[Author's POV...]
[The Moonwalkers pack]
News of Ethan's arrest by the people of Grendor spread like wildfire through the Moonwalkers pack, catching them off guard. The pack was shaken by the sudden turn of events, and their emotions ranged from anger to worry. Michael wasted no time in declaring war against Grendor. He was determined to rescue their Alpha at any cost.
The news of Laura and Ethan's capture also reached the ears of other packs across the vast lands of Midgard, spreading like an uncontrollable storm. Within thirty minutes of the news breaking out, rumors and whispers had reached every corners of the kingdom.
Realizing the gravity of the situation and knowing that time was of the essence, the Ironclaw pack swiftly allied with the Moonwalkers pack. Their shared goal was clear: to rescue their captured Alphas and bring them back safely.
Elizabeth upon hearing the news, without a moment of hesitation, she embarked on a perilous journey to Grendor, fully aware of the consequences and the risks involved. She knew that King Raven, the ruler of Grendor, was ruthless and wouldn't hesitate to carry out a death sentence on Ethan due to long buried pasts.
Elizabeth bore secrets that she had hidden deep within her heart, secrets that she had never wanted anyone to know. Yet, in her quest to save her son, she knew that she might have to reveal her darkest truths, even if it meant tarnishing her own reputation.
The question on everyone's mind was, what were these secrets that Elizabeth was willing to risk everything to protect? What past events had shaped the destiny of her son, Ethan.
Lucas, having returned to Midgard remained at the outskirt of the pack, he knew better than to go into the Moonwalkers territories. He understood that they would demand answers about what truly transpired in Grendor. So he waited anxiously in the depths of the woods, knowing that he was about to meet his real Alpha, the one he had been serving in secret.
As the shadows danced around him, a figure emerged from the unknown, clothed in a black hoodie that veiled every feature of his face. This was the mysterious Alpha who had been pulling the strings behind the scenes, plotting a dangerous game with Lucas as a pawn.
"It's done. Here's the artifact," Lucas said, handing over the sought-after object to his enigmatic Alpha. But there was another plea on Lucas' lips, one that he had been yearning to make for years. "Can you let me see my daughter now, please..." His voice trembled with fear and desperation.
The Alpha dashed out of sight, not saying a single word to Lucas. Not even Lucas have seen the face of this mysterious Alpha that has been giving him orders for a very long time now.
For many years now, the Alpha had held Lucas' daughter captive. His child had become the leverage by which the mysterious Alpha controlled him with, forcing him to carry out dangerous tasks against his will.
Lucas yearned to hold and see his daughter once more, to free her from the clutches of this malevolent force, but he was caught in a relentless cycle of obedience and fear for 20 years now. The cold-blooded Alpha remained a mystery, a master manipulator, and Lucas couldn't really guess what the real motives of this man was. Lucas' greatest fear was that the Alpha might also be using his daughter as a pawn. She should be a grown ass woman by now, around the age of 26.
[Back at Grendor. Emily's POV...]
After Ethan and Laura were dragged outside the church, they were accused of being invaders and spies from Midgard. You can probably guess what happened next.
Stones and fruits were mercilessly thrown at them as they were tied to the back of a moving chariot. Lily told me that they were being dragged to Grendor's palace for judgment and execution.
The people of Grendor were more cruel than I thought, or do they really dislike werewolves from Midgard this much. Either way, I knew I had to do something to save Ethan and Laura.
"We should leave now," Aiden suggested to me and Lily. I wondered if he had forgotten how stubborn I could be when it came to cases like this.
Just as I was about to tell Aiden that I wasn't leaving without a fight, Lily spoke up. It seemed our sisterly instincts were still intact.
"Let's witness what will happen at the palace!" Lily suggested, and I quickly supported her before Aiden could object. After all, majority rules, right?
With a heavy sigh, Aiden agreed to accompany us to the palace to witness what would befall Ethan and Laura. Lily held my hand just like she used to, and I realized I was still taller than her. Aiden signaled his pack members to take undercover while we headed to the palace.
