Third-Person POV

Deveraux Palace; Alhambra Montana...

"The Blue Galaxy pack has fallen," King Josiah intoned to his wife and son in a grave tone as he greeted his family after learning  the tragedy that took place. "Alpha Theodore and his wife Destiny were brutally slaughtered by Girbaud who also took out Elisse and her parents."

"Goddess," Queen Ember gasped, a lone tear falling from her face.

"Did Pietro survive, father?" Zechariah asked, already knowing the answer.

The broken-hearted look that the king gave his son said it all. "I'm sorry, son. Pietro Rivalde was also slaughtered."

Zechariah felt his wolf Jarix howl in anger as a calm fury raced through his bloodstream. "What about the others who were evacuated before the slaughter?" he wanted to know.

"They're still safe for the most part. Those who remained on pack lands made their escape before Girbaud returned to finish his bloodshed. From what I've been told by the mayor in Oklahoma City and the governor, the pack lands were burned down to a crisp by the feral Alpha," King Josiah informed. "Governor Altimare has called for a state of emergency for the capital as well as mandated a statewide lockdown until Girbaud has been put down. Same for the states of Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, the Dakotas, and even as west as New Mexico,, far east out into Missouri, and south towards Mexico itself."

"We need to gather all the Alphas in those states as well as those throughout the country  to prepare for what might happen next," Zechariah intoned. "If I know better, Girbaud is making the trek towards here as we speak."

"What makes you think that?" his mother asked.

"Girbaud isn't one who wants any Omega to live, Mom. Elisse and Anissa have both warned me that Girbaud imagined a werewolf kingdom where no Omega wolf or loner would be allowed to live. If anything, he might strike without warning and try to kill us all so he could be his own ruler- lead a werewolf kingdom where Omegas would be used as breeding stock, slaves, punching bags, or sacrificial lambs."

"This will not do!" King Josiah bellowed, the realization hitting him instantly after hearing what his son told him. "I won't allow the werewolf kingdom to be tainted by some feral punk who disrespects Omegas. We have to prepare ourselves for anything and everything."

Within minutes, the royal family gathered the royal guards and various servants into the great hall. "My people and fellow subjects both great and small," King Josiah began once the noise settled down. "Tragedy has hit the  state of Oklahoma with the multiple deaths stemming from a vengeful feral Alpha who had slaughtered the late Tauren Knox. He has proven time and time again that he has given ALL Alphas a bad name and has shown no remorse for his crimes. And now, my family and I learned that Eric Girbaud is set to arrive on our turf to claim the kingdom of the wolves for his sadistic reign of terror."

There were growls of contempt and anger from the men while the women and Omegas were weeping.

"My people, we ask that you stand with us and help defend our palace as well as restore the honor of the wolves while protecting our other brethren of the supernatural," Prince Zechariah intoned. "We ask that you help us protect our good name and help defend our family dynasty. Some of you might have to give up your lives, but know that you will be rewarded for your pains with a promised entrance to Elysium if you do. Eric Girbaud is one power-hungry and bloodthirsty feral Alpha who will have no problem with getting rid of anyone and everyone who stand against his ideals or gets in his  way. The fate of our species depends on you. Will you stand with my family and I?"

"We will!" the crowd chorused in unison.

"Very well," King Josiah declared. "To all the Omegas, I ask thatttttttt you please leave the premises as you are still the pillars of the supernatural world. We've lost so many in Oklahoma, with half of them being only pups who were yet to grow up and live fruitful lives. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to you."

A female Omega maid stepped forward, a look of determination set in her face as her almond-colored eyes sparkled. "My King, I can only speak for myself when I tell you that I will give up my life to defend this kingdom from Girbaud's control," she said in a rich Southern twang.  "I, Ophelia Marchand, vow to fight for my kingdom and my species until the end."

"I, Julian Ramirez, also vow to fight for my kingdom and species until the end," said a male Omega butler. "I won't let feral Alphas like Girbaud ruin Artemis' creation or what we stand for."

"And I, Queen Ember Amelia Candide Deveraux, also vow to fight for my kingdom and my species until the end," Ember intoned, giving her husband and son a pointed stare as other Omegas vow to stay and fight. "As an Omega, I will not let my fellow Omegas fall by treacherous hands. If I'm to die by your side, Josiah, then let me die fighting for my kind."

King Josiah looked at his wife with pride and lust. He faced the crowd. "Prepare yourselves" he intoned. "Girbaud arrives in two days' time. For the glory of Artemis! For the glory of Cronus and Rhea!"

"For the Glory of Cronus and Rhea!" everyone chanted before letting out long howls that would emanate throughout the palace and into the late-afternoon air as other howls from various wolf packs throughout Montana and the USA joined in- a war cry that would signal the time to fight.

********************

The next day...

