Chapter 31
Silverstone’s pov
Adwulf, one of the pack’s elders, stepped forward.
“Was it quick?” He asked softly, knowing the importance of suck details to a grieving pack.
He knew the importance of how a warrior defended himself before his demise.
“No.” I answered, my voice thick with fury. My teeth ground together, fury bubbling beneath the surface.
“He fought like the warrior he was. Five hunters died before they finally brought him down. But there were too many. They I paused, struggling to maintain control.
“They used him as a scapegoat.”
A collective growl rumbled through the hall, the sound of dozens of wolves fighting their urge to shift, hunt, to avenge.
Their urge to wage a war!
His
mate? The pups?” Dante called out, already moving toward the door, ready to provide protection.
James was the father he didn’t have, he was ready to lay down his life for him. Aside from Dante’s sick mother, James was the only one that stood by him.
“Safe. I have them under guard at the sanctuary house. But James… My voice cracked as I cleaned a teardrop from my eyes.
I didn’t want them to see it,
“He died trying to reach them. The last words from his phone were a message to his mate: I’m almost home, my darling. Tell the pups that daddy has presents“”
1 choked out, gasps escaping with every word I said.
Immediately my last words hit the ground, the hall erupted in mournful howls, some wolves losing their battle against the shift, fur ripping across their skin as grief overwhelmed their human forms.
The four walls of the meeting hall shook, realizing that there is trouble in the land.
James had been more than a Beta, he had been a father, a husband, a briefer in arms to all.
Dante was just one from the numerous people that he had helped understand their form.
No doubt that he was a gift to the shadow pack.
“And the hunters responsible? Dante asked, his voice rough with emotions and barely contained rage. His skin flushed, a deep shade of red.
My eyes hardened.
“Most died by James hand. The others..” a cruel smile curved on my lips.
“I have their scents. And by the night of the full moon, I swear to you all – they will answer for this.”
1/3
07:53 on 3 Feb
Chapter 31
55%
I said authoritatively, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.
I raised my head, addressing the entire pack.
“Tonight we grieve, tomorrow…” my claws extended fully, my eyes blazing with supernatural fire.
My expression was a mask of pure wrath.
“Tomorrow we hunt. For James. For his mate. For his pups who will grow up without their father by their side.”
My fists tightened at his sides, trembling with rage.
The pack’s response was unanimous, a chorus of sharks and howls tgat shook dust from from the ancient rafters.
Their voices could be heard from a distance.
We might have lost our Beta, but in our shared grief, our bond grew stronger. Each member knew, deep in their bones, that the loss would not go unanswered.
They knew that those hunters would not go unpunished!
In the back of the pack an old portrait of James hung among the other pack leaders like Klein and Jared. In it he smiles. broadly, one arm around his mate, the other holding his youngest pup.
They looked really happy together.
The frame now – not just a memory, but a promise. A promise of vengeance, of injustice, of pack law upheld in blood.
The vengeance that all the wolves have sworn to him.
As the moon rose higher in the night sky, the pack began their mourning rituals. Songs of loss and remembrance filled the air, takes of James‘ strength and kindness were shared through tears and fierce pride.
Indeed, James was a good man and a great beta to the pack.
In their midst, I stood steady, I temporarily set my grief aside as I had planned the hunt to come.
Because by this time tomorrow, the hunters would learn why you never harm a wolfs family.
I’ll put them in their place. I’ll make they pay.
Tomorrow they would pay the price in blood and pain for taking one of our own.
This was my promise to James.
For James, for the Beta who died trying to reach his family. For the warrior who fought to his last breath.
For a friend and father to many.
The hunt would begin at dawn.
Klein was unable to attend the meeting earlier, he had gone in search of the woman he suspected to have stolen the scandal.
The last time we spoke, he assured me that he’d be there for the hunt against the hunters that killed James.
2/3
07:53 Mon, 3 Feb
Chapter 31
55%.
And by then, he would have news about the scandal.
I believed him, I knew he could. He might be a Beta but he sure has the strength of an Alpha, just like James.
While all the wolves got their hunting tools ready for the big night, I waited patiently for Klein. I waited for him to bring home some good news, just then, a voice cut me off from behind.
“Silverstone?” Serena’s voice echoed from behind.
I turned to her, hugging her tightly. She looked really worried, she must have been thinking about the tragic incident that happened to James.
“There’s nothing to be worried about sis, I’ll handle everything. The pack will be safe again.” I assured her, my voice firm “How did you find out about it?”
“Lisa told me, she said that her friend from the Grayhead pack witnessed it.”
“Her friend?” My eyes widened in disbelief, even though I already knew their scents, an eyewitness account will definitely go a long way.
“I need to see her friend, I just have a few questions to ask her.”
She reached out to Lisa and told her about my request to see her friend but it was to no avail. Serena said she didn’t want to come to the pack
tried to know her reasons but Serena didn’t seem to know much about it.
Just then. Lisa walked in.
55
