*****Erika''s POV*****


    I had no idea how long I stood there crying, it was night and though there were lights flooding the pack, it was not totally overshadowing the night. So no one could see I was crying, not even the guards stationed everywhere.


    Even the positions those four had left to go protect my brother had been quickly covered by four other guards. Iron w had the strongest guards ever, and they were much too, which was the reason Alex came to me for help. Packs knew it was hard to defeat us. Almost impossible.


    I turned to go back into the room when I heard an angry shout. "You stupid child!"


    I turned at the sound of the voice. Who had dared insult me? The form came out of the shadows and before I could see iting, he had passed the guards and shoved me back roughly.


    I growled when I saw the face. "How dare you, Elder Grigshade?!"


    "I told you not to ascend that throne! I told you, didn''t I?!" He growled, he looked wild and ready to devour. The guards close by held him back and we''re trying to get him to his knees.


    Cindy growled in my head too. I was poised for a fight. The events of the whole night and even before now flooded into my head, I went forward andnded him a blow. "Leave him." I instructed my guards. "You want to fight?! Bring it on, you cocky bastard!"


    This man would be taught a great lesson, I would not hesitate to unleash the strength of an Alpha wolf on him. I''d had enough of his overbearing attitude, of all the time toe with this hatred towards my ascension to the throne, it was now.


    My head was spinning, my temples were throbbing. Thiste hour this old fool hade to my home to fight me. I would kill him. I would prove to him that a fight was not won by body size or age. He might be bigger-way bigger - than my petite frame and even older too, but I would deal with him.


    This was the perfect way to unleash my anger and to end this rubbish with him once and for all. Maybe after this night, he would learn to respect me. He would learn to... I staggered backwards, he threw a punch at me, hitting my cheek, nearly missing my left eye.


    I rushed forward, lifted myself mid-air, extended one of my legs, kicking hard, I caught him square on the jaw. He groaned in pain and staggered too. My men had to hold him to prevent his back from hitting the ground.


    "Leave him." Imanded, gritting my teeth.


    My guards left him, he came forward with another jab, I deftly dodged. "You crazy, old fool, I''ll deal with you!" I targeted his stomach and got him.


    I heard running footsteps from behind, I knew immediately it was my friends, Alex and Gage and they would want to stop me. I wouldnd the final hit before theye close, I pulled my elbow backward and was about to thrust forward when a strong hand held me.


    I turned it was Alex. Elder Grigshade rushed forward tond a punch, Alex swiftly moved before me and deftlynded a blow on the man''s nose, I heard the crunching sound it made - Alex had broken his nose.


    He grabbed his shirt even as his blood gushed. "How dare you hit her?!"


    I blinked my surprise. Why was Alex fighting for me? I was holding out well on my


    own.


    "Why won''t I?!" Elder Grigshade bellowed, he did not care that his nose was profusely bleeding.


    There was something wild about him tonight. Now, that I took my time to look at him, he was devastated. He looked and sounded like a man in pain. Still, that was not enough reason for him toe in here and look for trouble.


    He had practicallye here with the intention to fight me. But why? Why had he


    left thefort of his home toe here and fight me?


    "Do you want to still have a nose, old man?!" Alex gripped his shirt tighter.


    "I don''t care what you think you are, but I''m not leaving here until she pays for what she has done. Her


    stubbornness to climb the Alph


    seat is putting us in danger!" He screamed. "If anything happens to Tasyra, I will burn down this pack. This is a promise I am making here, Erika ckwood. I will forget my rtionship with your father and deal with you as I do my enemies." He threatened.


    I stepped out from behind Alex, my hands fisted by my sides. "Did you just threaten me, Elder Grigshade?"


    "It is a threat I am ready to fulfill is anything happens to my daughter." He continued to rant.


    His daughter? What happened to his daughter?


    "Stop with the threat!" Alex warned.


    "No, I won''t! I told her to let Jace ascend that throne. Something bigger than her is out there. She''s a woman, she will not be able to


    handle it! It has been from


    chaos or the other evert


    she


    came back to the pack! Does that not the you something, Erika?! Doesn''t it?!" He boomed, his eyes were red; if it was as a result of anger or unshed tears, I could not


    tell.


    "Release him, Alex." I released my fists. I turned to see Kat, Gage and Pa witnessing the whole scenario speechless.


    If there was something Elder Grigshade hade to say, it might be important and he hade about it the wrong way. Still, I was ready to listen because beyond the angry man, was a frustrated, sad one.


    "Follow me everyone." I took them to the meeting room, including Elder Grigshade.


    I brought tissue and gave it to him, he held it to his nose. He bent his head backwards to stop the bleeding.


    His nose was crooked but the bleeding had stopped, Gage helped him get it back


    into shape, he grunted in pain.


    "What happened, Elder Grigshade?"


    "Tasyra has been abducted and a lock of her hair sent to me." Shockingly, he broke down into tears. "I don''t know if she''s been killed or is still alive."