Renegade

3

"Shouldn't we just tell her everything, Gabe?" 

Jill Carthright flipped the collar of her long coat against her neck while she followed her husband towards the looming cemetery ahead of them. She kept her head down before slipping her hand on Gabe's arm.

"I don't think the time is right, Honey." He replied with a sigh. "She has not exactly embraced her other life. I have not heard of anyone actually pushing their wolf form so deep into submission that it has all but disappeared." 

"She is Oleana's daughter." Jill replied with a soft smile.

Gabe grunted in response, his heart still missing his sister sorely. Right now, he is Alpha of their pack but it was not his birthright. He had been elected Alpha since he had been his sister's Beta. He had never aspired to be leader of their pack but her sister had left a huge hole in the family and there was no one else who could fill it at the moment. 

"But you're right, " Gabe relented after a moment's silence. "She is her mother's daughter and she has responsibilities to the pack... to the family."

Jill gripped her husband's arm softly, requesting him to stop walking. She took a deep breath and turned to face his handsome face. "She does not know anything. How do you think she'll react? How can we even begin to tell her that we are her real family? The same ones who sent her to an orphanage!" 

Gabe frowned. "We will make her listen. If I have to tie her down to a chair, I will. She has to understand the circumstances, Jill. It will take a little while but she's a good girl with a smart head on her shoulders. Winter will eventually accept things and then take her rightful place."

Jill blinked and looked at him, doubt clouding her light brown eyes. She is pretty sure that Winter's stubborn streak will dominate when the truth is to be revealed to her. There is just no easy way to justify the events that Winter was forced to live while growing up. She will also not take too lightly to the fact that her memories have been altered.

"It's for her protection, Jill. We both know that." Gabe murmured, touching his wife's face and wanting to erase the worry etched in her brow. "The entire pack and our family understood what was needed to be done in order to protect Oleana's heir. Winter Lewis had to disappear."

"Hunter's death complicates everything, Gabe. Everyone in league with our pack and those loyal to the Royals will be desperate to make sure that all heirs are in line, trained and all accounted for. It is imperative that they unite and protect everyone from the true evil against our kind." 

Gabe sighed. "You're right. I do not doubt that the remaining two Royals will call a meeting as soon as Hunter is buried. But, let's take things one step at a time. I cannot begin to fathom the chaos that will ensue once Hunter's pack names a new Alpha."

"The boy is back." Jill murmured unable to help herself from wrapping her arms around Gabe's waist and hugging herself against his strong body.

"He is the heir." Gabe acknowledged, tucking her head under his chin. "But, you know the young man. He will reject the responsibility. He has not seen his father for seven years!" 

"What will happen?" Jill asked with a heavy sigh.

Gabe rubbed her back assuringly. "We are not that weak yet, Jill. Our alliances are still intact and despite not having the two heirs on board to reforge the almost broken seal, we are all still strong enough to ward off whatever attacks from the enemy. At least, it will give us enough time to get the two heirs in line." 

Jill could not help but groan and a small giggle escape from her lips. She could just imagine the resistance they would be getting from Winter. How could she even begin training for her responsibilities and duties when she cannot even accept what she truly is?

Jared Hunter is also another issue. The young man really did not have any care about his inheritance. He had been trained since he was young but perhaps the harshness that the elder Hunter had brandished upon his only son had been too much. How can you bring yourself to protect the family that did not really show him so much love that he deserved?

"Let's not make this event any grimmer than it already is, honey." Gabe spoke in a brighter tone as he pulled away from his wife's embrace. He gave her a soft smile before kissing her on the lips. "We tackle this funeral, listen to what the council says and decide from there. Our sentinels have not reported any disturbances outside the wards."

"And Winter?" She asked.

Gabe avoided her gaze and turned to face the direction of the cemetery. He did not want to think about the pain her niece will be going through once they reveal the truth to her but, it was an inevitable event. Sooner or later, Winter should face the reality of their world. She has to or else everything that Oleana had built and protected will be all for nothing.

"All in good time, Jill." Gabe murmured as other people began passing by them to get to the cemetery as well. 

He turned to his wife and smiled again before reaching for her hand. He gave it a squeeze and they proceeded to the entrance where a small crowd had began to gather. 

They stopped walking and stood just behind the rows of chairs that faced the open grave. There was not much snow on the ground but the atmosphere is chilly enough. They were all used to the cold and the weather in Redwater in fact, their wolf forms preferred it. 

Gabe looked around and saw a lot of familiar faces from other wolf packs that were loyal and in alliance to the Hunters as well as the Royals. He knew that most of the packs have sent their emissaries. He did not expect the two Royal Alphas to make an appearance. Unlike his sister and Hunter, the other two Alphas were a bit older and were sort of snobs.

A few minutes later, the seats in front of them were filled with different people all dressed in elegant black clothes. Everyone is waiting for the Hunter family and the coffin to be buried. There was a different humming of energy in the air. 

Gabe knew that the wolves have lost a great warrior and leader. In spite the fact that there was no talk about it amongst the crowd who came to pay respects, they all knew that the packs had worry at the back of their heads. 

For centuries, the kingdom of the wolves in the north have been protected by the powerful force and might of the four mighty Alphas. 

The Royal Alphas.

