CLAIMED

40

For the past four days, over eight hundred thousand combat warriors have been stationed at the borders of the Azure Pack. Kazan and his top officials were all expecting and prepared for an invasion from the Sabre Red Pack, or worst-case scenario, the Big Five Packs. However, nothing happens. Strange, but they will not let their guards down.

There was a battle discussion taking place at the palace between Kazan, the elders, higher-ups, and a few leading warriors. And this goes on for about an hour. At the end, Kazan dismissed everyone from the throne room and ordered that Ezekiel stay behind. He wished to fix things between him and his brother. You see, after Ezekiel's outburst that day at the hospital, they haven't been talking much like normal—like brothers. It's just all work. But he can't stand this any more.

"Um. How... How is Grand Master Dorian doing?" Kazan bumbled. Alright, he's somewhat nervous to communicate with Ezekiel, who's clearly not in a good mood—to put it mildly.

"He's still undergoing treatment at the hospital. But you already know that," Ezekiel responded a bit harshly. For the past couple of days, he's been so occupied with war preparation that he didn't have room to think about the sh*tload of trouble going on. That's another way of saying he refused to think about it all because of how hopeless it was. Ezekiel also refrained from even checking on his grandfather during that time at the hospital because he was so afraid. Afraid to watch the man, who is not only his grandfather but also his father, die. And Kazan just had to bring him up to trigger all that trauma he was trying to avoid. "So enough with the pointless question and say what you want to say already."

"Why are you still upset with me?" Kazan looked Ezekiel in the eyes and asked. "We are brothers. Regardless of our differences, there should be nothing that we can't get through."

"It's not you that I'm upset with, brother!" Ezekiel roared, but really he felt bad about the way he's been avoiding Kazan lately. But he can't help it. "I'm just—I just don't know how to process all that is taking place right now." He then started crying. Damn it! He was trying really hard to keep his sh*t together. "I mean, what if my grandfather dies?"

"I'm afraid to lose him too, brother." Kazan held him in a brotherly embrace to console him. "And I can't guarantee you that all will be well with him. But it's out of our control. All we can do is pray and have faith that all will be well with him."

"Yeah bro. But that's easier said than done, though." Ezekiel retorted.

"That is why it's called faith."

Ezekiel took a deep breath as a mean to calm himself. "Look, I'm sorry about my behavior lately. It's not that I want to ignore you."

"It's all forgiven." Kazan assured Ezekiel with a pat on the shoulder and a smile.

"OK." Ezekiel smiled briefly. "By the way, where is the stray? I mean Leah. I haven't seen her since that day at the hospital. Sorry about my outburst, by the way."

"I don't know where she is." Kazan replied. Leah left a few days ago to handle some important business, she said. Of course, he was against this. But who is he kidding? He can't stop her from doing anything she sets her mind to do.

"Really? But you two seem to always want to jump each other at every chance you get," Ezekiel teased. "I find that shocking."

"You dare mock this sovereign." Kazan snarled, trying to hit the back of his head, but Ezekiel avoided him.

"Mock?" Ezekiel feigned surprise. "I wouldn't dare. I'm just concerned about your well-being. And from the smell of things, it seems your sexual needs are not being met. I'm worried that my sovereign might die from an erotic explosion. And that would be catastrophic."

"Alright, alright." Kazan snickered. "I'll let this slide. But if you continue with this, I will bash your head in."

"Is it because you aren't getting anything why you are so violent?"

"OK. Now you're asking for it." Kazan seizes Ezekiel's throat. Of course, he wasn't going to hurt his brother. This was just a show to shut him up, but it failed.

"Alright, I'm done talking about your sexless life."

"It's good to have you back, brother." Kazan released Ezekiel before making a mess of his hair.

And as Ezekiel was about to respond, he got a call on his magical communication device. According to his underling, they have captured an intruder at the west border. And that the intruder was from the White Clover pack. This made Ezekiel's head hurt to the point where it was going to burst. Anyway, when all the information was relayed to him, Ezekiel told Kazan.

"Are you sure?" Kazan's heart raced a bit, but he tried to keep calm.

"Yes." Ezekiel replied. "What I find strange, though, is that the guy volunteered to be our prisoner."

"What? Why?"

"He wished to speak with Leah."

"Leah?" Kazan became angry. "Is he here to kill her?"

"Maybe, but I doubt that he would be so polite. The guy is strong, no doubt. He alone could probably kill everyone in this pack with ease."

"Where is he now?"

"According to my underling, he's being transported to the dungeon. He should be locked away there by now."

"Alright, let's go." Kazan and Ezekiel rushed down to the dungeon, which was secured by more guards than usual. One of the guards took the two to the cell the intruder was locked in.

"Who are you, and what do you want here?" Kazan questioned the intruder—a sturdy-built young man with untidy silver hair seated in a meditative posture.

"I presume you are sovereign Kazan?" The young man opened his captivating silver eyes to take in the appearance of the two young pups before settling his gaze on Kazan.

"Yes."

"I've heard rumors that someone of the true royal bloodline of our White Clover pack is staying here. Is this true?"

"The last time I checked, you're the prisoner." Kazan spoke sternly. "Therefore, you're in no possession to ask any question here."

"I see that the rumors about you being claimed by her are also true."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Of course, the young lad knew that Kazan was lying. He's been around for way too long to not know when someone is not being truthful. But he understood why the kid was doing this. "I mean her no harm. I just need to have a chat with her."

"Well, whatever you have to say to her, you can just say it to me."

"Or I could go out and look for her myself." The lad said, and it made the two young men tensed. After all, none of them could stop him if he wanted to leave. Not even these white onyx bars can contain him. "But I won't. I need her to trust that I'm on her side."

"On her side?" Kazan scoffed. "Didn't your pack kill all of Leah's family members?"

"Ah, so it's that ill-tempered princess who survived the massacre." The lad sighs, exasperated.

"Even though what you say is true, I don't want to hear that from you."

"When she gets back here, just let her know that the silver wolf wishes to speak with her." The lad had figured that if Leah knew that anyone from the White Clover pack was here, there was no way she could stay away.

The silver wolf? "What makes you think that I will even let you get near her?"

"With the battle that's about to take place here, the princess needs all the help she can get."

"What do you mean, help?"

"You'll know once I meet with the princess."

Kazan tried to get more answers from the guy, but the guy ignored him. Therefore, he and Ezekiel had no other choice but to leave. It's not like they could torture the information out of the guy. They also assumed from his statement that he wished to be their allies—well, Leah's ally. Of course, Kazan doesn't trust this one bit.