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The council representative of the elephant clan gasped at their denials.

"Shame on you, Head Sentinel Rodarh. Shame on you." Ratinus said, shaking his head in absolute disappointment.

"So, that's how it's gonna be in this court? We all do things together and you all blame it on me!?" The poor elephant Alpha was already turning red behind the ears, "This was exactly what happened when we all made plans on how to kill the culprit who stole the Alpha King's special ring, not knowing it's his mate!"

"Oh, don't even remind us, Rodarh. You made a very bad and shameless decision that almost got us all killed." Alpha Zane shook his own head.

Head Sentinel Rodarh turned and glared at him.

"And, now he's doing it again. Bringing the Alpha King to court when he should be healing. Shame on you, Rodarh." Ratinus added.

"You rat bastard—" Rodarh began, glaring at the rat Alpha.

"Ladies," Alpha Morose interrupted, "Calm down, all of you."

All of them glared at him for his reference to them.

In turn, the python Alpha hissed at them.

"That is enough," Wolfaraine spoke up finally.

They all took a deep breath before they turned and focused on him again.

"Listen, it does not matter how we came to this court or whose fault it is. What matters is that we are already here, so we might as well continue the meeting. I want to know the full update of what happened here while I was gone—"

"I am deeply sorry for interrupting you, Alpha King." Alpha Alphose cut in then, "I would never do so on any other circumstances but this is a dire situation. This meeting cannot hold anymore. Your health is much more important to us."

"Yes, Alpha King," Degar added, "I should be blamed because I was on this trip with you. Rhodium might be dangerous and poisonous, but it would have been absolutely nothing on a male like you if it was treated as soon as it happened. But a whole week had to pass with poison in your veins."

"Another male would not survive that." Adanel stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes," Degar responded solemnly, "So, now that you're back, we should focus on your treatment instead of the meeting. This meeting will have to happen on a later date."

That said, they all got up and bowed their head to him in a well-known sign of adjourning a meeting.

Before he could say a word, all the council members have disappeared from the Meeting Hall except for Alpha Degar and Alpha Alphose.

Outside the hall, Head Sentinel Rodarh was shouting at Ratinus as they walked farther and farther away from the Meeting Hall until their voices faded.

Wolfaraine glanced around, took a deep breath, and wondered. What just happened now?

CHAPTER 23. WHISPERS IN THE DARK.

Blanket of stars stretched to infinity in the night's sky; some look the color of birthstone-blue while some looked polar-white in color, some looked like twinkling stars and if you're in motion, you'll think that some are moving stars, flickering and shimmering in the sky.

The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night's sky, making the night aglow with its zinc-silver orb. It was a beautiful night.

In the streets of Naturiah, most upper changelings like: the werewolves, cougars, tigers, leopards, elephants, jaguars e.t.c, took the form of their animals to enjoy the wild and the beauty of the night. Some formed combat circles, some ran the woods, some couples were out taking a walk in their animal form and children in their forms playing too.

Through the huge windows of the hallway of the Tower, the night's light penetrated translucently which made the hallway aglow and illuminated the figures of three huge males walking in soundless footsteps to the direction of the aisle that leads to the curved stairway.

As they came down from the stairs, they continued walking with purpose towards the end of the hallway. The only noise in the air was the loud bark of a faraway dog, and the roar of a cougar outside the gates of the big castle.

They got to the door, the male by the right strode forward and inserted the key. The sound of the locks unlocking and the chains being pulled away from the door interrupted the silence of the Tower.

"It's open, Alpha King." Degar said in a low tone.

Wolfaraine walked right through the door, with Alphose trailing behind him. He stood a few feet away from the metal rods that holds Nalaila captive, staring straight ahead to the white wolf which laid on its side—with its back away from them—sleeping peacefully if the labored rise and fall of its body in breathing is any indication.