I once more sit within a council chamber, the circular walls with windows on every side allowing for the sunlight to stream in. A pain still numbs my head, reminding me of the night before, reminding me of how I awoke in a room not my own to find River no where to be seen. Just let yesterday, the very alpha which everyone in this room swore a loyalty towards is out somewhere doing whatever else. Looking over to Alpha Edward, I watch the alpha's eyebrows furrow together as he reads out of an old book which establishes the territories of the packs if the war is won - though this is a bit premature seeing how not a battle as taken place yet.

Alpha Penelope rises to her feet from the council chair, excusing herself as her beta stands at the entrance of the council chamber, asking for her attendance to a pack issue. We all watch as the redhead heads out of the room, wondering if we should continue or take a break. Looking to my phone, I see we have been in here for three hours without a break, my mind going numb, the endless amount of political conversations needed to take place making me feel ill-prepared for this role as alpha.

"Where is Alpha River?" Alpha Yusuf asks, his words from last name echoing in my head to trust no one. Could River be passing on all the responsibility of this war to us while he prances around his palace for fun? I do not think so. He seemed stressed last night, the bags under his eyes telling me he had a long day. But why? Why did he miss an entire day of diplomacy and already a good portion of this morning?

"He proposed to you. What do you know?" Alpha Emmitt interrogates, pursing his lips together as he awaits my response.

"I have no idea. I hardly know him."

"He proposed to you and hardly knows you?"

"Yes," I mutter for my response, wanting to melt away into my chair and be gone from the gazes of these alphas. "You have just as good an idea of where he could be as me, Alpha Emmitt."

Emmitt scoffs, not willing to accept that I have no clue abut River's whereabouts. Alpha Edward directs the conversation back to the political side of things, asking us what we think about the packs which fell and the members who left for the human world, if they should be allowed back into River's kingdom or if they should be declared rogue.

"We should be discussing war, not politics."

"War is politics, mouse," Emmitt snarls, annoyed with my comments as the chamber falls silent. Clenching my jaw, I want to snap at the alpha, but I know that remaining as civil as possible right now is best. "If Ryker was ready to attack, we would have caught wind of it by now."

I tap my heel against the marble floor, the light clicking doing the opposite to calm me as the other alphas begin to discuss what should happen to the dissolved packs who wish to rejoin the kingdom once it is united again.

Looking around to the faces of the drained alphas, I see the need for a break. I speak up, suggesting we take a recess until Penelope is ready to rejoin and also see where Alpha River may have gone off to. In agreement, we all leave the chamber and go off to our own forms of relaxation. Alpha Emmett follows behind me at a distance, muttering to himself as I pick up my pace, unwilling to be beside the alpha much longer. I make my way down a few hallways to the familiar elven temple in the palace. As a couple of elves exit the temple, I ask if they know where Keva may be. Getting my answer, I head for the palace gardens to where we had our first conversation.

Those lavender eyes are exactly what meet me when I walk up to the elf, her posture relaxed as she looks at me with curiosity. "To what do I owe this meeting?"

"Do you know where Alpha River may have gone off to?"

Keva tilts her head to the side, slightly nodding as she looks out to the ocean past the palace walls. "You would not find any warm welcome if you were to go after him." I raise an eyebrow. "He has his own personal matters to attend to for the moment being."

"He has personal matters to attend to in the council chambers," I comment, taking a seat across from the elf as she offers me a slight smile.

"I believe you can stand your own ground, Leala." Keva looks me over, in a way no one has ever looked at me. She does not look at me to try and figure me out, to judge me, to take in my appearance, or to figure out my emotions. No, the way she looks at me stems further than just my mortal appearance. "River did not take the news of your true personality too well. He will come around though. He is not his father."

"You know?"

"I was wondering when you would uncover the truth laying before you, the very truth of River's bloodline."

"You encouraged me to marry him when you knew of our family pasts."

Keva nods. "Two great families brought together. The werewolf kingdom was divided and fought for either the Maxwell name or the royal family Zion was part of. Quite poetic if those two families were to be brought together to form the next kingdom."

"Poetic does not mean it is right," I point out.

