46!

LIAM

“You don’t mean that, Layla,” I said to my supposed sister. “If we are taking her from Castillo’s control it is going to be a rescue alive, not in a body bag.”

“She is making us look weak and we still don’t know what other tricks she has,” she said.

“You are sounding like she is doing this all on her own,” Brianna spoke. “She’s under Castillo’s control.”

I looked at Layla clearly for the first time since she got here. She looks different, angry maybe. I understand that, I am angry too.

“First, we will deal with these men, then go to the palace and discuss more,” I said to her before she could speak.

“If you think I don't want to save her, you are mistaken,” she said, but what if we can't?” Layla asked. I took a deep breath and looked at Commander Blackburn.

“How many men can you spare, Commander?” I asked.

“How many do you need sir, the elite guards and soldiers are at your service,” he said and saluted.

“Good get the Captains of three teams, we have some men to kill,” I said and looked at Brianna, then at the men guarding Akire.

“Lose the shackles,” I commanded. I walked up to Akire and looked into her eyes, “she was watching,” I said and she flinched.

“What do I say to her?” she asked and I smirked.

“You are both women, figure it out,” I said and walked away.

“Your highness,” I heard Commander Blackburn. I signaled Mason and Ethan. “These are the Captains you asked for,” he said and I nodded.

“Gentlemen, we have an unknown number of enemies in the territory you have sworn to protect including her,” I pointed at Brianna.

“We are going to make them pay for stepping their foot here. Gather your men.”
“Yes sir,” they saluted.

Commander Blackburn handed me a paper with their names on it, “Captain Kadex, you and your men will be with me. Captain Tyler and Nik, you will be with my Beta’s respectively. Dismissed.”

“Have you gotten the lay of the land?” I asked Mason, he is the expert on this kind of thing.

“Yes, Liam. I have also figured out where they were when they tried to kill Brianna,” he said, pointing at three strategic positions.

“They aren’t just soldiers,” I said to him, “they are the elite squad,” I said, hitting the table loudly.

“My men are capable, your highness,” Commander Blackburn said to me, “they will fight to the death,” he said and I sighed.

“That’s exactly what worries me, Commander,” I said to him.

“We don’t know if they are part of the elite squad yet, they might just have strategic information,” Ethan said.

“We know now,” Akire said, “freeze that,” she pointed at the screen and my blood boiled. Thane.

“Do we know who that is?” Brianna asked.

“I do,” I said, walking away. “Let’s go!” I yelled at Ethan and Mason. I noticed Brianna tried to follow me but Akire stopped her.

“You know that it might not be him,” Mason said, walking beside me.

“Do I look like I care?” I asked, giving him a hard look.

“I was there, Liam. I know what that face is doing to you right now,” he pointed at Thane’s picture on the screen. “You need to slow that or history might just repeat itself.”

“If history is going to happen today. It will be me taking down Thane, not the other way around at least not this time.”

Thane is the first son of Castillo and some will say more ruthless than his father. I hate him just as much as he hates me, especially after what happened last time.
I’m not going to let that repeat again. If Thane wants to capture me again, he is doing that over my dead body.

I walked into a large room to see the soldiers already geared up, looking battle ready. They all stood at attention as soon as they saw me.

“This battle might be small but we might lose a lot of lives. I need you to be focused and loyal bound. If you can’t do that, you need to walk away now.”

Nobody moved then Commander Blackburn walked towards me all geared up as well, “we all serve at the pleasure of her grace, the Duchess of Greenwich and his Majesty, the Highest Alpha King.”

“Ohyah!” all the soldiers yelled running out of the room. I tapped the commander's shoulder as he left.

Mason and Ethan were already getting ready and I joined them. I shook my head as flashes of the torture I endured from Thane flooded my mind.

“We will be waiting outside,” I heard Mason’s voice and I nodded. The door opened and closed. In about a minute it opened again.

“Well are you just going to stand there or help me out?” I asked Brianna. I heard her chuckle as she walked towards me.

“I’m sorry, I’m just surprised you guys have body armor just like the human world,” she said.

“It’s against wolf bane,” I said as she helped me with the armor. “It’s dangerous..”

“I know what it is, Liam. You don’t have to explain wolfsbane to me so I won’t worry about you. But I’m already worried,” she said.

“Don’t do this, I need to be focused,” I said, walking past her.

“Who is he?” she asked, referring to Thane.

“I saw the way you looked at him. I have never seen that look on you before,” I stopped and walked towards her.

“He is someone I will do anything to kill,” I said and she gasped silently. I dropped my helmet and held her hands.

“I never wanted you to see this side of me,” I said and she took her hands away.

“I can take it Liam,” she said and I smiled.

I took her in my arms and kissed her hard. Her hands went through my hair, taking me in. “I have to go,” I whispered as our heads were together.

“Go, I will be in your ears,” she said and I nodded. I walked out of the room to see Mason and Ethan waiting for me.

“This might be a short battle,” Mason said.

“Or a very long one.”