THE PROCESSION was long and slow. There was a lazy drizzle in the air like the rain and sun were battling on who to come out, but the rain was winning because the sun has disappeared, covered by a thick mist while light breeze carried the little drizzle of rain. Alpha Jamie and Alpha Preston led the march, all on black, they led the rest of the pack to the burial ground. To the pack’s cemetery. They crossed the threshold of the cemetery and walked into the deeper section. To the section reserved for special situations. Situations like this, when a werewolf dies in its wolf form and doesn’t shift back to human. A hole had been dug already. They formed a semi circle around the dug grave and two men stepped forward to lower the coffin. Some women could be seen sobbing, and either consciously or unconsciously, they were leaning a bit to a dark haired woman who was pouring tears into a black handkerchief. She was Jeffrey’s mother and her husband, a tall man with an imposing figu

ALPHA JAMIE SAT on the couch with a glass of whisky in his hand staring into the fireplace blindly. It has been two days since Alpha Preston left and he really needed another alpha blood by his side now. His mind was blank. His face was blank. His eyes were open but it was obvious that he was not seeing anything. He did not notice when his wife, Charlotte came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked up at her. “How are you doing?” She asked. “I’m trying my best to stay sane.” Jamie replied. He took a sip from his glass and asked. “How is he?” He gestured with his head, referring to Jake. “He is hanging in there.” She said, sitting down by his side. “He’s stronger than he looks but it’s hard.” “I know. It has been a hard past few months.” Jamie reached for the bottle on a small table by his side. Charlotte collected the bottle from his grip and set it down beside her feet. “I was not talking about you. Our son lost his cousin and friend... the whole

JAKE RAISED HIS face and sniffed the air. He caught his father’s scent and followed it. The air had messed some parts of the path up and so that infused Jake and set him back a few minutes. With each step came that sinking feeling that something was terribly wrong. The feeling grew stronger and he felt like he was walking to his doom. He subconsciously clutched his chest and glanced back at the direction of his house. After enduring the growing ache, Jake could not take it anymore. Without taking off his clothes, he shifted and took a great bound ahead. In wolf form, he followed the scent easier and was faster. As he ran ahead, he noticed some bushes around were trampled and scattered, like some elephants had ran mad and done acrobatic dances on the place. Jake stopped short and his heart skipped a beat when he saw his father slumped against a large tree, unmoving. He looked dead, his body was bloody.Jake heard a slight shuffle ahead and saw the figure of a large man on the floor

FATHER AND SON stayed in relative quiet for some minutes. Only the harsh breathing of Jamie and the constant beeping of the machine beside the bed broke the silence.“Doctor Jones said I’m helping you heal faster.” Jake said.“The pack is in distress, Jake.” Jamie replied. “You’re going a way better alpha than I am, Jake. Now, what the pack needs is a leader.”“So what should I do?” Jake asked in a tight voice. He wrung his hands together.“You should go out there and lead them.” Jamie said. “I’ll be fine. I’m sure your aunt Lydia is on her way here.”“But you need me here, now.” Jake tried to argue. He was afraid of leadership.What if he made a mistake?What if he fucked the pack up?What if –“Jake. Jake, look at me.” His father commanded. “You are on alpha.” His voice became strong and his red alpha wolf eyes shone. Jake’s eyes turned bright red too, in response to father’s.“You are an alpha.” Jamie repeated. “And the pack needs you more than I do. Do you understand me?”Jake nod

“YES" HENRI SAID, walking into the cabin and closing the door gently. “Jamie is dead.” His voice was emotionless.“How sure are you?” Rosetta asked. Her voice held hope and glee.Henri waved his iPhone at her. “Just got an email ail. They are calling a high council meeting.”“High Council meeting?” Rosetta asked, looking up.“Apparently, the Alpha did not die of a natural cause or ailment.” He looked back at the people in the room.Sofia sat on a wicker chair in front of the fireplace, basking in the heat from the loud, crackling fire.Roland sat far in a couch, quietly admiring his new tattoos.Rosetta sat on a two seater, her legs were propped up and crossed on a coffee table. She was repainting her left hand a different shade of grey. She scoffed and said, “As if we didn’t know that already.” She gave Roland a small wink. “What reason did they say killed him?”“Poison. Magical poison, created by a witch.” He turned and levelled a strong stare at Sofia, whose face was straight.“Wha