Liam pretended to tour around Crimson while scanning the environment for possible threats and vantage points.
Last night, after he'd gone to bed. He'd encountered some werewolf assassins who'd dare to try to kill him. None of them survived; he ripped out each of their throats after getting the information he needed from them.
Anger boiled within him as he walked around Crimson. The only thing stopping him from burning Crimson to the ground was their Luna who was still plaguing his dreams. His dream about her the night before was so sensual that he had to keep himself from hunting her down that morning and seducing her.
In all his life, he'd never wanted anyone so badly. And it wasn't as if he hadn't had her already. These two things angered him and he could feel his anger seeping out of his pores as he walked.
He looked to James who was also very irate that Shane tried to murder his Alpha that night and mind-linked him.
Are they ready?
James nodded and gestured subtly to the shadows within the trees.
All we await now is your signal Alpha.
Liam nodded and continued his walk. The time for the treaty was approaching and he knew that Shane was still passed out in his study.
He turned around and started walking toward the conference room where Alpha Shane was to receive him and sign the treaty.
His heart thrummed in his chest.
"Find Nicole and make sure she's secure. If Shane doesn't honor the time for the treaty, we'll switch to plan B and we'll burn Crimson to the ground. I don't want her fleeing out of sight, so find her."
As he was talking, Shane bounded out of the pack house panting heavily and drenched in sweat. Liam stopped and crossed his hands at his back.
"Never mind James, as of now Shane has honored his words. I'll let you know when to attack if things do not go my way."
"Alpha Liam!" Shane exclaimed as he approached him, "It's good to see you up and about this morning,"
Liam shrugged and smirked while narrowing his eyes and taking the subtle hint.
"And how was your night?" He retorted.
Shane paused, then tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at Liam.
Seeing that he was struggling to remember what happened, Liam smirked, enjoying the conflict in his eyes.
"Well, shall we do this?" Liam mumbled and walked by him into the conference room.
Shane followed suit a couple of moments later. His eyes were still unclear as he battled with the truth.
"Bring out the documents," Shane announced after they had all settled down.
An Omega bowed, went out, and came back with a black box that contained scrolls.
"This signifies peace between my people and your people. It makes us allies and brothers. Anyone who goes against the agreements signed here shall be held in contempt and then shall be punished accordingly by the Council of Alphas. These documents bind Crimson and Dark Wood as one until forever." Shane announced raising the treaty.
Liam Chuckled,
"Fuck that," he bit out.
The room was immediately silenced. Shane stared at him with his mouth gaping wide.
"I know your kind, Shane. You bring a document, a treaty you call it, for me to sign, but then surround me with multiple assassins like the ones that tried to kill me last night and that's not all. Since when do people sign treaties without the stakeholders and the council of their pack? Do you really think I'm a fool?" He growled.
"If you're ready to do anything, get your people in here. I don't need these flimsy guards who want to kill me. I need real witnesses. I want your pack stakeholders from your Luna to every single person that is involved in making decisions for Crimson and be quick about it,"
Shane snarled at him. "Who do you think you are?"
Liam chuckled bitterly,
"I am the Alpha of the Dark Moon. Look into my eyes, Shane. Stare into it very carefully. Remember the secrets I hold. Remember the words you spilled last night? I know that amongst these ones who are seated here now are innocent people who do not know of your dealings. Do not allow me to speak. I do not want to be tempted, Shane."
Shane's eyes widened at once as the memories came back.
"What I know will also surprise you. You only helped me come to conclusions but I had already found out a lot about you and the way you rule Crimson before talking to you," Liam gritted out.
Shane gulped and immediately sent for the stakeholders of Crimson Pack like Liam asked. Although he tried to hide it. Tremors overtook his body.
"My Luna is not invited to these types of meetings," he said.
"I said, everyone!" Liam snarled.
The anger his wolf felt at Shane trying to double-cross him began building up. Rage seeped out of his pores.
Hastily, they summoned Nicole. It took a long while before she finally arrived and the first thing Liam noted was that her eyes looked dull.
