---- The air froze. "Fake... fake Alpha?" Ethan's smile froze on his face. Maverick ignored him and looked around. "I'm here because someone trespassed on my hunting ground." His voice turned even colder. ''Some wolves don't understand boundaries. Don't even have basic respect. They need to be taught a lesson." Ethan quickly said, "If any of our pack members offended you, I'll punish them severely! Please, tell me who it was!" "Oh?" Maverick raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to help me deal with this?" "Of course!" Ethan puffed out his chest. "We Stone Pack respect the rules above all! Any rule- breaker must pay the price!" The pack members around him chimed in: ---- "The Alpha's right!" "We won't protect any lawbreakers!"" "Maverick King, please deal with them directly!" Maverick slowly nodded. "Very well. The wolf who offended me is named Ryan. He's your trusted Beta, isn't he?" Ethan's face instantly turned a sickly green. " Ryan?" "Yes, that arrogant wolf," Maverick's smile turned dangerous. "Last night, on your orders, he entered my private hunting ground and interfered with my prey." "No... impossible..." Ethan took a step back. "Ryan wouldn't..." "Wouldn't what?" Maverick's voice was like a shard of ice. "Wouldn't follow your orders? Or wouldn't be stupid enough to challenge me?" ---- He snapped his fingers. Two men in black carried a large container forward. It was covered with a black cloth, but the thick smell of blood was already spreading. "T brought the Stone Pack a gift,' Maverick said elegantly. ''Your lost Beta." He yanked off the black cloth. Inside the container was Ryan's wolf head. His eyes were wide, his expression frozen in absolute terror. Screams erupted from the crowd. Scarlett shrieked hysterically, nearly fainting. Eleanor collapsed to the ground. Other pack members stumbled back, some already dry heaving. Ethan stared at the horrifying wolf head, trembling all over. "Ryan... my Beta..." ---- a "Beautiful, isn't it?" Maverick admired his handiwork. "He died very slowly, very painfully. At the very end, he was still begging, saying it was all his Alpha's orders." Maverick's gaze locked onto Ethan. "So, Alpha of Stone Pack, how are you going to answer for your Beta's actions?"