Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Skyler bit the inside of his cheeks, ignoring the pain and the metallic taste of blood that filled his mouth. His eyes were sharp with anger. He wanted nothing but to reap that rogue apart. He gripped the chains harder, almost succeeding in breaking them away from the wall but then he stopped. Breaking the silver chains now would let the rogues know that he isn't as weak as he appeared thereby letting them know that he hasn't been on the silver injections for days now which would in turn put their plans in jeopardy including him and drake's life at risk and he couldn't bear to lose the teenage rogue. He saw Drake as the younger sibling he never had and he had grown to like the rogue very much.

Skyler closed his eyes and inhaled deep breaths to soothe his anger before opening them and staring at the empty space.

Meanwhile, Xander had just woken up from his short nap, his yellow eyes staring around his room like the place was foreign. After being weakened by the spell that the witch casted on him, Bardulf woke up as a rapacious ravenous wolf and he craves nothing other than fresh blood. Getting up from the bed, he made his way to the door and opened it, walking out of the room and quickly walking away from the corridor and he headed towards the passage that was less crowded by park members, his eyes glowing yellow as Bardulf was in total control. He walked through the lonely passage, barefooted, he made his way to the backdoor, turning the door knob when a voice stopped him.

"Xander?" The voice called, his eyes filled with questions as he gazed at the barefooted and bare chested person who had his back facing him.

"Why are you going through the backdoor barefooted?" he questioned further.

"I'm going for a run," Bardulf said, being careful not to let the guard take notice of his yellow eyes. He quickly pulled open the door and disappeared from the person's sight.

Bardulf walked hastily into the woods before shifting into his massive golden brown wolf and sprinted in search of any human he could sink his fangs into. He ran until he got to the park, using the flowers as a cover. His eyes were trained on the people that were having fun in the park. He growled as he watched them silently, waiting for the first unfortunate person to come by. But he soon ran out of patience and decided to go for his prey even though he risked exposing himself to the humans but that didn't bother him one bit as his thirst for blood was increasing by the passing minutes.

Just when he was about to step out of hiding, a man had just walked into the woods to ease himself. Unaware of the hungry wolf that lurks in the corner. Bardulf let out a low growl before he pounced on the human, dragging him further away from the park and into the woods. Bardulf clawed the human until his entire body was covered in blood and then sank his teeth into the human's neck and drank blood, until he lay motionless on the ground. Bardulf let out a loud satisfied howl and his yellow eyes became brighter. Bardulf ran his tongue along his jaw, relishing the taste of blood. Sending one more glance at the lifeless body before walking away.

Having satisfied his cravings, Bardulf gave control back to Xander the moment they arrived at the pack house. Xander went into the house through the same backdoor, shutting it tightly before walking back to his room. Surprised to find his father standing in front of his room waiting for him.

"Father?" He called and Alpha Pius who had his back facing the direction which Xander came from turned around to face Xander.

"Where have you been?I told you we had something to discuss, yet you deliberately ignored me," Alpha Pius said. His eyes held a hint of displeasure as his gaze traveled along Xander's disheveled features and the faint scent of blood that lingered on him.

Alpha Pius knew this son of his couldn't be counted as a good man. He had no choice but to hand the Mystic Shadow pack including the Alpha duties to him because he is the only successor and the pressure from the councilmen couldn't be ignored any longer. Although he hates to admit it, he's nearly on the verge of exhaustion that he needed a break from being the Alpha and the duties that came with it.

Xander, eyes widened after being accused of deliberately ignoring his father and he hurried to explain himself.

"No! I didn't ignore you, it's just Bardulf had been restless all day and I had to let him out for a run in the woods"

Alpha Pius nodded before saying "It's fine, no offense taken" in a dull and disinterested tone. He started walking away, signaling for Xander to follow and Xander did follow behind.

When they got to Alpha Pius' chambers, he offered Xander a seat opposite him. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"I have decided to step down from the Alpha position and the handing over ceremony will be held in three days" he declared.

But you are yet to find your mate and this will be a problem, i suggest you pick one of the female warriors and……

"No! I have a mate" Xander cut him off and Alpha Pius narrowed his eyes on him," why haven't I been informed yet?" He questions.

"She's human," Xander replied, ``I wanted her to get used to the idea of our kind before bringing her to you or introducing her to the pack," he said.

"Well you have limited time now, she needs to be present on that day" His father said and Xander nodded." She will be present on that day, father." Xander assured.

