Chapter 31 31
Draven’s POV
I took large strides to the sitting room. Dominic, my friend and most trusted fighter, was waiting for me. He bowed when he saw me.
"Some members of the pack are in the meeting room waiting for you," he said. I knew they wanted to discuss the ongoing war. I don’t understand why Zac would suddenly want to attack my pack when I just returned.
I knew we had so many scores to settle, but I didn’t know the main reason he would want to attack now of all times. I wasn’t readh for this now honey, I just got mated to Hazel and I still needed to help heer get revenge.
There was just so much on my plate right now. "I'll be with them soon. Before that, I have something to discuss with you in private," I said.
I turned back to Hazel and said, "The meeting room is down the hallway to your right. You can wait for me there." She nodded before walking towards the room. I walked to the side of the sitting room, with Dominic walking behind me.
We spent over five minutes discussing this. After telling him all I had to say, he bowed and walked away to execute my orders. Meanwhile Adrian was nowhere to be found and I couldn’t care less.
He was never interested in anything that concerns war. I walked to the meeting room. When I got close to the room, I heard different voices questioning Hazel. She seemed to have been placed in a tight spot.
I couldn't blame the pack members. I just returned and got mates immediately without informing them before hand. And for the fact that she’s pregnant too just left them confused. I'll explain it to them after the war.
"Why are you here?" I heard someone ask immediately, so I walked in. The hall fell quiet immediately. "I told her to come here," I said as I took my seat in the middle.
"You don't have a problem with that, or do you, Morris?" I asked. Morris was quiet. When I thought he had given up, he asked, "If I may ask, for what reason should she stay?"
I looked at him for a while before moving my mouth to speak.
"Because she is..." My gaze fell on Hazel as she looked at me nervously for a few seconds before pulling away and gazing down on her fidgeting hands.
"Hazel is my true mate." I spoke indifferently but more firmly, earning shocked gazes from the elders of the pack, but their expressions told me they were not as surprised as I expected them to be.
The most shocked was Hazel. I guess she thought I was unwilling to open this can of worms to my pack yet. And she is right; I am not. But I only needed to show them the tip of the iceberg first, and the rest will be revealed after the war is over.
"But, Alpha Draven..." As expected, Morris was the first one to speak up. I shifted my gaze to him, urging him to continue his already predictable speech.
"What about my daughter? She was your arranged mate, and she has already set her mind to it. Is it not unfair for you to just meet a strange random girl from another pack and believe she is your true mother?
I was aware that they had arranged for me to marry Morris’ daughter because as an Alpha I also needed an heir. I wasn’t interested in anyone for now, I only loved one woman before, but she chose my brother instead.
So I decided to live with it till now, until I found out that Hazel was the only person who could cure my curse and that’s why I married her. No one really knew who Hazel was because she has been sent away for a long time.
And then when she returned, she was accused of something she didn’t do and was sent to the Heichen Prison. I had had enough of his bickering, and I knew exactly how to stop it anyway.
"Are you saying the Alpha of the Diamond Pack is wrong in his judgement?" I asked sternly, my voice threatening as I left no room for an argument.
"Th-... that's not what I meant, Alpha Dra-..." Even at that, he managed to stutter those words out.
"You meant to say nothing, Morris, and you will remain silent for the rest of this meeting except when it's necessary." I ordered, and he sat quietly back in his seat.
I walked forward and got to Hazel's side. Holding her by the waist, I guided her gently to the large table where all the other elders sat. I took out Jason's seat, and she sat quietly without saying a word.
I took my seat at the head table and let my eyes travel around the table for a while. The elders all seemed stunned by my attitude towards Hazel, but that didn't matter now.
What matters more is making the best battle plan that will not only protect and defend the pack and its members but also finally defeat Zac and put an end to his cruel ways.
As I, Hazel, and the other elders of the Diamond pack sat around the large rectangular table, the tension in the room was palpable. All eyes were on me as they eagerly awaited me to begin the meeting.
To be able to win this battle against Zac, we would just have to make a good battle plan by first noting out our weaknesses when being compared to the Blood Moon Pack. Hazel sat quietly in my right hand; her face seemed quite pale and drawn with worry.
I cleared my throat before beginning with my next words. "We are outnumbered by the Blood Moon pack. It shouldn't come as a surprise, as we all know that, compared to the Blood Moon Pack, our warriors are really few.
We are one third of his pack warriors," I began, my voice calm and steady as I said the words most worrying and annoying at the moment.
"But we have the advantage of fighting on our own territory, and we have the unity of the pack on our side." I continued, and they all perked up.
