Epilogue III

*Eleven*

I was crouched low near the bushes fronting St. Ailbhe's while many others kept hidden among the tree trunks, shrubs and cars of the teachers who were already inside. It was winter once again and the dark gray clouds hovered above our heads making the early morning appear like dusk.

I have waited for years to exact revenge among the wolves who had caused me and my fellow rogues to go underground once again. We had a good life when One was at the helm, however, once One was imprisoned and Sixth became leader, the good life that we had vanished in a blink of an eye.

The news of the death of the black wolf during childbirth spread years back. Our dreams had reverted back to nothing and we could no longer feel the black wolf swarming in our heads. Before her death, there was a period when we could not move when she willed it, yet the Wolf Troops who came to apprehend us could not stomach the sewers of the city allowing us to elude arrest. The countless homeless humans who had become our allies became our shield and for years they have helped us stay hidden below.

We waited for the black wolf to come herself, but she never came. We anticipated her green eyes to appear within the darkness of the sewers, however, she stayed away. I guess just like the Wolf Troops, her privileged paws did not want to dip into the stinking waters of the sewers.

We employed the humans to do our dirty work above. They kept watch, spying on the High Lord Wolf and Lucas Lockwood at Wolf Hall while some trekked to New Jersey to keep an eye on the Lotus Pack territory. They would report back to me and I would give them food and some money in exchange for whatever information they could give me.

There was no way we could break out One from Wolf Penitentiary so we needed collateral to negotiate with the High Lord Wolf for One's release. We needed to kidnap the children of the black wolf and we needed to do it soon. One was scheduled for the death penalty in a week.

"Eleven, the three children ride the same black sedan to St. Ailbhe's every morning. They are then dropped off unaccompanied to the entrance of the school. That would be the perfect time to abduct the children," Thirteen said.

"How many feet from where thy are dropped off to the entrance of the school? And does the driver wait for them to enter or does he drive off once the children exit the car?" I asked. I needed to have all the details before we went through with our plans.

"About fifty feet. The driver leaves immediately. The vehicles are not allowed to linger due to traffic. There are only four security guards roving in the vicinity and a traffic aide," Fourteen answered. She was one of the wolves who risked going topside. She didn't trust the humans when it came to information.

"Has anyone heard if any of the triplets has exhibited powers?" I asked, staring at Fourteen. "Because I haven't. I had someone ask a wolf who works as a janitor in that snobby school of theirs and he said he hasn't seen any of the children do anything out of the ordinary."

"The children are too young to have powers, Eleven. The black wolf herself only exhibited her powers when she became of age," Fourteen answered.

"And the new headmaster?" No one knew much about the new headmaster. He was recently instated, but no one has seen him even the janitors. Well, if he kept to himself, outside the affairs of his students, then he wouldn't be a problem.

"No one has seen him. All we know is his initials- E.V.S. He won't be a problem, Eleven. If the school hasn't seen him, it just means he's working remotely."

I inhaled deeply. It was now or never.

"Tomorrow morning, we proceed as planned. We do not need to take all three. One child will be good enough to hold as ransom. Tell the others and make sure they know what to do. I need everyone to be ready to fight tomorrow."

And here we were, waiting for the arrival of the black wolf's three children. The school was located near the Pinelands an area away from the cities and prying eyes of most of the humans where wolves could freely shift if needed. I was already getting antsy waiting in the cold. I looked at my watch to check the time. Any minute now.

"Eleven, the black sedan approaches," Fourteen said through mind-link. She was at the other side of the school near the entrance while I was near the exit. If the driver stops and comes out of the car, I would shift and kill him including any of the security guards before they alerted the teachers.

One by one, the children came out of the car. I had to admit they looked cute in their uniforms. One was a little girl with blonde hair while the two boys had darker hair. Even from a distance, I could see their green eyes while their cheeks were rosy red from the cold. They all placed their small backpacks over their shoulders and waved goodbye to the driver. I squinted to see through the tinted windshield, but it was just too dark to see. The children then turned their backs to enter the school while the car drove away slowly to allow the vehicles behind it to do the same.

"Thirteen, Fourteen, and all my fellow rogues...NOW!" I signaled everyone. Thirteen and Fourteen shifted and came barreling down from the other side while I stepped out of my hiding spot and slowly approached the black sedan which had stopped. The car door opened and out came a young blonde haired woman with green eyes.

"WOLVES, I COMMAND YOU TO STOP!" It was the voice of the black wolf screaming in my head. It hurt so much to hear her voice which was now echoing in my brain that I stopped moving and fell on my knees. I bit my lip, buried my head in my hands and prayed for it stop. I could feel my body trembling as the horrible pain of her voice engulfed my whole being.

She was alive! The black wolf has been alive all along!

I heard footsteps while the black wolf howled in anger. "STAND UP! ALL OF YOU!" My body instantly obeyed her command. I lifted my throbbing head to meet the gaze of the young blonde woman who had exited the car. She was wearing a driver's uniform. All along, she had been the one driving her kids to and from school.

"Hello, Eleven. I have been really patient, even falsifying my death, however you didn't disappoint. You came for my children. MY INNOCENT CHILDREN! I should kill you where you stand," she said, her green eyes glaring at mine. "However, I will allow the Council of Wolves to deal with you. The headmaster has already rounded up the rest of your friends." She pressed her face against mine. "If the Moon Goddess should will it, you will join One on the day of his death."

