It didn’t take Killian long to realise just how unprepared the Dnakle pack were for any confrontation of any kind.
They were a small pack, for one, and comparing them to Alaric and his troupes of over ten thousand soldiers, they didn’t stand a single chance. The news he had brought with him had already travelled across the small town like wildfire… how it had he had no idea, since it was only Aiyisha he had spoken to, but there was no telling that the people had just about given up.
Aiyisha had brought him to the Pack’s throne room, another large, extravagant place, plushly decorated in hues of gold and diamond, to see her father… because as Alpha of the Pack, it was only prudent that he be made aware of the situation.
Killian couldn’t help but be surprised though, for their Alpha was like nothing he had in mind. For one, he was old… very old, and for some reason, he was still holding on to power even though he had a more than capable she-wolf to take over when he retired. The Alpha without a pack was willing to wager everything he had on the fact that it was because she was a woman, but he didn’t want to jump into that just yet.
The pack’s male wolves were able-bodied enough, but they seemed to be out of practice, and the few women he had seen around didn’t look like they knew the first thing about sparring either.
He was going to have to be honest with their Alpha, Joffrey von Sterling;
Things didn’t look good for them at all.
“Father, this is Killian Silvercrest,” Aiyisha introduced briefly, going right into it. “I’m afraid he comes with bad news.”
“Bad news?” The wrinkly man pressed, his eyes squinting to try and see the young Alpha clearly. “Come closer son, so I can see you clearly.” He said.
Killian did so.
“Ah. I recognize you.” He exclaimed. “You’re the Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack. I have heard of you, and how well you have been doing as one of the young Alphas, I even heard you hosted this year's just ended Council meeting, and I must admit, you sure make old folks like myself so proud. You give us hope, that there’s a future for us werewolves.”
“I used to be Alpha. Not anymore,” Killian was quick to clear the air, and though he could see that his answer had made the old wolf curious, he thankfully didn’t press on about it.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Well, I’m on a quest to hunt down the Curers,” He gruffly replied.
Now that wasn’t exactly a lie, was it?
“They have something of mine, and they were headed here the last time I heard.” He clenched his jaw slightly, heart aching at the thought of Kendra, but he managed to get himself under control. “I acquired the information from a very credible source, so, I have no idea why they aren’t here yet… my guess is, something held them back.” He said. “Of course, there could also be the option that they’ve probably turned their attention elsewhere, but I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion just yet, lest they do come here after all and completely take you by surprise.”
Killian could see defeat written all over the old Alpha’s demeanor, but there was still this light of determination in his eyes as he pondered over everything the young Alpha had said. “So what do you suggest we do now?”
“As it is now, you only have two options, Alpha Joffrey,” The young Alpha said, “Either you get your pack, and flee while you all still have the chance, or you try to get your shit together before the troupes get here.”
The second option was a crazy idea, yes… but most wolves would rather defend their territory than just up and leave, and Killian just had this feeling that the old wolf would prefer to fight to the very end.
Funnily, and not quite surprisingly, Alpha Joffrey didn’t hesitate to choose the second option, but he had also pleaded with Killian to help them get ready.
“My daughter, Aiyisha may be hotheaded and all, but between you and I, she isn’t ready for such a huge responsibility yet, and I am not as strong as I used to be anymore.” He admitted sadly.
Killian however didn’t agree, “I humbly think you fail to give your daughter the credit she deserves, Alpha. From the little I have observed of her, she’s more than ready to take your place.”
Whatever the old wolf had to say to that was cut off by his daughter approaching the throne, she had left the room sometime during the conversation and Killian was glad she had. At least she didn’t hear her father belittling her like that. “Father, the entire pack is waiting at the town square like you requested,” She said, her eyes shining with gratitude as she stared at the young Alpha. Killian didn’t know where the sudden change in attitude was coming from, but whatever it was that he had done, he was just grateful that they would be able to work together, since he apparently had to help them get ready for their battle with the Curers.
One would ask why he was suddenly taking on a battle that wasn’t his.
In a way, he had his own ulterior motives for not trying to convince the Alpha strongly to just get his pack and flee. You see, he was doing all of this, going the extra mile simply because, he was afraid that Alaric would take a different course and then he’d lose Kendra for good, should he hear that Dnakle was now just a desolate town.
He couldn’t have that.
So he was putting an entire pack at risk just so he wouldn’t lose his mate. It was bad, yes… but he didn’t exactly force the old Alpha to stay back and fight. That decision had been all his. He had been a tad manipulative, sure… but he hadn’t exactly done anything wrong here.
“I’ll have to leave you, Silvercrest… but my daughter will show you to your chambers. I am going to have a talk with my pack, while you rest for a little while. You have had a long journey. But when you’re well rested, the Pack would be waiting for you. Since we do not have that much time, we start preparations tonight.”
The she-wolf helped her father climb down the stairs leading to the throne, his oak cane thudding loudly against the screeded floor.
And then he was gone.
There was silence until Aiyisha broke it. “Thank you.” She said.
“What are you thanking me for?” The young Alpha was genuinely confused.
“For standing up for me.” She replied with a small smile. “You’re surprisingly the only male who thinks I’m capable of taking over from my father. And you haven’t even been here for a day.”
Killian shrugged, he wasn’t the type who liked emotional conversations like this, and so he only nodded, muttering gruffly, “It’s the truth.”
“I guess I owe you an apology,” She continued. “I was hasty in judging you, I see now that I was wrong.”
“It’s fine.”
Aiyisha cocked her head to the side curiously as she observed him. “You don’t talk much, do you?”
“I don’t.”
The strawberry blond she-wolf chuckled softly, “I see. I think you and I will get along just fine.”