"I will be making the announcement by tomorrow during the council meeting and I need you to be present" said the Alpha.

Xander readily agreed, his heart dancing excitedly but he managed to maintain a straight face In Front of his father.

"Finally" Bardulf whispers in his head.

Xander and his father talked more about the Ceremony till midnight before leaving his father alone to rest. Walking away from the chamber a small smile creeped on Xander's lips at the thought of being the next Alpha of the Mystic Shadow pack and the king of werewolves.

But then, he remembered how Clara had rejected him and his smile turned sour. He needed to claim her now more than ever and he wouldn't let her ruin the plans he had worked so hard to achieve. He had decided to get her hair by tomorrow as he wouldn't be able to see her tonight.

Xander walked back to his room, taking off his clothes and walking into the washroom to take a bath to rid himself from the stench of blood that lingered on his body. After having the bath, Xander went to bed with only a towel wrapped around his waist. He found it very hard to sleep because Bardulf kept whispering things that they could do together after they became Alpha and king of werewolves.

When morning came, Xander rose from the bed and walked into the washroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror, before picking up his toothbrush and applying the toothpaste on it, he brushed his teeth, while staring at his yellow eyes in the mirror. Xander rinsed his mouth and washed his face then walked out of the washroom, making his way to his closet. He picked out clothes and quickly wore them before stepping out of his room.

He went straight to the where the council meeting was usually held and found no one, the place was empty. He had arrived earlier than the time scheduled for the council meeting and he wasn't bothered by it. He had waited for years to get the Alpha title, he could wait for another few hours he thought in his mind.

After twenty minutes of waiting, someone finally walked into the hall but Xander wasn't pleased to see him, neither was the person pleased to see Xander. They glared at each other and the air in the room quickly turned hostile. This person had a strong urge to beat Xander and subconsciously, he took a step towards Xander but luckily, he was stopped halfway by Alpha Pius.

"Lucas" Alpha Pius called out. His eyes moved between the two werewolves who looked as if they were about to kill each other. Alpha Pius sighed. "How would these two get along as Alpha and beta?" He asked inwardly. Lucas was Skyler's best friend and the young man had always accused Xander of having a hand in Skyler's disappearance.

Hearing the Alpha's call, Lucas clenched his fist, sending one last glare at Xander before turning to face the Alpha.

"Good morning Alpha" he bowed, taking his seat on one of the many chairs in the room and soon the rest of the council members started to walk in one after the other, after ten minutes everyone was present and seated.

The Alpha was seated in the throne-like chair which had many carvings and symbols. The chair was higher than the rest of the chairs in the room. Alpha Pius ran his eyes over every member present in the meeting room before clearly his throat and he spoke in an audible voice.

" I have decided to step down from my position as Alpha of the Mystic Shadow pack and king of werewolves'' he announced.

And various mutters could be heard among the people present in the room.

He raised his hands and the room went silent. He cleared his throat once more before speaking.

'' I am handing the duties and the Alpha title to my son Xander and ceremony will be held in two days"

The councilmen clapped and cheered, the Alpha had finally abided by their wish. But only Lucas remained seated, his hands clenched tightly under the table, his eyes searched the room for Xander and there he was, seated with a smirk on his face.

"These changes everything" Lucas muttered to himself, they had planned to free Skyler in a week's time but they had just two days to do so now. He became anxious, he couldn't wait for the meeting to end but he had to sit through it because leaving the meeting would appear rude to the Alpha and the council members.

Sitting in the meeting room with Xander who held a smug smile felt like Lucas had to exercise a great deal of self control in order to not rush over to Xander and wipe the smugness off his face with his punches.

After an hour and thirty minutes the meeting was finally over and Lucas walked out of the room leaving the rest people behind, he mind linked the warriors and told them to assemble in his cabin in ten minutes while making his way to his car and drove off.

Lucas arrived in less than ten minutes but the warriors were already waiting in his cabin. Seeing them all in loose fitted shorts and bare chest, Lucas knew they ran here in their wolf form which was way faster than driving, he couldn't abandon his car at the park house and that was why he had to drive it back to the cabin.

He highlighted from his car and walked to the cabin, he opened the door and signaled for the rest of them to come in before shutting the door.

He made his way to the table where they had all their plans drawn out, he placed his both palms on the table before looking up at the werewolves, he clenched his jaw before uttering the word.

"Change of plans" he said.