The ritual commenced. Both the Wesleyeians, Western, and Eastern pack formed a three layer circle, surrounding the fire, the sacrificial lamb, and the three women from each of the pack. They had began the incantation, twenty minutes after they made a deal with silence. It was what Efraim taught them. To regain their focus before chanting the holy phrases.
Aliaga, Monique, and Seraphine continued to bowed in front of the fire. According to Efraim, before performing an actual ritual, a prayer from three girls were needed. More so if the chosen were strong and unique. That said, Axel selected Monique. Efraim, Aliaga, and Edward, Seraphine.
Their numbers, however, were too huge for a ritual. So, they decided to separate those who would join the ritual, to those who would take part in the dance ritual. The two thousand and three hundred of them, altogether, performed the ceremony, thinking it was only to communicate, and to ask the blessing of the Goddess. No one but the three Alpha, and the Council only knew what their real objectives were.
But there was one thing Axel and Efraim missed.
The ritual ended after three hours. Axel, who was the Alpha of the land they were in, threw a feast for their visitors. He invited all of them in the Palace. He had planned it beforehand. After the announcement of the ritual, Axel asked his men to buy sake and bronze. He prepared so, in hope for a good result.
But the result that they were waiting for did not happen the next morning. Nor did it come shocking them the next. Efraim, Axel, and Edward waited. All while continuously training, night and day. For the next three days, they worked the hardest, while waiting for the miracle to happen.
But it didn’t. The outcome they were wishing for did not happen.
Disappointed and shamefaced, right before they left the Kingdom, Efraim visited Axel and Edward to apologize.
“I am sorry…” Sighing, Efraim bowed down his head in front of the tow Alpha. “I deeply apologize for dragging you in this war.”
The three of them had lose hope. Yesterday was their last straw, and they were straight dismayed. However, it did not become a reason for them to regret the alliance. Efraim might think it made both Edward and Axel regret their decision, but they didn’t.
“You’re wearing your uniform, Efraim, as the leader of the Wesleyeians. Raise your head and be the Alpha that you are.” Axel gave Efraim a tap light. “This is the first time I’m going to a war with an ally. You better be honored.”
“I am.” Edward responded. “Do not give us that look, Efraim. You’ve forgotten you’re with us.”
Axel nodded in agreement to what Edward said. “Yes. Besides, I prepared a layered trap. They won’t be able to defeat us that easily. Not when I’ve been fighting my entire life.”
“You’ve got the God on your side.” Edward kid, grinning. “I assure you. It’ll take half of August’s army to defeat Axel.”
It was one thing. But what could help them completely turn the table were the Wesleyeians’ brilliance. During the test, the Weslyeians proved themselves capable. Axel intend to use it in the war, so whilst they were waiting for the miracle to happen, he asked them to come up with a plan.
He knew there won’t be enough time to make them change their ways, anyway. Thus, Axel instead planned to make full use of their cleverness.
“Thank you for standing alongside me, Edward, Axel. I will not forget this day.”
“As you should.” Axel walked passed Efraim. “Let’s head out. Our men are waiting.”
After long days of preparing. Planning. Meeting. It will finally come to an end. Later this day, they will meet August, and his fearful men who had been subjugated by a human scientist. And the conflict between the Weslyeian and Crimson Red will finally be resolved.
But it wouldn’t be that easy.
Just like what they deliberately planned, they left at seven a.m in the morning. They used their wolf form to transport back to the mountain, where August will going to attack. They went off early to be able to positioned on their designed formation. Since there wasn’t an agreed exact time, they had to beat August to it.
Both wolves, and healers, had been trained thoroughly. In the past few days, they went through extreme preparation, to make sure they could pull out their potential and strength in the battle one hundred percent. With no doubts, fear, nor regret.
Axel made sure they’d be mentally and physically prepare for the morbid war. Though, during the last moment, Axel had regret not being honest with his men.
Had he informed the pack, they’d probably be much motivated and eager to get strong. Had he informed them, they wouldn’t have to risk their lives for something that were half true.
