I was drenched in the fear of uncertainty more than the rain.

The clouds were thunderous. The lightening was the spotlight to highlight the real expressions on each wolf's face. Winds turned the rain towards those who were conspiring against our pack.

The Moon Goddess was nowhere in sight.

What had happened till now was appalling, and now, I feared the next.

Thomas was obviously taken to Stephen's house while Axel and Natalie were standing aside, with their arms around each other, watching the scene.

Mom looked numb as she cried on Alpha Rudy's chest. Aunt Mikayla was consoling her too. Luna Elsie had tears while Luna Anne had starting sobbing. Luna Lily of Northern pack was standing quiet in solidarity of what happened. The black-haired Luna Zara, who belonged to Eastern pack but mated to Alpha Alois of Hidden Furs, was watching everything quietly.

As guests, they all looked uncomfortable except for some.

Luna Anne who was now acting as if her own son was punished, had been smirking moments ago. I couldn't even guess if her tears were true this time. Well, they should be because Thomas was wounded brutally. Even the memory of it was bringing me chills. I wondered what the rest of his life would be like. This moment, this humiliation will stay with him forever. I wished that the scars wouldn't. They needed to go, those gashes. But how stupid I was to talk about scars when the wounds were so fresh.

Luna Elsie cried as if she was the purest soul around, unable to see such punishment happening. The shudder ran through me when I recalled how she had scared me last night at the grounds. She heard that voice too. She knew that I could hear it too. Stephen had said that Luna of Mystics, arrived from different pack couldn't practise or hold magic. But I knew that she was no less and knew many things. What if she was from Hidden Furs, she was a mystic now. She was playing a huge role in making me believe Chelsea's message of not trusting the Mystics.

These two Lunas were smart and authoritative, I had realized very well. But they also seemed cunning to me for some reasons. They were here at this Ceremony to do more than just to mingle and get their pack wolves' mates.

Lightening struck across the sky and my eyes observed Pete standing quietly while his hands fisted on his sides. His eyes were closed and face looked troubled. He wasn't worried for himself. He was just tired. Just broken.

While Gilbert's blood was boiling. Just how minutes ago I had dared to call him a silent man. But man now, he was barbarous.

My stomach churned when he laughed crazily and stepped seven-eight steps back from Pete.

Gilbert looked above at the thunderous sky, the heavy raindrops falling on his rough face that had reddened in anger. He lowered his eyes and breathed hard. He looked around, his gaze catching everyone's expression.

"Life is too uncertain. In one moment, you feel as if you are the King of the world. In the next moment, you die like a dog." He spat on the ground angrily.

I bit my tongue when he pulled the whip the back by his own hand, letting the silver needles burn his own palm too.

Gilbert gritted his teeth and collected the whip while walking from left to right behind, ten steps away from feet. The whip would reach Pete anyway. It was that long.

"My father used to say that you can't have right to own everything you get in inheritance and you can't deny the property you get in inheritance even if you don't want to own it," said Gilbert loudly. "Whenever I asked him to elaborate, he used to deny me the answer. He would say that I would know when I will have the chance to leave something for my generation."

"Whatever I earned, for myself, for my family and my pack. I own it. It's on my name," said Gilbert while laughing humorlessly. "Theodore Arche. Only son to his parents, was born to be an Alpha. He had it easy. He had everything coming to him smoothly. Of course, he had to be bored of all that inherited property."

Gilbert flared his nostrils while saying, "But I had five elder brothers and one more younger. Inheritance was something I didn't believe in much. It wasn't an idea I was ever interested in. I just knew that I was number six. I would have to just be a part to pull the legacy of Rucus ahead. Just a minor contribution. But the tragedy happened! The War of Alphas arrived! Ruined it all! Took my brothers away from me!"

I blinked as Uncle Robert stared at his elder brother with respect in his eyes.

Gilbert walked while his hand burned like it was nothing. Everyone was noticing and no one was talking. He might be the Alpha. But for me, the mere thought that he hurt Thomas and was now torturing himself too by touching that whip. I knew that he himself wasn't happy to hurt his pup.

Gilbert's bloodshot eyes moved on Mom and slowly around everyone.

"My eldest brother was like a second father figure to me. All of them were big and authoritative. Never had I thought, I was capable of ruling a pack! Then, why my father gave the pack to me? Not because I earned it or was it written in my destiny. But because of the obvious reason. Because I was the next best option."

