Chapter Sixty-Four – The pack united

“I’m not going anywhere” Alehtta was the first to speak. She’d looked at Adam, even with Talia’s efforts to tune him out, and heard what he said. He’d once been chased out of her home, just like her, and now someone was trying to do the same again. She might only be six years old, might not have her parents, but she had them. The Alpha and his Luna, and their pack. And they were kind to her. Showed her love. And she’d made friends there. No one was going to force her to leave.

“I know we haven’t been here long, but this felt like a place where everyone was welcome, a place where one could build a home. And then you adults have to go and fuck it all up. Excuse my language, but it’s always the adults. You decide, and we young have to deal with the aftermath. Fleeing from our home, loosing friends and family. You try to shield us from the real danger, but it still affects us, even when we’re not on the frontline” One of the teenage girls rose to her feet. Her dark brown hair fell to her shoulder, curling at the edges. Her green eyes were filled with something in between frustration, determination and expectations. She’d just been there a few days, but her and her friends had already settled in and found a sanctuary, found people who understood their pain and gave them space to heal, and to feel loved.

Her two friends stood as well, followed by several of the other younglings and teenagers, everyone with the same look on their face. They were not giving up their home, even if the adults chose to. Devan rose to his feet as well, staring at his Alpha. He wasn’t going anywhere. This was his home, and he was ready to fight. He saw his parents as well, still sitting, but the look he gave them made them stand up. They had fled from a home once; they weren’t going to do it again.

More and more people rose to the feet, until the only ones still seated was the younger kids who didn’t fully understand the gravity of what was about to happen. Adam didn’t know what to make of it all. He felt proud, and surprised, and a little glad that the younger generation took a stand, it put everyone in their place. If the teenagers wanted to fight, the adults had to fight for them.

“Well then, we have to come up with a really good plan. And I don’t want to make any promises”

“I have one” Anthony said from the doorway. He’d walked in mid speech and decided to just watch the scene unfold before making his presence now. As a politician he was impressed with the younger generation. And as someone who had spent most of his life in hiding, he was proud. One day, maybe his own tribe could stand up like these people did.

“But first, I need a secret room. A hide away, somewhere that can easily be masked into not existing” Anthony said.

“I know just the place” Devan said and left the table, gesturing for Anthony to follow him up the one flight of stairs and down to the very end of the hallway. “It’s the attic. I know Katlyn and Nadine spend some time up here, and I believe they made it into a cozy room. I’m guessing you’re planning on hiding Ariel?” Devan wasn’t the Beta for no reason, despite his young age he was more observant than most.

“Yes. Lilith says she can’t stay at the clinic, it’s the first place they will look once they realize it’s a clinic.” From the outside it didn’t look like much, but once inside it was unmistakable. “And since she couldn't find one, we traded places. I went to look, she's monitoring Ariel. I hope they never get the chance to search anywhere, but if they do, at least we bought ourselves some time.” Anthony answere, still wary of the plan.

Devan nodded agreeing, opening the door and leading Anthony up the final flight of stairs. The room was a decent size, it would be hard to mask. But the door itself, he could make that vanish for a little while.

“Okay. I’ll have Lilith bring her here, and then stay with her. I’ll mask the door, making it invisible for the time being. The only people who will know there is something up here are the people who know about the door” Anthony turned and walked back around, not wasting any time.

“You said you had a plan!” Devan called after him, making the older one stop and look at him. “There’s only one plan. Fight back using the advantage you have” Anthony answered. He’d get into details later; his top priority was to keep Ariel out of harm’s way.

Devan was left alone for a moment, allowing the words to sink in, allowing them to wake up the military trained part of him that had went into a slumber once he finished, he’s mandatory year in the army.

Advantage: They knew the area, they could easily hide in places no one would expect them to be, and they were wolves. And they had Katlyn, who could turn into pretty much everything. And Talia, who was something out of the ordinary. And he was sure Anthony could be used as some surprise element as well. They had the upper hand with knowing the area, and the element of surprise.

