Chapter 21 We'll Attack!

Chapter 21 We'll Attack!
Rick’s POV
I was already running before the call ended.
Branches scraped my arms as I cut through the forest, boots slamming hard against the damp ground. My lungs burned, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.
Blaire’s voice still rang in my ears.
“Azrael came here.”
Those three words had been enough to send ice through my spine.
She had called twice before I answered. I had ignored the first call, thinking she just wanted to talk. When I finally picked up, her breathing had been uneven.
“He’s in the house,” she whispered.
My steps faltered. “What?”
“He came looking for you. I told him you stepped out.”
“Did he believe you?”
She kept quiet.
That silence told me everything.
“I tried to cover,” she continued quickly. “But I think he saw the cloak, Rick. I don’t know if he noticed the envelope, but he was watching everything. He’s suspicious.”
My heart slammed hard against my ribs.
“I’m on my way,” I muttered and ended the call.
Now I pushed harder, weaving through trees, jumping over fallen logs. My mind raced faster than my feet. I had to take this route because it was far shorter, it also helped me slip out of the pack without drawing so much attention.
I’d always taken this route. I also made sure to pick some herbs by the way to make sure the guards never suspected my movement peradventure they caught me slipping out of the forest.
Now that Alpha Azrael has taken note of my movement, I have to be a little more careful.
“I can’t fucking screw this up now.” I whispered to myself as I finally caught sight of the Pack’s borders.
I broke through the last line of trees and slowed as the pack boundary came into view. Warriors patrolled near the entrance. I forced my breathing to steady and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Act normal.
Walk.
Don’t run.
I adjusted my jacket and stepped onto the path.
Two guards nodded as I passed. “Rick.”
I returned the nod casually. “Heyyy.”
My pulse was still racing.
I moved toward the residential area, trying to think ahead. I needed to walk in like nothing was wrong. Like I had just been out on patrol.
As I rounded the corner near the administration building, I heard a familiar voice.
Azrael.
I froze instinctively, stepping back behind the side wall before he could see me. My scent was concealed, thanks to the masking spray I had put on earlier before moving out. With that, I didn’t have to worry about getting caught.
He stood a few meters away, phone pressed to his ear. His posture was tense, shoulders rigid.
“…she’s awake?” he said.
My stomach dropped.
Awake?
No.
That wasn’t possible.
I leaned slightly, trying to hear more.
“Yes… alright… keep me updated.”
He ended the call.
I stayed hidden until he walked past, heading toward the residential quarter.
My heart hammered.
How?
Alpha Lani was supposed to be unconscious. Out of the picture long enough for us to finish what we started.
At least a week.
That’s what we planned.
That arrow was supposed to keep her down.
I pulled my phone out with shaky fingers, already heading for my house as I dialed quickly.
The line rang once before it was picked up.
“What is it?” the voice on the other end said.
“She’s awake,” I whispered.
“What?” Gomez blurted out.
“Azrael just said it. She woke up.”
“That’s not possible,” the man replied sharply. “Are you sure?”
“I heard him.”
Another pause.
“No… I personally poisoned that arrow,” he said, voice low. “She should’ve been left paralyzed for at least a week. Just enough time to let us carry out our operation.”
My grip tightened around the phone. “Well, something went wrong.”
“Is she fully recovered?”
“I don’t know. He only said she’s awake.”
“Damn it.”
I looked around quickly before moving again, keeping my voice down. “What do we do now?”
The man exhaled slowly. “This complicates things.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Listen carefully,” he continued. “Even if she’s awake, the poison doesn’t leave that quickly. Her body should still be weak. Sluggish. She won’t be at full strength.”
I swallowed. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. The mixture was designed that way. It lingers and slows down healing.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Then we still have time.”
“Not much. You need to move faster.”
“I know.”
“And be careful. If Azrael is already suspicious, you can’t afford mistakes.”
Too late for that.
“He came to the house,” I said.
“What?”
“Blaire called me. He saw the cloak.”
A sharp curse came through the line. “Did he see the letter?”
“I don’t think so. She covered it.”
“Think isn’t good enough.”
“I know.”
The was a deafening silence once again.
“You need to destroy it,” he said finally.
“I’ll handle it.”
“And Rick… don’t panic. Stick to the plan. We’re too close to back out now.”
My chest felt tight. “What if she remembers anything?”
“She won’t. The poison affects the nerves, not the memory.”
That didn’t make me feel better.
“Call me if anything changes,” he added.
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone slowly.
Everything was slipping.
I forced myself to keep walking, turning toward my house. My steps felt heavier now. Every sound made me tense.
I need to get to Blaire first, find out how much trouble I’m in before I know how to handle the situation with the Alpha.
Before I stepped in, I could already perceive the scent of Blaire’s favourite recipe.
Not something I loved, but it was one of the only things she knew how to prepare.
The door broke open.
That scent of boiled wild mushroom covered the room.
She stepped out into the living room hurriedly.
Immediately she sighted me, she sighed.
“Where the heck were you?”
“And why did you stay so long?”
“You were supposed to return before the Alpha takes note of your absence.”
“That’s enough!” I barked.
“If you were in my shoes and had all these responsibilities on you, you would definitely not be able to handle things better than I did, so don’t fucking blame me okay.”
“ Or do I need to remind you about the fact that you screwed up while trying to hand Alpha Lani the letters and how I had to find a way to erase all your mistakes from the Pack’s main CCTV controller?”
She swallowed hard. “Keep your voice low, what if someone is listening…”
I rolled my eyes at her, brushing past her as I walked in to go get myself cleaned up.
As I walked back to the Alpha’s office, my mind already preparing what lie to feed him.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
It was a message from Gomez.
“We’ll attack the Alpha’s Gala, that’s our best chance at this!” I stared at the message a little too long, my attention fully on it.
“What’s that?” That Familiar voice resounded in the hallways. The sound almost making me drop my phone.