Chapter 30

Carl's pov

Everything has gone to shit! Anders was found collapsed on the ground two days ago, and when he woke up...well, he didn't. Anders is gone now, Mads is still here, but after losing both Kyle and Anders he is not the wolf we used to know. He is angry and lashes out at anyone who gets close. When we found him we placed him in the clinic, but he attacked Doc Gordon and almost killed him, luckily I happened to be there and managed to subdue him until a nurse could shot him full of tranquilizer. Doc Gordon needed 50 stitches and had a nasty concussion, but he'll live. Mads is now in the holding cells, we are doing our best to keep him comfortable but I know it's not a permanent solution. Neither Anders or Mads would want this, and I know I'm going to have handle it. But how the hell will I live with myself after killing my Alpha and best friend? I'm not sure I can even do it.

The pack is not in a good way either, for a werewolf pack the loss of the Alpha is devastating, and I am trying my hardest to keep order but the grief is thick. First we lost four members, then we lost our Alpha pair, a weaker pack would crumble. But there is no way in hell I will let that happen. Axel and Leila have stepped up to their responsibility as third in command and with their help, and with the support of my own Julie, the perfect beta female, I'm sure we can make it through this.

Yesterday Leila came up to me with a request I could hardly disagree with, she wants to keep interrogating the rogues to get the location of the hunters. Not to rescues Kyle, that is obviously not possible anymore, but to give the hunters the fate they deserve. So I handed her the rains on that. She has been spending time in their cell with them, and since I was going to visit with Mads I figure I could stop by and check on her progress.

The screams is heard almost the second I open the door to the cellars, and considering the rogues are kept behind thick steel doors I would say it's a safe bet she's not holding back. The sight that meets me is nauseating, the walls are covered in blood splatters and one of the rogues are hanging from his chains with a missing arm, one of his legs have been torn off just below the knee and his face is a mass of meat, bone, and skin. I can still hear a faint heartbeat coming from him, but without immediate medical attention, this guy is a goner.

"Oh, hey Beta," Leila turns to me with a much too chipper voice and smile considering what she's been doing in this room. She steps outside with me and closes the door so they can't easily listen in on our conversation. I can't help but be a little creeped out by her but Julie claims that she's 'super sweet and nice', so maybe I'm just reading too much into her sometimes cold and ruthless demeanor? "The guys didn't seem very keen on talking, but then I came to thinking that I only need one to talk, so I wanted to let them know what a slow painful death can really be like." Did I mention that the girl is ruthless? Well, she is. And I have to admit that it looks like she might be getting somewhere, the one she left to watch his buddy die a slow agonizing death looks scared out of his mind.

"You keep up the good work Leila, I'm gonna go see how Mads is doing today," her expression gets less chipper.

"I still can't believe that what I've been told about werewolves going crazy after losing their mate were true. Will Anders come back? It seems really unfair that this pack has to lose both Kyle and Anders," she tears up at the mention of her brother.

"I have seen werewolves survive losing a mate, but those wolves have always had children to give them a reason to live and keep them sane. Even in those cases, they have never been truly happy and most have killed themselves after their children have met their mates and they know they are taken care of. In his case, there is no one to keep him here except his pack, and sad to say that will not be enough."

"I didn't really get to know him, but I know Kyle loved him and I know he loved Kyle, that makes him family, and I take care of my family." Her eyes blaze with resolve and anger, "I will make the rogue talk, and I will find those hunters. Then I will make sure they regret the moment their mother brought them into this world." I believe her, that's for damn sure.

"Keep up the good work, and let me know the second you know something, there is no shortage of people who want to make them hurt for what they did to this pack." She nods and heads back inside the room. The conscious rogue whimpers in fear as she enters, and his eyes meet mine before the door closes, the pure horror in them is unsettling but it's not like I have much sympathy for the man. He tried to hurt us, it's only fair that he pays.

The cell we're keeping Mads in is on the other end of the hallway. His cell have been made more comfortable with a nice soft bed and some plants to add some green to the room, but there are obvious limitations when trying to decorate a cell. I'm sure he's longing for trees and fresh air, being cooped up inside a cell is not healthy for a wolf.

As I enter his cell he seems calmer than before, he is laying on his bed staring up at the roof and as I enter the chains keeping him at safe distance to visitors rattles when he sits up and turns to look at me. He was dosed with a drug that will keep him from shifting, it would be even more difficult to handle him in wolf form.

"How are you feeling today Alpha Mads?"

He looks at me for a few seconds then he gives me a tired smile, "I'm doing quite well Beta, much more in control of my feelings and more than ready get out of here. How long do you intend to keep me here?"

