Chapter 3 3. The Nightshade Pack.

The Nightshade pack is well known for their unmatched influence in the whole of the Westlands, which is one of the most prolific continents amongst the four.

They were also well known for their ruthless battle sense – easily taking their enemies and subduing them – and then they put them through the most horrible kind of situations afterwards.

And that wasn't all, rumours have been flying around recently that illegal street fights and duels were popular in Nightshade pack. And of course, these duels often lead to deaths – gruesome and unpleasant ones at that.

Hence, Nightshade pack isn't somewhere one would want to wake and meet themselves in. But as fate would have it, that's where I am being sold to.

I knew grandfather must have had to write that I was his granddaughter for them to come. Nightshade wasn't the kind of pack to be seduced by a slave trade offer of only one single slave.

"Move it, you slug!" One of the guards from my own pack snarled behind me before pushing me forward roughly.

I was led to the Alpha's office where I met a strange man sitting across from grandfather.

"So this is her." The man stated when his gaze landed on me.

He must be the one representing the Nightshade pack for the purchase.

Turning his gaze back to grandfather, he said, "How do I know she isn't infected with some kind of illness?" He asked.

Grandfather leaned forward, "She is of the royal bloodline, Gamma Daemon –"

"And that is exactly why I should be worried. Why would you want to sell your granddaughter, Alpha Elihas?" He asked in a seemingly hushed tone even though everyone in the office could hear him clearly.

Grandfather remained mute for some moments, before relaxing into his massive chair. He gave a quick glance at me.

"She's a plague to us." He suddenly mouthed, the Gamma's head tilted to the side.

"She's something we can't handle and ...and we just want to get rid of her." He said with a sharp release of breath, making it look like he was frustrated. But even I know that it was just an act to get what he wanted.

"And what makes you think we can handle her?" Asked the Gamma, folding his arms.

"Well ...we both know Nightshade pack is more capable in dealing with rogue wolves than every other packs in the Westlands." Grandfather responded and Gamma Daemon smirked.

"Okay then, we'll take her." He said and my heart automatically skipped a beat.

With immediate effect, the guards began to unchain me, only for me to be chained again by the guards with Gamma Daemon.

Grandfather watched me with an emotionless gaze as I was been led out of his office. He really meant to get rid of me...

Our ride was something like I have never seen before. I didn't know what to call it – a giant carriage, a moving castle – it was just too magnificent!

Too bad I would be heading into it as a slave.

Something brushed against my leg as I was moving towards the field where the giant carriage was. I looked down to see a white duck paddling after me.

"Madame Beaks!" I whispered.

The duck cackled and flung it's wings. I put on a pitiful face, nodding, "Sadly, it's true, I'm leaving." I told her.

She bent her head and shook it, before flapping her wings. I smiled at her, "I'll miss you too ma, take care of your ducklings okay."

"Out of the way, chicken!" One of the guards kicked at her and she was forced to cackle loudly and swing off.

I gave the guard a scowl as we were now closing in on the carriage.

I have always known I could speak to animals since like ...well, since the first day I spoke with one, which was when I found Fubs nineteen years ago.

I know you might be wondering how a rat could have lived that long. Fubs wasn't exactly the normal kind of rat we know of. It's of a breed called Wererodents and they are known for their awry ability to live as long as an average werewolf.

Finally, I stepped into the carriage and I found it that the inside was even more massive than how the outside looked.

But it was also filled up with several other individuals. With their scents, I believe most of them were humans.

Yes, humans are aware of the existence of werewolves. In fact, most of them were the victims of slave trade.

My mind quickly deducted that Gamma Daemon had actually been on a trip to the East – where slave trade was what drives their economy – and since he was on his way back, the Nightshade Alpha had ordered him to branch our pack to pick me up.

There were so many slaves in the carriage that I found nowhere to sit. Someone hissed at my direction, but I soon found out that it was a smallish Asian human that was beckoning for me to sit next to her.

With a nod of appreciation, I sat down and our journey begun.

Several hours of total silent and the carriage was soon brought to a stop.

'Finally' My buttocks were already aching.

The guards came in and led us all out.

It was like they had brought us to heavens gates. The entrance to the Nightshade pack was magnificent, I think the gates were made from bronze metal.

Several smaller carriages arrived and we were all separated into each of them. I couldn't see my new Asian 'friend' anywhere.

After a few minutes of riding in the carriage moved by horses, in which I had the privilege to view the beauty of the Nightshade pack capital city, the carriage finally halted in front of the pack house.

Now this is the most magnificent building I've seen. It could visibly house about a thousand werewolves comfortably.

The pack house was actually situated inside an estate just like in my pack. While we called ours "Alpha's Landing", I have no idea what theirs is called.

About three hundred slaves in chains, we were all led to a large empty warehouse. After a few minutes of murmuring in confusion, Gamma Daemon walked in.

Silence was instantly ensued.

"You were all brought here for a purpose," he began, "and that purpose is, of course, slavery!" He announced.

"Your duties and privileges will include nothing but that of regular slaves. So listen attentively as I read out the rules you must all abide by." He went ahead to read the rules from a long roll of parchment and as soon as he was done, he told us we are now going to pay homage to the Alpha and Beta.

"How do you see their pack?" I heard a voice beside me and I looked to see my Asian 'friend' from earlier.

"Hm-hmm..." Was the only sound I could produce as response. But she seemed satisfied with that.

"How much do you know about their Alpha?" I asked her out of sheer curiousity.

"Alpha Sirius? Everyone knows him."

I don't.

She then began to tell me how gruesome and iron fisted he was as an Alpha. She said some people referred to him as Father of the Beasts.

"Why?"

"Because it is rumoured that whenever he kills an enemy with his bare hands, he'd feed their bodies to his beasts, and gives them their heads to play with." My eyes widened when I heard that. It must be the most gory thing I have ever heard of, and trust me when I say I have heard a lot of gory things.

Soon enough, we arrived at a large hall which was decorated with so many ornaments.

"Bow before his royal highness, one and only Alpha of the indomitable Nightshade pack!" The voice of a guard echoes throughout the hall and everyone instantly fell on their knees. Those that were too slow were either pinned down or hit at the back of the leg.

There was silence afterwards, and then the only sound heard was that of footsteps entering into the hall.

"He's here." My Asian 'friend' whispered next to me.