Chapter 49
As instructed, the Pack Heralds immediately walked around the
pack and began to announce the Alpha’s instructions to every
member of the pack. They positioned themselves at different
areas from the northern part, to the southern part to eastern
part and the western part, yelling the order of the Alpha to
everyone who listened.
–
“According to the Alpha’s orders and for your safety, Parents,
keep your children home. Spouses, siblings, everyone – stay
inside. Do not come out. Lock your door and your windows.”
They shouted out loud.
“Also, after now. Every house will be searched. There is a traitor
in our midst and we need to fish them out. Put your houses in
order and if you have any stranger in your houses, it is better
for you to hand them over immediately the guards get to your
houses.” They continued.
“Do not argue with or resist the authorities in any way, else you
and every member of your household will appear before the
Alpha before you are thrown into jail for harbouring a criminal
and going against your Alpha’s decree.” They added, shouting
out loud so that everyone could hear them.
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They moved from place to place, from hidden corners to public
places, ensuring that every single member of the pack got the
order.
As the people heard the Alpha’s Heralds and the Alpha’s orders,
they took to their heels and began to run around. Everyone ran
home to their families and locked the door.
“What do you think is going on?” A woman asked her neighbour
as she packed up her wares at the southern market.
“I have no idea. Aside from the fire at the Northern market, I
don’t know what is going on but I have a feeling that danger is
looking.” The neighbour replied.
“Danger? Why? How do you know this? Are you sure?” The first
lady asked her, a bit confused
“Have you ever heard of anything like this before?” She asked
her.
“No, I have not. That’s why I’m confused as to why this is
happening now.” The second one answered.
“I think it is better to follow orders than to ask questions right
now. If the Alpha says to stay indoors until he tells us otherwise,
then so be it. I don’t want to be used as an example to others, I’m
off.” She said firmly, shutting her door and running all the way
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to her house.
Parents called out to their children who were still playing at
their friend’s houses. Doors and windows could be heard being
shut loudly as the people ensured they remained indoor,
obeying the Alpha. No one wanted to be the scapegoat.
Hearing the Pack’s Heralds faintly from afar, at their end,
Megan and Veronica exchanged glances.
“What is that?” Veronica asked, with a puzzled look on her face.
“That’s the Pack’s Herald. Here, Pack Heralds announces
information from the Alpha to the Pack.” Megan explained to
her.
“But what is he saying?” Veronica asked as she strained her ears
to hear him. “It sounds like a warning.” He suddenly said,
unsure.
They both then kept quiet to listen carefully to what the Pack Herald was saying but still couldn’t hear clearly because he was
still very far away.
“I guess we have to wait until he is close enough to be able to
hear him clearly,” She said and turning to look at Veronica, she
asked, “or can you hear him?”
“I’m not sure about this but it sounds like a warning.” Veronica
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said as her heightened sense of hearing picked up a few words
from the Pack’s Herald and she began to listen but couldn’t hear
a lot.
“Warning? Do you think so?” Megan asked her, as she strained
her ears once again but heard nothing.
“Yes I think so, but like I said, I’m not sure.” Veronica replied to
her.
“Shhhhh,” Megan gestured with a finger on her lips, telling
Veronica to be quiet. “He is closer to us now.” She whispered and
they both listened.
As they heard what the Pack Herald was saying, they both
exchanged scared glances. Especially Veronica who knew she
was a stranger in the pack. If the guards get hold of her, she’ll be
taken away, no doubt, because she is not a part of them.
“What do I do?” Veronica asked. I think I’m in trouble this time.
They are going to search from house to house and if they find
me here, you already know what will happen, Megan.” She said,
her voice breaking as she spoke out of fear.
She got up shakily and began to pace. Then right at that
moment, Megan got a call. She looked at the caller ID and looked
back at Veronica.
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“It’s my dad.” She said and picked the call.
“Where are you?” He asked as soon as she picked the call.
“I’m at Steve’s house.” She replied and waited patiently for what
he was going to say next.
“What are you doing there when he is not even there?”
“Uh..” she paused for a split second. “Nothing, I just felt like
staying here.” She lied.
“Come home immediately. Didn’t you hear the Alpha’s orders?
“I heard, I just thought I could-” She tried to cook up a quick lie
but her dad cut her off before she could finish.
“Come home immediately!” He ordered her again.
“But dad..” She tried to protest.
“Megan, don’t make me repeat myself. Get here this minute.” He
said sternly and ended the call.
As much as her father loved her and allowed her to do whatever
she loves, there were certain times when he was strict and firm,
especially when her safety was involved and that was what just happened. She knew that if she refused, he was going to possibly
come to Steve’s house to take her away, which she didn’t want to
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happen because Veronica was there. Now, she was left with no
choice but to go home.
