(AZTEC'S POV)
The day was truly not getting better and nothing showed me that like the welcome I received as we arrived back to the Pack. I had an urgent meeting to attend apparently.
From just some hours of me being away? There was definitely something wrong about this day.
A meeting with the security chiefs who awaited my presence. The moment we were back at the pack, we noticed the place looking even more quiet than usual.
"It just keeps getting better." Steele said beside me with sarcasm after he took a small glass shot of some strong drink.
We were walking to the hall where the security chiefs were assembled.
"Here goes." I said just we followed the security guards in to the room after they pushed the big doors open.
"A relief to have you back, Alpha." The Head security chief said to me.
I assumed my position at the head of the table with Steele beside me. With the looks on the faces of the people around me, I could tell that something very bad was going on.
"What is going on?" I demanded wondering to myself what could have possibly happened within these hours that I had gone and returned.
The chiefs looked at one another and then the head security chief cleared his throat and began.
"A Kralin attacked the orphanage this morning." He announced.
"The fuck???" I could not help but curse just as Steele cursed hard too.
"How many casualties?" I asked my heart drumming in guilt.
A Kralin attacked the orphanage? And just today that Rhea had spoken about it as a term? Is this the grave mistake?
"No casualties, your majesty." The head security chief replied me.
I turned to him surprised.
"What?"
"The Kralin was killed by a young She-Wolf. She saved it from harming the young ones." He informed me.
I turned to Steele slowly and he looked just as shocked as I was. I turned back to the Head security chief.
"She killed a Kralin?" I asked him in disbelief.
"It is said that she did, your majesty. She stabbed it in the neck with metal. It died an hour later. I saw the dead creature myself." He said to me.
"Well, that's impressive." I said nodding my head at Steele.
"It sure is." He agreed.
"But what is a Kralin doing out in the day time?" Steele wondered out loud.
"The same thing we have been trying to figure out." One of the security chiefs said.
"It is like we had a shield and it is now breached." Another said.
"Then we have to act fast." I said sternly. "I want every advanced group of fighters ready, security officials, chiefs. Gather every one, make sure you gather enough information about the Kralins and the Moon Shade Pack. I want us to meet in four hours."
As the orders were being carried out, I demanded that Steele and I be taken to the She-Wolf who killed a Kralin.
I was in awe, as was Steele and our way, I could not help but think about Rhea telling me about the orphanage just this morning.
And then I looked up and realized that we were headed in the direction of Rhea's home. I turned to Steele who was also giving me the same look. And to my greatest surprise, we were parked right in front of the house.
Wolves who lived around had come out to get a look of the Alpha's wagon train.
"What the hell." I said and anxiously, I let myself out of the wagon quickly headed towards the house with Steele walking as fast as he could before me.
As I got in to the house, it seemed like my presence was being awaited already.
Rhea's step mother and step sisters were seated in the room with about a dozen children who were busy eating.
They all turned around when we walked in and Rhea's Step mother stood up and came to me immediately with a bow.
"Your Majesty ." She greeted me with courtesy.
"I'm here to see the one who killed the Kralin." I said with haste as my eyes scanned each face in the room.
"Oh, er that should be my daughter." Rhea's step mother said pushing one of her daughters forward.
"This is Hori, my daughter. She was the one who saved these young pups from a Horific incident." The mother said.
I turned to the Hori who was busy batting her eyelashes at me. I looked at her with doubt.
"You killed a Kralin?" Steele asked and I could hear the disbelief in his voice but she nodded.
"Tell us what happened". I demanded and she broke in to a story of how she had been on a stroll before she heard the sound of the Kralin.
As she told the story, her voice started to shake and she stammered. She looked scared but there seemed to be something about the story that was not right.
There was something about it all that did not quite add up.
But there were witnesses and I could not argue with that.
"It was heroic of you to do that." I said when she had said the story completely .
The security chiefs themselves had seen the body of the middle sized Kralin as they had said.
"The children shall be taken care off. Thank you for your help." I said, I could see that the Hori was trying to push foward with a conversation.
But I was in a hurry and then I sighted an older woman who sat by the corner looking horror stricken.
"Who are you?" I asked her
The woman turned to me and she looked alarmed but Rhea's step mother jumped to answer at once.
"Oh that's the she wolf who takes care of the young ones at the orphanage." She said.
There was something strange about the woman. But I figured she was traumatized with the event that had taken place.
And then I realized something, Rhea was no where to be seen.
"Where is Rhea?" I demanded.
I noticed that her step mother looked very surprised . She stammered at first and then her face creased in to a sad look.
"Actually, Rhea is missing. We could not find her this morning." She said.
I turned to her instantly.
"What do you mean?" I demanded.
"Your majesty, I am Lillith. I was the wife of the former Beta." She said "I don't believe that we have properly met."
But I had no use for anything she was saying.
"I said what do you mean by Rhea is missing?" I angrily demanded.
This time, Lillith was quiet at once. Then she spoke.
"Her things are gone. It appears she ran away. She went out this morning and she never came back." Lillith said sadly.
The Sorceress's voice echoed in my head.
So this was my grave mistake!