OBSIDIAN PACK
DOMINIK.
“Again!”
I watch in undisguised disgust as the male wolf is once again soundly thrashed by the she wolf, this time unable to get up.
“You!” I snarl as I storm up to him, jerking him by the scruff of his shirt “Are a disgrace to this pack! You know that, right?!”
“I am so- sorry Alpha! I will do better next-”
“Enough, with your apologies and empty promises! How long have you been in this pack?! Do you not know what happens to the wolves who can’t get past the required milestone?”
“I know! I am sorry! I will do better-”
“I said enough!” I roar at him as I fling him away from me.
I watch as he skids across the floor before crashing into a tree and falling still.
“Pathetic,” I scoff before turning away. “Someone! Check if he is still alive and if so, have him run twenty rounds across the training field. If he can’t do that in under fifteen minutes, lick him out! I don’t want to see his face here again!” I bark out.
As I return into the mansion, I am vaguely aware of them rushing to complete my orders.
At least, there are some with brains in their heads and not straw.
What is the point of feeding and clothing them if they cannot even complete the basics required from them.
I head into my room and straight into the shower.
Useless.
Most of them.
How am I supposed to take the pack to the top when I have these weak, useless, compliant creatures as wolves?
How am I supposed to stand up to that prick, Viktor when I demand a duel for the insult he dealt my pack?
How can I take mine up against his, if they can’t even pass a stupid duel?
Why? Just why was I given such useless people as pack members? There is nothing to train?
Shower done, I head with my towel to see Clarisse sitting in the bed, waiting for me.
“What happened?” I ask as I head to the closet
“What do you mean?” She asks with a smirk.
“You are sitting there waiting for me to come out. You are trying to gauge my mood before you break whatever news you have for me. So, what happened?”
“Are you saying that I can’t come and check on my husband?”
“In the middle of the day? When you have so many other things to do?”
“Yes.”
“Clarisse.”
“Fine. Fine,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “The spies you sent out are back. From the looks on their faces, they don’t bring good news. You need to stay calm.”
“I am calm.”
“You threw a wolf into a tree and now he is in the pack clinic because you dislocated four bones.”
“Is that what happened to him? He must be weaker than I thought,” I mutter. “Have him thrown out.”
“Dominik!”
“What?!” I ask in surprise at her tone.
“This is what I am talking about! You need to learn to calm down. Do you have any idea how many wolves you have kicked out? You are diminishing us!”
“I am strengthening us! By getting rid of the weak links in our pack. We are known for being strong. For not tolerating weakness!”
“Oh, goddess. We are renowned for being cruel, unforgiving and intolerant to our wolves. Why would anyone want you as an ally when you can so callously throw away your own people. If you want to be accepted and called to the big table you need to show you can be trusted.”
“I don’t need their alliances. We are strong on our own. We just need to be strong enough to take on Viktor.”
“Viktor, Viktor, Viktor, you are so obsessed with the man. He probably doesn’t even think about you at all!”
“Enough. You are getting on my nerves , Clarisse.”
“What? You are going to kick me out too?” She snarls at me.
“Now, you are just being ridiculous,” I say as I finish buttoning up my shirt. “Where are the spies?”
She scoffs at me before heading to the door.
“Clarisse, don’t push me,” I growl at her.
“They are in your study. Waiting for you. Try not to kill them,” she says before leaving.
I finish up with my dressing and head to the study.
“What do you have for me?” I ask, the moment I walk in.
“Alpha.” They all greet as they stand at attention.
“At ease. So?”
“It is confirmed,” one begins. “Nine of the alphas that went to the Winter Wolf Coalition, have returned.”
“What are the plans of the packs involved?”
“They have all sent out scouts to find them or discover any news they can find.”
“And the Vale Pack?” I ask.
There is a lapse of silence as they all evade my eyes and shuffle their feet.
“Well?” I demand
“We … none of us have been able to get into their pack.”
“I see. Has there been a difference in how they are acting?”
“None that we noticed. Their security is still the same, there has been no frantic movements like the others, in fact they have remained the same.”
“Has there been any movement from the pack?”
“No.”
“No one has left the pack in search of Viktor?”
“None, Alpha.”
What does that mean?
Was he not part of the alphas that left for the coalition?
He was, I know he was.
So, what is happening?
Is he alive and has already sent a message back to them?
Is he back in the pack?
Or has someone else taken over?
Damn it!
I need information.
“What about the spy I sent to the coalition? Any news yet?”
“He hasn’t been able to get close to the settlement. But he is trying to gather information from the locals.”
“What can a bunch of useless humans offer?” I mutter. “You are dismissed.”
Maybe Clarisse is right.
Maybe I should visit the coalition.