C4 Four

I've dedicated the past twenty-five years to plotting my revenge against the Alpha and Luna who killed my father. Julian, my guardian, kept me hidden from the world for much of my life, but he had his reasons. While he wasn't always a father figure, I learned a great deal from him during the few years I remember him.

My eyes were opened to the harsh realities of the supernatural world. Wolves are constantly vying for dominance, and they needed to be put in their place. Moreover, the emergence of the One from the infamous Legend added a new layer of complexity. This wolf possessed the power to control other supernaturals, a formidable force.

My magical abilities, inherited from Julian, are limited, allowing me to perform only a few basic spells. I bear more resemblance to a griffin than anything else. I didn't inherit most of the vampire traits, aside from a few fangs and eye color changes during my transformation.

I'm not complaining, considering I'm only thirty years old. Growing up as Julian's child was strange, as I was raised by some of his Followers after his passing. They continued to teach me his ways because I was always curious. As for my mother, her fate remains unknown, and I don't particularly care.

Those same Followers who survived the battle raised me and remain loyal to me. I've gradually rebuilt our following, although it still doesn't rival what Julian had. However, our numbers are steadily increasing.

Recently, I stumbled upon papers containing information Julian had documented regarding the Gray River pack. Looking over the map, I noticed his markings and paths he and the Followers had taken. I decide not to follow the same route.

However, I rub my scruffy beard and contemplate having some fun with this Alpha and pack before confronting them directly.

While I lack contacts within the wolf world, I'm adept with computers. I leave my house, jump into my car, and drive a few hours to a human town. I would prefer to fly, but that would raise too many questions if someone caught a picture of me. I'm not keen on dealing with that headache.

Entering a small cafe, I rent a computer. Annoyingly, I must cover the camera with my jacket because it seems like everything has a camera nowadays.

It doesn't take me long to gather a few email addresses for the Alpha of Gray River. As I read the name "Elliot," I wonder if it's a last name or a first name, but it doesn't matter. I just need to send a message from a disposable email account.

I hit send and set it up to receive a notification when the message is opened and read. Satisfied, I smirk at the computer, stand up, and leave the cafe. The scent of humans is nauseating, and I prefer the seclusion of the woods.

Parking the car, I step out just as my phone dings. I check it and see that the Alpha has read my message. Excellent, this is going well.

Now, it's time to devise the next part of my plan to unsettle them further. It's time to pack up and relocate, as we never stay in one place for too long to minimize the risk of discovery.

I grab my phone, pull up the main numbers, and send out a group message, notifying everyone that we'll be leaving at dawn. It's time to move closer to this pack of wolves, so I can truly start my operations.

I'm thinking about causing some explosions, sending more cryptic emails, and weakening them gradually. This is going to be a lot of fun.

Heading back upstairs to the house I'll no longer be renting come morning, I begin packing my belongings, which are relatively few—mostly clothes and documents I've been sifting through from Julian.

I'm so eager for everything to commence that I don't even bother trying to sleep. It will take a few days of driving to get close to this pack.

There's something, though, a nagging feeling related to this pack. It's faint, but I keep brushing it aside. I need to stay focused. The ones who took my father down must know they can't escape retribution. They've evaded justice for twenty-five years, but that's about to change.

Tossing the last bag into the car, I notice a few vans holding the Followers and their belongings. It's rather pathetic, to be honest. I have only about four families of Followers who stay with me consistently.

The rest are scattered around the world, and while most listen when I call, they mainly avoid repeating the past. I know of approximately a hundred other Followers out there, but I'm not summoning them for this operation. It will be easy, and there won't even be a battle. The Alpha will be at my mercy before I'm through.

First, I need to mask our scents so I can pose as a "rogue." Being a griffin, it's easy for me to appear wild without shifting, and my unique scent is easily disguised. I'll gather some clothes from rogues to further blend in. I'll also perform a simple spell to completely hide my scent, allowing only the rogue scent to be detected. It's one of the few spells I can perform, mainly involving mixing common herbs. I've refined it so that it doesn't raise suspicion.

Yes, everything is coming together nicely. By deceiving them and embedding myself in their pack, I can observe their workings closely. Through cryptic emails and subtle gifts, I'll weaken them from within.