Chapter 61

'Elder Marcus, this is time for the council to decide his fate." Marcus nodded in agreement. "Clatus would face judgment for all his wrongdoings. His daughter, Isolde, will be traced to wherever she might be. This pack will not spare anyone that breeds the seed of betrayal." Cletus snarled in frustration; it was over for him; it was time to pay for his sins. As I let go of his arms, my thoughts shifted to the main threat he had been working with. We needed to trap them since their spy had been caught. The traitor must be dealt with, and it would serve as a warning to every member of the pack that no betrayal would be spared. The new ally that showed up would help in uncovering every detail of this treachery, though we won't be depending on him entirely. Kelsey, finally free to move around, let out a sigh. He has been taking punishment for someone else's crime. "Thank you," he whispered, but a hint of grudge was in his voice. "Thank you for allowing me to defend myself." I nodded, but my mind was already calculating the next battle to be tackled. We weren't done fishing out the culprits yet. Elder Clatus might be still hiding yet another spy in the pack to continue from where he stopped. The pack had begun its healing process; nothing would be permitted to stand in its way. All the elders in the council watched as the Betas dragged out Clatus; none showed him empathy, and none made any move to stop them from dragging him. Now that part of their plans has been exposed, we would ensure Morgath doesn't get away with any of his plans anymore. We had no choice other than to be ready for what would come. This was no other reason but because the real war was just starting. Elder Clatus's POV They thought I was weak. They thought I would be broken by the discovery of my crimes, that I wouldn't raise my head again because of shame. But no, they were wrong. Their foolishness made them believe that I wouldn't harm a fly. I had to do what I had to do for my family legacy that was neglected. Every single wolf in this pack turned their back on me when I made the move to be the Alpha. I had the bloodline, I was qualified, but no, they chose the father of Jaxon to be their Alpha. The former Alpha was cursed by the moon goddess, hence the need for a new Alpha. But in all my efforts to be noticed, I remained a puppet in the pack, my family not given any significant role. I had to plant my daughter, Isolde, to become the pack's strategist. She was doing well, but when she tried to help me by plotting to dethrone Jaxon's father, she was caught and banished out of the pack. They wanted me to be remorseful for fighting for what rightfully belongs to me. To be miserable, but, I showed no such sign. As they dragged it out forcefully, I shunned the guards to take it gently with me. I had no intention of struggling, not even a simple howl in defiance. I didn't snarl in fear as they all expected me. I did none of that; rather, I stood with my shoulders high as they escorted me out of the council chamber. I allowed them to believe they had won, to think they had outsmarted me. I would soon be back for them, the game was just starting. They didn't know how we would tackle the situation on the ground. I had no idea what punishment awaits me, what the council would pronounce on me. But I do know one thing: it won't pass spending my entire life in the dungeon or being exiled out of the pack. The sight of Jaxon alone was enough torture. I had endured him for a long time. The torment that comes with seeing him hovering around the pack as the Alpha has finally come to an end. His name sends a bitter taste to my taste buds each time I calm him. If possible, I would have avoided having anything to do with him while I was still on the council. His father took everything by force, all that belonged to me. Some wolves were ready to support me, they vowed to put me on the throne of the Alpha, but as always, they betrayed me as soon as they were bribed by the former Alpha. The memory was still as fresh as if it was yesterday. I was vibrant, and my skills made way for me. I had it all planned out, but I was stripped of my rightful position in a manipulative manner. I led battles and came back victorious. My energy was the battlefield; no warrior alive could challenge me in any battle. Everything about me pointed toward having the throne, but I was wronged. They manipulated everything in their favor. Alpha Alaric, Jaxon's father, was chosen in my stead. Despite my very visible qualities, they still went ahead and chose another. The council favored him, someone that I taught how to fight, my student in the basics of war was chosen to lead me. His Luna, Elena, was supposed to marry me, but she chose him because of his status. My breath hitched, they did not consider my years of loyalty to the pack, faithfully serving with my whole being. They considered none of that but they pushed me into the dark holding cell. The cold stone walls closed in, welcoming me like a tomb. It fitted well like it was made just for me. But could this be where my story would end? Of course not, it's just the beginning. I stared intensely at the stone floor, but my mind was somewhere else, fully occupied with the thoughts of Isolde. She's my all; I could not watch and allow her to be mistreated in the chamber because she was serving her pack. I could have secured the throne for her, she would have been Luna or Alpha, but I failed her. Just like the father, Isolde saw injustice creeping in like a thief. She tried stopping it, but it didn't work out. She was overseeing the affairs of the pack as a strategist, and they were pleased with her efforts. Not only did she work as a strategist, she was a seasoned warrior, using her skill to protect the pack when in trouble. The least they could have done was check before exiling her. They gave her no room to explain herself, not even because of her brilliance, or her service to the pack. They paid a blind eye to all of that, and they lost a great asset. Even when Jaxon was not a good leader, always making decisions before thinking, they still left him on the Alpha throne. His indecisiveness caused the pack a lot, but no, he never changed his ways. They thought locking me up would stop me from continuing with my plans, they must be joking. I was never going to allow them to have the last laugh. I would stay calm for now; I would pretend to be defeated now, and they would have no idea what I was planning in the background for them. I was working for Morgath, though it seemed like that. No, I was never working for him. Simply put, we were using each other. I was taking advantage of Morgath's power to haunt the pack down, giving him all the information he needed to do the work while I relaxed. In Morgath's mind, he was the one using me, while he had no idea that I was using him, taking advantage of his magic power. Meanwhile, I had to cover up our crimes until they matured. I knew I would need someone who would carry the load, but it was hard to find someone who would volunteer to be used as the bad egg. On second thought, I noticed Jaxon's right-man behavior toward Liora. The young wolf seemed to like her a lot, always wanting to be by her side. I saw that as an opportunity, and I made an investigation to find more dirt on him. I was overjoyed when I got more information that would keep me in the dungeon for months or even a lifetime. Kelsey was involved with something that the council would frown at. In his jovial nature, he had informed Rhys, the Alpha of a rival pack, the Night Howlers, of Jaxon's intentions to carry gifts to Liora every day. He did it for fun, but I used it to manipulate him. It was very easy, and he made no effort to deny it. I made the entire pack and the council believe that Kelsey was the one causing havoc, that he was the traitor tormenting us. I expected them to at least make their findings like I covered my tracks well, but no, they made no such move. Well, the truth had been uncovered. They had discovered who was behind everything, most of the attacks in the pack. My title was the only thing I had left, but they had stripped me of it. I wasn't entirely the traitor, but they paraded me as one. If they hadn't given what belonged to me to another, I wouldn't have turned into a bitter wolf; I wouldn't have plotted against the pack in the first place. They pushed me so hard, pushed me beyond what I could take. My daughter, Isolde, would return to haunt them. Yes, I will ensure that. And when she does, we would focus on Jaxon until he falls. Silver Moon Pack would fall, I would rebuild it and become the Alpha, and rule with iron hands. I would make the whole pack suffer for the sins of their beloved indecisive Alpha. And I will remind them how they chose his father in my stead, yes, they would suffer for their wrong choices. But for now, let them think stripping off my dignity would make me powerless and less ambitious for their downfall. The Silver Moon Pack was supposed to be mine, to be under my control. I was supposed to be the Alpha, not a weakling like Jaxon. But I won't stop in this fight till I get all I ever wanted, no one would be able to stop me. This is nothing close to being over. This is just the starting point.