The Alpha Luna

Chapter 4.

Diane’s POV.

I believed we had at least three good days to come up with a plan before anything drastic happened. Now I stood, surrounded by my most trusted men and a few pack members littering the scene as they inspected the dead body lying on the ground, anger seeping through my veins.

How dare that bastard?

“It’s over for us.” A random pack member whispered at the sight. I shot them a glare and they scurried off into the pack.

“Alpha.” Someone called out. I stepped forward, ignoring them, and flipped the body over.

Relief rushed through me as I came face to face with the body.

“It’s not one of ours,” I said to those around.

“Well, Alpha, whoever killed him had not known he wasn’t part of our pack, obviously the attack was meant for one of us.” A greying old man spoke.

“We should be grateful it isn’t,” I commented shortly.

“I suspect it’s another threat from the werewolf king.” An older woman said shakingly. “We should evacuate his land.”

Of course, it was him. There was a particular way his warriors did their kill craft, I know because I had done my research unfortunately too well.

“The board will take the situation from here, we assure you that everything will be handled accordingly. No cause for alarm”

The people stared at me like I had lost it, including the said board. I leveled their stares and they began to retreat in submission.

“Clear this up,” I motioned to two guards standing around.

Celine and John walked back to the pack house with me in silence. As we turned the first corridor and John was certain we were out of ear’s reach, he faced me, stopping us in our tracks.

“No cause for alarm?” John spat out in question.

“What does that even mean?” Celine faced me too.

“You’re both scared?” I raised a brow..

Celine looked away and John buried his hands in his pocket.

“Of course not, Diane, but we have to be realistic. This is the werewolf King we’re dealing with.”

“Then lack of trust?” I continued my strides.

“This isn’t a joke, Diane. What do you plan on doing? We deserve to know.” John continued.

“Stuff,” I smiled at both of them.

“Be so for real, right now.” Celine rolled her eyes.

“I’ll tell you when I’m sure you trust me,” I said seriously.

“Where are you headed to?” Celine asked as we had now reached the Kitchen.

“I need energy, I’m getting a meal.”

“Energy for what?” Celine asked, causing my smile to widen.

“I have negotiations to make.”

“It better not be what I’m thinking.” John inserted himself into the conversation and I shrugged. “That’s not happening.”

“But it is.”

“We’re still rogues, he’d kill you.” John seethed.

“Maybe, maybe not.” I shrugged.

“Can I come with you?” Celine asked, taking us by surprise.

“No.” I deadpanned. “I can’t endanger you.”

“But you choose to endanger yourself.” John shook his head before turning to leave. “Make wise decisions, Alpha.”

“Diane, I think-.”

“No.” I snapped at Celine.

There was no point discussing plans with anyone, I had made up my mind on this journey a while ago, and it just happened to come sooner than expected. Regardless, I believed I was ready.

I turned around and headed towards the entrance.

“Wait, what about your meal?” Celine called after me.

“I’m good.”

Celine's footsteps came to a halt and I was relieved she wasn’t adamant on tagging along. I made my way through the usual path till I got to Mary's bar.

I collected the copy of the map Agatha had promised to give me and was ready to leave.

“Be careful, child,” Agatha whispered.

I stood to take a deep breath to gather my thoughts before I set out. The map was blurred at some points which made it difficult to understand it so I applied logic to get through.

Almost an hour later, I felt lost and sat down to rest. I sat beside a tree and listened for any indication of where I could be.

My ears perked up at the sound of running water in the distance. I flipped open the map and realized I was just south of my destination.

I double-checked that my extra clothes were still with me before slipping off my shoes and entering the river, hoping this would be enough to mask my scent. I hid behind a tree and did a quick change of clothes immediately I emerged at the other side.

The pack house stood before me in its full glory, it wasn’t like any other I had ever seen. Scoping the scenery, I watched my first target walk towards my hiding spot behind the bushes. The guard had come to take a piss and just as he adjusted his clothing back in place, I struck.

I hit him over the head and watched him fall limp at my feet. I did a quick search through his pockets but found nothing useful. I then rolled his body behind one of the bushes and stepped out.

According to what Agatha had told me, there should be about 5 more of them guarding the gates. Looking ahead, I could see two more standing idly outside the gates.

I snuck up behind one and swung my palm over his mouth. He reached out behind him in panic but I ducked out of the way and struck.

