The Alpha Meeting
Chapter 8

As Saphera went downstairs, she could feel everyone staring at her. Celix followed straight after her. Josh immediately noticed Celix’s eyes, which were now—sapphire, and he knew. He smiled at Celix and winked at Saphera.

They are the Alpha couple of the pack.

Zander and Zane bowed their heads, for now they had not only an Alpha who ruled the pack, but a couple, which made them and the pack stronger.

Celix headed towards the boardroom. A new plan had to be formed. He noticed it was almost dark outside. “Haven’t the hunters returned yet?” he asked Josh.

“No Celix, we haven’t seen them since they left with the dead bodies.”

Saphera tensed. Something was wrong; she knew it. Celix noticed her tension. Just as he was about to call a search party to go and look for them, they heard the hunters come—but they smelled of blood and fear. Sapphera rushed over to them—but she stopped immediately. Ralph was not with them. She froze.

“The other hunters… they attacked us, and took Ralph. We fought as hard as we could, but we could not overpower them,” Jenny said. She was clutching her arm, which was impaled by an arrow—an arrow from Johnny.

Saphera’s anger started to rise, and immediately Celix sent her soothing thoughts to calm her down. He couldn’t bear another outburst from her--this time she would kill them.

“Saphera, we will go replace him. But I think we all first need some rest, and a plan. We’re outnumbered, and who knows, maybe they are working with Reon. So no use in marching in on them when they can kill us all.”

Saphera wasn’t having it. Her hair glowed and her nails came out. This time the flame around her was black, and Celix started to retreat.

“Saphera, please. There are a lot of innocent people here who do not need to die today, okay? So please, let’s just calm down.” He was afraid now, even though she was his mate—he was scared to hell. As she turned towards him, he saw it: something only legends spoke of. Her eyes were black and her fangs had extended.

Wolf fangs don’t grow this long, not even in Alphas, he thought to himself. Josh and the rest of the wolves left the room, seeking shelter outside the mansion in the forest.

Saphera was changing in form. How was this possible? The next moment there was a flashing bright light, and then darkness. After a few seconds his eyes adjusted— and he almost had a heart attack. In front of him where Saphera had stood just a second ago, was now a wolf. A fully-formed black wolf with dark eyes and a red line of fur on its back. The wolf was enormous—almost as high as Celix, even standing on all fours. It was a gigantic creature. The hunters immediately fled into the forest, following the rest of the pack. Celix could not believe it. The legend of the Death Wolf was true. In his family, they all knew the story told of the one true Alpha, one able to shapeshift into a true wolf or werewolf. The creature’s bite was lethal to every living thing. Never in his life had he believed this tale until tonight, when his mate turned into the legend itself.

Saphera saw the look of fear on her mate’s face. Yes, she was the Death Wolf that was why she never feared anything or anyone, for the wolf itself is uncontrollable in Saphera’s place. She stepped closer and saw Celix freeze. She had to reassure him. As she took another step, she heard his voice in her head.

“Saphera? Is this you?”

“Yes my mate, this is the true me. That’s why my parents were so persistent with me staying true to my kind, and this is part of the reason why my love for Ralph was never accepted by the supernatural. They feared that when I lose control, I will kill all in my way.”

Saphera looked up at him and saw him taking a step closer. She didn’t want to lose her mate. She stepped closer and lowered her head so he could touch her. As he touched her, she felt their bond running through her veins. She looked him in his eyes.

“I have to replace Ralph, he is my son’s father and I made a promise to my son that his daddy would never get hurt.”

“I understand. We will help you,” he said telepathically, and he called his whole pack back home.

Some of them were wary, as they felt her presence from miles away: all the dark energy. As they entered the room and saw her, some of them moved to the far corners of the room. The hunters returned with the help of Josh, who searched for them.

Once everyone was accounted for, Celix cleared his throat. “My friends, all of you, I know you are scared and wary, but don’t be afraid. This Wolf is none other than Saphera herself.”

Saphera stepped forward. All the wolves exhaled loudly.

“She is the wolf of the legend?” Josh said in disbelief. He stepped forward, feeling Saphera’s aura. He held out his hand and she let him touch her neck and side. “Wow Saphera, you really are full of surprises, aren’t you?”

Saphera just nodded her head. Soon the other wolves relaxed and all came closer, even the hunters.

“A full wolf. No wonder Ralph liked you.”

“Ralph never knew this side of me. I kept it hidden for many years, for I was never able to fully control it,” Saphera directed the answer towards Jenny.

“Saphera, but why tonight?”

“Because Ralph is in danger, and my son’s father will not be killed tonight or any other night. This is a promise I made to my son.”

Jenny and the rest looked at each other. They all knew for a fact that the night was far from over. Saphera looked over at Celix, who was still mesmerised by her. “We will end this tonight.”

“Yes, we will,” Celix answered her telepathically.

***

Ralph was starting to wake up. He smelled blood—his own, he assumed. He heard footsteps heading towards him.

