BXBX NOVEL Chapter 267
It was like the key puzzle piece that served to combine all the other puzzle pieces to form a whole picture.
The mysterious illness that the Luna of the Infinite Eclipse Pack suddenly contracted.
The abhorrent attack on the Holy Temple’s ground.
Someone wanted Lucien dead.
It did not take a genius for everyone to quickly guess the person who would benefit the most from his death.
Lillian Woodland, because she was currently pregnant with Ronan’s child.
Then again, the werewolf society knew Lillian. She alone would not be able to pull this kind of stunt. People doubted that she had the heart to carry out such evil schemes.
Who was the force behind her? Who masterminded these scrupulous actions?
.....
The Woodland family, of course, with Conrad Woodland as the Alpha of the Ironclad Claws Pack.
Within one night, the Ironclad Claws pack in general and the Woodland family in particular became the center of attention.
Led by Dane Silverback, the warriors from Werewolf Council gave chase to the seat of the Ironclad Claws pack in Pine Groove City.
Conrad Woodland did not see it coming at all. He knew that his mother did a lot of questionable things behind his back, but so far they left not a single trace.
Everything was carried out smoothly and swiftly.
This time, his mother’s blunder brought tens of Werewolf Council warriors to the gate of his pack house.
The Alpha broke into a cold sweat.
The panicked voices of his subordinates were suppressed by the sound of his own pounding heart.
“Alpha, Mr. Dane Silverback is here with the warriors from the Werewolf Council.”
“Alpha, what do we need to do?”
“Alpha...”
Conrad Woodland tossed out an anguished cry.
“Stop calling me!!! Don’t ask me!!! Don’t come closer!!!”
The Beta of the pack, Kieran Locksworth, gritted his teeth. He grabbed Conrad Woodland by his collar and pulled the cowering man to his feet.
“Alpha! You are the Alpha of this pack! Please conduct yourself accordingly.”
“I NEVER WANTED TO BE THE ALPHA!!!” Conrad shouted. “IT WAS MY FATHER! HE FORCED ME! I DID NOT WANT TO! GO TELL KATREENA TO BE THE ALPHA! OR VERA!”
Vera Woodland, the youngest daughter of Lucrethia and Lionel Woodland, shook her head in fear.
“No way I am taking over the Alpha position in this mess,” she said, her voice trembling with fear. “I don’t want to. Whoever wants it can take it.”
Kieran was burning with rage.
“You two are part of the Woodland family!” He hollered. “The Alpha position has been in your family for generations! How can you throw away everything, knowing that you bear the responsibility???”
Conrad wailed.
Vera kept her head down.
Fuming, the Beta dropped the sobbing Conrad to the ground.
“Fine,” he said, his voice dripping with contempt. “I will take over the Alpha position because no one wants it!”
The man marched out of the room, then out of the pack house. Outside, a woman threw herself at him.
“Kieran, are you nuts???” She shouted. “Don’t go over there! Did you not hear what happened to Lucien Clearwater??? This is the wrongdoing of the Woodland family! Their ambition is finally catching up to them! It has nothing to do with our Locksworth family!”
Kieran clenched his jaw.
The Woodland family, unfortunately, was the Alpha’s family. The Alpha represented the pack. If the Alpha did anything wrong, the whole pack must bear the burden as well.
When he took the Beta position, he swore his loyalty to the Alpha, to the pack.
“Mom, I am the Beta of our pack. Our Alpha already relinquished his position and no one else wants to be the Alpha. If no one steps forward to meet the people from Werewolf Council, the whole pack will have to answer for more.”
More sooner than later.
Kieran gave his mother one last hug before he disentangled himself from her clutches and went to meet the people at the gate.
From inside the pack house, everyone but those from the Woodland family came out to see what it was about.
Kieran Locksworth swallowed hard when the gate fence swung open and he came face-to-face with Dane Silverback.
Tilting his chin upward arrogantly, Dane Silverback looked like a pompous king. Even among his generation, his name induced fear and commanded respect. His contemptuous gaze swept over this man who dared to stand before him. He was so insignificant that Dane did not even remember his name. He only knew that he was the current Beta of Conrad Woodland. The son of his previous Beta.
Ironically, this man was the one who came forward to meet him.
“Where is your Alpha, young man?” Dane asked with a thunderous voice.
Kieran was by no means a young man, but it was not exactly the focal point here.
“My Alpha has retreated and relinquished his position to me. Mr. Dane Silverback, how can I be of help?”
A few pack members gasped audibly.
A few people shrieked. “Kieran! No!”
“No, don’t!!!”
“Is that so?” Dane said with a languid tone, ignoring the pleas of the Ironclad Claws pack members. “You know that becoming an Alpha at this time means that you will bear all the responsibilities for the crime that has been done by the previous Alpha?”
Kieran’s eyelashes fluttered for a split second.
“Yes,” he said.
“Seize him,” Dane Silverback said. “And every Woodland that you can find in the pack house.”
“Wait,” Kieran said. “I am not resisting arrest, but may I know on what ground?”
“On the ground of perpetrating the murder attempt on Lucien Clearwater, the Luna of the Infinite Eclipse Pack,” Dane answered smoothly.
“With all due respect, Mr. Dane Silverback, it is nothing but speculation. Surely you must have a witness or at least a piece of evidence in order to come here and detain us?”
In his heart, Kieran knew for sure that the Woodland family was guilty. Else why would Conrad Woodland act that way? Then again, he was not going to let Dane Silverback trample on his pack without a good reason.
“Indeed, how very impolite of me,” Dane Silverback said with a touch of mockery. “We have adequate witness and evidence to support this claim.”