We made our way to the grand palace compound, and there, a restless crowd had gathered to witness the judgment of Ethan and Laura. They stood outside the magnificent palace hall, anxious for the proceedings to begin. Inside, Ethan and Laura knelt as the judgment unfolded.
Aiden used his unexplainable connection to sneak us inside the palace hall without anyone noticing.
Seated upon the most adored throne was a very old man with a bald head, probably in his sixties. He displayed an aura of authority, unmistakably, he was the king of Grendor. An eye patch covered one of his eyes, a testament to some past hardship he had endured. Despite his lost eye, his presence dominated the room.
The king raised his hand, commanding silence among the court. With an air of authority, he spoke, "Bring forth the invaders!" He commanded, standing up from his seat to examine them himself.
The king seemed to be short sighted due to his missing eye. He couldn't see Ethan and Laura's faces from where he was seated so he walked closer to them.
Why will a kingdom as great as Grendor have a weak leader such as him? This is definitely something Midgard will not allow because all they care about is power. But I guess such rules as power doesn't define this world.
As I observed Ethan, it was evident that the effects of the poison were no longer weighing him down. The heavy chains that once burdened him seemed to have lost their grip on his spirit. He had regained his strength, and I felt a sense of relief seeing him in a better state.
"Ethan! We meet again , little soldier." The king said with a mischievous grin playing across his face.
Then, my relief quickly turned into curiosity and concern as the king of Grendor addressed Ethan by name with a mischievous grin. How did the king know Ethan? It almost seemed as if they had crossed paths before, and I couldn't help but wonder what their history entailed. I just hoped that whatever connection they had in the past was not a raging or harmful one.
Surprisingly, none of the officials present seemed taken aback by the king's familiarity with Ethan. It was as if they were quite aware of this dynamic between the two. And the way the king referred to Ethan as "little soldier", I kept wondering how close they were.
"At last, the son of the prodigal Alpha is finally back home," the king proclaimed, standing before Ethan with an air of authority.
The king's words sent shockwaves through my mind. Does this mean that Ethan was a Grendorian by birth? And if so, why did he leave? The revelation left me grappling with unanswered questions.
Ethan didn't seemed shocked by the king's words, so it was probably true. But then again, how then did Ethan became an alpha in Midgard?
The king continued his pep talk, revealing deep things I had never imagined about Ethan and his family. I was sure Ethan's father was the prodigal Alpha the king was referring to.
"You know, I have always knew that one day you will come back and claim all that your father left behind. The money, gold, silver, servants, lands and most especially, the one thing that made him abandon his own family." The old king proclaimed.
The king's words also hinted that Ethan's father was still alive. This revelation astonished me, as Ethan had never spoken of his father to me, not even once or by chance. It was as if that part of his life was buried in secrecy, and I found myself wondering why he had kept this aspect of his past hidden.
Ethan arched an eyebrow at the king, his voice resonating with unwavering confidence. "I have no interest in whatever my father left behind here. I assure you, I possess more than enough."
"Do you? Then I guess, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Just like your father, you will do whatever it takes to gain power and wealth, am I wrong? But what I can't fathom is why your father despised you so intensely, despite seeing a reflection of himself in you. You were strong and brave, but he abandoned you anyway."
"I won't delve into the past, King Raven," Ethan retorted with anger. The King definitely hit a spot when he kept bringing up Ethan's father into the conversation.
"Mind your tongue, little soldier. I'm not the merciful uncle you knew many years ago."
Uncle?
The revelation struck like lightning. The sudden connection between them left me astounded. Is that why the king and Ethan were speaking so casually?
But how could the King of Grendor be Ethan's uncle? The mystery surrounding their shared past seemed to unfold even further.
To be continued... [Revelations of the past]
[I've already prepared to unlock a mystery that will keep y'all spell bound... But all I need is a vote and adding to library]