ALPHA RAY’S POV I have come to Black Moon Pack with my friend, Miller to meet with alpha Jake. We have to find a way out of the mess that Diamond Cut has put us into, not for ourselves but for our people, our members. We owe them that much and now we have failed them. It was a great legacy that was left to us by our fathers, and the fathers before them. We have ruined it all, everything is shattered. Maybe something can be done, just anything to salvage the situation. We won’t just fold our hands and let everything go to ruin. We are not weaklings. We met beta Robert on our way into the packhouse and he brought us to the pitch to meet alpha Jake. Alpha Jake was seated all by himself in the middle of the pitch. It was obvious that he was lost in deep thoughts as he didn’t even notice our presence. It was not until I tapped him on his shoulder that he finally looked up at us. “Hey, man, you are here,” alpha Jake said weakly. “What are you lost about, alpha Jake? See I know that there is a lot going on, but we have to always remain on guide for our people” I said playfully and sat beside him. Miller and beta Robert took the seats opposite us. “Yes, we have to. And we also have to think to be able to successfully do that” alpha Jake replied. “Then there is a whole lot of thinking to be done,” I said with a sigh. A great tragedy is about to befall us and we are completely lost as to what to do about it. “Hey, Imogen” alpha Jake called out to one of the maids standing a little distance away. “Yes, my alpha” the maid replied and drew closer. “Get the alpha something to drink” alpha Jake ordered and the maid bowed and walked away. “There is really no need for that, Jake. I am not here for merriment” I said. “You still need to drink to stay alive and think for your people, you know” alpha Jake chuckled. Funny he still has the strength for some jokes. But he is right anyway. Soon the maid arrived with some wine and glasses and placed them on the table. “Don’t worry, Imogen, we will take care of the rest” alpha Jake said.“Hmm, that doesn’t sound like you. When do you start being familiar with your servants? It seems a lot has changed since after Scarlet happened” I observed. He sighed. “They are humans after all. I would say I learned my lessons from Violet” he gnashed his teeth furiously. “...that daredevil. She is lucifer’s incarnate. I still wish her agony even in death” “It is alright, man. We all learned our lessons the hard way and that is why we should not let this terrible plague that is about to befall us get out of hand” I said. “What can we do, Ray? I have been thinking but still cannot come up with a good idea. Truth is I can’t even think of any solution” he asked. “I have been thinking too. I think we should take the lead and go to the queen. We have to pledge for peace before she comes for us” I replied after careful thought. Alpha Jake looked at me in shock. I know he won’t believe that the words actually came from me. But then, what worse can happen? “Won’t that completely jeopardize all that we are trying to achieve?” he asked. “What worse can happen to us, Jake? We are at her mercy already should we wait until her wrath befalls us, or didn’t you hear what beta Tim and his witch did to her king?” I asked. “I understand with you, Ray. But doing that we be against our initial plan. We are hoping that she holds a grudge just against Diamond Cut Pack and takes over just Diamond Cut Pack. We cannot just present ourselves to her willingly” he paused awhile. “See, if that be the case, it will afford us the chance to retreat and operate undercover. After a while, when we might have gathered enough strength, powers and allies we would attack and claim back Diamond Cut pack from her hold. This will take a while, Ray, but then it will be our long-term plan. The three brother Packs must not be shattered in our time. It must not be ruined under our watch” “If wishes were horses, Jake, if only wishes were horses. Even a mad man that slaps a person in Diamond Cut and goes scot-free would automatically expect to be worshipped in Black Moon Pack and Crystal Realms Pack. And you expect a fearless queen and her undefeatable warriors to conquer Diamond Cut and be just contented with claiming Diamond Cut alone. You were under siege by Dark Age Pack for a long time, where are they now? They have retreated because they have already marked your territory as a colony of the queen and would not want to get on her bad side. Stop dreaming, alpha Jake, let us all face reality. We have to come to terms with it” I said. “I understand, alpha Ray, but who knows. They have been no words from the queen, we should not just willingly surrender like fools to her” he replied. “Surrendering would be for the best, better than being captured. Just look at the rogues. See their economy is at its best, better than anything we have ever experienced. All of that was possible just because they surrendered themselves to the reign of the queen. They did that willingly, in fact, they offered themselves to her, and just see how great she has led them. If we should surrender by ourselves, the queen is merciful and would not treat our people as slaves. Who knows, maybe she might afford us the same leverage that she gives to the rogues” I explained in the hopes that he would agree with me. “I understand, alpha Ray, but you know we cannot just act only our discretion alone,” alpha Jake said. “It will be for the greater good. Right now we don’t even know who rules over Diamond Cut. Is it still the alpha, his egoistic beta, or the scheming witch?” I lamented. “Whatever be the case, we should not take the misfortune that has befallen Diamond Cut as a sign to act recklessly. We would require alpha Fred’s permission to implement your plan” he replied. I fumed angrily as I listened to him. He is right. We must get the permission of the alpha of the Diamond Cut Pack, but does the Pack still have an alpha? Alpha Jake watched my countenance for a while before saying. “We should have some drinks now, Ray. Remember, that the leopard moves slowly should not be erroneously analyzed as an act of cowardice. It is sad, but we are still under the control of Diamond Cut. We were never completely autonomous. Please never forget that” “You are right, alpha Jake. Then we must go and talk to just alpha Fred about this as soon as possible” I replied. He giggled and patted my shoulders. “I feel the same way, Ray, but who are we to decide on who should be in a meeting with alpha Fred?” he asked. That is true, it is sad, but it is the truth. I will have to come up with a way to get the alpha to reason exactly like the alpha that he is, the alpha that he should be.