A short stint of silence surrounds the two of us. "River is young just like you. Your parents were young just like his were. Young people make stupid decisions and must learn from them. Your parents and his made their decisions, some which they could learn from and others which they could not learn from...for their decisions locked in their fate. Learn from your parents the-"

"I do not need a lecture on being young and dumb."

"You seek my guidance?" Keva asks, questioning my attitude as she catching wind of how I speak with a hiss. I nod, knowing that I could use her guidance. "You walk on a thin line between greatness and insignificance. Be wise."

I bite my tongue, knowing that no matter what Keva may say, how she may put down the memory of my parents, she does offer me advice she collected from her years of experience. "Where should I start? On this path to try and become great?"

"Who kill the Steward's daughter." Keva places her hands in her lap, relaxed as she watches my facial expressions.

"It feels like a dead end."

"Because you are not trying. You are not using the resources available to you. Find who killed the Steward's daughter and attacked Crimson Lock and you can be on your way to finding the alpha you know you cannot trust."

She's right, for I can begin to eliminate the number of people who I question if I should trust. I have all of these alphas around me, yet I do not know if I can put my faith in them. Finding out if one of them attacked Crimson Lock is a place to start. Thanking the elf, I get to my feet, ready to part with her for the day as I know soon the council should be back in session.

"I know you turned down River's proposal," Keva comments as I begin to walk off into the cold wind. Looking over my shoulder, those lavender eyes become trained to mine as the elf tilts her head up. "Be wise when he asks the next time. He will not ask again after that."

I enter back into the council chamber right behind Alpha Edward, looking around the alphas present to immediately sense the tense atmosphere present. Alpha Penelope stands at the lectern, a look of worry across her face, her beta beside her as they seem to be in some heated discussion. "Is everything okay?" I ask, entering into the room as I take a seat beside Alpha Emmitt.

"My pack has been attacked by Alpha Ryker. It was not a full-blown attack, but a warning. Ten of my men were killed and multiple wounded. I will be leaving within the next hour to return home to fulfill my duties," Alpha Penelope announces, the room falling silent as we all become stiff. An attack on Penelope's pack means an attack could happen to anyone of us.

Should I return back to Crimson Lock? Beta William and Gamma Erik are still with me here, but Cedric has things under things control and would let me know right away if anything seemed off. Yet that does not comfort me. I need to be there for my pack, I need to be there when decisions are being made and the first wave of my warriors are sent off to battle.

"What should we do?" I ask, turning the attention towards me as I know that was the wrong thing to ask, Alpha Emmitt not missing a beat to snap at me.

"What would you have us do, mouse? Hold hands and sing songs to create some Zen energy?"

"Cut her some slack, Emmitt, she's new to all of this shit," Penelope snaps at the alpha.

"She needs to learn to keep her trap shut when those suggestions and questions-"

"Are what? stupid?" Penelope asks, banging her fists on the lectern. "You were once the runt of the pack. Remember where you came from, Emmitt...be a shame to end up back there."

Penelope ends her statement with her exit from the chamber, leaving with her beta as they leave for the pack to help offer aid and protection.

"Do we need to return to our packs in case of an attack?" I ask, looking to Alpha Edward.

"You choose. I trust my men to protect the pack in case of an attack."

"My pack is strong, but part of my position is to be there to lead them," I argue, knowing that the best place for me to be is with my pack. If I am not with them, I will feel cooped up here.

"Send your beta and gamma back, they know how to lead an army, not you."

"Then I should go with them to learn," I argue with Alpha Edward, annoyed with his remark. I did not expect such a comment from the alpha I served with respect for twenty-two years of my life.

Collecting myself, I exit the chamber and head for my room, informing a palace staff member to find my beta and gamma and to inform them we will be leaving in the next two hours for Crimson Lock. I call Cedric, informing him to get a plane ride back to Crimson Lock from the harbor where Eternal Shadows will drop us off all sorted out. Entering my room, I begin packing everything up, informing another palace staff member to get me in contact with the captain of a ship from Eternal Shadows to transport my men and me back to the mainland. 

