Chapter 95 Gone

*One*

I had three teams of rogues fill the trailers of three trucks when I recieved a message from Eric Lockwood. It only had one word...CHEST.

When I was starting my operations here in New York City, Eric Lockwood had a small request. He handed me a small vintage wooden chest for safekeeping and asked me to give it to him without complaint when necessary. I, on the other hand, was surprised he would come visit me in broad daylight.

"There will come a time when I may need whatever is in this chest. Although he never tells me anything, I feel the time is near," Eric Lockwood said, standing in front of the window of my newly purchased building. He obviously wasn't making any sense.

"What's inside of it?" I took the small chest and shook it to hear what was inside. It sounded like their were marbles inside it.

"It's nothing you should worry about. Just a couple of rocks. Many may say that those rocks are of value, but gold carries more weight. However, their true value lies on what the rocks can do against a mythical creature who is prophesied to return," he replied.

"E.L., can you be more specific? You are speaking in tongues. What mythical creature are you talking about?" I asked him, completely puzzled. He turned around to look at me, laughed and shook his head.

"Your history is limited I see. Which pack were you from again?"

"Night Shade pack in the Midwest," I answered.

"I know your pack. Your Alpha doesn't believe in educating the Omegas. He likes to keep the lot of you ignorant," Eric Lockwood said while he sat down on an empty chair. "Well, since you're free and capable, I suggest you get an education. You can't just keep relying on hearsay. You do know how to read right?" I felt insulted when he asked me that, but he was right when he said my Alpha didn't provide everyone in the pack an education.

"Yes, I can read and write. I finished grade school."

"Enroll in a homeschool curriculum or maybe night school. In no time, you'll finish high school. As for college, there are many community colleges you can enroll in if you want to pursue a college degree. Keep that chest safe. It may be our only defense to what may come soon."

When we heard the howl of the queen, he called me up to tell me he would soon pick up the chest at his favorite cafe which I owned. I knew after reading his message, he would be going to the cafe to pick up the chest. I called the manager who was a rogue under my employ.

"Heads up. E.L. is on his way. Make sure you give him the chest. He will be entering the restroom. Pass it to him," I instructed.

"Sure, One. I'll call you once it's done," he said.

"If he needs anything else and you have it, give it to him. If not, message me what he needs and I'll do the rest."

"Got it," he replied and hung up. One of my men from one of the rigs approached me.

"Should we leave for New Jersey as planned?" He asked.

"Hold on a while longer. We still have time anyway. I need to figure out what's going on first and confirm plans. Better you guys stay put until I get the greenlight."

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*Eric Lockwood *

We arrived at Wolf Hall with time to spare. Lucas walked behind me as we entered the building. Some of the Elders I noticed were packing their things, surrounded by Wolf Troops. When they saw me, they shook their heads. It only meant they were now removed from office.

Some of the other Elders I saw had regained entry of their offices and had poked their heads to watch as I walked towards the elevator to the High Lord Wolf's office. A few approached Lucas to congratulate him on his nomination, but one look at my angry face though made them cower back to their offices.

I abruptly made a detour to my office before I reached the elevator. I needed to see my assistant since she always had the latest gossip around Wolf Hall and to retrieve something I had asked her to prepare for me last night when news first broke of the High Lord Wolf's latest tantrum. I found my assistant seated at her desk with two Wolf Troops standing infront of the door to my office.

"Elder Lockwood, you aren't allowed to go into your office," my assistant said as she bowed to welcome me. I chuckled.

"I know. News reached us at the Christmas Ball. Apparently the High Lord Wolf had all the locks changed. Any news on who's leaving and who's staying?" I asked her.

"Elder, mostly your associates and the associates of Minerva Allen are taking a hit. Some are already speculating you're going to take the boot," she whispered. I was shocked to hear the name of Minerva Allen. She was always careful.

"And why are the associates of Minerva Allen being stripped of their positions?" I asked.

"It's because she killed the High Lord Wolf's uncle. Any known associate of hers is considered an accomplice." I see. This was vengeance.

"Do you have what I asked for?" She nodded her head and slipped me the flash drive. "Thank you and don't worry. I got this." I smiled at her and patted her on her arm.

"Father, the High Lord Wolf said he can see you even though we're early," Lucas said from behind me. My assistant moved sideways to take a peek, surprised to hear someone else call me father other than Chase and Athena.

"Alpha Lucas Lockwood, what a surprise!" My assistant bowed deeply and smiled. I rolled my eyes. Lucas was always the handsome one among my sons. Lucas smiled at her.

"Nice to see you again," he said.

"I heard you have been nominated for High Councilman. Congratulations! It will be nice to see someone new in the building." When she meant someone new, she meant someone who was dashing and good-looking.

"I do hope so. I still need to campaign for it. However, I believe the High Lord Wolf is campaigning for me and Alpha Connor," Lucas told her, giving her a wide smile. I turned and walked away disgusted.