Wolf Troop vans began entering the school premises to apprehend each and everyone of us. A helicopter was heard flying from above. I glanced at a naked Thirteen and Fouteen who were being moved forcefully by an old man. The Beta of the black wolf was the new headmaster of the school. No wonder no one saw him. He had the power to hide himself when necessary.

"Kiddo, I'll take him," an older Wolf Troop said as he grabbed my arm so he could drag me to the waiting Wolf Troop vans where my fellow rogues were. I shook my head out of frustration.

It was all a trap. A trap I had willingly entered.

_____________________

*Diana*

I ran to my babies to check if they were all okay. To them, I was just their mummy. None of them knew about the black wolf.

"Cassandra, you did such a good job shielding your brothers," I said, bending down on my knees to hug all three of them. My dad said Cassandra looked like my mom. At almost five years old, she loved helping sick people just like my mom.

"Nah-ah, Mummy, I shielded her and Dylan," Evan said. He and Dylan were identical twins who both resembled their father except for their eyes. All three of my children had the Lockwood greens.

"Evan's lying. I shielded them," Dylan argued.

"Okay, okay. You did a great job shielding each other. How about I ask the headmaster if you guys can take a day off of school for some R and R?" I asked.

"R and R?" Dylan asked.

"Rest and relaxation...with Daddy." I pointed at Ethan who was in Wolf Troop uniform with Uncle Mike who was pushing Eleven into the van. They were already in the vicinity hidden inside the dense forest of Pinelands wearing the no-scent elixir that Emmett made for them waiting for my signal.

"Sure!" All three of them said with enthusiasm. I ruffled their hair and stood up as the headmaster approached.

"Alpha, every rogue in the area has been arrested," Emmett said. He was the new headmaster of the school while Jenny was a teaching assistant. She was waiting for her license so she could teach full time.

I, on the other hand, finished Business Admininstration major in Financial Management at NYU so I could help Aunt Athena manage the Lockwood empire. It was nice to have everyone else think I was dead so I could continue school without any distractions. If it weren't for Nana,  Rose and Harriet, who took care of the three while I studied, I would have had a difficult time juggling school and my kids.

"Good. Headmaster, since this has been a somewhat frightful experience for the children, is it okay if they were absent for the day? Just have their teachers send their homework through email."

"Of course, Alpha. Consider today as a holiday...a family holiday," Emmett said, nodding his head towards Ethan. Ethan walked up to us and kissed the children on their heads before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Daddy, can I be a Wolf Troop someday?" Evan asked. Ethan smiled at him.

"Of course, Evan. I'll train you myself," Ethan answered. I smiled at Evan. Someday, he was going to be Chief.

"The headmaster has agreed the children can miss school for today," I told Ethan. "Let's all go to the city and bother your grandfathers."

"Uhm, no need. Your grandfathers are already here," my dad said from behind us. Dylan and Evan rushed towards him to give him a hug. They were close.

"Where's my Cassie?" High Lord Wolf Connor said. Cassandra squealed and jumped into his open arms. The High Lord Wolf had a soft spot for Cassandra. I knew he saw her as his next Alpha.

"Grandpa Connor, are you going to teach me how beer is made?" Cassandra asked innocently. The High Lord Wolf pressed his finger to his lips.

"Not infront of your mother," the High Lord Wolf said, laughing.

Ethan put his arm around me and we both smiled at each other. We could finally live in peace.

______________

*One*

Today was the day I would meet the Moon Goddess. The mage, Andrew, died not so long ago, meeting the Moon Goddess with no remorse, blaming the system for what had happened to him. I felt the same way. The Alpha I had served was unfair and if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be in this mess.

Elder Minerva Allen committed suicide. She couldn't stand being inside here any longer so, she hung herself using the clothes she had on. She was discovered naked in her cell with a suicide note saying she cursed the black wolf to all eternity.

I was given my last meal of steak and was given the opportunity to speak to the people who were important to me, but only Sixth came.

"One, we may not have been very good friends, but I did considered you as my friend. I know you were expecting Second to come, but I would like to inform you, he is dead. He tried to escape the High Lord Wolf's dungeons and was killed in the process. If it's any consolation, he asked about you everyday," Sixth said.

My bestfriend was dead and soon so will I. I guess it was meant to be. He and I would always be together even in the afterlife.

"His name was Dan. Dan was the only wolf who never left my side," I said. "Thank you, Sixth, for telling me."

He nodded his head and stood up to leave.

"Wait, Sixth," I said. "If it isn't any problem, can you at least call me by my first name, Roger?"

He smiled at me. "Of course, Roger. Is there anything else you would want me to do for you?"

"Just keep helping the rogues. Especially the ones who have no one to turn to," I answered him.

"I'll put a foundation under your name, Roger, and help as many as I can," he replied.

"Thank you." I gave him a weak smile. The Wolf Troop guarding my cell coughed, telling us our time was up.

"May the Moon Goddess have mercy on you, Roger. I do hope in the afterlife, we will meet again," Sixth said and exited the cell.

I stood up and went to the guard. "It's time I pay for my sins."