A Few Days Earlier...

"We go live in five minutes." A woman announced with a clipboard in hand.

The woman sat at the desk as a small crew of people reapplied her make-up and fixed her hair. She sat in the chair reading over the next segment when suddenly the studio door swung open. She looked up to see a young man running up to her with papers in his hands. The woman raised a brow and so did the people around her at the boy's shocked face.

"Here." He said, handing her the papers. "This is the new segment."

The woman sat up further in her chair with a puzzled face. "What do you mean? I have the ne-"

"No, I was told to tell you to throw it away." The young man replied.

The woman's eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"

"...because the new Alpha Prime sent it."

Everyone in the room gasped as the woman took the papers immediately in her hand.

"New Alpha Prime?"

"New Alpha what happened?"

The woman's eyes grew wider as she read the papers given to her. "Cut commercials...we go live now."

A few moments later. After the chaotic scrambling, the newsroom was live...

"...With a heavy heart, I announce the death of Alpha Prime Demos. Whose was killed by the humans know as Dallas White, John Perky, and Bethany White."





............





Blood and brains scattered across the glass window of the room.

Four dead bodies laid on the ground with a single gunshot to the head.

"Is that all of them?" Ross asked, surveying the room.

"I think so, General." One of the group members answered.

"Alright..." Ross replied, placing the gun on his side. "Ashley. Derek. You're up....I need some of you to keep guard by the door just in case." Ross ordered placing his gun on his hip. "I need the rest of you to keep an eye on the others."

Immediately everyone went to work setting the plan in motion. While Ashely and Derek quickly stepped forth from the group with their bags in hand. Taking their seats they pulled out the equipment needed and went to work.

"We'll be live in about 15 minutes, General Ross." One named Ashley announced.

Ross nodded. "Good I'll radio Lieutenant Luke."



..........



"Lieutenant!" Luke turns to see a man approaching him. "They're almost ready."

"Good. Bring Demos forward and make him look presentable," Luke ordered, pulling out a cigarette and sticking it in his mouth. The man nodded and hurried off to carry out his orders.

Luke took a long and slow drag of his cigarette as he looked out at the city ahead of him.

"Here we go."



..........



The ride to the high counsel's building of the pack was quiet. The guards sat across from both Katherine and Xerous, whose eyes glued on the outside window at the light rainfall.

Fidget awkwardly in her seat as the ride there was a bit uncomfortable with the silence.

Xerous barely glanced at her as his focus seemed to be somewhere else. She looked over at him and could tell he was thinking, and he appeared to be in very deep thought. He almost seemed...torn.

Soon the ship landed in front of the large building.

The guards stepped out first surveying the area with their high-tech guns in hand. Followed by the guards, Xerous stepped out of the ship. He then turns to extend his hand for Katherine to grab. She grabbed hold of his hand stepping out of the ship but was surprised at the sight before her.



Leading up to the building was a crowd of people, but they were cut off by ropes and guards.

However, what Katherine found strange was the crowd.



Silence.



No cheering. No celebration for seeing the royal family or celebrities. Not even a conversation.



All wore black as they stood motionless, staring at her.



Katherine felt a chill run up her side as she glanced at the crowd on each side of the rope.

"...the newly-crowned Alpha Prime Xerous and Luna Prime Katherine have just arrived at the Counsel Building..." The reporter announced on the side next to the red velvet ropes blocking off the crowd.

Xerous keep a straight face only looking forward as he walked toward the building, pulling Katherine along. Guards walked all sides of them making sure they were protected.

Inside the building was cold and drafty.

Guards were placed everywhere. Security here was a little tighter than it was when she first came here with Demos.

"Alpha Prime Xerous!" Katherine turned to see no other than Councilman Lukras walk up to them with a small grin.

"Lukras," Xerous answered. Lukras nodded at his acknowledgment then turned his sight toward Katherine.

