The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 20: All We Owe ()

"May I see the royal summon?" The young man asked instead.

Zariah nodded to Allen who stepped forward and handed over the invitation they had received to the Alpha King’s enthronement.

The young man glanced over it briefly before he lifted his gaze back to Zariah.

"This is indeed the Alpha King’s order. I am Alpha Jan Ivanovisk of Dawn Fang. Who leads your party?" The young man asked, glancing between Allen and Zariah.

Allen nodded towards Zariah and the young man smiled slightly.

"Your business in the Royal Lycan Pack seems rather urgent and clearly confidential, however this is my territory and granting passages must follow due protocol."

" I can accord an exception on the grounds that your party shall be escorted through by my warriors."

"On that note, I shall also be departing for the Royal Lycan Pack on the morrow, perhaps you may tarry a day with my pack and we travel the rest of the way together." Alpha Jan offered a middle ground.

"I am Zariah Torin and I do not have the leisure for such arrangements." Zariah dismissed with a frown.

Alpha Jan’s head jerked up at Zariah’s introduction.

"Ah, you are the Zariah Torin, my apologies. The Alpha King has sent word to all Alphas to expect the arrival of a highly respected guest of the names Zariah Torin,"

"I had not thought my Northern borders would be the one to meet your arrival, there are no wolf packs further North of my territory, do forgive my skepticism."

"I shall escort you through the woods till you emerge from the Southern borders." Alpha Jan said.

"My territory is a large expanse, you will need to shift to cover enough ground in your time frame." Alpha Jan pointed out when Zariah and the company made no attempts to take their wolf forms.

"We run just as fast." Zariah replied with a shrug, her words shocking Alpha Jan and his warriors.

It took a moment before Alpha Jan’s eyes widened in realization.

"Ah, I did not realize you were esteemed guests from another specie. I had assumed you were wolfshifters, you have the scent of wolf on you." Alpha Jan said in a puzzled tone.

"In whichever case, the Alpha King’s honored guest shall be regarded with the highest respect by my pack. I shall lead the way." Alpha Jan.

The sound of ripping clothes and cracking and reforming of bones was heard as Alpha Jan transformed into his wolf form.

Zariah sized up the large, blonde furred Alpha wolf, the size of the wolf was massive and imposing, almost an equivalent size to Darren’s wolf form.

The wolf jerked it’s head in a certain direction and took off, shooting through the woods with blinding speed, Zariah exchanged a glance with her company before they broke into a run in perfect tandem, dashing into the woods after the blonde wolf.

Zariah’s feet barely touched the ground as she ran, the wind swept past her hair as trees and the likes swept past in a flash and in a short moment, she caught a glimpse of blonde fur up ahead.

Zariah quickened her pace and soon she was running right alongside the blonde wolf. The blonde wolf passed a glance over at Zariah, seeming surprise that she had truly caught up with him while on her feet.

The blonde wolf released a low growl and shot ahead at an even greater speed.

Zariah rolled her eyes at the innate competitive nature in wolves, most especially Alpha wolves, she did not bother increasing her pace to catch up to Alpha Jan’s wolf, instead she fell into an even pace some distance behind him, keeping him within her line of sight.

Zariah was not certain for exactly how long they ran through the woods, the daylight gave way to night time and they ran through the night till it was once again dawn and finally when the day settled into noon, the blonde wolf came to a stop at an array of trees that marked the border.

Zariah and the company also stopped, gazing out into the tightly packed trees of the woods up ahead.

"This is the Southern border of the Dawn Fang Pack. From there on out, your journey will lead through the unclaimed lands." Alpha Jan’s voice reached Zariah.

Zariah did not bother glancing over at him knowing he had reverted back to his human form.

"You will arrive at the Hunting Moon Pack and a few others before you finally arrive the Royal Lycan Pack. Although I do not know what species you are from or your business with the Alpha King, however I must warn you that not all Alphas would be as accommodating of other species as I am."

"You know as well as I do that despite the efforts of the supernatural council, there is a tense atmosphere between the various species and Werewolves are prone to aggression."

"I also do not take kindly to accommodating strange species, however my will is subject to the Alpha King’s orders yet not all Alphas are willing to submit to hierarchy. I would advise you keep your journey restricted to the unclaimed lands as much as you can." Alpha Jan advised.

Zariah turned to him, nodding once in understanding.

"I will keep your words in mind Alpha Jan... and fret not, you have not granted passage to a strange specie." Zariah said just as Darren shifted into his wolf form and his wolf arrived beside Zariah, towering over her height of 5ft9.

Alpha Jan’s eyes widened as he stared up at the massive, muscular wolf who equally gazed down at him.

"How... how can you be bigger than an Alpha wolf?! What are you?" Alpha Juan asked in bafflement.

"The answers you seek, you shall find at the Alpha King’s enthronement. Farewell." Zariah said as she climbed astride Darren’s back and he shot off into the unclaimed lands.

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"What do you think of his words?" Allen thought to Zariah.

"There is nothing to think of it, the battle for supremacy amongst the supernatural species has always been a looming reality."

"There is only so much the supernatural council can do to prevent it, even the council itself is besieged by internal discords." Zariah said with a shake of her head.

"The major discord has always been between the Werewolves and the Vampires, these two prideful specie and with the enthronement of a new Alpha King, perhaps the situation might see a new turn." Nile reasoned.

"Perhaps. The leaders of the supernatural species are not pleased with the supremacy of the supernatural council, and the council itself frequently oversteps it’s bounds."

"Both ends must first find a middle ground, or a thousand changes of dynasties will not make a difference." Zariah replied, Nile hummed in agreement.

"The Head of the supernatural council has always been a prudent man, he understands the political maneuvers of the supernatural realm the most and the leaders of the various species hold him in high regard."

"I have received reports of his brilliant mediation and a few other members of the supernatural council are highly respectable, that is the only reason the situation has not gone beyond redeeming." Allen commended.

Zariah was quiet for a moment, she did not truly hold the supernatural council in high regard and truly she could not be blamed for it.

Zariah’s only encounter with the supernatural council had been that terrifying day when she had been brought before them to be tried at the execution platform and then found guilty before she could even have the opportunity to defend herself.

Zariah recalled clearly how she was forced to her knees before them, the crushing pain that jolted through her knees at the forceful impact when her knees connected with the execution platform.

Zariah recalled the disdain and disgust in their eyes as they gazed down at her as though she was the scum of the earth itself, the vilest monster they had set eyes upon.

It had only been for a brief moment before it had all come to an end as her life force was cut off and her eyes closed in death, her body dissipating soon after.

Only a brief moment yet that brief moment was a horrifying memory Zariah did not even want to recall.

Zariah shook her head to force away the dark memories creeping up on her knowing she did not have the luxury to entertain them.

"Discords such as this are unavoidable, war and battle for territories and supremacy has been a part of mortal existence right from the beginning of time"

"Peace treaties and alliances can only last for a time before the innate greed of mortals overpowers it."

"There is no cause to deliberate over it, we have our work cut out for us and so we need not concern ourselves with the trivialities of the supernatural realm."

"So long as we can fulfill our oath and keep the darkness at bay, that is all we owe the supernatural realm. As for other matters...Crimson Moon will never get involved." Zariah declared in a firm tone.

"Alpha’s words are right, we only need to focus on investigating the return of the darkness and banishing it, this is our sole duty owed to the supernatural realm." Allen said in agreement.

"We will arrive the borders of Hunting Moon pack soon, what is our approach?" Nile asked.

"Alpha Jan’s warning was given for a reason, touring around will cost us more time but perhaps it will be a better option." Zariah decided.