Aldrake's face twisted in anger, but his council quickly intervened, whispering words of caution.
"Calm down. They outrank you, and they're S-class Alphas, while you're just a normal Alpha. Let it go, and humble yourself if you don't want your actions towards the Luna to be questioned further by them." The council's words were a gentle reminder, but Aldrake's anger was palpable, his self-control strained to the limit.
But in the end, he has no choice but to restrain. Aldrake forced a smile, trying to compose himself as he apologized to the Alphas.
"Please accept my apologies, Alpha Dominick and Alpha Sebastian. Let's just forget about this and move on. I assure you it won't happen again." His words were laced with resentment, but he kept his tone polite.
He hated having to humble himself, and the feeling of powerlessness only added to his frustration.
"Shall we proceed with the purpose of your visit to my home?" he asked, attempting to steer the conversation back on track and avoid further confrontation.
The Alphas nodded their head before Aldrake signaled his Beta to accompany them to their chair.
As the Alphas turned to take their seats, Aldrake's grip on Livia's arm tightened, his anger boiling over.
"Didn't I tell you to behave?!" he hissed, his fingers digging into her skin.
Livia's response was swift and defiant. "What did I do? I didn't say a word, did I? So what's your problem? If the Alphas suspect something about you, it's not my fault. You're the one who's making it obvious that you don't want me!" She shook off his hand, and just then, the Alphas turned back, noticing the tension.
"Is everything alright?" Alpha Sebastian asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Aldrake forced a smile, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he emphasized the word 'mate'.
"Just discussing something with my mate." The Alphas raised an eyebrow, but Aldrake quickly moved on, taking his seat on the throne.
"Shall we begin?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation back on track. Livia sat beside him, her expression detached, her mind already focused on their planned escape later.
"We are here to announce that the games will once again take place, for all packs under the leadership of the werewolf leader, the Lycan King."
The announcement sent ripples through the gathering, with whispers and murmurs filling the grand hall.
The prospect of the games, a grand tournament where packs would compete under the watchful eye of the Lycan King, brought a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Alpha Dominick's words hung in the air, awaiting the reactions of the packs, each with their own motivations and ambitions.
The games were a platform for packs to showcase their strength, forge alliances, and potentially rise through the ranks.
Aldrake's eyes lit up with calculation, while Livia's gaze remained thoughtful, her mind already racing with strategies.
The games were a time-honored tradition among their kind, held every five years under the full moon.
Packs seeking to climb the ranks could participate to prove their strength and worthiness.
Last year's competition saw over fifty packs participate, but none managed to break into the top 10.
However, the Poisonous Pack rose from seventh to fourth place, while the Moonlight Pack jumped from sixth to fifth.
The games would last for two to three days, with the last pack standing declared the winner.
The objective was simple: eliminate opponents and capture their flags, earning points to climb the ranks. The stakes were high, and only the strongest would prevail.
"Isn't the timing of the games a bit too early? Doesn't it usually take place every five years? Has the council of the Blood Moon Pack changed their minds, or did the Lycan King decide on this?" Aldrake's questions reflected his skepticism and concern.
Aldrake is excited because he will have the opportunity to take the fourth rank from the Poisonous Pack.
But the thing is, he wasn't convinced that his pack was ready to participate again so soon, especially after the heavy losses they suffered in the last games.
His warriors were still recovering, and many of the new recruits were still inexperienced.
"It's only been a year since the last games. I think our warriors might not be ready to participate again so soon," he said, his voice laced with doubt.
"But you have no choice but to abide by the leader's decision. Especially you, Alpha Aldrake, being in the fifth rank means you have to participate. If you don't want the rank you've worked so hard for, will be taken away from you," Alpha Sebastian said, his words causing Aldrake's jaw to clench.
He had struggled for so long to climb the ranks, and now that he had finally achieved it, he was determined to hold on to it at all costs.
The thought of losing his rank was unbearable, and he knew he had to participate in the games, no matter how reluctant he was.
In this game, the Top 10 packs had to participate in the games to maintain their ranking, while packs below them had the opportunity to join and potentially claim a higher rank.
The top 3 packs held a superior position, overseeing the games, but if a pack dared to challenge them and lost, they would be barred from participating in the games forever.
The stakes were high, and defeat could mean not only loss of prestige but also potential annihilation of their pack. The risk was great, but the reward was worth it for those who sought to rise to the top.
"I know that, Alpha Sebastian. But what I don't understand is why the games have been brought forward?".
"All we know is that, the Lycan King has observed that those who have risen to the ranks are not worthy of their positions." After saying that, Alpha Sebastian briefly cast a peculiar glance at Aldrake, his gaze seeming to convey a hidden message.
The intensity of his stare made Aldrake feel like he was being sized up, and he couldn't help but wonder what Alpha Sebastian was trying to imply.
The room fell silent, until Alpha Sebastian's Beta approached him and whispered something in his ear, causing Aldrake's brow to furrow in concern.
After Beta finished speaking, Alpha Sebastian gestured for his Beta and Alpha Dominick's Beta to leave.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat to grab everyone's attention. "The Lycan King has arrived."
At the mention of the Lycan King's name, Aldrake stood up abruptly, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for an escape.
"The L-Lycan King is here? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" His voice trembled slightly, revealing a hint of anxiety that he couldn't quite explain.
"Forgive me, Alpha Aldrake, but didn't your own Beta inform you that the Lycan King was also coming to visit?" The question hung in the air, and Aldrake's expression turned puzzled, as if he was indeed unaware of the Lycan King's visit.
Aldrake's head swiveled toward his Beta, who had already knelt before him with his head bowed.
"I apologize, Alpha. It slipped my mind to mention the Lycan King's visit. I'm willing to accept any punishment you deem fitting."
Beta bowed three times, his posture a picture of contrition. Aldrake's face reddened with anger at Beta's oversight, but he managed to keep his temper in check.
"I'll deal with you later, Beta," he said, his voice low and even, before returning to his seat and attempting to compose himself once more.
Beta remained kneeling, awaiting further instructions or punishment.
"Leave!!". And just one word, the Beta run fast not wanting to make the Alpha even anger.