Chapter 43 You Now Serve Me

*Eric Lockwood*

"What do you propose we do?" Edward Crowne asked, looking at me like I had all the answers. We were two former Alphas whose defiant firstborn sons appeared to be conniving with each other. It was time we took charge of the situation before both of our empires crumbled.

"We find them and do as we see fit." Edward Crowne looked at me, not agreeing with my strategy.

"I will not kill my son, if that's what you mean. I just want him to marry into wealth so the future of our family will be secured."

"Well, there are ways to go about that without killing your son. You just need to find out his weakness." I raised my glass to him and downed the rest of its contents. I motion to the bartender for another.

"Weakness. The only weakness I know of is our family. If I were to challenge him and all goes wrong, not only will I be looked at as a monster, but I will also be banished from my pack." Edward Crowne apparently was slow on the uptake.

"It seems your son doesn't want to mate the beautiful heiress which means he is looking for his mate or may have already found her. My son, Lucas, has a half-breed daughter who will be turning eighteen in a couple of days. There seems to be a connection between the two Alphas and it isn't your mate's sister which you believe." The bartender fills my glass and I take another sip of my scotch. "I think my half-breed granddaughter is your son's mate. You help me kill my son and my granddaughter and your son will be free to mate whoever you choose."

"Elder Lockwood, before I agree to this unusual proposal, I just want to know where your animosity comes from? I knew Lucas. He was a bright, hardworking, ruthless businessman. If I remember correctly, before he went missing, he was on the verge of merging with the Johnson empire which would have made you billionaires. I understand, during our time, it was forbidden to mate with a human, however with your money, you could have just paid her so she could disappear. Even then, if she and Lucas did mate, there are still ways to make her invisible. I am just asking through the perspective of my son, who has no qualms about wolf and human affiliations. However, Lucas was already Alpha at the time and would have had the final word on the matter." I glanced at Edward Crowne, dismayed he would ask such a question.

"He is my downfall. If he stays alive, I might lose my position as Elder. That I do not want. As for the half-breed, she is an abomination of the Lockwood bloodline. I will not have that filth tarnish my pure bloodline."

"I see." Edward Crowne downs his glass of scotch. I gesture to him if he wants more and he shakes his head. "If I agree to this, I want your word you will not harm my son. Even if my son and I do not see eye to eye on certain matters, he is still my son. When my son mates with the she-wolf I approve of, I will pay you a reward. Do we have a deal?" Edward Crowne extends his hand towards me and I grasp it with mine, shaking it.

"You have my word your son will not be harmed. If, by chance, your son comes home with my half-breed granddaughter, make sure you kill her." He nods his head, a sinister smile on his lips.

"That I can do. I will keep in contact with you and tell you all the information I can find regarding their location and I hope you will do the same for me. Good day Elder! I will see you again at the Christmas Ball." Edward Crowne fixes his coat and exits the bar.

Now I have an ally who my granddaughter would not expect. Getting rid of her wouldn't be as difficult as I expected. I drink the remainder of scotch in my glass and was about to take my leave when I get a phone call. It was Chase. It's either he had Athena in his custody or she was on the run.

"Father, Athena was tipped off. She left in the same helicopter the moment she got here." Chase was playing his part well even if he was a moron most of the time. This only meant Athena is now own her way to Lucas.

"Where is she headed?" I asked.

"According to the tracker, the helicopter is headed to Martha's Vineyard." That's nearby. I can fly via chopper myself and find her.

"Thank you, Chase. Leave it to me."
_____________________

*Diana*

Onyx took control of my body, scaring the wits off of Elder Allen and Jonathan. If I were the receiving end of her threats, I'd be scared too.

"Onyx, what are you doing?", I asked.

"*Scaring the Elder*," she said matter-of-factly.

"And why would you want to do that?"

"*Diana, the Elder was sent by the Moon Goddess not because she is a priestess. She was sent because she is an Elder with a debt to pay. She has power, influence and access to information which you need. She can provide you everything you want to know and give you safe passage to wherever you need to go. You do want to protect yourself and the others, correct? Use her and your knowledge of her unforgivable past." *

"You want me to blackmail her?" Blackmailing a person like herself wasn't going to be easy. I could already see she was already thinking of ways to get herself off the hook.

"*The Elder wants to redeem herself. I doubt you will need further encouragement for her to obey you*."

I take control of my body, shaking my head in the process. The light from outside had entered the guesthouse again with Onyx disappearing and me resurfacing.

"I'm so sorry about that. Onyx can be a bit aggressive at times." I laughed nervously. "You see, Elder Allen, you weren't sent to educate me which we all basically thought. You were sent to provide me everything I need which your position as Elder can offer." It was her turn to laugh. Her remorseful tears had stopped and back was the cold-hearted old lady.

