31 BLUE BASTARD

November 5th, xxxx

THERE IS SOMEONE ON the tower and from how they stand, Alpha Blue Sun knows they aren't Blue Sun.

He stays still watching the figure; the silhouette of them, other than the fact that they're huge, he can't guess who they are but can guess correctly that they're North Star.

Being that they're neighbours and that North Star are entitled fucks that go where they want, others disinclination be damned.

But, ohohoh, if he's right that a North Star is here, it'll be a total disregard of their very fragile trust they can kiss goodbye.

The cane moves before he does and before he can finish counting to fifteen, he's already walking up the twenty steps to—what a surprise—come face-to-face with a younger, beefed version of their Alpha.

Involuntarily, his lips quirk into a smirk. "To what do I owe this intrusion, Cam?"

Arms crossed, the Shifter turns to him with a scowl, the half of his face hidden in the shadows but his eyes (that odd golden, brown, green, blue) glints like he has caught his prey and for the briefest of seconds, Alpha Blue shrinks, the railing digging into his back.

"Greeting and health to you, Alpha Blue."

He hears how forced and unfriendly the greeting is and that snaps him out of his timidity that he stabs the Shifter's chest with the cane making him take a step back with every stab.

"You better have a decent explanation for this trespassing, North Star."

The Shifter says nothing, locking frowning eyes on his. Smacking his lips, he uncrossed hid arms and surrenders, a glance at the cane before saying,

"I come in peace. I wish you no harm."

He'll have believed him if the hardness around his eyes smoothens. "Explain."

"The cane."

"Explain."

"I have information that'll be of help to you."

"Help me with what?"

"But first, you have to do something for me."

An eyebrow raise. "You have to tell me more—"

"Hear what I have to say then decide."

"Go on."

"The cane. It hurts."

A second. And then, he drops the cane, takes two steps back and waits. And waits. And waits. "Any day now."

Sighing, the Shifter combs a hand through cropped black hair and the words that rushes out his mouth knocks the wind out of him.

"I want to be Alpha."

From the moon behind thick clouds to the thistle bush on the ground, Blue's eyes flits across the tower to the wooden floor until he lifts his face at the expressionless Shifter.

He could be asleep. Or sleepwalking. Dreaming. He must've heard wrong. Of course he did. How could Precious precious brother say something so blasphemous, so betraying.

He wants to laugh at the absurdity of the proclamation but his features is so frozen he can't blink but at least he finds his voice.

"Say that again. But slowly."

"My brother is...soft. With the way he's going, he'll put the Pack in jeopardy."

Quietly, Blue knocks the cane on the floor, mind racing. It isn't unusual for betas to challenge their Alpha nor is it rare for siblings to covet power but it is unusual for a greedy Shifter to seek assistance from another Alpha.

"I don't know what you have but you don't need me. You can challenge your brother and become the Alpha."

For the first time since his arrival, the North Star becomes uncomfortable. Turning to the railing, he leans on it and looks to the beyond, to the vast land o'er yonder, the fertile canyons his Pack occupies.

He speaks so quietly Blue has to still the knocking cane. "If I challenge him, I'll have to kill him."

"You want to be Alpha but you don't want to fight for it?"

"That's where you come in," clenching the railing, he looks over at him, "Precious has what is owed the Blue Sun."

The cane restarts its knocking. He stays silent.

"A Blue Sun died on our turf, in the Winter Forest. The other girl is alive."

A menacing growl passed his lips as he grabs the Shifter by the collar towering above his big frame.

"North Star stole my Shifters?"

"We stole nothing. We found them."

"You just happened upon them?" a scoff. "You expect me to believe that shit?"

"It doesn't matter what you believe. What will you do about it?"

Ah. He gets it now. It doesn't matter what he believes. The truth doesn't matter either. What he'll do, how he'll use this to his advantage is the only thing that matters.

Dropping the Shifter's collar but he doesn't move away. He's so close that if he close his eyes, he can draw the North Star's arched eyebrows in his sleep.

"You want to create conflict. Make the Pack dissatisfied with his leadership."

Typical North Star. Choosing the less bloody way.

"That's the first step," it doesn't smoothen but the hardness around his eyes lessens. "The second step is making the Pack defenceless. If we work together, we can both get what we want."

Blue allows a smile. "And what do I want?"

"My brother. You can have him."

If Blue gets his hands on the Alpha, the North Star is doomed. But he doesn't say this, doesn't allow the thought to flash in his face and when they shake hands, he doesn't impress upon the Shifter his strength.

He doesn't have to. Good things come to those who pretend.