With everything packed up, a knock at my door draws me out of my daze and I rush to open it, pulling the door open to see the frustrated looks of Beta William and Gamma Erik. "Returning already? All of us? That is overkill!" Gamma Erik insists, the two of them entering my room without invitation as they see my bags all packed. "You were to stay here for council duties. We can go back to care for the pack's defense needs."

"I am the Alpha. I make the decisions."

The two of them bite their tongues, knowing they cannot argue with that fact.

"I need to understand how to defend Crimson Lock. I must return with you both. I cannot run Crimson Lock this far away when an attack could occur at any moment. We will all be leaving soon. Pack your bags."

"You must listen to us; we act as mentors."

"Your mother listened to us, she trusted us to lead her," Gamma Erik comments, the two of them beginning to argue once more. "Trust us when you say you should stay here with the others."

My jaw becomes clenched as I purse my lips together. "My mother died. I am the Alpha now. Do not forget I have the next Beta and Gamma lined up to take your positions." The two of them turn pale. "You are both replicable."

I storm past them, knowing full well my point got across to them based on the silence and the tension present in the room. With rage fueling my movements, I rush down the stairs of the palace and ask the same staff member from before if any word has been made on a ship. One captain has agreed to set sail in an hour, the voyage to be across a stormy sea, but he agreed to. Thanking the staff member, I inform him to get someone to gather my bags and load them into a car, for I will be heading down to the docks now. I want to get out of this palace, fed up with everyone inside. Penelope is gone, River is nowhere to be seen, Keva has disappeared, and the other alphas are not friendly.

Soon enough, a car rolls around to the front steps of the palace and my bags are loaded into the trunk. A driver opens the back door for me and I slide in, looking out the window as we drive away from the palace,  soon enough making our way down the main street of the pack territory. I look to every shop window, everything reminding me of an old and charming European city, people walking around on the sidewalks as they pay little attention to my car. Just as we pass the city square, a familiar face catches my eye.

My eyes are trained to his face, watching as he enters into the back door of a pub, a large wool jacket pulled around his body and a hood pulled over his head. I ask the driver to pull to the side as I watch River slip into the building. I ask the driver to wait for me, opening the door as I hop out and walk across the street to the same pub River entered. The Tipsy Oak, a British pub, something I would not have expected for a pack half elf. I enter through the front, the bar mostly empty for it being mid-day, the bartender looking at me with a crooked eyebrow as he asks me if I need anything. Looking around, I try and see if the back door is accessible from here. Finding no back door, I walk up to the bartender, asking if he owns the establishment, to which he does. I order a stout beer, taking a seat at the bar as I look to a narrow hallway, the door to a restroom and the backroom located there.

Thanking the bartender, I take my tankard of beer and hold it to my lips, looking to the hallway as the bartender goes back to cleaning some glasses. As I drink some of my stout, I place it down and ask where the bathroom may be. The bartender points me towards the dim hallway and I head off in that direction, looking to where River may have entered. Rather than go for the bathroom, I gently push open the door to the backroom, finding a storage room with a staircase to the second floor.

I can hear muffled voices above. Something in my gut tells me to stay put, but I begin walking towards the stairs, my fingers wrapping around the railing. The voices grow louder as I climb the stairs, trying to control the sound of my footsteps, my breathing soft as I look to see a short hallway before me with two doors both closed. Making it to the second floor, I walk carefully to the door where I can hear the voices. One of the voices seems to be a woman, but the man's voice overthrows her, arguing with the other person in the room as I gently press my ear up to the door, holding my breath as I hope they cannot sense my presence.

"We did not raise you to be so foolish!"

"We gave you an entire board of advisors for this reason."

"Well, no one expected this to happen...for that child to survive."

"You tried to kill that child before she was even born, it was evil."

"Her father did the same to you, but he succeeded," the male hisses to the women, their argument heated as I cannot recognize the voices.

"Will you two settle down. You barely raised me at all. You made your decisions in life," River speaks up. Could these be his parents? Sybil and Zion? The man and women who must run from the mess that they created?

