[Avira]
I stepped into the palace with an air of indifference. As far as the Alpha's missing crown was concerned, I haven't seen it. In fact I know nothing about it.
I located an empty spot in the corner reserved for the non- pack members and sat down. Alpha Demian was at his usual spot, although the arm of the chair on which he sat made it clear that it wasn't the throne. The discoloured chair was nothing like the well-oiled chair which served as the throne. I looked around for the ruined throne but there was nothing to see. There was not a single sign that something was missing, something as important as the pack's crown except for Alpha Demian's seething, and of course the chair he sat on. The fact that he wasn't wearing his crown did not give anything away since he did not always wear it. But the crown stand was empty, although I doubted anyone would notice it at their entrance.
Beta Maverick was at his usual spot, and so were the other members of the pack. He didn't seem bothered by anything, not even by the crown which was in his quarters.
Good!
I said in my head, and looked around to see whose gaze was boring into me. It was the stranger. I had totally forgotten about him, but why won't I? With everything there was to worry about.
Our eyes met. His had questions with an expression close to sympathy which I hated. Maybe he felt my pain when Beta Maverick whipped me last night or maybe he didn't feel anything, and was only acting on impulse. My eyes were cold, and angry. I wanted to snap at him but I realized that as much as he pissed me off, he was the least of my worries at the moment.
The pack's Delta was standing on the podium now, about to say something but Alpha Demian stopped him with a wave of his hand, and stood up from the chair he sat, and I got to see the entire chair. It was an ugly piece of furniture compared to the throne, but still, it was way better than the Beta's seat.
He walked in slow and angry manner towards the Delta who, with the confused look on his face, I was sure had no idea what was going on.
After a few words which was spoken for the Delta's hearing alone, the Delta left for his seat while Alpha Demian assumed his position on the podium. My eyes darted towards the Beta, and I breathed in relief when I saw that he was calm and untroubled.
Maybe he had discovered a way he would put back the crown without anyone noticing, I thought in my head. I took long breaths to ease out my worry, ignoring the stares that still hadn't stopped boring into me.
Fucking jerk!
I wondered what the stranger wanted with me, even after I made it clear to him that we can't be friends.
Alpha Demian made a gesture with his hand, and the conch shell was brought to him by Kyle. The arrival of the conch shell caused a sudden uneasiness among the crowd. It was used only when the issue at hand was important, and mostly severe.
"Something sacrilegious has happened!" Alpha Demian declared in a loud and angry voice. His voice reverberated around the four corners of the palace, and the whole pack was immediately thrown into a state of distress even though they had no idea what was going on. Of course my eyes were flung open in surprise as well. As long as every other pack member was concerned, I was as clueless as they were.
"The pack's throne has been destroyed." Alpha Demian announced, and a loud gasp sounded from the other members of the pack. This was followed by loud murmurings. But Alpha Demian was not done. The murmurings died down when he lifted the conch shell to his mouth to continue to speak.
"The royal crown has been stolen," Alpha Demian added, and there was suddenly an uproar. The murmurings were louder this time, and didn't die down even when Alpha Demian lifted the conch shell to speak. According to the pack members whose voices wafted into my ears, it was a first time occurrence, the Alpha's crown has never been stolen, not since the pack was established some four hundred years ago.
"This is the handiwork of the rogue Wolf," Alpha Demian declared, and an affirmative hum from the others followed.
"The hunting will begin right now," Alpha Demian commanded, and I sighed in relief. There was no way the Beta would be caught if the pack hunted in the morning. He would definitely not take part in the hunting, and since it is daylight, he wouldn't shift.
"Bring me the Moonfire gear." Alpha Demian ordered, disrupting my thoughts. Kyle came in just then with the old wooden box. It was as if he already had it with him, and was only waiting for Alpha Demian to say the word.
Kyle carefully walked to the podium, and with reverence, he placed the wooden box on the moon altar which was located at the right hand side of the podium. He left after he dropped it there, leaving Alpha Demian to continue with the ritual.
But Alpha Demian did not continue. Beta Maverick had made a signal to him, and was now heading towards the podium. While the other members of the pack looked on with wonder, I looked on with my breath hitched.
What is the Beta going to say to Alpha Demian?
I thought in my head, hoping with all desperation that he didn't think coming clean to Alpha Demian was a good idea, because it wasn't.
Both the Beta's head and Alpha Demian's were locked as they conversed in hushed voices. The Beta's back faced me so I couldn't see his facial expression but I could see Alpha Demian's face, and his facial expression kept changing.
At first his forehead was furrowed in displeasure as a result of the delay the Beta was about to cause, then it furrowed some more in impatience, and all of a sudden, his facial expression showed that he was in a rage. His gaze traveled round the hall, held everyone's eyes for a second or less until it rested on me. His eyes, now bloodshot stared deadly at me, but he did not shift his gaze from me like he did the others.
Had Beta Maverick been stupid enough to tell him about the crown or about the rogue Wolf? Did Alpha Demian decide to punish me along with the Beta? Why is Alpha Demian staring daggers at me when the Beta was but the rogue Wolf?
Alpha Demian did not stop looking angrily at me even when he raised the conch shell to his mouth, and declared in the most angry voice I have ever heard him speak.
"Seize her," he ordered, pointing at me, and I froze.