Knight remembered that face well. It was the face of the witch who had mercilessly killed his mother. The anger he had for Lance was no match for the intense anger that surged inside him upon seeing the witch.
Caesar threw the chained witch down to the floor until she bent on her knees. Her once smooth hair was tangled.
Knight dismissed Lance and took a step forward. He stared darkly at the smiling witch. "Why did you burn our village? Who sent you? What do you want?"
Knight's voice was empty, rasping, and feral. He barely whispered the questions, but the entire mansion shivered dead cold. He was mad. And his beast roared.
The witch bowed her head quickly, hitting the floor with a horrible thud. Her shoulders then shook with heartfelt laughter that echoed around all the corridors.
Knight saw nothing but red. He wanted to rip her limbs vein by vein, but he needed answers more than her death.
"Who sent you?" It was strange for everyone, including Lance and Logan, to witness Knight this patient and calculating.
"Well," said the witch. "Who else but the Almighty Gods!" She looked up, arms raised as if staring at the sky and waiting for the rain to fall. "Your territory is small, poor, and dirty."
Every wolf inside hissed and roared.
"I could've just let you all die in time," the witch added, wiping off her smile, though she could not. "But you have something we need."
She chuckled, and from behind, Caesar gripped her neck until she coughed.
Knight asked, "What else could your kind possibly want? You've already stolen the Night Howler!"
The witch laughed once more. Even when Caesar's grip was tighter, blocking her airway, she still managed to issue a laugh.
She said, more seriously this time, "The witches did not steal the bone whistle, dog."
What the Elderwood knew was that Adolf had stolen the Night Howler. And he did steal it, but he was merely an instrument. He was ordered by someone, by no one else but the witches.
Knight still had no sufficient evidence to support his claim, so he could not put the case to the Higher Order. But he was certain that the witches were behind it all.
Despite that, he could not just accuse the witches, though. A war would ensue between the Colossus and the Kaleidos, and it was the least of his priorities.
"We did not steal it," added the witch. "We just took back what's always been ours." Her smile was still plastered on her face, even though she was aware that this was her final destination.
Knight said firmly, "Your kind does not own the Night Howler."
"Oh?" The witch acted surprised. "But we do," she said. "Our ancestors made it."
Knight took a threatening advance. The soft murmurs around died swiftly.
The witch laughed. "That whistle belongs to no one else but our kind."
Caesar tightened his grip on her. The witch's laughter echoed in every corner. With the remaining voice she had, she screamed, "This land belongs to us! You animals will bow down before our kind. You will be our Gods' pets. We'll chain you all, and you will serve us for all eternity…"
Knight had had enough. He traversed the distance and dispatched the witch with ease.
Everyone stilled the moment Knight announced, "The next time you abandon your duties," his stoic gaze swept over everyone, especially Lance, "the next time you fail to protect our land, and more so our people, the next time our home is disrespected, our law is broken, and our destiny is ignored…"
Knight gestured to the wasted trash lying helplessly on the floor. "You will feel my wrath deep into your bones. You should befriend death by now, because I promise, I've already reserved you spaces in hell."
Knight growled after, and without looking back, he pushed the mighty door open, leaving everyone stunned as the dead.
Knight washed his hands once he entered his office.
"The Night Howler?" Elder Quin was already sitting on his massive chair the moment Knight stepped inside.
The old man's black clothing blended perfectly with Knight's dimly lit sanctuary. Elder Quin was casually smoking his large pipe while tapping his wrinkled finger on the nearby wooden table.
Knight bowed his head low, both embarrassed and surprised. "It was not there. The trace disappeared in Vernon Forest. We searched the entire area and even went to the nearest village to investigate, but we found nothing."
The old man caressed his long white beard, then he shook his head thoughtfully as he hummed.
Knight hated this. He knew that if his father were alive, he would have been so disappointed in him. He, too, was disappointed in himself anyway.
The Night Howler was the most important thing to their kind. Never in the history of werebeasts had it been stolen, not once, only this time, under his own care. It had been months since it was stolen, and until now, he still had no substantial leads.
"The Passing is near," the Elder said matter-of-factly.
It made Knight feel more awful. The most awaited event would occur almost a year from now. It meant that the Night Howler would be passed to another Alpha who would protect it. So they had to retrieve it fast.
"Have you heard the news from the Capital?" the Elder inquired.
Knight exhaled a long sigh, then threw himself on the awaiting couch. He was so exhausted he did not want to live any longer.
"Elder Berg is terrorizing our scholars. He says our clan is not capable enough because we've lost the Night Howler. It is a shame, Knight, a disgrace."
Knight pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling guilty. He knew this would occur.
"We need to bring it back as soon as possible, by whatever means necessary. If we want our pack to still be acknowledged, Alpha…"
Knight was trying to calm himself. "But you see, we do not have any true leads. The team Logan sent hasn't returned yet. There's still no new information, and we've already looked almost everywhere."
"Where's the Night Howler?" the Elder asked. There was a long stretch of silence. "That only means you're not looking well and long enough."
"But…" Knight didn't know what else to say. He didn't want to feel hopeless. As the Alpha, he should be the one giving his people hope, honor, and pride.
But ever since his parents died, Knight stopped hoping for things to go right, or according to his wishes. They never did.
Well, except for the time he had smelled her scent.
Knight wanted to smile at that thought, but since he was in front of the Elder, he suppressed himself and bit his lip. His people had died today. It was not the time to smile. There was never a time to be happy.
"The thing is," the Elder said, sighing. "We've got another lead. And this time, it's as solid as the truth. It's from Lance."
