The Mission

"My Lord! We are under attack! The prisoners have escaped!"

Rudolf was awakened from his slumber by the bellow of one of the guards who rushed to his chambers. Jumping out of his bed with full force, Rudolf made his way outside his chambers picking up a sword he drew from his sheath hanging by the heat of his bed.

"Who dares come into my castle?!" But he was too late, they had already left by the time he was out. He could only behold the bodies of his dead and injured soldiers lying on the floor whimpering in pain and bleeding with arrows plunged into their bodies. Some of those who had shifted into their wolves died instantly as a result of the wolfbane.

"Who did this?!" Rudolf growled in a rage looking at the dozens of his soldiers whose bodies were littered all over the place. The soldier had no response; they were all taken by surprise and those who attacked them moved out swiftly.

"My Lord! They say they saw a woman with long black hair who took one of the boys in the cages."

"Elora! Ahh!" Rudolf roared, deep fury arousing as his blue eyes shun brightly with flames of rage and eagerness to deal with Elora.

"Of what use are you when you cannot keep charge of my castle? You couldn't even be at watch!" Rudolf roared at the soldier who bent his face in shame and terror.

"Sorry! Apologies my Lord!"

"Tell that to the moon Goddess!"

Rudolf dragged the soldier close to himself and plunged the sword into his heart. The soldier whimpered in pain holding on to Rudolf's hand while blood oozed out of his chest. He dropped on the floor and Rudolf kicked him away after wiping the bloodstain off his body.

"I will come for you Elora! You have no where to run!"

Meanwhile, Elora, Bruce, Seth, Milo and his men had run into the deepest part of the wood and after being certain that none of the soldiers followed them, they shopped to take some rest panting frantically. Seth seemed to be the weakest as he lay on the floor gasping for air.

"Yes! We did it!" Milo shouted in excitement, his men soon joined him in celebration chanting to their usual tone.

"I guess I should give you some accolade, you really did well in there." Bruce said to Elora with a little smile.

"Thank you Alpha Bruce." She responded, her voice a little more than a whisper from the fatigue she felt from running. Bruce seemed not to be so much affected from the run, standing straight he took in a deep breath and let it out and that was all. Amazed, Milo stared at him in wonder.

"You seem to have the strength of an Alpha, only that no Alpha would belittle himself to be in the midst of thieves and bounty hunters."

"You never can tell." Bruce responded to Milo with a smile and walked towards Seth who was still on the floor panting.

"Come on! We need to move on."

Seth looked at Bruce, he wasn't sure of the smile on his face. Being aware of his true identity and the fact that his sister was supposed to have killed him, he wasn't sure if he was supposed to trust him or not.

"Come on Seth, lets go." Elora said to her brother, then she moved to him and helped him up seeing that he was reluctant to take Bruce's hand.

"Hold on! Not so fast! Where is the gold?" Milo walked up to Elora as she tried to walk away with Seth with Bruce approaching from behind.

Elora became anxious instantly and turned towards Bruce who gave her a stern look.

"The gold? The gold!"

"Yes the gold! Where is it?"

"Well Milo, you will get the gold but not now."

"I knew it! I knew I couldn't trust you, not after what you did!"

Milo was furious, his rage was visible in his body movement, his men soon grasped what was really happening and fixes their arrows into their bows ready to shoot.

"Wait Milo! Wait! I swear you will get your gold!"

"Maybe if I have my men kill your brother here. Or I am sure Rudolf would offer a higher price to have your head and that of Seth here!" Milo baked with anger. He was about to signal his men to capture Elora and Seth ignoring Elora's words but Bruce stepped in.

"You will get your gold!"

"Yes I will, when I hand these two over to Rudolf."

"And how do you explain your involvement with the attack in his castle and death of his soldiers?"

"I will have to worry about that!"

Milo seemed not to be eager to listen to what Bruce was saying to him, already angry that Elora deceived him into going on the mission with her when she didn't have the gold available.

"I will give you the gold myself, I have enough stored in my castle!"

"And who are you? Alpha Bruce?"

Bruce nodded slowly with a smile but Milo seemed not to believe him. He laughed scornfully at him and his men joined then he looked at Elora but her countenance proved that Bruce was truly an Alpha.

"Wait! You are Alpha Bruce, the one who killed his father and has been declared rogue by the council?"

"I didn't kill my father, my uncle framed me!" Bruce retorted immediately with a slight vexation.

"Well I am sure that Darius must have be enjoying his time on your throne!"

"Help me get into the castle and I will give you your gold!"

For a while Milo thought about Bruce's offer, he turned to his men and signaled to them. They moved to a corner and whispered to each other deliberating on the offer.

Seth held on to Elora panting and hoping that Milo had a change of heart.

"My fees have tripled, forty five stacks of gold! I am sure that it would mean nothing compared to the huge gold stocked in your treasury."

"What! That's being greedy!" Elora barked taking a disgruntled look at Milo who seemed to be smiling with so much anticipation. He had always been an opportunist.

"Well I might as well have some for myself, that would be a fair price considering my troubles."

"Fifty stacks of gold, you help me get into the castle and get take back my place as Alpha."

"Deal! You have a deal. At your service Alpha Bruce of the Lycan Pack!"

Milo extended his right hand to shake Bruce's hand but he ignored him and smiled in response instead. Milo moved his hand to his back and laughed in excitement, his men joined in the celebration.

Seth sighed in relief seeing that he was not going to be returned back to Rudolf. The memories of the torments he experienced in the cage were very fresh and visible in his lean appearance and worn out cloths.

"Are you sure about this? That's too much for him." Elora whispered to Bruce who kept on a grin.

"You really shouldn't be worried of what I am giving to him. You have your brother now safe and healthy."

"What now? Where do we go from here?" Milo asked eager to make enough gold for himself.

"To the Lycan castle! I hope to go through the tunnel, there is someone who I must see and I hope she is still there."

"Very well Alpha Bruce. To the Castle then!" Milo beckoned to his men who gathered themselves in preparation for another mission.

"Well, you have your brother now. I am guessing this is goodbye!" Bruce said to Elora with a farewell gesture and smile.

"You really can't get rid of me easily. I would love some adventure, I still have to kill you myself you know." Elora said to Bruce smiling.

"Seth?"

"Wherever my sister goes, I follow!"

Bruce was grateful that Elora has decided to follow him to the Castle, but he still feared for their safety.

"This is going to be a tough adventure, a life threatening encounter!"

"That's what we do, life threatening adventures!" Elora responded with a courageous smile not ready to give up.

"Come on! We have to get going. I have some gold to make!" Milo beckoned to Elora and Bruce who seemed to be taking a lot of time talking.

Elora ignored Bruce who appeared to still have a worrisome look on his face. She walked towards Milo while Seth followed her also eager to go on the mission.

"To the Lycan Castle then!" Bruce said certain that there was nothing he could say to convince them against their decision.