Chapter 20: Bloodbath

Mikalya's P.O.V:
"Get ready everyone! Those bitches will be here before the estimated time. We cannot let them catch us off guard!” I raised my voice higher so that it was enough for the people gathered in front of me to hear it. But at the same time it was low enough so as not to echo outside the main pack house. These mountains could carry voices for a considerable amount of distance and I wouldn’t want the enemy to know what we were planning beforehand.
I barked out orders for attacking patterns and hiding places in the caverns in the mountains, those places would be best for hiding the snipers who would be able to take long distance shots. It would be difficult to take out the choppers but we'll have only one perfect shot before the enemy find out about the location of the snipers and fires back. My people will have to relocate to another position immediately. And these Alphas were bringing choppers to the battlefield, according to the wild crows in the region, so I wouldn’t trust them to not have other hidden weapons along with them.
"Rhea,” I called out to one of my soldiers. “Go with Kushal, he'll help you move the snipers to the right location, he knows where they are supposed to go. Mira, Vishal and Aya, stay together with the second unit of the snipers up in the mountains so you can get a good aim at the choppers and I'll be up front with Rh-Rhys? Has anyone seen Rhys?" I asked loud enough for the people at the back of the room to hear.
Now that I remember, I haven't seen him since after the gathering at the roof. But I could feel his presence nearby, the power that radiated off of him, the power of the Alpha; it was a silent hum in the air. And I know that the mating bond hasn’t been completed yet but my wolf was still able to detect the direction he had gone in. I’ll have to catch up with him soon enough.
"Mink," Mira, my third, called out from my right. "We're all set. Let's head out, our people are already set and awaiting enemy arrival."
"How long till they arrive? Has anyone made a correct estimated time of arrival yet?" I asked, strapping on my guns and a few knives over my thermos. They would be hidden from view once I pull on my jacket.
"An hour and twenty minutes, according to the ravens," Mira informed me of the wild ravens that dwell around this area and also about the raven shifters who live a bit further away on top of the mountain ranges. The ravens wouldn’t be assisting us in the real battle but they were helpful in information transfer.
We had everything under control for now. As far as I could tell, everyone was well informed and ready to strike. Everyone but Rhys. Damnit! Why was he not with the main team at such a vital point?
"Good. Head to the front lines right now. We need to get them away from our stronghold." I told Mira and then turned to Belle. "You take care of the cubs and everyone else here. I'm counting on you."
Belle smiled and stroked my face, the crows feet wrinkles at the corner of her eyes deepening, an indication of how old she was getting, a sign that she was now willing to join her mate in the afterlife. "Don't you worry, Alpha," she told me now. "I'll keep them safe."
I bowed down in front of her and touched both her feet with my right hand and then brought that hand back on top of my head. "Ashirvaad do maa, taki iss ladai ko jeet kar aap saab ko surakshit rakh saku." (Give me your blessings mother, so that I can protect you all by winning this war). I told Belle, for she has, in every way but one, always been my mother and if I had to truly bow down to someone, it’ll always be in front of her. Only a few people knew how strong my connection to Belle had been and I will always honor the vows that had been forged in blood.
"Vijayi bhava," she said placing her hand on top of my head. (May you be successful).
With that I was off to search for Rhys, who wasn't that hard to find because as soon as I exited the main hall, I was pulled to the side by a tug on my arm. He had already strapped on his battle gear and his thermos and looked about ready to head out into battle.
"Where had you been this entire time?" I snapped, not wanting to show that his sudden disappearance had ruffled my fun the wrong way.
"My pack's out there," he said instead, his voice shaky and urgent.
"What?" I asked incredulously.
"My pack” His hands gripped my shoulders tightly, urging me to understand. “Remember I told you that I couldn't contact my third, Adrian? That I couldn't contact any of my pack members?"
"Yes, you said you couldn't mind link anyone either," I remembered what he'd told me.
"That’s because I just saw them." He continued, "And the reason I wasn't able to contact them wasn't only because of the static in the area, it's because Aiden and Devon had fed lies to my third, Adrian, so they could gain his trust. They must have told him that I was captured and most possibly killed by your pack like you did with their spies. The gap in communication caused by the static only strengthened Adrian’s belief that I truly must be dead and that’s why he’s out there leading the army! That's why my pack is out there, Mikalya, helping those two bastards attack your pack. We need to do something Mikalya, and I think-"
"Alright, hold up!" I put my fingers to my temple and rubbed slow circles, this new piece of information was making my head buzz. "Nothing’s changed yet. If your pack has any misconceptions about you being dead then they will stop as soon as they see you alive and well beside me. But I highly doubt that’s the only misconception they will be having."
