Otto saw him returning in a hostile mood and hurried to him before he would take out everyone around.
"Calm down and speak to me."
His contorted face, clenched jaw, rapid rise and fall of his chest were evident his alpha had been consumed by wrath.
Floyd halted, opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was clamped by fury and his words sunk.
He glanced at his beta and stormed forward.
Confused, Otto followed behind him.
"Don't do anything stupid Floyd!!"
He knew his friend very well, his current mood would be destructive.
Instead of heading to his royal chamber, Floyd diverted to his mother's chamber.
Few meters from her chamber, he saw his mother in the midst of some servants and his luna, giving out instructions.
At the sight of her, his rage swell rapidly within him and exploded. In a spark, he was before her, shooting burning daggers at her.
Before she could speak he had dashed into her bedroom and began to throw her things out.
That was all he could do at that moment, as he wasn't one who would hit a woman despite how much he wanted to.
He needed to vent his anger on her, he wanted her out of his pack, away from him, but no matter the number of her belongings he threw out, he wasn't satisfied.
Layana was shocked by his actions, she stared at him in befuddlement, her mouth hung opened as no word could be formed in her mind.
"Floyd!!"
She finally found her voice, rushed to hold him, but he quickly stepped away, evading her touch.
She lost her footing, fell heavily on the ground and let out a whimper.
"Floyd!!" Otto yelled, hurried to help her up.
"If you touch her, you cease to be my beta!!"
His words threw a ball of current on him which locked his muscles in a brief immobility.
Which evil entity possessed Floyd? Otto turned slowly and gaped at him.
"Are you for real? That's your mother!"
"She's no longer fit to be called my mother!!"
He stormed to her, his fist clenched tightly, his nails dug into his palm as he willed his hands not to thump her.
"Leave my pack immediately!!"
Layana sat on the floor staring blankly as dread curled up in her spine.
Her hands trembled, her lips quivered and her brain went momentarily blank.
"Alpha!!"
Otto held him tightly and pushed him away from Layana, but his rage had added an enormous physical strength to him that it was difficult to keep his fiery actions at bay.
"Let go of me Otto!!" He forcefully pulled himself out of his grip.
"What's wrong with you!! She's your mother!!"
"She isn't my mother!!she's evil!!"
He dashed to the woman who was being helped up by some servants.
"Floyd stop!!"
Hera ran to hold him but when he shifted his blazing eyes on her, her muscles became instantly inactive.
"Have you gone nuts!!"
Otto grabbed his arm, but he pushed him away and charged towards his mother who was in a hurry to leave the room.
"How miserable father would be to know his mate who he adored is nothing but a cheap slut!!"
Layana stopped in her track, blinked repeatedly in reflex.
Was she just called a slut by her own son! Her initial fear vanished and a vortex of anger swirled in her.
"You called me a slut?"
"Aren't you worse than a cheap slut?" And she raised her hand to hit him but it was suspended in the air.
"You dare raise this filthy hand on me?" The urge to smack her intensified.
"You raised your hand on me, Alpha Floyd of Broln pack?" He flung her hand off.
"An alpha using derogatory words on his mother, the mother luna of this pack!!"
She stood in valor, her eyes pierced through him.
If he could abuse her with words in the presence of her subordinates, she would as well disrespect him before his people.
Floyd released a menacing laughter. "The mother luna of Broln pack who should be a role model to all, offered her body to Waylon for more than a moon, just to frame my innocent mate, Alora!!"
The revelation caused an uproar. Hera clasped her hand over her mouth in shock while Layana trembled briefly.
"Watch your words Floyd!! I won't take your accusation lightly!!"
She maintained her bravery. As long as there was no evidence, she was innocent.
"Isn't it true mother luna? You did it in secret but forgot the goddess was watching!! Your accomplice is already paying for his sins and yours won't be far!!"
"Calm down alpha, don't assume things."
Otto felt Alora's departure was affecting Floyd's sense of reasoning making him spout unimaginable things, especially placing such a heavy allegation on his mother.
