Rhys’ POV

In my anger, I ordered the arrest of the guard in charge of the refugees. My temper was flaring up as I thought of who would have linked vital information concerning the pack out to refugees. Liora had earned a place in our back, the Night Howlers, and of course, a large spot in my heart, making her a part of us and more a stranger, but considering that we were to attack her pack, Silver Moon Pack, we hid it from her. I don't doubt her loyalty to us, but blood has always been thicker than water. Even without wishing to, she might be tempted to save her pack, not minding how they rejected and humiliated her, labeling her a weak Omega. I paced in my office as I searched for answers, how did she trick them to cross the border to the battlefield? We were discreet enough that I suspected nothing from her. She also showed no sign of knowing our plans, what changed? I continued pacing the room in deep thought. We were gaining the proper hand on the battlefield, but not until Liora joined us. She sided with her people and started fighting us like we were aliens, forgetting all we did for her, took her in, sheltered her, and trained her. That she could fight well was because of our help. We made sure to hone her skills after seeing her zeal for learning and after seeing the effort that she put in to prove herself. 'Garron!" I barked, pouring out my anger to everyone around me at that moment. Garron was my second-in-command. Sensing the urgency in my voice, he appeared immediately but dared not to talk as he bowed in reverence. 'I want you to bring me to my council with no delay. Their presence is needed urgently; bring any of them that are available; we need to discuss something immediately." Garron left quietly as he came without saying a word. He had learned from years of working with me not to interrupt me when I am angry, as it brings out the beast in me, making me to transfer aggression to those around me. As he left, my thoughts lingered on beautiful Liora. How could she betray our pack, the pack that saved her, honed her skills, and made whatever her pack is celebrating today? She chose them over us; those that rejected and humiliated her chose Jaxon over me? From the first time I set my eyes on her, I knew she was destined for greatness. The way she carried herself, her zeal towards learning, and all the efforts she put in distinguished her from other refugees. I had chosen her without a second thought, knowing that the pack would benefit greatly from her leadership, she wouldn't be losing as she would finally find her place, earn the respect she deserves, and get the position she was deprived of, but yet she dismissed my offer, and did that most disrespectfully. Not quite long after, Garron returned, but not alone. He came in with two other weary-looking wolves, Tara and Ryker. They looked like they were coming from an exile, so uneasy, maybe wondering why I summoned them under the hot sun. 'Alpha Rhys, are you sure you are doing the right thing, shouldn't we be more concerned about nursing our wounded soldiers back to health?" Tara pointed out cautiously, with a concerned look on her face. 'Liora is happy staying with Jaxon now, and talking of the Silver Moon Pack, don't you think they will be on high alert now, more than ever, knowing that Liora fought for them after training with us? They are aware that we are not happy and might strike time to retaliate, so they're always prepared. Kidnapping her is a terrible idea, and it could provoke nothing but a war." 'Exactly my point!" I fired back as I rose to my feet. 'That's what I have been trying to point out to you! We made her who she is today, but she betrayed us and needed her back on us when we needed her the most, and now, they are worshiping her; she has become everything they ever wished for. Their warrior, healer, even their queen. She's a rare gem, she has a rare power, something you can't see often, and you want me to leave her, to forget about her, never! She's going to be mine, and mine alone." Ryker, with a concerned face, leans closer as if to speak out loud. 'But Alpha Rhys, you know Liora is very stubborn; what if she doesn't want to come back here? What if she wants to stay with her people? She's very strong, and you can testify to that, and even in the last battle, she proved to be unbeatable, and forcing her could backfire." 'She would do no such thing," I said with confidence. 'I'll have a lot to discuss with her, remind her of her roots, how she was seen as a weak Omega, but we washed her up, cleaned her into the celebrated version of herself. Liora has no right to reject me, she's meant to be by my side, not as a member of the pack, but as my Luna. We just need to do a little convincing, and she will become part of us forever. We can't miss this opportunity as it would enable us to dominate the whole of the werewolf territories; her powers and abilities are worth the wait." Garron, my second in command nodded, finally catching the vision. 