Into the Battle
*Rowan*
It’s time.
I can’t delay it any longer. I have to take my mate out to the battlefield with me.
This is the day I’ve been dreading since she first returned to me. Well, maybe even before that. Maybe since I’ve known I had a mate. It’s been in the back of my mind, anyway.
Although, back then, I thought maybe she’d be on the other side of the battlefield. Thank the Goddess that’s not the case.
I’m in my wolf form, wearing my father’s protective suit. I wish Hezzlie would’ve agreed to put it on, but she refused, and I understand why. It would’ve been too big for her. I was hopeful when I thought of it that it would work out for her, but perhaps it’s better that she’s in her human form. She’ll stay back from the fray better that way and can hopefully retreat into the mansion if necessary.
If Alpha Hudson does what he said he would, that shouldn’t be a problem.
I pause on the highest point of our territory and look out over the battlefield. I can see the warriors assembling on the other side of the valley. Whatever coordination Solomon wanted to ensure before he marched out with a foreign army at his side seems to be complete. They don’t look like they’re running drills. They look like they’re coming right at us–en masse.
Dean has handed off the drone flying to someone else, so he’s right by my side where he needs to be. Hezzlie is, too, at the moment, but she won’t be for long. She has her hand tangled in my fur as she takes it all in.
Thousands of enemy troops have assembled across from us. If Alpha Hudson turns, we’ll have the greater numbers. If he doesn’t… we’re fucked.
‘What are your orders, Alpha?’ I hear in my head. It’s Brody, leading the left side of our forces. I’m in the center, and I asked Adrian to lead the right so that Dean can stick with me. Maybe I should’ve switched them, but I’m used to working with Dean, and I didn’t want Hezzlie’s brother to be at my elbow in case something should happen. I’d hate for her to lose both of us at the same time.
Ann is on Hezzlie’s other side, and as she takes in the mass of wolves before her, she mutters, “Oh, my.”
“It’s a lot, Mom,” Hezzlie agrees, reaching for Ann’s hand. “But we can do it.”
Her mother doesn’t say anything in response, and I know she has to be frightened, probably not for her own safety as much as for her daughter’s.
I answer Brody. ‘Move forward. Take the fence down.’
‘Yes, Alpha.’
We’ve discussed this before. Part of Solomon’s plan is probably to concentrate his men in the areas where our gates are located in the barrier between our lands, the deadlands between, and Solomon’s territory. But we will take down a large section of fence on both sides before he gets here not to let him in but to prevent us from having to filter through. Some of the fences are low enough for a lot of our wolves to jump, but I’m not taking the chance.
I hear the roar of tools as the fence begins to come down, and my warriors move forward. The land is sloped and rocky in places, and it’s difficult to keep from slipping, but I believe my warriors are ready. Once we get across the valley to the deadlands, it’ll be easier. We will utilize the bridge and drop some make-shift bridges where we can in order to keep from having to cross down into the deep valley and meet Solomon with my troops fighting an uphill battle.
One of my men is with the messenger Hudson has sent to us, so anything Hudson wants to convey reaches me quickly. I hear a message in my head loud and clear that originated with the other Alpha King. ‘Solomon is caught off guard by your preparedness. He’s asked us all to slow down. He’s not sure what you’re doing.’
‘Good,’ I reply. ‘That’ll give us more time to get over there where we’ll have a more even fight.’ I can see Solomon’s warriors slowing down as they approach the deadlands and his own barrier. I snicker, which is an odd sound from a wolf, and then I tell my men, ‘Meet them where they are! Let’s go!’ I’m not going to wait for Solomon to attack me. I’ll make him regret ever deciding to start this battle.’
A loud roar of howls breaks out all around me, and Solomon’s warriors stop dead in their tracks. I can’t see them well, but I imagine they are wide-eyed with fear, wishing they were anywhere but here.
A few of them might be excited for the fight, but unlike my warriors, his men are not loyal to him. They are only here for a paycheck.
My wolves rush forward across the makeshift fences, over the bridge to the far left beyond where I can see, and the battle begins.
I turn to Hezzlie. ‘Be careful,’ I tell her through the mind-link. ‘No unnecessary risks.’
“Same to you.” She places both of her hands on the sides of my wolf face and nuzzles her human nose against mine before kissing me gently on the snout. I can’t help but wag my tail, which she laughs at.
I take one more look at her, my beautiful mate, my fiancee, my Luna Queen to be, and then I rush forward, Dean at my side, into the fray.
As I gallop across the uneven ground, my paws finding purchase in the loose rocky terrain, I do my best to push Hezzlie’s face from my mind and concentrate on the enemy in front of me. I doubt King Solomon will come too far out from his castle, but that won’t stop me. I’ll kill Zeb first, and then I’ll hunt Solomon down, rip his throat out, and end this once and for all.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
