That night while Herith pack was silent, the slave quarters were busy with activities.
From performing tedious jobs to receiving lashes of whips on their bodies.
Inside the metal caged cell, Trevor's eyes shone brightly, his face hardened in determination and his hands gripped the railings of the cage tightly.
He fired a fierce gaze at the guards who were stationed all round the cage. "If Floyd didn't lie, you all will soon cease to breath." He muttered.
He turned to the other side of the cage without a guard, slowly and carefully brought out the bottle.
"If this works, I'll forever be indebted to you Floyd."
He opened the bottle and gazed at the transparent liquid giving off vapour.
Taking a deep breath, he poured a little on the metal but nothing happened. He waited for a moment, nothing happened.
"I trusted you Floyd." He felt a pinning melancholy and the corners of his lips pulled down.
He was about to discard the bottle when he heard a low sizzling sound.
He gazed at the spot where the liquid smeared and his eyes widened in astonishment.
"It worked."
He watched as part of the metal burnt gradually until it was totally dissolved.
Quickly, he began to pour the liquid on several points of the cage and the metals dissolved just like the first one.
About to pour the last one, he recalled his beta was in chains, so quickly closed the bottle and hid it in his pant pocket.
With smiles on his face, he mind-linked his beta for the first time since he was vanquished.
"Preston?"
The moment his beta heard his voice, he jerked. "Alpha!!" There was great sadness in his voice.
"I'm so sorry alpha, they wouldn't allow me see you."
He had pleaded to see his alpha ever since they were captured but rather than grant his request, he would receive whips each time he asked.
He had tried to communicate with him but his alpha had shut him out completely.
"It's alright, Preston. Look for a way and notify my pack, we will leave here tonight."
Preston jolted and the chain on his hands rattled attracting the attention of the guards who hurriedly came in, scanned him carefully before they returned to their positions.
"How?"
"Do as I said immediately, and notify me."
"Okay alpha."
Quickly, Preston mind-linked his mate who should be with the women, perhaps attending to other men's sexual need.
At the thought, his resentment for Donovan festered in him.
"Inform any of us around you that we're leaving tonight. Everyone should get ready."
He heard her deep sigh, obviously she didn't believe him. "Is it possible?"
Can they ever leave Herith pack? Can their alpha ever regain his freedom?
"Just do as I said." And like that, through mind-link, the entire Devyl pack were informed of their impending freedom.
"Alpha, it's done!" Preston reported.
"Wait for me."
He took out the bottle, kept it at a safe corner, shifted into his wolf, broke off the remaining part of the cage and pounced on the guards before they could realize what was happening.
Preston felt his alpha's rage and knew he didn't lie. A smile surfaced on his face and his eyes fixed on the guards around him who he knew wouldn't exist soon.
Quickly, Trevor was back to his human, took the bottle and began to locate his beta using his scent.
He didn't care if he was bare, if his organ was dangling for all. What mattered at that point was their freedom
Once he got there, he kicked away the first guard, held his neck and throttled him instantly.
Before the other guard could shift and attack him, he had thrown the bottle to Preston, shifted immediately to his wolf, pounced on the guard and tore him into pieces.
"Pour it on your chains and free yourself!"
Quickly, Preston did as instructed, got rid of the chains and shifted into his wolf.
The moment the members of Devyl pack felt their Alpha's freedom, they began to shift and other slaves joined.
In a twinkle of an eye an intense battle erupted. Howls, growls, snarls, whimpers, sounds of tearing of flesh filled the air.
Trevor's wolf galloped to the royal house, his beta keeping pace with him.
No other thought was on his mind except to destroy Donovan, to make him feel the pains he felt in his pack for two years.
Donovan was enjoying his night sleep when the door was banged. He jolted awake, his wolf stirred and awoke.
"Alpha, the pack is under attack!!" It was his beta's voice.
He blinked repeatedly, perhaps it was a dream.
"Alpha!!"
The panicked voice of his beta came again accompanied with screams and wails and like a lightning, he let out his wolf, pushed the door and loped out.
"Let the warriors release all the weapons!!"
He mind-linked his beta who was loping behind him.
Who dared to start a war in his pack? Most alphas who had such ability were his slaves while the few left he'd ensured to maintain cordial relationship with until he vanquished them.