These were the wolves with extraordinary powers that came along with being shapeshifters or werewolves. The four held a magic between them that warded off a beast and his legion hell-bent on enslaving the wolves under his command. 

Now, two of the Royals were dead and the protection's power has been reduced to fifty percent. There was no telling when the beast would sense this weakening and begin his revenge. Unless the two heirs of the fallen Royals will take their place in the circle, everyone's lives will now be in imminent danger.

Unfortunately, Oleana's heir did not have a clue who she was and Hunter's heir is a renegade.

Gabe sighed again and felt the reassuring squeeze from his wife's hand. He squeezed back before tensing up. He heard it before he could see. Everyone's head turned towards the iron gate of the cemetery and watched in awe as two tall elegant figures walked through it.

The two men were dressed in elegant black clothes with matching long, black trench coats. One of them had a dark hat on while the other only had long, gray hair flowing down his back. The one with the hat, Stefan, had a serious, grim expression on his face while Sergei, had a small smirk on his face. Their eyes were identical, both had one yellow and one blue eye, both looked absolutely formidable despite appearing like just some two ordinary individuals standing on a snowy driveway.

"The Step-Brothers!" Jill gasped at Gabe. "They came!" 

Gabe realized that the two remaining Royals have decided to attend which meant the situation have escalated into a new level of danger. He dreaded the thought but pushed it aside as he watched the two men walk coolly towards the gathered crowd.

He looked behind them and noticed that they did not bring an entourage. In fact, it seemed like the brothers just appeared out of thin air. Perhaps, this was the reason for Sergei's smirk? They were showing off their abilities.

The power of the two Alphas were legend. They had the uncanny ability to shift into huge upright werewolves with powerful claws and extreme strength. They have also been rumored to have the ability to disappear and reappear anywhere they want. Apparently, their ability to shape shift extended to transforming and teleporting themselves to whatever and wherever they have in mind.

The crowd started to buzz as those who were seated stood up to express their respects towards Stefan and Sergei. They bowed their heads to acknowledge the two royals who regarded them with only a cool nod. People scuttled to give the two men their seats.

Gabe watched as Stefan lowered himself regally on one of the chairs while Sergei seemed to stop to survey the crowd, searching for someone. Much to Jill's surprise, Sergei's eyes landed on her husband. She watched as Sergei leaned towards his brother and whispered something. Once Stefan nodded, Sergei made his way towards where Jill and Gabe were standing.

Sergei's aura seemed to fill the space with intense energy that Jill could not help but grip her husband's arm. She had only seen the Royals up close when she married Gabe and they attended the wedding at the request of Oleana. She had not spoken to them directly but was presented in front of their make shift thrones in the hallway.

"Gabriel." 

Sergei's voice radiated with a quiet sense of power. Jill shivered but managed to bow gracefully while holding on to Gabe's arm. She watched as Gabe also bowed respectfully. 

"I miss your sister," Sergei continued talking as he ignored their bows. "How long has it been since she has left us? More than a decade?" 

Gabe nodded. "We all miss her everyday."

"A decade and still no answer, Gabe?" Sergei prodded, his eyes glinting as it probed into his. "Who was it that sent those rogues to kill her?" 

"We have reasons to believe that orders came from the Beast itself." Gabe replied with as much calm as he could muster. He knew that everyone in their kingdom whispered behind his back regarding the unsolved murder of Oleana. "We have questioned the rogues thoroughly but never got sufficient answers despite the torture we subjected them to." 

"And now you're Alpha..." Sergei murmured, a smirk appearing on his face. 

"I only carry the weight of the responsibility Oleana left in terms of our family and our pack." Gabe answered. "Everyone knows I am not the genuine Alpha but I'm the only one our family has and everyone is loyal."

"What of Oleana's daughter?"

"What of her?" Gabe replied. He felt Jill's fingers grip his arm a little tighter. She was reminding him to keep his temper in check. It was obvious that Sergei is trying to bait him. Sometimes, the Royal Step Brothers tend to play around with their subjects. 

"Has she truly disappeared into the unknown? Surely you know how vital it is for us to find her and take her under our wing for guidance and tutelage so that she can take her mother's pivotal role." Sergei said as he placed a hand on Gabe's shoulder. 

"We have been searching but in vain." Gabe lied and he felt Jill tremble.

Sergei eyed him dubiously then smiled as he patted Gabe's shoulder. "Do not worry, Gabriel. Now that Hunter had died and his heir is home, I will personally see to the search of your missing niece."

"She could be dead!" Jill blurted unable to stop herself. 

Sergei glanced at her and chuckled. "No, she is not. My brother and I would know if Oleana's daughter is also dead." He answered. "We have our ways."

Gabe was about to reply but Sergei nodded curtly at them before turning around and walking back to where his brother was seated. They did not talk to each other but instead looked towards the direction of the gate where Hunter's pack began to arrive in their cars. 

Jill let out a soft whimper. She did not know if she wanted Winter to be taken by the Step Brothers to be trained and subjected to whatever process they had in mind. What if they realize that Winter is just a few miles away from where they were? What if they found out that she has repressed that side of her nature?

"It's inevitable, Jill." Gabe murmured, wrapping an arm around her shoulder while watching people get down from the SUVs and the pallbearers lifting the coffin. "We have to tell Winter everything soon before Sergei or any of his men does."