(AZTEC'S POV)
The night had been long and endless for me. I had a meeting with the security chiefs at midnight and we had spent hours arguing and contributing to the current happenings. The main issue was the killings of the security team at the border, for yet the second time. It was a long debate on what we were to do.
We finally ended the meeting just before dawn and everyone dispersed. I decided to just take shower and then have a glass of wine before sleeping.
But as I stepped out of the shower with my Robe strapped to my body, I noticed that Steele was leaned against one of my side tables and he was eating an apple.
"I know that seeing you isn't such a good thing." I greeted him with a groan as I walked towards him. "Did you take that from my basket?." I pointed at the apple he was holding in his hands.
He ignored my question about the apple and straightened himself no longer leaning.
"Yeah, I am not so happy about seeing you either. we have to get back out. I'm glad to see that you had the time to shower, whereas I was caught in the middle of a drink." He said to me.
"My drink was going to come later." I said "What's going on?"
The look on his face told me that it was nothing good but I already knew that from the moment I saw him here. We had just said our good byes after the meeting and yet here he was again with a matter that I knew could not wait.
"The new teams placed at the border, there was a distress call from a hunter. I think it was very bad." He said to me.
I sighed. I did not need to be told that they had been attacked as well.
"I'll be back out in a few." I told him
I retreated to my bedroom, quickly putting on clothes before I headed back out.
I prepared my mind for whatever I was going to find and when we got to the border, I saw the damage that had been done. Structures had been brought to the ground and I saw covered bodies on the ground.
I felt pain surge through my chest and it was accompanied by anger.
"They were massacred." The chief security officer said to me. "It looked like there was no chance for defense.
I turned to Steele giving him a questioning look and he nodded his head at me.
"Something strange is definitely going on." He said.
"Why are they attacking just the security at the border? Why don't they go further in to the pack?." He went on saying, questions that I had only just been thinking of. This was why I liked Steele. My best friend, my Beta, he was right on track, thinking the right thoughts at the right moments.
"One of our security officers is still alive." The chief informed me. "But he is in a terrible condition and he can't even speak."
"Which means he can't give us a detailed event about what took place." I gathered. "Let him be given adequate attention and proper treatment. I should be given an update about his recovery and I should be alerted the moment he wakes up."
The security chief nodded and hurried away to carry out my orders. Steele came closely to me and together we stood side by side watching the covered bodies with no words for a moment.
"Do you think the Kralins are the ones who are doing this?" I asked him.
He turned to look at me with a knowing look.
"I don't think so." He said.
"I feel the same way too. Asides from the fact that Kralins eat more flesh, this looks more like a planned attack to just kill. Not to eat." I said.
It was a thought that had been floating in my mind since the second attack. Kralins which are the evil creatures birthed from dark magic by Alpha Varis, Alpha of the Moon shade Pack (My father's murderer and the one who brought darkness to our homes)
The Kralins which are fond of coming out at night, eat the flesh of wolves after killing them and leave behind remains. From the first attack at the border, the victims did not look like they had been attacked by Kralins even they had been violently murdered because their bodies were almost intact.
From the second attack, I kept the thoughts in my mind and now, I was almost sure.
"What are you thinking, Alpha Aztec?" Steele's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"I'm thinking that we may be getting these attacks from someone." I said
"Alpha Varis?" Steele suggested.
The name cursed through my veins like pain bringing anger to me as they did.
"I think so." I said. "But I can not help but wonder why they stop at the borders, why don't they come further in?"
Steele shrugged.
"I think it may have to do with the same reasons why we have not been attacked for the last fifteen years despite our refusal to confront the Moon Shade Pack with war. Maybe it has to do with the reasons why Alpha Varis has been in hiding for years." He said to me.
"He may be back, that is." I said in agreement and I had a brief moment of anxiety which I brushed away.
"Then I think that there is only one person who can help us with some answers." I said.
"Who?" Steele asked curiously.
"The sorcereress." I answered. "We shall meet with My Late father's Gamma, Rowan. He is the one who will take us to her again."
Steele nodded. With that, we returned Back home with the agreement to meet back in an hour.
But just as I made my way up the stairs that led me to the front door of my mansion, I saw some of my workers hurrying towards me.
"Your Majesty." They greeted with a bow.
"You have a visitor." One of them informed me and I frowned.
"So early this morning?" I said with a groan.
Why the hell was it so hard to get a rest? I did not even bother to ask who it was, I just stormed inside.