Primal Knowledge
~
Lycus
~

"Alpha, you have lipstick on your cheek," Tala informed him and stalked toward him with an upturned nose.

Lycus paid no mind to the stain on his cheek. Instead, his gaze swivelled to the direction of the manor. He hoped the measures he took would be enough. From here, even with how he hard he tried, he couldn't smell the roses or the potent disdain Accalia carried with her.

Which was a good thing. It would give no distractions and no chance of suspicion.

Lycus stared back at the Beta and she didn't bother hiding her blatant disapproval.

Lycus sighed gruffly. "What have I done now, Tala?"

"Anyone is better than Melina," Tala said snidely and her eyes glowed a burnt gold. "And Cora. I say this as a friend, Lycus, you have foul taste."

Lycus couldn't contain his laugher. "Foul enough to be mated to a hunter,"

Tala's hostility only grew and she watched her surroundings carefully. No one was around in the woods they stood upon.

"If you think you it is so foul, Alpha," Tala said in a hushed whisper and came close. "Get rid of her."

A primal and uncontrollable snarl left his mouth.

The Beta laughed earnestly. "Exactly. If Melina finds out about the hunters, she will have it out for Accalia."

Lycus didn't go to such lengths for nothing.

"She won't," Lycus snapped fiercely and shook his head without a reason to doubt. "No one will know of their presence."

"Let's hope not," Tala said and clucked her tongue.

Lycus smoothed over his hair that Melina managed to ruffle up. She had a way about her, with her touchy hands and etched claws, to always leave a mess in her wake.

"Any other wise words for me, Tala?" Lycus said sarcastically, not at all, searching for another peep out of her.

Tala's expression turned foul. "Wipe the lipstick off your cheek."

With the back of his hand, Lycus wiped the lipstick off his cheek with a grimace.

"Where are the Alphas?" Lycus demanded after a short moment.

When Melina and her brother, Zenith Thrax, along with his Beta, arrived, Lycus's attention was cast on the blonde bombshell without a moment to waste. She had a way of capturing the attention of many and it didn't have to be a good reason as to why. It could be sinful and sinister.

Tala blew out a hefty breath and gestured behind Lycus's shoulder, where a large house stood. "Pack house — in the meeting room. They're waiting for you."

Lycus nodded and spun on his heel, making his way to the large house occupied by his many pack members. "Their pack members?"

The Alphas in attendance had every right in bringing a few of their own pack members. It ensured security and ... status. It gave promise that their pack was absolute and thriving in their respective territories. Some Alphas didn't like the idea of being alone in another pack.

But it didn't mean Lycus had to like having random moon-bound creatures in his territory.

"Pack house. They won't be in the meeting." Tala confirmed from behind him.

Lycus and Tala made their way into the pack house and it was bustling with movement. The pack house was always lively and wakeful. Many rooms were occupied with hounds, but it would be difficult in catching sleep with constant yammering from downstairs, sparring right out the door and werewolves at each other's throats.

On sight, Fenris pack members bowed their heads once Lycus came in and others nodded in approval, directing their respects to both the Alpha and Beta.

Lycus noticed the ones not familiar with the place.

"Keep them busy," Lycus whispered to Tala and scanned his eyes around the werewolves and lycans that weren't of this pack.

Their odours and behaviours were different. Some puffed out their chests in arrogance, others stood straight as pins, awaiting command and others wanted nothing more but to be in the company of their own packs.

"Yes, Alpha."

~

The thought to crush the light bulb that dangled above Lycus's head crossed his mind many times throughout the meeting.

It flickered every few seconds, flashing bright yellow, to blankness and the motion repeated.

It was enough to keep Lycus occupied.

It wasn't bothering anyone else. Unlike him, they were engrossed in conversation and spoke of alliances, treaties and the current state of their respective packs.

Lycus stared up with his head lifted and watched as the light went from light to dark. Dark to light. And so on.

Minutes had passed before an actual topic brought interest to him.

"Why aren't Gabriel and Nina present?" Zenith Thrax demanded and his voice trembled like a death rattle. "Every Alpha should be present."

Lycus blinked. He lowered his head from the flickering light bulb and levelled his attention across the table.

Every Alpha was watching him, some with indifference and the rest with open hostility crossing their features.

Lycus felt something rub against his shoe.

"Nina is feeling homesick. Gabriel is tending to her. They'll be present tomorrow morning." Lycus lied through a grim, withdrawn smile.

No one questioned it. Everyone knew how endearing and fragile Nina could be. But it wasn't to be mistaken that her mouth could tell sweet, white lies.

It was her suggestion to watch over Accalia and Cadence today. 

Soren Roan, Alpha of the Roan pack, inclined his head to the side in contemplation. "Not every Alpha is present. Cole and Larissa aren't here."

