Chapter 73 - Rejecting A Wolf

Time was drawing near, the lycan scouts placed at important parts of the forest confirmed movement within.

Aurora stood at the table, her waist bent as her hands were placed palms down on the table as she stared at the map of the surrounding forest they were in.

"How long again until they arrive?" Aurora asked out loud.

"They're close," Nick answered solemnly. "Is this alright?"

"Why? Are you scared?" Aurora moved her gaze from the map to him. "We can not lose. We will not lose. This here is not the hardest part."

"Then what will be the hardest part?" Nick asked.

"Ruling over those who lost. They'll resist and rebel against the new order. Especially if we slaughter every last one of the warriors Brandon brought today."

"Then the goal today is?" Nick asked her thoughtfully.

"That's simple. We take down Brandon first. anyone who resists after he's taken down, we will immediately kill." Aurora straightened up and folded her arms across her chest. " Reasonable, right?"

"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that." Tom, who was silently listening, replied.

"Where is Morel?" Jace asked. "She hasn't come back."

"We don't know," Tom answered truthfully. "Maybe she'll show up. Maybe she won't, but I don't think k she's essential to the plan."

"That may be so, but that doesn't mean it's not better to have two witches protecting the rear," Aurora said.

"Can you track her?" Aurora asked Nick. Nick paused before nodding. " Then track her and contact her. If she wants to see her most hated council go down, she should be here to witness it in the flesh."

Nick nodded heavily and left the room to go just that while Tom and Aurora began to discuss the best placement for the lycans.

Some needed to stay back to protect the pack, and others needed to be mixed in with werewolves to make it look seamless.

The Lycans were going to be a surprise to catch the other side off guard. Just imagine the chaos that would follow if thirty-something lycans join the fray.

This was exactly what Aurora planned to do with them. Meanwhile, the two were talking. Jace walked in with Henry hot on his heels. Jace swept his gaze on Tom nonchalantly before giving him a curt nod and walking up to Aurora.

"Did you finish?" Aurora asked. Jace sighed and nodded.

"Well, I already knew Brandon would do anything to achieve his goals, but I didn't think he'd go so far." Jace rubbed his forehead as he told her this. "He's holding the children hostage,"

"The children of those alphas we took in?" Aurora frowned while she asked.

"Mhm, but not only them. We may need to rethink things." Jace looked at her with a heavy expression.

"There is nothing to rethink. If Brandon doesn't die here along with the top brass of the council, all of this would be meaningless." Aurora shook her head and firmly stated.

"We shouldn't be too hasty. These are innocent lives we're talking about. Jace is right. We should rethink things." Tom butted in and advised.

"And what should we do then? Should we let Brandon run over us and kill all the wolves while we run with our tails tucked in our asses?" Aurora's eyes turned colder as she glanced at Jace and Tom.

"This is a war. Saving the children would be ideal, but how are we going to save those children when hundreds of wolves are going to surround us?" Aurora asked with her brows raised.

"I can go," Henry raised his hand and volunteered. "I mean, give me two other lycans, and we'll get the children out of there."

"Do you even know where those children are?" Aurora glared at the three of them. " You must think I'm heartless, but going to rush in without a plan can prematurely affect all of us."

"Then how about I go." Jace suggested, " It's better than leaving those baby lycans on their own."

"You want to leave?" Aurora looked at him in disbelief.

"One of us being here is fine. Besides, if those children are anywhere, they are at the council headquarters." Jace eyes darkened as he looked into her eyes. "Hopefully, that beast is still alive. I can tolerate one mate, but the other needs to die."

"If you're going for Alaric, then don't you think I should be the one to go, not you?" Aurora questioned him.

"Why would the queen abandon the army to go to the council's headquarters for an insignificant bug? Having me is enough Aurora you are the spearhead of this entire thing. This army needs its leader and not a substitute." Jace lectured her.

"All that fancy talk but I should be the one to take Alaric's fucking head. All the past sufferings I've endured in my old body must be avenged." Aurora scoffed.

"No, what is killing him going to change? Do not forget who you are just because you took that name, Aurora." Jace saw through her in a glance. "Or is it you fear something would happen to me."

Aurora pursed her lips and looked away, her eyes clashed with Tom's. Well, what an awkward situation. She forgot there were others here.

Jace sighed as he moved to grab her chin and force her to look at him.

"Nothing is going to happen. All the bad things are over now. Aurora, you need to let go of this fear. I'm here. Me going to the council headquarters is not going to kill me. Trust me."

"I do trust you, but shouldn't we be together?" Aurora asked softly. Jace looked up and looked at the two men awkwardly standing there and motioned them to leave with his head.

Henry and Tom sped out of the room like their asses were on fire only to bounce into Nick and the haggard-looking Morel. Without giving the two witches a chance, they dragged them away.

"Aurora," Jace bent and place his forehead on hers. "Do you think they'll take you a woman seriously with me by your side? Wouldn't your power as queen be unminded by my presence? As I'll be standing shoulder to shoulder with you? We need to establish that you are the absolute authority, and I am secondary compared to that."

"Okay, you can go, but if it's too dangerous, come back," Aurora said after she thought hard about his advice.

"Don't worry," Jace kissed the tip of her nose. "I'll go get ready to leave now with Henry. Meanwhile, you should get ready to meet Brandon."

Aurora held the hand he used to cup her face and nodded. They stayed that way for a while before pulling away and going about their own business.

Aurora met with Morel. Morel was much more emotional as she blamed herself for not being able to protect Aurora's family. But Aurora couldn't blame Morel for something like that.

After she calmed Morel down, they got down to business. Properly planning their next moves.

Time waits for no one. Jace almost reached his destination when Aurora took the lycans and werewolves to confront Brandon in the forest.

Aurora stood at the forefront with her arms folded against her chest as she coldly curled her lips in a sneer. Tom stood at the starting line with the others it was clear who was leading them this way.

Brandon couldn't help but be slightly surprised at this outcome, but it would deter him from his goal.

"Surrender to me, and nobody has to die anymore!" Brandon spread his arms wide as he shouted.

"Why should we surrender to a fool like you? Do you think we're idiots that don't know there are worse things than death?" Tom scoffed as he replied.

From the moment Brandon opened his mouth, Aurora wanted nothing more than to rush over and rip his head off.

She felt like that had nothing to do with her. It was like a nagging feeling at the back of her mind saying that Brandon should be killed by someone he wronged the most.

Who amongst them wasn't a victim of Brandon's tyrannical rules? Under his control, the council became more hectic than the previous generations.

"I'm not going to hurt the wolves I swore to protect as my oath states I am the leader of the council. I should treat all wolves equally. All I ask is you give me the one who killed my mate." Brandon replied condescendingly.

"Your oath was fed to rabid dogs long ago," Tom spoke up at this time. "Protect what? Them? Because all I saw was a man with too much power deciding people's fates like he is God."

"Mercy? We don't need your fucking mercy. In fact, you better pray I don't wipe out the entirety of this army."Aurora lifted her chin and laughed coldly. "You want the person who killed that bitch, well I'm right fucking here."

Brandon's fave twisted in rage as he glared heavily at the opposing army.

"Come get me if you can." Aurora and Brandon's eyes clashed. a big silent pause followed those words.

They stared at each other silently. Brandon, however, broke eye contact first and rose his left hand in the air.