Chapter 143 Status
Coban's POV
The war room is too quiet for what just happened. Caden and I sit at opposite ends of the long table. Trixie is on my lap. Her arms are loose around my shoulders. She has her cheek pressed to my neck. I can feel her breathing. Slow and steady, but our fingers flex every time a screen flickers or a comm light blinks.
Distance kills mind links. So tonight, we wait on voices through comm instead.
The first line crackles to life.
"Black Moon is down." Elliot's voice is hoarse and controlled. He sounds worn out. The battle took a lot out of him. I straighten up in my chair. "Status." I say firmly.
"Alpha Newman is dead. Very confirmed as the sick son of a bitch is beheaded." he chuckles. "My King, would you like a souvenir?" he asks with amusement in his voice. "That trophy is all yours." I laugh back at him.
"Glowing River took two losses. No Lycan casualties. The territory is secured. Torrence is holding order."
Caden nods once. Sharp and decisive.
"Good Work. Stay alert. Don't let them fracture." he says as he looks at Trixie.
"Already on it." Elliot replies. "Their shaken. Their leadership is gone."
The line clicks dead. One down. Two to go.
Another light flashes. Our eyes are locked on the light once again.
"Raging Rapids." Mark says, his breath still heavy. "Alpha Renaldo is dead. His head is removed. Borders were trapped, those creative bastards. But we adapted." he said, as you can hear his breath as he still is quite winded.
"Losses?" I exhale slowly.
"Fading Light lost one. Rising Tide lost three. Lycans took no losses. One wounded, but minor."
Caden leans in. "You held formation.?" Mark snorts. "You trained us, didn't you?" Even now I can hear his grin.
Two down. One to go.
The third line lights up.
"Dark Forest" Kevan says as you can tell his voice carries much weight.
"Sylvester is dead. His heart removed. Shining Star lost four. Dark Cloud lost three. Two Lycans were badly wounded but we pulled them out alive. No fatalities on our side."
Silence settles heavy in the room. Three Alphas DEAD.
Caden exhales through his nose. "All targets are eliminated." he runs his hand through his hair.
Trixie's grip tightens on me just a little. I rubbed her back once before leaning forward.
"Now comes the hard part." I activate the council line.
"Elder Roy. Elder Maggie. Elder Travis." one by one their faces appear on the screen. Their eyes still tired, their age obvious by their looks. All yawning as they cover their mouths. They already know this isn't a courtesy call.
"Sorry to bother you three at this hour. We just had three packs fall and this can't wait." I said, as I took in a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.
"You said three packs have fallen?" Elder Roy says quietly, still yawning under his hand.
"Yes" I answer firmly. "And they will not be allowed to rot in chaos." I sit up straighter, and I stare at the three in the screen.
"Each of you will be sent to one pack. Black Moon, Raging Rapids, and Dark Forest. You will assume temporary authority."
Elder Maggie narrows her eyes, her brows scrunch together slightly. "And their bloodlines." she asks with a yawn.
"Tainted." Caden cuts in coldly. "No successor from within. We will have no vote. We will have no challenge." he said firmly with no room to wiggle anything around. It's definitely going to go this way. No other way around it.
Elder Travis nods slowly. "Then it's King's choice. That's definitely the only way to make sure this don't happen again."
Elder Maggie and Elder Roy both nods their heads in agreement.
"Exactly!" I confirm. "You will not be alone. A contingent of Lycan warriors will remain with each pack to hold order until a new alpha is chosen and sworn. That's where you come in as well. You will swear them in when I send them." I wrap my arms tight around Trixie as I can feel her squirm slightly.
Elder Roy gives a grim smile. "Your cleaning house properly." He covers his mouth once again as he yawns.
"We don't half ass anything." Caden laughs as his eyes are fixed on the screen.
When the elders disconnect, I lean back, the tension finally cracking through my shoulders.
"That's one threat left." Caden mutters.
"Norman." I agree. "And he knows it."
Trixie cuts in. "Uh, You two do know that the three packs that were hit once before, you do realize that they will be joining Alpha Norman, right." she says as her eyes flicker between Caden and I.
"I mean one pack has a quarter of his army left, one has half, and the other has some. That adds up when you put them with an entire pack."