Chapter 56
The Werewolf Realm
Red Moon Pack
The council hall of the Red Moon Pack was overflowing with tension. Every pack from across the Werewolf Realm had gathered, their alphas and betas crowding the circular chamber. The atmosphere was thick—fear, frustration, and exhaustion rolled through the air like smoke.
King Johnson stood at the center, shoulders heavy, looking older than he truly was. His voice echoed through the chamber.
"As I said before… now that all packs are assembled here in the Red Moon Pack, we know exactly where Roosevelt will strike. And let me address the mistake of last time—faking defeat." His jaw tightened, pain flickering in his eyes. "It was a stupid move. It cost lives… far too many. And I am truly sorry."
For a moment, silence swallowed the hall.
Erin stepped forward, her presence calm but undeniably powerful. "Don't be hard on yourself," she said gently. "Everyone here knows you didn't mean harm. You acted for the good of us all."
A scoff broke across the hall.
One of the betas muttered, "Tell that to the ones who lost their lives."
The air snapped.
Levi turned slowly, eyes narrowing like sharpened blades. "You must have a death wish," he said coldly. "To talk to a Creator in that manner? Is it because she isn't flexing her power and oppressing you? Does she need to scare you for you to respect her?"
The beta stiffened.
Levi continued, voice deep and threatening, "Mind yourself. This woman you mocked—she's our trump card in this battle. Our only hope of surviving. If the vampires decide to return to their realm because of your disrespect, the Werewolf Realm is doomed."
The beta's legs buckled. He dropped to his knees and bowed so fast his forehead nearly hit the floor.
"I—I'm sorry, Queen Erin!"
Erin sighed and gave him a small, disappointed smile. "It's alright. No one is going back to the Vampire Realm. But I hope you never repeat that—toward me or anyone else. We came here to help, not be disrespected. If any wolf is caught disrespecting another race again, we will return home… and you can face Roosevelt alone."
A ripple of fear passed through the crowd.
Erin shifted her gaze to King Johnson. "Now, since Roosevelt has already used his dragon… when do the Goldrens step in? Ruby and Theo won't let me rest—they're tired of hiding. Even Mars, who absolutely shouldn't be hiding, is pacing like a caged beast."
At the mention of Mars, Levi's eyebrow twitched sharply.
King Johnson exhaled. "From what we saw during the last battle… the next one will be worse. Horrifying, even. The demons Roosevelt commands… they devour souls."
A collective gasp spread through the room.
The betas who hadn't joined the battle looked like their blood had frozen.
"D-devour souls?" one of them stuttered. "Like… our souls? My soul?"
Even Erin's expression darkened.
"Yes," King Johnson said grimly. "Your soul. These demons feed on them. And they targeted Werewolves the most."
A council member whispered under his breath, "This is madness…"
King Johnson continued, "And now that Roosevelt has used his dragon, we must act quickly. If we don't put him to slumber soon… defeating him will only make things worse. Because every time he is pushed to the brink, his demon side awakens further. When that happens… his power—and his dragon—grow."
Everyone stiffened as if an icy wind had swept through them.
Levi spoke first, stating what everyone was thinking. "Then how do we put Roosevelt to sleep?"
King Johnson grimaced. "That… is going to be difficult."
Micha blinked. "Um… why?"
Michael rubbed his forehead. "Because to put Roosevelt to slumber… we must understand how he woke up in the first place."
Levi threw his arms up. "How the hell are we supposed to know that?!"
Johnson sighed heavily. "Honestly… I don't know."
A foolish beta offered, "Maybe we can ask Roosevelt?"
The murderous glare he received from every Alpha in the room was enough to shut him up instantly.
Erin crossed her arms. "So how do we know how to put him back to sleep?"
Levi offered weakly, "Why don't we just focus on defeating Roosevelt?"
Michael shot him a look. "Defeat him? And then watch him return as a half-demon monster to wipe out every realm? Let me remind you, Alpha Levi—Roosevelt is angry with the entire universe."
The room fell silent.
King Johnson finally spoke. "During the next attack, we fight with everything we have."
He turned to Erin. "Yes—the Goldrens will join. But only if the battlefield becomes truly desperate."
Erin nodded firmly. "I'll prepare them."
"Good." King Johnson exhaled.
As everyone began filing out, he added, "And remember the three demons. They're a thorn in our flesh. I was seconds away from killing one before Roosevelt arrived with his dragon."
A dangerous spark lit in Levi's eyes. "Do you think… we could use them as leverage?"
Michael barked a humorless laugh. "Bad idea, Levi. Very bad idea. You know what will happen? Roosevelt will burn the entire Werewolf Realm to ash and then walk away with his demons like nothing happened."
Levi pressed his lips together. "Understood."
The meeting dispersed. But the heaviness remained—like a storm that refused to break.
Levi's bloodline, Roosevelt's awakening, the mystery of how to put him to sleep… frustration and fear lingered like shadows.
---
The Demon Realm
Far away, beyond the living realms, deep within the crimson storm clouds of the Demon Realm—
Roosevelt sat upon his grotesque throne carved from thousands of human skulls. Rivers of molten red light flowed beneath the chamber. He lifted an ancient cup filled with glowing blood, swirling it lazily as he spoke to Jyra.
"Jyra… how does that wolf know so much?" Roosevelt muttered, eyes narrowing. "Most who carried the truth died long ago. How can a young alpha know what only the old ones swore to protect?"
Jyra bowed. "My Lord… I do not know. The man is different from other wolves. I believe he is an Alpha."
Roosevelt chuckled. "Yes, yes, he's clearly an Alpha. But there's something else about him… something more."
Devyani stepped forward. "Should we investigate him? Look into his past—what he knows and what he doesn't?"
Roosevelt waved her off. "No need. We've crushed them enough. And with the injury I inflicted on him…" A cruel smile stretched across his face. "He should die in a few days."
He did not know Erin was healing Levi at that very moment.
With a dismissive flick of his fingers, his demons bowed and vanished into the shadows of the hall.
Roosevelt rose from his throne and walked to his private chamber—the place where memories lingered like ghosts.
Her portraits lined the walls.
Beth.
His queen.
His everything.
He approached one of the paintings, tracing her cheek with his clawed fingers.
"I miss you," he whispered, voice cracking in a way that unsettled even the shadows. "Don't worry… I will avenge you. The Werewolves will regret taking you from me."
His eyes glowed bloody crimson as he lifted his gaze toward the moon outside his chamber window.
"I won't rest," he growled, "until the Werewolf race is annihilated."
The moon reflected in his eyes like a burning promise.