The Light within Darkness

Chapter -5

Alrich takes a cigar from the case and lights it up. He stands by the window his back to her and takes a deep puff. The need to snort the powder is so strong right now but he promised Ingrid that he'll never use that stuff ever again. He can feel the headache coming. Everything is utter chaos in his life. 

"Go home Celestina. Rest. It's been a long day. I am exhausted and have a lot of work to do. We'll talk about later and if anything thing comes up regarding the Alpha you'll be the first to know". He do not have the energy to deal with her today. He had supported her throughout everything in the past but now he wishes he could go back in time and undo it. She is a great Luna no doubt but this pack doesn't need her. She had supported this pack and Alpha at every step. But something just doesn't feel right with her. There is no emotional bonding that pack members are supposed to have with their Luna. It is more like a professional relation between them one that involves only give and take. This was not the kind of relationship he envisioned. 

Celestina stood up slowly with the grace that only a Luna has. "I hope you understand how much important the Alpha is to this pack and......to me" she said softly but her expressions didn't mirror her words. He must be loving this acting like the Alpha, doing whatever he wants, the attention, women, money, power must have really gone into his head. All the she wolves have been throwing themselves at him specially high ranking one. The whores. She heard he sleeps with different one every single night. Now that he's been acting like an Alpha he thinks he's one. She understands all that power can be addicting that is exactly why she needs to play her cards right. Her family is going through a hard time right now and without the support of her mate she needs him. And with the last look of desperation she exited his office.

Alrich kept looking outside the window without acknowledging her. He has nothing left to say to her. Bjorn had left years ago. Just like that. But it was the most gruesome day of his life. Bjorn had little to no control over his wolf that day. Many wolves died. He snapped Celestina's neck when she came for his aid. She's only alive because of her Alpha genes. And then he was gone. 

Alrich has only seen his Alpha a handful of times after that but in his wolf form. After every few months he can sense Bjorn's presence within the pack and then he disappears to goddess knows where. Even within pack boundaries he would only live in his own cave deep within the forest. No one would ever dare to venture out to that part of forest even pups knows this. He had seen half eaten animal carcasses mangled so badly that it was gruesome even for him. When will this nightmare end?

The winter is gonna be really harsh this year. Autumn is not even half way through yet he can feel cold bursts of wind. The pups are playing football, screaming  laughing at each other. Why couldn't he had that? Why was he so unlucky or may be he was so immature that he let his childhood envy and revenge take someone's life? He stepped away from the window, he couldn't watch their perfect little lives while he ruined his with his own hands. 

"Beta..... do you have a moment? I wanted to talk about something important. I knocked a couple of times but you weren't answering" a wolf stepped inside in without permission. "Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to be bothered?" his nostrils flared, these days he's always angry. 

"I apologize for the inconvenience Beta but I wouldn't have bothered you if it wasn't important" the wolf said politely which irritated him even further. "What is it? This better be important" Alrich barked out loudly.

The wolf whose name he didn't bother asking stepped inside his office and closed the door behind him. "I don't know how to say this or if it's even true but" he pauses. Alrich was starting to get angry now. Someone's gonna die tonight. "Few weeks back I went to Luminara city with my mate. Her sister is a human and she had a baby. We went to a coffee shop one afternoon and I saw Luna there". 

"Celestina?" Alrich asked confusedly. When did she go to Luminara city?

"No not Luna Celestina but Luna Pers..I mean Lady Persephone" the wolf corrected himself.

In the very moment Alrich pinned him to the door by his neck. "What did you just say? Do you even hear yourself? How dare you fucking come to my office and lie about something like this? You're lucky that the Alpha didn't hear you otherwise he would have shredded you to pieces" he tightened his hand on his throat choking him.

"Beta I swear to my mate and my unborn pup it was her. I wanted to go after her but I was confused and I had my whole family with me. But I can recognize that smell anywhere. I was her bodyguard for one summer. I know it was her" he begged desperately.

Alrich released him from his hold and stepped back. He couldn't believe it. No this wasn't true. It can't be. We all felt it. Every single one of us. Her connection withered away from us like it never existed. This is what started all of this in the first place. No he refuse to believe it. But he can feel  that this wolf isn't lying to him.

"I know what you're thinking. I felt the same way. I was confused and that is why I thought may be it wasn't true that may be I imagined it. Except I didn't. And this is exactly why it took me three weeks to tell you. I didn't want to risk the wrath of the Alpha" the wolf shuddered at the thought.

"What's your name wolf" Alrich asked

"It's Yagul Beta".

"Yagul who did you share this piece of information with" his eyes bore into Yagul's face.

"No one but you and my mate Beta" Yagul replied.

"Than let's keep that way. You and me are gonna go to Luminara city to verify this piece of information. And believe me when I say this if I find out that you've been lying to me, I will personally skin you alive and make an example out for the whole pack to see. Do you understand it" he enunciated every single word slowly to make this wolf understand the gravity of situation. Yagul nodded.

"It's settled than. You and me, we are leaving for Luminara city first think in the morning. And don't tell your mate and anyone else about this or where we're going. This conversation shouldn't leave the room till I get to the bottom of this. Do you understand?" he met Yagul's eyes sternly.  

This is serious if someone is impersonating the Luna than he needs to know who before any other pack find out about it. He can't tell Bjorn he'll bring his whole army to Luminara city challenging the Royal family and their laws.