Alison’s POV
The air in Alpha Gaius’s office was heavy, the tension almost suffocating as we sat around the old oak table. The treaty lay before us, its parchment yellowed with age, the ink faded but legible. My fingers itched to touch the Crimson Dagger at my side, its weight both comforting and ominous. The secrets we had unearthed could either save us or doom us.
“Are we really sure about this?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. “The treaty, the magic… it’s all just words until proven otherwise.”
“Darling, legends don’t survive this long without truth to sustain them,” my father said, his deep voice steady but with an edge of concern. “And now we have the proof.”
Simone sat opposite me, her sightless eyes directed slightly above my head. She held her staff with both hands, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. “Let us read it again,” she said softly, tilting her head as if listening to something beyond the room.
My father unfurled the scroll once more, the brittle parchment crackling with every movement. His fingers traced the ancient script as he read aloud, “For none of the Sister Packs of the Crimson Moon shall engage in inter-Alpha marriages nor wage war against one another. Should any pack lay siege first, the magic binding all four Sister Packs will lead to the destruction of the offending pack.”
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
“What does it mean?” I asked, breaking the silence. “Who are the Sister Packs? And how does this help us in fighting against Alpha Cedric?”
My father leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as he gathered his thoughts. “Crimson, Red Dawn, Moonlit, and Shadow Claw,” he began, his tone grave. “It’s been passed down as a legend among our packs that four packs that originated from one central pack, The Crimson Moon. Due to territorial clashes, these packs agreed to be split up, this treaty was created to ensure peace among them. But no one from this pack has seen the treaty in about an entire centuries, until now.”
His eyes met mine, the worry etched into his face cutting through my resolve. “I always thought it was just a myth too. Something to keep the younger Alphas in line. But if this treaty is real as it appears to be, then each pack must have a copy including Red Dawn.”
The gravity of his words settled over me like a shroud. “If Red Dawn has a copy as we assume, and Alpha Cedric knows about the existence of this treaty, why is he then threatening us with war?”
I wasn’t expecting an answer as it was a rhetorical question, but Simone let out a quiet chuckle that drew both my father’s and my attention.
“What’s funny with what I said?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Simone’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “Because, Alison, I think I know exactly what Alpha Cedric is doing.” She adjusted her grip on her cane, her movements deliberate and measured as she seemed to stare into the void.
“Well? don’t keep us in suspense then,” my father said impatiently.
Simone exhaled slowly, her voice steady but laced with something that made my skin prickle. “I think Alpha Cedric isn’t planning to start a war. He’s planning to make us start it.”
“What?” My father and I said in unison.
Simone tilted her head, her unseeing gaze eerily piercing. “You just read it Alpha, the treaty says that the pack who lays siege first will face destruction. Alpha Cedric’s plan isn’t to fight but to provoke. He wants Alpha Gaius to strike first in defense so that the ancient magic will do the work for him. And once Crimson Pack is vulnerable, Alpha Cedric can swoop in and demand marriage or worse, seeing the ruins within the pack you wouldn’t have any other option but to marry his son.”
The realization hit me like a blow. “So he is trying to manipulate us,” I murmured, my hands curling into fists. “He’s using this treaty as a weapon to force our hand.”
My father swore under his breath, turning back to the scroll. He flipped it over, revealing a second inscription etched in smaller, finer script. “There’s more,” he muttered, leaning in to read.
“If the four Sister Packs agree to reunite, the Alpha who holds the majority will become Head Alpha, with their family inheriting the position for life.”
Silence. Heavy and oppressive.
Simone’s fingers tightened around her staff, and I could feel the temperature in the room drop as the weight of the words sank in.
My father’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Alpha Cedric isn’t just after Crimson Pack. He wants control of the mother pack, Crimson Moon. He’s aiming for ultimate power.”
I could barely breathe as the pieces of Cedric’s plan fell into place. It was all so calculated, so vile. “He doesn’t want war,” I said, my voice trembling. “He wants domination.”
For a moment, none of us spoke. The enormity of the situation felt insurmountable.
“We can’t let him win,” I said finally, breaking the silence. My voice wavered, but my resolve was firm. “We have to stop him before it’s too late.”
Simone nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. “You’re learning, Alison. Quick thinking is your greatest asset right now.”
My father straightened in his chair, his Alpha presence taking command of the room. “We need to act swiftly. The treaty is clear, and so is Cedric’s intent. If we make the wrong move, we stand to lose everything.”
“What if we call for a hearing?” I suggested, the idea forming even as I spoke. “The four Sister Packs under the Crimson Council. We can present the treaty as evidence and expose Cedric’s plans, and force him into a corner. He won’t be able to deny what’s written in black and white.”
My father considered my words, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. “A hearing…” he mused. “that’s rather a bold move. But it just might work.”
Simone leaned forward, her expression thoughtful. “It would require quick action. If Cedric catches wind of this, he could escalate his plans or make a plan B, better to take him unaware.”
“Then we don’t give him the chance,” my father said firmly. “I’ll send word to the Council immediately.”
Relief flooded through me as he reached for his communicator, his commands sharp and authoritative. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself a sliver of hope.
As the message was sent and the weight of the decision settled over us, I looked at Simone. Her calm presence had been a lifeline through the chaos, her wisdom a beacon in the storm. “Simone,” I said softly, “thank you. For everything, for standing by me all through this.”
She smiled, tilting her head toward me. “Don’t thank me yet, Alison. The battle isn’t over.”
“I know,” I agreed, my hand brushing the hilt of the Crimson Dagger at my side. “But we’ve taken the first step. And that’s what matters.”
The room felt lighter somehow, as if the very air had shifted. My father leaned back in his chair, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Darling,” he said, his voice warm, “I think you might just save us all.”
I didn’t feel like a savior. Not yet. But as I looked around the room, at the people who believed in me despite the odds, I felt a spark of something I hadn’t in a long time.
Hope.