He will be there

He will be there
The meeting started, and the participants were both excited and serious as they began discussing options for moving forward. The Mistvally pack had drawn up maps based on their agent’s intelligence. Bella was impressed by how much information they had been able to get.

“We should strike at once,” alpha Greg said.

“We should have a plan first,” Bella objected.

“We don’t have time for sitting around, twiddling our thumbs,” alpha Greg sighed, irritated.

“Ellie is right. We need a plan. Going in without proper planning could end up costing us the victory,” Graham said. Bella smiled at him.

“I agree,” alpha Brutus nodded. “We know that the rogues already know we are looking for them. They won’t be surprised by our attack. That means we can take the time to plan it,” he added.

They took a vote, and most of them preferred a planned attack. The planning started by assessing their resources. They had almost two-thousand warriors on site. The estimated force of the rogues was about a thousand. But they would have the advantage of a fortified home advantage. No matter how they twisted or turned it, taking a fortified building would cost them pack members.

“What if we could get people on the inside that could open up gates or disarm the defences?” luna Alice said.

“How would we do that?” an alpha asked. Alice seemed to be lost on that point.

“If the Mistvally agent could get in undetected, there must be a way in. If we put together a group of, say, one of the top stealth warriors from each pack, could your agent lead them in?” Bella asked alpha Brutus.

“It’s not impossible,” he said.

“We can provide equipment that let us talk to each other without the pack link. It’s used when working with human agencies,” Alpha Sam said. “We have enough for one warrior from each pack to wear one,” he added.

“We also have body cams we can use to put on some warriors. That would give us a live feed,” luna Alice added.

“How soon can you have them in the Blueridge pack?” alpha Noa asked.

“By lunch tomorrow,” alpha Sam said.

In the end, it was decided that the operation would take place the following evening. As soon as it was dark, the agent from Mistvally would sneak in with the chosen warriors, and an hour later, the full-scale attack would commence.

Bella thought they had done what they could to plan and give their warriors the best chance to succeed. No one wanted their warriors to end up dead. But even with their planning, they all knew that the end could go either way.

After the meeting, they called Logan and explained the plan to him. They also needed to pick which warrior they would send on ahead.

“Do you want me to come down?” Graham asked. There was a pause.

“No need, boss. I can manage. Besides, you need to stay with Bella,” Logan said.

“Don’t think about me. The two threats against me are no threats anymore. Mark is secure with Sam, and the rogue alpha is sitting tight under your thumb,” Bella said.

“Are any other alphas planning on joining the operation?” Logan asked.

“Nothing was decided. I’m guessing they are having the same conversations with their representatives as we speak,” Graham told him.

“What’s wrong, Logan?” Bella asked.

“There’s nothing wrong, per se. It’s just the alpha from the Blueridge pack isn’t what I would call the most organised alpha. He has been friendly and very accommodating. But I don’t trust him to be the only alpha on location,” Logan said.

Graham looked at Bella with pain in his eyes. She smiled at him and kissed him.

“Gray will be there by tomorrow morning,” she told Logan.

“Luna, I wasn’t saying it had to be him,” Logan objected.

“I know, Logan. But we will all feel better if he is there. Just look after him, will you?” she said.

“I promise, luna,” Logan sounded grim.

“I am capable of looking after myself,” Graham pointed out.

“I know, but I feel better when someone has you back,” Bella smiled.

They ended the call with Logan that said he would send the jet home so that Graham could use it.

“I’m sorry, Ellie. I was hoping this wouldn’t happen,” Graham said and pulled Bella into an embrace.

“I know, Gray. You don’t have to apologise. You’re the alpha. I know you need to be there. Bastian and I will hold the fort back home,” she told him as she snuggled in closer.

“Whenever we are apart, it feels like you are put in danger,” he said.

“Do you prefer me to come with you?” she asked.

“Have you lost your mind? I will not take my pregnant mate into a war,” he almost shouted.

“Well then. The beans and I will be waiting for you. But you need to stay safe,” she said.

“I promise to do all in my power to come back to you and the beans,” he nodded.

“Good. If you die, I will give you hell when we meet in the afterlife. I mean, serious pain and torment, probably loss of limbs,” Bella told him.

“I will keep that in mind and let it motivate me to stay alive,” he chuckled.

“Good. Now let’s get you set. Do you need to eat before you leave?” she asked.

“No, I’ll just throw some things in a bag and talk to Bastian. If I leave in an hour, I should arrive at the airport in time for the jet to have been refuelled and ready to go,” he said.

As they walked to their apartment, Bella mind linked Graham’s mother, Charlotte, and Mickey. She also mind linked the head cook and asked her to prepare some sandwiches and coffee for Graham to take with him. As Graham packed his clothes, she texted her father.

When Graham came into the kitchen ten minutes later, their family was gathered around the kitchen table, including Mavis, sleeping in Mickey’s arms.

“What is all this?” Graham asked.

“You didn’t think you would get to run off to a war without letting us see you off, did you?” his mother said with a sad smile.

“I take it this is your doing,” he said to Bella.

“It’s important,” was all she told him.

Graham spent some time talking to Bastian and his father about what they should do when he was away. He then said goodbye to Mickey, Charlotte, and his mother. As he came to her father, the two men smiled at each other.

“I have to give her back to you for safekeeping for a while,” Graham said to Bella’s father.

“I’ll be happy to do so. You make sure to come back,” her father said, and Graham nodded as they shook hands.

Arana came to the door as their family left to give Bella the packed food.

“Thank you, Arana. You didn’t need to come yourself,” Bella smiled.

“No problem, let me know if you need anything, luna,” Arana said and left.

Bella held out the brown paper bag and thermos to Graham.

“For the road,” she said. He gave her a little smile and placed the items on the table. He embraced her again and nuzzled into her neck.

“I will miss you,” he said.

“And I will miss you,” Bella told him as she hugged his waist tightly.

“I will call you when I get there and let you know everything is fine. Don’t take the evening meeting with the alphas alone tomorrow. I don’t want you to watch the battle by yourself. Bastian or my father can join you,” he said. She nodded.

“I love you, Ellie.”

 “I love you too, Gray.”

They kissed, and then Graham bent down, placing two kisses on her belly.

“I love you beans as well, behave while I’m gone,” he said, making Bella smile as her tears rolled down her cheek.

“Don’t cry, love,” Graham told her.

“Can’t help it,” she said.

“Time for me to get going,” he tried to smile at her, but Bella saw the pain in his eyes.

“Oh, wait just one minute,” Bella said, running into the closet and coming out with one of her t-shirts.

“Take this,” she told him.

“Ellie, I think that’s a bit too small for me,” he chuckled.

“No, you dummy. It’s so you can sleep a little better. It has my scent. I don’t need you to be sleep-deprived,” she told him, putting the t-shirt into his bag.

“Thank you,” he said, kissing her one last time before leaving.

Bella walked out onto the balcony. If she leaned a little, she could see the driveway of the pack house where a car with a driver stood waiting. As Graham walked out of the pack house, he seemed to sense she was there. He looked up and raised his hand. Bella waved back at him.