Chapter 157: One step closer

Chapter 157: One step closer
Christopher

"We need to act as soon as possible."
"We should be out there by now!"
"Mate is counting on us," my wolf repeated in my head as I studied the battle plans with my warriors. Work on the packhouse had begun, the traitors were imprisoned, and Silver Claws had been rebuilt. I exhaled as I stared at the map spread before us. Joaquin was near my city; I could feel it. There was no time to wait, yet we needed the perfect plan that I knew didn't exist. "We must take this route and leave immediately," I said firmly, raising my eyes to Alpha Samuel and Peggy. "If we wait any longer, he'll gather more allies and outnumber us."
"We need to track Joaquin's movements, alpha," Peggy pointed out, and I knew she was right. Dylan stood in a corner, his breathing ragged with worry. 
The Beta could barely breathe from the stress of knowing his mate was captured - knowing what Joaquin was capable of.
"The key is strategy. We can't afford an open fight without making sure we have the advantage. The city is vast, its paths treacherous," Alpha Samuel agreed with a grave nod.
Dylan, who had been silent, suddenly pounded his fist on the table.
"What if it's too late? We don't know what else he's done. We can't wait any longer." He exhaled sharply and grimaced. "I'm sorry, Alpha... it's just that..."

I took a deep breath and felt Trent, my wolf, growl inside me.

"We're not waiting, Dylan. We're getting ready. We need to divide our forces. One group will attack Joaquin directly, another will secure the city's borders to prevent reinforcements from entering or escaping. But I understand you, Beta, I understand all of you. We need information. Have the spies returned? Have they reported anything?" Samuel pointed to the map.

"They saw him meeting further west. The bastard's planning something. They say they're moving slowly, maybe they have sick wolves with them. Our warriors are ready. We'll equip them with more weapons, but we need cover."
A buzzing sound interrupted the conversation. Peggy checked her phone, which was her direct line to Aaron and our people there.
"It's from Orlando." Her jaw tightened as she read the message. "They got into the city safely. The routes are deserted. They already used Olivia's technology to track Joaquin's route. He's meeting with rogues... worse than the ones he's worked with before. This isn't just an attack on our people, Christopher. They're going to destroy everything."
"Luna Olivia started work early. This information is gold!" Samuel remarked. The world seemed to close in on me for a moment. Olivia... far away from me, in a city that was about to become a battlefield. The emptiness in my chest was crushing.
"Focus, Christopher." Trent's voice echoed in my head. "She's safe, and she is helping us! You need to focus on the fight."
"But I left her alone..." My heart ached at the distance.
"She's not alone. She's with Orlando and Aaron and the others. The city will be protected. We will get there. We have a war to win."
I exhaled sharply and looked at the others.
"We're moving now. We'll take an alternate route and ambush Joaquín before he reaches the city. This will be the battlefield - we won't let those bastards get any closer. Alpha Samuel, you'll lead the perimeter protection group. Dylan, you're with me."
Dylan nodded, but there was something in his eyes that worried me. He looked too tense, almost on the verge of breaking. I didn't give it much thought at the time - we had to leave immediately.
"Finally..." Trent muttered in my head. We had to move. Silver Claws would be safe - my people would take care of it. We moved quickly, my allied Alphas strategically positioned. We carried every weapon we could, knowing Joaquin wouldn't play fair. Even a few human hunters had joined us.
"Alpha..."
"Boy, are you sure?" He was just a human boy - brave, though.
"Yes, sir. My name is Gary, and my group is here to help."
"From a distance, then. You can use your weapons," I said.
"We would like... to be in the city. Shadowmoon's support would mean a lot to the humans," Gary added. I held out my hand, and he took it.
"It would be my pleasure to help, and my Luna's. You will all have a place," I assured him, and the boy smiled. We wasted no time moving. As we advanced, our senses on high alert, every rustle in the trees sent a jolt of excitement through my body. Suddenly, a blur of movement caught my attention. It wasn't an attack—Dylan had stopped in his tracks and taken off running without warning.
"Dylan!" I yelled, but it was too late. He had broken away from the group and was heading in another direction. A warrior beside me cursed.
"He's after Cassandra. He's lost her."
"Has he caught a scent?" By the goddess - this was suicide!
"Stop him!" I ordered, but no one was quick enough. I turned to two wolves. "Go with him. We can't let him do this alone." A knot tightened in my gut. I understood Dylan's desperation, but I couldn't allow him to disobey orders. Not in the middle of this war. The moon shone brightly above us as a low growl echoed through the night. My instincts went on high alert. A sickening stench filled the air.
"They're close, Alpha," Samuel confirmed. This was it. I knew it. Beyond the trees, I spotted movement - wolves, rogues - the metallic clatter of weapons. They were heading for the town, but they would find us first.
"Stay alert. We'll take them by surprise. They won't even know what hit them," I said darkly.
Trent and I were tired of being held back, drugged with wolfsbane, and treated like caged animals. We were Alphas. Our duty was to fight - for our people, our mate and our land. And we would end this bastard tonight.
"Attack!" I yelled, sprinting through the trees. We emerged into a clearing, and dozens of rogues stared at us as if we had risen from hell itself. And maybe we had.
"The enemy!" The rogues and wolves cried out, some turned to flee, others became our first victims. It was their armed vanguard, and they looked lost, as if they had been promised an easy fight in the city. As if they had been told they could take anything they wanted, like children in a candy store. They all said my town was not a mob. But they were desperate and wanted to get their claws into their territory.

"Not with us," Trent growled as we attacked.

"Kill them all! For the wolves and our packs!" Samuel roared, transforming into a monstrous beast. Further back, Peggy was coordinating the humans, although I knew she would fight sooner or later.
"This is our moment. I've longed for the blood of rogues," Trent hissed. I bared my fangs, my eyes burning with the thrill of battle.
And I surrendered to the fight.