"Luna Prime." Lukras greeted Katherine with that same small grin. Katherine didn't answer as she just stared at him. "I am terribly sorry for your loss," Lukras said, placing a hand on Xerous' shoulder.

Xerous gave him a look Katherine could not read. "It was too soon," Xerous said, shaking his head. "He is with my mother and father in the arms of the Moon Goddess."

Lukras nodded. "The council awaits you, your grace." Lukras then guided them toward the main room.

The doors opened to reveal the same setup as Katherine saw before. Each side of the room sat seven councilmen with two thrones sitting at the end of the room. However, at the corner of the room stood the press with cameras pointed at them. Also, there sat a wide television screen that held half of the screen showing the council room. The other side of the screen shows a blonde female news reporter sitting at the desk in a news station.

All eyes now glued on Katherine and Xerous. As soon as they entered the room councilmen, dressed in black robes with a hood hanging behind their back, stood up to their feet.

Everyone in the room then bowed as Xerous guided Katherine over to the throne.

Katherine glanced at the now bowed head of the councilmen. Her eyes then landed on Lukras both exchanging a glance.

Katherine was then placed in front of the throne, hands folded in front of her black dress. She moved her hand against her lap adjusting the small knife placed under her clothing. Soon Xerous did the same standing in front of the throne, hands folded in front of him.

Katherine watched in curiosity as one of the oldest looking men in the room stepped out from his seat and bowed before them. He raised his head and said, "May we now begin the official ceremony of coronation and memorial of the late Alpha Prime?"

In a deep and authoritative voice, Xerous answered, "Proceed."

The elder stood to his feet and motioned for another older gentleman to come forward. Katherine watched as the man dressed in black priest robes walked up to them with the same wooden box from the Winter Moon Festival.

Instantly, the same fear from before returned to Katherine as she watched the same events unfold just like last time.

Once the box was open, Xerous took out the long dagger that sat between the two cups.

Without a word without warning, he grabbed Katherine's cutting her hand.

Katherine yelled in shock as she watched her blood pour into the cup.

Katherine yanked her wounded hand from Xerous sending him a hateful glare. With no remorse or care, Xerous began to drink her blood as if he was drinking wine.

Once finished, Xerous sat the cup in the back in the box beside the other cup.

With a heavy and deep breath, Katherine braced herself for her turn in the ritual to drink Xerous blood. She reached for the second cup in the box only for the box to close before her hand could reach it.

Katherine looked up at Xerous with confusion. Not sparing her a glance, Xerous kept his eyes on the priest moving away from them to the left side of the throne.

The councilmen and the rest of the people in the room glanced at each other in wonder at this as well.

"Bring in the altar!" Xerous announced with a booming voice.

Suddenly, the doors opened to reveal two lycan dragging in the room what looked to be an animal feeding trough, but not quite. The trough or altar had cravings of wolves howling to the moon, but in the center of the moon stood a woman. No doubt the image of the moon goddess.

Once the altar sat in front of the steps of the throne, Xerous nodded to one of his guards. The guard nodded and made his way toward the door.

Katherine raised a brow as she watched the double doors open.

The jiggling of chains caught Katherine's ear as she watched as guards drag in a chain-link of humans into the room. Each of them with a bag over their head.

Katherine's heart dropped as she knew what was about to happen.

Tears stung in her eyes as she watched the guards roughly push the prisoners to the floor on their knees in front of the altar.

Katherine frantically looked over at Xerous with a pleading look. Xerous barely spared her a glance as he motioned for the bags to be removed. A few growls can be heard in the room as the faces of the prisoners were revealed.

Along with individuals Katherine did not recognize sat Dallas, Bethany, younger sister Rebecca, and sadly her sister's child, Arrow.

She couldn't believe it.

"No, let them go! You can't do this!" Katherine yelled.

"Katherine! Let us go you, son of b*tch!" Dallas yelled trying to stand to attack a guard only to be pushed to the floor.

"Katherine." Rebecca cried as Bethany looked at her in sorrow.

