Chapter 33
Aurora
As each day goes by, I look forward more and more to being the Luna to Gerry’s Alpha. It’s not that I don’t like being Alpha, but I realize how much of myself, and my time, I give to the running of the pack.
I have never doubted that my taking over the pack was the right thing to do. I will always believe I did it for the pack, and that I’ve made the pack so much better and happier over the years.
Now, though, it’s time for some ‘me time’. Both Taria and Raina have said that I don’t do enough for myself. With Gerry at the helm, I can do that. I can be supportive and perform my Luna duties, as well as making time for myself.
You sound like you’re trying to persuade yourself that’s true.
‘Do I? Maybe I am. It’s going to take some time to slow down my everyday pace. I won’t need to do everything at a hundred miles an hour.’
I also look forward to you slowing down a bit. I will get more time to spend with Asher.
‘You’re becoming just a bit of a hussy, Aztec. You’ve never been so shameless.’
I hid it well, is all. You’re not doing so bad yourself.
‘Alpha Aurora. There is something happening at the border. Rogue numbers appear to be increasing.’ Warrior Crispin’s mind link interrupts our banter.
‘Appear to be or ARE?’ There’s a big difference in the two, I think to myself.
‘We don’t know for sure, Alpha Aurora. There is a lot of activity and certainly a lot of movement, however, it could be the same number of rogues.’
‘I’ll get Head Warrior Wallace to call reinforcements to your position immediately. Stay alert and keep me updated. We’ll be there as quickly as we can.’
‘Wallace! Gather the warriors and meet me at the packhouse. Now. Gerry. Meet me at the packhouse entrance. We have an issue at the border.’ I leave the office and hear Gerry reply.
‘I’m in the dining area. I’ll be there in a second. Xavier! You too. We may need your skills,’ Gerry responds.
Giving Wallace instructions to ensure the packhouse and grounds have sufficient protection, we take the remaining warriors and start for the border.
Myself, Gerry and Xavier lead the group. Mind linking with Warrior Crispin, there is still little progress with information. Another of the border patrol believes they saw ‘Alpha’ Arric, among a small group of rogues near our border.
Why start trouble again, now? What scheme could they be cooking up this time? Arric must know that I wouldn’t stand for hostages again. I would go to war before I saw any other pack members held by him.
Arriving at the border, we see rogues darting here and there. Ensuring no rogues have crossed into our territory is our first order of business. Next is getting an accurate count so we can determine what we’re up against.
Gerry and Xavier head in opposite directions and I stay central to mobilize the warriors where they’re needed the most. Crispin notices that groups of rogues are drifting to our position. Before I can let Gerry know, Xavier appears from behind me and throws me across his shoulder. Running to the biggest tree in the immediate vicinity, he drops me on my feet and tells me to climb.
“Get as high as you can and stay near the trunk. Don’t come down unless Gerry or I come for you. Crispin, go with your Alpha. Protect her with your life. Anyone that gets into that tree, kill them.”
“Xavier, have you lost your mind? I’m not climbing a tree when I’m needed on the front line.” Glaring at him, I make to go past when he literally drags me to the trunk and snarls, “Get up the damn tree or you’ll die here. I don’t have time for this. MOVE!”
Gerry appears beside me and, seeing the look on mine and Xavier’s faces, asks what’s going on.
“If you want your mate to see the sunset, you’ll tell her to get her ass in that tree, pronto. This is a trap to kill Aurora.”
“Crispin, in the tree.” Turning to me, Gerry spins me around, grabs my waist and throws me in the air toward the lower branches. Crispin grabs me and hauls me onto a branch.
“Please, Alpha. Do as they say. Climb!” Crispin has such a fearful look, I just climb.
“I’ve never known you to be afraid of anything, Crispin. Why now?” I call over my shoulder as I climb.
“I don’t want your death on my watch, but worse than that, I don’t want to have to answer to Gerry and Xavier, if something happens to you.”
Hearing shouting below, I see Xavier, Gerry and the warriors surrounding the base of the trunk in waves. Facing my forty warriors, there seems about one hundred rogues. Safe at the back of them is Arric.
“Give me Aurora and there need be no bloodshed. Refuse and you’ll all die with her.” Arric stands there looking smug, as though this was already decided.
Xavier steps forward, almost to the first line of rogue warriors. Pointing through the rogues at Arric, they move aside and leave a clear path.
“Arric. You are nothing but a bully that has had his own way far too long. I have decided that it will be my kind’s mission to end your brutish behavior and when it is time for you to die, it will be by my hand or one like me.”
“And who or what might you be?” Arric sneers at Xavier.
“You may call me Shadow Warrior Xavier.”
“Shadow Warriors are a myth. An old wives' tale to frighten children and old men.”
Xavier moves to his left as Arric speaks. When he finishes his sentence, Xavier is back where he was, this time with a grin.
“That’s a nice knife you have on your belt at your right hip. Or should I say it was!”
Arric reaches for his knife, only to find an empty sheath.
“A Shadow Warrior can move with a stealth and speed you cannot begin to comprehend, Arric. Is this what you seek?”
Holding Arric’s knife by the tip of its blade, he shows it to the assembled rogues. With a quick flick of his wrist, the blade thuds into the earth between Arric’s feet.
“Take your rogue sheep and begone. I tire of your boring company.” Xavier turns to walk away when Arric shouts, “KILL HIM!”
The battle begins in earnest with Xavier separated from our warriors. As some rush to his aid, four dark shadows reach him first. As one, the four plus Xavier begin to lay waste to the rogues nearest them.
The rogues fall so fast that the pack warriors are left to pick up the stragglers from behind. When half the rogues lay dead, the rest take to their heels and run. The first to run is Arric.
When Xavier returns to the base of the tree, his four companions are revealed as more Shadow Warriors. These, however, have their faces masked.
Climbing down from the tree, I thank Xavier and his comrades for their bravery and skill. The four nod to me, nod at Xavier and leave.
“They have been here for a few days now. Supplementing the border patrols, you could say.”
Crispin looks at me, then Xavier. “We have not been aware of their presence. No one has sensed them. Not by scent or track.”
Xavier places his hand on Crispin's shoulder. “My dear, Crispin. If you had, they wouldn’t be Shadow Warriors, now would they?”
“You saved my life again, Xavier. It Is becoming something of a habit.” Taking his arm, I turn and walk with him. “I think I must repay you somehow. What could it be?”
“There is one thing that I would appreciate, Alpha Aurora, if I may be so bold.”
“Name it. If it is within my power, I’ll happily grant it.”
“The next time I tell you to duck, dodge, run or climb…Don’t stand there arguing. Just…Do…It!”
Crispin gasps at the audacity that someone would say such a thing to me. Smiling, I do an exaggerated curtsy. “I’ll try, but no promises.”
Before I can take Xavier’s arm again, Gerry slips between us. Xavier grins at him.
“What a big green monster you’re becoming, Gerry.”