Michael was waiting for me at the elevator. He followed me in and the doors closed without Lucas.

"Lucas will be staying to campaign among the Elders. I will escort you to the High Lord Wolf," he told me while he stretched his shoulders like he was preparing himself for combat. I scoffed at him.

The elevator doors opened to a crowded waiting area. Many looked irritated. Elder Callahan rushed towards me as I exited the elevator and ushered me away from Michael to have a word in private. I noticed he was limping.

"Elder Lockwood, many of our associates have already been stripped of their title and positions. Many are contemplating a revolt. This is clearly an abuse of power," he whispered angrily.

"Calm down, Callahan. I noticed you're limping. Have you seen a doctor?" I asked him.

"Yes, but I am still sore," he answered. I handed him a bottle of medicine from my pocket.

"Here, take this. So, many wish to revolt against the Council?" I asked.

"Not the Council per se, but against the High Lord Wolf. They wish to impeach him," he said.

"How many wolves are we talking about?"

"So far, twenty have been let go, however many more may be removed from the Council. Those who have been removed say their packs will rally behind them if they decide to push for impeachment. The High Councilmen are abstaining from the High Lord Wolf's actions against us Elders. They leave it up to him to make the decisions," he hurriedly said as Cavendish, the High Lord Wolf's assistant approached us.

"Elder Lockwood, the High Lord Wolf may see you now." I nodded my head to Cavendish. I moved my mouth near Callahan's ear.

"Keep your phone on you at all times. I may just have a plan," I whispered to him. He moved his head to peer into my eyes and saw the promise they held. He nodded his head at me and gave me a small smile. I turned to Cavendish and fixed my suit jacket. "Alright. Let's get this show on the road shall we?"

Cavendish ushered me into the High Lord Wolf's large office. The High Lord Wolf was standing behind his huge desk shuffling through sheets of documents scattered on top of it. He lifted his head and pointed me to sit in a chair infront of his desk. I could see through the windows of his office that it had begun to snow again. Cavendish bowed and closed the door behind him.

"Elder Lockwood, take a seat. I asked you to come after lunch, yet you came early. Anyway, you are one wolf on my priority list. As you have already heard I have stripped many of your associates of their position and title," he rambled on, still shuffling through the papers on his desk.

"It would have been wise if you had seen me first, then you would have known not to touch my closest associates," I said. He stopped as I said my words and sat down.

"And why would you say such a thing like that?" He asked, surprised at my brashness.

"Because just like Minerva Allen, I have evidence against you. You see, it would not do your image good if all the wolves knew you were consorting with the rogues," I told him, smiling malevolently as I spoke. He laughed at what I said. He obviously thought I was bluffing.

"I? Consorting with rogues? I think you have me mistaken for yourself, Elder Lockwood," he said. "I wonder what do you have on me that I don't know?"

"Do you have any evidence of me consorting with the rogues? No?" I asked him, feigning innocence. "Well, I know you know of a wolf named Alessandra. No? Are you telling me you deny having intimate relations with her? Of paying for her tuition fee, her apartment? Just like a mate would do, not just a lover." I saw the blood drain from his face. He thought no one knew.

"Alessandra is not a rogue. She was sent to go to school here by her Alpha," the High Lord Wolf argued.

"And who is this Alpha who sent her to go to an expensive university? I would like to tell him what an inspiration he or she is to us all." I laughed at his rebuttal. There are only a few Alphas willing to send Omegas to university and one of them was Lucas when he was Alpha as well as the High Lord Wolf when he was still Alpha of his pack. "Charles, Charles...tsk, tsk, tsk. She is a rogue banished from Jacob Johnson's pack." I took out a document confirming her banishment. "You know the Johnson's. They have a high banishment rate and unfortunately, one of them is your beloved Alessandra who also works for One. Your staff who provides you your entertainment has not been so honest regarding the origins of your young lovers. There are others who were rogues as well, yet it was only Alessandra who was able to capture it all on video, including the rape of one of the young men present in one of your so-called soirees." I took out the flash drive from my pocket and placed it on his desk.

"This is a copy of the video?" He asked. I nodded. He inserted the flash drive into his laptop and clicked to open the video. The loud sounds of their lovemaking echoed throughout the office. It then turned into screaming with a young man's voice yelling no and stop at the top of his lungs. He immediately closed the laptop so the video would stop.

"Yes. Now, I would like to negotiate. If I do not get what I want, One only has to press a button and your video will go viral. I want to keep my position and title. I can no longer negotiate for those who have already been let go, however I can negotiate for those who are still in power." I took out a list from my pocket. "Here is a list of my known associates. If you have already stripped them of their position, so be it. But those you haven't, they stay. I would also like you to stop campaigning for Lucas and Connor. Let their nominations die a natural death. And...I want a bigger office, but not in this building. I'll be moving out of Wolf Hall to a more secure location."

