Present-day...
143Please respect copyright.PENANAJkiWzuSEYM
Chandler kicked open the door. "Get out! Now!"
143Please respect copyright.PENANA2dUWXt6mZw
Rosalind didn't move a muscle, she was still in shock from the news she had just received.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAvOa810Hq1Q
Theo refused to leave her side.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAX0qpwvGMyz
"You heard me! Get out!"
143Please respect copyright.PENANA62DptVeQAn
Rosalind took a shaky breath. "Did you know?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAFhUXjlGkAQ
Chandler said nothing.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAfEJC9lGC0W
"Did you know you're my brother or not?" She asked with much more confidence this time.
143Please respect copyright.PENANALuiefjZw8Z
He didn't respond.
143Please respect copyright.PENANA54vi4UHguV
Theo stood up. "Excuse me, Rosalind asked you a question and I believe she deserves an answer."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAqRH2PQw5Mr
"Listen, the Council of Alphas will be here any minute now, and the Pack Mother will be livid if you aren't ready."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAYnnGSdC9Ey
Rosalind rose to her feet. "Fine."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAO0xvW1J5ci
Theo stormed out of the bedroom and Rosalind followed.
143Please respect copyright.PENANARDFZAF5txA
Chandler gently grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear. "I didn't know until I smelled my scent on your sweatshirt and when you said it belonged to your brother, that's when I knew you were my sister."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAzEqeg90MY0
She broke herself free from his grasp. "Thank you for telling me."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAcWU8rNc3GK
Rosalind changed into her dress and admired herself in the mirror. It didn't look too bad. The velvet dress went nicely with her complexion. She wasn't used to the sight of herself in a dress. She didn't have time to keep staring at herself, everyone was waiting for her.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAOTqzsI5Vqh
She walked to her bedroom where Theo and Heath were talking, or more accurately, Heath was keeping Theo occupied, so he didn't try to escape.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAU9r7wP66yy
Theo leaned back on the bed. "I'm not saying I hate the movies, I'm just saying the books were better."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAMiCkbpyyQx
Heath's jaw dropped. "There are Harry Potter books?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAiNqlwOZpar
"Hey, guys." Rosalind stood in the doorway and picked at her nails.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAjl9k1eUNfc
Theo immediately sprung to his feet. He cleared his throat. "You look beautiful."
143Please respect copyright.PENANA8UipQcizu4
"Thanks."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAgyu8fJJoBL
Theo took a red flower barrette and pinned it in her brunette bob. "You've got this!" He whispered in her ear.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQzVnWHqtqT
She forced a smile. "Of course, I do, She lied. Today she'd have to fake it till she made it. She put on a brave face and stepped towards the door, but hesitated before opening it. "Stay safe, okay?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAdKneSDNGDk
"I'll try my best."
143Please respect copyright.PENANABhekRVpYdu
Chandler swung open the door. He was wearing a black, well-fitted suit and neatly combed hair. He cleared his throat. "The Council is waiting for us in the banquet hall."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAHl7384j4HD
Rosalind nodded.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAmLBcwWeI4E
Chandler pointed at Theo. "Don't even think about leaving this room."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAX9r6vyMigd
Theo rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I don't feel like being mauled to death by a pack of angry werewolves today."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAvZAT9ukxH6
"Whatever." Chandler stepped outside the room. "Heath, don't let him out of your sight." Without another word, Chandler slammed the door on them and began leading Rosalind to the room where the council was meeting.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAIuq99q2vEc
"I like your tux, did you pick it out yourself?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAv2rZldzn5r
"Of course not, Duke did. I'm not a nerd."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAXLBjoNvYtT
Almost on cue, Duke stepped out of his room wearing a juniper-colored blazer with golden buttons. "Are you guys ready?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQJP4j5lIqc
"No, Rosalind mumbled.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAEr69kxQqDh
Chandler crossed his arms. "You don't really have a choice, princess."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAEUwjdCZMNT
Rosalind begrudgingly held her tongue for the rest of their walk.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0ltGum312
Duke gently punched Chandler's arm. "You look good."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAdkdUy4abbH
"I always look good, but thanks."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAbCAF82EkJg