Her sister was to be executed live on television along with her friends.

"Today we honor the death of my brother. The late Alpha King..." Xerous began in a loud voice. "Today we will memorialize our previous Alpha Prime by offering the sacrifice to appease his restless soul." Katherine's hands tightened into a fist as a priest walked up to Xerous with the same box held open in front of him. "This ceremony has been a custom of the royal family to annihilate anyone who has assassinated or help plot an attack against anyone in the royal family. No matter rich, poor, royal or even human." Xerous nodded toward the guard by the door for them to open it once more.

The double doors opened and once again the clanking of chains reached Katherine's ear.

Being dragged in by the guard was a group of what looked to be 20 to 30 people with bags covering their heads as well.

"These are the ones that have been caught attempting to help these terrorize escape. These humans are guilty of treason as well." Xerous said as the group stood in the back of the room. Xxerous then opened the box in front of him pulling out a long sharp dagger which he made his way down the steps of the throne toward the altar.

Standing in front of his first victim.

Rebecca.

"No," Katherine whispered as she watched two guards roughly grab her sister forcing her head down in the trough. At the same time, another guard came beside Katherine placing a hand on her shoulder to make sure she does not interfere.

"NO PLEASE! LET ME GO!" Rebbecca shouted as kicked her legs widely as she tried moving her arms for an escape. "PLEASE HAVE MERCY I HAVE A SON!"

Tears poured down Katherine's eyes as she watched her sister be placed forcefully in front of the altar.

Xerous held the dagger in front of him staring down at Rebecca's tear-stained face. He then turns with a small smirk toward Katherine. Turning back to Rebecca he spoke. "For the crimes against-"



"NOOOO!"



Katherine tried to run to her sister but was held back by the guard.

Xerous gave a small smile in satisfaction as he glanced at Katherine. "For the crime of Treason against our people I sentence you to death."



"NO!" Katherine yelled as she cried.



Xerous lean forward as he placed the dagger to Rebbeca's neck pushing the dagger against her neck.







"XEROUS KILLED YOUR KING!"





The whole room fell silent.



All eyes and cameras now pointed at Katherine.



The priest, the councilmen, the press all looked at Katherine confused.



Xerous eyes widen in shock and horror.



"What did you say, your majesty?" The eldest councilmen asked, stunned.

Katherine looked around the room and her mouth hung open wide shock at her own outburst.

"I said Xer-"

"Councilmen I apologize for the queen's outburst. She is ill-"

"I am not ill. Xerous is lying. He shot his own brother just to get the throne!" Katherine yelled over Xerous.

"Brothers of the council Alpha Prime Xerous is right Katherine is lying and she is ill."Councilman Lukras said. "She is only doing this because Xerous just recently found her guilty of treason as well."

"What?!" Katherine shouted.

The room then turns into chaos. Yelling and arguing filled the room at the accusation.

"SILENCE!"

The whole room looked to the eldest councilman stand to his feet. "Is this true, Alpha Prime Xerous? Why is this now being brought to our attention."

Xerous looked at the Councilman sadly. "Y-Yes, when I found her little hideout with the other humans we have found evidence of her plans of treason. She has been living among a rebel camp for a few days....Furthermore, Councilman why would I want to kill my brother? He is family! He is my blood!" Xerous yelled pounding his chest as tears blurred his eyes. The elder councilman looked at Xerous in thought as he continued.

Xerous sighed. "This is why the priest would not allow her the drink of my blood because the royal family has found her guilty...With a heavy heart and I hate to say this the queen must pay for the past king's death."

"She is human, High Councilman. We could never trust a human 100% even if the said human happens to be queen." Councilman Lukras whispered in his ear. "Why would the prince lie?"

"High Councilman, if I may intervene Councilman Lukras is right. You can never fully trust a human no matter who she or he is mated to." Another council member interjected.

"Remember High Councilman, humans by the study of our greatest scientist have been placed beneath us on a social level." Another voiced his opinion.

