"Answer me, human." Its claw rubbed on the side of my face.

I bit my lip as I looked it in the face. "Karen is. Karen is my woman."

Its face sneered, and with a flick from its hand holding me, my body was tossed to the ground. The dirt rubbed against my face, and my body ached.

"That bird of yours, Tanner, brought me back here. Saul, a traitor, my son dead and Karen, broke our rules."

"I am no traitor, overlord. This young blood seeks to lie to you."

"Then what is this? Why are some cubs laying dead in this town, Saul?"

"Accalia, she started this. She attacked the town, she threatened to harm Karen if she left. Karen is not here. I can only assume that was the reason for the attack."

Tanner growled. "Saul instigated the whole thing, overlord. He manipulated and created the Bull Prosecutors. He did it by removing and rewriting in the book that they follow."

"Lies. I would never consort with the enemy. I have done my task and kept the clan fed and informed of everything nearby."

"You have merely been wearing a mask. Tell him, Ron, tell him what you heard," Tanner said.

"You would believe a human over me."

I sat up, my heart hammering in my chest as my eyes surveyed around me. Would I be able to run away? From one look at that creature, I knew it was impossible.

"Ron!"

"Yes."

"Tell the overlord what you heard."

Its eyes fell on me.

I stuttered. "Saul was planning to betray everyone. He wrote in the book that the Bull Prosecutors read and he was the one responsible for the missing wolves."

"Lies!"

"The death of Tom and Winston is all for control. This was to create war for him to seize power." My finger pointed towards the spot I had been. "I heard him from there."

Its eyes lingered on me before turning back to Saul. "Take him back." The overlord pointed towards Saul. "We will sort this out."

Saul struggled and bore his claws against those around him. The vice grip of the wolves that stood like men made him look like nothing more than a puppy. In seconds, he had been pressured into submission. Then, with a single leap, they shot up into the sky.

"Why did you believe me?" the words fell from my mouth.

"Because you were not lying. I can sense any inconsistencies in the tones of your trembling voice." Its head turned to Tanner. "Where is my daughter?"

"I know the area where she is. My bird has been following." Tanner said, "Mark and Richard are close by too."

"Take me to them." His hand grabbed me by my shirt. "The human comes with us."

The overlord held Tanner under his free arm and leaped. It was almost like flying as the wind hit my face. Looking down, I could see the outline of the town from above as we made the first landing outside of its boundaries.

"Over there in the large set of trees," Tanner said.

With the next leap, we were above the trees with thundering gunfire and cursing on both ends. The smoke left guns as people shifted like ants from one position to the next.

"Don't move!" It said to me as we landed. It left a dent in the ground as it dropped me down. "Tanner, stay here with him."

My hand touched the ground, finding my way to the tree. Branches and dirt launched around us in the wake of ringing bullets. Within the blink of an eye, it was gone, and in its wake were screams.

"What is going to happen to me? Where is Karen? Who is —"

"Karen's father," Tanner said, his body contorted as he took human form. "No harm will come to you."

Could I trust any of them?

Gunfire rattled under men's shouts in panic, fear, and adrenaline pumping in their veins. One after another, the gunfire lessened, and the heart-wrenching screams ended until there was nothing but an eerie silence.

Leaves shook, and the ground gave away their steps as two more deputies came to where we were.

"Tanner," the bigger man said. "Where is Saul?"

"Saul betrayed us."

"Balderdash, Tanner, stop playing."

"Then who is that? That backed us up," the next man asked.

"The overlord alpha, Mark."

The name shook the two men.

"Why is he here?" Mark asked.

"I told you, didn't I."

"What proof do you have?"

"The book, this man, and the actions I have witnessed myself. Richard, wake up to reality."

"Balderdash, Saul would never. Saul would never betray us."

"He did. He killed Tom, and I summarized he killed Winston, too."

"Why?" Richard drew closer to Tanner.

"For power, for control. It's all Saul ever wanted. Think deep in yourself, Richard."

Richard growled. "I don't believe you."

"He did, I was there. I heard him. He only saw you as pawns to put him in power," I said.

"Who are you?" Richard asked. He turned to me. His clothes seemed to burst as the buttons on them barely snugged him in.

"He —"

"Shut up, Tanner!"

"Let him talk, Richard," Mark scratched his beard. "Did Saul kill Winston?"

My head lifted to look him in the face. "Ron. My name is Ron. He didn't outright admit it, but Saul didn't deny either. Saul did make it clear that everyone to him was expendable."

Richard frowned, his eyes shifting amongst the trees before landing on Tanner. "Why is this human here? His words mean nothing. For all we know, he could be with the Bull Prosecutors and you brought him here, Tanner."

"What I am saying is true. Your — the overlord believes it, so why can't you?"

The two stared at me with shocked expressions, even taking steps back. Was that name so powerful to them?

"What the human said is true." Tanner interjected, stepping between them and me. "Saul is being held for the betrayal of the clan."

My body shivered from the words spoken behind me. I hadn't even heard it.

A loud howl broke through the forest.

"Karen!" the word flung out of the deputies' mouth.

#

"Karen! Karen!" The boy's voice rang continuously.

As I was about to run, Tanner held me down. The other deputies called her name like a chorus the boy had begun.

I turned to see his hand motioning towards the traps on the ground. The overlord alpha leaped and landed between the two. Tanner, myself and the others navigated the maze of danger.

Hold on, Karen. I am coming! I am coming!

By the time I had reached her, the alpha was looking down at them. Her eye had been shot and blood leaked from her body.

Was she dead? No, she couldn't be.

My brain went into overdrive, thinking about everything and anything that could help. As I touched her hand, fur rubbed on my arm. Karen, she was one of them too.

There was no pulse.

The boy kept tugging at her and calling her name.

This mark. My hand touched her face.

"Silver," the overlord said, gripping Karen's body in his arm.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

Everyone was quiet. Tanner sat, and the others turned away.

The overlord stood and lifted Karen into his arms. A growl left him, and he walked back towards the home.

Ames tried to follow, unafraid of the creature standing before him.

"Karen," he called.

My body shook as I motioned to grab him, but Tanner was faster, holding the boy by his shoulder.

The alpha's face turned. "Go, all of you and leave me with my daughter."

"No," the words fell from my mouth. "I won't leave her."

"Ron," Tanner said.

"She is not your kind," the overlord said.

"It doesn't matter."

His eyes regarded me. "Don't disturb me. You can stay out here."

I nodded.

The other three bigger wolves entered behind him, and the door closed.

What was this, a ritual, a custom?

The others had moved away, falling back into the trees.

Ames, Tanner, and I, however, waited outside. The sky darkened, and a light shone from within the home.

"What is going on?" I asked.

"Karen is becoming an alpha," Tanner muttered.