1. The Invasion

~Zella~

I was relaxing in the garden, sipping coffee when Beta Martha arrived and announced the bad news.

"Luna, the Alpha King's men are coming. They are about to invade our pack and demand total surrender. They will annihilate our pack and burn everything if we don't surrender!" Martha said in a terrified tone, body shaking in distress, fear flashing in her eyes.

I tensed inwardly. I put the cup on the table and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I thought we were the last pack on their list to conquer?" I gushed in horror. My heart beat faster in my rib cage as fear squeezed my heart painfully. I closed my eyes, I could see blood everywhere if we didn't surrender.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my tense nerves. I have to be brave and smart to survive this catastrophic event.

"What are we going to do?" Martha asked in desperation.

"Where is my husband?" I asked, taking calm breaths.

"In his study room, talking to the Alpha King's emissary," Martha replied.

"Go to my room and pack my clothes and put them in my bag. Pack your clothes as well. Hurry up!" I ordered urgently, my heart hammering in my chest. "If we can't surrender, we need to flee and run to safety!"

"Copy." Martha left the garden, running back to the two-story concrete house.

With trembling hands, I picked up the cup and finished my coffee quickly. I need to see my husband and put sense into his stubborn mind so that no life will be lost today. The neighboring packs who resisted the invasion suffered heavily, their properties destroyed and so many lives lost. It's useless to fight the Alpha King's men. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.

It's better to surrender peacefully and live another day.

There is always time to fight back in the future.

I left the garden in a hurry and rushed to my husband's office on the ground floor.

When I arrived there, the emissary had just taken his leave and my husband was left alone in his office, simmering in anger.

He punched the desk in outrage, producing a sound of death echoing around the room, startling the hell out of me.

I closed the door and faced my husband. "What did the emissary tell you?" I asked calmly, moving towards the desk.

"We are given 24 hours to surrender. If we don't surrender, they will attack our pack and kill anyone who stands in their way," Alpha Parker my husband replied, hissing in anger.

"Then let's surrender, protect our lives and preserve our pack," I said urgently.

He glared at me in disdain upon hearing my cowardly decision. He snapped, glaring at me. "Are you stupid? Over my dead body! I will fight them to death today!" he said in a menacing growl.

I disagree with his unwise decision. "No! I must insist on surrendering peacefully to protect our pack and preserve our lives!"

"Shut up! I'm the Alpha here, the leader of our pack. I control everything! I'm not a coward like you!" he roared vehemently, furious that I was thinking the opposite.

"But resisting the invaders will only get us killed! They will slaughter our pack, no one will survive! We must surrender before it's too late!" I insisted, my voice trembled with desperation.

"If we surrender to them, they will kick me out of my position. I'm no longer the Alpha of our pack. They will put their own people here to control everything and our Iron Fist Pack will no longer exist and we become just another district controlled by the Alpha King. Do you understand what's going to happen to us?" he snarled.

"I don't care about your reputation or prestige. All I care about is saving lives. If we start fighting, everyone will die! Use your head wisely! Don't be stupid!" I argued fiercely.

"Just shut up! I called the shots here, not you!" He delivers a violent slap on my cheek, sending me to the floor in a loud thud.

I winced in pain. Tears flooded my face. All the years of abuse flashes in my eyes.

Today, I must do something! I can't allow everyone to die today. I rose from the floor, anger flashing in my eyes, ready to fight him verbally and put sense into his ego-filled mind.

"You are a cruel leader, you only care about your reputation! You're a stupid disgusting leader!" I shouted at his face in a furious manner, my hands formed into fists at my sides.

He gave me a death stare. "I said shut up!" and delivered another brutal slap on my right cheek. "You are useless. Leave my office now!" He commanded harshly.

"Fine, I'll leave. Before I go, tell me what is your plan?" I asked so I could make preparations.

"I will never surrender. I will inform the emissaries that I will surrender today and when the King's men are already here, we will slaughter them all!" He says fiercely. Dubious plans are rapidly forming in his mind.

My eyes widened in shock and horror. "Is that your plan? That is a stupid plan. The Alpha King has a vast army at his disposal. If you kill the invaders more will come, and the outcome is still the same. Everyone will die. Please think wisely!" I begged in despair, hoping he would change his mind.

"Leave! I'm tired of your whining and cowardice!" he ordered. "If you don't leave now I will kick you hard until you scream in pain and beg me to stop!" he said in a threatening tone.

I stared at him, feeling tense and worried. He's not thinking straight anymore. He's really turning into a monster!

"I'm not a coward. I'm just thinking about survival. It's better than death," I insisted and quickly moved to the door before his hands could reach me, opening the door ready to leave.

But he moved at lightning speed and kicked me out of the room, sending me to the floor, hitting my head painfully. Again? I winced in pain as he shut the door on my face.