They came to the end of the corridor. The only thing separating them from the council was a shimmering platinum door covered with a depiction of a pack of wolves. They all looked towards the one in the center. The alpha.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAV97tAKYCY5
The boys glanced at the knob and then at each other. Eventually, the tension became too much for them and Chandler pushed open the door, revealing a luxurious banquet hall. The walls were laced with scarlet tapestries. A long banquet table surrounded by chairs that resembled thrones. The most lavish throne of all was at the far end of the table, and her mother sat in it proudly like the queen she believed herself to be.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAmgs3lBuyeq
A tall, dark-skinned man rose from his seat to greet them. He had white hair, stern eyes behind his thick-framed glasses, and he wore a bronze ring on every finger. "Are you the daughter Luna won't shut up about?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAt8et3mzMmW
"I must be, since I'm the only daughter she's got." As far as she knew anyway, her mother had kept so many secrets from her, she didn't know what to believe anymore.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAp5N0svdyz0
He glanced her up and down. "I was expecting more."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAxaPSVem4lO
Duke cleared his throat. "Rosalind, meet my dad."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAS8r0lKBPnw
He extended a hand. "Lydon Kingsley, but it's Pack Father Lydon to you." He introduced himself. Then his attention drifted to Duke. "I heard you're the new sheriff in town."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAtEivLjfUOn
"You heard correctly. The Pack Mother promoted me a few days ago. I hope you're proud."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAFhjUU5AWY2
His father adjusted his glasses. "Honestly, I'm disappointed it took you so long. I suppose I expected too much from you."
143Please respect copyright.PENANALpb0uAohJg
Chandler shoved Duke out of the way and squared off in front of Pack Father Lydon. "Listen up, Asshole! Duke has done nothing but his absolute best from the day he got here, and that's more than I can say for myself. He deserves to be the leader more than I do, and you should be proud of him!"
143Please respect copyright.PENANALawGGLWQvy
Luna stood up and slammed her knuckles onto the table. "Can you at least try to show some respect, Chandler?" She sunk back into her seat and shook her head. "You're such a disappointment. Sit down now!"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQAxwO4Hiit
No one argued with her request.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAU0E3sIHLkD
Rosalind sat at her mother's right hand and Chandler sat across from her. He downed the entire glass of wine in front of him in one gulp.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAzppYPzchKY
"I've never seen anyone disrespect an alpha in such a public fashion!" A woman seated across the table exclaimed.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAD8JGRz9KuS
"Don't worry, he will face consequences for his actions," Gregorio said, trying to restore order.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAtAt5PhKWFu
Things were not going well. The Alphas loudly argued about pack politics while Chandler snuck another glass of wine.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAIRDoCN1cLA
Rosalind let out a relieved sigh when the food finally arrived. She was slightly less enthusiastic when she saw the giant hunk of meat that was almost too big for her plate. She picked up her fork and knife and hesitantly cut into it. The inside of the meat was so rare she feared it may still be alive. She took a small bite. The taste was completely unfamiliar to her. "What kind of meat is this?" She whispered to herself.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAeYjUUnTllr
"Moose." said the woman seated next to her with a look of playfulness in her yellow eyes. "I killed it myself a few hours ago." She proudly showed off the blood on her sleeves.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAiPssCzvT9C
Rosalind just smiled and nodded. "Very impressive."
143Please respect copyright.PENANA1nVhDOfmRU
A fanged grin spread across the woman's red lips. "I like you."
143Please respect copyright.PENANA5boWXBkSg6
Luna, on the other hand, was not impressed. "Can't you try to be proper for once in your life, Regina?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANARU0HL1mCYb
She giggled. "Where's the fun in that?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9cwaVs2JTN
Rosalind forced down as much of the moose meat as she could. The other werewolves seemed to enjoy it. Maybe she would grow to like it.
143Please respect copyright.PENANApVqWKEFvCe
As everyone was finishing their meal, Luna stood up and tapped a fork on her glass. "May I have everyone's attention, please. Since we're all gathered here tonight, Gregorio and I are proud to unveil the project we've been working on for the past decade."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAqoy0UyUGEa
Gregorio hid in the corner of the room with his head down and his hands tucked in his pockets. Luna proudly displayed a bottle filled to the brim with bubbling white liquid.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAIUNYhncqkL
Rosalind immediately recognized it from when she fell in the pit inside the Sightless Caverns. Wasn't all that stuff deadly to werewolves? Why was it here?
