Fifty Four

"Honey, are you okay?" Karina asked worriedly as she helped her daughter get away from the messy place.

Yeah, mom, I just... the dish slipped," she lied, looking at the mess created. Bending down, she collected the scattered shards and disposed of them in the trash can. She then mopped up the porridge and started making another dish.

"I know what your sister has done has shocked you, but don't worry, we will figure something out, okay, honey?" Her mom squeezed her hand.

Yes, mom, we will figure something out." She flashed a fake smile that looked real and turned her attention to the boiling water in the sufuria.

"Your mom told me what happened. Are you hurt anywhere?" Lakisha was asked by her father the moment she walked into his office with the bowl of steaming porridge.

No, dad, although the bowl broke. So, dad, do you have any idea of how we will figure everything out?" She asked when she settled down on the chair.

"I don't know, sweetheart, but I am trying to take some loans. It's only Killan who would have helped me, but he still owes us what your mom got from him years ago. Besides, I heard that he is no longer the alpha, so I doubt if Alpha Putin will help me with this," he sighed. "But sweetheart, can you, like, ask Noah for help? You told me that he was starting his own company and that it was successful." Her father suggested

Lakisha gripped the end of the table, trying to swallow the growing, painful lump in her throat. After getting a grip on herself, she smiled and said, "Dad, Noah will help me, but right now he is undergoing some loss. His secretary disappeared with his new project money, so I doubt if he can help us," she laughed nervously.

"I guess I will have to... I think I know whom I should go to," he smiled.

"Who?" Lakisha asked in an equally excited voice.

"Ash's dad. Of course he is my beta, and it will be awkward, but I am sure he has something in his accounts," he said while walking out of his office. "I'll be back, honey." He pecked his daughter's forehead and disappeared behind the office door.

"We should talk before you go," Karina, who had overheard her husband's conversation while at the door, said. When Alpha Cameroon gave her a confused look, she asked him, What if he has already heard about our daughter being the one involved in his son's murder?" She whirled in question.

"What? What makes you think they already know about it? We haven't told anyone, have we?" He asked, thinking deeply. Sighing, he brushed his face as if wiping sweat and then leaned against the wall. "I don't think he has known about it, and even if he has, why would he punish me for my daughter's mistakes? Besides, it's not like I won't pay back whatever he gives me. I have some savings in my account, and adding to whatever he'll give me, I'll be able to raise enough to help continue with our pack activities. We will get the profit in no time and give him back his share," he explained.

"Okay then, all the best," Karina rubbed his hand gently, "should I come with you?" She then asked, "I mean, if he is already aware of all this, then we will have to convince him, something you are not good at." She winked, intending to liven the mood. Her husband has been sad for days, and the truth is that his sadness is killing her as well. Luckily enough, her bad joke worked because he chuckled, making his eyes twinkle a bit.

"I know what you are trying to do, babe," he told his wife, "but really, I appreciate it, honey." He pulled her into a hug.

"So, shall we go?" She stretched her hand out to him.

"Mmm," he nodded. Before they could exit the house, their main door rang. It was Lakisha who opened the door and then came back to tell his father that Ash's father was at his office and he wanted to see him. Confused, Alpha Cameroon arched his brows together and went to see him.

"Beta grill, nice to see you. I was about to come to your house as well," he said, stretching his hand for a handshake and then sitting on his chair.

"Oh, did you get the message too?" Grill asked.

"Messege? Didn't you come here to Anyway, forget it; tell me which message because I am sure I haven't received any messages since morning. Alpha Cameroon said this while going through his phone to see if he had received any new messages, but he hadn't. "I don't see anything," he said, showing his phone to him.

"Well, I guess it was sent to the betas instead. Alpha Putin is calling a meeting with all the packs in the world. A rogue went to his office this morning and told him that the Lycan whom we have all been looking for had gathered all the million rogues out here and is currently training them. That rogue said that the Lycans aim is to take over the world, and they'll be coming soon." He sighed in desperation. "We haven't found my son yet, who was taken by that Lycan, and now we have to..." he voiced out his fear.

"Oh, so he hasn't known that it was my daughter who planned for his son's death," Alpha Cameroon thought while getting close to him. When Grill came in at first, saying that he wanted to talk to him, he thought he was already aware of what had happened, but God, he wasn't. "Get a grip of yourself, Grill. Now that we know that the Lycan is gathering his own army, I am sure your son is one of them. I have heard that many strong young men are missing. Romours say the Lycan is abducting them to kill them, but I think I now know the reason. The Lycan is making his own army using them as well. I guess the prophecy was true then," Cameroon sighed.

"So, did they say what this meeting will be about?" He asked after a heavy silence.

"I don't know. Probably a way to catch and hinder the plans of this Lycan and his guardian." Beta Grill shrugged.

"His guardian? He already found his guardian." Cameroon asked in shock, "Then if this Lycan has found his guardian, it's going to be impossible to hinder his plans. Let's say we are already doomed. Our freedom, peace, and families are now in their hands." He said it seriously.