Knight's eyebrow rose. "Lance? Of all Werebeasts?"
"His loyal friend in the Northeast reported seeing a suspicious man traveling toward the Forgotten Fjords the day the Night Howler was stolen. Intel from the North guarding the border tells the same tale."
Forgotten Fjords, Knight thought. Absentmindedly, he stared at his veiny hands filled with tribal tattoos that symbolized their pack. He had experienced horrible things there.
Memories that Knight wanted to bury awakened, but he pushed them away before they could even poke him where it hurt.
"Forgotten Fjords?" Knight wanted to clarify.
The old man must have heard the hesitation in Knight's voice. He stood up and went to Knight's side. "I know, of all people, you do not want to go back to that horrendous continent. You were trapped there for two years, for one."
That was an understatement. He didn't just want to avoid going back there. He wanted to burn and bury that whole land.
Elder Quin added, "But it's been ten years since. And we must get back the Night Howler. We have no more alternatives. We cannot let the other packs belittle us just because we lost it. We need to remind everyone that the Elderwood Pack is capable and mighty, more than any packs, clans, or nations on the entire continent of Collosus. We need to take back our honor and glory."
Knight bowed his head in understanding. "We'll go at daybreak," he said firmly.
It was still blindingly dark and biting cold, but Knight was already on standby outside the Pack Mansion. They were waiting for his departure while he talked with Logan and Caesar.
"I do not intend to repeat the same mistake I made yesterday." Knight's voice was raspy and veiled with guilt.
"We will make sure it won't happen a second time, Alpha." It was Logan, his guttural voice echoing around the bare walls.
In the study chamber, Knight eyed everyone with his unblinking eyes and firm lips. "Our return is never promised," he said. "So we must move forward and die with honor."
Logan, his Beta, Caesar, his third in command, Team Cradle, and Logan's squad were all intently listening to him.
Knight did not usually leave any messages when he was on the hunt for the elusive Night Howler. But today was vastly different from anything else.
He added, "The Forgotten Fjords is a dangerous place. If we do not come back after two weeks, please presume us all dead."
The quiet, dim room grew more silent. Logan tensed.
"And never send any more of our people to look for us. Instead, focus on strengthening our security. Our people need it more than any of us. Abandon us, but please protect the pack for us. Am I clear?"
Knight could feel Logan wanting to argue, but his second in command accepted his plan because they both knew it was the best for everyone.
"Permission to ask, Alpha…"
It was Luke, the youngest in Team Cradle, as well as one of the best trackers in the pack. Logan had insisted that Knight bring Luke with him.
But Knight knew that if the other witches attacked their territory, Luke's skill would be useful to protect their people. So, he declined.
Knight nodded in Luke's direction, and the young Werebeast bowed his head. There was uncertainty in his eyes, but then he gulped and faced Knight.
"If the Forgotten Fjords is so dangerous, as you say and personally experienced, why not send us instead? We will retrieve the Night Howler even if it means danger and the possibility of death. We can afford to die, but we cannot afford to lose a leader."
Caesar hissed at Luke. It was a well-established law that the Alpha's decision was absolute. It should not be questioned, especially if it did not put them in danger.
If this were his late father's time, Luke would've been lashed by now. But this was not. And he respected and understood the fear in the young boy's eyes.
A pack without an Alpha would endanger everyone. Their territory would be vulnerable to attacks, and they would become easy targets to conquer and enslave, or worse, kill.
Knight was firm. "I must and should solely be the one to retrieve the Night Howler. It is my primary duty, and therefore my destiny."
Knight saw the others look at him with confusion, but they held their tongues and let their eyes wander.
"Although not everyone knows about the Night Howler and its purpose, it should be known that it is of paramount importance, more than my life. I cannot disclose it as I swore an oath before the Elder during the latest Passing. But remember this fully: you're summoned here because I trust all of you to protect our territory while I am away. If I do not return, fear not. Lance is with you. He's my successor. I have yet to name my heir. Thus, Elderwood won't be leaderless upon my demise."
Before Knight departed to join the group, he first stopped at his stepbrother's room. He wanted to apologize for punching him yesterday.
It was stupid of him to pour his anger onto someone who didn't know better than he did. After all, Lance was still young. The burden should be Knight's alone. Lance was just twenty-one. Knight knew well that the throne was not of his interest.
He meant no harm, but Knight kept on setting the standard and expectation too high for him, just like how their father had taught him. And he did not like it very much.
Knight knocked on Lance's door twice, but none answered. He closed his eyes and focused on his hearing. Their rooms were soundproof, but his senses were stronger than those of a normal Werebeast. He heard Lance shift on his bed. He was awake.
"I am. Are you…" Knight blew a loud breath. Just like him, Lance's senses were stronger courtesy of the Alpha blood. So he knew that his stepbrother could hear him on the other side of the door.
Knight and Lance were not so close. They did not grow up together, and their similarities ended with their blood. But that did not mean Knight did not try to understand him. But it was honestly not easy.
Knight wanted to apologize, but he knew that what he did was necessary. He said, "I know you're mad because of what I did. But I'm not sorry for it, Lance. You must grow up. Our people are dying. I cannot lead alone. They need leaders. They need us. They need you."
Lance did not answer, but Knight could hear the rustle, the little breaths, and his heartbeats.
"I'm going to the Forgotten Fjords. We're going to bring back the Night Howler. While I am gone, please take care of our people. Once I am gone, please lead them for me, Lance. You must promise. Please protect the pack."