BETA TIM’S POV “You will all fight and only the survivals get food” I announced and the whole place instantly became dead silent. I have been listening to their barters in a state of extreme delight. I never imagine that this will go as easy as this. They are the ones that are suggesting a challenge among them and not us. But what do I expect from them? Of course, there is no way that they would agree to go home with nothing and if I say only the strong deserve it, then they would be discord among them in trying to ascertain who should be viewed as the strong. Now the issue is whether they would agree to a fight till death among themselves. What if they all decide to walk away than fight each other, what if the news of this gets to the alpha, what would become of me? I was beginning to lose faith but Mildrid noticed and held me by my hands. “It will turn out fine, Tim” she whispered. “Real... ly?” I stammered. “Trust me” she smiled. Yes, I have to trust her. These people are dead hungry, and it is said that a hungry man would do anything to survive. Moreover, it is not just about them but also the members of their households. “Sure. We do have everything under control” I replied. My nerves are now calm a little. A young man from the crowd was the first to speak after the period of long silence. He should be in his late twenties. “Let me get you right, beta Tim, you are saying we should kill one another for food?” he asked and turned to walk out. As I watched the back of the man, my spirit became low. I should have known that this was never going to work. Every werewolf should be his brother’s keeper even till death. Now I have done my part, Mildrid should look for a more productive way to create her own zombies. “This is it” I murmured to the hearing of Mildrid. “It is not over until I say so” she responded with a smirk. “What are you going to do next?” I asked her. “We are in this together, Tim, now you have to be optimistic” she replied with a frown. She is right, we are in this together and there is no turning back for me now. I have an agenda and it is only through Mildrid that I can accomplish that. So, should this food stunt fails, we will have to come up with a more reliable one. We must make our zombies come what may. I was still in this thought when another man of about the same age as the one that has just spoken challenged him. “You can leave now, weakling, this is just a filter process and it is so as to get rid of pests like you” “Hey, you must stop that,” I cautioned. “This is not an avenue to talk down on your brother, you must be your brother’s keeper, never forget that” I reprimanded him. “Hey, I am back now, you do your worst” the man that was going to leave turned back and made for the one that spoke derogatorily to him. “Hey man, you think you can take me down” the man challenged. “There must be another way, right? We really do not have to fight ourselves to death. You are a beta wolf, you should be able to determine our strength” a lady implored. “Yes, we shouldn’t be doing this. What we need is food, not blood” another concurred, and then there were murmurs of diverse opinions in the crowd. I know it might get to this. Getting them to go against each other would not be an easy task. But for the fact that they are still here reveals just how desperate they are. And if it comes to blood, they are ready to fight. “Please, hear me out, everyone” I called and the noise reduced a little. “I never intended for things to get to this state. You can all return to the alphas and lay down your complaints to him. Mildrid’s provision can barely go around for up to twenty persons. This is the best that can be done” I announced. Employing the method of reverse psychology is the best for the situation. I must have to make this appear like it is their sole prerogative and has nothing to do with me. MILDRID’S POV “Yes, we shouldn’t be doing this. What we need is food, not blood” someone pointed out from the crowd. Hearing this statement my blood boiled. I am a witch and a vampire and the only delicacy that I know is blood so who the hell is he to say such in my presence? I could hear their voices in the crowd, but I was too angry to listen to any of them. Remaining calm in the face of this was not an easy task. I already feel beta Tim was taking more time than is required. They should get on with the fight already and whoever is not willing should return home and die of starvation. Whichever way, there will be dead but it is just that the latter will not favour me in any way. But who cares, what do any of their lives matter to me?Beta Tim decided to ensure some calmness among them and so he called out to them. “Please, hear me out, everyone. I never intended for things to get to this state. You can all return to the alphas and lay down your complaints to him. Mildrid’s provision can barely go around for up to twenty persons. This is the best that can be done” They are already about fifty and at least half of them would have to die here today. I just have to keep calm and watch how this unfolds. “No, we are not going to any alpha, what does the alpha care about us? They brought us all into this and now they don’t care how we survive through it. I am strong enough, and I am ready to fight for my food. I also have a large household depending on the outcome of what happens here. None of them is going to die, I will not allow anyone I know to die. But what do I care about the lives of every other person gathered here, I don’t even know them and so I owe nothing anything” a huge man in the crowd said. He is the giant among them. “I will leave already, there must be a way around this” one of the youngest said and some people mocked him. “This is free will, and I honestly wish that there is a way around it. But you all know that very soon our land will be taken away from us and only the strong can survive such precarious times. Anyone willing should come with us to the hill top. That is where the battle would be held” beta Tim announced. This is it. Now it is their choice to choose to stay or leave.