BETA TIM’S POV The tension was already built up. Alpha Fred and the witch. But what was she even thinking? Does she knows what it means to be an alpha wolf, does she think it is something, like a position attained by mere election of humans? She is a vampire after all. A place where the rule of might holds swell. That is not the same with werewolves. An alpha exceeds just the nomenclature. It surpasses everything and goes deep into senses, strength, perception, reasoning, leadership, and the rest. One cannot just fool an alpha and she should have known this. She is a witch and does not require to be told everything. She should know better. Now I am doomed if her evil plots are discovered. I will be termed her accomplice and would be labeled a rogue. Would the alpha even let me go when he discovers the lives that I have taken, innocent lives? I allowed myself to be consumed by power, evil manipulative powers, and killed lives that I was meant to protect. I was hungry for blood like a vampire, consumed by my ego. “Alpha... alpha... alpha. You got me wrong, alpha Fred. All I was saying is only for the greater good of the Pack. It is for the benefit of Diamond Cut Pack” she said coquettishly. I sighed. She is even making this worse. She should not change her tone when talking to the alpha as that is a very bad mood. I am doomed all because of this woman, now I curse the day that I found my way to her. “I said no, Mildrid or whatever you call yourself...” alpha Fred spat. “But then, alpha, I am already a part of your cabinet why are you refusing to hear me out for even a second?” she asked. I hated her guts. Who is she to try to hold the alpha at ransom? This woman deserves to be kicked out of our land. “Then if you speak as a cabinet, we must call a meeting of the cabinets. See, this matter is over. Just give me a minute, I will be back” he said and walked away. As soon as the alpha was out of sight, I rushed over to Mildrid in anger. “What are you thinking, you this woman? Even I as the second in command in this land cannot make such a suggestion to the alpha” I yelled at her.“Keep calm, Tim, you need not raise your voice,” she said quietly. “Tell me, did I bring you here to make a way for my own doom? What do you take yourself for? Now he is going to call a meeting of the cabinet, do you think you will stay a second longer in this Pack after they listen to you?” I asked in anger. “Come on, Tim. I was only testing the waters. It appears the alpha's head is still very strong. He is not an easy prey after all” she replied with a sinister grin. “Go test your damn waters some other place, woman. Quit toiling with the alpha. He is not a very patient man and I can assure you that you don’t want to know his reaction once he loses his patience” I warned. “Come off it, Tim. You should put yourself to some good and try to put in a word or two for me whenever I make a request to the alpha” she pleaded. “Put in a word or two? I already brought you to the alpha as you wanted and now you plan on having my head on a platter of gold? See I know the alpha, he is only waiting patiently for the time that I will fall and once that happens, neither of us would be standing here having this awful discussion. We might never even be able to have any discussions again” I replied. “Try and support me” she insisted. “Woman, what wrong have I done to know you. I brought you to the alpha, make your own path without dragging me in with you” I retorted angrily. “You see, I need you, Tim, and that is why I gave you that much power. Or do you think that I am unaware of the evils that you have penetrated with it in just this short while? You call me a witch, but if I should do evil that is approximate to what you have done all these years, then the world would have long been empty” she said and stared fiercely at me. “You have no choice, Tim. You are already in this so no need to hide anything from you anymore. Yes, I agree that Fred is an alpha wolf. But there is only one person that the wolf, Hector, bends to. And that person is you. I need your support in order to successfully penetrate the alpha and you’d got no choice. You must always say some words for me whenever I present my desire to the alpha. At least you still want to see your sons well again” she said with a hint of threat. This woman is the devil’s incarnate. And to think that I believed that she actually fancied me not knowing that I was just a tool for her to get across to alpha Fred. All she wanted was to make me bring her to alpha Fred. So, her charms are ineffective when it comes to the alpha and she needs me to succeed. My first instinct was to run off and maybe go take my life. I can’t be a waiting disaster to my Pack. But thinking of my sons, they deserve to live, they cannot die from my foolishness. “Hey, Tim, what do you have to say about the witch’s outrageous demand?” alpha Fred’s question brought me back to the present. I didn’t even know when he returned.“My alpha, if you can just look into this issue with her, you can make a decision on your own” I replied with a feeling of uneasiness. I swear to kill this witch once I get the chance to. She must regret ever giving me her evil power. “Yes, my alpha, listen to me first and decide” Mildrid immediately put in. “If I heard you correctly, you are asking that from now on, we should hold a battle until death for werewolves once they get to twelve...” alpha Fred asked. “Yes, my alpha. That would eradicate weaklings from among us. If this has always been so, we won’t have suffered so much from the battle with the Pixies, a bunch of wolfless creatures” Mildrid quickly puts in. “Mildrid, if I am not mistaken, you are also a wolfless creature,” alpha Fred said. “Yes, that is very correct, alpha. However, I am one of you now” she replied. “And Tim...” alpha Fred looked at me. “We should try and understand this from her point of view” I replied with some uneasiness. “Very well, we still have a lot on our hands now. Mildrid, I will look into your suggestion very soon” alpha Fred said. “And another thing, alpha,” Mildrid said. “Again” I didn’t know when I exclaimed, but this woman is just too much. “Yet another thing...” the alpha was unimpressed. “Yes, alpha. It is very little and for your good” she paused. “Beta Tim’s sons and in a very delicate situation and would require that I attend to them without hindrance” “I have never stopped you from doing so. And I must say that I appreciate your effort” alpha Jake replied, still stunned. Where exactly is she driving at? This woman, may the moon goddess save us from her. “It is just that I would like to bring them over to the packhouse, they need to be adequately monitored” she replied. “Okay, I don’t think beta Tim would have any problems with that” alpha Fred replied. “Do you, beta Tim?” “I... don’t... I... not at all...” I stuttered. “I think beta Tim is overwhelmed by my benevolence” Mildrid giggled.“Yes, alpha, she has such a good heart” I forced myself to speak. “Actually, from now on, I will like to treat people here. I want to provide adequate care to everyone” Mildrid said. “Just do whatever” alpha Fred replied and walked out. This woman, she definitely has something evil up her sleeves and I will surely find out soon.