"Thank you, gentlemen," Zechariah said gratefully to the butlers as he finished the last of his quick meal. It had been a long day of preparations and meetings with various Alphas of various packs and covens alongside human leaders and military personnel while those who vowed to stay behind were turning various items into weapons. Some of them did opt to leave for their safety (mainly ones who were starting families and the older workers were recommended to evacuate for their safety) while the rest trained their bodies for combat. Even human law enforcement members came by with various guns and bullets laced with wolfsbane and rat poison while training the Omegas to shoot on sight.

And now, the day had come to an end as everyone was resting up for an inevitable confrontation with Eric Girbaud. The media had a mega-field day as various law enforcements offered a reward of up to one million dollars for the rogue Alpha's capture dead or alive, the press calling him a werewolf version of Hitler.

Josiah let out a deep sigh as he sat back in his desk chair, staring out into the window as he saw thunderclouds beginning to form. "Cronus and Rhea, I vow to fight for my people as well as for protecting my late beloved Tauren Knox and all who were slaughtered by Eric," he said to himself. "Just hold on, Tauren my love. The time for divine retribution is coming and you will be avenged."

There was a knock at the door. "Come in."

In stepped a meek male Omega with a dark-brown complexion, a lithe build similar to a swimmer's, and his black hair done in dreadlocks. "Your Majesty," he said tentatively, bowing low. "Your mother and father wish to see you."

Zechariah nodded before he froze still, the scent of blueberries, honey, and lemon tickling his nose. "Mate," he grunted, knowing that the male Omega in front of him was his second-chance. "Mine."

"Yours, Alpha," the male Omega breathed. "My name is Cheyenne Eubanks and my wolf is named Solarus."

Zechariah smiled sadly. "I, Prince Zechariah Deveraux, accept you, Cheyenne Eubanks, as my mate. Do you know my story?"

"Yes, my prince. It was Artemis who told me herself that-"

The lights went out instantly, making both wolves freeze on edge. "Stay by my side, Cheyenne!" Zechariah ordered.

A rush of footsteps, followed by a blood-curdling scream.

"What's going on?" Cheyenne asked frantically as he let strong arms wrap around him as his wolf calmed down when he felt Zechariah by him.

"We're under attack! Stand by me, my mate!"

Outside, a flash of lightning illiminated the nighttime sky followed by a deafening clap of  thunder.

"Zechariah!" King Josiah's voice boomed from the hallway. "Zechariah! Where are you!?"

"In here, father!" the prince hollered.

The lights came back on as the king rushed into his son's room, a look of horror on his face. "What happened?" he asked.

"I was about to talk to Cheyenne who's now my second-chance mate as prophesized when-"

"HELP! GODDESS! MURDER! HELP!" a woman's voice screamed.

"What the hell is going on?!" Zechariah demanded.

A stout older woman (one of the female Beta maids) stormed inside with a look of fear in her eyes. "It's the queen! I was with her when she wanted to head downstairs to grab some water when the power went out and then..."

She soon burst into tears, unable to finish her sentence.

Cheyenne soon joined in as he sobbed, knowing what had transpired. From there, both father and son knew what had taken place. Queen Ember was ambushed and assassinated. And they knew who did it.

Josiah let out a giant roar of anger as he let his wolf show their rage. "Guards!" he screamed as he stormed outside with his father following suit.

"Yes, Your Highness!" one of them said as she was followed by many more when they greeted them at the foyer. "Sir, is the queen all right?!"

"My mother was assassinated during the blackout," Zechariah grunted. "Girbaud is on the palace grounds as we speak! Have someone stand guard over my second-chance mate named Cheyenne Eubanks and make sure that no one gets past him! The rest of you rally the others and tell them to get ready for war! Eric Girbaud is here! I repeat, Eric Girbaud is here somewhere! Find him! Catch him! And whether he is dead or alive, bring him to me!"

All the guards, including the ones who had arrived shortly, all saluted. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

All right, Girbaud, Zechariah said as he joined his father in the armory to suit up. You have crossed the line to the point of no return. By killing my mother, you have signed your death warrant! Tonight, you will pay the ultimate price!

Gentle reader, for a man to lose his mother to violent hands would make him mad enough to swear revenge. And while it's not always condoned unless there's a proper reason, Zechariah Deveraux knew that the time had come to fulfill the request from the gods of the supernatural and eliminate the disgraced Alpha known as Eric Girbaud once and for all.

OOH! Hell hath no fury than a young prince scorned! And bitch, Eric just pulled a low blow by killing Queen Ember! As for Zechariah's second-chance mate, Cheyenne Eubanks is going to be a key asset for the next chapter as Eric Girbaud is on the hunt to dethrone the Deveraux royals! Fasten your seatbelts and hold on for the final two chapters of this epic saga!

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