MILDRID’S POV “Answer, beta Tim, the choice is yours” I persuaded him. The old man thinks that he is wise. He has actually led me to the Packhouse in the hope of handing me over to alpha Fred and then subsequently to the queen of the Pixies. What does he take me for, a fool? Now I will show him on whose side the power lies. I will feed on his ego and gradually lead him to his doom. He will perish before he realizes what he has got himself into. By the time I establish my dynasty here in Diamond Cut the old man would be immortal and unable to grab death. By then he will be my lifetime servant, serving me in all the areas there is. Power, why would I want to give that to another? I am still in search of power, a lot of it. I need to grow in strength and gradually subdue the world. Then I will extend my dominion to Wantonlake. Those stupid vampire people. They thought they got rid of me but they should wait as they don’t know what is about to hit them. After so many centuries I will finally take out my sweet revenge on them. Now it is left for Tim to decide, he alone is my stepping stone. He has succeeded in bringing my two feet into Diamond Cut Pack, and with him, I will establish my reign. He is not a very easy prey though, getting a loyal werewolf requires a lot of craft, and thank goodness that I have a lot of it to subdue this greedy egoistic fool. His ego is the only thing that I feed on. “Yes, Mildrid, make me stronger, make me as strong as I can be” he replied. Yes... he just said the word. My spirit is elated, extremely elated. Now it is left to me to accomplish the rest. “It is your choice, Tim, and so I will make you even stronger than you can imagine. There is a sacrifice that must be completed” I revealed. I look at his reaction, he was completely helpless. But what was he thinking dealing with a witch, that I work for free, doing charity works on a pro bono basis? The old man is truly a clown. “A sacrifice...” he murmured. I know he did not ask for any of this. But then he is my tool and I need to rebrand him in a way that he would be completely useful to me at the right time. He would need to come in handy. “Yes, Tim. You must sacrifice your daughter, hand her over to me once you set your eyes on her again” I demanded. The old man would not give a damn what becomes of his daughter. Of course, he believes that I was asking for his first daughter, Scarlet. But who cares which of his daughters, so longs as it is a girl from his loins. The first to step feet on this soil would be sacrificed to me. “Do you have a problem with my demands, Tim? Of course, if you feel there are outrageous, we can as well discard them. After all the sacrifice is not for my good. But no... no... no... how would you even face your fellow werewolves, how useful would you appear to them? You brought this doom upon them, didn’t you? They would not hesitate to feast on you once the time comes, especially when the queen of the Pixies comes knocking. Even then, your sons would not be able to save you from their fury” I said. This is for the best. He just has to agree with the sacrifice, there is no way that I am going to allow him to say no. He has no choice here. He is the one that came looking for me and not the other way round. “Beta Tim...” I called bringing him out of his trance. “Yes... yes, my lady” he stammered. “Okay, I get it. Then we will have to let go of the sacrifice and the whole idea of making you stronger” I said. “My sons, Mildrid, you talked about my sons. They would all be alright, right?” he stuttered. “Of course, I already say that I will heal them. But what I am saying is that the three of them would not be able to defend you against the anger of the members of this Pack. Their hate for you has skyrocketed ever since you brought this doom on them” I gave him a tactical response. “But then... I did all I did for them... I only wanted the best for the Pack” he stammered. “And how would you explain that to them, Tim? So many of them have lost brothers, sons, husbands, fathers, fiancées, mates, and friends in this war which is all thanks to you and now they are about to be made slaves to a wolfless Pack led by a woman” I replied. “But then... I brought you here... that is why I brought you to them. You will not let them become slaves, will you?” he asked in fear. “Listen, Tim, I did not say that they are against me. They have no grudges against me, their scores are not to be settled with me but with you” I responded. “Okay... okay... you are right, Mildrid, you are very correct” he responded nervously. “And so?” I asked, waiting for his affirmation. “The first of my daughter I set my eyes on after now would surely be handed over to you for the sacrifice” he replied with a grumble.“That is very smart of you, Tim. And to show good faith, I will make you strong immediately” I offered. He was excited by my benevolence and he exclaimed. “You... you will do that for me even before the sacrifice? You are not going to wait until after the completion of the sacrifice. You will do this on trust...” “Yes, beta Tim. What do you take me for, a shrewd businessman? See I take you as a friend. In fact, far more than a friend. Remember we already share a great bond. See I see the hate in their eyes, they are waiting eagerly, for the right time to lynch you. These days I am always with you and none would dare to attack. But what will happen when I leave your side? Moreover, who knows when next either of your daughters will agree to return home to you?” I asked. “Yes... yes, you are right, Mildrid. The other useless one who is supposed to be my first daughter ran away from her husband’s house and I have not set eyes on her ever since. The second one who I had always believed was smart dares to run off at the news of the war. However, I strongly hope that the first one returns soon, she is too weak and would not survive out there for too long. Even if she returns to her husband, I will request that he send her back here immediately. It is high time she is up to some good, and sacrificing her would be the best thing that she has ever done. At least even though she is useless in life, she will not be equally useless in death too. She has to be useful to me even if it is just for once” he fumed as he spoke. That is the spirit, it is the exact reaction that I want. A daughter of his will return soon, and I will grow my immortality with her fresh and young beta blood. Oh... goodness, I can’t wait. I am already exhausted from feeding on omega and ordinary human blood. My strength would skyrocket outrageously after now. “I see you as a very good friend, beta Tim, and that is why I am ready to do this for you immediately. I care so much about you. they may not understand but I know that you did all these for them. Deep down inside of you, you made a lot of sacrifices for your people and you have never for once stop to think about yourself. You live and breathe for Diamond Cut, it is so sad that you are only a beta wolf” I said, trying to prick him and possibly stir up some hate in him. “I did everything for them, and I am also willing to sacrifice my daughter for them. I am very contented with my position as a beta wolf. My life will be used to protect my alpha at all times” he said. Beta Tim, still very stubborn. He has his ego but is not greedy for power. His wrath is only against outsiders. To outsiders, he is a fierce lion, but for his people, he is ready to be the sacrificial lamb. He is the kind of person that I need, someone that is very contented with his station in life, someone with no greed. “And that is why I am ready to do even this for you. You give so much for your Pack and no one appreciates it. Even the alpha would have asked for your head if not for my timely intervention. I am the only one that sees who you truly are deep inside, Tim, I am the only one that you can trust to stand up for you at all times. See you have made so much sacrifice for your people, but what do you get in return from them but hate?” I asked. “Go on with the sacrifice right away, Mildrid. Even if I can’t get my people to see my true intent in a soft way, then I must make them do that using a powerful approach” he said decisively while I giggled.