There was a big chance they won’t make it alive. And Axel had chosen not to come forward to let the pack know what kind of monster their enemy would be. It struck him. He regretted it.
But he was way too late for that. The only thing he could do at the very moment to console himself was to pledged that he will do his very best not to be defeated. Not to be killed. Not to die as an Alpha who led his wolves to the Grim Reaper’s door.
- - - -
The Palace was awfully quiet. Not even a single sound could be heard throughout the hallway, the corridor, the pathway, and through the stairs. It was almost as silent as an abandoned building. The Alpha’s home, who only had few wolves in it, reflected the condition of the whole Kingdom.
Now that the Western Border’s high ranked wolves were gone, the Kingdom was completely unrpotected. The only ones left are the low ranked wolves who don’t have what it took to be able to help in the war. The Elders, and Hugo, who was in the Palace to look after the pregnant Sophie.
The Kingdom was indefensible. But so was the Palace.
A few days ago, whilst Axel, Efraim, and Edward were busy with the upcoming war, Rebecca, and Rousel were busy to plan their own ploy to create a havoc in the Palace. Rebecca’s wicked scheme to infiltrate the Palace and poison Sophie so she will have miscarriage, had been completed. It was now ready to be executed by the time the wolves, and the Alphas, left the Kingdom.
Rebecca and Rousel were about to commit the sin of murdering an innocent child. While Flora, Rebecca’s little informant inside the Palace, were to pull of her last betreyal of assisting Rebecca to her cruel plan.
She knew it would be the last time. But though she wasn’t ready for it, Flora felt… free.
“Do not look back…” Rebecca whispered on herself as she watch Flora walking out the hallway with Hugo. She was hiding in the pillar, in front of Sophie’s lair.
This was the first step. To have Flora lure Hugo out the Kingdom. Rousel would take it on from then, and buy Rebecca enough time to execute her devilish plan. Flora’s last work was to ensure no one would ever noticed.
Rebecca moved from her position as soon as the sight of Flora and Hugo finally disappear from her view. She trotted without noise, to head in the maid’s room. There, she saw two servant who were talking to each other. Rebecca shut the door closed, and immediately gestured her hand to silenced the servants, as soon as she read their horified look.
“M…Ms. Rebecca…” One of them whispered with fear. “W-what are you doing here?”
Rebecca stepped closer. Smiling, she pulled out the small bottle from her pocket.
The servants were completely unfamilar. Perhaps Axel also replaced the maids when she left the Kingdom. But it wasn’t any of her concern. Rebecca underestimated the servants ability to speak, and act on their own, so the plan on using them was perfect.
“You can’t tell anyone I’m here….” Though Rebecca’s voice was sweet, the treaning look in Rebecca’s eyes remained.
“You know, I’m Edward’s Luna, right?”
She still had the power. Axel and Edward were now allies. Perhaps, more than that. The rumors had been spreading about them for quite some time now. How Axel had befriended both Edward, and Efraim. How Axel had changed his ways, and had started to trust the other Alpha.
It was to her benefit.
“Ms. Rebecca…” The woman with a blonde hair uttered her name with evident fear. “W-what can we do for you?”
“Give this dose to Sophie.”
“To Ms. Sophie?”
“Did you not hear me?”
The blonde swallowed hard, still afraid to Rebecca and her palpable evil intention. Not to mention, she was quite popular. But not because of who she used to be, but because of her attitude and behavior. “A dose for what… M.. Ms. Rebbeca?”
“Stop asking, and just…” Rebecca trailed off to step closer. She held the blonde’s hand to put it on her palm. “Do what I said. There’s a syringe in her room. Flora told me so.”
“Flora?” The woman behind the blonde spoke. “Is Flora…”
“Yes.” Rebecca smiled, confirming what the other woman had in mind before she could even spell it out. “Now, give this dose to Ms. Sophie.”
“B-but the Luna only allow Flora to get inside her room.”
“Then tell her it was Axel’s order. She wouldn’t know it’s a lie, right?”
“W-what is this dose? We cannot simply inject her an unknown medicine. She’s pregnant.”
Rebecca’s jaw clenched. “Just do what I said if you still want to live.”