Mom gulped hard while calming down her sobs.

"I didn't do some good deed. I was a bad pup. Very bad pup. I learnt slowly to become responsible. But my eldest brother surely did something bad that becoming Alpha wasn't in his destiny. I was the lucky one. Or maybe, not. Maybe, I was just the means," said Gilbert while looking around.

Alpha Esther nodded in agreement. "You have been, Gilbert. We all know. Because of you, the land of Rucussa had provided us all these happinesses in last three days. Since the War of Alphas to this day, you have built this pack with perfection. Any words of praises are less to describe your contribution and dedication for this pack. Tough circumstances happen like right now, when everything is perfect. Just one evil eye is needed to jinx it all."

Luna Elsie agreed with her mate. "You were a means for the pack to witness a young and bold Alpha like Pete," she said while looking at my elder brother. "He has a Lycan mate. The last time something like that happened was with Alpha Rucus only."

Alpha Rudy nodded with a sad smile while consoling Mom. "Five brothers had to die so the rightful one of next generation could become the next Alpha. Because the fate knew, he will have a Lycan mate. Because the destiny knew, the pack will again be deprived of a Luna coming from the Lycan's pack. A history had to be repeated in the most bizarre way."

Gilbert stood with glossy eyes, anger and pain glinting in them. He was listening each word carefully through the noise rain.

Alpha Alois's white hair were all drenched inside the hood of his teal cloak. He looked at my Mom's mate and said, "Pete should learn from Alpha Rucus. Without a mate, he didn't let his pack die. Without a Luna, he built this pack again. No one can defeat a hardworking and dedicated Alpha. A brave and powerful Alpha. No one can. Not even his own mate that belongs to the enemy pack."

Gilbert flared his nostrils while blinking through the pain. "Then, must I punish this pup of mine who failed to be brave and powerful. He says, he has failed. Why hadn't I died before listening to my legacy breaking?" He growled in anger.

Pete's face shook in humiliation and regret.

Luna Elsie looked at Gilbert pitifully. "He is heartbroken from last night. Guilt has filled his mind for what he did to his sister's mate. Only a powerful and brave Alpha is capable of showing his vulnerability. Forgive the pup, Alpha Gilbert."

My eyes narrowed at her. This woman was confusing me. Now, she looked all clean and empathetic. As if that wasn't puzzling enough, Luna Anne spoke up next.

"Legacies to be fulfilled aren't a word from mouth that Pete could pass on to Thomas. It's the soil and the wolves that recognize their true Alpha. No one can deny the unbreakable," said Luna Anne bitterly while I actually wanted to huff.

Uncle Ryan, standing beside me, supporting me, raised his voice. "I hope, the Alphas and Lunas won't mind a Beta speaking in between. But I must remind everyone that crime done in unconsciousness or automation is no crime. From our childhood, we have heard about this phenomenon how the air coming from Lycan's land is capable of hypnotizing us. And from there, it was Pete's own dear mate this time."

Alpha Rudy and Esther glanced at each other. Alpha Alois and Brexton were enlightened too.

Beta Iago nodded with a nerdy expression on his face that reminded me of Stephen. "But the damage has been done. As a host pack, we hold the responsibility to satisfy our guests as much as we could. And as a Beta, I hold full empathy with dear Leo. A committed Beta always. We can't see a wolf like him laying on bed torn up his whole life."

Luna Anne flared her nostrils while looking at Pete. "Then, allow me to see some repercussions!" She cried loudly while looking at Gilbert. "My Leo wouldn't be able to walk like a Beta. All the Betas here feel the pain. Your own Beta proposes the same!"

Nirvan looked at his father blankly and back at Pete. A tear leaked from his eye when he saw Gilbert preparing the whip in his own injured hand.

Alpha Rudy clenched his jaws while looking at Luna Anne. "Everyone is sympathetic to what happened. We don't leave the criminals unpunished. Hell! We don't even take time in discussing justice. The ultimate justice is instant death. But Anne, you calm down your spirits. Your own mate has given the right to punish Pete to Gilbert only."

Luna Anne flared her nostrils angrily but calmed down when Alpha Leandre caught her hand.

Gilbert gulped hard while his eyes fell on Mom who was standing numb near Mikayla.