The other guard heard his colleague's body drop to the ground and just as he turned around in confusion, I swung at his head.

I was breathing heavily as the adrenaline pumped through my veins. I hadn’t expected things to be this easy.

I dragged both their bodies to the side and leaned them against the wall. I probably had just a few minutes left till someone noticed something or any of the guards woke up so I opened the gates slightly and peeped inside.

There was no one in sight but just as I stepped in, a hand came over my eyes, and my body was slammed to a wall. I raised my legs backward and hit the guard in the middle on instinct. I heard a grunt before they staggered back and I slipped out of their hands.

I came face to face with a raging guard and just as I was about to attack, my arms were pinned behind me. I reared back against the body with as much force I could muster and lifted myself as the first guard advanced, landing a kick squarely in his face. The guard fell back and the other dropped me from the force.

I jumped to my feet immediately and swung at the one previously behind me. I hit him straight in the jaw and he groaned out in pain.

“Lovely,” I said just as I felt another presence behind me.

I turned in time to dodge the first guard’s advance and swung at his head this time.

He fell forward onto the second guard and tripped him off balance. I took advantage and struck at both their heads, leaving them unconscious.

I looked around, breathing heavily but noticed no one in sight.

“Shouldn’t there be one last guard?” I said to myself, thinking Agatha might have made a mistake.

The plan was to draw attention and demand to see the king. I didn’t know how long I could hold up fighting guards especially as I had to remain in my human form and had no weapon on myself.

I started towards the pack house and just as I had taken about five steps, a sharp pain spread through my body. I identified the source of the pain as the tiny arrow that was now embedded in my left arm before I fell to the ground, immobilized.

I heard their footsteps before I saw them. Several of them ran towards me and before I could think of anything, I was surrounded by guards.

“Search her and rid her of all weapons.” A voice called out orders.

I tried to speak but realized I couldn’t move her mouth either. Maybe I wasn’t ready for this mission. John was right, I’d be killed, I thought helplessly.

“Take the woman to the dungeons.” The voice bellowed again.

I was roughly lifted from the ground to be taken away before another voice, more demanding, spoke out.

“Stop. The Alpha sent for her.”

Bingo.

I could visibly feel my body relax at the statement. I believed the guards were marching forward, it was hard to detect movement as I couldn’t even feel my body.

I was exchanged at the door to some other guards, not in the least mindful way. As they made their way through the house and my body began to loosen up, realization began to set in. I’d be face to face with the werewolf king any minute from now.

The procession came to a halt and someone knocked on a door. I didn’t hear a response but the door opened up to what looked like a study and I was ungraciously thrown on the floor.

The guards walked out without a word and I lay there waiting for my body to return to its normal state before I went on with things. As my breathing reduced its pace, I could feel a pair of eyes piercing into my body. I knew he was watching me in my demeaned state on the floor.

“Make an attempt to attack and your head will be severed.” His musky voice rang out in the air.

My breath caught in my throat and I felt a light shiver erupt through my body. I rolled over and got on all fours to lift myself.

“I didn’t say you could rise.” He spoke again.

Anger swept through my veins and I shot up in an instant. I froze in place as I took in the figure behind the desk. Breath-taking was an understatement. His jet black hair was perfectly coiffed around his diamond-shaped face, framing it in a flattering way. His eyes, a blackish grey, almost like charcoal, menacingly bore into me. My eyes trailed from his stone-like facial expression to catch on to the glint in his palm.

“Who the f**k are you?” He asked sternly as he twirled the dagger in his hand.

I snapped my eyes back and matched his expression.

Be calm, Diane, we don’t want to end up dead yet, I mentally told myself.

“Drop your weapon, I’m unarmed.” I lifted my head.

He seemed taken aback for a moment and I almost caught on to the emotion that passed through his eyes but it returned to his stony expression.

“I’d ask you one more time before I retract your ability to speak.” His gaze hardened. “Permanently.”

I reached my hands into my bralette and pulled out my secret knife real quick. Rule number 1: never be unarmed.

“I could do the same.” I narrowed my eyes on him.

I heard the king mutter something under his breath before letting out a sigh and placing his dagger inside a drawer on his desk.

I forced myself to remain expressionless.

“Who are you?” He asked, calmer this time.

I stared at him before making my introduction.

“I am Diane, Alpha of Crystal Moon pack.”