ALPHA FRED’S POV “Let him leave my presence right away” the queen ordered. If not that Tim was completely in charge of the war then I would have said that something else was playing out here. More than meet the eyes. But then what about me? I am the alpha and there would have been no war if I had not acknowledged it. No Pack can go to war except the alpha wants to. Why does it look as if every other person knows that the war was the sole idea of Tim, his own brainchild? “And you, Fred, is there any other thing you want to say?” she asked coldly. For a moment I was dazed. She called me and I could swear that I have heard someone call me like that before. I cannot remember where, but then no one has ever called me by my name, except of course for alpha Jake and alpha Ray. Why does everything about her appear to be so familiar? Her voice, her aura, and even standing in her presence. Maybe there is nothing there, maybe it is just the effect of meeting someone you have always heard for the very first time, and in such an unpleasant situation. “Since the young man has nothing to say, we might as well leave...” I heard the queen say. “No... my queen... no... Chamlar” I immediately cut in. “I ... I got lost... no, terrified” I explained. “You have gotten your chance, we don’t have all day,” Atoor said. “Maybe he has a thing to say” the queen authorized me to go on. I was elated. For a moment, I thought I have not the chance of relaying the reason for my visit to her. I almost believed that she was going to leave without giving me an audience. “Chamlar, first I would like to start by apologizing for the stupidity of Diamond Cut Pack, my Pack. The war was uncalled for and it’s all a result of the sheer ignorance of my Pack. We accept the sole responsibility for the war and will also accept whatever punishment the Chamlar prescribe. But I would also beg that within all these, the Chamlar looks with pity upon us” I paused for a while before going on. “I came to beg for mercy, Chamlar. Have pity on us” I stopped and waited for a response. My heart beats fast as I continued to wait in anticipation of what her next words would be. What if she decides to show us no mercy, what then would our fate be? “You wanted the war, Fred, and you got it” the queen finally spoke.“I willingly take the blame, great Chamlar, and I this day humbly surrender my Pack, Diamond Cut to you,” I said. That does it. I hope she accepts it this way and does not try to press further. I was joyous. However, my joy did not last long as her next words left me completely dumbfounded. “Diamond Cut? They are three and I need them all. Hand over the three brother Packs to me right now” she commanded. I was lost for words. My greatest fear has manifested. If she should be given the three brother Packs, then it is as good as losing everything. Everything that our fathers left us, they have all been shattered under our watch. Now how do I remedy this situation? SCARLET’S POV I listened to his blabbing, I know what he is going to say. He is here to make a pact with me, and then hand over just Diamond Cut Pack to me. I know his kind, and I am very familiar with their shrewdness. Come to think of it, what right does he have to hand over what is already mine to me? Is he completely stupid or he is just pretending to be ignorant? Nevertheless, I intend to play along and see where this leads us. If it should turn out that he came here to play smart, I will not hesitate to bring his already miserable life to an end. “You wanted the war, Fred, and you got it” I pointed out. The fact that the war was at their request must be made clear. Maybe from there, we would be able to arrive at a justifiable conclusion. “I willingly take the blame, great Chamlar, and I this day humbly surrender my Pack, Diamond Cut to you” he responded with his head bowed. He has no authority to hand over anything to me, why doesn’t he understand that? And why he is referring to only Diamond Cut? I know this was the game he wants to play. But not to worry, I will beat him to it. He should exercise a little more patience, as he does not know what is about to hit him. “Diamond Cut?” I murmured. “They are three and I need them all. Hand over the three brother Packs to me right now” I demanded. I could see his countenance. It was obvious that he wasn’t expecting me to ask for the three. But even a fool knows that a hold on just one of the brother Packs is as good as nothing. Diamond Cut might be the greatest of the three Packs, but without the others, it amounts to nothing. I have defeated Diamond Cut Pack, and to get the feeling of a complete victory, I must be given the three Packs. “You started the war, you asked for it and now I have won. Would it be fair if my victory is made a mockery of and I am given partial control of what is now rightfully mine?” I asked. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again. I can see that he has no words in his defense. “You should know more than any other person that a hold on Diamond Cut is as good as a hold on nothing. They are called the three brother Packs for a reason, and I want all three” I added. “Chamlar, the war... it was solely on the initiative of Diamond Cut. Believe me, Crystal Realm Pack and Black Moon Pack had nothing to do with it” he explained. “And do you desire that I should believe your words?” I asked. “Yes... Chamlar. At that time, the other two Packs were under the siege of Dark Age Pack. They wouldn’t have been concerned with our actions. They were trying to recover their lands from the attackers then. The war is the sole prerogative of my Pack” he replied. “If that is the case, I will have no choice but to forcefully take over Crystal Realms Pack and Black Moon Pack. It will be fun to defeat them one after the other and bring them to their knees as I have done with you” I said. “No... not so, great Chamlar. They don’t want to fight against you. They don’t want to be made an enemy. Please spare them” he begged. “Just now you claim autonomy, and yet you speak for them. Shouldn’t they be allowed to speak for themselves” I asked. In response, he brought his face down without saying a word. “You are the leader of the three, and you hold the divine mantle” I paused. “You have no choice, that, I am already aware of. Hand over the three brother Packs to me willingly, or...” I stopped.