Eric's POV

Two weeks later...

My pack is about to fall apart by the wayside.

Since the initial warning made by that rogue and the packhouse being in flames, everyone was on high alert with parents keeping their pups and teens locked inside while patrols were now nearly around the clock. It also meant that some of the pack members were also getting more and more agitated on how we were now seen as the pariahs of the Sooner State.

But I wasn't going to back down from my regime. Anyone who dared to leave the pack that I now gained with an iron fist would be branded as a traitor and killed without a second thought. While everyone didn't dare to speak out against me, I knew that they weren't seeing me as a good leader anymore.

Not only that, more and more families facing devasting losses after rogues kept on attacking. One of my loyal warriors named Rory was killed by his destined male mate after seeing him with his wife and kids. His wife Kaley died instantly after shooting her pups, believing that she wouldn't go on without him. A well-respected and retired trainer and his wife were slaughtered in broad daylight minutes before curfew when another set of rogues set up an ambush. And just yesterday, my sons' nannies lost her sister and brother-in-law. Kennedy, the maid in question, was devastated but had to keep strong for my twins' sakes as she prepared to bury Petra and Archer.

Sure, my pack and I had the assistance from what little alliances I gained; but no one else wanted to get close to my pack lands. And all because I had slaughtered Tauren since I wanted no Omegas or anyone who was considered weak in my pack.

"Shit's getting too real," Trenton grunted as we finished with burying the remains of the fallen in the pack cemetery (which had to be expanded with the deaths more prominent). "Carter and Caden are feeling antsy these days and had nightmares almost every day."

"Same with Adrian and Alex," I replied, tossing the shovel to the side before we sat down at the side of the burial plot. "I told Kennedy that she and her family need to take them out of here for a while until things finally settle down. It might be best for your kids and dad as well."

"True, especially with Dad still not over the loss of Mom since their wedding anniversary is coming up."

I cursed silent. "Man, I'm so sorry about that," I said. "How are you holding up?"

Trenton turned to me, his face full of weariness as if Cronus made him age overnight. "Honestly, I don't know what to think anymore," he replied. "I still have no regrets for what I did to Tauren and I never will since he was nothing more than a runt. I hated that he was my twin and everything. But after everything, I can't imagine anything else going wrong."

I nodded. "We did what we had to do," I assured him firmly. "Tauren was nothing but trouble even if he's this so-called descendant of the gods. For all we know, it's all a bunch of baloney."

"Is that so?" came a teasing voice.

Trenton and I whirled around to see the ridiculously-dressed Radixx as he hovered over us with a disdainful look in his eyes. "What the hell do you want?" I spat.

"Oh, just wanted to see how you and your Beta are coping with the fallout," the messenger of the gods replied as he finally landed on the ground. "And it looks like your pack is coming undone."

"We're doing just fine," Trenton replied, narrowing his eyes.

"Not from how I see things. Your packhouse is burned to the ground while more rogues have taken so many lives and others have been injured. You slaughtered the ones who were planning to defect once your promises fell through. You have limited resources now that what little allies you do have are pulling out. And no one else- human or no- will want to be seen with you. But on top of all that, you keep killing innocent Omegas and loners looking for shelter all because you thought they were weak. From where I sit, you're heading for a heap of hell, Eric Girbaud."

I scoffed, but internally scolding myself in knowing that he was right. "We survived this far," I replied flippantly. "We can endure a little longer."

Radixx raised his eyebrow at me as he crossed his arms. "You say that now, but soon everything will change as things will get way too serious again," he warned. "And from what Cronus and Rhea are planning, you are in for a heap of trouble once more."

"Leave, Radixx," I barked, ready to end this.

He held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "I don't make the news, I just report them," he said before disappearing in a cloud of pink smoke.

Trenton rolled his eyes. "Those gods are really getting on my last nerves," he complained.

"Mine too," I agreed as we stood to our feet. But before we even began to leave the cemetery, we saw one of the female guards race towards us. "What is it, Mavi?"

"Alpha, a rogue is here and requesting an audience," she breathed. "He's at the entryway, but more guards are on standby to kill at your command."

Fuck, what else is new? I groaned to myself. "Make sure that no one leaves their homes," I ordered. "Any attempts to disobey will be met with death."

She nodded twice before heading to the direction of the residential area.

"This game is getting very old," I grunted as Trenton and I left the cemetery grounds. "What's with rogues with playing messengers these days?"

"Damned if I know, but if it's about Tauren again I'm going to be very pissed off," Trenton replied crossly before we shifted into our wolves and headed for the main entrance.

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

"Ah, the fair Alpha and Beta of the Red Blade pack," said a fair-looking male rogue as Trenton and I finally met him after shifting into our human forms and getting dressed in spare clothing that the male guards had for us. "Since I know that you're going to kill me for what I'm going to say, I'll cut straight to the point."

"Spit it out already," I replied, letting my eyes glow red and claws extend.

"Cronus and Rhea are commissioning all the rogues to deal with your pack," the rogue intoned. "Until you see the error of your ways, your pack members will fall by either our hands or yours. No one will be safe, save for the pups since we can never hurt a child- unlike you. And know that the future king of the werewolves and the other royals will soon have you branded as a traitor to our kind."

I laughed humorlessly, storming to the rogue. "The gods and goddesses are really staring to piss me off," I told him. "They are really that crazy to send rogues to warn me and get me to change after what I did to 'their creaton' named Tauren Knox?"

"I don't make the news, mighty Alpha. I just report them."

I grabbed his throat. "Next lifetime, remember your place as nothing more than a rogue who needs to be put down," I sneered before taking my free hand to slash his throat.

"Nice," Trenton remarked, smirking at the now-dead rogue before spitting in his face.

I turned to the other guards and patrollers. "As of today, no one is to leave the pack grounds," I commanded, my Alpha tone brooking no argument. "Curfew is strictly at sunset, no exceptions. Any attempts to leave will be met with death by either you or me. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha," they all chanted, although I knew some of them were already hating me.

I turned my attention to a beefy Black Beta warrior. "And just so we're clear..."

Before anyone could stop me, I slashed the Beta warrior's throat, not caring if I heard a scream back at the pack lands.

"Holy shit," someone breathed as all eyes were now on me and Trenton, who swiftly killed a female warrior.

"Consider these deaths as a warning shot to all who dare betray this pack," I intoned as Trenton and I headed for the direction of home. "Trenton, your dad and pups will need to leave with my sons and the maid alongside her family," I instructed him. "They're to say there for an indefinite period of time."

"Got it," he replied. "No more games, bro. No more liars or allies. Anyone who's not for us is against us."

Damn right!

Oh, my! Looks like the arriving madness for Trenton and Eric is about to begin as no one in the Red Blade pack is safe anymore! Is this the sign of a mindless murder spree waiting to begin? We'll have to wait and see!

But coming up next, we're back at the Blue Galaxy pack as Anissa and her mate Joel talk mating plans and Tauren's life before Elisse is surprised by the mating pull from someone totally unexpected! Don't dare miss out!

Dedicating this out to AIWriteLove and BlackStoriesUnite!

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