Chapter 160

Chapter 160

Green:

I got out of the truck. I couldn’t shake this feeling that something wasn’t right. Everything seems to be going so easily. We were holding them off, and though I was proud of myself for the idea with the gas tanker, I wasn’t stupid enough to think that had sent them running hours later.

What had caused the sudden retreat?

With the moon at its peak, it was time to release our wolves and finish the fight, but they seemed scared of that idea. Wouldn’t they want a chance to conquer us?

The wolves that were fighting, too. They were young, some of them knew what they were doing, but most of them seemed untrained, raw to fighting.

“Green, I think there’s something afoot. Those warriors were not up to the standard Coven packs should be at. They fell like paper soldiers,” Charlie stated my sentiments as he came up to me.

“I agree. I don’t understand why, though,” I told him, scratching my head.

“Green!” Allies' voice hit my ear as she ran down the hall to me.

Thank the goddess. For a second, I worried they were sending assassins here for her, but instead, she was unscathed. Just as I had left her.

She launched into my arms, and though they had felt like jelly a moment ago from the endless fighting, now they were solid for her.

“It’s alright,” I assured her, breathing in her scent.

“No, no, it’s not. I know it’s not. Something is wrong, I don’t know what or when, but the coven and Denver planned this together. I didn’t get everything I woke up to quickly, and when I tried to sleep again, it would return to me, but this is a setup, some kind of setup. You need to stop fighting, you should wait it out trust me I know I said that they wouldn’t attack before Denver would but this is something else it’s a trap and if we waste our resources or our people we could be playing right into their hands,” she stammered as she relayed a new vision to me her hands trembling and her voice quaking as she tried to convince me.

“Hey, hey,” I rubbed her back, looking into her eyes, that fierce fear that held her whenever she was desperate to save people was making her eyes go wide in its grip.

“Let’s take this conversation inside,” Jeremy told us.

A handful of other alphas followed us as she looked up at me, pleading for me to help defend her dream.

We made our way to the conference room, all the men exhausted, but Allie seemed wired. She gripped her hands together as if in prayer as she paced, waiting for the door to close.

“I saw them talking, they planned this. Denver and the coven they were talking about this was all in the plan, and it would only take a few more days. I don’t know what they’re up to, but I know that they want us to fight them. We need to limit the resources we waste and the people we lose,” she looked around the room.

Luckily, none of them seemed to disagree with her.

“You need to stay with me. Don’t leave, I don’t think you should go out there,” she grabbed my arm, and I was shocked that it actually hurt.

“Allie, I don’t think they’re after me,” I tried to calm her down, but she crinkled her brows in frustration and panic.

“For what it’s worth, I agree with Green. I don’t think they’re after him. The second he started to shift, they retreated. If anything, I think they’re terrified of him,” Blue told her, but it did nothing to budge her from arguing.

“No. You shouldn’t fight,” she repeated.

“I agree with the seer,” Salazar piped up.

I rolled my eyes. Of course, he wanted me to stay inside. If I did that, he would naturally assume control.

“And why is that?” I grunted.

“If you get injured, that little fight with Denver is over in a nanosecond. You need to be practical, Green. If this is a setup, you getting injured or worse is handing victory to your enemies,” he pointed out.

I opened my mouth to argue, but he was right. I hated that he was right.

“Then who’s supposed to lead us?” Jace asked.

Jeremy stood up, and the whole room shouted “no!”

He growled and sat back down in a huff, crossing his arms and muttering.

“Do you trust me to do this?” Salazar asked me.

He was leaving it up to me, openly asking me for his permission. I couldn’t tell if it was a well-timed strategy or if he was finally willing to get along. I didn’t have much of a choice, though, he was the eldest, and he had the most battle experience. Jeremy was too much of a loose cannon, and everybody hated his guts, so the only other option was the asshole before me.

“I know you’ll do what's right to keep everyone safe,” I relented, shaking his hand.

“Good,” he said, standing up, all too pleased with himself. “Then I think we all should get some rest. They’ll be back at dawn, I’m sure of it,”

I hung my head. I needed to sleep. Allie wrapped an arm around my waist, and we made our way back upstairs. I hated the thought of sitting out the fighting tomorrow, but if everyone else thought it best, I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to argue.

Allies' warnings rang in my mind. That the coven and Denver had planned this. Was this how he would sneak into our lands? Was he already here?

I turned to look at her, the day weighing on us both.

“Do you think he’ll show up?” I couldn’t stop myself, and I hated how she physically flinched when I asked her.

“I don’t know, I wish I did, but all I do know is that he’s got something to do with this, if it’s a distraction, or a weapon. I just know you being out there only makes it easier for them,” she pouted.

I could feel across the bond the guilt she felt for taking me from what I felt was my duty. Not only because she felt her dreams complicated things, but because she was pleased that I wouldn’t be in harm's way. I couldn’t fault her for her desire to keep me safe, and I would never fault her for the dreams she couldn’t control.

“Whatever is going on, we will do our best to face it,” I promised.

As we made our way into the apartment, the one just yesterday so full of noise and fun, now empty and hollow. None of the other occupants had returned yet. It felt wrong to be the first ones back when this was all our fault, but I was too exhausted to return downstairs.

“We should rest,” she urged me toward our room, feeling me weaken at the sight of our home.

I couldn’t argue with her even if I wanted to. I was exhausted, and my eyes closed shut the moment I hit the mattress. Only to awaken to the blare of the warning siren once more.