother, in his room, next to his bed, staring at him.

The first time he found Beta Tetra like that, he had told him it was creepy. Beta Tetra had explained that creepiness was better than finding his brother dead next to the pillow. When Alpha Aspen asked for more explanation, Beta Tetra said nothing.

Alpha Aspen stretched his hand and took the robe his brother handed to him. It has gotten familiar and he could do that in his sleep. "I asked you to come and sleep in this room and you said no. There is enough room to fit two beds." Alpha Aspen softly said to him.

Beta Tetra followed Alpha Aspen to the backdoor leading to the lake. He answered, "my room is next to yours, so I am good. I can hear when your heartbeat stops. When your hands found their way to…"

Alpha Aspen cut him off, "if you were not my brother, I would have said you are one hell of a stalker."

"You know, no one has ever said a brother can't be a stalker." Beta Tetra joked.

"Not helping your case, are you?" Alpha Aspen whispered and headed to the lake.

The route they took was shorter than using the common way. Beta Tetra behind Alpha Aspen wished he could tell his brother why he was doing what he was doing. But maybe one day, he would. "It is salty." Beta Tetra whispered.

He got no answer as Alpha Aspen was staring at the endless large amount of water with a vivid memory of him and Luna Ulrika swimming in the lake coming to mind. However, a different memory flashed through Beta Tetra's mind, it was during competition and he has been behind Luna Ulrika. Both Savannah, Ancel, and Rinzler were young.

They had gotten used to competing on who will row the canoe faster to the shore. Luna Ulrika always won. No, not because the two men let her win, but because she was good.

And with the kids involved, she had to let go of her competitive nature. It has been fun watching Luna Ulrika staring at her kids, with a face that implied, "I swear if you were not my kids."

"Hey, brother." Alpha Aspen called. Beta Tetra stared at the cup his brother had in his hand. Where did he get it? Beta Tetra wondered. Beta Tetra didn't have to ask what his brother was doing with the water in the cup, his face showed it all.

It has begun.

Alpha Aspen asked his brother to give him a moment. Beta Tetra patted his back and left him staring at the lake. He hasn't cried.

How could he when he was trying so hard to be strong not only for the pack but for his son? He had felt Rinzler's nervousness and unlike Savannah who didn't think too much about it, Alpha Aspen figured it was because Rinzler was about to see Marina.

Alpha Fisher had been with him through all his mourning months, hell, it was years. Even now he was mourning the death of Luna Ulrika. He was damn sure the moon goddess would take him first and not his friend.

Honestly, he was right. But then, how could he know that?

He was excluded from the plan by High Priestess Mannequin.

Not when it had to do with Alpha Fisher leaving behind a heartbroken Luna Audra. It was just a few people who had the guts to do what they did. And they didn't know what they had signed up for. They sealed a deal with their enemy, High Priestess Manne, the enemy within.

Just thinking of the possibility of leaving behind his pack under the care of his son made him sick. No, not because he was incapable, but because he could see the pain in his son's eyes every morning he woke up.

If he died, there was a chance Rinzler will follow and then the pack.

**

[PRESENT]

Alpha Aspen, his son, and his beta had their hands linked behind their backs staring into the lake. Alpha Aspen already explained to his son what he has learned of the lake. That wasn't good and it meant two things. They have failed and the lake needed its payment.

"We must figure this out. If we don't, we are fucked. Not only us but also Marina." Alpha Rinzler said, ignoring the look his father gave him because of his cussing.

Making sure the lake was suitable for human consumption was their duty. It was something the previous alphas used to do too. Rinzler didn't want to think what would occur if suddenly Lake Rimaria became unsuitable for human consumption.

For sure, bad things would follow. He would fail his mate as most of the tourists visited Lake Rimaria because she recommends them.

"Don't worry. Savannah sent a boat to the Fishers Pack, once we finish you will be on your way there." Beta Tetra stated after seeing the worried look on his nephew.

"Okay. Follow me." Alpha Aspen ordered. Beta Tetra shook his head at Rinzler who was about to ask his father to stop ordering him. It wasn't the time. Hastily, they returned to the packhouse, the wolves bowing at them respectfully.

"Our mate." Alpha Rinzler heard his wolf say with a sad tone.