143Please respect copyright.PENANAU3If4FyHMK
Luna ran her fingers across the glass bottle. "I call it Wolfsbane. Just a few drops are enough to kill a fully grown werewolf where they stand."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAxeW1pofSct
Pack Father Lydon banged his fists on the table. "Are you mad? Why would you invent such a thing?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAntpvtCmliE
"Perhaps, you've forgotten why the Silver Huntsmen were founded. We were assembled to stop the rogue werewolf epidemic, and that's precisely what I plan to do."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAxFqNCXQyC1
Pack Father Lydon said nothing else.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAum6qYQjaEv
Regina's hand shot up. "Do you intend on sharing it with the rest of us?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANALppAWtV50y
Luna gave Gregorio the signal, and he reluctantly moved one of the tapestries, revealing several large containers of Wolfsbane. "I'm sending each of you home with a batch. All you need to do is dump some into your nearest water supply and soon your area will be completely rid of rogue werewolves."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAKd48kDUyhN
"Won't it kill you too?" Rosalind refused to make eye contact with her mother.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAxs9vf3cpYP
"I'm so glad you asked." Luna grabbed a bottle of pills off a rack next to the bottles of Wolfsbane. "All you need is to take one of these, and you'll become completely immune to Wolfbane's effects."
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4i55Yaxvpg
Rosalind squeezed her hands into tight fists. "So you're just going to slaughter everyone who's not one of your own."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAzwzbUyZLp8
"Well, that's the plan. We have to make sure the werewolf legacy doesn't become tainted."
143Please respect copyright.PENANA0CMTUTA0Ck
"Tainted?" Rosalind let out a deep growl, which slightly scared her, but she didn't back down. "This was never about the rogue werewolf epidemic, was it? You're only worried about preserving your legacy."
143Please respect copyright.PENANAzmOZYvkOWz
Duke made eye contact with her from across the room, signaling for her to stop, while he tried to rip Chandler's fourth glass of wine out of his hands. Rosalind saw his disapproving look, but she continued regardless. "I know a Mixedblood, and he's a better person than any of you combined!" Something awakened inside her. A rush of power flowed through her veins. She was barely in control of her own mind, but it didn't bother her. It felt good. "I'm done with your lies, mom!"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAtmjfU4EusT
"Hell yeah!" A very drunk Chandler smashed a plate, causing it to splinter into hundreds of fragments. "You never loved me! You never had any intentions of making me an alpha, did you?"
143Please respect copyright.PENANA20hXrfvJuW
No one said anything.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAuZabUgW0yP
"Of course not, I'm nothing but a pawn in the Silver Huntsmen's stupid game. You know what? All of you can suck my—"
143Please respect copyright.PENANALdHOAIOptY
"Knock it off, Chandler!" Duke cut him off in a final attempt to defuse the situation.
143Please respect copyright.PENANACqMndIYFn8
"No, you knock it off!" Chandler said, his speech slurred.
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQ871m88vUb
A disappointed expression spread across Gregorio's face. Luna stood up. "I've heard enough! Security escort them out!"
143Please respect copyright.PENANAu9XVbi7WUt
The rush of power became, so overwhelming, Rosalind could no longer contain it. Her hands morphed into paws and thick brown fur spread across her body. She jumped onto the table and knocked off as many things as she could, causing a ruckus.
143Please respect copyright.PENANA29O0FM79w0
She was no longer in control of her actions, but she didn't mind. She pounced at the two security guards whose names she didn't know, nor did she care. She completely missed them since she lacked control over her wolf form. Her eyes drifted to the door. Freedom. With all the force she could muster, she ripped the door off its hinges and barreled through the corridors.
143Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZRCjtdQi8
"Rosalind, I need you to relax." She heard Theo's voice, but she couldn't see him. Something sharp plunged into her back and she fell unconscious.
ns 172.70.100.208da2