Leowulf's assassin
"Brother, I have been knocking here for some time now. Were you asleep?" Audolf asked, using his eyes to trace his brother's weak steps.
"Haa! Don't mind me, I was only resting," Adalwolf replied to his brother. He walked slowly towards his seat. He took his time to sit.
"Hope you are alright?"
"Yes! I am," Adalwolf replied. He would have loved to add that it depends on his definition of being alright. If it is this constant state of being weak and having his health deteriorate every day, then he is as good as goodness comes. But if it's about just hearing the news about what abomination his son was about to create, and if it's about having the anger of every one of his predecessors before him, then he is not alright. Those that he admires and adores. Their anger on him has a toll to take.
The first Alpha had growled at him for not instilling the laws of the land, and for not letting his son have enough knowledge of the law.
"I taught him the best way I could, and I know Audolf too, he tried his best," Adalwolf replied, looking at his father. He knew his father knows how strict Audolf can be.
"Then why has he become this? Why has he done what he has done?" The 7th Alpha asked. This werewolf was the one who created the faulty systems now in Asark. After he became an Alpha, and when he awakened the consciousness of the other Alphas in himself, he was so angry at their own existence. He is a descendant of the first Ultimate Alpha. The last of his descendants to become an ultimate Alpha. He refused to give birth. Even though the other Alphas had tried to force him to give birth, he refused. He had argued that his children do not deserve to be born in this world of abomination. Even the first Alpha had been surprised.
Before he died, the consensus of the former Ultimate Alphas chose someone else to carry on the mantle. It's a young werewolf from a faction of the Ultimate pack. And that person turned out to be Adalwolf's progenitor.
"There is only so much that I can know about his ways of doing things," Adalwolf replied in his own defense.
"You should talk to him,"
"But that's not the law,". Adalwolf argued.
"He is supposed to be killed by the blood moon," he said.
"Son, do you know why blood moon death is a punishment for pre-marital sex?" Adalwolf's father asked.
"To prevent people from having sex for leisure which might lead to more childbirth rate than usual," Adalwolf replied his father. Even though his father isn't smiling, he is sure his father is proud of him. His father had always been proud of him. Ever since he was young. Ever since he competed with Horgan. Even before he got his void and was discovered to be the next Ultimate Alpha. His father had always been proud of his intelligence.
"Yes! The goddess isn't angry at the fact that your son has pre-marital sex. It's a mistake that was nearly made," His father said.
"You might not understand what it would be if a new species was to be created," The first ultimate Alpha said.
"I do," Adalwolf replied.
"You understand that if a new creature should exist, the will of the goddess will not take effect on them. They will supersede her control. And the sort of anarchy that existed. The sort of anarchy that I and our kinds created years ago, will keep on existing," The first Ultimate Alpha said. And by the time he finished speaking, Adalwolf felt like he could sense every bit of hatred and disgust that man has for Werewolves in Asark. Even in this astral realm, this world of will. It's not a realm full of stars like it's an Andromeda. It's an empty space. A void. An endless space. At times it feels like he isn't seeing the Ultimate Alphas. It's like he is just sensing them and that they are not real, just like where he is. But he had once touched his father. The first time he was called here. In a time of pain and distress, he had hugged his father and his father felt real.
"I understand," Adalwolf replied, looking at his feet. "Then what do you suppose I do?" He asked accepting every one of the blame they might want
to and the ones they have dumped on him.
"Overlook it. Talk to him privately, if you have the chance. Do not judge him for it," the first Alpha said.
"Didn't you just say it's a great mistake? Mistakes are not allowed in Asark,"
"Will you go against what the goddess has ordered?"
Leowulf didn't reply. He is a bit confused and he feels guilty.
And now at this moment, his brother just asked him if he is alright. There is no other reply than yes, else Audolf would panic.
"When is my wife due?" He asked Audolf
"She should be in two weeks,"
"Audolf, I will need you to do me a favor," Adalwolf said.
"You should just ask straightaway,"
"It's Leowulf. If I ask you to kill him, will you?"
"Brother! What are you saying?" Audolf whispered sharply. He moved closer to Adalwolf. Adalwolf looks unfazed.
