Damian’s Pov

“Has all the offerings been sent?”

“Not all, sir.”

“Why?”

My Beta, looked at the pamphlet in his hand as if searching for an answer to my question before he looked back at me.

“The Shadow Valley Pack.”

“How does that answer my question?”

Sometimes he can be very annoying. How was the Shadow Valley Pack answer my question?”

“That is the only pack that has not sent in their offering.”

I knew the former Alpha. It seems to be that the newly placed Alpha of Shadow Valley Pack  is naïve and foolish. He knows nothing about respect and loyalty. He does not know the chaos he has brought upon his pack. I am going to teach him and his pack what happens when you disobey a Lycan king.

He thinks it is okay to go against the law and go scot-free. I will teach him the real definition of power.

With a snarl, I summoned the chief of my army to arrange my men for confrontation. We would march into the Shadow Valley Pack and teach them the price of disobedience.

“Let us go,” I growled to my army as I led them into the Shadow Valley Pack. “It is time we remind them of their place, where they belong.”

I can not fight in this battle. It was a battle. It is so below me. The ‘army’ of the Shadow Valley Pack tried to fight back but it was of no use. They must be recruits. The fight was too boring for me. I left with most of my men, leaving few of them to go on with the fight. From the looks of it, it will not take more than 50 men in my army to pull down the Shadow Valley Pack. What a shame.

It has been two days since the fight started. I had grown tired of the Shadow Valley Pack’s disobedience. I kept on getting reports on the war, about the number of deaths. On my side, I had lost no man but two were badly injured. As for the small pack, there were fifty two calculated deaths and a lot of injuries. By now, it would have been about over two hundred deaths but I told my men to be gentle with them, to kill them slowly, exempting the women and children. I was not that heartless.

I was seated on my throne when I received a request. Augustus, a Beta from the Shadow Valley Pack, he asked to meet with me in private. There was something about him. The name sounds familiar. We have met before but not directly. He was the Beta of the former Alpha of Shadow Valley Pack. Right from the beginning, I did not like him or even trust him. Without him saying anything, I could see right through him.

I was intrigued. What could he possibly want to say to me? Was he planning to plead for his pack to be left? Did he think he could persuade me to spare his pack?

I agreed to the meeting, curious to see what he would say. Augustus was ushered into my presence, his eyes cast downward in respect.

“Speak,” I growled, my voice firm but controlled.

“We mean no disrespect, Your Majesty,” he said, his voice so low. “We were never aware of the usual offerings you speak of. The previous Alpha had not informed us.”

He spoke so calmly like his pack was not involved in a war.

When my father was the Lycan king, I usually saw when Alphas from other packs would send in their offering. I remember the Alpha of Shadow Valley Pack well. His offering was usually the biggest and my father respected him. As for Augustus, I still remember his face. Most times, he escorts the Alpha to hand over the offering.

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “You expect me to believe that? You dare to ignore my rules.”

Augustus nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. We are a small pack, and we have always kept to ourselves. We did not know about the offerings.”

That is a lie.

I snorted. “You’re either very foolish or very brave, Augustus. I’m not sure which.”

Augustus swallowed hard. “We are willing to make it right, Your Majesty. We will pay the offerings, and we will do whatever it takes to regain your trust.”

He is so good at acting. Did he think I was going to end the war just because of what he said?

I laughed, amused. I let out a cold, mirthless sound. “You think it’s that easy? You think you can just apologize and everything will be forgotten?”

Augustus hesitated, before speaking. “No, Your Majesty. We know it won’t be easy. But we are willing to try. We are willing to offer you something in return.”

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What could you possibly offer me that would make up for your disobedience?”

Augustus took a deep breath. “We know about the curse, Your Majesty. The one that says you will not live long if you do not find a mate.”

I was taken aback, shocked that someone else knew about the curse. I had kept it a secret.

“How did you know?” I demanded, my voice low and menacing.

Augustus swallowed hard but stood his ground. “We have our ways, Your Majesty. But we also have a solution. We can find you a mate, one who will break the curse and secure your legacy.”

“Go on,” I said finally, curious despite myself.

Augustus smiled a small, hopeful smile. “We will find you a mate, Your Majesty. One who will love and cherish you, break the curse that threatens your life, and secure your legacy”

I was shocked, unsure of what to say.

“You expect me to believe that you can find me a mate?” I asked, my voice laced with skepticism.

But I knew that I couldn’t let my guard down. Not yet.

“I will think about it,” I said finally. “But if you are trying to trick me, Augustus, you will regret it.”

Augustus nodded, his eyes filled with sincerity. I looked at him, searching for any sign of deception. But all I saw was hope and determination.

“I will think about it,” I repeated. “But do not think that this will save you from punishment. You will still have to face the consequences of your disobedience.”

Augustus nodded, his eyes downcast. “Yes, Your Majesty. We understand. We are not trying to trick you, your Majesty. We are trying to help you and we will do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

I nodded, dismissing him. “You may go.”

And with that, the meeting was over. But I knew that this was far from the end of the story.