Chapter 19: Chapter 19

They stared at him with a questioning gaze and Lucas wasn't surprised to see that they weren't aware of the latest development because it hadn't been up to fifteen minutes since the council meeting ended and information had not been passed to the park members.

"Well, Alpha Pius just stepped down and he declared Xander as the next Alpha and king of werewolves, the ceremony is taking place in two days" he informed them. Lucas watched in silence as their faces changed expressions. Some held the look of surprise while others looked back at him with a confused and questioning gaze.

"Why the sudden change?" Asked Leon with a knitted brow. ``Leon is the pack's head of security and Lucas Younger brother.

"I guess we all knew this was going to happen, judging from the fact that our Alpha is old, the pressure from the council members wasn't helping ," Lucas stated.

"We have to free Skyler tonight," said a werewolf with blond hair.

"That's too risky, I suggest we free him by tomorrow" another suggested

Suggestions came from the werewolves and Lucas listened to them. Picking ideas from each suggestion.

"I think we should attack the rogues on the day of the ceremony," said Lucas but the werewolves only looked at him like he was crazy. " The rogues would lower their onguard, thinking that everyone in the pack is busy with the ceremony. we have to take Xander unawares too" he explained and the werewolves in the room again narrowed their gaze at him, unable to understand what he meant by taking Xander unawares.

Seeing the look on their faces, Lucas cleared his throat, deciding to fill them in on everything, including Xander's little secret.

"Xander is the real culprit behind Skyler's kidnap, the rogue is just a tool and I guess he had help from a witch too" he explained.

"That explains why we weren't able to pick on any scent. they had their scent masked by a witch" said Landon, his eyes widened at the sudden realization. He had thought of many scenarios in his mind but never did he imagine that an insider would be responsible for the Chao that Skyler disappearance caused to the pack

" And why would anyone plan to kidnap their brother, I mean twin brother" Leon asked with a look of disbelief.

"Isn't it obvious? Xander wants to be the next Alpha" said Landon, folding his arms around his chest.

"Why hasn't anybody thought of this before now?" the blond whose name is Desmond asked.

"I can't believe Xander would compromise the safety of the pack for his selfish interest, no wonder they were able to waltz in and out of our territory with ease, Xander was the mole that leaked our pack info" said Desmond. His jaw clenched tightly.

"I thought the witches went extinct? ask Liam, he was a teenager and the youngest among the werewolves present in the cabin.

"You could say they went into hiding," Lucas replied.

"Why would the rogues help him?They never do anything for free, we all know that right?". Said Desmond.

"I'm guessing Xander must have promised them something but we don't have the time to ponder over what it is. Freeing Skyler is of the utmost importance now" Lucas said seriously. He brought out a fresh map and they started to draw a new plan. With the help of the information they received from Drake and with the one Liam and Landon had gathered while keeping an eye on the rogue's activities, they were able to draw a new plan.

Three hours passed by quickly and Lucas and the werewolves were still making plans, they needed their plans to be flawless as any slight mistake could cost them their lives. The nightwalker wasn't a pack of rogues to be taken lightly. They had a reputation of being ruthless when it came to fighting.

Their plan finally came to a conclusion at noon, all that was left was to send a message across to Skyler to inform him of the sudden change in their initial plans.

The meeting ends and they all return to their normal life, except for Landon and Liam who was sent to keep an eye on the rogue's movement and also to find a way across to Drake and inform him of the changes in their plans.

Lucas shut the door after the last person had stepped out of his cabin. He furrowed his brows and hoped that their plans would go as planned. He changed his clothes before stepping out of his cabin. He had pack issues to handle as the ceremony was also about him, he was the next Beta of the pack after his father.

He drove himself back to the pack house, he made his way to the Betas office, his father was inside the office busy with paperwork.

"Father," he called. And the man beckoned for him to come over and when he did, the man started to fill him in on the paperwork and all important things that he needed to know. Handing over pack duties isn't supposed to be done in one day, it was supposed to be a gradual process of learning but the sudden disappearance of Skyler had destabilized a lot.

Lucas listened attentively to everything, he had once lost interest In his Beta duty when he thought his best friend had died. But he could again gain some concentration and he hoped that everything would go as planned.

Meanwhile, Xander didn't need much orientation, he had always been interested in pack business. After, A brief talk with his father, Xander made his way to his car, driving away from the pack house. He drove until he arrived at Clara's apartment. He stepped down from the car and walked toward the house, stopping Infront of the door. He knocked but no one answered. Using his wolf senses, he listened for voices or heartbeats but he could hear none, he realized that the girl and her friends were not around, and probably they had gone to any of these tourist attractions.