"She could be saying it just to spare her sister and friend's life," Lukras added. "This alone is suspicious looking. It makes you wonder. Doesn't it?"

Other members of the council nodded and mumbled their agreement.

The High Councilman raised his hand to silence them then looked toward Lukras, then at Xerous, and lastly Katherine.

He sighed as he sat in his chair.

"We have no choice. The queen must be punished." He answered, coming to a conclusion.

"What?" Katherine whispered, stunned. Surely, she thought someone would listen or at least believe her. Katherine looked at her sister as they both exchanged the look of fear and worry.

A strong pair of arms then grabbed Katherine by both her arms and began escorting her off the platform down toward her sister.

"NO! WHAT ABOUT EVIDENCE?! WHAT ABOUT PROOF?!" Katherine yelled as she was being dragged away.

The High Councilman stood to his feet. "Councilman Lukras is right you may have been queen but we must remember you are only human. However, we must have an official trial set for her since she is Luna Prime. Also, if she is found guilty she will not get the harshest punishment since she is bound to you by the moon goddess and is now considered royal." Councilman announced. "Her punishment will be the drinking of poison."

The crowd gasped again.

"KATHERINE!" Rebecca shouted.

The guards dragged Katherine down the steps until she was placed on her knees before Xerous feet.

"NO! LEAVE HER ALONE!" Dallas shouted only to be smacked in the back of his head.

The guards then moved back as Xerous lowered himself to Katherine's eye level. "I'm sorry, my love, my mate it had to be this way, but you left me no choice." Xerous whispered in her ear. His eyes hold the most sincerity and sadness. "Although, I will enjoy killing your sister and that boy Dallas." He said as he tried to hide his smirk. It was almost like he flipped a switch.

"They will find out the truth." Katherine spit back at him.

Xerous shook his head. "You know we could have been something." He whispered before standing to his feet.

"For the possible crimes of treason, the queen will be placed on trial" Xerous announced. "I'm sorry my love." The guards stood Katherine to her feet and moved her to the side as Xerous approached the altar once more.

Xerous stood behind Rebecca with the dagger in hand. "For the crime of treason against our people I sentence all of you to death." He announced once more to the prisoners before him.

"NO!" Katherine yelled as she cried as she struggled against the guards' grip.

Xerous lean forward as he placed the dagger to Rebbeca's chest aiming for her heart.

He pulled back his arm ready to strike-

BANG!

BANG!

Everyone froze as gunshots and screams can be heard outside the doors.

"...Go see what's happening," Xerous commanded one of the guards.

Hesitantly, the guard nodded and made his way to the door.

As soon as the door opened, the guard's head was jerked back as his body collided with the floor.

Blood oozes from the hole now in his head.

Everyone looked on in horror as gunshots and screams can be heard outside the door.

The door swung open once again as a bloodied guard dragged himself in the room. "Y-Your majesty we are being attacked!"

"BY WHO?! WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE!"

"What's happening is the humans finally taking back our freedom."

Everyone looked to the screen as the frightened new reporter was pushed to the side by the end of a gun.

"How?!" Xerous yelled in shock.

"We have your place surrounded. I'm assuming my men have killed most of your guards." General Ross said on the screen. At that moment men and women covered in camouflage burst in the room, guns pointing at everyone.

"GET ON THE GROUND NOW!" A man yelled.

"John," Katherine whispered surprised.

Xerous stunned face then turned to a smirk. "You humans are dumber than I thought. You know we have more soldiers. Most likely on their way here."

General Ross looked at Xerous for a moment until a smirk came upon his face as well. "I'm pretty sure the Council and your people may want you to hold them off once they find out we gave your brother."

Xerous smirk dropped instantly. "Y-Your bluffing."

General Ross smirk only grew. "Am I?"

The screen suddenly split to reveal a man gagged and bounded to a chair.

"Demos," Xerous whispered in horror as Demos glared at the camera in front of him.

Everyone even Katherine in the room gasped in shock.