"You heard me. Will you kill him if I ask you to?" Adalwolf repeated himself. His back is still tested on his throne and he has his left knuckles under his jaw. To Audolf, he looks too relaxed for someone who is planning to kill his son. Audolf looked at his brother. He doesn't want to judge him, and Adalwolf knows he is trying not to. Surprisingly, how will a man who has such profound love for his son want to kill him now? the son that is supposed to succeed him.
"What's the reason?"
"He's made a mistake that can't be spoken. I can't even imagine what to do. All I know is that he must be ended,"
"Then how about the succession ceremony. Who is to be the new Alpha,"
"You will be. You will succeed me, brother. You understand me better than anyone. You share my sorrow better than anyone," Adalwolf said weakly. His voice trailed off with every word he uttered.
"Brother, it's impossible. For two reasons I can never kill him. He is not just your son. He is my son. I brought him up from the very moment he was born…" he argued.
"Well, Elvis did bring him up. Took care of him but you know I have always loved him from birth," He stammered and corrected himself.
"The other reason is because I am not a ruler. Brother, let's face reality, not everyone can be leaders. You know some are born to rule and some are to be ruled, so I am not interested in ruling. And I can't kill him,"
"What if the crime involves something that could spell doom to Asark?"
"What has he done?"
"Nothing. Well maybe his death won't come now," Adalwolf said.
"Well, why are you here?" He asked Audolf. Audolf wanted to press the matter further, but he knows best not to go further. He will receive dead answers from him. Adalwolf won't even reply. He knows the title of being an Ultimate Alpha comes with stress and it takes a toll on his brother's brain.
He won't stress him about that for now. It will be a topic for later.
"Well, the prisoner we got from the market, Son of Lord of the Huduns, his father is here,"
"Eh? Fridolf is here?" Adalwolf asked excitedly.
"For the sake of his son," Audolf reiterated.
"At least he respects me enough to be here. He could have sent guards, but he is here,"
"Let him come in. Let me get my things together," Adalwolf replied. Audolf is against Fridolf coming in, but he had to. And now, he feels his brother will be better off seeing some old friends.
"It won't hurt him," he whispered.
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"The day is coming to an end. The hour has gotten long past the usual time she is supposed to return," Dun frowned at her husband.
"Didn't you reiterate the particular time she is supposed to get back?" She asked her husband.
"You know she isn't the type that comes back late. She knows the law in this house," he replied.
"Exactly," both of them know Sassaba. She doesn't have many friends to go greet. The few friends she has had left their pack. She has always been alone. A crime her mother had tried to get her out of. Dun urged Sassaba to have both male and female friends. She would force Sassaba to go to the market with her.
Most of the time, their argument usually leads to them not talking for days.
"See, we are a family for a reason,"
"I know mother," Sassaba once replied to her after her mother set a bar for arguing one evening.
"Do you plan on creating your family?"
"Mother! Not everyone wants to give birth and live a family life," Sassaba said one more time.
"So if you do not have friends or a lover after our death, what are you going to do?" Her mother foamed.
"I will keep on living alone,"
"Why do you think the goddess made us stay in packs and families?"
"Because even she isn't perfect. And isn't the goddess herself alone. There is no comparison to her. Maybe giving us family is a way to compensate for her mistakes,"
"Sassaba! What sort of blasphemy are you spewing?"
"When did saying what I feel become a blasphemy?" She asked, dropping the book in her hands. She no longer enjoys it. Her concentration is shared now.
"See, we need a family because we can't do anything alone. All that you are saying is unnecessary," her mother had walked out on her. Even then, Sassaba had always loved Leowulf. But she tried her best to hide it. She didn't want her mother to think she loves anyone. Loving Leowulf was a very high risk to her mental health but she knew it would be worth it.
But now, her mother can't find her.
"If she doesn't return tonight, we will go check on her first thing tomorrow morning," Dun said. Her husband supported her.
She tried her best to be as positive as she can be. She wondered if her daughter had been seen by the Ultimate Luna. She had heard talks about the Ultimate Luna. Such a nice woman that everything about her is geared towards helping others.
"Dear goddess, please let Sassaba be safe," she said and sat down close to her husband. Even though he has little to say, she knows how scary things are for him.