In the borough, Drake Barrymore could barely keep himself in check. His heart was beating loudly in his chest and he was sure that if he stopped long enough to check, he would find his entire body trembling. Ever since he heard the thunder in the sky, ever since he felt the change in his heart, he had been unable to settle.
He was tall and well-built, he filled easily into whatever dress he wore. He had thick long hair that ran down to his neck, it was slick by nature and remained that way no matter the weather, or how badly he handled it. He had blue eyes that were soft, yet so intense as if they could pierce right through a person to see into their soul. He was easily one of the most handsome men in the borough.
Now, as he walked down the empty street, he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number, "Evan..." he said the second the call was answered. "Have you done it? There's no time okay? Just gather everyone at the bar, ten minutes tops. We have to be ready for this, no matter what."
As he cut the call and continued toward the bar, he walked past a condo whose door swung open. He saw at once that it was Luke Kent, one of his least favorite people in the world, and he walked past immediately. However, Luke wasn't going to be ignored, he chased Drake down and grabbed him by the elbow, "I didn't just imagine it, did I?"
"Just leave me alone, Luke. I don't have time for this!"
Luke grabbed him by the collar, "Don't fucking mess with me! I heard the thunder just like the rest of the borough. I felt it, just like every wolf in the pack did. Ulva is dead, right? That's what it means!"
"Yes, you're so smart! Now, can I go? Before I rip your arm off and beat you to death with it."
Luke let him go and stepped backward, "what are you going to do?"
"What else? Our leader is dead, and since everyone knows it by now, they'll be terrified. I have to calm them down so they don't do something silly. You need to find as many wolves as you can and bring them over to the bar."
"No, that's not what's important. We need to talk about Ashina! She"
Drake grabbed him by the collar and shoved him hard against the wall of the condo, "do you think I'm in the mood to talk about your girlfriend right now?"
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"We've got a major problem on our hands, Luke! Ulva is dead and we have no idea who killed him! If he was killed by a wolf or a hybrid, then the Mantle of the Alpha would have been passed to the killer. This is a cause for concern, Luke! We don't want an outsider taking control of the pack!"
"I understand what is at stake," Luke rasped as he pushed Drake off him. "But Ashina was with Ulva, they went into the woods together. She might be in danger, we need to send a search party for her at once."
Drake let out a deep breath as he ran his fingers through his hair, "I don't have the time for this! I have bigger things to worry about. I don't care about you or Ashina right now, just the well-being of the pack. And last I checked, the pack trumps one lone wolf, any time any day. We're a pack without a leader right now, how the hell do you think it makes our people feel? We need to do something about it, not here trying to play hero to some girl who doesn't even give a shit about you!"
Luke staggered backward, staring at Drake as if he couldn't believe his eyes, "is that what you think this is? Ashina is one of us, she's a member of our pack! She deserves to be saved just as much as any one of us."
"Yeah, but we'll get to her when I'm done addressing the pack. Not before. Besides, if whatever attacked them killed Ulva, what makes you think she survived it? She's probably dead as well! So get your fucking head out of your fantasy and go call as many wolves as you can, bring them to the bar, right now!"
Without waiting for a response, Drake turned and began to walk off.
"Oh yeah, Drake the great and powerful! So, this is it. This is what you've always been waiting for, it's finally right in your lap and you can't wait to seize it right up."
Drake stopped walking, then he turned to look at him, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Everyone knows of your obsession with becoming the alpha, you've been training for it your entire life, hoping you'd take over once Ulva died. Now, he's dead and you just can't wait to step into his shoes."
"I suggest you choose your next words carefully Luke," Drake warned, his voice deep as he stared at Luke with disdain. "I've not changed my mind about ripping your arm off the rest of your body."
"Come on, did I strike a nerve? Stop all this bullshit about wanting to do it for the pack, be honest with yourself! You want to be the alpha!"
With a howl of rage, Drake flew at him, his fist sweeping through the air, aiming for Luke's jaw. However, the latter dodged the punch and was about to send one of his when Drake's hand retracted and his elbow smashed right into his chin, knocking him to the side. Luke staggered a few steps before he caught himself.
"There's no time for this, Luke!" Drake warned, "Stop this madness at once!"
Luke only wiped blood from his lips before he launched himself at Drake, zipping through the air like a bullet. He threw his entire weight against Drake sending them both hurtling through the air and against a lamppost. The pole folded under their weight, bringing the lamp crashing down to the street. They both hit the ground hard, rolling as they tried to punch each other as hard as they could.
"What the fuck is going on here?!" A bewildered voice said beside them.
The two fighters jumped off each other as if they had been zapped by lightning. They stared at the newcomer and all the fight left their body at once as they saw who it was. It was Lena, Ulva's mate.
She stood beside them, her figure stoic as angry eyes burned holes into the two men. She was a slim woman with a small petite figure, however, everyone knew just how strong and dangerous she could be. After all, she had helped Ulva bring the borough to the heights that it was currently at.
"I cannot believe this of you two!" Lena blared angrily, "Your alpha is dead and all you can do is brawl in the streets?"
"Lena" they both tried to talk at the same time but she held up her finger.
"Save it! I don't want to hear it! Drake, I heard that you called for a meeting at the bar, so why the fuck are you here? Wolves are already at the bar waiting for you! Luke, go back down this street and see if you can gather anyone who is yet to be informed. Eddie and Elaine may be in their garden, they can't afford to miss this."
"But I think Ashina"
"I thought I said I don't want to hear it?" Lena snapped! "Go do what you're told, wolf! Now!"
Lena stood in the same spot as the two men went their separate ways. Her entire body shook as she thought about Ulva, her mate, and her lover. She then bunched her hands into fists as she stiffened her posture and resumed her walk to the bar.