At first, I feel relief flood through me, Mads was always a very strong wolf, even for an Alpha wolf. Maybe he would be able to get through this? But as I study him his body language seems off, he seems to be on edge, and his eyes seem to be hiding something. "I'm sorry Mads, but we can't let you out of here before we know for sure that you're not a threat to our pack members, you really did a number on the doc."

His body tenses at my words, he just stares at me without a word. But then the smile turns sinister and whiteout warning he lunges at me, "I will get out of here, I will track down the bastards who killed my mate, and I don't give a shit who gets in my way! I will kill anyone of you if you stand in the way of me getting my revenge!" He roars out, and then the thing I feared the most happens, his eyes start to change into a dark crimson color, he has gone rogue. Once that happens we all know it's over, his humanity is gone, and left is a killer with no conscience. My heart drops to my knees as I realize my friend is gone, the responsibility of this pack is now on me, and the task of ending his life will also fall to me.

I quickly leave the room and find my way out of the holding cells. I just can't handle being in the same room as the thing that is currently wearing the face of the man I grew up with, the man who has been there for me my entire life. He would comfort me when I got my heart broken by some girl who I foolishly believed I loved and he was so happy for me when I found Julie, he helped me concoct schemes to get closer to her until I could tell her the truth. I can't stop the sob that leaves me as I truly realise the daunting task I have ahead of me. Then I feel warm arms and comforting tingles surround me and I bury my face in the crook Julie's neck, breathing in her calming scent, and let the tears run freely while she rubs my back and whispers soothing and loving words in my ear.

She holds me until I can finally get my tears and feeling back under control, then she pulls back and cups my cheeks and plants a soft kiss on my lips, "You can do this honey, you have me by your side, I will always have your back. And with the support of Axel and Leila, this pack will be well taken care of. There are plenty of strong, just and kind second sons and daughters of Alphas out there, we will find the perfect person to fill the enormous shoes Anders will leave. Until then the pack has the best second and thirds there is. We will all be fine." She is right. Since Anders never had any children we will need to find a new Alpha from a different pack, not just anyone can take the position of Alpha, you have to be born of Alpha blood to have the wolf inside of the werewolf be willing to obey. A Beta will be enough for some time, but a born Alpha is needed to keep a pack in check.

"You're right beautiful, we will find the perfect Alpha to take his place, but fuck! I'm going to miss him so much." I will have to get the word out to other packs, but I also have to careful of who finds out, we are a strong pack, but some of the less friendly ones will see our missing Alpha as a weakness and attack us to attempt to get us under their control. I cannot let that happen. I give Julie another kiss and take her hand in mine, together we walk back to the pack house. I need to start the search as soon as possible, I should have done it yesterday but I still held out hope that against all odds Anders would be the exception, that he would be the one to survive. I can't afford that hope anymore.

After a rushed meal I head to the office that smells so much like Anders, I feel like an unwelcome intruder here, and start making calls to all our allies.

Three hours later Axel strolls into the office and falls into a chair, he looks worn out. And I suppose he is, he has been patrolling the borders nonstop since he got here, making sure there are no gaps and trying to keep up the morale of his warriors. He is trusted and loved by the pack and his presence has been invaluable to me. "How is the search going? Did you find any candidates?"

The atmosphere in the room is heavy, this is not a pleasant subject, and I never believed we would find ourselves in this position. But here we are, and we have to do our best to protect the pack, Moonstone is Anders legacy, and I will do whatever it takes to preserve that.

"Yes, actually I did, Firepack's second born, Alicia is a good candidate. She's 27, has a strong mate and two children, she is strong and well known for her powerful wolf and good instincts, she is also known to be fair but tough when needed."

Axel nods, "Yeah, I know her, she's is fierce but nice, she could be a good fit."

"Then there's Gabriel from the Sunset pack, he's a little young at 23, but he is also mated to a strong wolf and has a child on the way. There are more but they seem to be our best bet, I have arranged meeting with them both to get a better handle on them. They are coming here tomorrow and I will need you to be present at the meeting."

"Not a problem, I'll make sure Nari and Anne are running rounds and keeping an eye on the pack while we talk."

I am about the go upstairs and get some much needed sleep when a very excited Leila screams through on the pack link, "Beta, he's talking like there's no tomorrow, and there obviously isn't for him, we have info on the hunters and their locations!" Then she cuts out and I can see from the blank look on Axels face that she's linking him next, he jumps up and motions for the door, "Are you waiting for a written invitation? Let's get down there, we have a hunting party of our own to organize!"

My own wolf is growling in my head, "I'm ready to kill some animals," and he finds no arguments from me.

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I agree, its time to hunt some hunters.

Now, next chapter, that will be a doozy.

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