But the disadvantage, they didn’t know what they were up again.

“Dimitri. Meet me in five” He linked the Delta, the one man who had more military and tactical training than any other. If there was someone who could whip up a decent plan that let them see tomorrow it was him.
–
Adam found good help in Marjatta with delegating. Monica was to take care of the children, bring them down to the basement and keep them out of harms way. Some of the elders and those who would only be a liability in the fight went with them. And the pack house was the one place that was heavily guarded. Everyone who didn’t want or weren’t allowed to fight went to the basement.

The others met outside, Devan and Dimitri taking point of locating each and every one of them. And an hour after she had left, Katlyn landed with a soft thud in the midst of everything, shifting back. “Please give me something useful” Dimitri said, earning himself a glare from both Devan and Katlyn. He knew he wasn’t being polite, but in the situation they were in, with the number of unknows facing them, there was no time for idle chit chat and pleasantries.

“A smaller motorcade is on the road from the city. All black cars, sedans and SUVs. If there are five people in each care, they are at least twenty-five, but I want to be optimistic and say there are no more than four in each. Which makes them outnumbered, and I’m sure they know that. Or maybe not.” Katlyn panted. The quick flight had left her feeling more worn out than she had in days.

“Thank you. Chocolate on the counter. Eat, no need to get dressed. We need you out here” Devan gave her a quick nod before ushering her inside. She was their wildcard, one moment a little friendly bird, the next a big polar bear. Was it wrong of him to hope she would turn into a bear? There was something majestic about her in that dangerous, yet beautiful form. He shook his head, forcing his thought back on the task at hand. They didn’t have weapons, that was a disadvantage. But they had the element of surprise. And they knew the area so well, most of them having grown up in the forest.

Several of the younger adults were sent deep into the woods, climbing up into the trees as stakeout. Most people didn’t expect to find werewolves in trees, wolves didn’t climb, but humans did. And these young men and women, they were the best at it.

“Have they moved her yet?” Adam came to join Devan and Dimitri, after having a longer chat with Talia about what she could and couldn’t do. He didn’t want her anywhere near the frontline, but at the same time he couldn’t keep her from the fight, they needed her if thing turned for the worse. Though, he didn’t like to think of what could happen if she got out of hand. But it was a risk worth taking.

“They carried her past here a few minutes ago, she looked to be asleep” Devan answered. The sigh alone had given him goosebumps, she looked lifeless in Anthony’s arms.

“Good. And out here?” Adam continued. He felt like a leader out of place, delegating the most important tasks to others. But at the same time, that was what good leaders did. Delegate the tasks to people who were more qualified. He didn’t know anything about tactics or strategies in a fight. His had learned to ask first, attack later. And defend yourself, fight back if needed, and don’t hold back when the other didn’t. He had a feeling this opponent wouldn’t hold back.

“We have it under control. The area is mostly empty, all the houses has been cleared out, the kids and elder, and those who can’t fight to save themselves, are all down in the library. Don’t worry, Monica went down first to stash away whatever there is you lot been looking into the past couple of days” He couldn’t hide the annoyance in his voice, he didn’t like being kept out of the loop. But he trusted his Alpha, so he believed it were all for a very good and valid reason.

“I’ll fill you in on everything eventually, you have my word” Adam didn’t like excluding Devan either. He was his Beta, second in command, and now brother in arms. He deserved the truth, but it wasn’t his place to share. It was Talia’s life, and her decision who she told and not.

“I appreciate it. I believe we’re all set. I’ve sent the best climbers into the woods, for stakeout. Several of the older teenagers wanted to help, and I couldn’t tell them no. This is a way for them to help, but also stay away from the most dangerous frontline” Devan looked to Dimitri, who nodded.

The last group of people fanned about the property, finding places to stay out of sight, but close enough in case something happened. The plan was to try and talk things out first, but they all doubted it would turn out that easily. Just sit down and get a madman to forfeit all his demands, they all knew it wasn’t going to happen.