Just as I press my ear closer to the commotion, a hand is laid on my shoulder, pulling me away as I gasp. "What are you doing here? Who are you?" The bartender asks, a blade of silver pressed against my throat as it begins to lightly burn my flesh. His elven ears perk up at the sound of shuffling at the other side of the door. I try and distance myself from the blade, only for the elf to hold me against the way, insisting I answer or the silver knife will be plunged into my chest.

"Leave her alone, Tasar," River commands, the door open as he stands in the doorway, looking at the elf and me. "She means no harm."

"She snuck up here."

"Let her go," River growls, watching the elf back away and place the silver knife back into its sheath. Turning his attention to me, River cocks an eyebrow and crosses his arms. I try and look past him to the room, but I can see no one inside. "What are you doing here, Leala?"

There is no need to lie, I have no reason to be here other than to be stalking him. "I was wondering why you were not at the council meeting. Penelope's pack was attacked and I am leaving back from Crimson Lock. I was being driven down to the docks and saw you walk into this establishment."

"I told you I had more pressing matters to attend to," River insists, trying to turn me away from whatever is happening in this room.

"Penelope's pack was attacked. That sounds like an urgent matter to me. The war has started." Silence lies between us as I once again try and look into the room. "Who is in there with you?"

"No business of yours."

He's right, it is no business of mine, but a part of me thinks that Zion and Sybil are here, in that room, meeting with their son. The very people who killed my parents are just a wall away from me. It would not be a good idea for them to see me - or meet me - for I doubt it would lead to a friendly encounter.

"Fine," I reply, raising my chin as I meet his golden orbs with a gaze of my own. "I'll be on my way. I must protect my pack. If you must request a meeting with me again, I will not be coming up here again. Tensions are too high."

"I would prefer for you to visit."

"Visits are for leisure. War is not a time to be taking vacations," I correct, stepping back as I look to the stairs. "I am sure you understand, Alpha River, after all, you are wishing to go after the crown and I have my own matters to attend to as well."

I am sure that if River's parents were in fact behind the door and in the room, hearing all of this, knowing I was the daughter of Nixon and Lily, they would be outraged to hear me talking to River like this, hearing him want to have me visit. What if they were to know he proposed to me - though, he did not know who I was at the time. "Goodbye, Alpha."

"Leala," River calls out, just as I begin to walk down the stairs. Looking to the alpha, I wait for him to say something, wondering what he needs to say. He seems helpless in this moment, his mouth open and then shutting as if he has remembered something. Shaking his head, he steps back into the room. "Safe travels, Alpha Maxwell."

Heading back down the stairs, I hear River enter back into the room, the voices quiet as I exit the backdoor. Walking back across the street where my car waits for me, I look over my shoulder to the second floor of the pub, seeing the face of a woman peering out the window. Her brown eyes meet mine and she instantly pulls away back into the darkness of the room. Sybil Black, the very woman brought back to life who my father killed.

My jaw clenches as I slide back into the car, the outline of Sybil's face running through my head as I tell the driver to continue the way down to the docks. River's more pressing issues which he had to miss the council meetings for were because his parents are here. How many people know exactly that his mother is alive? I am sure for that news to get out, it would spread like a wildfire and alphas would not be slow to draw their support from his run for the crown.

As we arrive to the docks, I see the ship ahead of me being loaded with the luggage of my beta and gamma, their luggage being stored safely as my men are located on the pier enjoying a beer. Exiting the car, my driver hands my luggage over to a crew member of the boat and I walk over to my men.

"What took so long?" Erik interrogates, not bothering to look up from his bottle as I take a seat on the bench beside the two of them.

"I saw something in a shop window."

"Glad you got here with a few minutes to spare," William comments, looking over to the captain of the ship who waves at us to board. Collecting ourselves, we all begin walking back to the sizeable fifty-meter sailing yacht.

The gray-haired captain helps me onto the yacht, informing me there is a small dinning room and lounge area under deck for us to make ourselves home during the short voyage. Thanking the captain, I follow William and Erik down a spiraling staircase and under the deck of the yacht to see the modern interior. As we hear men above being to shout orders, within the next forty minutes we set sail, the journey beginning as I make myself at home on a spacious sofa.

