Chapter 37

LIAM~~~~



The news of the vampire king's appearance sent me into panic mode. The vampire king was the oldest vampire alive, rumours say he is about five hundred years old. In terms of strength, he is a monster who could only be defeated by a cooperation between my father and Jimmy, and they barely managed to leave a lasting injury that he would barely recover from. Even in his weakened state, I'm quite sure he would be able to defeat the whole of my pack alone now that my father was not here.

This isn't looking good for us in terms of politics, and survival. My father was one of the two men that defeated him so it's only natural that he holds a grudge against our pack. It's also no news that without my father we would be no match for him so of course, we might be his first target. Politics-wise, if word spreads of the vampire king's presence, we would lose our position as the strongest pack because the only person who can stand up to him is Jimmy, the Alpha of the Imperial Pack. Naturally, other packs would want an alliance with him more than with the Shadow Moon Pack. With appropriate support, Jimmy could absorb our pack.

I need to get stronger. I've been slacking off because there was no real threat and now it seems like the consequences of my actions would be dire. Grey is already out gathering intelligence on how far the news has spread. I don't imagine the vampire king to move now but I don't know how long he will wait. In that time I need to gain power that would at least rival that of Jimmy. Owen would need to be worth his salt too. I was easily able to ascend Alpha position because dad's Beta died in the war.

"Your food, sir," Hilda said as she walked into the office.

"How's Isabelle?" I asked.

"Ever since your little altercation yesterday, she hasn't left her room," she said. "I've also tried giving her food but she refuses to eat."

"Ah," I sighed. "Kids sure have it easy. I'm out here trying to figure out ways to keep us alive and she's busy throwing a tantrum."

"She's at the rebellious age, sir," Hilda said. "You also went through this phase so you can't exactly blame her."

"Hilda," I called.

"Yes, Alpha."

"You practically raised both me and Nobelle."

"And it has been my life's greatest achievement," she smiled. "To raise beautiful and powerful kids like you two."

"Do you think Isabelle wouldn't hit someone unless provoked?" I asked, ignoring her sentiment. "Bearing in mind that I caught her in a club just a few months before that. You just said she's at a rebellious age. Doesn't that mean her temper is at its most vulnerable too?"

"When you put it like that, one can understand your point of view," she said. "But Alpha. No. Can I call you by your name?"

"Do whatever you want," I said. "But just this once. Don't do this in public."

"Of course," she smiled. "I know the importance of the title. I only asked to call you by your name because you didn't ask me this question as an Alpha, but as the Liam I raised."

"I already gave you permission to," I sighed. "Tell me what you think."

"As I said, I understand your point of view," she repeated. "But Liam, the world isn't black and white. It is outdated to believe whatever you see. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. A lot that you didn't see."

She paused for a bit as if thinking of something.

"Don't hesitate, Hilda," I said. "Tell me whatever you want to say."

"I was thinking of an appropriate example," she said. "I usually cook your food personally, and you've always seen me. But on the days you don't see me, I could make someone else cook it and serve it to you as my cooking. You, of course, wouldn't believe it if someone came here claiming that they have been the one cooking your food but it might be true. The same goes with this situation."

"So you're saying the girl must have been the one who hurt Isabelle first, and she might have hit the girl with blind rage," I summarized.

"Yes," she said. "Noelle is a nice young girl. She's quite rebellious sometimes but never violent. I believe something must have triggered it, something you haven't found out yet. Until you do, don't blame her based on what you saw alone. Believing whatever you see is just like being colour blind. You can't discern yellow, red, and any other colour from black or white."

"I see," I said. "I'll need to think about this later then."

"Preferably after you've eaten," I said. "Your food would get cold. Also, ask her about it before you learn about it from someone else. You don't need to trust everything she says either. It's the same as being blind. You can search for proof later but let her know that her brother bothered to listen to her and make time for her from his busy schedule. I'm pretty sure she'll appreciate it more than you apologizing after realizing the truth."

"You're so sure she's telling the truth," I said. "Yet you tell me not to trust her blindly."

"Liam, I can trust her blindly. I'm nothing but a chef and housekeeper," she smiled. "You, on the other hand, are the Alpha of the pack. You are responsible for all of us so you can't trust anyone blindly to ensure fairness. Isn't that the reason why you've been scolding her hard? You want to be a fair Alpha even to your baby sister and I commend that. But do not forget that before you are an Alpha, you are first of all the elder brother of Noella Wyatt, Liam Simon Wyatt."

I let out a deep breath after she left. It was more like a relief for talking to someone who didn't see me as a monster. Everyone else is against me. Even Grey, Dale, and Herman too. I don't really care about how they feel about me but Isabelle is beginning to hurt herself. I can't allow that. She's my responsibility and I would take care of her. I think I would talk this out with her first before anything else. Grey is still out so I have free time for now.

I ate my food slowly, savouring the taste and enjoying the texture. It's been a while since I've enjoyed food like that and the problems I've been facing these past few weeks have been quite draining. I also need to be in my best mood if I am going to talk to Isabelle so that I don't lose my cool and worsen things again.

"Finally decided to do the right thing, huh?" Dale asked while I ate.

"At least let me enjoy my food, will you?" I asked.

"We can talk while you eat," he said. "Are you finally gonna go talk to her?"

"Maybe, I haven't decided yet," I said. "But Hilda made some pretty good points. I think I've been looking at things a bit one-sidedly."

"The same thing I've been trying to tell you for the past few days now," he groaned. "I'm happy someone finally made you see reason. Even Grey tried to tell you."

"You both said it while treating me like a villain," I retorted. "Of course, I wouldn't listen. Hilda explained it to me like a sensible person. Not some emotion-driven idiots."

"So I'm an idiot, huh?" Dale asked. "You of all people have no right calling anyone an idiot when you can't see reason. If you listen to any of us at the beginning then you wouldn't have been treated like a villain."

"Fuck you."

"Just swallow your pride and do what is right."

"I heard you. Now shut up and let me eat," I hissed.

Surprisingly, Dale obeyed and did as I said. I continued my ritual of appreciating the food and before long I was done with it. I want to try remembering the scent of Hilda's food, just in case someone else cooks in her stead.

Hilda has been my caretaker and nanny since I was born. She has no family and no relatives in the pack. She told me she was saved by my father after she was jilted by her pack. I was told she was in a pack of criminals who used their powers to rob other werewolves. They are known to be very powerful and Hilda was the most powerful among them but she got injured on a mission and was left for dead by her pack members.

She was to be executed but my dad who had just become Alpha at the time ordered for her to be spared because she got injured while trying to protect a stray child who was caught in the middle of the fight. He took her in and she voluntarily offered to be my nanny when I was born. She has taken care of us ever since and I trust her judgement.

"But first, I need to deal with the vampire king, and I'll need help."