Chapter 180

Dylan POV.

The full moon had slowly began to rise in the not yet dark sky, and with it my nerves began to shoot through me. This was it, the battle that had been at the forefront of my mind for months was finally looming, and would begin very soon. The trigger would either be Lewis’s rescue, or it would be his death, I was praying to whatever higher power would listen that it was the former.

I slid on the armor that belonged to the man I loved, effortlessly. It was obviously bigger than mine was, and so I had cut the sleeves and the legs slightly in order for them not to be trailing on the floor. To combat the baggyness of it, I placed a belt tightly around my middle, making sure it had a holster for me to put my gun in safely.

I then began loading myself up.

I had two holsters also firmly attached to my thighs, one for my dagger and one for a spare firearm with a pouch full of extra bullets. On my feet I tightly fastened my already broken in steel toed boots, before fiddling with my new ghostly hair. I couldn't exactly leave it down and loose for the fight ahead of me, hell, I guess even tying it in a ponytail would be bothersome as the loose locks would inevitably slap my face and create distractions. No, I needed it braiding, so that it would be completely tucked away and out of my field of vision... the only issue I had, was that I had no clue how to do a braid.

My mother used to braid my hair all the time when I was younger. My father would sit opposite me, making silly faces and getting me to move as much as possible in order to frustrate her. I smiled slightly at the thought of my parents as I looked in the mirror while contemplating what to do.

Only the more I looked at myself, and the more I thought about them, the more upset I became. With my hair now as white as the snow that rested on the ground during the winter months, I resembled my parents very little. I used to look in the mirror and see my dad smiling back at me, but now I just saw a girl who had been cursed to carry the weight of the world, by a benevolent self absorbed goddess, that should never have messed with human life in the first place.

A knock sounded on the door bringing me out of my deep thoughts with a large sigh. I was never able to truly enjoy a moments peace.

"Just come in..." I called out only to have Gilliards mate Trina enter my room. I frowned and looked at her as she walked over to me.

"Everyone is ready to leave on your orders." She announced looking over my amor cladded body with a slight smirk. "Dylan... You do realize, The second Lewis sees you in that he is going to want to jump you."

I myself looked down over my body, and frowned. I hadn't thought about Lewis's reaction, I mean, maybe he would have a problem with me using it. It wasn't like he himself would wear it for this battle though. He was a wolf for gods sake. He was only really given it previously because he had to be in human form for the duration in order to be perceived as less of a threat.

"And the second king Josh sees it, he will become enraged and want to kill you." This time Clarke stepped into my room. "I will admit, It does suit you though." Of course his grace would react in the complete opposite way to Lewis. It must have been an extremely powerful blow for him, to have captured Lewis. He would have realized instantly that both myself and his previous beta had been intimate in more ways than one would expect.

"My hair is going to get in my face..." I absentmindedly spoke, still staring at my unfamiliar body in the mirror that rested in Lewis's bedroom.

"I'll do it for you?" Trina was all but ready to get her hands on my hair. Her wide enthusiastic smile expressed nothing but the glee that she felt. "What would you like? Buns? Braids?"

I shrugged, walking over to the square hair brush, and handing it to my cousin in law. "Two plaits should do the trick. I just want it out of my face." She nodded and quickly got to work, placing my white hair into two simple braids, that slightly protruded out of the top of my head.

"If you braid the strands under each other instead of over, then you get a sort of 3D effect." She chuckled securing the hair elastic to the second plait after completing it. "Are you ready to go and change the world?" She asked me, placing her hands on my shoulders and looking at me in the mirror that was facing me.

"No..." I gave a sarcastic answer, which was followed by a small awkward scoff of a chuckle. "But I am ready for all of this to end... one way or another." I stood up and turned to face the two people in front of me. Clarke who had a knowing look on his face.

"You've been ready for this since the new world began. Now, you just have both the means, and the support to actually do it." My friend nodded his head, nothing but reassurance clouding his features. His confidence in me was extremely encouraging, in fact, it wasn't just him, everyone was so sure I could do this, and I wasn't about to back away and let them all down now, not when I had come this far.

"Let's go save Lewis!" I nodded my head also, in solidarity and walked out of the door with the two of them following.

Trina had been right, everyone was waiting both outside and in the pack house for me to emerge. The plan had been set in motion and they all stood, waiting for my orders as I walked out to the front of the large group of people.

