The Wolf King's Luna

Chapter 51

DAMON.

The alarm rips through the serene calmness of the pack, instantly setting me on alert.

Whirling on Vance, I snarl out, "What did you do?"

"This isn't me," he snaps back. "I only came here to talk, not fight."

"Now is not the time to point fingers," Craig says as he and the other two follow me out of the mansion.

"Ryder," I call out to him as I see him worrying our way. "Talk to me."

"It's the other Alphas, they are demanding justice for their women," he says.

"Okay," Vance says as he whirls around to face me. "If I am going to join you in defending your pack, you need to tell me what the fuck is going on?" He snaps.

I share a look with Craig before he turns to answer Vance.

"You heard about the attack on The Falcon's residence?" he asks him.

"Yes, what about it?"

"It was The Collector's handwork. He wanted to kill the one person who knew his weakness and could get in his way. Unfortunately for him, he got the wrong contact. The Falcon is currently residing in the Blackwater pack."

"So, this is a retaliation against that? He decides to kill dozens of women and frame him. What was the point?!"

"I never said he was sane."

"You are not being honest with me. At least not completely honest, but it will have to do for now. Let's go."

"You would help me?" I ask him, still confused by his behavior. "Defend me? Why?"

"I told you, I am forging my path. And to do that, I need to do the exact opposite of what my father would have done. So, are you coming?" he calls out as he follows the other three Alphas.

"Yeah, I am coming," I mutter as I hurry down the stairs to them.

We all race to the gates of the pack where what looks like a battalion of wolves is gathered, snarling for blood.

The Alphas of the said wolves are standing to one side, all of them looking smug and ready for bounty as they do nothing to stop the chaos that is about to break out.

"The disrespect," my wolf rumbles in my head.

"Not now. Keep your opinions to yourself," I tell him.

"You are their King. They should show you respect."

"As far as that title is concerned, only a few people know about it. So cool it!"

He huffs before falling silent.

"Alpha Craig," one of the other Alphas calls out. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that, Alpha Mason. What are you here?"

"It came to our knowledge that Alpha Damon, the tyrant, has kidnapped our women."

Me?! A tyrant. This asshole.

"Ah, I see. He has played his hand," Craig remarks, voice, and tone very calm.

It is admirable.

But then again, it is not his pack under attack from angry, bloody-thirsty wolves. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"Who had?" the asshole asks.

"The Collector," Craig answers, his voice carrying across the area.

"Pfft," another scoffs. "What is this Alpha Craig? I thought you were an honorable wolf. Are you going to blame this on a myth? To defend him."

"It is not a myth," Vance speaks out.

"Alpha Vance? What are you doing here?" Mason asks.

"I am here for the same reason as these three Alphas. The Collector."

"How do you know he is not a myth?"

"I know because I saw him." his answer is net with shocked murmurs. "He killed one of my own and then dared to walk into my pack. Unfortunately, I didn't realize who he was until he left my pack and it was too late."

"What did he want from you?"

"To start a war. With Alpha Damon."

"I see," Mason remarks before turning to me. "Alpha Damon," he starts. "Why don't we continue this discussion inside the pack? It is unbecoming for dignified wolves to kill around like this."

Over my dead, frigid, body.

"Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you carried yourself here. If it is undignified for you, please, feel free to go back to where you came from. I won't get mad," I answer.

"You-"

"If I may ask," Tobias speaks up, interrupting the cad. "How did you all know to come here? Who told you that Alpha Damon was the one responsible for the missing women?"

There is a low murmuring among them and a few short legs before Mason responds.

"A letter."

What?!

"I am sorry," I say, speaking for the first time since we all got here. "Can you come again? I am not sure I quite got what you said."

"It was a letter. We all received a letter that you were responsible for this and that the other Alphas were heading this way."

Unbelievable.

"So, you all just met each other here then," Monroe remarks.

"Yes."

"Are you fu-"

"We have all been played, I am afraid," Craig says as he cuts me off and sends me a side-eye. "The Collector is the one responsible for the missing women."

"So where are they then?"

Craig turns to look at me and I get the message.

Taking a deep breath and steeling my nerves, I answer.

"They are dead."

The announcement sparks commotion.

"...murderer…"

"...is lying…"

"…to believe that?"

"...them out…"

"Enough."

The order is said with such cold authority, that it immediately shuts everyone up.

I turn around to see my mother, standing there and looking every part of the ruthless huntress she was rumored to be.

She begins walking slowly towards the gate, making us at this side of it give her way.

I know better than to stop or get in her when she gets like this.

"Who did you come here to kill?" she demands. "A criminal? A rogue? My son has been nothing short of an exemplary leader, one that I am very proud of and I am sure his father is as well. How dare you? How dare you use such flimsy excuses to try and tear him down? If you are incapable of reaching his level, then that is your problem, not ours. The Alphas here have told you what happened, it is your foolishness and incapacity of performing critical thinking that blinds you to the truth."

"It is only normal for his mother to defend him, if he has nothing to be scared of let him open the gates."

"We will do no such thing."

"I have a question though," Mason again. "Why does this… Collector wants to start a war? For what reason?"

"For me."

We all turn to see The Falcon, standing behind us, decked in all her refinements and with six of her guards surrounding her.

Six?