"The biggest crime done here is to give up," he said so loudly and angrily, the thunder rang along. "And for that, here comes the first-" He bit his lower lip in force as the whip opened up so fast to cut the rain and hit Pete so unpredictably.

Mom squeezed her eyes shut while my injured knees weakened in the dread.

Natalie let out a scream as Alex kept holding her writhing arms. "No! Don't hurt him! Please, father!"

Uncle Robert had glossy eyes fixed on Pete who was shaking in extreme pain. His black vest was torn and the wounds were not yet visible. But everyone knew how deadly a whiplash was.

Aunt Mikayla flinched when Pete let out a painful grunt. But he didn't move from his place.

Gilbert sneered, "This pack has once survived without a Luna! It can survive again! Only if the pack matters more than the mate in your mind and heart!"

A growl escaped his mouth at hitting the whip against Pete's back so harshly, he staggered ahead and shook terribly.

Cringe was filling me as I had heard the sound of skin getting squished and blood splattering. Gulping hard, I controlled a sob.

Everyone watched as Pete's shoulders and arms hung in extreme pain. He panted hard and kept twitching in the heavy rain.

"Gilbert, please!" Mom cried while looking at him. "He has to attend the Lycans. He has to stand-"

"Stand there with no burden of pending repurcussions!" Gilbert growled with dark eyes wide at her, scaring all of us.

Luna Anne's face turned conflicted when Luna Elsie spoke up. "You are only hurting yourself, Alpha Gilbert."

The father in him was stunned for two mere seconds. Gilbert's angry eyes turned blank as he collected the whip again with his bloodied hands.

"I only get hurt when my pack is hurt, Luna Elsie. And my pack is hurt right now. It is suffering the guilt of what happened to Beta Leo and what Natalie did. An Alpha can't let down his pack," said Gilbert while shaking his head so slow and creepily.

Just as his eyes fell on Pete, another whiplash ran across his back.

A cry left my mouth and from many other females as Pete had fallen down on his knees. His hands were palming the muddy ground and the back was bleeding. Beneath him, the pool of blood was in the making.

Shivers ran down my spine when he let out a loud growl in extreme pain.

I held on to Uncle Ryan's arm while the females have staggered back from the force of his extreme emotion.

"Pack comes first!" Gilbert growled while letting out another whiplash on his back.

Blood splattered to nearest wolves, I let out a scream. "Stop it!" I yelled in extreme fear. "You'll kill him!"

Everyone looked at me while Gilbert was getting ready for another attack.

Pete nearly fell on his face but he raised himself back to keep kneeling and breathing hard. His eyes weren't even open anymore.

"Misty," Uncle Ryan tried to pull on my arm as I tried to run towards Pete.

"No! Leave me!" I cried. "I can't see this! This is barbaric! He will die!"

Uncle Ryan grabbed both of my arms while I writhed hard.

Natalie and Axel watched me in shock. Mom only started weeping more while I looked at Gilbert. "Please, stop! He is your son!"

Gilbert didn't even look at me and attacked another time, making me let out a loud scream.

"For God's sake, stop it!" I screamed while trying to free my hands.

"Ha! Leave her, Ryan! She is in the air for she didn't get punishment for burning my Zac," said Luna Anne so bitterly, anger filled all of my blood vessels.

I glared at her and screamed so hard. "You wanted this to happen! So Thomas can become Alpha and your daughter becomes Luna! It's so obvious!"

Everyone gasped while Luna Anne widened her eyes at me. "How dare you," she growled while raising her hand, her claws protruding immediately.

Stomping towards me, she let out another growl when Alpha Leandre grabbed her from behind, stopping his mate to attack me.

She growled again and glared at me so hard. "You better control your mouth for your own good! Pete is as dear to me as Thomas is! I don't have to explain who I want to see as an Alpha! I am not the Moon Goddess here! I have been fair all of my life!" She scolded me so loudly in front of everyone. "I have all the right to kill you for burning my Zac! I hope, you get burned too, you deceitful pup!"

My blood boiled to a range, I pointed my finger at her. "Fair! My foot! We all know that Klynn is the Alpha of your pack! Not Declan!" I screamed the loudest. "You dared sending six deadly wolves to chase us! Burning Zac was self-defense! They were hitting the truck with their dumb wolf-heads filled with shit! I could have died if Thomas had lost the control on driving! Your son had healed. But I wouldn't have!"

Luna Anne widened her eyes and stared at in shock.

