CHAPTER 68

*Julian's POV*
I tried not to let my emotions show on my face as I stormed past the gate. Two of the guardsmen were sleeping, immediately getting up when I passed.
I was too tired not to stop and scold them. Everytime I closed my eyes or stopped to breathe for even a second, I saw Olivia's face. I kept hearing her voice.
She had chosen Vanessa over me. A few werewold kids were playing in the park, some of them stopping bouncing the ball to wave at me. I waved back, faking a wide smile.
One of them pointed at their heart, calling out. "Where's Luna?" I bit my lip, shaking my head as I walked away.
I knew my people would ask about Olivia, since they were aware I had left to get her back. I sighed, rubbing my forehead.
This was going to be a problem. My wolf snorted, rolling his eyes. I ignored him, changing my direction to walk towards my cabin. Hopefully, no one would be there.
I swung the door open, trying to ignore the little presence and scent of Olivia that lingered inside. I cursed, slamming the door behind me.
I knew I should be more angry at Vanessa for manipulating my mate's thoughts, but Olivia had an innate connection with me. I saw it flicker in her eyes and she chose to ignore it.
I headed for my bedroom, slumping on the bed. I wished I could close my eyes and just sleep, but the moment played on repeat in my mind.
From when the old man first told me about the couple in the woods. To when I found them. To when I choked Vanessa. To when Olivia pushed me away. And finally me walking away.
I cursed, pressing the heel of my palm against my forehead. I should ignore this. I should forget it.
I vaguely heard the front door of my cabin opening and I smelt Holden in the next second. I sighed, preparing myself for his questions.
"I thought the children were lying. No one wants to believe you are back." I sat up, turning around to face him. He was staring at me with folded arms. "And without Olivia no less."
I gave him a small grin. "Where's she? You wouldn't come back without her if there wasn't a reasonable reason." I ignored him, getting off the bed. "You ask too many questions, Holden."
"So you aren't going to tell me?" I shook my head, focusing on reaching out to my people through our clan link.
"This is your Alpha speaking. Make your way to the town pit. We have something important to talk about."
"Julian." I grabbed my coat off the chair, giving him a look. "We have bigger things to look at." "More important than your mate? This is your mate, for fucks sake, Julian."
I sighed, leaving him behind. I couldn't afford to start being emotional. My people needed a strong ruler for what was about to come next.
I made my way to the town pit, seeing already half the town gathered there.
I climbed the stage, smiling at them. They needed a strong ruler. I would give them that.
"I called you here to address you. Yes I know I am not with my mate. That is not important. I need us to focus on the bigger picture. My brother Leo is planning a revolution."
Whispers erupted from the crowd and I silenced them by lifting my hand. "I know. But I want you to know something. When I was chosen as your Alpha, I pledged to protect and guide you."
I cleared my throat, gripping the podium so hard I felt it snapping. "I want you to know. I am promising you here and now. As long as I breathe. As long as I can shift. As long as I bare the burden of being your Alpha. Nothing. Nothing will harm any of you."
I took in a deep breath, releasing it through my teeth. "That is a promise. May the moon goddess hold me to it."
I bowed before them, and they returned it. I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Any able bodied youth ready for war should prepare to meet me in the training field before sundown."
I lifted my palm, smiling at them. They needed my reassurance. They couldn't see me breakdown. "You are dismissed."
I started moving off the podium, heading to my cabin. I needed to meet with all the other clans that hadn't joined forces with Leo yet.
Niamh suddenly appeared beside me, concern written all over her face. "We have a problem." "Speak." "That was a great speech, by the way. I had goosebumps." I hadn't even seen her in the crowd.
"It was from the heart. What's the problem?" "It's Jane." I felt my blood turn cold. I had been so caught up in finding Olivia I had forgotten about my younger sister.
I stopped in my tracks, looking Niamh in the eye. "What happened to Jane?" "Leo has her. What if he..." Relief hit me smack in the chest, and I felt breath whoosh out of me.
"It's going to be fine. I know Leo. He wouldn't cause her harm." "You...He is working with a witch?! Did you see that in his future?"
I shrugged, putting my hands on her shoulder. "I admit, I didn't. But Leo wouldn't harm Jane. Trust me on this. He loves her more than he cares to admit."
"That's why he is so hurt she picked me. If he didn't care, he wouldn't be angry." Niamh shook her head, her hair slapping her cheeks.
"She is going to be safe, Niamh. I need you to trust me on this." She nodded, eyes steeling with determination. "What's next?"
I let go of her shoulders, resuming my walk to my cabin. "I am going to link with all the other clans that haven't teamed up with Leo yet."
"How would you know? They could have all teamed up with him." "Let's just say I have a hunch." Niamh rolled her eyes. "I pray it's right."
I walked into my cabin and saw Holden lunging on the couch. His eyes lit up when he saw Niamh and he turned to me. "I did research while you were giving that very heartwarming speech."
