Alpha Enoch stirred himself awake. Sleep eluded him last night after Raika left him standing there in his office. His mind flashed back to the kiss she had placed upon his lips. Her kiss was sweet and addictive like a drug. His room was still dark as he pushed himself out of bed. The moons were still hanging above the horizon outside his window. He had awakened well before dawn. Shaking the sleep out of his body, he immediately went to get ready to leave. He threw on a black shirt and pants, and he tucked the pants legs into his brown combat boots. Grabbing a freshly sharpened short sword from his weapon wall, he wolfs down morning dew tea and hog bacon and left out the door of his quiet and small cabin.

  As if by magic, a blond-haired and furred man appeared at Enoch’s side as he walked down the hillside. The man was well-built and stood a few inches taller than Enoch. Enoch smiled at the intruder. "Good morning, Beta Fenris," he said.

  A big goofy grin appeared on Fenris' face. His brown eyes shined with pride over his new title. "Morning, Alpha. Where are you in a rush to?"

  Enoch thought for a minute over his mission, or perhaps it was a personal goal. He could still see both Argenti sisters' tearful faces over last week's events. "To fix what I broke." He encouraged himself. "I announced your title last night through the mindlink. I imagine you will be in for a day of praises and congratulations."

  "I suppose so, Alpha, but I didn’t want the title this way. I feel guilty for all of the praises." Fenris whispered. He was a few years older than Enoch, but he still respected Enoch as the rightful Alpha after their fight at the Alpha's tournament.

  "Nyko would want this for you. Don't feel guilty for a blessing after a tragedy. That's just self-torture." Enoch placed a reassuring hand on Fenris' shoulder. "By the way, you are in charge until I return. You need to pick candidates for a Gamma and familiarize yourself with the wolf hunter candidates as well. The Elder’s Council will help you. I will be back in a few days." He patted Fenris on the shoulder and turned to leave his dazed Beta behind him.

  "Wait...Enoch!" Fenris yelled as he ran to catch up to him. "You're leaving?"

  Enoch laughed at Fenris' shocked expression. "Yes, Beta Fenris. You are in charge." He said walking away from his friend. He knew his clan was in good hands with Fenris and the Elders’ Council. “Good luck, Fenris.”

  Alpha Enoch sent a quick mindlink to the Lead Councilman Titan that he was on his way out of the valley. He sent sweet little thoughts to Raika and ran on foot through the cave leading out of the valley. Enoch thought of the hunters and the patrols beyond the cave, and he opted to transform into his orc form with his black-banded, polymorphic ring. The green embellishment on the ring glowed as his fur, pointed ears, canines, claws, and grayish black tail receded into his body as skin burned into a dark, pine green skin tone. His spine stretched half a foot. His dark black hair ran the length of his back, and his ears were pointed and long like an elf. Enoch wove his hair into a braid and placed his orc warrior earring in his ear. In his black attire, he looked like a bandit.

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  As he ran through the dark, his mind drifted back to last week. Raika had come to him that night after he destroyed most of the Grand Hall. Aura’s choice had been the nail in his coffin as he flew off the handle. Something about Raika was comforting. She was a staple in his life from childhood to becoming the Alpha. At some point, Raika had made her way into his mind and soul even though he had feelings for Aura. None of it made sense to him. He wasn’t over Aura, yet, but he had blossoming feelings for Raika. If only he had Nyko beside him, this whole love triangle would have been solved by now. What would Nyko say to him? Maybe something like, ‘you can’t force anything, Enoch, and you shouldn’t have tried too.’ Enoch laughed at himself. That’s exactly what Nyko had said to him after his mission with Aura. He allowed himself to travel through memory lane while he ran through the dark woods.

  Seven hours later…

  Enoch climbed up into an oak tree to watch over the Village of Lilies. He had arrived about two hours ago to watch over the town. The queen had arrived for her royal visit about an hour ago, and the village was bustling with people. Enoch spotted Aura with her stupid human, showing the queen about the village. They were on the edge of the village in a beautiful meadow of lilies. All the villagers had given the queen her space although the queen had some other royal with her and a fair amount of guards. Jalen appears with the dwarf woman from a week ago, holding a wicker basket. Enoch sighed in relief. He knew Aura and Jalen were safe, but he wondered about Ivy and Karis. Karis had been missing for months now.

  Suddenly, a chill ran down the back of his neck. He quickly scanned the perimeter when he saw the unimaginable. Karis was right there on the meadow’s edge in her dusty gray wolf form like she was stalking prey. What was she doing there? Where had she been all this time?

  Enoch climbed higher in the tree and transformed into his beast form, holding tightly to the tree branch. He mindlinked her, “Karis?” No reply. Karis didn’t even move from her stalking position. “Karis, answer me.”

  Silence was what he got from her.

  “Karis, I am your Alpha,” He said sternly. “Respond!” He zeroes in on her, screaming through the mindlink, but she appeared unaffected when he heard a sudden scream from the meadow.

  Alpha Enoch looked down to see the Aura of all people being held back by the human and Jalen. The dwarf woman stood in front of her trying to calm Aura, but Aura fought against them all as she started to shift. Enoch could not believe his eyes with the scene unfolding before him. Ivy ran out into the meadow tackling Aura, and the two of them tumbled about, fighting for dominance. Enoch could see Ivy talking to Aura as they clashed and rolled about. Enoch watched Aura’s gold eyes grow big when her shift had nearly completed. Aura reached and grabbed Ivy’s knife and stabbed herself in the gut. Enoch shifted back into his orc form and ran toward the scene. Her beast form was displayed for all to see while she laid there in pain. Blood pooled on her stomach as said something to all those present in the moment. Aura’s golden eyes fluttered closed as blood continued to pour out of her. Jalen went to work to save her, but the chaos only continued as Karis and a band of shifters leaped into the meadow toward the queen.

  “Please, God, don’t let this be another day of hell,” Enoch prayed as he rushed toward the meadow.