Rhys nodded at me to continue, his hair was covered in melting snow making it look darker that its usual color as if fell on to his forehead. It had grown out of that military cut since he came here and I have to say, it suited him better. His eyes were intense and focused only on me and for some reason; I was feeling the need to kiss him. I squashed that urge for now. We were heading out to battle, the kiss could wait.
"We go out there, and face them head on. But only us. I can't risk anyone's life if your friends think that just you being alive isn't enough." He wrinkled his brows and nodded, agreeing to my point. "When we get there, we'll try to negotiate with them first and you can either try to get your pack out of this battle or tell them to step aside. If they don't agree, only then we strike. I cannot risk your soldiers getting hurt if they willingly back down right after seeing you."
"Okay, I'm in." Rhys smiled at me but it didn't quiet reach his eyes. I knew he was troubled; I'd be too if it were my pack out there being manipulated by people who planned to do nothing but harm others to satisfy their own selfish needs. "Thank you."
And that was when I took a hold of his shirt and hauled him in for a kiss. This was the first time I had initiated a kiss with him and I must say I didn’t regret it at all. I’d always taken charge of everything that goes on in my life and I was doing the same this time as well.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him closer to me and slowly, I felt Rhys melt into the kiss as his arms wrapped around my waist. I have to admit, Rhys was a good kisser. I felt myself drowning in his scent, in the sensation of his lips moving against mine. They were softer than I had anticipated and I liked the way he was kissing me so thoroughly, his entire attention focused entirely on me.
Rhys’s hands were still tight around my waist as we came up for air. I didn’t want the kiss to end so quickly but we were out of time. We needed to move now if we wanted to catch our enemy off guard and the further they remained from the stronghold, the better. I didn’t want any member of my pack harmed in any way. I know that wasn’t always possible, but as their Alpha, it was my duty to ensure their safety. I’ve seen enough bloodshed to last me a lifetime and I doubt that was the end of it, but I wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
“Thank you for that.” He whispered to me hoarsely, his forehead pressed against mine.
“My pleasure,” I told him and finally brought myself to step away from him."Let's go."
I led the way towards the battlefield, but in my mind, I connected with my people. Charge of plans.

Rhys's P.O.V:
"My pack has about three hundred and ninety three wolves, cubs included. It's located in Saudi Arabia, south of Nizwa, on the brink of the Wahiba Sands. The place is called 'Jever' which probably means jewels in Hindi. And my pack is called the WildRain, which...I think you already know, since my warriors already spilled the beans on everything."
"What're you doing?" Mikalya asked, looking up at me suspiciously.
"I have been thinking," I told her truthfully. "Ever since I came here, I've known a lot about your pack but I haven't shared anything about my pack as of yet, and I want to rectify my mistakes. After all, it takes two to tango, and I want you to be as much a part of your life as you are mine."
"I see," she looked thoughtful for a while but then she nodded her head. "I guess you're right, we'll talk. Something we haven't done quite as much as we should have."
We were now standing a good few miles away from the main pack house, in a select open area where we had decided to meet the attackers. Snow covering every inch of the ground in this area with a few occasional dark rocks, which weren't rocks at all, but our soldiers lying in wait for the enemy. They were hidden beneath the snow or pressed up against the boulders so they went unnoticed. It must be painful to be sitting huddled up in the middle of so much snow but Mikalya had told me that they wore appropriate attire for the occasion.
Every one of the snipers were already in position and they had a safe hidden place which was concealed even from aerial view from our enemies. They would be delivering the first, most crucial blow which can decide the fate of the battle. Only Mikalya and I stood in plain sight, trying to avoid unnecessary bloodshed by negotiating peace.
"You know its inevitable right?" Mikalya said as she came to stand beside me. "From what you told me about those two Alphas, there is no way they'd give up without a fight. They aren’t here out of concern for you; they’re here to get rid of both of us so they can keep our people."
"I know, " I told her. And it was something I was dreading right from the instant I heard the knell. "And I'm afraid no one can prevent this. A bloodbath is indeed inevitable."
Several howls sounded as I ended my sentence. Battle cry of the wolves who would lose their lives because of the selfishness and greed of their leaders. And there's nothing that I could do to stop it. People will die, covering this pure; innocent beauty of nature into a blood soaked battlefield.
"They're here. Standby." Mikalya warned just as the very first of the wolves came into view, the loud roar of the chopper blades sounded from not far behind. They were here. There was no more time left to ponder. It was now or never.
Let the game begin.