Chapter 175
Deckard
Leonard and I step out into the city using one of the rides from the beach house to scout for men first before getting the message out
Our first stop is at the home of a man named Arthur Connor. He is not only a member of the Apex Circle but also the alpha who heads this small island. We head directly to his residence without any prior announcement.
As we reach the gates, the guards approach us, asking who we are looking for. I pull my hoodie tighter around my face to conceal my identity.
“We request to see Alpha Arthur,” Lenard states confidently.
“And who is asking? Do you have an appointment?” the guard inquires, his voice steady.
“We don’t need an appointment. Tell him the Beta of the Bloodbane pack is here to see him!” Lenoard commands,
The guards exchange skeptical glances,
“Bloodbane pack?” one of them announces, with a hint of disbelief creeping into his voice. Then he lets out a snicker, prompting the others to chuckle softly among themselves.
“The Bloodbane pack doesn’t exist anymore, and you should know what that means. There’s no alpha, so there can’t be a beta!” the guard says, tucking his arm into his pocket, clearly ready to make a fuss and embarrass us.
“Listen, little man, it would be wise for you to go inside and deliver the message. My patience is wearing thin!” Leonard insists, trying to contin his anger. I can sense the tension and prefer to stay out of this escalating confrontation.
“Tell me something, Beta. Are you sure you’re the beta of the Bloodbane pack, or are you the beta of the
“What do you mean?” Leonard replies, his frustration poaching dangerously.
“There’s a new pack now,
beta?”
new pack?” one of the other guards taunts.
replacing the Bloodbane pack, you know–ever since Alpha Deckard died. The new alpha is Alpha Scar! So, are you his
Leonard’s rage surges, and with a swift movement, he leaps over the barricade meant to block our path and tackles the guard who had dared to speak out. His claws extend as he slashes the man across the chest. The other guards rush to intervene, but Leonard is too quick for them, easily tossing them aside as if they were mere obstacles.
More guards rush out, quickly surrounding Lenard.
“Get up!” one of the guards commands him.
I step through the gate slowly, still covered in
my
hoodie.
“Call Arthur now!” I. The guards pause, glancing at one another, curiosity etched on their faces as they wonder who I am.
command.
At that moment, Arthur appears, walking into the scene, his expression a mix of surprise and concern.
“Get your men, Arthur. We need to have a word!” I say, confidently striding past the guards.
“Al… Alpha?” Arthur stutters, his eyes widening in recognition. “Is that you? Is… is that truly you?” I don’t respond; instead, I continue walking past him. Arthur signals to his men to halt the commotion, and Lenard rises, following closely behind me.
“Alpha?” Arthur rushes ahead, still trying to confirm if I am real.
“I’d like to keep my identity concealed for now, Arthur. Please lead us to a place where we can discuss,” I say as we walk.
“Okay, okay, sure!” Arthur replies quickly, leading us inside to his living room, where we finally come to a stop.
I finally take off my hoodie, revealing my identity
“It’s really you… My Alpha–it’s truly you! How is this possible?” Arthur stares at me, his expression a mix of shock and awe.
“Yes, Arthur. It’s me. I’m alive,” I say firmly.
“But how? We all believed you were-”
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“Dead. I know. But that does. I matter now.” I step closer, lowering my voice. “What matters is that I’m back and I need your help to reclaim Blackwater
Artha hestates, troubled. “But Tackwater is already=”
“I know who holds it now,” Ion in “That’s why I need to move carefully. I need to send word to the other Alphas–quietly. Scarface cannot know I’ve returned. If he catches even a whisper, everything falls apart”
Arthur runs a hand through his beard, thinking “I can give you men my Alpha. As many as you need. That’s not the problem. The real risk is spreading the message without alerting the wrong ears. If we’re going to take back Blackwater, we must strike when they least expect it.”
He pauses, then adds with a frown. “But there’s another concern. Darth is rallying support among the Apex Circle. They all believe you’re dead. If Scarface learns otherwise, things could get messy. It won’t just be about territory anymore—it’ll force every Alpha to choose between two brothers. And that that could tear everything apart.”
“So what are you saying, Arthur?” I ask, my voice low and steady. “If it came down to choosing sides… would it be a difficult choice for you? And why?”
Arthur shifts uncomfortably. “Not for me, Alpha. My loyalty has never wavered. But I can’t say the same for the others.” He sighs. “There have been whispers… arguments…. about who truly deserves the title Alpha of Alphas.”
He pauses, reluctant.
“Speak,” I command.
He hesitates, then says, “Some claim that if you were truly the Alpha of Alphas, your brother wouldn’t have been able to defeat you so easily. Others believe Scarface was the rightful Alpha all along, and you only wore the crown because you took it before he was ready. That’s why no one intervened when he took Blackwater–they saw it as him reclaiming what was his.”
His words hit harder than I expect. I feel the sting in my chest, sharp and cold. But what can I do? The damage has already been done.
“And you, Arthur?” I ask, watching him carefully. “What do you believe?”
He looks me in the eye. “I believed the same at first, Alpha. You’ve never lost a battle–not one, not until Scarface. So when news spread of your death, I didn’t want to accept it. But as time passed and Scarface took the reins… I told myself that if anyone could defeat you, it had to be someone greater. It was the only way it made sense.”
I nod slowly, absorbing his honesty. I can’t even blame him. His logic is sound–and that’s what hurts the most.
“But you’re here now!” Arthur exclaims. “You can’t be killed! You’re here–which means there’s still fight left in you.”
Silence falls between us. Thick. Heavy. The weight of everything said lingers in the air like smoke.
Then I finally speak.
“Good. You’ll give me men. Deckard and I will reach out to the remaining Alphas ourselves. You’ll open the gates of Pennywise for the army—let them in, pack by pack. They’ll need a place to gather, a place to grow until we’re ready to take Blackwater.”
“Yes, yes, Alpha. I will do whatever you need me to do,” Arthur replies quickly, his voice filled with urgency and conviction.
But something about all he said earlier still twists in my gut. A slow churn, like something spoiled settling at the bottom of me.
Does this mean I can’t trust anyone?
Is everyone just waiting to take the side that benefits them the most?
I guess… this is where I find out who’s truly loyal–and who’s just playing the game.
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