BLAKE:
The next day,
Blake strode out of the house with a merry glint in his expression. The activity of last night replayed in his memory, and he couldn't help but smile like a teenager in love. He walked around, taking in the beautiful morning breeze. The sky was bright, birds were flying in the sky, the atmosphere was conducive and he loved every bit of it.
"So peaceful!" He exhaled, but it was like he spoke too soon as he heard his name being shouted from afar. He turned in the direction his name was coming from and frowned. It was just Ian, his beta. "A simple good morning would have been fine, other than yelling my name out loud like that." Blake complained.
"There is no need for that now. The pack is in chaos! We've got a problem!" Ian breathed.
"Chaos! What do you mean by chaos? We only celebrated the festival of rites yesterday. How come there is a problem?" Blake asked.
"An Omega just bit a vampire and Vampire Keat is furious and us hunting the Omega as we speak." Ian said.
Blake felt like he had just heard a thunderclap. He stood there dazed for a moment before asking again.
"What did you just say?"
"Vampire Keat is hunting down an Omega because it bit his vampire." Ian answered.
"An Omega? That shouldn't be possible."
"But it is and we need to act fast." Ian urged him.
"You are right. We need to act fast and find the Omega before Vampire Keat does. It's just a helpless wolf. I am sure he didn't mean whatever he did," Blake said as they walked along the footpath leading to where the hunting team were.
Blake was burdened because of what was going on. He didn't bargain for this today. Just yesterday, they had celebrated the success of the festival, and now, this? He would make sure they found the Omega before Vampire Keat does. He was well aware that finding the Omega would deepen the strife between the vampires and wolves, but he wasn't going to allow a member of his pack to get punished for what was probably not his fault.
Omegas were the lowest rank of wolves, but that doesn't mean that they weren't an important part of the pack.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to hunt the Omega and find him before Vampire Keat does?" Ian asked.
"It is a good idea. There must be an understandable reason why such a thing happened. There has to be a reasonable explanation," Blake said.
"But Vampire Keat is very furious—"
"Which is why we should find the Omega before Vampire Keat does. It is painful if a subject's life is at stake, so I can understand the state of fury Vampire Keat will be in now. He might kill the Omega without listening to an explanation," Blake said as they approached where the hunting parties were.
"Where is the hunting party? We haven't got time to waste."
"I'll go rally them up. Excuse me," Ian said and went in through an opening. On a normal day, the pack would go hunting, but there were specific wolves charged with the responsibility of hunting other wolves or their prey. They were known as the hunting party.
They all came out with Ian and bowed to Blake, who studied them. Meredith and Ivy walked past at that moment and stood by the side to watch what was going on.
"We need to hunt an Omega on the run. Apparently, this Omega bit a vampire and the vampire Lord is trying to hunt him down. I want us to find him before Vampire Keat does. I am sure you all are caught up for that," He said, but it sounded like a question instead.
"Yes, Alpha!" They chorused.
"The hunt will begin momentarily, so divide yourselves into groups of five." He ordered.
One of them raised his hand up, signifying that he wanted to ask a question. "Yes?" Blake gave him the go-ahead.
"Alpha, who is going to lead the hunt?" One of the guards asked.
Immediately Blake heard that question, his eyes went to Ivy, who was standing at the sidelines with Meredith. He thought that this would be the best opportunity for her to be involved in things, and get exposed to some things wolves did.
"Poison Ivy will lead the hunt," He said and could see the surprise in her face as Meredith nudged her to move forward.
With that expression on her face, she walked up to where he stood and a round of murmuring began. "Silence!" Blake ordered, and the murmuring died down. None of them dared to break the silence, to avoid getting punished by the Alpha.
Blake turned to face her, his gaze on her ever tender and lovely. "You are going to lead the hunt, poison Ivy. I trust you can do it," He said as his eyes roamed her body, bringing back the memories of last night.
Ivy felt nervous at his gaze, but she looked him in the eyes, anyway. "I don't think that would be necessary. There are a lot of experienced wolves here who would be more than happy to lead the hunt. Take Meredith as an example," Ivy said.
"I want you to lead the hunt, Ivy." Blake insisted.
"But I am not ready yet. It will get hard and complicated, or worse, I might get hurt." She said.
Blake knew she was trying to dodge, but he wasn't going to let her do that this time. "I insist, poison Ivy. You don't have to be ready to hunt well. It's a gradual process."
"Yes, but—"
"No buts," He cut in. "You are leading the hunt," He said.
Ivy sighed in defeat. "Alright."
Blake turned to the wolves and said, "There you have it. Poison Ivy will lead this hunt. So, the rest of you, get ready because we are heading for the woods." He ordered.
"Yes, Alpha." They shouted, and he dismissed them.
Blake turned to look at Ivy, who had already gone to join Meredith. Ian moved closer to Blake and whispered into his ears, "Are you sure she will be able to lead the hunt well?" He asked.
"Of course she will. She isn't the first woman who would do that, and I am sure she won't be the last." Blake replied confidently as he stared at her.