Rhys’s POV

The forest was covered with the presence of thick shadows, and all the steps taken had the whisper of unknown victory. I had not come out alone, with me were some of my warriors, the few that I had tested and selected for such operations; Dame, Kyra and of course, Malik. They must have done a lot to catch my fancy and be selected. Ever since Liora left Night Howlers, it has been difficult for the warriors to please me. All I looked for was an exact copy of Liora, but none of them was able to match her standard. But here we are today, I had managed to select these few,and I'm certain they would do a great job to capture my heart, and earn a rank in the army. We had moved in the most described perfect silence, ready to strike down any obstacle on the way. . 'Remember, we aren't here to make a noise, not even a pin should dictate our presence. We would grab her, but very quietly that nothing would interfere with our mission," I muttered, giving out stern instructions, " less they destroy my plans.'Noted Alpha, no mistakes." Dane, the more eager one for power, was more than ready, he wanted to be in control so badly that he would do anything to get it. 'I still can't believe an opportunity is before me to finally prove my abilities and skills. This is the time for action, not only to show off, but to contribute to the welfare of the pack." But as for Kyra, she prefers actions to talking, rolling her eyes at Dane's childish behavior, she started. 'I would advise you to observe less talking, Dane, and do more of moving. Talking a lot might even alert a squirrel, and our secret would be sung right in their chambers. I am sure you want no such thing right?" Malik made no attempt to talk, he was more focused to show off. His attention was only on the cleared space ahead. He wanted to make sure we did not miss any clue. Right inside the pack, we made our way to the big chamber. I knew she would be there, I knew Jaxon would not be with her then. We had gotten information that he would be late because of the council meeting they were having. I knew she would be in the room by the left, with the window directly facing the northern territory. I got to know from my last visit in disguise as Liora's lover. I brought gifts, expensive gifts, and in exchange for my trouble, I had toured the pack, and taken notes of important places in few days, just in case I needed it. And as predicted, right in the chamber, Liora lay down like the moonlit her that she was. She was completely unaware of the company around her. She slept soundly like a child, her innocent form oblivious of the dangers looming by the corner. She was supposed to be mine, to be completely under me, but Jaxon had taken her away from me, but not so long, as I had prepared to get all that belonged to me, this time not by negotiation, but by force. 'Are you fully prepared for the outcome, Alpha Rhys?" Kyra whispered, she has been against the operation, but I forced her to tag along as the Alpha. 'What if we alert Jaxon, he might not stay out so late considering that he just got married to Liora. What id he's..." 'Relax your nerves, Kyra," I interrupted her angrily. 'Jaxon has no idea of our mission, except if he has dang it to his hearing at my back. He's busy with the council, and from a reliable source, Liora would be absent from the meeting." She just nodded, but I was sure she never wanted to be part of the mission. She held onto her weapon as if her life depended on it. I watched Liora for sometime before spurning to action. I signaled the warriors with me to man the door, ensuring no guards were on sight as we took over the chamber. Dane and Malik did as I instructed, and in no time, we were already inside. Kyra was to follow the back door, the purpose was to check how clear it was for exit. We planned on going out so quickly as we had come, dropping not even a pin. Liora would be in my arms, cuddled against my chest by the time she gets herself. As we moved slowly, carefully following the plan I drafted for everyone, I whispered, 'Liora, Liora..." I planned on waking her carefully, ensuring she cooperated without any noise. She turned sharply, eyes widened in shock, standing like a statue on seeing me. She was never expecting me, not even in this manner. 'Alpha Rhys?" Her voice was shaking from shock as she called me. 'What… What brought you to this? Why are you here?" I gave her my best reassuring smile, stepping closer. 'Oh Luna, don't be too alarmed, Liora. I know you never liked it here. You have been tormented and treated like trash, and as the good guy, I'm here to your rescue, to offer you an escape you have been waiting for." Her expression shifted to a mockery horror, she let out the most charming smile, trying to confuse us. 'You must have gone insane," she hissed, obviously not bothered with our visit.'And you think Jaxon will watch.." 'Jaxon isn't aware of our presence, he's in the council room, taking care of duty, or isn't he?" I sneered, directing my men to draw closer. 'And don't you be alarmed, we would be done before he even notices your absence; and by the time he gets himself, we would have surrounded the pack with a lot of guards, and he won't get to you ever again." 'Just make it easy for us both, by coming with us, Liora," Kyra added, she never wanted the violet means, except if necessary according to her. 'It would save you a lot of stress, and your pack members won't be hurt, not even a hair on their skin would go missing." Liora just says looking at us like eerie figures. She was so confident that I doubted we would succeed. 