"How is this possible?!"

"My lord Xerous you said he was dead!"

"How can he still be alive?!"

"What have you done to our king?!"

The councilmen threw questions left and right at Xerous.

"Gentleman there must be some explanation." Councilman Lukras said, trying to be reassuring.

"The explanation is that Xerous over there failed to kill his bastard brother." Litnantuet Luke said, the camera now facing him.

"So, it's true Xerous!" The High Councilman yelled.

"N-No," Xerous said backing toward the door. "The truth is Katherine and her human rebels held my brother hostage all along and said if I don't do whatever they want they will kill-"

"Enough, Prince Xerous!" The High Councilman yelled. He then turned his attention to the screen. "What is that you want, human?"

"Well since you ask?" Lieutenant Luke replied, rubbing his chin. "I want the release of all your human prisoners including Katherine."

"NO, WE CANNOT THEY MUST DIE FOR TREASON!" Councilman Lukras yelled. The High Councilman said nothing as he glanced at the prisoners and Katherine.

"I agree we cannot." He replied to Luke.

Luke shrugged his shoulders. "Fine by me." He then looked at the screen and nodded to one of the men that stood beside Demos. The man nodded back as he pulled out his gun shooting Demos in his foot.

"ARRGGGHHHH!"

Demos screamed in pain as the bullet entered his foot.

The whole room gasped at the sight before them. Some even scream in terror.

"The next one goes in his head. Now if I were you I would think long and hard about my next answer, but not too long. My friend here is trigger happy." Litnantuet Luke said with a smirk.

The council looked amongst each other before the High Councilman replied. "Alright, human..." He growled. "Let our ruler go with no more harm done to him and we will release them all including Katherine."

"Good answer."

"Where do we meet for the exchange?"

"At the edge of town. No funny business or Demos gets a one-way ticket to Heaven."

"Release them." The High Councilman ordered.

"High Councilman, I order you to-"

"YOU HAVE NO POWER ANYMORE, XEROUS!" He yelled in Xerous face. "Or have you forgotten the law which was stated by you that 'anyone who has assassinated or helped plot an attack against anyone in the royal family. No matter rich, poor, royal, or even human.' "

"High Councilman you know we have no power-"

"Shut up Lukras!" The High Council yelled, turning toward Councilman Lukras. "Can't you see we have no choice, they have our Alpha Prime hostage?"

Xerous glared at the Councilman standing to his feet.

"Don't move!" John yelled, pointing his gun.

Xerous barely spared him a glance. "You let a human control us?"

"We have no choice Prince Xerous. We are what the humans call in a bind." The High Councilman replied.

Xerous eyes grew red as he looked around in rage. All the councilmen, his people, even his guards had a gun pointed at their heads.

He has lost the battle.

He has lost to humans.

Xerous growled as he raised his hands in surrender. "You have a deal, human, take us to my brother." He said looking toward John.

"Honestly, you didn't have much of a choice," John replied with a shrug.

Xerous growled as John pushed him forward with the end of his gun toward the door.

The rest of his people followed suit with their hostages as others unchained the prisoners.

The battle may have been lost today, but the war has just begun.





.....................................................................................................................................

Hey, guys just want to say I'm sorry for not updating for so long. I have many reasons for not doing it and one I will admit, I was lazy. So again I apologize. I tried to make the final chapter as long as possible. It is almost 4,000 words. (The most I have ever written in a chapter.) It is as well my Christmas present (sort of) to you. I hope you enjoyed it. If not sorry about that. I was in a rush to write this in the span of two days.

Also, I'm thinking of posting an epilogue. Some of it is already written, but I'm not sure if I should post it. In case I don't I would like to say thank you for your patience and for giving my story a chance. Thank you for your votes, comments, and for adding my story to your libraries.

FYI: I plan on writing other books in the future so following to know the latest update. Also, for those who read "Man of Steel: Loving Mia Jones" I plan to wrap that story up before the year ends.