Diplomatic Missions

"Behind you!" Caleb shouted, turning around just as a shadow wolf lunged from the trees. Lucian ducked, the creature's claws missing him by inches. With one strong move, Lucian grabbed the infected wolf by the scruff and threw it against a tree.

"That's the third one today," Lucian growled, wiping blood from a cut on his face. "They're getting bolder."

Five days had passed since the attack on the pack house. Five days since Caleb had nearly been lost to the shadow illness. Aurora and Margot had worked through the night, combining their skills to push back the darkness that had tried to claim him. He'd survived, but the shadow marks still stayed on his skin like faded bruises.

"We can't stay here," Caleb said, catching his breath as they hurried back toward the temporary camp. After the attack, they'd abandoned the pack house, splitting into smaller groups that moved every night. "Victor will find us eventually."

Lucian's face was grim. "That's why we need allies. More wolves to fight with us when the time comes."

They reached the clearing where tents had been quickly set up. Tobias stood in the center, circled by a group of their strongest fighters. Maps were spread out on a makeshift table, marked with red X's showing claimed shadow wolf sightings.

"Good, you're back," Tobias said when he spotted them. "We need to move quickly. The scouts report more infected wolves to the east."

Lucian nodded. "Gather everyone. It's time."

The pack assembled in minutes, faces tired but determined. Caleb stood between Lucian and Tobias, still getting used to his place as their mate. The bond between them had grown stronger since his brush with the shadows, a golden thread connecting their wolves that Caleb could almost see when he closed his eyes.

"We can't outrun Victor forever," Lucian stated to the gathered wolves. "And we can't defeat him alone. Today we split up to find help."

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Splitting up went against every instinct wolves had, especially in times of risk.

"Tobias will lead a team north," Lucian continued. "We've heard Victor is recruiting rogues from the northern territories. They need to be stopped or turned to our side."

Tobias stepped forward. "Marco, Ethan, and six others will come with me. We leave in an hour."

"Reid," Lucian turned to the stocky wolf with a scarred face, "you'll return to the Silver Creek survivors. Your old pack trusted you. Convince them to join us."

Reid nodded grimly. "They'll fight. They have scores to settle with Victor."

"And you?" Thorne asked, looking at Lucian.

"I'll travel to the eastern packs," Lucian answered. "The River Claw and Blue Mountain alphas owe me favors. It's time to collect."

Caleb felt his heart sink as he understood what this meant. "You're all leaving?"

A heavy silence fell over the group.

"Not all of us," Lucian said, his voice softer now. "Aurora and Serena will stay to continue training with Margot. And you—"

"Let me guess, I stay behind too?" Caleb couldn't keep the bitterness from his words.

Tobias frowned. "It's not safe for you to—"

"It's not safe for anyone!" Caleb interrupted. "But I'm not sitting here while my mates risk their lives."

The word "mates" slipped out easily now, though it had taken weeks for Caleb to accept it. The bond between them had grown from something forced to something he couldn't imagine life without.

Lucian and Tobias exchanged looks, having one of their silent talks that still made Caleb feel like an outsider.

"You'll come with me," Lucian finally said. "The eastern alphas should meet our mate."

Relief washed over Caleb, followed quickly by fear about Tobias heading north alone.

"I'll be fine," Tobias said, reading Caleb's face. "I've survived worse."

The next hour passed in a rush of preparations. Weapons were distributed, supplies packed, and final orders given. Caleb found himself standing between his two friends at the edge of the camp, the moment of goodbye upon them.

"Three days," Lucian said firmly. "We meet back at the Cave of Whispers in three days, no matter what."

Tobias nodded, then shocked Caleb by pulling him into a tight embrace. "Stay safe," he whispered, his normal cockiness gone. "Keep our stubborn alpha alive."

"I will," Caleb promised, breathing in Tobias's wild, forest smell.

When Tobias freed him, he turned to Lucian. Their goodbye was shorter but no less intense—a clasping of wrists that turned into a quick, fierce hug.

"Don't do anything stupid," Lucian warned.

Tobias grinned, some of his usual fire returning. "Where's the fun in that?"

Then he was gone, taking his team into the northern forest without looking back. Reid left soon after with two other wolves, heading west toward what remained of the Silver Creek pack.

"Ready?" Lucian asked, shouldering his pack.

Caleb nodded, though his heart felt heavy. The mate link stretched like a rubber band as Tobias moved farther away, an uncomfortable pull that Caleb wasn't prepared for.

"It gets easier," Lucian said quietly as they started walking. "The distance, I mean. You learn to live with it."

"How long have you and Tobias been apart before?" Caleb asked.

"Two months, once," Lucian answered. "A rival pack thought attacking us while we were separated would make us weak."

"What happened to them?"

A small, dangerous smile appeared on Lucian's face. "They learned a painful lesson about underestimating the Vale brothers."