Only the rain was audible. Because Everyone had turned quiet. Sobs and sniffles had stopped too. Even Uncle Ryan loosened his hold on my arms.

I stood straight, glaring at the woman, breathing hard.

Looking at Gilbert, I flared my nostrils. "Thomas didn't do anything wrong by helping his sister! He didn't break those shitty rules! He had to be with Alyssa yet he sacrificed all of his happiness for his family and pack. If there had been any other she-wolf, he would have done the same!" I screamed angrily.

"Pete did this! Pete did that! He attacked Leo, I agree!" I shouted loudly. "But there is so much love for Beta Leo here, then where were you all when Pete attacked him the first second! You all had good hearings! Sharp senses! Where were you all? No one was there! No fucking wolf!"

My eyes moved back on Luna Anne as I sneered, "I and Declan found him together! That even because I knew Pete must have smelled his mate. Which is why, the confusions were getting cleared! Thomas confirmed his mate and so did Nirvan! Others!"

Realization hit Gilbert's eyes and his jaws clenched. Luna Anne glared at me so hard, I would have really been burnt if she was a witch.

"If your Declan has done the same to Alpha Leandre, show me the punishment that Declan had suffered for attacking his uncle!" I screamed while Uncle Ryan grabbed my arm. Even Nirvan came towards me.

"No! Stay away! Let me speak! These rules! These friendships! You all are fake! My sister, Natalie! She had to run away in fear from the Lycans. Instead of protecting her, appreciating her rebelliousness, you all hurt her brother! Idiots!" I yelled while Nirvan grabbed my left arm.

"Misty, quiet!" He said while trying to pull me back into the crowd.

I looked at Gilbert with wide angry eyes. "Rachel and Layla, those two she-wolves are in their twenties and still haven't found their mates! Why are they gone already to their homes! Why they aren't here!"

Nirvan halted his movements at listening to my words while I took the advantage and stepped ahead. Looking around unmated females, I clenched my jaws.

"How could you not realize that two females are getting it easy by not going to the Lycan's pack? It's unfair to my sister who was so scared all this time!" I said loudly while Natalie let out a sob. Axel rubbed her back while looking at me in shock.

Alpha Brexton of Northern Pack looked at me angrily. "The audacity!" He growled. "You lower down your voice while talking about my pack! Or I'll rip that tongue out and choke you with it!"

Mom growled behind me while Alpha Rudy raised his eyebrows at him. "First, use your own tongue to give her the answer! Her innocent defense for her brother is stronger than you recognizing her audacity! We all know but she doesn't! Let her know!"

Alpha Brexton exchanged an angry glance with his sister, Luna Anne.

He growled back. "Her own pack can explain her for I have not time to waste here! The Lycans could be arriving-"

Mom cut him off by saying, "No one else would be able to explain her as swiftly as you can, Alpha Brexton! Because even we all know how much Layla is having it easy!"

Alpha Brexton glared at my Mom and then at Gilbert who gave him the dead look back.

"How fortunate of us to explain such important scenes to a human!" Luna Anne sneered at all.

"That human saved your Beta Leo!" Axel said, raising his voice confidently.

My heart swelled in surprise.

"She was the one who helped Leo and Eva to sort out their issues," Nirvan said confidently, his eyes fixed on the woman.

Pete coughed out in the rain, snatching all of Mom's attention who immediately sat in front of him. She let out a sob while squeezing his hands. Her clothes turned dirtier in the mud and the rain.

Alpha Brexton's face shook as he clenched his jaws hard. "For a mere human, I am repeating this! Not because I am afraid of anyone here! But because we believe in keeping our reputations! We don't discriminate and won't leave you without answers! We are clean!"

His mate, Luna Lily nodded along while looking around. "It's not like we haven't explained this before. Everything is explained to the packs already!"

"But for a uselessly curious human, we will do the honours!" Alpha Brexton growled angrily, making me flinch hard. He breathed heavily while explaining, "Layla had smelled her mate when she was eighteen. The same host! Same place! The ceremony was being celebrated here only when she smelled him at the borders!"

Luna Lily controlled a sob while explaining, "But we couldn't let her attend the fourth night! She had passed out and didn't wake up for days! Alpha Gilbert knows it all! Luna Malina knows it all! Kate has lived a life with us! She knows the truth! You all know it!" She sobbed.

Alpha