'I have no intention of leaving my pack again, and if such should happen, it can never be with you." I took yet another mocking step forward, spreading my arms to welcome her. 'I would prefer if we follow the smooth way, the hard way should never be an option for us. But anyone you would like to choose, you should be aware that we won't leave here without you, and so you know, your cooperation is not needed." Before she could respond, we heard a sound by the hallway. It halted at one corner, and for sometime, I thought it had died off, that it was one of the guards but I was totally wrong. 'Alpha, did you hear that strange noise?" he whispered, in a low voice, leaning over to my side. Kyra became alert immediately, carefully scanning our surroundings with her sharp eyes. 'It seems we have company with us, we're no longer alone." As if whistled in, in a rush, a crowd of warriors, numbering half a dozen figures, stormed into the chamber, and we were completely ambushed, no way of escape. Indeed, I had underestimated Jaxon's ability, I had forgotten how far he went in winning Lion's heart back, and would do even more to keep her by his side and safe. Liora was no longer just an ordinary member of the pack, she was Luna, and they would do everything possible to protect and keep her safe. One of the warriors, I had no time to capture the name on his badge, but could be easily differentiated from the rest because of his jagged scar across his rough cheek. He sneered mockingly at me, a strange smirk plastered across his scared face. 'Did you in your wildest imagination, assume you could pull this off, and foolishly with this number, Rhys? That's very By now, I was already losing confidence, but I masked it up, not wanting my men to be affected by my weakness. 'You have no right to interfere, this does not concern you in any way. It's only Liora that has a say on what happens next. And lest you forget, we are not leaving here without her, with or without her cooperation." The scarred warrior uttered a mocking laughter, shaking his head in an annoying manner." I would suggest you surrender now to make it easier for your men, considering that you have been outsmarted, and worst of all, outnumbered. You should be begging for mercy, to at least see your pack for the last time." Dane lunged at him, fury evident at his face. 'You're going to swallow your words immediately, you can't insult my Alpha and go scott free," he spat angrily at him. But the warriors were more concerned with trapping us in, ensuring there's no route of escape for us. They were not smiling, and I get the reason for their protectiveness. You can't have a Luna like Liora and not fight with everything in you. Their unyielding eyes were enough to scare the bravest among us away, it was a horrible experience. Kyra glanced at my side, fear cleared registered on her face. She had been against this mission from the first day I mentioned it, but I refused to bulge. 'What are we going to do now, Alpha Rhys?" 'We fight, we have always fought, and we live by fighting." I growled with all the strength in me. 'We are not leaving without achieving our reason for coming. No seed of NightHowler is known for weakness, and it won't start from us." The clash between the warriors was so brutal that I feared I would go back with my men completely. Dane had targeted the stubborn warrior with the scar. I guess all was to impress me, to show off how he challenged a warrior for my sake. But funny enough, the scarred warrior kept dodging each strike effortlessly, making Dane look more of a child. Malik did not stand to watch, he lunged on nearby warriors, maybe those equal to his strength. I knew I would lose if I didn't do anything. I wanted to end it all and return to my pack, but my ego won't let me. 'Give up already, Rhys," one of the warriors mocked, circling me in the process. 'You're already losing without even starting." I charged at him in fury, how dare he talk down on an Alpha? I wanted to retreat, but I couldn't bear him insulting me, insulting the Alpha of one of the bravest packs. Giving up has never been an option to me, and it won't start now. I glanced at my back, and I could see Kyra struggling to remain relevant in the fight. The warriors were not taking it easy on her also. 'Alpha Rhys!" Liora's voice vibrated across the room, a voice that could melt, forgetting my status as the Alpha. She would have joined in fighting us, but their warriors never allowed it. 'You thought we would ignore your signs, stay lazy while you dominate us? Well, I won't step an inch out of this chamber, not even with the nuisance your warriors make. I gritted my teeth, as my anger level was beyond control. 'You don't seem to grab anything from what I have been saying, Liora. You and Jaxon were never a match, you saw how he mistreated you, rejected and embarrassed you before, Jaxon does not deserve a soul like you!" She let out a small laugh. 'And here you are thinking you are a better option?" 'Get out immediately, and never come back, Rhys," the warrior charged at me again, "this mistake shouldn't happen again. My men were clearly in pain, but the stubborn part of me refused to bulge to their pleading. My men were down, groaning in pain as Jaxon's warriors pushed them back. Dane stumbled After some minutes, I decided to heed to their plea and return to our pack. 'This can't end in this manner, Liora," I spat. ' It would be better if you follow my guidance, but Jaxon would suffer for everything. " Liora stood with hands folded watching us leave. She wasn't bothered at all, at least her facial expressions said that. We disappeared quietly as we had come, but not with Liora.