I rolled my eyes, until he slid a paper over to me. "I got the list of all the clans who haven't contacted with Leo yet." I blinked at him, then dropped my eyes to the paper. "How did you..."
Holden winked at me. "Aw. I need some secrets to hide. You have yours, don't you? Anyways. The communication link is already set up. All you have to do is just step inside your office."
I smiled at Holden, allowing a silver of my nervousness to break through my mask. Holden was my best friend and beta for a reason and I tended to forget that.
"It's okay, Julian. Just go do your thing. We can talk about Olivia later." I nodded, picking up the paper he had scribbled on.
I left them alone, stepping inside my office. I immediately felt their presence and I saw their aura morph into a holographic representation of them.
They all looked at me expectantly. I sat at my desk, smiling at them as I brought up my holographic representation. "Thank you for meeting on such short notice."
The only female Alpha snorted, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "We just want our territories to be safe." So Holden had told them something. I wasn't sure how far he had gone in his explanation.
"Alpha Leo is working with a witch. We need all the support we can." I let my eyes drop to the paper, counting seven clans total. Plus mine, which made it a total sum of eight. We could work with that.
I lifted my eyes to meet each of theirs one by one before clearing my throat. "I agree. We can each send out a team of how many?"
The Alpha with the rings in his lips smiled. "As many as we can. I know Leo. He is a cunning bastard. As many as you can send, send."
I smiled at him, feeling hope break through the despair I had been feeling. "So we can agree we are not going to let Leo rule the werewolf realm?"
They all nodded, and the Alpha with the smallest build spoke. "We need a plan. If you aren't alone, make sure it is someone you trust with your life."
"It's better if it's just us. Send anyone else out." This Alpha had a buzz cut and a bearskin was draped over his shoulders. A few of us nodded in agreement.
There were a few sounds of shuffling and the small Alpha spoke again when it all quieted down. "If we all send out a team, we can invade Leo's territory."
The female Alpha slammed her hand on something, smirking. "Yes. We can use the element of surprise. That would give us a considerable advantage."
The bearskin Alpha leaned forward, and I could see a scar over his left eye. "Here's what I think. The warriors of each of our packs will join hands and invade his territory in fourteen days."
"Fourteen days?" The female Alpha echoed. "We don't know when he plans to attack, remember that, Joe." This Alpha had a gold band around his head and he was lounging rather than sitting.
"Shut up, Loki. Fourteen days is a reasonable time to gather all your warriors and even train them to be better." The bearskin Alpha, Joe, said as he leaned back.
"I agree. It makes sense. We can work with that timeframe." I said, clearing my throat. The female Alpha rolled her eyes, lifting her hand. "All agree?"
Everyone lifted their arms and Loki smirked. "See you all in fourteen days. We can meet up a few meters away from Leo's territory."
We all nodded, cutting off the communication link. I rubbed my head as their holographic representations flickered out. "How did it go?" Holden said as he opened the door. "You were listening in, weren't you?"
I lifted my head, my eyes immediately landing on the hickey on his neck. "Where's Niamh?" "She went out to check on the warriors. That is where we are going, correct?"
I nodded, getting off the chair. "On second thought, you should rest. You look horrible, Julian." I shrugged off his concern, waving him away with my hand. "You worry too much."
"Julian." I turned around to look at him, shaking my head. "You don't understand. If I stop. If I even let myself take a break, I would remember what happened and I don't want that. I don't need that."
"What happened with Olivia? You need to tell me what happened, Julian." I shook my head again. "Just forget about it, Holden." I walked out of the cabin and towards the field.
I wouldn't stop. I wouldn't think about her. Olivia might have been my mate, but my people need their Alpha. I was going to give him to them.
*Holden's POV*
I watched him walk away and cursed. There was something else. I started to follow him. He was hiding under his Alpha mask, and I was sure he was going to break under it.
He was already training with the warriors when I got there, and I saw Finn panting as he ran laps. He was alone from the rest of the warriors, so I walked up to him as he came to a halt.
"Finn?" "I am training for Jane. I am going to get her back. Before I could ask him another question, he took off running again.
I walked up to the main field and I heard Julian's shout. "I said, 18! If you can't do simple planks, how do you expect to survive in Leo's territory?"
The wolf whimpered, moving into position. I saw Niamh walking up to Julian at the same time. I got to his side the same time she did. Niamh folded her arms, hissing at him. "You need to leave, Julian. Your emotions are a mess. You aren't helping."
"I am sorry. With the way they are going, we are going to be obliterated." Julian sighed, rubbing his head. I glanced at Niamh.
"Knock him out."
I blinked at her and she made a chopping motion with her hand. I sighed and whispered to Julian. "I am sorry." Before he could respond, I hit the back of his neck, aiming for that nerve.
He slumped forward and I bent down to pick him up. "You would be in a better place when you wake up. And we will get your mate back and take Leo down."
The sky had started to turn dark. "I promise."