Chapter 69 Lights Out

*Andrew*

I was watching the surveillance footage of the CCTV cameras of the Rhode Island estate when I heard the helicopter. The one person, who I believed was impossible to get to so I could extract my revenge, was actually coming to me. All thanks to Diana.

I assumed we would all be going to Elder Allen's Hamptons estate when I overheard Diana mention the High Lord Wolf had provided accommodations for us at the Wolf Mansion. That black wolf of hers seems to be every where at any time. While we were reliving our past sins, the black wolf was busy striking a deal with the High Lord Wolf. Not even Minerva Allen could get that close to him. She would probably have to cry tears of blood before the High Lord Wolf would give her time of day.

I had to relive all my sins...all eighteen thousand of the people I killed. I averaged about four sometimes five a day, six days in a week so roughly 100 in a month, give or take, depending on my schedule. At twelve hundred people a year for fifteen years, sure I've killed eighteen thousand humans. What can I say? I needed to make a living and there was a market for it.

I've gotten so accustomed to it, the humans to me were like pigs for slaughter. I didn't care about them anymore. I just wanted money. Enough money so someday I can have my revenge.

The black wolf said I would have my punishment when she had no use for me. I couldn't understand what use was I to her. First of all, I didn't have powers anymore. She took care of that. Secondly, she couldn't possibly mean she wanted me to go crawling back to my pack and claim my birthright. Me? An Alpha? Not on your life. And thirdly, if she meant I would be no use if Elder Allen died, then I would just have to make sure Elder Allen lived forever. That wouldn't be too difficult. The old witch, I believed, was going to outlive us all.

I had thought Otis, the butler of Wolf Mansion, had already told the High Lord Wolf about me. I actually hoped for a warm greeting from him since I was his nephew. However, when the High Lord Wolf entered the mansion, he went straight to Diana and didn't even bother to greet any of us. Typical privileged prick.

I positioned myself near the dining room, as close as the High Lord Wolf's security permitted, to eavesdrop on them while clicking away on my tablet. The people, who were being fitted, were too busy 'ooohing' and 'aaahing' as they tried on the gowns and tuxedos to even care.

"But since we have caught the last mage, there shouldn't be any more reason for wolves to think humans are beneath us in any way. I am a half breed. I will not tolerate any abuse on humans or my kind ever again," I heard Diana say to the High Lord Wolf. Great, I'm being introduced as a murderous mage and not the High Lord Wolf's nephew.

"You have caught the last mage? What is his name? Where is he?" I heard the High Lord Wolf exclaim, the shock evident in his voice.

"He is here. Uncle Mike, can you call Andrew to come here please?" I scurried away from the dining room and waited for Michael to appear. When he told me I was being asked to come to the dining room to face the High Lord Wolf, I excused myself so I could go upstairs and make myself presentable for the High Lord Wolf. Actually, I went to my room to arm myself. Since I was now being presented as a murderer, it was time to seek vengeance for my fellow mages. I put on the matching suit jacket of the trousers I was already wearing. I placed a silver dagger inside one pocket of my jacket and gloves in the other. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled at my reflection. The High Lord Wolf will pay.

I rushed back and went to the dining room. I didn't want the others to suspect anything, especially Alpha Connor. I could always feel his eyes were on me, following my movements. He was out to make me pay for all the people I had killed. I knew if I made one wrong move, I would be toast.

As I entered the dining room and raised my eyes to meet the eyes of the High Lord Wolf, I again hoped and prayed for a miracle, any semblance of happiness from finding a family member. Nothing. Instead, he addressed me as "Mage". Not Andrew, but MAGE! He didn't even ask me what I wanted to drink. He just gave me a glass of Cognac while the others were given preferential treatment. Even Alpha Connor was given a better greeting. I, the son of the missing Alpha, his nephew, was casted aside once again.

I expected Elder Allen to shift the blame on me which was typical of her even though she was the one who killed my father in the first place. If she didn't throw herself so wantonly at my father, he and my mother would still be alive and I, I would be Alpha of the Amber Eyes Wolf Pack. Yet, after all that, she still has the audacity to expect that I would come out perfect after treating me like the scum of the earth all these years! What is wrong with her?!

And now, I have to hear the same from my supposed uncle. Everything was my fault. What a hypocrite! As if he didn't kill all the mages in this country.

So, while he was busy drinking and yapping about the faults of the mages, I donned my gloves, took the silver dagger from my pocket and waited for the right time.

"I don't need any further justification. I was right to either lock them up or finish them off. Killing innocent humans through torture is wrong. Insane even," he said. INSANE?! I'LL SHOW HIM INSANE!

"KILLING THE PEOPLE I LOVED WAS WRONG!" I screamed. I stood up and lunged at him, aiming my silver dagger at his heart.

All of sudden, I was engulfed in darkness.

Unfortunately, that is all I remember.

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*Alpha Connor *

I didn't want to sit at the formal dining table. I took my beer and stood next to the old hag and the mage. When the mage was called by Michael, he went back to his room saying he needed to put down his tablet and make himself presentable for the High Lord Wolf. I didn't buy it. You know what the say about magicians, they always had tricks up their sleeves.

