The Hunter's Pack

The Arguments

"We have to kill them all! How could you even think of trusting them after what that cursed-" the raging man stopped to spit on the floor in disgust "-alpha did to your parents?" 

"Get rid of the threats! Mr. Blackthorn, I don't understand your reasoning. Why would you keep all of these traitors alive?" Another one exclaimed, angrily gesturing with his arm towards the pack behind Conner Blackthorn. 

"They've already explained everything, with proof too. Their murderous alpha acted alone, and she's gone now. Killing them all would be meaningless - they're innocent!" Mr. Conner growled back at them, taking a defensive posture behind his obviously upset mate, Annie. 

"I have to agree with the young Prince now. To massacre them would make us no different from their previous alpha. And we can't forget that their current beta is the one the prophecy speaks of." A third man spoke up with a slightly annoyed expression. There was a murmur among the pack of wolves in our pack house, discussing this claim. 

Hearing them slander Alex, a deep anger swelled within me. I had to quickly wipe the scowl from my face and rearrange my features back to neutral. Although I may seem very in control of my emotions to some people, I would never compare to Alpha A; I used to wonder whether she had any emotions at all. Well, I suppose that's the difference between a commoner and a trained expert. 

I sighed and fixed my glasses. Ever since Alex left, things have gotten very complicated very quickly. Annie and I, as the current alpha and beta, had to meet the many waves of angry alphas accusing us of murder. Of course, there were some smarter ones that had come to vouch for us after it was made known that Alex had "acted on her own." 

"Fine. But I will never forgive her for murdering the King and Queen. We should all at least send some of our members to track her and kill her." One alpha spoke up from the crowd. 

Immediately, voices of agreement rose, overwhelming the room to the point where the Prince had to concede. I could only sigh at this conclusion. 

~*~

"So, are you going to finally tell me where exactly we're going to today?" A mildly annoying voice sounded out. 

"The woods." I replied monotonously, moving past a flexible branch and releasing it just quickly enough so that is smacks the man behind me. I smiled in satisfaction after hearing a solid "thunk" and a yelp of surprise. 

"We are already in the woods, Alpha Cross." There was a very noticeable twang of irritation permeating his voice when he spoke.  Good...perhaps now he feels as displeased as I do due to the forced travel arrangements. 

"Really? Brilliant deduction..." I murmured, careful not to reveal the schadenfreude I was currently reveling in. 

Alpha Porter sighed, perhaps already used to my antics after 5 days of travelling. There was silence between us for not even 3 full minutes until he started speaking again. When I first saw him, I thought Grayson was a little like me, but I was wrong - he does not really appreciate the merits of silence. 

"So, it's pretty amazing that we haven't even met any patrols. You know, with us trespassing all the time and all."  Grayson squinted at me with suspicion swimming in his frosty eyes, perhaps trying to trick me into revealing my "secrets of undetected travelling." 

"Indeed." I was not revealing my secr- A noise cut off my thoughts as I froze, cocking my head to the side. 

"What's up?" A few seconds passed before Grayson spoke up.

"It seems as if you spoke too soon. There is a patrol heading this way right now and will pass by in perhaps...10 minutes?" I estimated silently before nodding to myself in confirmation. 

"What...? How did you even hear that?" He frowned at me, but then quickly shook his head and glanced around. "Nevermind, not now. We have to hide somewhere...but they would catch our scent, so that won't work. We have to run-...what are you drinking?" He stopped his wild vociferation and looked at the potion decanter in my hand.  

After leisurely drinking about half the potion, I held an empty hand out to him, palm up. 

"Pay up." 

He looked at me and the potion before realization finally crossed his features. His eyes immediately frosted, anger evident on his face. 

"You're extorting me?" 

"Call it what you will. These potions do not cost pennies. Now pay up...$100." I wiggled my fingers a little to accentuate my point. 

"You think that I won't tell them where you're hiding or who you are if they catch me?" A hint of  an aggrieved sneer showed up on his countenance.

"Alpha Porter, you know as well as I do that wolves attack first, then ask questions later. And if you insist on become a thorn in my side then I shall simply shoot you." I shrugged indifferently. I have not killed him yet because I wanted my pack to suffer the least amounts of problems, but this patrol could actually give me a great opportunity. I could kill Grayson and pin it all on the patrol. 

"You....you're serious?" A wronged expression looked back at me, quickly replaced by bitter anger. 

"I never lie about death. 6 minutes left to decide." 

After a few more seconds, Grayson finally started moving. He took out his wallet and shoved the money into my palm before promptly grabbing the decanter out of my hands and drinking the rest. 

"I'm glad we have come to a consensus. Now, climb that tree..."