Eric's POV

The Red Blade pack, two months later...

"This pack is going down the tubes," my Beta lamented, huffing tiredly as we placed the last of the remains of a fallen Gamma family of four in the pack cemetery. "Four families downed by rogues in one month, and it's not even summertime yet."

"Tell me about it," I replied dourly as I motioned my best friend to start filling in the burial holes. "The Hamiltons were good people down to the end of their days, and yet they had to pay the price for what happened. We now have less chance of survival now that more and more of our pack members are suffering from rogue attacks."

And that was the truth. Since the incident caused by Artemis that had me exiling the men formerly known as Liz, Raelynne, and the twin mistresses; our pack was gradually declining. Sure, we had minor successes with new members who were as ruthless as I was in wanting Omegas dead moving in and even some packs and covens being our alliances, but the problems were outweighing the benefits. More rogues were being made known and not even my best fighters could take them down in only minutes.

Trenton's dad was nearly killed at one point, but survived the odds despite almost blinded. His wife was hysterical, shooting herself dead. My best friend was devastated, his pups more so since they loved their grandmother to death. Mr. Knox mourned for his late wife briefly before composing himself and vowing to be the best grandfather he could become.

As for me, the elders that I trusted suggested that I take on a female mate to be the mother for my twin sons, who were showings signs of being Alphas already. I didn't want to take that chance of witnessing another woman being turned into a man by Artemis, yet hired a nanny to tend to the boys. My days and nights were consistent with contacting other packs for future alliances alongside the ones that I already had, but no one else wanted anything to do with my pack since they all knew of what happened to Tauren. "As long as you believe that Omegas are beneath you and treat loners like scum, we will have no dealings with you," an Alpha vampire from Louisville said. "The blood of your fated mate is on your hands and I will have no part in you. Unlike you, I treasure my Omega mate like he was the crown jewel."

Can you say barf-o-rama?! I think that he's losing his cookies and gushing his mush. I stand by my word when I said that I wanted no Omegas or loners on my pack. And I will kill any of the two who dare to cross into my pack lands.

As for Tauren? He got what he deserved for being my destined mate. He was nothing but trouble.

"Eric, bro, are you okay?" I heard Trenton ask me as we finished burying the dead.

I snapped out of my thoughts to focus on my best friend, who was giving me this blank stare. "I'm fine," I grunted. "Just got a lot to deal with."

"Who doesn't? Anyway, I gotta head home to Dad and the boys. They're all asking to come over with your sons."

I thought for a moment. "Maybe tomorrow," I told him. "Right now, I just wanna-"

"Alpha Eric! Beta Trenton!" one of the female warriors said as I saw her race to me. "A rogue wolf is requesting an audience with you. He brings a warning."

I narrowed my eyes. "What did he tell you?" I asked, my persona on full display.

"He said that he comes with a message from Cronus and Rhea, a warning about this pack and what will happen next," she replied. "He looks sane and shows no sign of malice towards us, but be careful."

My best friend nodded. "Where is he now?"

"At the gates, Beta."

I turned to my best friend. "Looks like your sons and dad will have to wait a little longer," I said, voice thick with tiredness. "We got a guest to meet with. And if he does turn feral, he'll become a pest to dispose of."

"Let's go," Trenton said as we left the cemetery. To the female warrior, "Warn all the other pack members to stay inside until further notice. No pup leaves their parents' sight. Tell my dad to keep my sons inside and guard them with his life."

"Yes, sir." We watched her head for the pack houses before heading for the main gates. And just when I was hoping to go home and get some sleep. What does this male rogue want, I'd like to know?

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

Minutes later, Trenton and I were at the gateway and facing a pale-faced young man who looked as if he could be a perfect warrior if he wasn't a rogue. "What do you want, rogue?" I asked him, my voice harsh.

"Ah, Alpha Eric Girbaud and Beta Trenton Knox," the male rogue said in a Texan twang. "I've been hearing a lot about you for the longest, even more so when you not only killed the sweet Omega named Tauren but also rejected him. All the same, I'm here with a warning from Cronus and Rhea themselves, so I'll just cut to the chase."

"Spit it out already," Trenton growled, eyes glowing gold and claws ready.

"Cronus and Rhea have been silently watching over you alongside Horus and Artemis," the male rogue began. "They've been looking in your hearts alongside those of you faithful followers and they only see wickedness and cruelty. After you murdered Tauren Knox and rejected the mating bond, Alpha Eric, they immediately knew that this pack is far from redemption save for those who did show kindness to Tauren- the same ones you've exiled. All in all, your tyrannical reign as Alpha is soon coming to an end."

"What?" I exclaimed, looking into his eyes and discovering that he was telling the truth. "What else?"

The male rogue inhaled deeply. "Sir, you should know that the Omega you killed is a direct descendant of Artemis and Horus as well as Cronus and Rhea, the gods and goddesses of the supernatural. And they are not too pleased with you."

"I did what I had to do, despite the runt being descended from the gods," I defended, quelling my rage. "Divine or no, I believe that all Omegas are nothing but trouble and loners should be executed just for existing. My pack will do whatever it takes to keep the low-lives like Tauren and yourself out. And if it means shedding blood to do it, then so be it."

The male rogue huffed a deep breath. "Then prepare for the implosion of the Red Blade pack," he intoned, eyes glowing to show his beast. "The odds aren't stacked in your favor with your alliances being marginal and other packs wanting nothing to do with you. As long as you keep this up, you will lose everything."

"Is that a threat," I snarled, fangs ready to bite into his flesh.

The male runt smirked as he approached me. "No, that is a promise," he intoned. Before I knew it, his lips briefly branded mine with a sensual kiss. He broke away before doing the same to Trenton, howbeit longer and more sensual. Trenton pushed him off, roaring in contempt as he ended the rogue's life by slashing his throat and ripping his head off.

"Nice," I told him as I helped him toss the remains into the forest.

"Thanks," Trenton grunted, wiping his lips. "But shit just got real, Alpha. I don't really buy into my runt of a twin being the son of the gods of the supernatural and shit, but the rogue was telling the truth about what'll happen to this pack if we don't change our ways."

"I know, but I don't really care," I rebutted flippantly. "We just have to amplify our training and show the other packs who runs the show."

"But what will happen if things do go downhill and we end up losing everyone?"

"That's the chance we'll just have to take. Now, let's head back and head home."

Minutes later, we were getting ready to head to our homes when I saw something that both enraged me...and scared me.

My home, the main packhouse, was on fire.

And there was a message waiting for me on the side of my now-wrecked car written in blood and bold letters.

AND SO IT BEGINS, THE END OF ALPHA ERIC GIRBAUD!

Thankful that my sons were with the nanny, I turned to Trenton who looked as shocked as I was. We had to do something. And fast. Because if we didn't reassert our dominance soon, our pack was fucked.

END OF ACT TWO

And CUT! That's a wrap for act two, folks! I bet you didn't see this coming, did you?! Well, it did! And now, things are going to get a lot worse for Eric, Trenton, and their supporters of the Red Blade pack! All I can tell you is that act three is going to be one hell of a doozy with lots of game-changers, plenty of secrets that will be revealed, new faces, new surprises, and the inevitable end of Trenton Knox and Eric Girbaud! Child, the games are about to begin and you're going to be gagging all the way to the finale that will be memorable!

So make sure to catch up with the story so far, folks! I can only tell you that act three is going to be longer, more complex, and full of drama that will make you say OMG!

The song for this chapter is "Symphony of Destruction" by Megadeth. Dedicating this chapter to obsessedfangirl39.

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