He couldn't wait for them to come back because time was running out and he needed Annette to make the potion or whatever she called it. He recalled that Annette had someone spying on Clara's every movement.

Xander walked back to his car, got seated on the driver seat before pulling open the glove box and taking out something that looks like a pendant. He ran his thumb on the pendant three times and Annette materialized in the front passenger seat. Her neck snapped to Xander's side.

"What do you want?" She asked, her voice darker than normal.

"I need to know the Banshee's whereabouts,'' said Xander,

Annette was silent for a couple of minutes before snapping her head to face Xander.

" You will find her at the college"she replied Before teleporting herself away from there.

Immediately, Xander started the car and drove towards the college. He didn't need to ask which college it was because he already knows. He had once suggested for Clara to check out the college of fashion designing and technology when she told him about her interest in fashion designing.

Meanwhile, Clara and her friends were touring the college campus. They had acquired the necessary details that Clara needed to send her application to study in the school.

"I think this place is just perfect for you to finally pursue your passion, but I feel sad that we would have to live separate lives soon " said Raya, biting her lower lip, the thought of being away from her friends gave her a heartache.

"I guess that's the reason we should have all the fun, right? Gina said.

"I totally agree with Gina, we are not teenagers anymore and I guess it's time to go out there and pursue our passion and shape our future," said Clara with a wide grin on her face.

"But I will surely miss you guys" Clara said with a pout as she pulled her friends together before hugging them. Gina could only roll her eyes at her friend for acting like a twelve year old but that didn't stop her from returning the hug, she had to admit that she was going to miss the both of them. They have been best friends for as long as she could remember and they had never parted ways.

"Alright, alright, alright" said Gina with a sigh. " it's not like we are parting ways today, we still have a few weeks together before we finally go to college, so let's make the most of it"

"Now, who is in for more fun?" She asked.

"Me" said Raya and Clara in unison.'' Of course we are in for more fun" Clara added.

Clara and her friends chatted cheerfully as they strolled out of the college premises, she held a broad smile on her face until her eyes met with someone and the smile quickly turned into an unpleasant one.

Xander was standing and leaning his back on his car with hands in his pocket. He smiled when their eyes met, pushing himself away from the car and striding towards Clara and her friends but Clara was quick to turn around and started walking in the opposite direction, leaving behind her friends who held a confused look on their faces.

"Clara!

"Please wait" Xander called as he jogged to catch up with the girl. When Clara noticed he was closing in, She picked up the pace and started to run but Xander was fast enough to catch up with her and stop her from going any further.

Xander stood in front of her with a smile." I beg you Clara, give us another chance"he said. But Clara only stared at him like he was crazy, a frown forming on her face. She didn't understand what he was talking about.

"Give what a chance ?We were never a thing, Xander," Clara scoffed.

Gina and Raya, who had finally caught up with them, stood just a few steps away, watching their every interaction. Xander acted in a gentle and loving manner and both girls were convinced that their friend was only being difficult for no reason. They couldn't understand why Clara would reject someone as loving and gentle and not to mention handsome.

Clara craned her neck to look at her friends and they gave a look that suggested she should give Xander a chance. But Clara knew she wasn't going to give in for any reason. there was something about the man that always set off her warning bells and Clara had decided to listen.

Clara tore her gaze away from her friends to focus on the person in front of her. She saw the smile on his face, but she could tell that the smile didn't reach his eyes. She decided to make it clear again. She inhaled deeply before speaking In a calm voice.

"I'm not the one for you, Xander. You know it. Please don't make this any difficult for me, for us"

Xander took a step backwards, putting a short distance between him and Clara.

"See you around". He smiled at her before taking his leave. Walking past Gina and Raya. He made his way back to the car and got seated. The smile that was previously plastered on his face had disappeared, his blue eyes flashing a shade of yellow.

Xander curled his fingers around the strands of hair he had successfully pulled away from Clara's head without notice. He smirked before driving off from where he had parked the car. After driving a good distance, he stopped the car. Pulling the glove box, he brought out the pendant. He ran his fingers through it like before and Annette materialized again. But had an irritated look on her face. She opened her mouth to speak.

'' That pendant is ____" but Xander cut her off by presenting the strands of hair.

"Is that the Banshee's hair?" She asked. Xander nodded. Extending his arms and placing the strands of hair on Annette's dark palm.

"She will be urs by morning," Said Annette. Xander gave a slight nod.