I curled up like a baby on the floor, soaking in the pain, tears flooded my face as I gently massage my head to ease the pain. I was used to his periodic abuse. Old pain will always go away and be replaced by new pain.

I can't take it anymore. Such an abusive married life needs to end now.

His brutality must end today!

I rose from the floor, facing the closed door, thinking fast. What can I do to save the lives of innocent people?

I can leave the pack at any time and save myself. I have the capability to do so, but I can't leave everyone behind waiting for death to come at their doorsteps.

Since my husband is stupid, arrogant, and abusive I will do what I think is best for my pack.

It's about time I will poison my cruel husband! I will do everything to save our people. I'm willing to sacrifice his life in order to save many.

I have to do it fast before the deadline is over.

I went to my room, rummaged through the drawer of my closet and grabbed the bottle filled with white, odorless and tasteless powder that leaves no trace behind.

After my husband's death, I will be gone, no one will die and the Iron Fist Pack will no longer exist because all the invaded territories are going to be under the Alpha King's command.

I have endured my husband's abuse for years.

Time to move on.

I left my room, went to the kitchen and prepared my husband's coffee and snack. I put some bread, cookies and his favorite roasted nuts on the platter. I sprinkled toxic powder on them, waited for a few minutes, then carried the tray to his office.

When I arrived there, my husband and his beta were having a serious conversation, facing each other on the sofa. I was sure they were planning their counterattack.

I originally didn't want to include my husband's assistant in poisoning but since his beta r*ped two of my omega maids last month and my husband didn't do anything to give justice to my maids then I might as well kill his beta and slip them to hell together.

"Have some snacks," I said with a smile and put the tray on the table.

The men picked up some cookies and nuts and began eating, ignoring me completely.

"Anything else before I leave?" I asked.

My husband scowled at me in annoyance, signaling me to leave the room.

I left the room immediately.

I went back to my room. My assistant was busy putting my stuff in the bags. I locked the door and gave instructions to Martha.

"Do you know where the emissary is staying right now?" I inquired.

"Yes I know. The emissary went back to the dense forest where the Alpha King's men are taking camp before the invasion. I heard this information from one of Alpha Parker's men," Martha replied.

"OK." I know that place. It's just a hundred meters away from the pack's headquarters. "I'm going somewhere. Just stay here in my room no matter what happens. If my husband asks about my whereabouts, just tell him I went somewhere and I'll be back after one hour."

"Copy Luna," Martha replied as she continued folding and putting clothes into the bag.

I put on my coat and exited the bedroom, leaving the house through the secret pathway, grateful that no one was guarding the area during that time. I walked faster, heading toward the forest nearby.

A few minutes later, I arrived at the entrance to the forest. When I was about to move forward, the Alpha King's men appeared out of nowhere and blocked my way.

"Why are you here, woman?" one of the fierce-looking guards asked.

I scanned their faces calmly and said, "I'm looking for the emissary of the Alpha King. I am Luna Zella of the Iron Fist Pack. I'm here to talk to the officer in charge. Please tell him my pack will surrender peacefully."

The guards looked at me, scrutinizing my appearance for a few seconds, then they finally nodded at each other as if they both agreed that I looked harmless and did not pose a threat.

"Wait here. I will inform Alpha Declan of your presence," one of the guards said.

A few minutes later, the guard returned and motioned me to follow him.

We moved towards the deepest part of the forest, passing towering trees and lush vegetation. The sound of water running freely in the stream can be heard nearby. I have been in this forest several times in the past.

We stopped in front of the biggest tent among the hundreds scattered around the forest.

"Wait here. I will inform Alpha Declan that you are here to surrender," the guard said.

"OK." I nodded my head, feeling a bit anxious. Is the Alpha a good or bad person? I hoped this Alpha is easy to negotiate with.

The guard appeared and motioned me to enter the tent.

When I stepped into the tent, my breath caught on my throat because I was greeted with a mesmerising view of a shirtless man standing in the center, his six-pack abs took my breath away. My heart was hammering in my chest as I continued to admire his mouth watering abs. He had an air of authority around him. His chiseled appealing body hardened by war was every woman's wet dreams. His shaggy hair added an extra layer of sexiness to his already oozing sex appeal.

He was staring at my face intensely, his black eyes unreadable as if rapidly processing something in his mind.

Then he gave me a once-over.

"Come here," he said in a commanding tone, tapping the chair in front of him. "Who are you? State your reasons why you want to see me," he said bluntly.

Ignoring his intimidating presence, I sat on the chair in a dignified manner. I met his gaze bravely. "Alpha, I am Luna Zella of the Iron Fist Pack, wife of Alpha Parker. I'm here to inform you that we are ready to surrender," I said, my tone steady, lacking fear.

He raised a brow, wondering if he should believe me or not.

"I already poisoned my husband so we could surrender peacefully," I added calmly, reassuring him, my eyes devoid of guilt and regret.