The moment he got to the entrance, his breath hitched and his wolf stepped back.
At the entrance was a familiar wolf, one he dreaded, one he tricked to conquer. Trevor!!
"I told you I'll crush you soon Donovan!!"
He shuddered at the sound of the deep voice that had constantly threatened him for two years, and his wolf whose actions at that point were influenced by his let out a low whimper.
His beta wolf, slowly retreated in fear and disappeared through another pathway.
"You're just a pup alpha Donovan!"
Trevor propelled his wolf forward, bared its huge canines at it.
Donovan glanced around and to his disappointment, his beta was no where in sight.
So he left him to face Trevor alone? If he successfully got out of the trap, he would relieve the useless beta of his duty!
"We can sort this out Trevor." Donovan finally found his voice.
Trevor let out a menacing laughter.
"Sort it out? You didn't think of it when I was in a cage!!"
Then it lurched on the panicky wolf, lifted it and smashed it heavily on the ground.
It tried to get up but Trevor who was in control of his wolf, raised his wolf's forelimbs and smashed Donovan's hind limbs, broke his bones and rendered him momentarily immobile.
"I would love to kill you Donovan but isn't it an easy way to die?"
His wolf's dark red eyes bored into the incapacitated wolf, which laid on the ground whining in severe pain.
Seeing he'd incapacitated it, he shifted to his human, pulled the wolf along with the help of his beta to the slave quarters where Donovan had several caged which he must have prepared for many slaves he would conquer in the future.
They threw him inside one of the cages and locked it.
Not willing to have any of his pack members injured, Trevor ordered them to return to Devyl and with howls of excitement, they loped back to their pack which had been deserted for two years, while he remained in Herith.
Standing in the slave quarters, he sighted the luna Caitronia being held down by a wolf who wouldn't let her shift, then he hurried to them.
"Lock her in the cage!"
And she was dragged into another cage directly opposite Donovan's.
"Right in your presence Donovan, she will serve as the best sexual tools to many!!"
Trevor fired an deadly glare at Donovan who was in his full human and sitting in a daze.
That night, several people regained their freedom and returned to their packs and many lost their lives.
Sebastene Miles was in a deep sleep when he felt a quick stirring.
He jolted awake, his eyes darted around vigilantly. He was alone in his bedroom.
He gazed at the door, it was locked, the windows were locked too.
He listened carefully, the entire pack was quiet.
Taking a deep breath of relief, he returned to sleep but the stirring came again, this time faster.
"The south pack belongs to you son!"
His muscles stiffened and he gave a quick nervous glance.
The voice was familiar, not his wolf but someone who held a special place in his heart, one who was no longer in existence. His father!
He shook his head to dispel the voice which he believed was an illusion.
"It's time to take what belongs to you son!!"
The voice came again, this time deeper. He jerked from the bed, staggered backward and gripped the wall.
"Father!"
"Take it immediately!!" And the voice ceased.
He looked around, swallowed hard then slumped into the bed and rubbed his forehead.
"He's right, it's time." Hugo rose on its fours and whispered to him.
"How Hugo? I'm scared."
"Take us there first."
And with Hugo's constant reminder, he mind-linked his beta and together they headed for the south pack.
In the Herith pack, the air smelt of blood, torn flesh were scattered around, the battle had become fierce, and Trevor stood at a corner glancing around.
It wasn't what he expected.
Provinces around Vlamwood got the news of Donovan's ordeal and all roads led to Vlamwood, to Herith pack.
The alpha with the highest number of human resources who were mainly slaves had been conquered!
Many alphas were ready to fight just to lay claim on Herith pack.
Trevor stared intently at two wolves in serious combat, tearing their skins and pulling their furs. He shook his head repeatedly as a deep frown cut across his face.
"Let's return to our pack alpha." Preston his beta suggested.
Since their people were safe and back to their pack, there was no point lingering in Herith.
"Or do you intend to take over Herith?"
Trevor shook his head, his forehead creased.
Floyd helped him and in return requested he conquered south pack for the alpha of Riverville pack, but looking at how fierce the battle had turned out, he wouldn't be any close to conquering the pack.
Since, there wasn't much he could do aside the one he'd already done, he decided to remain till either Floyd or Sebastene who he hadn't met before arrived.
"Someone made our escape possible and I owe him."