He shifted his gaze on Otto and shook his head. "I'm in my right senses beta!!"
At that point crowd had gathered.
"She framed Alora!! She connived with Waylon to frame Alora!!"
His voice became husky as his anger faded and sorrow slipped in.
The crowd was in uproar. The seer framed Alora!!
"I'm sorry alpha, let me atone for my sins."
Waylon who couldn't bear the guilt eating him up forced his way through the crowd and fell before Floyd.
The moment Floyd left his home, he rose and followed behind him, hoping to get his forgiveness.
"I was carried away by lust, please forgive me." He kowtowed.
Whispering filled the air. There was no other evidence needed as Waylon's action proved the allegation to be true.
All eyes were on Layana who was too shocked to speak.
She staggered backward, gripped the wall, slowly slid down and sat on the floor.
Otto's muscles became impossibly still. Did he hear right?
"Otto, she offered her body to Waylon for more than a month just to frame Alora!!"
Then in despondency, trudged to his chamber.
Hera refused to believe all she saw and heard. Floyd against his own mother because of Alora?
Even if she was framed, so what? Didn't he hate her, wanted her out of his way?
Shouldn't he be grateful to his mother for her intervention? But the way he called her "my mate" rose suspicion in her.
"She was framed?" Otto muttered.
He hurled a fierce gaze at Layana who was sitting on the ground, her head lowered in shame.
Her dirty lining had been washed in public and humiliation had come to abode with her.
"You were sleeping with Waylon?" Otto couldn't believe it.
The woman who accorded tons of respect from all was sleeping with a man whose mate was still alive, hale and hearty.
Just to frame the innocent, they committed several crimes against the goddess!!
"Waylon!"
Otto shook his head in incredulity as he stared at the man whose knees were on the ground and his face severely bruised.
"How could you?"
"Floyd!" Otto muttered, glanced around and notice he had left.
Hurriedly, he dashed to his chamber before he would do something everyone would regret.
He pushed the door heavily and barged in. Floyd was standing by his window staring blankly at the pack. His shoulder was hunched and track of tears were visible on his face.
An intense pain gripped Otto's heart as he beheld the terrible condition of his alpha.
He couldn't form a perfect word to say to him at that moment.
The one he loved, carrying his child was framed and chased into the cursed pack, a place the pure and free-living entered and became cursed!
His alpha needed consolation but he had no idea how to provide it.
He took a deep breath and plodded to him.
"I honestly don't know what to say at this point." He could barely hear himself.
"I can imagine what your feelings are right now. I do.....i...." What else should he say?
He placed his hand on his shoulder, hoping he could give him a little comfort.
"Is it possible to rest your mind let's think of something?"
"They chased her away Otto!! I didn't protect her, I didn't save her, I exposed her to cruelty from all." He gripped the railings of the window tightly.
"It's me Otto!!" There was no one to blame, but him.
The cruelty she suffered was because he started it. The genesis of the hate was him, the onset of the spite was him too.
He was the leader of the pack and his footsteps were what others followed. If he'd revealed his true feelings for her, no one would've hurt her, she wouldn't have left him.
Otto sighed helplessly. If only he listened to his advices.
"There's no medicine for regret, but you can pave a way out of this mess."
He turned slowly and fixed his misted eyes on him.
"How? If there's a way, I wouldn't mind walking through it."
His voice had become low and weak, his bones had lost their strength.
"If we sit and think, we can figure something out."
Floyd wiped the tears that rolled down his cheeks, then nodded. "Yeah, we can figure something out."
Then he trudged to the sofa and flumped into it, his palm clasped over his eyes.
Otto took a seat beside him, his expression strained. "What do you have in mind?"
There was only one thing in his mind, find her! "I wish to see her."
Otto nodded. "Fine, rest your body, we'll think of a way tomorrow."
"No! I'll see her today!" He had to see her as soon as possible, he had no idea how to but believed if he set out in search of her, a solution would surface.