They went east all day, moving quickly through dense forest. Lucian set a hard pace, but Caleb kept up, determined not to slow them down. By nightfall, they had covered more ground than Caleb thought possible.

"We'll rest here," Lucian said, stopping in a small area beside a stream. "River Claw territory begins just beyond those mountains."

As they set up a simple camp, Caleb felt the gap between him and Tobias like a physical ache. "Is he okay?" he asked, feeling his chest where the bond felt stretched thin.

Lucian paused in gathering firewood. "You can feel him?"

"Sort of," Caleb admitted. "It's like... a tug. And sometimes, quick flashes of what he might be feeling."

Lucian looked impressed. "That's unusual for such a new bond. Typically it takes years to develop that kind of sensitivity."

"Because I'm scentless?"

"Because you're a Bondspeaker," Lucian corrected. "Your abilities work with pack bonds, including mate bonds."

They sat by the small fire, eating dried meat and berries in comfortable quiet. The stars emerged one by one, painting the sky with silver light.

"He's worried," Caleb said suddenly. "Tobias. Something's wrong."

Lucian was instantly alert. "Are you sure?"

Caleb nodded, putting his hand to his chest. "The bond feels... tight. Like a wire about to snap."

Lucian closed his eyes, seemingly searching for his own connection to Tobias. After a long moment, he opened them, his face troubled.

"I feel it too," he revealed. "But there's nothing we can do right now except complete our mission quickly."

"What if he needs help?"

"Tobias can take care of himself," Lucian said strongly. "And he has Marco and Ethan with him. They're two of our strongest."

Despite Lucian's faith, neither of them slept well that night. By dawn, they were already moving again, climbing the steep foothills that led to River Claw country.

"The alpha here is named Darius," Lucian explained as they walked. "He's old-fashioned. Cares about protocol and respect."

"Will he help us?"

"His daughter was saved by Tobias during a border skirmish two years ago. He owes us a life debt."

They reached the border just before noon—a river running clear and cold through a steep valley. On the opposite bank, three dogs waited, watching their approach with suspicious eyes.

"Border patrol," Lucian muttered. "Let me do the talking."

One of the wolves shifted to human form—a tall woman with sharp eyes and a suspicious look. "State your business, Alpha Vale."

"We seek audience with Alpha Darius," Lucian answered formally. "On a matter of mutual concern."

The woman studied them both, her eyes lingering on Caleb. "And who is this? I don't recognize him."

"Caleb Riverstone," Lucian said. "My mate."

The patrol whispered among themselves, clearly shocked. After a moment, the woman nodded. "Follow us. But no sudden moves."

They crossed the river on stepping stones and were escorted through the dense forest that made up River Claw land. After about an hour, they reached a clearing dominated by a large lodge made of stone and timber.

The patrol led them inside, where a large, gray-haired man sat in an ornate chair, surrounded by what looked to be his top pack members.

"Lucian Vale," the man said, rising to his feet. "It's been a long time."

"Alpha Darius," Lucian responded with a respectful nod. "Thank you for seeing us."

"How could I refuse the wolf who calls in a life debt?" Darius's eyes shifted to Caleb. "And this is your mate? I heard rumors the Vale brothers had finally found a match."

Before Lucian could answer, a commotion erupted at the door. A young wolf burst in, bleeding and barely able to stand.

"Attack!" he gasped. "Northern border... shadow wolves... dozens of them!"

Darius jumped to his feet. "Sound the alarm! Get every fighter to the northern border!"

As chaos broke around them, Lucian grabbed Caleb's arm. "Shadow wolves this far east? Victor must know we're here."

A terrible realization hit Caleb like a physical blow. "It's a trap," he whispered. "He's separating us."

"What?" Lucian asked.

"Victor," Caleb's voice shook. "He wanted us to split up. He's attacking everywhere at once."

"That would take hundreds of infected wolves," Lucian argued, but doubt crept into his eyes.

"The northern territories," Caleb continued, the parts falling into place. "The rogues Tobias went to find—what if they're already infected?"

At that moment, a searing pain shot through Caleb's chest, so strong he doubled over with a cry. The mate bond with Tobias flared like a live wire, sending pictures flashing through his mind—black eyes, shadow-veined wolves surrounding Tobias's small team, and a figure watching from the trees.

"Tobias," Caleb gasped. "He's in trouble."

Lucian's face went pale as he felt it too. "We need to get to him."

"You won't be going anywhere," said a cold voice behind them.

They turned to find Darius watching them, his eyes now totally black, shadow veins crawling up his neck.

"Victor sends his regards," the infected alpha smiled. "And his thanks for delivering a Bondspeaker right to his allies."

All around them, River Claw wolves started shifting, their eyes turning black one by one. They had walked right into Victor's trap, and Tobias was fighting for his life miles away.

The mate bond between them stretched thinner, like a thread about to break.