The thought of Chloe lingered on in Shelbrooke’s mind as he sat in the comfort of his office. The day he had disclosed his plans to take out Lyne, the reaction that Chloe gave that instant in this office that day was a thing he should be worried about. She had first told them all that they needed to spare her and suddenly agreed after he stood his ground that he will not change his mind about killing her and her baby. 

    He stood up and searched his pockets for his cigarette in silence. Finding it in the rear pocket of his trouser, he sat down. He reached for his drawer and searched for his lighter without any luck.

    “Hey Reyns, got a lighter with you there?” He asked with one cigarette already in his mouth. 

Reyns dipped his hands in the pocket of his T-shirt and pulled out the lighter that was with him. He threw it to Shelbrooke and he caught it, lighted his cigarette, and threw the lighter back to him. 

    Shelbrooke took a long drag of his cigarette and puffed out the smoke, sighing in satisfaction after that. Although he had convinced Chloe that Lyne was dead. He had told her that Lyne had fallen off a cliff but he had doubts that Chloe fell for it, and even if she did, she might be seeking revenge and it was only a matter of time before she turned against them, that is even if she has not already. The point is that he needed to get rid of Chloe, the earlier the better, before things went sideways with her. 

    “Reyns, what do you think about Chloe?” Shelbrooke asked dusting his cigarette on the ashtray on his table. 

    “I don’t know boss. It is your call. Do you think she is going to betray us?” Reyns said sitting well in his chair and turning to face Shelbrooke very well so he could make eye contact. 

    Shelbrooke stood from his chair with his cigarette in his hand. He waved it in the air as he walked towards Reyns. 

    “I don’t trust her. She will betray us. I know she will. I started watching her closely ever since I told her my plans to take out Lyne. The plan did not sit well with her.” He said pacing about in front of Reyns with his cigarette. 

    “If you remember vividly Reyns, she tried convincing us to die the idea of killing her telling us to consider the fact that she was carrying a child, a child belonging to that son of a bitch called Zeidan. And after I told her that Lyne had died, her countenance gave her away. She tried to cover it up with a smile but I could see the sadness and hate on her face. Having an enemy within could spell disaster Reyns. Once again, I think she will betray us. I am very sure of it.” He said now with a squeezed face clenching his fist. He paused to take another long drag on his cigarette with his back to Reyns. He turned to face him before puffing it out.

    “So what do you plan to do now boss? She is one of us still at least that is what we all know.” Reyns asked Shelbrooke.

    Shelbrooke suddenly knelt in front of Reyns who looked rather shocked and grabbed him by the neck.

    “We need to take her out of the equation. We need to kill Chloe and you are going to help us out on that.” Shelbrooke said almost in a whisper. He brought out another cigarette from his pocket, placed it in his mouth, and gesticulated for Reyns to help him light it up. Reyns brought out the lighter and lit his cigarette. He stood up and laughed as he walked back to his seat.

    “You need to be stealthy about it though. No one has to know” Shelbrooke said before sitting down to which Reyns nodded in affirmation. 

    Just then, Charles walked into the office all smiles. 

    “I have news, my good people,” Charles said spreading out his arms as if waiting for a warm embrace from the two men in the office. He walked briskly towards the wine shelf in the office near where Shelbrooke was seated, grabbed three glasses and an alcoholic wine then started pouring out wine into each cup

. 

    “No, I’m good,” Reyns said, declining the offer. 

He returned the last glass after filling two cups. He handed one to Shelbrooke who sipped it like he had been waiting for whom to pour him a glass before. 

    “With the absence of Lyne and with no assurance that she was alive or that she would be found even if it were to be that she was missing, I want to announce to you guys that I am the next in line to take up the reigns of the alpha from him.” He said as he was grinning from ear to ear before finally taking the first sip of his wine. There was a moment of silence momentarily as Shelbrooke dragged on his smoke and Charles sat down to have more comfort as he sipped his wine while Reyns on the other hand watched both men.

    “Well, I must say I am very happy for you my friend,” Shelbrooke said. 

    “I will be crowned as the grooming alpha tonight. My father Styx told me his plans to make me the grooming alpha two days ago.” He added. Shelbrooke nodded and smiled as though he was happy for Charles. Deep down, Shelbrooke was sorry for Charles. Here he was happy to be crowned as the grooming alpha not knowing that the lady he planned to marry will be dead soon, courtesy of him. Anyway, he could not go back on his plans now. 

    Charles finished the wine in his glass then he set the cup down on Shelbrooke’s table and announced that he was leaving. Reyns followed suit. 

★★★★★★★★★★

Shelbrooke was late to the ceremony. They used the front of Styx’s palace. By the time he got there, it was almost time for Charles to be crowned as the grooming alpha. He made sure he took a stand just behind the palace walls, enough to see everything going on. Announcing his presence would be like committing suicide and arousing suspicions. He watched as they proceeded with the necessary rites. He watched as Charles was encompassed with happy people. He thought of how Charles will feel by the time Reyns will have carried out his orders. 

    Just as he was thinking, he noticed a guard whispering something to Styx. He stood up and left with the guard only to return and ordered that the ceremony be halted. This was to the surprise of everyone present. Shelbrooke wondered what could have made Styx stop the procession of the rite. Perhaps they were under attack, but he did not seem to notice any form of commotion around the area. 

    Could it be what he was thinking? Maybe Lyne had finally arrived. That will be a very good reason to stop what was currently going on. If that was the case, then there could be real trouble.

"Good people of South Park. Our dear Akeila has something very important to tell us. As she said, a very important prophecy that will require this ceremony to be put on hold. Akila," he called for an old woman with staff to climb up the podium.

She had on a stern face and it was obvious this woman was extremely old. What was it she wanted to say that could warrant stopping a ceremony as important as this one? Shelbrooke watched in wonder.

"I have not much to say, people. But on this day after a full moon, the real owner of the pack shall return. With full force and glory and her seed shall complete the missing puzzle. Do with this prophecy what you want. But one thing stands, no matter how many ceremonies you hold for this worthless Prince, he will never become the Alpha. We have only one leader," she raised an index finger. "And it is an Omega."

Murmurings arose and everywhere became tensed. Styx himself was dumbfounded but not as shocked as Charles who was devastated as he sat down under a full moon. In anger, he shifted almost immediately and howled in pain. 

Shelbrooke licked his lips, an evil smile playing on his face as he took a stick of cigarette and fixed it between his lips. 

"Hot." He muttered.