Taking in a deep breath, I shut my eyes, trying to relax as I know soon I will be back home at Crimson Lock and away from all of this mess within Eternal Shadows. I soon find myself drifting off, allowing myself to fade away into the darkness as my muscles relax and my breathing becomes an even pace.

"Would she consider a treaty with him?"

"He tried before, it could be done again," Erik whispers, trying to keep his voice down as the two of them discuss something. I stir away, telling myself immediately to seem asleep, trying to keep my heartrate down as I shift my sleeping positions.

"A treaty with River on a personal level between these two would ensure the safe delivery of Crimson Lock. She is not fit to run this pack. Writing such inner-connections into a treaty could create cause for River to practically become Alpha if needed. Crimson Lock-"

"The people of Crimson Lock had a certain pride, William," Erik refutes. "They take pride in their past, for their pack did not create such treaties. They had strong alphas who made the pack great."

"Leala is not one of them."

"You thought the same of Lily and yet Lily is the alpha you charged into battle fighting for. Correct me if I am wrong, but you saw her as a strong alpha in the end."

"Yes, I fought for her and her beliefs...but I would take all of it back if I could. She was foolish. We cannot let another hormonal alpha run this great pack. We need to take charge here."

I take their silence as a way for the two of them to agree on the matter, instantly causing my body to flow with hate.

I warned them that they were replicable. They know they already have their predecessors lined up.  If they cannot advise me without a hidden objective, then their time as a leader of Crimson Lock has come to a close. When we return to Crimson Lock, I will see to it that these two are disposed of and Beta Bryon and Gamma Cedric take up their titles.

I cannot relax the remaining duration of the journey, my head filled with questions of what could happen when I release William and Erik of their titles, of what they could do, of what the pack will say, and if my next Beta and Gamma will do the same or not. Soon enough, I get up from the couch and go up to the desk, standing beside the captain as he sits behind the controls of the ship.

"We should be to port in the next hour," he informs, looking out to the ocean as the wind blows the sails, the wind sweeping us and tugging at the ship. I sit on the deck for the remaining journey, watching the waves crash upon the ship, the yacht rocking back and forth gently as I try and calm myself down.

Soon, we make it to the port and unload our luggage from the ship. A car is there to drive us to the private landing strip, a jet waiting for the three of us to take back to Crimson Lock. William, Erik, and I all board the plane within the next hour, soon enough at cruising altitude as we sit back in our chairs and look out the windows. I play on my phone the entire ride back and as the wheels of the jet touch down, I see Cedric outside with an SUV waiting for us all.

Being the first out of the plane, I walk down the stairs and towards the future gamma, greeting him with a warm smile as I extend my hand for a handshake. Cedric informs me that no sign of any other pack warriors have been seen around our territory, making me feel at ease for the moment. Loading the car, we are soon on our last leg of the journey, no words shared between William, Erik, and myself as Cedric can notice the discomfort in the air.

With William and Erik disposed of at the pack house, we are off to my own house. As my house appears around the corner, I thank Cedric for the ride and asks for an audience with him in my office as well as Bryson in the next hour.

"What could it be for?"

"We have business to attend to. Do not mention it to William or Erik," I order, watching Cedric's look of confusion but also agreement as he helps me unload my luggage and begins to call Bryson on his phone.

"Everything okay at Eternal Shadows?" Cedric asks, worry crossing his face as we stand at my front door.

"Respect is harder to come across than I had thought," I reply, running a hand through my hair as I let out a frustrated sigh. "It is hard to try and create a pack which functions within a new government when certain leaders still hold onto outdated traditions."

I watch Cedric head off, already aware of what this meeting could be about. He knows this meeting could cause much of an uproar not just within his family, but within the pact. I expect certain members of the pack to push back, for William and Erik have led this pack through so much since my mother was alpha. Yet these people need to understand there is a limit to which these men should hold their titles. No one should have the power to rule for this long and manipulate others to their will. Erik and William have always been below the alpha and steward, never the ones to make the big decisions, and now I realize the ways in which they have pushed so hard for their agendas upon their leaders. William fought beside my mother on her last day, but I wonder if he wanted her to survive or not. I wonder if William had hoped for her to fall and for her to have left her in charge of the pack.