“Ralph, I must say I’m impressed by the fight that you guys put up, even if you were outnumbered one-to-three.”

Ralph tried to stand and found that he was bound by rope.

“Don’t move too much or you’ll hurt yourself,” Reon said, laughing.

The rope that bound Ralph was laced with scorpion venom. As he moved, the rope burned against his skin.

“Reon, you made a mistake by catching me.”

“You see, the funny thing is I didn’t catch you. Remember your old friend Johnny? He caught you.”

Ralph looked up at Reon. “Impossible. They left town this morning.”

“No, they didn’t. They were on their way, but we kind of caught them.”

“What do you mean ‘caught’ them?” Ralph sat up straight.

“Well, let’s just say that after some persuasion, they opted to help us for their freedom.”

“Well, couldn’t expect anything better from those scum bags.” Ralph gritted his teeth as the ropes bit deeper into his bare skin.

“So what I want to know is, who are you? I heard a tale that you are the father of Zion. Which means you and Saphera are really close?” Reon spoke in his Alpha tone.

“Yes we are, but you picked the wrong the family to mess with.” Ralph spat at him, which earned him a boot to his cheek.

Everything went dark.

Please Saphera, be safe.

***

As Saphera stalked up and down the corridor, she was growing more agitated. Ralph was going through so much pain, and all she could do was stand here. She couldn’t let her son down.

“Everything will be fine. We just can’t rush in there blindly. This will mean nothing if we all get killed off as well,” Celix said as he stroked her head. He was still getting used to the idea of his mate being the Death Wolf.

“I know Celix, but I am worried,” she said as she laid down and closed her eyes.

***

After what felt like hours, Ralph woke with a searing pain in his side. Reon was branding him with his pack’s mark. Ralph started to move, but Luke stepped on his back and forced him to the ground with so much force he knocked the wind out of him.

“Ralphy my boy, what is the matter? Can’t take the pain as much as your Saphera can.”

“Leave her out of this!” he shouted.

“Ah, well now, you see that’s just not going to happen. I like her, I mean I really like her, and I think she would be good as a mate.”

“In your dreams. She will never ever let someone like you claim her. Never.”

“Oh and how do you know?”

“Well, let’s just say another Alpha has beaten you to it.” Angry, Reon pulled Ralph up with one hand and pushed him up against the cave wall. “Who?” “Celix from the Silver Tongue pack.”

Hearing this, Reon threw Ralph across the floor. Ralph hit his head against the wall and blacked out again.

“How can this be?” Reon said, looking at Luke. “How can that Alpha, who is almost twice her age, claim her?”

“We don’t know if this is true. Maybe the hunter just said that so that you would lose your focus,” Luke said,feeling a bit anxious. He knows the tales of when two Alphas mate: they form a pack that will share their power and energy—which meant all the wolves would have access to Alpha power.

Reon saw the worry in Luke’s expression, and he knew why. If what the hunter said was true, they would not be facing a wolf pack, but an Alpha wolf which could mean the end of them.

***

As they stepped out into the cool air, they all looked at one another. After a few hours of planning and scheming, they had a plan in mind and knew what the two main goals were. First, to save Ralph. Second, to kill Reon. Saphera was feeling tense—she was the one who had to get Ralph out alive, while Celix, together with the other four, went straight for Reon. She could smell the fear in some of them. Even though she was the Death Wolf, she feared for Ralph tonight.

Entering the forest surrounding Reon’s den, they were wary and on edge. They have not yet encountered any wolves from the other pack, which was strange as wolves usually patrol their territory. As they came closer, Saphera picked up on Ralph’s scent. She immediately smelled the blood. Celix and the other wolves smelled it, too.

“What is it?” Jenny asked.

“Saphera picked up on Ralph, but by the smell of it he has been very badly hurt,” Josh answered.

“Okay. Will she be able to get to him without being detected?” Jenny asked.

“Yes, I can,” Saphera said telepathically so that all could hear her, even the hunters.

“You can speak to all of us?” Lionel asked, one of the other hunters who had been very silent up to now.

“Yes, I just figured it out.”

“Okay. So will you go and get Ralph, and leave the rest of the pack to us?” Jenny said as the group started to split up.

“The wolves are right ahead but Ralph is in a different direction, more west than north.”

“It’s a trap, Saphera,” Celix said.

“I know, but I have to get to Ralph.”

“You two wolves over there, go with Saphera and assist her.”

“Celix, remember you are already outnumbered. Besides, I can take care of myself at the moment. Let them rather help you. Ralph might be in a room with two guards, which will be child’s play for me. As soon as I have him, I’ll join up with you guys.”

“Saphera?”

“I’m sure, Celix. Trust me.” She licked him gently and turned around and went into the direction she smelled Ralph.

Without hesitation the group started towards Reon’s Den. Celix could sense Reon, but could not quite place his exact position. “Saphera please be careful.”

“I will.”