Chapter 753 The plan
Voren and Seraphine were not surprised to hear any of this. In fact, they had been well prepared for all this, but their worry was one. “Why had none of these packs made a move yet?”
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. They had been waiting, watching, anticipating the strike that never came. It was unnerving, like the silence before a storm, and the uncertainty left a tight knot of tension in both their chests.
“Did they explain what they planned to do?” Voren asked, his voice steady, his eyes sharp with focused intensity.
Bright shook his head, his expression troubled and heavy with regret. “That was my mistake. I should have pretended to be on their side, but right now, I have the challenge of proving I could handle the pack, so I could not entangle myself.”
Indeed, Voren could not blame him. Bright had a huge responsibility on his head, the weight of a broken pack on his shoulders, and he could not bother about a chunk of Alphas courting death in trying to eliminate their king. The man had enough to deal with, and Voren felt a quiet respect for that burden.
“Can you give me the names of those involved?” Seraphine asked, her voice calm but probing, a flicker of steel beneath the soft tone.
Bright nodded, his jaw tight with the gravity of what he was about to say. “It was Alpha Nathaniel who brought the offer, but I do not think he is operating alone.”
This time, both Seraphine and Voren were stunned. The words hit them like a physical blow, sending a wave of disbelief and betrayal surging through them. Alpha Nathaniel was quiet and respectable, never showing any signs of rebellion.
As the Alpha of the Great Lake Pack, he had a good reputation too, a man known for his fairness and his diplomacy. The betrayal cut deep, a knife twisted in the back by someone they had trusted, and the pain of it settled cold and sharp in their hearts.
“Thank you for this information. We shall check on your finances now.” Voren said, his voice controlled, though his mind was racing with calculations and quiet fury.
Bright and Cassandra ushered them to the pack’s office, and after checking it through, they realized the Western Tribe would not survive long without external support. The numbers painted a bleak picture, a future of ruin and collapse that made Seraphine’s chest tighten with concern.
“How do you plan to survive with this? What did Dean do with all the pack’s finances? From the looks of it, the Western Tribe is rich in aquaculture. You are the highest suppliers to other packs.”
This time, Cassandra lowered her head in shame, her cheeks burning with humiliation that made her voice small. “It is my fault. I should have been involved. I have no idea what Dean has done with all that money but to be honest, he was always generous to me.”
“It is okay.” Seraphine calmed her, her voice gentle but firm, full of quiet compassion. “We shall invest some money at a low interest rate. If we return during our next check, which should be in three months, to see an improvement, then we shall waive off the interest.”
Cassandra was both grateful and ashamed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears of relief and self blame. “Ah, you are so young and yet so smart. I should have known you sooner.”
Voren and Seraphine helped in the training of their warriors and putting the pack in order, as well as helping in the coronation of Bright as the Alpha. With the finances of the pack, it was better not to host a big event, and besides, the Alpha King was there to officiate everything.
The quiet ceremony carried a weight of hope that lifted the spirits of everyone present.
Seraphine personally checked on all the she wolves Dean had slept with, some had sexual diseases she helped to treat, her hands gentle, her eyes kind and steady. But there were no cases of pregnancy. The curse held true, and a quiet sadness settled over her at the wasted lives.
In the end, Bright was so grateful, his voice thick with emotion that made his eyes shine. “King Voren, queen Sera, we shall never forget your kindness.”
Voren and Seraphine spent a total of one week at the Western Tribe, and during those times, Kael had given them an update, and Ravyn had also contacted them. Each report tightened the net of danger around them a little more.
Ravyn reported, his voice tense through the phone, laced with caution. “Voren, when are you coming for the ammunitions? I think you should be prepared. Battal made a comment in one of our chats that he was going to use the Alphas against you. He said that if I was on his team, then he would encourage the other Alphas to make me king. As usual, I pretended to be on his side.”
Voren needed to know one thing, his voice sharp with urgency. “When are they planning the attack?”
He was eager to use his increased physical and wolfy abilities anyway, and besides, he would love for all these to happen before Seraphine’s third trimester. It was not just that.
With the ammunitions, he could train the warriors incapable of facing the Lycans to use them, and the thought of protecting what was his filled him with cold, focused determination.
“I am afraid he did not mention that, but I think my reporting of the missing ammunitions might buy you some time.”
Voren smiled, a cold, calculating smile that held no warmth. “In that case, expect us soon. And do not worry. All your injured warriors will be treated after the attack. We need to make it look real.”
Ravyn was uncomfortable, his voice hesitant and strained. “Are you coming yourself? Will you not send Corvine or Kael instead? You could launch it at the time the pack is asleep, and I could say that some warriors betrayed me. I will banish those warriors, and you take them in. How about that?”
“Not bad.” Voren agreed with the plan, though his mind was already working through the details with quiet intensity. “Except that Corvine is not around. I shall send Kael. He has some warriors with him already.”
Kael reported from his side, revealing more dirt on the Shadow Pack…