"I understand how dispirited you are, but today is impossible!!"
Floyd rose from the sofa. "You've been a wonderful friend and a loyal beta and I pray to have you as my friend in our next lives, but this is my pain, my ache, my tears. You don't have to follow me."
Then he walked over to his closet, and took out a clean set of clothes.
"What are you doing?" Otto asked in confusion.
"Change into something comfortable, then set out to see her."
He changed into the clothes, then made his way to the door, not sparing his beta another glance.
"What exactly is your plan Floyd?"
"See the one my heart longs for, see my child!! You don't have to come with me." And he exited the room, leaving Otto in befuddlement.
Floyd left Broln pack and headed to the wood owned by no pack. Risky to embark on such journey alone but he wasn't afraid, he would crush anything or anyone that crossed his path.
With the flints of vexation dispersing from his body, no werewolf would dare come close to him.
By the time he arrived the boundary river, it was already dusk.
"I said you don't need to follow me." He sensed the presence of his beta.
Otto halted, scratched his hair helplessly. "How can I leave my friend alone in the wood?"
"Don't interfere with my decisions please." He warned.
He'd decided to find Alora and wouldn't entertain any form of discouragement from anyone.
Otto shrugged. "Fine, we'll do it your way."
He walked over to him and stood beside him.
They stared at the river for a long time without speaking.
What next?"
But Otto regretted asking as the response he got was a fierce scowl from Floyd.
"Sorry." He twitched his lips, fixed his gaze on the river, waiting for his alpha who'd been ravaged by frustration to take an action.
They watched the little rays of sunlight disappear and replaced with darkness. Only the moonlight partially illuminated the surrounding.
Sounds of crickets and rustling of leaves possibly from creatures retiring for the night were heard.
"Fly...." He recalled the glare he got earlier and clamped his lips.
Since he stubbornly followed him, he would endure whatever would be thrown at him.
Otto's legs were beginning to ache and he slowly sat on the ground.
He wouldn't subject his body to unnecessary pain, after all, he wasn't the one who accused Alora, neither her mate who tormented her.
All through the number of hours they waited for what he'd no idea of, Floyd didn't say a word or took a look at him.
Perhaps it was Floyd's way to atone for his sins against Alora, as for him, his mission was to keep the sinner company, not to suffer with him.
After what seemed like an hour, Floyd was yet to say a word or take an action.
Howls could be heard in the distance, wolves should be out for hunting by that time and if they weren't careful, they would have rogues to deal with.
Since his alpha had suddenly been blessed with strong metal legs that wouldn't ache, no matter how long he stood and had also become dumb, Otto plucked leafy twigs, carefully arranged them on the ground, then laid down.
It would be perfect to get some sleep before the impending surprise Floyd would give him.
Floyd looked back, saw his beta lying carelessly on the ground and could tell he was already asleep. He gave him an intense stare then returned his gaze forward.
Soon, a figure appeared at the other side of the river. It was a dwarf wolf.
It stared at Floyd, sensed he was a werewolf but couldn't tell his identity.
It knew he wasn't a rogue as rogues smelt badly. Fearfully, it loped away.
"Call your alpha over!" Floyd's roar halted the wolf, it turned, stared at Floyd momentarily, then ran off.
Otto who was already in a deep sleep jolted awake when he heard Floyd's loud voice. His wolf stirred in vigilance.
"Who was that?"
Floyd shifted his gaze on him. "A wolf. Go back to sleep if you're tired."
Otto stretched his body, stood up and sauntered to him. "Sit for a while."
But he wagged his head. "Not until I see Alora."
"You've been standing for hours." Standing for hours wasn't good for the body.
He needed to be fit especially as they were alone in the wild by that time of the night.
"I'm not complaining."
Otto, returned to his make shift bed of twigs and laid down. Obviously, nothing he said would change Floyd's mind.
"Al..pha, some..one at the boun..boundary re..requests to... meet you."
The scout who ran all the way back to the pack panted between his words.
