You Rejected A Silver Wolf
Unfair Trade

Chapter Twenty-Three - Unfair Trade Chris's POV

"Beta Gaius, I don't really know what you want me to do with this information," I said honestly.

His shoulders slumped as he took a few steps back. "As I said, my King, trade the Lycan with the Silver Wolf. That wolf owes my pack."

"A Lycan is better killed than 'petted,' if that's what you want. And it's an old Lycan-not worth a Silver Wolf," I argued with finality. "But my King-"

"There's no such thing as an old Lycan, my King!" someone interrupted, walking into the courtroom.

The guards bowed at him, so I knew it was my Beta, Raymond. I left my throne and walked down to him. I noticed Beta Gaius's piercing gaze on Ray, but when I frowned, he quickly looked down.

"Ray! How are your father and mother doing downriver?" I enveloped him in a hug.

He hugged me back, something he had only started doing last month. A smile was on his face, but it shifted to a frown when he noticed the portrait. That was the only reaction a sane wolf would have in the presence of anything Lycan. "Is this the Lycan you referred to? The 'old' Lycan, Gaius?" Ray asked, raising his brows and forgetting to answer my earlier question.

Gaius scoffed, annoyed by the informal way Ray addressed him. Gaius was a few years older, but Ray called all Alphas, Betas, and Deltas by their first names. They should get used to it he wasn't a Royal Beta for nothing.

"Yes, it is. Red Moon wants to trade it for the Silver Wolf-Your Silver," Gaius said.

I looked to Ray, hoping he shared my disappointment in the trade. It was undeniably unfair. But instead of disappointment, I saw something else fear.

"No!" Ray barked. "How can you trade a Lycan for a Silver Wolf?"

He was on the right track, but the fear in his eyes made me wonder. Was he afraid for the Silver Wolf or the Lycan?

"And what will we do with the Lycan if he's here?" he asked, expecting me to disapprove.

I took his side immediately. "Yes, Beta Gaius, Lycans are powerful, but this one is old. If we bring him here, he'll only be killed."

"As Beta Ray said, no Lycan is old. They have immense strength and never age. This Lycan could help you defeat packs of your choice."

"Like a dog?" Ray asked. "Do you think a Lycan will let you treat him like a dog? And do you even have this Lycan?"

Gaius quickly replied, "Yes, we do. And we can wield him as we like. The King can as well-if we have Your Silver."

It wasn't a tempting offer. I didn't want Your Silver dead, and that's exactly what would happen if Red Moon got him. Besides, how was I supposed to catch him? They had been trying for three years, and he wasn't really bothering me just a minor nuisance.

Ray chuckled, pulling me from my thoughts. "It's funny, Gaius. Your Silver stops you from harming small packs, so you want him out of the way?"

Beta Gaius tried to defend himself, but Ray quickly added, "And now you want to trick the King into using a Lycan to attack other packs?"

"Very Red Moon!" someone shouted from the door.

Ray smiled without turning. "Very Red Moon indeed."

I peeked toward the door. Was there a feast happening in my courtroom? Why was everyone trooping in?

Then I saw him-it was Jake. His dark, shiny hair gave him away, though I wanted to be sure. He was with another young man. Jake had changed his clothes, now wearing designs from Black Rose. The pack's signature black rose emblem adorned his regal attire.

So he had gone home. He hadn't broken into my study I had just been imagining things. Still, I would have another investigation launched.

"Jake Justin, you return again. Don't you think your visits are too frequent?" I said, expressing my displeasure.

Was he here to see Ray? Then he shouldn't bother me with his presence.

"I'm here on serious business, actually. There's a problem." He glanced at Beta Gaius as he spoke.

The young man behind him stepped forward and bowed. "I am Delta Jonah of the Black Rose Pack. My Alpha sent me to deliver a message to you."

My eyes widened. The last leader of Black Rose had visited me. All packs had attended my coronation with their Alpha, Beta, and Delta-except Black Rose. Jake had represented them alone. I hadn't wanted trouble, so I let it slide. Later, the Alpha came personally to apologize. And now, he had sent his Delta-an attempt to correct past mistakes, perhaps.

I raised the young man's head. "Nice to meet you, Delta Jonah. Would you mind waiting a while? I have a visitor."

"Actually, the message is related to your visitor." Jake strolled toward Gaius, stopping in front of him. "Aren't you surprised to see Jonah alive?"

I was confused and turned to Jonah, who was glaring at Gaius. This matter seemed serious. A Delta I barely knew had an issue with Gaius-and it involved 'being alive'? How deep did the conflict between Red Moon and Black Rose run? "Then it should be settled. After that, we can discuss the Lycan," Ray said, moving to the corner of the room.

I returned to my throne, slumping onto it. This would be a long conversation, filled with accusations and counterarguments.

"Is there an issue about a Lycan being discussed? Maybe we should start there."

"No, it's none of your business, Jake. Deliver your message," Gaius snapped.

Delta Jonah stepped forward. "Then can it be my business? You tried to kill me because I knew about the Lycan, didn't you?"

Jake's expression turned to one of stunned disbelief-mirroring Gaius's.

"You knew about the Lycan?" Jake asked his Delta.

"I couldn't tell you. You hated the Silver Wolf and would have let them trade him for the Lycan. But now, my life was almost taken because I knew about the Lycan."

Ray stepped forward. "Why hate the Silver Wolf, Jake? All he does is correct wrongs. You should hate the one who tried to kill your Delta."

Ray's tone was sharp, almost angry-a rare occurrence. I had never heard him use that tone with Jake. This Silver Wolf and Lycan trade clearly affected him deeply.

"I do hate them," Jake admitted. "But their fate lies with the King, along with all these petitions." He came forward with a scroll.

It was a small one, with no Lycan portrait on it. My eyes scanned the letter. It was a photocopy of my records, with handwritten notes detailing Red Moon's wrongdoings. How had he gotten this if he hadn't broken into my study? I smirked, setting those thoughts aside.

"Beta Gaius, these are serious allegations."

Gaius glanced nervously between me, Jake, and Ray. "What allegations? What have I been accused of?"