Damon
As expected, it took me half an hour to reach the designated place.
The location mentioned in the secret message was an old loggers' cabin known as Artemis Inn, a mere half-hour run from the Wild Fang camp. Its name is derived from its proximity, offering historical shelter to those wandering the woods.
Artemis Inn stood small and quiet, ideal for a restful night after exploring the woods outside the Blood Rose territory. The structure, entirely crafted from wood, boasted a 500-year history, giving it a rustic yet cozy charm.
Upon arrival, I was greeted by a wraparound porch and a pair of wooden bear sculptures beside the entrance. This inn stood apart, decent in appearance compared to others, featuring a hall bookcase filled with interesting books and a brick fireplace.
"Welcome to the Artemis Inn. What can I do for you?" greeted the kind, old lady at the front desk. I smiled and handed her the paper I received from Council Ed. After discreetly examining it, she handed me a key.
"Second to the last room on the right wing," she said. I nodded my thanks before ascending the creaky wooden stairs.
The wooden floor creaked beneath my steps, suggesting the inn housed only eight bedrooms. The second-to-last room on the right wing seemed the most spacious.
I knocked three times and paused, listening. The response was five knocks, the cue for me to state my name.
"Damon Sanford," I uttered. After a brief pause, the knob turned, and a man emerged. My mouth formed an "o" when I realized it was none other than Council Ed himself.
"Are we going to stare at each other, or do you want to come in?" he asked, widening the door. I shook my head before stepping inside. Three other men were revealed: Head Warrior Jake, Council Jacob of Treasury, and the former Delta Erik. They all fixed their serious gazes on me.
"Now that the cast is complete, let's start this shit," ex-Delta Erik declared. He took a seat at the small, round table, while the rest of the men stood behind him. Meanwhile, I perched on the edge of the bed, facing them, as the room was not spacious enough for an additional seat.
“Council Ed informed us of everything, including what happened to your real father,” Council Jacob started, with obvious sadness in his eyes.
“We offer our condolences, Damon. Alpha Roman didn’t deserve to die like that,” ex-Delta Erik stated.
The memory of my father's death hit me, and I swallowed hard. Even now, it was challenging to process that Dad was gone. However, I needed to be strong. If not for this secret meeting, I'd probably still be in training, trying to numb the pain of losing him.
“Now, we understand why the alpha changed into a tyrant leader in such a short time,” Head Warrior Jake said. “We were surprised to hear about Romin’s treachery from Council Ed. Somehow, we already had a hint that something wasn’t right about the way he treated his pack and his decision to remove Lord Romin’s name from the pack records and forbid everyone from even mentioning his twin. We just wish we had acted on our gut feeling earlier. Please forgive us, Alpha heir.”
Council Ed came to my side and tapped my shoulder. “We had enough of Romin’s ways. We couldn’t let his vile acts tarnish the reputation of our pack any longer. And so, we decided to form a group that will support your ascension as Blood Rose’s new alpha, by hook or by crook.”
My eyes moved between Council Ed and the rest of the men. “Does that mean—”
“Yes, Damon. If Romin doesn't return your father’s seat to you, we will take the position from him by force. We will help you beat him.”
The bold declaration caught me off guard. They wanted me to be involved in a rebellion. They would help me fight Romin and bring him to justice! Despite this, fear lingered. Romin had beaten me effortlessly before, and I wasn't sure if my training was enough to defeat him for good this time.
Council Jacob stepped forward, holding my shoulders and looking me in the eyes. Surprisingly, the gesture calmed my throbbing heart. “My friend, I know how difficult this situation is for you. Romin already beat you the first time. But I trust your strength, especially now that you have many reasons to want his head. We need you, Damon. You are the only person capable of beating Romin.”
“Alright, then,” I finally said after a long pause, “but how would I beat my father and his army in a fight? You know that moral support couldn’t help me with this, right?” I sarcastically declared. Ex-Delta Erik chuckled before speaking again.
“Leave everything to us, Damon. We already have a plan regarding his army. Just focus on conditioning your body for your upcoming fight with Romin. We will ensure that you get inside Blood Rose without a sweat,” Council Ed assured, making me smile.
My attention returned to the plan for confronting the tyrant alpha once again. “When are we going to execute our plan on confronting him?”
Ex-Delta Erik smirked. “Saturday night. Just do everything we tell you to do.”
And so, my newfound allies instructed me on what needed to be done. As their words sank in, a mix of determination and responsibility flickered in my eyes. I nodded, signaling my understanding and readiness to face Romin. We all knew that the time had come to bring him to justice, and I wouldn't waste this opportunity to confront him.
After receiving the instructions, we all went our separate ways. With these new allies by my side in my quest for justice, I knew that my chances of winning were relatively high.
And in that moment, thoughts of Serena flooded my mind. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Romin so I could return to her as soon as possible.