Preston raised his brows meaningfully, then nodded. "Okay."
* * * *
The next morning, Floyd was pacing round his room when the distress voice of his beta came.
"It'd gotten out of hand alpha, many alphas from Vlamwood and environ are in fierce battle with each other."
He was positioned there by Floyd to observe all that was happening.
"Is it that serious?"
"As I'm speaking to you, some alphas are dead!! This isn't what we planned."
Floyd frowned deeply, indeed it wasn't what he expected.
"Alpha, we have no choice than to get involved!!"
He could no longer watch the chaos, Trevor was no where in, sight, he couldn't go in to confirm if Donovan was still in the caged cell.
The intense battle had awoken the aggressive part of Aztec and it'd been restless, persuading him to let him out.
"The battle is spreading throughout the province, Broln would be attacked soon, get the warriors ready or send someone over here while I return to the pack!!"
Many packs have been conquered, many lives lost, packs are already securing their territories, Broln should follow suite.
"No!! Don't get involved yet, wait un..."
"Alpha, Sebastene and his entourage just arrived."
He interrupted Floyd the moment he sighted Sebastene.
"Keep observing."
And the communication link was disconnected.
Otto fixed his gaze on Sebastene who wore a worried expression.
He looked ahead and sighted Otto, then made his way quickly to him, avoiding the heart of the battle.
"Otto! Where's your alpha!" Sebastene asked the moment he got to him.
"Not here."
"What's happening here?" The commotion was too much, the battle was too intense.
"Many alphas fighting to take over south pack."
Sebastene frowned. If the pack truly belonged to him, why should it be fought over?
He wasn't willing to fight and his wolf was same.
He believed the great seer, his father's voice and Selene but the urge to exercise his muscles in an intense battle wasn't there.
BROLN PACK.
"Wake up sleepy head!!" Sierra knocked Alora's head and she opened her eyes slightly then shut it back.
"Wake up!!" It roused her again and she sighed in annoyance. She opened her eyes, turned around and stared at the ceiling.
"Can't someone sleep peacefully again?" She muttered.
"Sleep? When they won't let him take what is his!!"
Most times, Alora barely understood her wolf. Most things it spoke about were vague.
"Who again? I'm sleepy please!!" She positioned the pillow about to lay down but Sierra began to spring around, making incoherent sounds.
"Don't hurt my child!!" Alora warned but it giggled and continued leaping playfully.
Since she couldn't stop Sierra, she reluctantly sat up.
"Fine! I'm awake, what's it?" Sierra stopped then whispered to her.
"They are many, he can't fight them, let's go!"
Alora rubbed her forehead in puzzlement. "Sierra, who?"
"Sebastene, the south pack is his but a fierce battle is ongoing! they won't let him take it!"
Alora sat upright the moment Sebastene was mentioned. He was the alpha of Riverville not Herith.
"Do you know Sebastene? He's the Alp....."
"I know him, even his fore fathers, stop asking questions and let me out!!"
Sierra became restless, she needed to be let out, to help Sebastene, but unfortunately, Alora was a laggard.
Alora narrowed her eyes. "You know him?"
"Stop asking me and get your lazy butt up!! Take me to my mate!"
"Alright." Slowly, she sat up and walked tiredly to the door, stifling yawns repeatedly.
Outside the royal house, a small crowd had gathered protesting and alpha Floyd was standing before them not speaking.
"Others are ready, we're doing nothing!!" An elderly man pushed through the crowd.
"Where are our warriors? Where's the beta, why is our territory yet to be secured, do you plan to kill us all?"
The veins on the man's forehead bulged as he spoke.
They've gotten the news of the battle which started the previous night in Herith and was spreading rapidly.
Neighbouring packs were taking protective measures while theirs was silent.
No one knew where the beta was and their luna hadn't been seen for weeks.
"Calm down, we are..."
"Don't tell us to calm down alpha!!" Another man interrupted Floyd.
Floyd clenched his fist as he caged the ball of anger seething in him, about to explode.
"All you do is sit inside, guarding the wolf-less girl who returned with a cursed child, but you don't care about our lives!!"
At that time Alora dashed out, her hands fisted.
"Whose child is cursed?"
She took steady steps towards the man who spoke last.
"Isn't it cursed? You ran into a cursed land, bore a cursed child for a nonentity, then returned to be hidden by the alpha!! How sure are we you aren't the cause of this battle!!"
