Chapter 151 - 150. First Death

The sentence sounded like a hammer blow that burst the little bubble of happiness where the two werewolves had spent their time. Eden's brain struggled to process the information his father had just announced.

He knew they had to make this decision. The other packs wouldn't have stopped the false accusations as long as they thought his mating with Glen had been settled up. Although that didn't make sense, since the alpha had never been part of Red Creek even though he was Carter Red Creek's older son.

Eden knew however that this reasoning was the one held by most of the packs as they wished to discredit Bloodhood.

His conversation with Winnie back in Green Lake's territory had proved to him that they had been right to do so if they didn't want their authority to be challenged.

Indeed, if the packs continued to think that the traditional pack had stolen an alpha from another pack and disrespected other packs by breaking off discussions for Eden's mating, anger and resentment would be on everyone's mind once they took over the pack.

But that didn't mean the situation wasn't painful to hear. No death should be caused by something as futile as the thirst for power. Thoughts were running around his mind and his father's voice called out to him.

"..en! Eden!"

The male omega stared at his father, looking a bit lost, and the alpha frowned in concern.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?" Silver said.

"Yes, it's just... I didn't expect to hear this kind of news when I got home tonight."

"I understand. However, if we came here, it's to discuss and find out what we will do next. We can't let the alphas put pressure on the omegas. Although a pack should never meddle in another pack's business, we run into chaos by letting things just unfold before our eyes. I don't know what we can do but if you have any idea," Silver looked down at his mate who nodded in agreement. "We are ready to listen to you."

"W-what did you just say? Alphas pressure omegas? What are you talking about?"

"That's what I told you. The omega who died was forced by his leader to bite the candidate who had been chosen for his mating. The dead alpha's pack is ready to break the peace treaty and attack. They said it was irresponsible conduct as its candidate had barely been introduced to the omega officially and hadn't even started a courting phase."

Glen crossed his arms, a grim look on his face.

"That's why the ritual failed. They were strangers and they had nothing to work on. The ritual of the Omega's mark is done so that the alpha learns to meet the needs of his omega and controlled his urge to bite him.

It's a test so he learns, as an alpha, to listen to his omega, but also to respect the weakest despite his strength.

If they didn't know each other, there was no way the alpha could handle the rise and fall of emotions the omega felt when the moon rose. We are fated mates and I had a hard time. It was Eden who helped me not to give in, the first night the moon rose."

"What did he do?" inquired the leader of Bloodhood, genuinely curious.

"He…"

Glen paused as he remembered the steamy moment in the motel room when they were on their way to Little Soul and his mouth gaped open as he considered what decent explanation to give his father-in-law.

"I distracted him," Eden helped his alpha and brought the discussion back to the main subject. "But that's not what's important. What did the omega's pack say? And can we expect the alpha's pack to react?"

"It's Red Orbs. The pack of the alpha that was killed is Red Orbs."

His father's announcement had the effect of a crushing blow in the faint hope that the omega male maintained so they could resolve this matter affair without any bloodshed.

"Why do I feel like you just brought bad news?" Glen asked, completely clueless.

"Because Red Orbs is a pack created with rogues. I killed quite a few of their problematic member three years ago when they hadn't settled yet."

Connor's voice echoed as the agent stepped forward to join them.

"I assume you already know this, but the WIA along with the leaders of the other packs authorized the creation and installation of their pack to put an end to the incessant looting they were doing in White Sage, and Wolfangs' territories and that's not to mention the murders they committed among humans. I'm talking about at least a dozen of carnage. And when I say carnage it's not just one or two victims.

They visited places popular with young people in large cities and provoked fights that ended in bloodshed. The last killing they perpetrated before I was assigned their former leader's assassination had left more than eighty dead.

They had targeted a nightclub and the only thing that saved the rest of the customers was that the manager of the place was part of the WIA. The fire extinguishing system was cut with wolfsbane. He triggered the mechanism to scare them away."

"So you also think he's won't step back quietly?" confirmed Silver, turning to the man.

Connor scoffed and but a serious look formed a crease between his eyebrows. He stared into space for a moment.

"I think he's not just going to attack. Krasny, the one who took over from the leader I executed, is very smart. I won't be surprised if he teams up with another pack to launch an assault. I guess the omega that bit their alpha was Loan White Sage's daughter?"

"How did you know?" asked the leader, intrigued by the agent's knowledge.

"Because Mesya, Krasny's mother was a low-rank dominant forced to mate with White Sage's alpha, she was declared rogue when Loan White Sage took an omega for his Luna."

"So that's what happened..." muttered Silver. He was learning elements of a story he had followed from afar when the events took place. "But how could he have rejected her? Unless their mate dies, an alpha cannot bond with another mate."

"He had forced Mesya to mate without a bond."

