104

104

KAEL

"Raven has moved in," Councillor Merrick said, walking into the room filled with ready fighters all waiting for the right time to strike.

I clenched my fist and turned to Markov Romanov. He gave me a firm nod.

"It's time," I announced.

My eyes scanned the crowd one last time. A whole army of about a hundred trained fighters all standing with their heads held high, knowing fully well that this might be their last strike.

But nothing frightened me more than the thought of Raven and my son alone with Darian.

Of course, Maya and Eria were with her, but that wasn't enough to keep my nerves from racing. It was all I could do to keep myself from going after her.

We had a mission here also.

"Divide into two groups," I said, calling out orders as the men moved immediately, Leah and Markov dividing them into five ranks.

Jarod was present, I saw Lukas, and even Jonah. Everyone I knew and didn't know. Vance was in the last rank. He wasn't moving with us. I definitely wasn't going to let him fight again, unless more than half of us were already dead. The last rank was for backup.

I explained the drills swiftly to the men.

This was the second time I was taking Markov's idea.

Last night, Councillor Merrick worked painstakingly to make sure he found where the Order were hiding out on the map.

An abandoned warehouse at the outskirts of the city. And now it was time to move in and end this once and for all.

"Raven has lured Darian out of the Order," I said to the men, my voice carrying loudly across the large field. It was about the third time I was holding a meeting like this. This month definitely wasn't one I would like to relive, I thought grimly.

"It's going to be a fair fight now, but it won't be easy. Rank one and two move in and lure the Order soldiers out. Rank three and four hide in the fields till they're a long distance away. Then we attack, take them by surprise. We claim our victory before sunset," I said. The field erupted into a haze of war cries. I tightened my grip on the firearm in my hand.

The weaponry was empty now. All the men had at least a gun, swords and tiny blades.

"The signal is a triple howl," I informed them. "Don't forget."

"This way." Markov met my eyes and nodded. We marched out of the stronghold in formation, all five ranks.

And then, when we reached the outskirts of the city, the formation broke into two groups. I led the second group, leading the men through the forest sides, keeping to the woods and anything that would make us discrete.

"Spotted," Merrick moved beside me. He lowered a pair of binoculars from his eyes and nodded at me.

"The warehouse is by the east, approximately 2 miles from here. We won't be able to fully circle it. It's an open field, they'll see anything coming."

"Then we hide as close as we can," I replied, my expression cold. "And when Markov gives the signal, we charge inside. Kill everyone left, Viper is mine."

He nodded and slipped away, relaying the information to the rest of the men.

We lay in wait. That was probably the most difficult part. The time ticked painfully by. The adrenaline rushed through my veins and I took a deep breath, leveling my breathing. My hands clutched my weapon tighter. I heard yells coming from the fields below. The fight had started. Markov's signal might come any minute from now.

But hours passed. We stood silently. My bones were cramped from staying in one position for too long.

Merrick looked uncertainly at me. What if something happened? What if Markov was too far for us to actually hear him?

Then we heard it, like a trumpet blowing across the still fields. Three successive howls. I jerked upright immediately.

"Rank five. Stay here until we call for backups," I looked back at the men and instructed, cocking the rifle in my hand.

"Vance, you're in charge. Don't lead the men out until we call for backup."

"Right, Alpha," Vance gave me a nod. This time, he hadn't protested when I told him that he would not be fighting with us.

A few weeks and his wounds would have been completely healed. I still didn't exactly like Markov's idea, but here we were going along with it because we didn't have a choice.

I let out a war cry as we rushed out of our hiding place.

The warehouse was a total wreckage. Planks and shattered windows lay on the floor, some men were on the ground, their bodies bloody, not moving. But I could recognize them. They weren't members of any of the packs I lead.

"Move in," I said. "Search the warehouse, kill anyone you find. Then we burn it to the ground."

The men set to work immediately, I caught sight of Lukas and Merrick slip inside, holding their guns in front of them.

I closed my eyes, reaching deeply within, trying to feel Raven. Nothing.

I'm stepping inside, it's now or never, I love you. They were just thoughts, but I hoped that it reached her through the mild link that we shared.

Inside, the warehouse had been converted into a mini hotel, with more empty hallways, less decorations and more spaces filled with big rotting machines.

I took a winding staircase that led upwards. Someone fell down from the top of the stairs, his neck snapped before reaching the ground. Red coat, not my soldier.

I ran up the remaining flight of stairs and fought the urge to plug something into my ears as all around me was noise from the fights.

"Viper's in the last room," Lukas called out to him, as he smacked a head against the wall and a furry figure of a werewolf leaped on him.

I didn't get a change to help him and instead ran off in the direction he pointed out for me.

In front of me was a huge door, slightly open.

I pushed it aside, slamming it against the wall and stepped in, my eyes scanning for Viper.

At first, no one said anything. The room was empty, an upturned table, an open window. A chair... And then, with movement like lightning, someone gripped me from behind.

I attempted to fight and get out of the grip, but then I felt the cold edge of a blade pressed under my chin.

"Well, you sneaky little thing," Viper whispered next to my ears, her voice sending cold tingles down my neck.

"You've lost," I said, keeping my voice level, unconcerned, but not daring to move.

The blade pressed closer against my skin, drawing out some blood to let me know how serious she was. "Have I really?" she asked, her voice deadly sweet.

For a moment, I found myself doubting. But we planted everything... What if there was something I missed? I couldn't help but ask myself. This was just her way to exercise control.

"Oh, Kael. Just when are you going to learn?" Viper's laughter was cold, echoing in the empty room. "I'm just a member of the Order, Alpha. Before long, someone else will take my place, and they'll be twice as brutal."

My jaw clenched, she was right, in a way. First we dealt with Darian, and she gave me more headache than he did. But she didn't have to know she was right.

I remained still, feeling the blade's edge against my throat.

"Did you really think your little plan was so clever?" she continued, her voice dripping with mockery. "When I didn't see you among the wolves that challenged us in the field, I knew exactly what you were up to. Splitting your forces, sending half to draw us out while you sneak in from behind. Predictable."

My blood ran cold. She had known all along.

"Oh, and I have a very special package just for you and your men," she whispered, her breath hot against my ear. "Explosives, planted throughout this warehouse. One wrong move and boom—you all go up in flames with this place."

"Suicide... you'll kill yourself," I struggled for the words.

Viper made an annoyed sound. "Now don't be ridiculous. Don't you think I've made provisions for myself?"

Rage surged through me like wildfire. The thought of my men, my pack, being trapped in a death trap because of my decisions ignited something primal within me.

With a roar of fury, I threw my elbow back into her ribs, spinning around as she stumbled. The blade sliced across my neck, but I barely felt the sting. All I could see was red.

"You manipulative witch!" I snarled, launching myself at her.

Viper recovered quickly, her own eyes blazing with malicious delight. We crashed into the overturned table, wood splintering around us as we grappled. She was fast, deadly with her blade, but I was fueled by pure rage.

She slashed at my chest, tearing through my shirt and drawing blood. I grabbed her wrist, twisting until she dropped the weapon, then backhanded her across the face.

"That was for Orion," I spat, then lunged at her, throwing her across the room. "And this is for Vance!"

The fight intensified, both of us abandoning any pretense of human civility. My bones began to crack and shift, the wolf demanding to be set free. Across from me, Viper's form began to change as well, her features elongating, muscles expanding.

Within moments, we had both shifted into our werewolf forms. I stood massive and black, my hackles raised, while she faced me as a sleek silver wolf with cold, calculating eyes.

We circled each other, snarling, before colliding in a brutal clash of teeth and claws. Blood splattered the walls as we tore into each other.