128

128

WRITER

Diana walked into Bradley's office, shocking him because she hadn't knocked, not with her nervousness. She had information for him.

Bradley sat up straight when he saw her, his eyes following her movements. “You're back"

She sat down on the chair, falling silent. She felt tired but couldn't go to rest, not yet.

“I've got news," she said.

Bradley listened attentively to her; he had expected something, of course.

“Jay Cross sent his condolences, he's agreed to assist us as well as the other packs under him, so we're secured" she gave the first news first.

Bradley had expected the news so it wasn't much of a shock to hear it. He kept quiet, letting her continue.

“He just told us his father was alive" she started.

Bradley turned to her, shock on his features. He thought maybe he hadn't heard her well but Diana hadn't finished.

“He knows because he saw him, and he thinks he's the one behind these wars; he's asked us to be careful, too,” she finished.

The shortest version of what she had been told. She hadn't been able to digest it all even till now.

Bradley began to think that Jael Cross was dead, and Elias had been at his funeral. The dead Elias, as he remembered he could feel his heart ache.

He didn't care if Jael Cross was alive; all he knew was that he would find him and he would kill him. Against all odds, his resolve had only strengthened.

"Alright, as far as the troops are coming in, did he say when?” He asked.

Diana nodded, "Yes, tomorrow evening”

He was satisfied with that, from what information he had gotten, Loras wasn't entirely ready. He had been trying to win a couple of packs onto his side, but many had refused. They all knew that siding with him would inevitably be the end of their pack.

"Alright, now I need you to help me make these plans,” he told her, moving the map and notes to her.

It was time for the main preparations to begin, Bradley wouldn't be caught not ready.

….

Loras walked into the main pack house, the fake readiness all over him. He had spent the whole night till this morning reading himself for the great pretence he would have to stage.

The betrayal he had just discovered still stung badly but he would have to shrug it off for now, while he laid down the foundations for revenge.

Almost immediately, Celeste met him in his office. She looked stressed, just as he expected.

The look on her face irked him, this very face had plotted the death of his mate. His twin sister, whom he had protected and loved, betrayed him.

He could feel the hatred surging inside him and knew if he didn't shake it away, it would show on his face.

So he looked up at her with fake curiosity, “Well, how can I help you?"

“What's this talk of a feast? Was that part of the plan?" She asked.

Loras shrugcouldn'the could care less, “Well, I wanted one ahead of the incoming victory this night"

Celeste raised a brow, her brother's recklessness was surprising, “Well you didn't tell Mom and now she's pissed"

Loras sighed, “I'll go talk to her, I want everyone here though, all our allies including this arisen Ja,ewhoseross who mom seems close to, and you," he insisted.

“OH, of course we're all going to be there, I think we deserve a celebration for all the previous victories. If well," if Loras looked closer, he would see the wicked smirk on her face.

He looked at her, but he didn't add that he was celebrating his successful revenge. Mom could make war plans for war, he would lead them but they would lose.

“Alright then, well, I am busy, so we can talk about whatever. Mom should call if she needs to speak," he said.

Celeste nodded, she pushed a few papers to him, “These need your signatures first"

Without reading the content, Loras signed each of them, he didn't care anymore. It didn't matter; they had taken everything he had ever had and needed, and nothing else mattered.

When she had his signatures she left his office. She had been expecting a parcel from Marian, she was supposed to deliver it before the battle, it was supposed to ignite Loras more.

But she waved it away. Marian was obedient and did what she needed to, she would be here.

It was evening very quickly and outside in the huge pack grounds, a space where feasts for the entire pack were held or special events, soldiers had begun to gather.

Loras had made sure every single fighting man was present, including the troops from Jael Cross.

A high table was set up for Loras, his family, and Jael Cross, including the Alphas who had pledged their loyalties to him.

He went to the back where the wine was being poured into huge barrels for the soldiers, “Is everything ready?" He asked his beta.

He nodded, “Yes Alpha, it is"

Loras was satisfied with that. He went and took his position beside his mom and sister.

The others hadn't arrived yet, and the time for the event had arrived.

His mom spoke Good luck, son,ight son" she whispered.

Loras smiled, then looked back at the gathering crowd as they took their seats. Soon, the arena was filled and everyone was seated.

He could hear their collective whispers and decided it was time to give his great speech. Everyone's glasses had been filled.

He stood up, carrying his glass with him and a hush fell over the crowd.

His sister and mom stared at him, proudly, and Jael Cross stared at him with quiet disdain. He was too much of a boy, and he couldn't wait to take over.

“Gentlemen, my brave warriors from all over the land. You all have come today to fight for me, to give me the revenge I deserve against that man. I know we all hold grudges one way or the other against him. He has thought himself for too long to be too great to stand above everyone, and I have come today to make sure he knows that he isn't. Warriors, as we fight today, no man should die with his claws clean. We shall tear each wolf on their side apart, one by one, until they are all dead, and after that, we shall celebrate. Hurray” his voice a shout before he let out a howl, downing his drink.

The other wolves cheered, sending their howls back, and drank their wine.

“Every man must drink to our success" Loras cried out to make sure they did.

The feast after that was smooth, everything had gone according to plan.

When dusk fell, the sun moved out of the horizon, and the moon came out; they were ready for war.

Jael Cross and Loras Whitemore matched with their soldiers across the landscape toward the Blackwood pack.

“We won't be caught this time," Jael said. He turned to the army as they grew closer to the pack.

“I want a group to head to each of the gates, the northern, the eastern, and the western.” He cried out to them.

They all separated at that juncture.

War had just begun.

Diana had been sitting with Bradley in the war room, they had made all the appropriate plans and were ready for any attack when the door was unlocked and Jonathan rushed in.

Before he spoke, she already knew what he was going to say.

“Go ahead," Bradley spoke, calm, but he knew the battle was here.

“They're in alpha, just as we had planned," he said.

Diana and Bradley nodded, a smile on their faces.

“How many of them?" She asked.

Jonathan answered, “A lot more than we had expected but not a match either, the fight has begun"

Bradley and Diana turned to each other, their eyes communicating so much. Then suddenly, Bradley pulled Diana into him, landing a kiss on her lips.

His tongue tangled with hers, pulling her in and stealing her breath. She pulled him closer with her hands in her hair and reciprocated the kiss.

Jonathan's head fell to the ground at that, giving them their privacy before slowly walking out.

Finally, they released themselves, their breaths as rapid as their heart.

“It is time, darling, and if we make it out of this, I'll make you mine." his tone was final, and Diana had no objections.

“To the death of us?" She asked.

Bradley smiled, a sad smile, "To the death of us”

Both of them stormed out of the room, heading to the battleground. It had come to this and Bradley would not rest until he had Jael Cross's head on a spike, torn out of his body with his own hands.

Loras watched his men get into the pack so easily, it had to be a trap.

Jael had suspected the same, for a minute he paused, he wanted to call everyone back but he couldn't, not now.

So as they were inside by a few yards, they heard shouts coming from both ends, from behind them and in front. They had set a trap.

The war began officially, both sides clashing with ferocious force, the howls of both wolves. The resistance had been more than Jael had expected.

Loras had been in the middle of tackling an over-expectant wolf who had come at him when he heard a grating howl. He recognized it. His beta.

Jael stood in the middle of the chaos, his hands clean when Bradley stepped out of the fighting men. Diana was beside him.

They had spotted both men and had come down
Directly for them.

It hadn't been a lie, “Bradley Blackwood, what a pleasure. You look just like your father, I wonder if you will die the same" he smirked.