Gilliard, stood in front of everyone, with Oliver and Vee stood slightly to the side. Trina found her place at Gilliards side, while Ryan Clarke entered the crowed but remained on the front line, watching my every move as I too walked to where Alpha Gill was stood.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" I asked him quietly. "There's no going back."

"I'm ready to do what is necessary. We've all got your back, Dylan, I promise. We will do what we can to save my idiot cousin." He attempted to add humor to the events that were about to transpire, but it fell flat. I was far too focussed on the task to show anything but determination.

"Ok..." My hands trembled gently with nerves and the kings smug face came to my mind. "All the Lycans should shift now, that way they're ready for when the time time comes." I watched Alpha Gilliard give a slight nod before addressing his pack.

"Every wolf is to shift. We will make our way to the sectors border on the queens command." I watched as every Lycan present began to let their wolf forms take over effortlessly, after all their pack shifted he and his mate both allowed themselves to transform too, their bones began to crack and morph right next to me before two large wolf forms towered over me.

"You know... No matter how many times I see someone shift, it still somewhat fascinates me." I absentmindedly spoke, while gazing at the large furry animals stood to my side and in front of me.

My sight however began to quickly focus on Trina's wolfs ass. On her thigh resting on the thick soft fur that covered her body, lay a distinct crescent moon. It was rather beautiful actually, perhaps she had been blessed, at least that is what I thought until I saw the exact same mark on Gilliard, in the same place.

‘Alpha, have you and your mate always shared a mark on your wolves?’ I asked through mind link, just in case my question caused any issues between our ranks.

‘No, the only mark we share is the one the mate bond provided us with.’ He turned his attention to his mate and I watched his wolfy eyes widen at the sight of it. He was confused.

‘Wait…’ I looked at the rest of the wolves that all stood ready for a command and smiled, allowing my sight to travel to the slowly rising full moon. I silently thanked the moon goddess then turned my attention back to the pack members in front of me. “Everyone look at your alpha…” I pointed to his rear end obvisously and then addressed the crowd once more. “Now look to the wolves among you, each and every one of you has been given this symbol from the goddess Luna as a sign of camaraderie and rebellion. The kings warriors will NOT have this mark, so you will know who the true enemy is among you.”

Chatter broke out slightly as I turned my attention to Oliver, who looked at me in both shock and determination.

“Oliver, talk to me, how is Vee doing?” He knew instantly what I meant.

“She is preparing for the wounded. Myself and Ryan collected enough supplies to hopefully treat everyone who will need the medical aid.” I nodded, my thoughts raving in my head at all the possibilities of this attack.

“And what of the rogues? Have you informed them of the plan?” He nodded his head, with a small frown of concentration on his face as he reiterated their role.

“The rogues are currently already at the border. Their lack of identifiable scent make them the best scouts, they will intervene with Lewis’s execution if it takes place before we reach the area.” That was good, we had covered all bases.

“Elias and Ygritte are guarding the the safe haven, where the wounded will go, the children and the vulnerable also reside there.” He nodded then switch off in order to mind link the rogues, while my heart began to hammer in my chest. “Alright everyone… let’s move out.” I finally watched Oliver shift too and smiled when I noticed he too had been given a crescent moon mark, if he wasn’t truly with us then the moon goddess wouldn’t have given him the sign of rebellion.

I jumped on his back, and nodded, allowing Gilliard and Trina to lead the charge…

Everyone took off in a sprint. Humans were riding on the backs of the wolves in order to preserve their energy, and the wolves had faced of determination.

By the time we made it to the border my heart sank in my chest…

A bruised Lewis, knelt on a raised platform, with cameras and people all watching as if it were some estranged reality tv show, his hands were bound behind his back, however his head remained high… he was a very proud man.

I watched as a man approached him, I recognized him from my own public punishment as the one who had given me my lashing. His claws were out as he walked slower towards the man I loved.

‘Shit…’ Oliver’s voice sounded in my head, and I realized that we were too late for me to prioritize the kings death.

I dismounted quickly and raised my gun without thinking about it.

“Get the fuck, away from my mate!” Heads from both sides turned to face me instantly, as a single bang sounded out, blood grotesquely splattered from the executioners head, onto Lewis’s shocked face, right before his body hit the floor with a deafening thud!

“Welcome back… My Queen!”