Azimir kept watching around him, forcing down his building desire to hunt on this dreadful night. He kept walking around the boundary line, guarding any wolves against entering his kingdom. Although a great wall ran around the kingdom of Ideni, protecting his people from any invaders, he still did not let his guard down lest danger should befall Ideni on this dark night.
Not only was there a danger to his people from his own pack of wolves, he even had to keep a lookout for the rogue wolves who had no self-restraint on this night whatsoever. To Azimir, it was a night of cautiousness, discipline, and danger.
Azimir walked slowly and carefully, his grey eyes observing his surroundings. The wolf in him was prepared to attack in case the situation turned threatening. He was prepared and waiting for what lay ahead of him.
Since the moment he had taken over his father's throne as the King of Ideni and the Alpha of his pack, he had faced all kinds of situations, be they precarious or not. But it was this one night where he was helpless. It was a night filled with uncertainty all he could do was keep his guards up and protect his kingdom.
A howl broke the eerie silence and Azimir controlled his desire to join his pack in their hunt. The moon was still blood red and Azimir knew what it meant. Blood would be spilled on this night. Someone out there was destined to die, and he just hoped it was not anyone he cared for and wished to keep safe.
All of a sudden, Azimir stopped walking and he stared towards his right. A waft of blood floated in the air and his eyes narrowed, a gleam of light passing through them. He let out a low growl, warning the rogue wolves that had come to him on their own.
Azimir stood still as he waited for the wolves to show themselves. He bared his teeth, prepared to attack them, only to stop finding who the leader of the wolves was. He was all too familiar with the wolf in the lead.
'Werther,' He gritted in his mind. 'How courageous of you to enter my kingdom and challenge me! I hate men like you and you dare to provoke me.'
Azimir despised Werther. He was a murderer and the banished beta of the neighboring kingdom of Raspin. It was his wicked desire to take over his alpha's throne and rule over his people that had made his alpha banish him, making him a rogue wolf.
Werther was not alone. There were wolves following him and it did not take long for Azimir to realize what was happening. They were here to enter his kingdom. But with him around, it was impossible to do so.
Azimir detected the gloating look Werther was giving him. But it did not faze him and he stood still waiting for his enemy to attack him first. Even though he could not read what the other wolves were thinking, his intuition told him what Werther wanted and what would happen the next instant.
Werther immediately knelt on his front legs and the wolves behind him too followed suit, showing him their submission to them. They had their heads bowed. So, neither among them noticed the changes in Azimir.
'Did you think you could fool me, Werther?' Azimir thought to himself as he observed the wolf in front of him. Although he was younger than Werther, Azimir was well-versed in how the wicked man's mind worked and the reason he was here.
Either Werther wanted to use him to defeat his Alpha, the king of Raspin or he wanted to take over the kingdom of Ideni and become the Alpha himself. Azimir had already seen through the man's plan. So, he just let out a growl, revealing his decision to the wolves in front of him. It was clear what he wanted and how he had refused their submission.
Werther hesitated before he lifted his eyes. He stared at the wolf in front of him, recalling all that he had heard about the young Alpha. Even though he was young, the youngest King ever to take over the throne of any kingdom, he was stronger than most other kings, be it in his wolf form or in his human form.
Azimir was also shrewd, and Werther realized at once that he had seen through his intentions right away. He was desperate to find someone to help him gain what he wanted. But it was impossible to do so with what he had. Neither was he strong enough to defeat an Alpha nor did he have a pack of wolves with him that could help him achieve what he desired. He merely had a few rogue wolves to support him and follow his orders.
But Werther was not the one to grovel or beg for help. He was rejected and he accepted it right away. He stared at Azimir, a glimmer of promise passing through his eyes before he turned around and walked away with the other wolves following him.
Azimir was surprised by Werther's actions. It was not what he had expected him to do. Without even putting up a fight, Werther had admitted defeat and this shocked him greatly. His self-restraint on this deadly night amazed him. But he understood that this was all a ploy.
Even though he wanted to attack him and eradicate all possible dangers, Azimir was never the one to attack first. So, he remained where he was, watching the wolves leave silently.
Werther was never the one to submit this easily. His wicked mind had already contrived other plans to fulfill his desires.
Azimir waited for a few moments before he started walking again. An ominous feeling filled his heart, and it was stronger than how he had felt when the moon had turned red. Although it was a night filled with uncertainty, he now sensed the intense menace and bloodthirst in the air. He sniffed softly, wondering what was happening only to hear howls from far away the next instant and one among them was Vasili's.
There was clearly a difference in the sound and Azimir at once discovered that it was not just a normal call. It was the call of danger.