Chapter 43: After Battle

Emma would have regretted having Dex kill Lucien. Maybe that was selfish of her, but she wanted her break with Lucien to be clean and right. The Elders would grant a divorce and she would be able to marry Dex.
The mood among the packs was triumphant but subdued. Lucien wasn’t going to let this go this easily. There would be another confrontation. Emam knew this with every fiber of her being and wondered if maybe she should have let Dex kill Lucien. It would have saved wolf lives.
Didn’t matter now. Lucien was gone. He’d had to slink off with his warriors.
Dex surveyed the wolves, now in human form. “Thank you all for being a part of this.”
“We can’t let Lucien ruin the progress we’ve made towards peace,” Lugo said.
Dex shook his hand. “I appreciate you being on my side. This was just the first battle I think.”
Lugo nodded. “I agree, but we need to regroup before we can fight again. We have wounded.”
Being wolves they’d heal quickly, but they would all be weak for a few hours.
Lugo’s wolves left them in the forest to head home. He promised to meet with Dex later to try a diplomatic solution to the problem of Lucien. Emma wasn’t convinced that was going to work, but if they could get other packs to stay out of the war then Lucien would have to admit defeat at some point.
“I need to assess the wounded,” Emma said.
It was her job as Luna. Dex was wiggling his fingers. “Okay.”
“Wait. What’s wrong with your hand.”
“I’m fine, Emma.”
She grabbed his hand. He wasn’t bleeding anymore, but he had been. “You’re hurt.”
“I’ll be fine in a bit,” he said.
She frowned down at it. “Okay, but if it still hurts later, let me know.”
He kissed her cheek and smiled. “I’ll heal. There are others far worse than I am.”
She nodded. The forest was littered with wolves in various states of recovery. If they had a mate, that wolf was by their side. She turned back to Dex. “We need food.”
“I’ve already called to those who stayed behind. They’re bringing food.”
“Thanks.” She looked around again. “Where are Brutus and Leyton?”
“I don’t know, but let me know when you find them. I’ve got to send scouts out to make sure that Lucien isn’t lurking.”
She nodded and picked through the wolves laying on the ground until she found Leyton hovering over Brutus. Emma knelt down. “Leyton?”
“He’s okay. I think, but he hasn’t awakened yet.”
Emma sat that he’d been torn apart well.
“He was fighting like a maniac, Emma. I don’t know what got into him. At one point there were two wolves on him while I tried to get one off.”
Emma hugged her friend. “The battle only just finished. He’ll wake up.”
Brutus looked pale. She turned to a she-wolf next to her. “Go find Dex.” The wolf did as Emma directed. “We’ll get some broth on the way and see if we can get some into Brutus.”
“What if he dies, Emma? He’s the only wolf I’ve ever loved.”
“He won’t die, Leyton. I’ll make sure of that.”
Dex arrived and the grim expression on his face didn’t help. Emma rose. “Don’t look so dour.”
“Did you send for broth?”
“I figured it would come with the food.”
Dex sent a text. “It’s on its way.”
“Thanks.”
Dex squatted down and put a hand on Leyton’s shoulder. “I’ve known Brutus for a long time. He’s gotten into some scrapes and survived them all. He’ll be okay.”
More wolves arrived with food. Someone brought some broth as Brutus began to stir.
“Brutus,” Leyton said, desperation in her voice.
He groaned. Emma had the cup of broth ready but waited to see if Brutus woke more. It would be easier administering it with him awake.
Brutus blinked then opened his eyes. “This is quite a reception.”
Leyton hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m okay, sweetie. Really. Just a little weak.”
His wounds were beginning to knit themselves together and he sat up a weak smile on his face.
“Drink this,” Emma said.
“Broth? Am I a sick old lady?”
“Don’t be a hero, Brutus. Drink the broth,” Dex said.
Brutus did as his Alpha directed. His color looked better than a few minutes ago. He slid over and propped himself on a tree. “So what happened at the end?”
“Lucien turned tail and ran,” Dex said.
“You didn’t kill him?” Brutus asked.
“I didn’t let him,” Emma said.
“It would be messier in some ways and less messy in others,” Dex said.
The Elders of Lucien’s pack would want an investigation even though an Alpha being attacked had every right to kill another Alpha. “We’ll let the Elders dissolve the marriage.”
A look passed between Dex and Brutus, but Emma couldn’t decipher it. She rose. “If Leyton has this, I need to help pass out food.
Dex caught up with Emma when they were a little further away. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
He pulled her into a hug and she wanted to melt into him, but there were things to do. The pack needed to get fed and healthy.
“I understand why you didn’t want me to kill Lucien, but I wouldn’t regret it.”
She looked up at him, her chin resting on his chest. “I would.”
He tucked some hair behind her ear. “I know. And that’s one of the reasons I love you. You’ve let go of any anger you might have for Lucien.”
“It isn’t productive, Dex.”
“I know. You’re right. Would you have thought less of me if I’d gone ahead and killed him?”
She knew her answer was important, but it was easy. “Never, Dex. I know who you are.”
His smile brightened. “I guess you have troops to feed.”
“I do. You have pack business to take care of. We can’t canoodle all day.”
He laughed and let her go. “I’m the Alpha. If I want to canoodle I can.”
“But what kind of leader would that make you?”
It was her job as Luna to keep the Alpha focused when he wasn’t. She raised an eyebrow at him. He hugged her and let go. “Fine. I’ll go do Alpha things.”
She watched him stride away more in love with him than ever. Her musings were interrupted by Leyton. “I need to thank you.”
“It’s my job as Luna. “
“And I appreciate you being here. Do you think Lucien will be back?”
Emma would have liked to reassure her, but she wasn’t going to lie. “Yes. At some point. Hopefully, I can get to my meeting with the Elders before he does. If I’m divorced then he has no claim on me.”
“I better get back to Brutus before he does more than he should.”
Emma kissed her cheek then let her go. The Elder meeting weighed on Emma’s mind. She didn’t see any obstacles for the divorce, but if Lucien had told them lies about her it might not go smoothly. She shook that off. Her duties as Luna for this pack took precedence and there was nothing she could do to prepare for that meeting.
When all the warriors were fed and on their way home, Emma finally relaxed. Dex leaned against a tree watching her. She approached him. “Hey.”
“Hey. How is my beautiful Luna?”
“Tired and ready for home.”
“Shall we shift and run there?”
She looked up at him. They hadn’t brought his truck so it would be a long walk back in human form. “Sure.”
They shifted and Emma raced after Dex.