Elder Allen, manipulative bitch that she was, shifted the conversation to Andrew. Like killing an Alpha and hiding it all these years meant nothing. She apparently murdered for love even admitting she selflessly gave up her virginity. I had to hand it to the old hag, she was able to con Matthew into having sex with her. Maybe it was dark or maybe she had a bag over her face when they did it.

I guess she didn't expect Alpha Matthew to reject her after she had given her virginity to him. I suspect he was probably completely repulsed realizing he touched her and did not keep that fact hidden. Well, whatever it was that happened, it gave her enough reason to stab the poor guy with a silver dagger, over and over again, until he croaked. Yup, it's always the quiet ones.

I noticed when the conversation between Andrew and the High Lord Wolf started to heat up, Andrew's hands became busy underneath the table. When he said he wanted to make himself look presentable, he came downstairs with a suit jacket on, making himself look a bit dressed than the rest of us. Anyway, suit jackets always come with secret pockets so who knew what the mage had on him. I decided to keep a watchful eye on him.

Diana herself knew something was going on as Andrew fidgeted in his seat. She didn't move her eyes away from him and refrained from drinking her glass of wine so her senses wouldn't dull.

Unfortunately, the High Lord Wolf was drinking like there was no tomorrow...shot after shot. The old hag beside Andrew wasn't pacing herself either. She was drinking red wine like it was Kool-aid.

"Alpha Connor, Andrew is up to something. I sense he has a weapon of some kind," Diana said through mind linked.

"Don't worry. I'm at arm's reach. If he tries something funny, I'll catch him before he does," I answer her back through mind link.

The High Lord Wolf throughout the interrogation didn't even acknowledge Andrew as his nephew. I guess he didn't want to affiliate himself with a killer. Even so, sometimes it only takes one kind word to heal a wound. I could only imagine what Andrew went through under the tutelage of Elder Allen. It must have been hell for him.

After all that was said and done, the High Lord Wolf had to add 'insane' of all words to his statement. You call someone insane and I'll tell you, nine times out of ten, that person will prove to you how insane they really are.

"KILLING THE PEOPLE I LOVED WAS WRONG!" Andrew screamed at the High Lord Wolf. He suddenly stood up with a dagger in his hand. I took my beer bottle and hit him on the head. Andrew collapsed on the table with a thud.

Lights out.

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*Elder Minerva Allen *

Yes, I may have lost most of my vision but, I still can see silhouettes, shapes, even some color. Plus, my hearing was still above par.

It happened so fast. Andrew took a swipe at the High Lord Wolf with his dagger, but Alpha Connor, being quicker, hit him on the head with his beer bottle. Andrew collapsed on the dining table, his silver dagger falling at the High Lord Wolf's foot.

I shook my head in dismay and drank the remaining red wine in my long stemmed wine glass trying to ease my frustration. Andrew, the imbecile, acted too quickly. He was supposed to kill the High Lord Wolf at the Christmas Ball later tonight. With Charles out of the way, all I had to do was play my cards right. Since I had dirt on each and every Elder and High Councilman on the Council of Wolves, all I had to do was threaten all of them and I would be elected as High Lord Wolf. My mistake for ever trusting a snake like Andrew!

I saw Diana's silhouette approach the High Lord Wolf and caught her whispering something in his ear. I tried to focus on her voice but I could not hear over the commotion Andrew's actions had caused. The High Lord Wolf's security had surrounded us while the others, who were still being fitted, rushed in to see what had just happened.

Otis told the High Lord Wolf's security there was a dungeon at the basement of the mansion and Andrew can be temporarily be imprisoned there until a proper Wolf Troop escort was available. I watched the men carry Andrew out of the dining room, his feet making a scratching noise on the hard wood floor, as they dragged him to wherever the entrance to the basement was.

I was so preoccupied with Andrew, I didn't notice the High Lord Wolf tapping my shoulder. I turned around to face him. He probably needed more answers to his questions.

"Elder Minerva Allen, with the power invested in me as High Lord Wolf, I hereby charge you with the murder of Alpha Matthew Adams. Men, please escort Minerva Allen to the dungeons," he said.

"YOU CAN'T ARREST ME, YOU LUST CRAZED PEDOPHILE! I AM A RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL!" I yelled. I felt several hands take hold of my arms, lifting me up from my chair. I struggled to escape their hold, but since I was an old woman, I was too weak to put up a fight.

"Yes I can, Minerva Allen. I can also strip you of your title. You are no longer an Elder of the Council. Right now, I can only charge you for Alpha Matthew's murder. But I suspect you were also using your influence to hide the mage. I highly doubt you had no knowledge of Andrew's crimes. When I find enough evidence, I will charge you as a co-conspirator. I pray the Council of Wolves will be lenient with you. Men, take her to the dungeons," the High Lord Wolf said.

"Wait! I have something to say to Diana." Everyone fell quiet and waited for me to speak.

"Diana Lockwood-Crowne, you half breed scum, when I get out of prison, I will hunt you down and kill you." Those were the words I was trying to say, but to my utter horror, all I made were grunts and gurgling sounds. I could no longer speak!

"No one can hear you, Minerva. I took your tongue," the menacing voice of the black wolf filled my ears.