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123

WRITER

Jay Cross moved back, startled at the sight in front of him; his father had been dead for over six years.

He had seen his body, had buried it, and laid it to rest alongside his mom. It couldn't be possible, maybe his vision tricked him.

“W…what?” He stammered, frozen in shock.

Jael let out a wicked laugh. The fear and shock he elicited were wonderful. This was why he did what he did. He liked to keep the fear of Jael Cross in every wolf's heart.

And he would betray anybody, it didn't matter who. Not even his closest friends.

“Son, you have made me proud, although you have failed me in one aspect." he shook his head, in exaggerated disappointment.

“You're supposed to be dead" Jay wasn't registering anything else in his head, not the words his father had spoken.

“Well, miracles do happen?” As he said that, the room brightened with all the lights.

Now, Jay could see his father clearly, and there was no doubt anymore. The father that he thought was dead had been buried, stood right in front of him, healthy, strong, and just like the strict and domineering man that had raised him.

"I am disappointed in the side you've chosen, siding with the Blackwoods?” He made a sound, and he moved closer to Jay, standing shoulder to shoulder.

He couldn't help but smile at the way his son stood up to him as well, no longer the shy child.

“It's my pack now, I support whoever I want to," he answered, his shock had worn away a little for him to come back to himself, be the alpha he was.

“Well, now you'll do only what I say," Jael told him, staring him in the eyes as if to dare him to oppose him.

“Not anymore, father, I am the alpha, and I do whatever I please. The Blackwoods will have my support for as long as I wish. I heard you've been building an army; you can do the supporting yourself," he told him curtly and turned to leave.

Jael’s face twisted, an expression of anger.

“You'll regret this, son, because when I have taken every pack as mine, I'll come for yours." It was a threat.

Jay opened the door and stepped out, “I'll be waiting for you" he shut it behind him.

Loras sat on his table, he had been going through the list of packs that could join hands with him.

The Underwoods would want revenge, so he was sure they would assist him; the packs under them had slid away.

He raised his head, deep in thought. There was one thing he hadn't thought of, his mom.

She always found a way to find someone who would help. She would get the packs to join them.

He closed his laptop and locked his door, heading straight for her room where she had been with Celeste since they had last spoken.

Ever since Damon's death, Celeste had been going between both pack houses. She was the authority in the Underwood pack until a new alpha was crowned; he would take that spot first.

The elders had wanted to meet with him, but he wasn't ready yet. Luckily, rumors of Roseline being his mate hadn't circulated yet; they had no idea and would not hesitate to support him.

He knocked on the door, “Who is there?" His mom called out in reply.

She had been compiling a list and trying to create a letter.

“Mom, it's me" Loras replied and waited.

The door swung open almost immediately, his mom on the other side of the door.

“Come in" she indicated, moving away for him.

She shut the door and watched him take a seat, pulling one beside him.

“You've heard?" He asked her.

Celia nodded, of course, he had. The news had made her so elated that plans had started immediately. There was no time to waste.

One alpha was out of the way, just one left and the whole state would be theirs. They would all come together and bring down the mighty Bradley Blackwood.

“I want to attack as soon as I can, I don't want to give him time to recover, two days have passed now", he told her.

“Yes, I know that, I'm trying here. I've sent out a few letters soliciting folp", she began.

Loras' jaw widened slightly in shock, “Already? Have you gotten any response?"

Celia shook her head, “Not yet, but I've got a meeting with them soon, I expect you and your sister to be there, " she told him sternly.

Loras didn't have anything else to do so of course he would be there. His presence would serve as an encouragement.

“We'll be there, just make sure I've got the army I need", he told her.

He was itching for the battle, he wanted his revenge. It was only then that our soul would rest.

“Of course, darling, that's what I'm here for," she smiled, a devious smile that had many plans brewing behind it.

“Alright then, I'll be in my room if you need me", he told her.

She nodded, “Whenever, the meeting is tonight so please be ready" she called after him as he left.

He went to his room where he had his personal laptop. He wanted to check his emails, maybe an important message had come in.

He saw an unread email with a subject. He wondered who it could be and tapped to check.

He read it out loud.

Son, this is Jael Cross, the man and power behind everything. I know who killed your mate, I know how broken it has made you feel and I have come to erase the pain.
Bradley Blackwood is a powerful man, his influence goes into places you'll never know.
I'm offering you my support and army.
On one condition, at the end of the war, you'll give me complete access and control of the Underwood pack as their alpha.
Any response to this will be considered an acceptance of my help.
I will be seeing you if you accept it.

Yours sincerely,

Loras exited the mail, a broad smile on his face. He had been looking for an army, enough to take out a lot of people and here one had come to him.

He would tell his mom, but first, he would accept this help. He didn't have any plans of handing over the leadership, but now, as far as he got it, it didn't matter.

Immediately he sent back a mail, accepting the help and telling him they were prepared for him, his pack, nd him.

He knocked on his mom's door happily, .I'm coming", she answered.

The door opened and she looked surprised to see Loras again. He took out his laptop and showed her as they went into the room.

When Celia had read the mail entirely, she let out a laugh. Oh, she hadn't expected he would reach out, that he would help and his help was pleasant. With him on their side, they didn't need much.

“Good, you've responded, we just need to get ready for their arrival, that's another thing", she told him.

Loras smirked, “Of course mother. You can trust that to me"

Celia smiled. Everything is going just as planned so far.

Bradley had been trying to fortify his army all day. The men he had lost were a significant number; he would need their replacements

Some of the packs had come to meet him for help or to join him but he hadn't made any response yet.

A knock came on his door as he scrolled through his computer.

“Come in", he told whoever.

The door opened and Elias walked in, his face dark with an expression Bradley couldn't read.

“What happened?" He asked.

Elias spoke, “The Whitemores are preparing to attack, our informant said he'd be coming soon", he announced.

Bradley's mood darkened at the announcement. He had just fought one battle, hadn't recovered entirely from it, nd now this.

He could clearly see that Loras had made this plan, waited for him to grow weaker before planning his attack.

“Are our weapons ready?" He asked.

Elias nodded no, “Not yet alpha, a portion of them haven't arrived"

Bradley frowned, “Why exactly haven't they all arrived? Make sure they do before tomorrow, I want you to arrange a few meetings with some of the alphas, I want to know what position they stand in" he added.

Elias listened carefully to the instructions, he couldn't afford to miss any.

“Yes, alpha", he said in agreement.

When they had finished, Bradley decided to go see Diana. He had a lot of things to catch up on and he wanted to tell her what had happened with the mail he had received and the threat of war.

He had noticed the sadness that had lingered inside of Diana, nd he wanted to deny it, say that it didn't affect him, but it greatly did.

He hated the way she loved him and was mourning him.

He knocked on the door to her room and waited.

On the other side, he could hear the advancing footsteps.

Her door swung open not long after, Diana stared back at him.

“I have news", he said.

The next day, Loras had the support of the packs he needed and this J had promised to stand by him, he would meet him on the battleground.

So when Loras advanced to the blackwood borders in the dark of night, he went alone, along with the army that was his.

He would attack first, make them think they were winning
But then they would receive the shock of their lives.

“Alpha, should we?" His beta asked.

Loras stared at the dominating walls of the pack that lay within.

“Attack"