The man was obviously wild with rage as he spat his words fiercely.
"Yes, yes!!" The crowd chorused.
Floyd stormed to the man but Alora was steps ahead of him.
"Say it again if you have no fear!!"
Her voice became deep, as molten anger rolled through her.
"Lora! Step back please."
Floyd suddenly had a bad premonition. He could tell Alora was furious,no, not Alora, but Sierra.
"Stay away from me Floyd!!"
She yelled and he stepped back immediately.
"Have you become dumb? Say that nonsense again!!"
Her deep eyes spouted fire which grazed the man, but he maintained a brave demeanor,though deep inside, he was trembling.
"Even your father who's s here right now knows the thing in your womb is cursed!!"
In a spark, the ground shook greatly and screams erupted.
A fierce wind blew and raised intense dust.
People fell to the ground, covering their eyes, screaming and scrambling on the ground.
After a moment, the wind stopped, the quake ceased and before their eyes, Alora shifted into her giant wolf, raised her fore limbs and kicked the man away.
It howled loudly sending shivers down their spines.
It glanced around, located her father who was already on his knees.
"You called my child cursed!!"
It gave him a hard kick and he man screamed out in pain, transformed into his wolf and laid down in submission.
The howl became incessant, sending all out of their homes to the royal house. As they came, they shifted and lowered before her.
Sierra stood on its hind limbs and beat the air aggressively.
"My child isn't cursed!!"
It turned swiftly, kicking away several wolves in fury.
"Calm down mate!" Floyd who wasn't shifted tried to mind-link her but it seemed it would take lots of effort to calm her down.
"Our child isn't cursed!!"
She stomped her limbs angrily causing a quake that travelled across the entire pack.
Those who heard what was happening locked their homes and refused to come out.
"Don't hurt our child mate!!"
At the mention of the child, its howl stopped and it glanced around, spotted Floyd and walked towards him.
"It's alright, our child isn't cursed."
Floyd raised his hand and rubbed its belly and it lowered its body before him.
Everyone watched in horror as the giant wolf placed its head on Floyd's shoulder.
He rubbed its head gently, placed a kiss on it and it whined softly.
"Everything is fine!"
"No, Sebastene needs help, let's go!"
And quickly, it laid flat on the ground. "Get on my back mate!"
Floyd chuckled and shook his head.
"No way!!" He wouldn't get on her back, he might hurt their child.
"Child is safe, get on my back."
Seeing she was insistent, he called on his personal servant to prepare some robes and gently ascended her back.
It rose, glanced around and trotted away while the people gaped in dread, too panicked to react.
Duanne heard the news, ran all the to the royal house to get a glimpse of her, but met them on the way.
Fear gripped him and he began to step back.
The moment Sierra saw him, it stopped, flickered its tail and loped away.
"What!!" He rushed to the royal house and met an air of quietude.
"Uncle!!" He spotted Alora's father on the ground naked, holding his leg and his face contorted in pain.
"She finally shifted?"
He couldn't believe it, the daughter he despised finally shifted, not just any wolf but a giant, rare wolf.
"Are you hurt?" Duanne tried to help him up.
"She hurt me!!" Duanne raised his brows and his lips curled into a small smile.
"She must hate you so much uncle and might hurt you more when she returns."
The man wrapped his arms around his body as he felt chilly fingers crawling round his body.
A ball of happiness rolled in Duanne as he watched the panic look on his uncle's face.
"I just hope that giant wolf doesn't kill you uncle."
And the man's heart jacked hammers.
"Let me get something to cover you up."
Duanne left and never returned. His uncle didn't deserve to be helped after everything he did to Alora, his daughter.
Sierra galloped forward and Floyd watched in awe as trees bent away to create a path for it to pass.
Animal ran at her sight and the ground shook as it galloped.
It didn't run through the usual paths but through packs, trespassing their territories, pushing down their walls.
Everyone trembled at its sight and ran away as she approached.
Floyd peered behind and saw many wolves trotting after her in astonishment. They weren't from his pack as they shared no bond.
Sierra howled loudly as it approached packs were the battle had spread to.
Once she stepped into the pack, everyone shifted and lowered before her.
"Cease the battle!!"
It ordered and a wave of calmness washed over the pack.