"Our strategy must be to use the landscape to our advantage and to draw them into their own demise," I continued.
"I will lead the warriors into battle, but before that, I need you, Hazel, to stay behind, where you will be safe." Hazel looked up at me, her eyes pleading.
"I cannot ask you to risk your life and the life of..." I sighed out loud before continuing. "You cannot take the risk." I said, my voice softening as I looked at her to reassure her.
"You must stay here, where I know you will be protected." I watched her swallow hard, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "If we are to succeed, we must have a plan." I spoke up once more, turning my attention back to the other elders.
"We are more at a disadvantage, Alpha Draven. We do have a larger landscape, and we'll flourish as warriors, but the Blood Moon pack are still a force to be reckoned with due to their mass in number." One of the elders spoke.
"Even if we have the strongest and bravest of men, all werewolves have a weakness for time spent on the battleground. Sooner or later, they will weaken." I knew and understood fully what he meant by this, and he is right.
That fact is a troubling matter, especially now that I do not have my wise warrior, Jason, with me. "I understand your point, but I do have a plan that will overcome our disadvantage. We must use the lay of the land to our advantage.”
“The Blood Moon pack will expect us to meet them head-on, but we must surprise them. We will divide our warriors into two groups. One will attack from the front, drawing the Blood Moon warriors into battle.”
“The other will circle around and attack from behind, taking them by surprise." The elders nodded, murmurs of agreement rippling around the table.
"We will need to move quickly and strike hard," my voice filled with resolve and resounding with authority. "Our pack guardian's must be prepared for a long and difficult battle. We cannot afford to lose even one of our own.”
“We must fight as if our lives depend on it, for they do." The elders nodded again, their faces grim. They knew the stakes were high. The Blood Moon Pack is truly feared amongst other packs on the continent.
"Are you with me?" I asked, my eyes scanning the room. "Will you stand with me in this fight?" A chorus of voices rang out, strong and clear. "We are with you!" they cried. "We will stand with you!".
"Good. When in the battle field, I will face Zac." I said it authoritatively. "But Alpha Draven," Hazel said.
"Hazel, you will remain here under the supervision of a few guards and maids." I explained to her that I was unwilling to hear any more form of bickering or ifs or buts. She wasn’t even strong enough yet she want to go to war.
Maybe because I promised her revenge, she wants to do everything just to return the favor. Marrying me was already a big favour. "Yes, your highness, I will deploy my son to take care of her and keep her safe. “
“Now that we know of the existence of our next Alpha, we cannot take any chances in keeping him safe." Sam said. I gazed between him and Morris before gazing back at Hazel. She had her head bowed, and I could tell she was fidgeting with her fingers under the table.
"Ah, yes, Alpha Draven. Hazel has already informed us about her pregnancy." Sam said with a lighthearted chuckle, probably trying to bridge the tension in the air, although it remained palpable.
Morris had his eyes on me, anticipating something. It was probably a disapproving reaction, but I kept my gaze rigid and remained indifferent to the news. Morris sighed loudly and leaned back in his seat before proceeding to speak his mind.
"Alpha Draven, when I had earlier heard the news, I chose not to believe it. But now, what happens to Debbie? She is set on being the next Luna, and it has already been arranged for Alpha. So how can-.."
"Morris, this is most definitely not the time to discuss this as there is an ongoing war. And it is against the Blood Moon pack. After the war is over, I shall announce my decision, which is unquestionable.”
And with that, I stood up and, taking Hazel with me, left the meeting room. We walked together a few metres down the hall when a familiar figure approached us. It was Alicia, Jason's second-hand man.
Or rather, women. She is a very strong and intelligent werewolf being trained by Jason. He must have reached out to her, and that must be why she is here.
"Greetings, Alpha Draven," she said, getting on one knee and bowing. "What's new?" I asked.
"Jason has sent me to inform you not to go one-on-one with Alpha Zac just yet. Alpha Zac got a secret shipment of plain silver bullets. They are extremely rare, but one shot could kill a werewolf and end them for good," she explained.
Plain silver, huh? Zac is truly aiming for blood this time. "What else?" I asked. "He said one of his old friend in Zac’s pack is working on our side." I gazed at Hazel as she said that. Hazel seemed shocked and surprised. I was too.
"He said she was the one who informed him of the bullets and the ambush. He also said not to worry about him as he is only still in Zac's custody because he needs to keep getting more and more information from Maddy, which will help the pack.”
“He pleads with the Alpha to find a way to deal with this and fully recover before facing Zac one-on-one."