"We shall now begin," Shane announced,
Liam laughed and stopped him with the raise of a hand. He signaled to James and his men, who sat by him and they got to their feet and went out, returning with the bodies of the men who had tried to murder Liam.
Gasps ricocheted around the room.
"Crimson, are these not your men?" Liam growled lowly.
"My trust was betrayed last night when someone tried to kill me and it's also very heartbreaking to find out that it is the same pack who welcomed me and my band with open arms and even hosted a party on my behalf that has sought my life. Are these not wolves of Crimson? Are they not your kin?
"I also found out that you Crimson have also aligned with my enemies and even invited them to the party you hosted on my behalf all in a bid to kill me."
He gestured to James and his Men brought him the bodies of all Shane's allies who had attended the party last night.
Shane looked like he was going to explode. Disbelief, anger, the feeling of betrayal, and fear oozed out from him and his pack members were mostly disappointed and afraid.
"That's not all. But I will stop here and ask Crimson to pacify me. If not I will bring hail, war, and fire."
"W-what d-do y-you want?" Shane gritted out. He was sweating profusely.
Liam gave him a wry smile as he stared daggers into his eyes.
"I don't want much. Only an oath of allegiance bonded by blood and Nicole."
Gasps resounded around the hell.
Shane rose to his feet growling
"Never,"
Liam's smirk didn't leave his face.
"I'll give you another chance to respond to me, think carefully Shane. You can deliberate with your stakeholders if you need to. Just make sure you're giving me the right answers at the end, because what matters is that you give me the right response. Your life and the fate of Crimson lie in your decision. You all should let that sink in."
The people of Crimson huddled together and whispered furiously amongst themselves.
Liam knew that they were ready to swear the oath but had refused to give up Nicole. They were angry and found it presumptuous that he would dare to ask for their Luna.
Liam held back his smile, they didn't know what was coming for them.
"I should add something, I will not be taking Nicole for free because I know you got her, Shane, as payment for what her parents owed. I will be clearing that debt. Please add that to your deliberation,"
Another wave of shock hit them. They mumbled and grumbled and after a long while Shane stepped forward.
"We will swear the oath of allegiance, but the Luna of Crimson pack goes nowhere."
Liam laughed grimly,
"She's Luna? When was your mating ceremony? When did it hold? Oh yeah, it never did. Meaning that you never made her Luna and that's not all. Have you forgotten so soon what you revealed to me, do you really want it out here?"
Shane roared, and anger and embarrassment seeped out of his pores.
"You know Shane, you clearly told me how she isn't your mate. You've deceived your pack members all this while and the lady herself. You said that she claimed to be your mate after you marked her to bind her to the pack as an Omega. You also said that her parents are lone wolves and so she has never been marked before which explains why she felt a sudden attachment to you. You exploited her ignorance and put the burden of a Luna on her, knowing fully well that you are not mated. Didn't you tell me yesterday that once you found your true mate you would cast her away? There's a lot more to expose, should I go on?"
"Fine fine," Shane roared.
"Take her with you and leave me alone. Pay off the debt of her parents and go with her. We have agreed to your terms. We will sign the oath of allegiance with blood and you will take her and leave Crimson alone."
"Wonderful, I knew you'd make the right decision," Liam said.
At once his people brought in bags of money to clear the depth.
Liam was overwrought with joy. He sought the face of Nicole who he had purposely avoided until then to gloat and say 'I told you so.'
Finally, he said to himself. He could have her, exactly the way he wanted and how he wanted.
Images of her splayed beneath him, with her eyes rolled back and moans of praises for him streaming out her mouth flashed in his head.
His cock began twitching. But when his eyes found her he did a double take.
She looked pale and ashen like she'd seen a ghost and surprisingly her pained expression sent a jolt of fear down his spine.
Liam gulped and narrowed his eyes at her. For the first time in a long time, his conscience wiped him and he wondered if he'd done the right thing.
He shook his head and cleared thoughts like that. They left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was why he was doing this in the first place. He wanted to break whatever hold she had on him. It was best that she hated him. He wanted her to hate him.
He looked away from her and allowed the lustful Images to return and the feeling of victory to take over him.
He'd won this round and that was all that mattered.