The Alpha-King was absent during lunch today, and that was unusual.

Lucas was not there too, which I was happy about, but whenever the Alpha missed one of the family's meal time together like this, then it must be about something very crucial.

The Alpha does not like eating alone without his family.

After lunch that day, I went straight back to my room. I have decided to heed my mother's advice and avoid Lucas in every way possible I can figure out.
And if locking myself all day in my room could make avoiding Lucas possible for me, I was ready to do that.

While in my room, and looking out of the window, I saw the soldiers of the pack, coming into the compound in their numbers.

It looks like there is going to be a meeting today in the pack.

Was that the reason why the Alpha was absent at lunch today? I wondered, and watched on as the soldiers assembled in the compound, and among the elders and the chiefs from the various families who had assembled as well, was the Alpha-King.

"The resistance and disobedience of the rogues who constantly parades themselves around our pack has become like a thorn in our flesh, and we will no longer tolerate them anymore". The Alpha-King addressed the people.

"Prior to this day, we have set a boundary and marked them to show how far they should stay away from our territory. But they keep provoking us, and overstepping their bounds into our territory. And not only that, they keep perpetrating havoc and killing, and destroying lives and properties of our people. Therefore, we will no longer have them intimidate us. We are going to fight, and kill at sight, any rogue we come across with today!" He concluded.

There was growling and roaring from the people as the warriors accepted the challenge to go and kill.

"But, your highness, don't you think that launching an attack at the rogues to kill them would degenerate into a conflict and a bigger war than we can handle? Remember the last agreement of the parliament, to exile the rogues instead of killing them. Don't you think we should rather send them away into the forsaken forest, far away from our pack territory, than going into war with them? Think about the people of the wolf pack, the women, the children, and the weak families we have among us who cannot fight to defend themselves". A member of the elders’ council suggested.

"No! We are not afraid to go to war! And there is no war that is bigger than us; we will fight and we will win!" Lucas roared, disagreeing with the elder's opinion.

And all his soldiers growled in support of him.

They always support him!

"We have gained more alliance than the rogues, we have the support of the president of the parliament on our side. The rogues has done more harm to us than good to be ignored. Therefore we will fight. Let every elder take this message home to their families, keep the women and children safe, and let the young men in every family mount guard at their home in case if any counter attack from within. And the warriors who are selected to go with Lucas will meet the rogues at the territorial boundary between us". The Alpha concluded.

And growling and roaring in happiness and in unison, the warriors led by Lucas stormed out, chanting a war song as they all transformed into werewolves one by one.

I watched them from the window in my room as they marched on out, my eyes searching and spotting Lucas’s wolf in the forefront of the others. I stared on at him as they growled on as if that was going to be the last time I was going to see him alive.

And wished silently in my heart that he would never return alive this time.

A voice within me hushed me quiet immediately, and I shuddered. How can I wish for someone to die at war? That was not good, remembering how hurtful it was for me whenever I think of my father, and the war that took his life.

The rest of that day was boring to me. The whole palace was unusually quiet, everybody seemed to be troubled by the conflict in the pack.

All the Lunas were with their husband, the Alpha-King, to encourage him as he brooded over the ongoing war. I remained in my room, locked up and doing nothing.

I tried to sleep but could not. And so I just counted sheep till my eyes became dim, and I didn't know when I slept off.

"Hurry up"
"They are back"
"We have victory at last"
"Are there going to be more maidservants joining us today"
"No, the fight was against the outcasts, the rogues, they can't bring rogues into the palace"
"Just hurry up you two, and stop gossiping. We have an emergency party to prepare for."

The voices outside my room woke me up, and I looked out the window, it was night already.

Party? I heard someone mention a party? I thought to myself.

I got up, and decided to go outside and find out what it was by myself.

But before I could get ready to go outside, the door of my room opened and my mother walked in.

The look on her face was not bright, and I wondered what could be the problem.

"Mom, is everything alright?”