Snow gasped and put her hand to her mouth at Connor's words. A mating without a proper bond is one of the most callous things a werewolf can do to another.

Werewolves who mate without a bond are deprived of their rank and always ended up rejected by their pack.

"Krasny was born a rogue and his mother died protecting him. He was almost killed too but he ended up under the protection of Red Orbs who was still a gang of rogues ruled by their whims. He became their chief, then their alpha when their former leader died and his only goal is to get revenge on his father and destroy White Sage…"

"Wait a minute… Krasny, the alpha of Red Orbs is Alpha Loan's son?" Eden cut off.

"We don't have absolute proof, but according to our information at the WIA, Mesya was with Loan before she was thrown out of the pack and Krasny was born a few months later in the Black Moon dispensary which is open to rogues. Anyway, now that he has managed to get rid of his stepsister, his next target is Alpha Loan."

"In other words, he won't back down," sighed Silver

The agent nodded to confirm what the alpha had just announced and noticed the way the werewolf was looking at him. Startled by the leader's expression that he couldn't read, he remained silent, conscious.

"No, I was thinking that the WIA does have a lot of resources to find information like this." Silver's remark relaxed Connor who shook his head.

"Information is power," the agent said and he shrugged. "Also, you don't monitor what's going on in other packs just as you don't override your rights by taking sides on another alpha's actions. The WIA has no such consideration. All the information that allows us to have an eye on a pack is good to take."

"I keep that in mind," the werewolf said, staring at him with narrowed eyes and Connor snorted, amused at the suspicious yet funny look of the Bloodhood's leader.

"I'm not one to betray my family," he stated to defend himself while looking at Glen. "Eden is bonded to my brother, I already told him to think of me like family, and if I'm not worthy yet…".

"You are worthy!" cried the male omega. The blond was ready to continue talking but another voice interrupted him.

"Eden is bonded?"

The voice came from the floor. A Sora in pajamas ready to go to bed walked over to them, dragging behind her a Greg whose hair was still dripping from her water games in the bath.

She reached out for Connor to grab her and the man immediately complied, bending down to lift her.

"Why are you at the entranceway?" Greg asked, frowning.

"We got caught in the moment! A lot of trouble, a lot of fun! You know, the usual thing," joked Connor.

"Eden is bonded?" repeated Sora in a high-pitched voice, displeased that she has been ignored and Connor turned his head to her.

"Yes! He is. I already told you, he is Glen's mate."

"But… I wanted to be his mate when I grow up," she said with a sulking pout.

The male omega chuckled when he saw her face and moved forward to console her.

"I'm glad you thought of me that way Sora, but you know, I'm an omega too. I couldn't have been your mate."

"An omega," she said, her eyes widening. "But your wolf is so big that I thought…" she left her sentence unfinished and added sadly, "Too bad…" she turned her head to Glen and stared at him for a long time.

"Then, I forgive you Big Brother. You can have him!"

Glen raised an eyebrow, amused by the strange blessing the four-year-old omega had just given him.

"Thank you Sora, I guess?"

The little werewolf left as abruptly as she came when Greg pulled her out of Connor's arms and led her to her room. The agent invited everybody to go inside but Silver refused, shaking his head.

"We won't stay any longer." he turned to his son's alpha. "Glen, I would like you to come with me tomorrow to meet Red Orbs's alpha. Even if there is little hope after what I have learned, I would like to try to calm things down before we get to the confrontation."

"I'll tag along if you don't mind," asked Connor and the alpha simply nod to give permission.

"And what about the omegas whose packs demand they bite their alpha?" Snow Bloodhood insisted and it was Eden who answered her.

"I think I have an idea. But I will have to ask first for the person's agreement."

All heads turned to the blond werewolf and he met their gaze, a confident gleam lighting up his gaze.

________

The next morning, Eden changed classes after a particularly boring lesson. He was walking next to Cherry and Dante in a part of the school where they were somewhat out of sight.

Coming from the opposite direction, someone jostled him roughly. Everything then happened quickly. Cherry was grabbed by an evil-looking dominant and separated from her mate. Several other dominants surrounded Eden who frowned wondering what was going on.

The students in front of them knew their schedule and their habits if they had bothered to wait for them there.

Suddenly, a girl made her way between two of her dominant classmates and Eden recognized the girl who had gotten angry after they bumped into each other in the hallway.

"You are alone, Bloodhood. This time, there is no mate to save you. Even if you used him to scare the whole school, it's worthless if he's not right next to you to save you. Besides, your beta bodyguard, will have to keep in check, if he doesn't want his dear mate to get something broken, right?" She gestured to one of her classmates who twisted Cherry's arm and stopped just before it broke.

The omega female let out a cry that her torturer stifled as he harshly put his hand over her mouth. A tear ran down Cherry's face and Eden saw Dante display a completely desperate expression.

"Let go my friend while I still ask nicely."