That managed to set off a domino effect. Everyone present shifted tensely in their seats, looking at anything but each other. 

Calla Lacuna, the second oldest Alpha leader leaned elegantly forward in her seat. She sat directly across from Lycus and her dark eyes caught everyone's attention swiftly as she ceased their internal conflicts.

"Their presence is unneeded, they would bring nothing but chaos here. Larissa is furthest from us all and didn't wish to attend. As well all know, Cole is effectively unresponsive — cursed." Calla said serenely, her stellar eyes shifting around.

Lycus could have smiled at her, but Calla wouldn't have it. She, like many others, didn't have a thread of patience with him. She just so happened to be kind about it.

"We are all cursed." Soren Roan grumbled from his seat and rested his forehead against his hand.

Calla swallowed and her lips thinned. "Yes, but Cole is lycan. No man, no soul ... just lycan."

And many placed that title on Lycus. Hunters and moon-bound creatures alike all believed he was the worst of the worse only because he was the oldest with more bloodshed and death in his path than the rest.

He understood it. Matter of fact, he wore it with pride. But Cole ... he was a monster that found no need wearing sheep's clothing, the human skin.

"Such a sourpuss, Soren," Lycus tutted at the mopey Alpha and gestured to the lady directly in front of him. "Calla means to say why bring more dumbasses here when we already fill the seats."

Soren growled under his breath and Lycus waved him off, leaning eagerly to Calla. 

"How are matters at the Moon Court, Calla?"

Calla was entrusted with more duty than most. She led her pack, in the misty, high mountains with a confidant of oracles at her ear and ran a court, bringing both mercy and justice to her foregrounds.

She gave Lycus a humble smile that complimented her features finely. "There have been no trials and no sentencing in many years. I'm thankful for that. I only hope none of us are brought there to execute or pardon anyone."

A heel brushed against Lycus's foot again, then slid along his ankle, toward his leg ...

"Well, I don't wish to be in white anytime soon," Lycus commented. The pure, innocent bloodless custom was to wear white to a trial. To be free of all the bloodshed outside of the Moon Court, but somehow, through the cracks, blood tend to seep through.

Lycus moved his leg away and shot Melina a warning glare. She smiled boldly and scooted her chair closer to him.

Calla paid her attention to the others. She led the gathering. Asking all the right questions, ensuring what packs were still assembled and associated with each other.

"Koda, you're very quiet. What is happening at your pack?" Calla asked.

Koda's fluffy brown hair brushed against his face, hiding his scars.

He shrugged and smiled gently at Calla. "Quite uneventful. It will be warm soon and my pack is looking forward to that."

He was one the youngest Alphas out of the seven and the most isolated because of the high population of werewolves that were troubled from the curse. He buried himself and his pack members into the shelters of the woodland for protection.They rather bask under the sun in their hammocks and learn the ways of the moon than interact with others.

Lycus paid solid and unwavering attention on Koda Jacian to avoid the constant caressing Melina did to his leg.

"Are the Jacian and Roan packs still allies?" Calla inquired, sending cautious glances to both Alphas. She wanted no confrontation, no war-causing.

"We are," Soren answered on Koda's behalf and they shared nods in acknowledgement. "We're neighbouring packs and find solace in being allies, Calla."

"That's good!" Calla beamed.

Calla had treaties and alliances with most packs. Most, but not all. Her first alliance was with the Fenris brothers. They had a peace treaty for decades upon decades and none wanted it broken. Not even Lycus.

Her alliances broadened to Koda and Soren, ensuring peace among the many pack members and territories.

To Lycus, his alliances fell short, but he persuaded — enforced order amongst everyone in the only way he knew how. Control and command.

His way worked, for the most part, but he couldn't trample on Calla's peacekeeping even if he wanted to.

He respected Calla's way, as long as she stayed out of his.

Lycus glared at Melina for the third time, having enough of her pathetic attempts for his attention.

Why she, a lycan with no Alpha title was in here for an Alpha meeting, completely baffled him.

And pissed him off. 

He cringed when her hand clapped down on his thigh.

"Zenith," Calla said distantly. "How are you coming along with being Alpha?"

He hadn't had the title for long, but he carried it as though it was rightfully his. As though he suddenly had the weight of the world in the palm of his hands.

Arrogant prick, Lycus inwardly brooded.

Zenith sat up straighter and jutted his chin out arrogantly. "My wolves are happy with my leadership. They look up to me. They value my opinion."

Melina's hand slid up Lycus's thigh with a sly smirk playing on her glossy lips.

Lycus had the sudden temptation to crush her fingers.

Calla looked cautiously to everyone, but still kept her unwavering attention on Zenigh, looking concerned. "And what is your opinion, Zenith?"