'So, how do you intend to start, what's the plan exactly?" I smirked as I pictured everything, 'We'll strike unexpectedly, and it must be at dawn. The entire members of the Silver Moon Pack would still be sleeping, the aim is to catch them off guard. Some may still be celebrating her return in the Apha's chamber, not taking precautions. I will instruct some of the warriors to quietly creep in and grab her, while the rest distracts the entire pack. Alpha Jaxon, of course, will order his warriors to fight, not knowing our main reason for attacking. We will retreat immediately when we get a signal that they have carried her successfully. They would think they have won us as usual, not knowing we had interior motives for attacking." Tara's face was covered with a frown, as she watched us plan. 'What if they're done with the celebration, and there are no distractions as you captured in your thoughts? As I pointed out before, they might be prepared more than you, knowing fully well that Liora is no more ordinary, and any pack could kill to have her. This could bring nothing but more troubles for us, Alpha Rhys." 'Enough of that nonsense, Tara!" I snapped as I shut her up angrily. 'Liora is very important to us; she's the key to our political prowess, to our supremacy. Once we succeed in getting her for ourselves, Jaxon will become weak; he will do nothing to stop me. I can't be alive and allow her to slip away right under my nose." Ryker switched sides and joined Tara. 'And Alpha Rhys, this seems more complicated than it looks; what if she doesn't want us? Maybe she was pretending to like it here; what if it was all a ploy to make us her trainers? And considering her stubbornness, she could choose to challenge you." I leaned in, a wicked smile spreading across my face. 'Then, I would be left with no option but to show her what it means to have true power. She'll be forced to understand that I am not Alpha Rhys for nothing. I would do all that if it involves that; I am ready to do that." The council went ahead to discuss the logistics to be made available for the raid, but I had other things in mind. Who would have thought that I would still think of her the way I do after the council meeting? I was thinking that I wanted her just for the benefits, for influence, but I guessed wrong. I was actually in love with her. Her images kept flashing in my mind, her beautiful face, her curves, and her smile. I was already disorganized just a few days after she was away from the pack. At Silver Moon Pack Liora and I were both standing outside, each to their thoughts, as we watched the moonlight together. 'I still can't figure out what happened today," I started breaking the silence, as I stylishly gazed at her with the corner of my eyes in admiration. 'You outdid yourself, Liora. And the healing drama that you pulled out there, it's incredible. You came back to the pack that rejected and humiliated you, and you still saved my life, even after I caused everything." Liora blushed, catching a glimpse of me staring at her. 'That's nothing, Jaxon, that was the right thing to do as a member of this pack, there's no way I would have watched all of you perish when I can do something. I'm glad my help was timely and useful, and also happy to be home with Jaxon." I moved closer to her, using the moment to weaken her resolve, the wall that she built around herself since she came back. 'This has always been your home, you belong here, Liora. We may have called you a weak Omega in the past, but that was very childish, you are more than that. Silver Moon Pack cherishes and adores you." I caught Liora biting her lips shyly. 'What if they're this welcoming because of who I have become, and they go off again when I am not able to give them what they want? I've faced much, struggled more than any pack member, disappointed many times, and right now, I don't want more of those dramas. The pack should focus on you and your marriage, please." 'They won't do that again," I tried assuring her, everything that happened was in the past. 'You survived all that came your way because of your personality, your strong-willed spirit. I would ensure none of such crosses your way again. We are genuinely sorry for everything. Thank you for coming back." As Liora made to respond, we heard the sound of approaching footsteps from the woods. It was coming in our direction. We waited patiently, and two wolves emerged from the shadows. I protectively ordered that they reveal who they were. 'Who is there, reveal yourself immediately?" I ordered authoritatively. The both of them stepped out from their hiding to admit that they were our members, members of the Silver Moon Pack. 'Alpha, we came with the news, it's not yet confirmed, but it's best we stay alert. We overheard some warriors of the Night Howlers discussing, and it was centered on our pack. There's a rumor of a future attack, and it would come suddenly, just to catch us unawares.," one of them narrated. 'We need to guard our pack; start preparing for war in case they strike." Liora kept mute; it was as if she knew such would happen. 'We can't allow them to raid our pack again; we must ensure that our borders are well guarded to avoid penetration," I told Liora, even though she still kept quiet. 'They can't disorganize my pack again, I won't allow them," I vowed, ready to prove them wrong again.