Soon enough, I am seated behind my desk, looking across at the faces who stare back at me with anticipation. Bryson and Cedric are tense and filled with anticipation, the two of them wide-eyed as they dare not break their faze away from me. I pounder where to begin with my words, knowing that I have to pick my words wisely, for I need their support if we are to go through with this transition of power.

"Ever since I return back to my home pack, I have met two types of people who are within my circle of advisors. There are those who support me and offer advice while not wishing to simply ignore my concerns or opinions. Then there is another type of advisor, the kind which believes me to be naïve, incompetent, and unable of making difficult judgments as they push their agenda and tell me I made so many mistakes. I am not willing to put up with this sort of behavior anymore."

"What are you wanting to do?" Bryson enquires.

"When a new alpha comes to power, they inherit their predecessor's advisors to allow for a smooth transition and to please the pack members. People expect the new alpha to place their own advisors soon enough into their designated positions once they no longer require their predecessor's counselors. That time has come for me. I have grown sick of Beta William and Gamma Erik constantly questioning every move I make and calling me a child. They have disrespected me for too long."

Cedric shifts in his seat, pursing his lips as he thinks over my words. "To move on with the new, we must discard of the old," I comment, staring into those familiar green eyes.

"You will face much criticism from my father," Bryson warns, "but I will accept the title of beta."

I nod, recognizing his support for the decision as I look to Cedric. "Bryson is right. Our fathers will not be pleased, along with some of the older pack members, but they should know this is what happens when a new alpha comes to power within a pack. Crimson Lock is a great pack and I believe you will continue its legacy."

A swell of pride fills within me from Cedric's words. I offer Cedric a slight and warm smile, thanking him for his words as I think that my mother too would be proud to see me taking more alpha duties on. "I will make the announcement then this evening to the Elders and all of the advisors. You both shall be present and when everything is settled, I will announce it to the pack and we will go through with the ceremonies."

Bryson rises to his feet, thanking me for my time as we end our conversation. I watch my next beta leave the room, wondering why Cedric has remaining within his seat. "Everything okay?"

"There was one thing which transpired in your absence." I nod, gesturing for the next gamma to continue. "There was a message left at this house, one with an emerald-wax seal upon the letter. When I had picked it up to place inside, the letter turned into a black mist." A silence falls around us. "It appeared to be witchcraft, Leala. A message left for you and only you. The wax seal remained intact with some crest upon it."

My body seems to stiffen at the news. My mother had dealings with witches near the end of her life, working alongside a coven from Europe, but I know nothing more. Cedirc walks over to the fireplace where a small glass box is placed on the mantel. Taking from the box the tiny wax seal, he delivers it to me. The moment the seal is placed in my hands, a small spark shoots through my fingertips, frightening me as I watch a letter reappear in my hand.

Looking to Cedric, he too is amazed and scared as the witchcraft takes place before us. The letter which he said dissolved is now reappeared and full-intact within my hand, emerald ink upon the front of the letter, addressing it to me. My fingernails lock under the wax seal, peeling it off as the letter folds open, my heart beating fast as the script upon the letter, though short, I can tell is of importance.

Leala Maxwell, it has come to the attention of my coven that the daughter of Lily Maxwell has returned to her rightful position as Alpha of Crimson Lock. While we are indeed pleased to see you have survived, there is business which must be attended to. You have grown close to someone of great value to us and we remain a valuable ally for when you decide to continue what your mother believed in – not what the world tells you to believe in. For when you are ready to begin delegations with our coven, place this wax sealing upon a flame and we shall receive your signal.

Looking up to Cedric, I can feel my fingers shaking as I place the letter down. The moment the letter leave my hands, the paper bursts into a black dusting, fading away into nothing as all which remains is the wax sealing. Cedric was right, it was witchcraft. I knew the witch coven my mother made dealings with still existed, but I did not expect to ever hear word from them. Witches have been known to try and predict the future, but I know it must all just be stories for fairy tales. I know what I am fighting for. What my mother fought for, I do not believe in strongly enough to declare it for my pack.

"What did it say?" Cedric asks, concerned as he noticed how still I stand.

"I need some fresh air."