"To kill all hunters, they have been an ongoing problem for my pack."

Lycus gripped Melina's wrist and squeezed it hard enough she jolted in her seat. No one noticed. She snatched her hand back with a pout.

The mention of hunters had everyone rearing their heads at Zenith.

And for Lycus, everything in this room suddenly become smaller, confined and stifling.

"What hunters?" Lycus said from across the long and narrow table.

Zenith locked eyes with Lycus and said, "Those Larren fuckers and their other friends! They've been around for centuries, ruining us, killing our werewolves to shrink our packs. I hardly have any lycans left because of them!"

Koda and Soren nodded in agreement. They have had the same issue in the past, their pack members being plucked off one by one. A shortage of werewolves on the full moon. A decreasing number of lycans.

The moon-bound creatures fought back by increasing their packs, biting innocent humans, creating alliances and tearing apart hunting groups.

This had been ongoing cycle for many years.

"Not only that," Zenith shrieked, nearly lurching out of his seat. "My Beta was sedated, held captive and tortured a few days ago. He barely escaped — they actively hunted him until he threw them off his track."

Everyone released sounds of disapproval.

Lycus slapped his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing.

Surely not.

Fate couldn't be this cruel. This unfair and unjust.

"The Larren hunters did this?" Lycus clarified, clearing his throat.

"Indeed, two men and two young women."

Lycus leant back, his grin vanishing and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What happened to them?"

"My Beta said those two bitches went after him!"

Lycus clenched his fists under the table. Zenith should be lucky there was a stretch of space between them.

"Where was this?" Lycus questioned in a neutral tone. Bothered. He could feel his heart pumping blood faster through him and tried to keep the reins loosening within his mind on a tight leash. "I only ask incase all of us need to take specific measures."

Zenith fiddled with his collar. "The northern area. Near the main highway."

Lycus clocked onto that. "Near my pack?"

In the north of the area, through the thicket of woodland that stretched far and wide, the Fenris pack had claim and territory. Everyone pack, every Alpha — hell, everyone lone wolf knew that.

The Beta intentionally threw the Larren hunters onto Lycus's path, into his pack because he knew ...

The Beta must have thought they wouldn't stand a chance.

Zenith's pale neck grew red and the tips of his ears turned pink. "A few hours away."

Why would a Beta be so far from his pack? It would have been the Alpha's doing, they command every pack member to do their bidding.

What was Zenith doing? 

"Well, he's clearly alive," Lycus said, forcing a relieved exhale. "Is he in your pack and safe?"

Zenith shook his head with a subtle smirk gracing his thin, washed-out face. "Tate, among others, came with me today. They're in the pack house."

Tate.

Lycus blinked. He was the lycan standing off to the side with a menacing expression when Zenith and Melina made themselves known earlier.

Lycus hummed to himself. He had come across the Beta in short, curt moments. They weren't memories made to last. But his death would. Lycus wondered if he could kill him outright and get this little debacle over with.

He couldn't explain why, but immense relief engulfed him. If Accalia continued to be a prisoner in the dungeons, Zenith would have seized it as a chance to kill her ... and Cadence. With them cooped up in the Fenris manor with a protective border, they were protected.

Lycus couldn't possibly tell Accalia. He couldn't tell the dark threats that were in the very borders of his pack. If she found out the very lycan she was forced to hunt was here, amongst her and Cadence, they would take the first chance to run.

It would be a bloody chase.

Lycus wouldn't utter a single thing to her about this.

Tomorrow, in the morning, the Alphas would be gone.

Accalia will be safe.

"Zenith, with the Alpha and Beta gone, that would leave your pack defenceless." Calla said and her lips parted in worry.

Zenith gave a forced attempt at a grave look.

"I wouldn't say that," Zenith said on a doubtful sigh and shook his head. "But I need alliances. I can't just rely on my own. I need more."

He looked hopefully at the Alphas before him.

Lycus closed his mouth tightly closed to vanquish his laughter.

The reason he came was out in the open. Lycus should have known from the very beginning it wouldn't have just been Melina's demands to come here, but Zenith's desires for alliances that led him here too.

The Alphas offered nothing.

"If not, I'll shall resort to other measures."

Lycus suppressed a growl. A threat. So offhanded, and yet, so out in the open.

What measures could he possibly go to? If the Alphas in this meeting wasn't willingly to stick their necks out, who else would?

Lycus hummed in thought, eyes piercing intently at Zenith. "And that means ..."

Zenith shrugged carelessly and didn't utter a word. 

Lycus wanted to kill him right then and there. He no longer cared to uphold a mutual regard as Alphas. 

Zenith could resort to other measures.

Little did he know, his enemy, the very threat that he wanted dead was in the same proximity as him, with silver and sword.