Sebastene narrowed his eyes, his countenance became clouded, someone looking for him by that time of the night was suspicious.
"His identity?"
The scout wagged his head. "No idea."
Sebastene shot him a stern stare. "Someone requested to see me and you didn't ask who he is?"
Isn't that incompetency? What if it was a trap?
"I'm sorry alpha, panic got a better hold of me that I forgot to ask, he doesn't look dangerous."
The scout who'd finally regained his composure stood respectful before Sebastene.
Sebastene sneered. "He doesn't look dangerous but you ran back to the pack in panic."
He sighed angrily and walked away.
He would have to see whoever it was. He mind-linked his beta and together they headed to the boundary river.
After a long trek, they finally arrived the river.
Sebastene was stunned to see Floyd standing at the other side, fortunately, the goddess didn't take away their nocturnal sharp eye sights.
"Alpha Floyd?" What would such a formidable alpha want from him? He gazed intently at him in bewilderment.
"Hope all is well?"
"All is not well alpha Sebastene, I ask to see you because I need your help."
Before Sebastene, his majestic aura flowed freely despite how despondent he was inwardly.
Sebastene's brain blanked out in befuddlement. He had nothing to offer to anyone, the goddess incapacitated them.
Otto was already in the dreamworld when he heard voices. He stretched, rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up.
"If it's something within my ability, I will." He hadn't forgotten how Floyd and his beta saved their lives the last time.
"It's my mate, can I see her?"
Sebastene stared blankly, his brows furrowed and his head wagged repeatedly.
"I'm sorry alpha Floyd, there's an error. The goddess doesn't match my pack so your mate can't be with us."
He shifted his gaze to Chlyde who was as confused as himself.
"I thought he has a luna? What mate is he talking about."
Chlyde whispered to his alpha who had suddenly become a dullard.
In hurried steps, Floyd got to the river bank, stepped into water and walked towards Sebastene.
"Floyd!!" Otto yelled. Was he nuts? Was he planning to step into the cursed land?
Sebastene breath hitched as he watched Floyd get closer to them with each step he took.
"I can hear you alpha Floyd, don't take a step further!"
What his pack had been made to become was something he wouldn't wish for anyone, let alone a great man like Floyd.
Floyd halted, the water level was below his knees. "She ran into your pack few weeks ago with my unborn child."
And a sudden jolt of electricity coursed through the veins of the two cursed werewolves. Their jaw went slack and their mouth fell opened.
After a period of dumbness caused by the overwhelming revelation, Sebastene involuntarily blinked.
"It's you?"
Floyd's felt an intense gnawing grief. "I messed up Sebastene. Can you help me?"
His majestic voice broke and became hoarse.
Sebastene slowly ran his eyes round his body, he was pitiful, had lost lots of weight and had visible twines of pains warped on his handsome face.
Floyd was obviously drowning in misery and Sebastene couldn't refuse his request, so readily nodded. "I'll try, return home it's late."
"I'll remain here till she comes." He wouldn't leave until he saw Alora.
Otto who was at the river bank called him.
"Alpha! Let's return to the pack, then co..."
"Did I ask you to follow me!!" His deep, furious voice thundered as he interrupted Otto.
He shot him a menacing stare. "Return to the pack immediately!"
Otto shrunk into his shell, he forgot his earlier warning not to interfere with his decisions.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled.
"Alpha Floyd, even if you remain here throughout the night, you won't be able to see her. It's late and unsafe for a female to be out in the wood, or do you intend to expose her to numerous dangers lurking in the night?"
Chlyde noticed the tension brewing between the alpha and beta so stepped in to ease it.
Floyd quickly sieved Chlyde's words and realized he was right. "Promise I'll see her tomorrow morning."
Promise? Chlyde and Sebastene stared at each other in tactic understanding then wagged their heads.
"I can promise to persuade her but not sure about tomorrow morning."
"Alphas don't renege." Then he walked out of the river and returned to Broln pack.