"I know that already, Alpha Camerron, but what do we do? The strongest Alpha in the world is calling us—what do we do? We just have to go and listen; who knows, he might be having a way to get rid of this Lycan; don't forget that he saw the sun even before our father's," beta Grill shrugged. The truth was, Beta Grill cared less about the Lycan and his guardian. The only thing he wanted and cared for was his lost son. Although he had been gone for months, he still had the feeling that his son was still alive. Ash is not his biological son, but he is attached to him as if he were his own. Grill doesn't even remember the last time he slept peacefully because he was always haunted by terrible nightmares. He would dream that Ash was in danger or that he was calling for help, and even once he dreamed that Ash was brought home but not alive; he was dead.

His wife's face crossed his mind, and he sighed. She was done waiting, and she had made it clear to him that in the evening they would be burying a banana stem to signify his body. Where that banana stem will be buried will be their son's tomb from then on.

"Alpha Cameroon, I also want to tell you something else," he said in a low voice.

"Which is?" Alpha Cameroon asked in panicky mode. Was he saving the worst for last?" He couldn't help but ponder.

"We will be holding a burial ceremony in the evening, and you are all asked to come. "You, your wife, and your daughter's," he told him.

"Burial ceremony? Is there any of your relatives who's dead?" He was in shock.

"I don't know if he's dead or not, but tonight we will be holding a burial ceremony for our dear son, Ash." He dropped the bomb. Alpha Cameroon froze, not believing his ears. They were holding a burial ceremony? The truth was that his daughter's involvement with Ash's death was also killing him, and Grill's assurance to them that he had a feeling he was still alive also made him feel less guilty. But now? They were going to perform a burial ceremony for him?

"Beta Grill, why don't you guys wait a little bit? Just give him one more month, and if he doesn't come back, then we can do the burial for him, but from now on, just wait a little bit. Also, didn't you just say that Apha Putin would be having a meeting concerning that loose Lycan? I will make sure to bring this to his attention. We all know that he was really fond of Camila, and if we tell him that Ash was her best friend, he will find him at any cost." He suggested. He couldn't believe that Grill and his wife had already given up.

"I also suggested the same, but my life doesn't want to listen. She says that he's dead, and she will carry out the burial ceremony for our son. Tell me, what should I do? I will just go on with that," he said, pressing his lips together in annoyance. "This is the first time I am seeing her lose hope in something. My wife had never been like this, but I guess Ash's disappearance has gotten the best of her."

"How about this? I will ask Karina to talk to her. She may understand. But you two should know that if Ash is still alive and we end up performing this ceremony, we may shorten his life span." Alpha Cameroon explained it to him.

"Do talk to Luna Karina then. She may be the only one who will make her understand." With that, he said his goodbyes and went to his house. The moment Cameroon got to the main living room, he found his wife and Lakisha waiting for him with worries on their faces.

"Did he agree, dad? How much is he lending us?" Lakisha was the first one to reach him.

"Shit," he cursed. "I forgot to ask him. We only talked of Ash's burial ceremony and stopped our conversation at that." He told them

"Ash's burial ceremony Did the team that went to look for him find his body?" Lakisha asked in shock.

"No. The body hasn't been found. His mother thinks it's best if they perform this ceremony for him." He shruggled. After recalling something, he turned to his wife and said, "Babe, before I forget, Beta Grill wants you to talk to his wife and make her change her mind about this. He doesn't want this ceremony to be performed."

"It's okay, babe. If he feels like I will be one to make her change her mind on this, then I will gladly do it." She smiled while assuring her husband. "And babe, what about the funds? Should I ask them since you forgot to?"

"Yeah, do so if you remember, but no rush. I have applied for a loan, and I am yet to receive their response. But let's hope that this bank will give the loan to me and that we won't have to ask Beta Grill for anything. And also, you may not find me at home when you get back because we are going to a meeting at Alpha Putin's palace."

"Why is there a meeting? And when will Alpha Killan get his position back as the alpha of the pack? Is his grandfather taking over for good?" Lakisha asked.

"I don't know if he'll be the alpha from now on, but I am sure we will find out everything today. As for what we are going to do there, sweetheart, it's because news reached us that the Lycan out there is planning to attack. As of what beta Grill has told me, the Lycan has already found his guardian, and they have already conquered all the rogues out there. The Lycan's pack consists of a million soldiers, and they'll be soon on our necks." He sighed.

"Does that mean all of us are going to die? Isn't that what the books say?" Lakisha gasped.

"Let's not think negatively, honey. We all hope that Alpha Putin will be able to come up with a solution for all this. It's unfortunate that Alpha Killan ended up burning Elder Peter's. He was a sire, and he is the only person who would have helped us solve all of this that is happening now. But I guess we will have to face whatever is coming." Her father responded.

"I am scared. I really don't want to die. I hope this Lycan won't carry out whatever is written in books. Why don't you alphas come together and give back what belonged to his ancestors?" Karina asked. At that point, she was no longer interested in her husband's position as the leader of the pack. All she wanted was for her life to be spared. The books said it was the werewolves who stripped the Lycans of their rights. "You all should return what belongs to him, isn't that right?" She raised her brows in fear.

"I'll be better dead." Lakisha mumbled.

"What? Why would you say that, honey?" Her mother asked in concern.

"Noah had ended things with me. He said that he married me because we were rich, but now that he knows we are going bankrupt, he doesn't want anything to do with me ever again." She hugged her mother and told her about the phone call she received when making some porridge for her father.