Megan bit her lip as she looked up at Veronica who was staring
at her.
“He wants you home, right?” Veronica asked her and she nodded
sadly.
“It’s fine. You can go.” Veronica said with a slight smile.
“Will you be fine on your own?” Megan asked with a look of
concern.
“I guess I’ll be and if I’m not, whatever happens, just know that
I’m grateful to you and Steve for helping me. I’m also glad that
our paths crossed even if it’s for a short moment.” She said to
her, her eyes, beginning to well up with tears.
Megan, who was also moved to tears because she knew that
with the Alpha’s orders, there was a high possibility for
Veronica to be caught and punished but it wouldn’t stop at
Veronica but will extend to Steve and possibly her too.
“Nothing will happen, don’t worry.” Megan assured her, holding
her hand firmly and Veronica nodded with tears in her eyes.
“Just keep the light off. Turn off your phone and limit your
movement around the house too. I’ll lock the door from outside.
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I’m hoping that with all these precautions put in place and with the knowledge that Steve is still locked up, the guards would not come here. They might be around this vicinity but I hope they don’t come close.” Megan said to her, bade her farewell and left for her own parent’s house.
After standing watch all night and not seeing anything, the Captain of the warriors sent out one of the warriors to discreetly spy on the camp of the Shadow Moon warriors. As he got there, he was surprised to hear their leader instructing them to turn
back.
“We live to fight another day. Today is not the day.” Their leader
had said, lifting his hand and the warriors turned and headed
for their pack.
“Alpha, we have some news.” Captain Murphy announced as he
rushed towards Alpha Marcus and Beta Richard.
“What is it?” Beta Richard asked, expectantly.
“The Shadow Moon Pack suddenly asked their warriors to turn
back.” Captain Murphy announced, with a serious look on his
face.
“What?! Just like that?” Beta Richard exclaimed.
“We are surprised and shocked too. The leader of their warriors
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suddenly asked them to turn back, saying ‘we live to fight
another day. Today is not the day.” he reported and Beta
Richard began to think about the whole issue.
“Does this mean it’s all over and we got worried for nothing?”
Captain Murphy then asked.
“Of course not.” Beta Richard replied sharply. “We still need to
be alert. I don’t trust those people.” Beta Richard replied and
Murphy nodded.
He then turned to Alpha Marcus, “I think they probably have a
bigger plan up their sleeves. They intentionally scared us with a
false attack. I think they’re trying to divert our attention from
their big plan. So that when they attack, they’ll catch us off
guard.” He explained what he thought.
“But Beta Richard, don’t you think we should attack them
instead. Since they have decided not to attack, we can do the
attacking. They won’t see it coming.” Captain Murphy suggested.
“Oh no, we can’t do that.” He disagreed. “In fact, that will be the
most dangerous and careless thing to do. For all we know, it
could be a trap. It will make no sense at all if we ourselves fall
into their trap. That will be a huge slap on our faces.”
“All hands are on deck at the moment, if we decide to go and
attack them, we’ll leave less hands in the pack that way. What if
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some of them are lurking around somewhere, waiting for us to
go and attack the ones we see and when we are gone, they
attack the pack. The damage will be too great, we can’t do that.”
Beta Richard spoke sense and shed more light on what was
likely to happen if they decided to go with what the captain had
just said.
“Hmmmmm… I see sense in what you have just said. Indeed,
there is a high probability that that could happen.” Captain
Murphy said, nodding as he realized that Shadow Moon Pack’s
sudden action could actually be a ploy to get the majority of
them out of the pack so that they can attack the weaker hands.
“Yes, which is why we must not let down our guard.” Beta
Richard added.
“You heard what Richard said. Now, tell the mobilized warriors
not to back down. They must not let down their guard. Now is
not the time to repent but the time to be extra alert. The pack
must NOT be attacked. We must NOT be caught off guard.” He
instructed, his voice loud and clear as he gave out the order. “Is
that clear?” He asked to make sure Murphy heard all he had just
said.
“Yes, Alpha.” Captain Murphy replied firmly.
“We don’t know for sure what Shadow Moon Pack wants for
now. They might be playing pranks on us, trying to divert our
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attention like Richard said.
In the meantime, we are sure about one thing and that is the fact
that there is a traitor and we must know who that person is as
soon as possible before he or she begins to set their plans in
stone.” He said firmly.
“So, tell the guards to begin the house to house search this
minute. Leave no stone unturned!” He ordered and Captain
Murphy bowed and left immediately.
