"Alpha—One of the patrols caught someone wandering onto our territory this morning." Drake spoke with a firm tone as he reported to me. I peered up from where I was seated with my other Beta discussing the current numbers of our growing pack. Drake looked away from my gaze quickly, "I believe that this is someone you will want to meet for yourself sir—Alpha."

"Why?" I question with a raised brow, "I'm sure you are quite capable of handling the situation. That's why I made you a Beta after all."

"Yes, but this is different because he is a Pure Blood sir—" He lifted his eyes to mine tentatively, "And he also claims to be the second son of the monarch."

My body freezes at his words and I stare at him in complete surprise over his words.

"How is that even possible that he knew we were here? Are the patrols sure he's the only one? He could have led a group of them straight to us!" Koda, my other Beta rises in a heated panic. Drake looks towards him, "I've double the patrols and sent out scouts to make sure he did come alone. So far they haven't found anything or anyone else..."

"Lead me to him!" I growl as my body is rising up and I'm pushing my way out of the small cave room with Coda trailing quickly behind us. I moved through the cave tunnels with determined steps. My wolf was pacing back and forth in my mind, He questioned with a hunger for violence.

Over the past five years I had lost many things and people I had cared about in hopes of ending Braxton's rule. Orion had brought us all here to lead a rebellion and it had taken twenty years to gain the trust and respect of the banished. It was a low blow when Orion and his family were killed—it was as if the heart of the rebellion had been ripped out.

Those who had been loyal to him and his ideals scattered afraid of facing the same fate. It had taken me a bit of time but I had regathered the forces not wanting my friends death to be in vain. I knew he would have wanted us to finish what we had started out to do. It was long after Orion's that I lost Declan and Trace as well. I myself would have been dead if it wasn't for the small pack of wolves that had dwelled in the mountain.

When I entered the main cave a small crowd had gathered and the patrol stood in the center of the room guarding the man who they had captured. I couldn't see much of him but I could smell that he was indeed a pure blood as he had claimed to be. When the head of the patrol saw me he whistled and they broke formation giving me a full view of the trespasser. He stood in a relaxed way with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes scanning the cave with amusement. His gaze fell on me and I felt a wave of recognition rush through me.

He had Braxton's eyes it was an undeniable truth. I felt a growl building in the back of my throat. As if sensing the tension he smirked, "You've done a well for yourself Kale—the only surviving member of the renegades or should I call you Alpha of the mountain?"

I closed the distance with a sneer plastered on my face, "You were a fool to come into the Lions den completely alone."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Technically it's a wolf den—" I let out a low warning growl not in the mood for his smart mouth. He lifts his hands in mock surrender, "Plus I know you aren't going to kill me Alpha Kale. So coming alone wasn't a concern." I

I narrow my eyes, "I wouldn't be so certain boy. Why shouldn't I kill the spawn of the false king Braxton? He's killed a lot of people that I cared about. Seems fair retribution that I kill one of his and you walked right into my cave like a sacrificial lamb. I'm not one to turn down an opportunity." I held his gaze and noticed the slight fear in his eyes but other than that he looked completely unmoved by my threat.

"He hasn't killed everyone though—not yet at least..."

I moved quickly and fisted the material of his shirt, dragging him closer to me in a hard yank. Our faces were only a couple of inches apart now, "I'm not someone you want to play your mind games with, boy. So if you have something to tell me than you should say so clearly because I would happily slit your throat and watch the life leave your eyes." I could see the fear in his eyes now that we were closer and this satisfied my wolf and I.

"Orion Black's successor still live—" He said quickly all his former teasing tone lost.

"Impossible! Orion and his family are dead. Your father made sure of that!" I growled in his face causing him to cringe back a bit.

"I swear to you that the girl is alive and well. At least she was the last time I heard. They have her locked up in the dungeons after she and a couple of her friends trespassed onto the territory like a bunch of fools. I don't know for how long she will be alive now that my father knows she didn't die as he wished." I stared down into the eyes I'd seen years ago in the traitor Braxton but in these eyes I only saw truth of his words. I quickly released my grip on him and took a step back.

It was almost to good to be true, "Why are you telling me this? What do you want from me?"

"Think of this as an olive branch. I will be your eyes and your ears inside of the pure blood territory, feed you the information you lack. I will help you in your rebellion, on the grounds you and your friends won't kill me when you put your little coupe into action." He shoves his hands into the pockets of his pants looking relaxed once again. I feel uncertainty swell in my mind. This could be some kind of trap by the king to lure me and the other members of the rebellion out into the open. I don't want to fail now that we've gotten so close to finishing what we had set out to do so many years ago. I also didn't want to miss an opportunity, if that's what this was.

"Here's the deal, I don't trust you. If you are who you say you are then that's even more of a reason for me not to trust you." I cross my arms over my chest, "But I'm going to give you a chance to prove me wrong..."

He purses his lips for a moment in a thoughtful manner, "And how would you like me to do this?"

Now it's my turn to smirk, "You will bring me Orion's daughter—if she is alive and well as you have claimed then it should be no problem for you. I will accept her life as your olive branch. A life for a life."

He looked at me with wide eyes, "That will be practically impossible! They would kill me if they caught me!"

"Hm? How is it impossible? You found me all on your own somehow even though your father hasn't been able to. You snuck out under daddies nose and are currently discussing helping his enemy, which I assume would be considered treason in the eyes of your fathers law. So technically your already taking a risk, why should it bother you now? Unless of course you are lying..." I probe, testing to see if he will reveal the truth of his motives and words.

He lets out a deep sigh before pulling a hand from his pocket and running it through his hair, "It's more complicated then that—she would never leave without her friends. And I know for a fact my brother will never let her go anywhere with me..."

"That is not my concern, is it? You want your life spared then you will do what I've asked." I look over my shoulder toward my Beta's, "Drake please escort—"

I look back to our trespasser, "What's your name boy?"

He frowned at me, "Lennicks..."

"Drake please escort Lennicks off of my territory." I smirk at him.

"It would be a pleasure Alpha." Drake replies before coming forward and motioning to a couple of the patrol to follow him. Lennicks eyes up the men and snorts apathetically as he allows them to grab onto his arms. As they are passing by I motion for them to stop, "I'll give you a week to prove yourself. Once the week is up our little offering is over and when you see me again it will be as I kill you." I waved a hand and they dragged him away and out of the cave.

Koda approached me, "Do you think that he was telling the truth? Do you think it's possible that the Orion's successor still lives?" I could hear the hopeful tones in his voice. In my own heart I hoped that he was telling the truth and if he was then I would vow my life to protect her. I turned away, "I have no idea but if he is then we need to prepare ourselves. It looks as though the scales may be tipping in our favor..."

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Song: 'Run boy Run' --Woodkid