21.

**Malcolm**

"Anything from the prisoners?" I asked my son as he came through the door.

"They are very resilient I must say but no one is talking," He reported.

I nodded and he left. I struggled to just leave my seat to walk to the window. My strength was fading every day. My wolf no longer interact with me as he did before, to shift was painful. I had to push him with whatever strength to go into wolf form.

No one can see me like this, not even my son. That's why this girl has to die, she doesn't know how powerful she is. I have to find her. The packs we targeted weren't hiding her nor did she seek refuge with them.

My wolf growled weakly at the thought of that little brat being alive.

The elder's news was of no importance to me. Stupid old man. Who cares about the king's sudden moods and the queen's weakening state. Besides that, he was only able to confirm the girl's identity.

"This is becoming tiring. How can one girl disappear so quickly?" I muttered to myself.

'The boy. Question the boy we caught in the woods' my wolf suggested.

"Very well," I agreed as I linked my son to bring the boy to me.


*************************************************

**Unknown #1**

My wolf was tired and so was I but I had to get us all to safety. To the addition of our eight wolves, I found a total of thirty from other packs that were attacked.

They all told the same story 'trained rogues attacked in search of someone. A wolfless' girl'.

All of this destruction was for her but why now, it doesn't make any sense.

A heavy territorial scent hit me strongly as I lead the group within a dense forest. A river flowed noisily by in the midst of the quiet forest. Some wolves were eagerly drinking water as others rested themselves on the lush greens of the forest floor.

'Safe.' My wolf tiredly said.

A she-wolf came and sat beside me bowing her head in respect. She wasn't of my pack but I saw what she meant in her eyes 'thank you'.

I nodded in return and dismissed her. I was the only high ranked wolf among them all, most were of warrior blood while others were simple omegas. Throughout our journey which took more than three days, they sought me out for guidance as they should to an alpha. I was happy to help them as I know they would do the same for their fellow wolf brother.

Loud territorial growls cut through my thoughts. Everyone positioned themselves behind me as eight large wolves approached us. Their scents reeked of power but none of an alpha. The large red-brown wolf who was leading shifted before me.

"I'm beta Samuel of the Dark Moon pack. Refugees or rogues?" He asked with a steady authoritative voice. I bowed my head in respect then shifted.

"I'm Beta Mason of the Moon Dust pack and we're all refugees. Silver Dust. Blue Moon and Red Dawn. We've come seeking help." I said stepping forward.

Samuel smiled, "We've been expecting you. Our future Luna shall be pleased to see you, also our present Alpha."

Their future Luna?

I nodded and followed him as the other seven wolves created a perimeter of safety for our group.

The eight wolves of Dark Moon called out to their alpha.

*'Safe. Found.'*