"Is that all?" He asked, clearly defeated.

"I was going to ask you to step down as High Lord Wolf, yet I know I don't have a chance in hell to become High Lord Wolf as of the moment. So, you will remain as High Lord Wolf and I will squeeze you for whatever I want. You can keep the flash drive. I know you love to watch porn." I stood up and fixed my tie. "Call off your minions and tell them to hand the keys to my office to my assistant. Good day, High Lord Wolf and Merry Christmas!" I bowed at him theatrically, laughing to my heart's content.

I walked out of his office with a big smile on my face to the surprise of all. I have Minerva Allen to thank for that. She was the one who orchestrated the whole thing through Jonathan of course. Although rape was something some wolves do in the far-flung recesses of the country, rape wasn't something a politician like the High Lord Wolf would be commended for.

"Elder Lockwood, how did it go?" Callahan asked me as I was about to enter the elevator.

"I'll see you in my new office for work, Elder Callahan. We still have some business transactions that need signing." I entered the elevator followed by Michael who had a stunned expression on his face. "Don't look so surprised, Michael. There are things you wouldn't know being in hiding for almost eighteen years. Now, let's get some coffee and a croissant. There's a cafe across the street. Or do we need to find Lucas?"

"No, I'll escort you to the cafe and I'll just message Lucas to meet us there," he said.

"Fine. Tell him to hurry up. I still have to pick up presents for Christmas." We exited the building and crossed the street to my favorite cafe. They served the best croissants in the city since the baker was a rogue from France. "You want anything, Michael?"

"Coffee and a croissant. And since we were almost poisoned, I want you to try my coffee before I drink it," he said.

"Sure. I'll taste your coffee. You sit here and I'll order for us so they won't dare poison our coffee," I told him.

I went to the cashier who was the manager of the cafe. He moved his eyebrow, telling me my package was waiting. I ordered coffee and croissants for three and excused myself to go to the restroom. The manager was already there waiting for me with a paper bag in his hand.

"Sir, One has ordered me to give this to you," the manager said while handing me the paper bag. I looked inside and smiled. Just what I needed. "He also told me to do and give whatever you ask."

"Show me the fire exit and keep the wolf I'm with distracted. I'm leaving. The car I have parked out back, is it ready?"

"Yes sir, the car is ready. The door at the end of the hall will lead you to the outside. I'll make sure the wolf is distracted," the manager answered and walked back into the cafe.

After he walked out, I rushed to the end of the hall to the fire exit and pushed on the door to the outside. When One bought the building, I kept a car parked at the back just to make sure I had a getaway car if the need arose.

I pulled out my key and opened the door of the old car. No computer, no GPS, no way for them to track me. Once I was inside the car, I took out the chest and a small key in my wallet and opened it. Inside were the black sapphires of the group who went against the black wolf. I placed one on a pendant of a necklace that was made for these black gems. It was said, these gems made it possible to be invisible to the black wolf and thus rebel against her.

I drove out of the parking lot into the now busy streets of New York City. I wonder what Michael and Lucas will do when they figure out I'm gone.

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*Michael*

I was busy on my phone when I heard the whisper.

"Lockwood flees."

Damn it! I stood up and headed to the restroom, but a server of the cafe holding a tray of coffee and croissants collided into me, spilling hot coffee on my pants.

"I'm so sorry, Sir. Let me just wipe that up for you," the server took a towel from his apron and started wiping the coffee off my pants. I stood up, pushed him aside and quickly went to the restroom. The hot coffee stung my skin, but it was nothing compared to Eric Lockwood escaping.

"Michael, what's going on?" I heard Lucas's voice behind me.

"Your father...he is escaping!" I tried to open the bathroom door, but it was locked. I decided to kick the door open. My mistake. It wasn't Eric Lockwood using the toilet, but a patron of the cafe.

"I apologize. I thought you were someone else," I hurriedly said.

"There's a fire exit over there!" Lucas exclaimed. We both ran to the fire exit, bolting out to the parking lot. We peered through each car parked. No Eric Lockwood. He was long gone. Damn it!

"I'll call Diana and see what she knows. He's here in the city, somewhere. We'll find him," Lucas said while dialing his phone.

"When we find him, I am going to break his neck! I don't care if Onyx needs him or not!" I was so angry at myself. How could I have lost him?!

"Diana, my father has escaped. Do you know where he is?" Lucas asked Diana. I couldn't hear what Diana said, but Lucas lowered his head and shook it. "Thanks Diana. We'll see what we can find." He hung up. "Diana says Onyx can't see or hear him. She said he has one of the black sapphires of the Black Resistance which makes him invisible to Onyx."

"We need to speak to Emmett," I told him. He's the only one who knows about this stuff. I just hope your father has only one of them. If he has more, it will be difficult for us to know what he and his friends have planned."