Chapter 9: My brothers in arms

Back at the Shadow Eclipse pack, Darren was turning and tossing around in bed, unable to get a wink of sleep. he hated the fact that he couldn't sleep without being haunted by nightmares. It had been four years now since the last time he had a proper and decent sleep. He rose from the bed all grumpy and strode into the washroom to get freshened up and begin the day. His mood was sour, and the lack of sleep always found a way to elevate his sour mood. He stepped out of the bathroom and got dressed, then headed downstairs where Leo and Logan were waiting for him. Once, they saw his red eyes, they knew that he had not slept all night. "Good morning, alpha!" They both greeted him at the same time. For some reason, they felt like they needed to give him the highest respect the moment they saw him, he was in a bad mood, and it was not a Good idea to provoke an already angry alpha, and the alpha before them was not just any other alpha, but a supreme alpha, according to what he told them before. Darren glanced at them and gave a simple nod before walking past them. "I want a tour of the pack, you two will accompany me," he said and left for the dining room where various food was served. He took a seat at the head of the table while everyone else waited for him, staring at him resentfully but still greeting him with respect in their voices. Darren ignored them all and sat down and start eating his food. Soon, he was done eating and left the dinner table without saying a word to anyone. He was used to being treated that way, and just like everyone else before them, they had no choice but to respect him and do as he said. He doesn't mind getting blood on his hands if that's what it will take. He has done that already, countless times. "There will be guests arriving soon, four of them, prepare a place in the pack house for them," he said to a maid who works inside the pack house. "Somewhere close to my room." He walked away while the maid nodded behind him, "Yes, alpha," and rushed in to do what she was asked to do. "Who is coming?" Leo asked as soon as Darren got to them. "My brothers in arms, and two other important people who had been in life for the past eight years." He said as he walked ahead of them. "They should be here soon. Let's head to the border." At the Blood moon pack, Collins and Sebastian stood at the border of the Blood moon pack, dreading to step in. The security at the border was so strong that they could not force their way in, nor could they reason with the guards there. They knew that the Blood moon pack did not accept new members and would never open the borders to strangers, but they were out of options. Every pack that they visited always turned them down and refused to accept them once they found out that they were from the Shadow Eclipse pack, and the reason behind their banishment. If Darren did not accept them in his original pack, will he accept them in any other pack? They all knew the answer to that, or so they thought, ht until they met with Collins and Sebastian. These two had no idea who the man who kicked them out was. Such a pity. So here they were, seeking refuge in the Blood Moonpack. They have been here for more than an hour, but they have not been granted access to the pack. After much argument between them and the guards, one of the guards decided to mind link some of the guards in the pack house and inform the alpha of these two men who are seeking trouble for themselves. "The alpha has been informed. Wait here until he comes." A guard informed them. "Thank you." "We appreciate." They both said at the same time and searched the place to find something to sit on. They found a protruding root and sat in it and waited. Inside the pack house, Lazarus was in his study when he received a mind link from one of his warriors telling him about the situation at the border. He called Ezra and Rave, his beta and gamma. He asked Ezra to accompany him while Rave stayed behind, watching over the pack while they were gone. He left his study and headed out. On his way out, he heard Kora and Dana talking and paused. "If you want to go anywhere today, be careful, especially if it leads outside the pack borders." He heard Kora say. "I didn't know you cared about me so much," Dana said, while still braiding Kora's hair. "I don't. You are important to Lazaru,s s I decided to warn you." Kora and he could hear Dana chuckle after she said that. "Okay, I will," Dana said. That was the last thing he heard before leaving the pack house. His mind was occupied. Why would Kora say something like that? Did she have any idea what was happening at the border? Darren arrived at the bar along with Leo and Logan. There, they found two men and two women standing there, surrounded by the pack warriors. It was obvious that the two men were shifters, but the women were not. They could not allow people who walked about with spellcasters into the pack. "Allow them in." Came Darren's voice, startling the guards. They did not expect him to be here. "They are my people." "Yes, alpha." They said at the same time and let the guest through. "Alpha!" The four people greeted Darren with smiles on their faces. "It's nice to see you again." Said the two women. "Likewise..." Lazarus and Ezra arrived at the border and spotted Collins and Sebastian seated on a root, and stopped walking. Immediately, the guards saw them and came forward and greeted them. "Welcome, Alpha!" "Welcome, gamma!" Hearing the guards greeting someone as their Alpha, Collins and Sebastian hurriedly stood up and approached them. Without wasting any time and beating around the bush, Lazarus went ahead and rejected them without hearing them out. "You are not welcome in my pack. We don't accept outsiders as members." Lazarus said. "You can leave and find somewhere else to go." What he heard from Kora was still fresh in his mind. Why would she tell Dana to be careful and not go tobordersetheytheyy were no danger, a nd how did she know that there was potential danger lingering at the pack borders? He couldn't take any chances with these two. Everyone present was stumped. Didn't he just bring in a little girl during the early hours of the morning? The guards asked themselves. Collins and Sebastian were even more stumped. How could he send them away without hearing them out first? Collins wanted to speak as soon as he saw Lazarus walking away, but Ezra beat him to it, speaking first. "The alpha is busy, I would advise you to know that he hasn't gone mad yet for disturbing his work.