"You can't blackmail me to do anything for you, Diana," Elder Allen scoffed.

"No I can't, however I can make the remainder of your days very uncomfortable for you. I don't think you would want to kill yourself with the same dagger you used to kill your sister's mate. The Allen legacy would then live on as an extremely sorrowful tragedy." I had my voice trail off at the end to provide some drama. "Or maybe I'm mistaken and you would prefer it that way. I could easily arrange that. Actually, I wouldn't have to. Onyx has her ways." I stood up from the couch and walked towards the door, giving her only a few seconds to decide. I was about to open the French doors when I heard her say my name. I turned around to face her.

"Get this through your head, you irrelevant half-breed. I have been around long enough to ensure the Allen name will never be tarnished. I have dealt with many wolves more intelligent and powerful than yourself and have come out unscathed. No one will believe a half-breed daughter of a missing Alpha. You can tell everyone what I did in my youth and they will laugh at your face." She chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. She stood up from the armchair, challenging me with her gaze. "There is nothing you could ever do that will make me bow and serve you. NOTHING!"

It happened so fast. I sprinted towards Elder Allen and Jonathan and clasped each of my hands around their necks lifting them from the floor.

"I beg to differ, Elder Minerva Allen. Especially when I have your life and Jonathan's in my hands." A growl came out from deep within my throat. "You will serve me or I will kill you and throw you in the river so you and your precious Matthew can be together forever...as you have always wanted. Decide Minerva! NOW!" I tighten the grip on her throat.

"I-I-I will serve you. Let go of Jonathan and I will serve you." I let go of Jonathan and he collapses to the floor. I didn't mean to hurt him, but if I didn't grab him too, he would have probably attacked me for hurting the Elder.

"Say "I will serve you, Diana." SAY IT!" I screamed.

"I will serve you, Diana." I let go and drop her gently on the armchair. I straighten my clothing and rotate my shoulders, seeing if back or arms hurt from exerting that much force. I can't believe I just did that. I can't believe I just threatened an Elder!

"Diana, what just happened?" The voice came from behind me. I turn around to find my father, Uncle Mike, Ethan and his men all staring at me with shock.

"The Elder and I were just finishing up a session that's all. She did ask me to come see her. Isn't that correct, Elder Allen?" My voice sounded innocent and sweet, yet the look I gave the Elder was dripping with disdain.

"Y-y-yes, we were just finishing a session. Diana, here, is a natural." Elder Allen's voice was faint and scratchy. I think I might have held on to her throat a bit too tightly.

"We heard arguing and ran here. We didn't expect to see-..." My Uncle Mike's voice trailed off like someone kicked him on his leg to stop him from saying it out loud.

"Yes, Uncle Mike, what did you see?" I smiled innocently at him, hoping he would tell me what he saw.

"Ah...nothing. We saw nothing. Right boys?" One by one, Ethan and his men nodded their heads. I sprinted towards them. The wind blew with the speed of my steps.

"Stop lying to me. What did you see, Uncle Mike?" Their eyes widened, but instead of shock, it was fear I saw. I looked up at my father's eyes and I saw my reflection for the first time. My pupils were big and black with only a small portion of green surrounding them and my fangs were long and sharp. The green around my pupils casted an ethereal glow which caused my eyes to look menacing even if I was smiling.

"Ah, Diana, calm down, sweetie. We saw you holding the Elder by the neck. We were just surprised you're able to do that now, that's all." Ethan answered my question and I calmed down.

My father sensed the change when Ethan spoke to me. He looked at Ethan, gratefully. "We have to leave to pick up your Aunt Athena, Diana. I think it's better you stay here."

"*No, Diana, we must accompany your father. I sense danger is near*." Onyx whispered to me, like she was stalking her prey.

"Ah, Dad, I have to come with you. Onyx just told me I should."

My father raised his eyebrows and I thought he was going to say no, however to my utter surprise, he nodded his head, agreeing I can come with them.

"Ethan, I need you to drive Diana." Ethan nodded his head at my dad's orders.

"Boys, I need you to make sure these two do not leave the property," I order them. They all looked at Ethan for confirmation.

"Do what your Luna tells you," said Ethan. He called me his Luna. I felt my heart skip a beat. His men nodded and bowed.

"And Jonathan, you now serve me as well." Jonathan bowed his head to me. "By the way, I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to." I turn around and exit the guesthouse to go to the parking area.

What was happening to me? Suddenly I am so strong and fast. I look at my hands. I even grew fingernails.

*"Your human form is an extension of me, Diana. By grace of the Moon Goddess herself. Now focus on the task at hand. You are about to face an old enemy." *

My father will not like the sound of this.