Chapter 53 FINALS
LOGAN
I am badly wounded. The pursuit after Grace and that traitor Dylan has ended in disaster. I have witnessed as Grog himself died and most of our fighters. Then it has dawned on me that I shouldn't die. I should run. When the fighting gets fierce I flee from the battleground and run, or rather drag myself to the bushes. I can still see from a distance as Grog's fighters are annihilated.
I have realized that I have been in the wrong for a very long time. I have done many wrong moves and maybe I am the cause of the death of all these courageous wolves. Maybe if it wasn't for my poor decisions I would still be Alpha at our pack. Why did I take Josephine from her mate? Why did I reject my own mate Grace? And after the rejection, why did I insist on having her back when I knew only too well that she was mated to another Alpha? Why did I even join Grog, knowing that he was a leader of a rogue pack?
These are the millions of questions that flood my mind as I lay in pain in the woods. The fighting ends and I can see Grace and Alpha Samuel embracing, even kissing and for the first time I feel happy for her. She really deserves him. I don't deserve her after what I did to her and the anguish I brought to so many people. In my part, I only deserve one thing, death. I deserve the death that has visited Grog and his followers, those who fought for what they believed in. Grog died honorably, fighting to the very last minute. Look at me, I ran away, I am a coward who couldn't die like other fighters and I am now hiding like the coward I am. I should shout out to Samuel's fighters to come and finish me off.
I try to shout but I can't conjure up the voice. I am injured. Even though I can't assess the level of injury, I can feel that it's above average. I am dumb, that why I don't feel a lot of pain.
From my hideout I can hear Samuel authorizing his fighters to look for my corpse because it's the only high ranking Grog's general who is missing. His fighters roam around but they can't see me. I try shouting again but to no avail. I wonder why they aren't getting my scent but with lots of spilt blood maybe they can't. Samuel calls off the search.
“The coward has escaped. We will still find him. He has nowhere to hide. Now, we all know the rogue's pack's hideout. I am going back home to take our Luna Grace to rest and possibly get treatment. I am authorizing a raid on the rogue camp, formerly led by Grog. The raid is going to be led by Kyle and Dominic. I want you to kill every male you find, but spare the females and come back with them. " He says.
“Yes Alpha Samuel. We'll annihilate the camp." A voice says.
I have no doubt that Grog's camp can't stand the level of assault I have witnessed from Samuel's pack. It will fall in a matter of minutes, bearing in mind that most of the fighters have died in this battlefield.
I witness as the fighters leave, chanting war songs, ready to kill or be killed. Samuel remains with only two other fighters and Grace. They speak in low tones but I gather that they are mourning the death of Dylan. The little pieces of the conversation that I gather revolve around how valiant he was and how he sacrificed himself to get Grace back. Now this is the tribute I would like to get when I die, but it seems that I will die a miserable death and rot in this jungle.
After about thirty minutes Samuel and Grace leave with their wolves, and all the forest goes silent. I am the only living creature in the vicinity. Then my numbness goes and extreme pain takes over. I wince as every part of my body pulsates with pain, and when I look at where I'm lying, I see a pool of clotted blood. I am certainly dying, and I only pray that it happens soon. The pain is too much. I try to howl but I can't, then I start seeing things in a faded manner, as if they are miles away, as if I have squinted my eyes. In that state I start getting dreams, or illusions. My body is full of sweat and I think that the time to die has come.
“Fatheeeeeeeeeeer!" I shout.
“I am here my son, I knew you were in trouble and that's why I came. Come, let's go home." I raise my head and in the dizziness I can see my father, surrounded by his pack. I can feel them lifting me up, then I black out.
GRACE
The journey to Samuel's pack takes almost a whole day and when we get there we find the whole pack in celebratory mood. We are received warmly by everyone. There is song and dance as they chant about how their Luna is back.
“All hail Alpha Samuel!" The leader of the chorus sings and the others follow.
“All hail Luna Grace." The song goes on. We retreat to our house. I desperately need a shower. But before I get into the bathroom I have a very important announcement to make to Samuel, who is still holding me, as if he's afraid I'll be taken away again.
“Can I tell you something Samuel?" I say. He loosens his grip, then looks me in the eye as if telling me to bring it on.
“Go ahead darling." He says.
“We are pregnant." I say, our eyes still locked.
“I knew it dear. Something told me that you were expecting my cub. I love you babe." He says and I rest on his chest. I can feel him patting my back and I can't control my tears.
The past is now beyond us. Our enemies are vanquished. We can now focus on the future.
“I need to take a shower dear." I say.
“We are going in together. Then later we are going to join the pack in celebrating your comeback. How about that?" He asks.
“Sounds great. Let's get going." I say.
END