Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Kael
I know she's gone before I even open my eyes.
I reach out through our bond, but find that she's closed me out.
I can tell she's okay, but that's it. Rage fills me in a way it never has before.
I should've known she would try something like this.
I run from the room, calling through the packlink for the warriors to meet me in the forest.
I'm pacing back and forth when everyone is gathered. Everyone except Saint.
Where are you? I ask Saint through our mindlink.
With your stubborn mate.
You should have told me she was trying to sneak out, I growl angrily.
I can feel his amusement, and it pisses me off.
Look, she was either going to sneak out by herself or with her protector. She's able to hide her scent and camouflage. If I had tattled on her, she would have disappeared. At least this way she's protected.
His words are reasonable, but they don't calm the anger flooding my veins.
We're on our way. Keep her safe. If one hair on her head is harmed, I'll kill you, I threaten.
She's not crossing the wall without you and the warriors. That I can ensure.
You better.
"It seems our queen has decided to join our fight. She snuck away after realizing I wasn't going to let her come. We're going to have to run hard to catch up," I tell the warriors. "Let's go."
Everyone shifts, not caring to undress ahead of time.
Ruined clothes are shaken off, and we take off through the forest. It doesn't take long to pick up on Sera and Saint's scents.
I push myself even harder now that I have my mate's scent leading me.
The warriors don't complain about how hard I push us to catch up.
Every hour, her scent grows stronger. I can feel her shifting moods through our bond.
Worry because she knows I'm mad and she's in trouble. Happiness because she knows I'm close.
It's the happiness that pushes me harder. It tells me she wants me here and that she doesn't resent me for trying to leave her behind, where it would be safest.
We're near the wall, Sera says, opening our bond fully once more.
Stay close to Saint and hidden. We are almost there.
Excitement floods our bond at learning we are close.
Don't be too excited, little wolf. You're in so much trouble you're not going to be able to sit for a week once we get home, I warn.
I know, Daddy. You need me here. I can't explain it, but I feel it to my very soul, she replies calmly.
I understand that you think that. I'm not happy about it. What's done is done. You're here now, and it's your job to stay safe and let the warriors do their job. Saint isn't leaving your side.
Less than an hour later, we've caught up to Sera and Saint. Their scents are strong, but I can't see them anywhere. In fact, I don't see them at all until Sera's wolf rubs against my side, nuzzling her head under my neck to my muzzle. I return the affection, breathing a sigh of relief.
Never again, Sera.
She nuzzles me again, Never again, Daddy. Promise.
Let's do this, I say through the open packlink to the warriors.
Sera quietly leads us forward and to the wall surrounding the packlands.
The warriors are confused until Sera shifts and touches the magical wall that's kept this pack hidden for Goddess knows how long.
I shift and pull her into my arms, holding her close for a brief moment.
The rest of the warriors shift, and Sera turns to them.
"The patrols don't come this far out because no one lives close to the wall.
Once we cross, keep heading west. Several small families live south of the main pack, who are innocent in all of this.
Once you see the first cabin, head north to the main packlands.
That's where the leaders will be. They won't fight fair.
I wouldn't put it past them to use the Omegas as leverage or worse. "
"Lead the way, love," I say.
A burst of love from her floods our bond so powerfully that I nearly stumble beside her.
She quickly climbs the wall, silently showing us where the invisible handholds are.
Once we're over the wall, we shift back to our wolves.
Sera waits until everyone is shifted before she takes off through the forest, me and Saint running alongside her.
She sends mental images of what the pack looks like, including the cruel faces of the Alphas in charge.
Growls are ripped from the throats of the warriors when she sends images of the Omegas and how they are mistreated.
Cages and abuse. Things that most people would never survive.
It's worse than I could have imagined. I hate that my mate had to see such horrible atrocities, and I will always be thankful that her mother spared her the fate that others couldn't escape.
With anger fueling us, we quickly make our way to the heart of the packlands. Howls erupt around us, letting us know that they know we're coming.
Spread out. You know what to do. Only the innocent will walk away from this hell today, I command my pack.
Yes, Alpha! my warriors shout through the link. On the battlefield, there are no kings among us. Only warriors ready to lay down their lives to protect the innocent.
Saint, do not let her out of your sight.
I won't, he promises.
The sounds of fighting surround me as I run to the main pack house.
The head Alpha is my goal. Without leadership, the pack will fall, and there will be less potential for innocents to get hurt.
It doesn't take long to find them. Of course, they are cowering behind a line of warriors, unwilling to face us themselves.
I stop and shift to human, hoping that some of the warriors in front of me are merely doing what they are forced to do.
"I am King Kael, and I'm here because you are breaking the laws of the kingdom!" I shout over the growling and fighting happening all around. "Step away from your leaders and be free, or you'll be punished as they will!"
The wolves guarding the leaders of the pack look amongst themselves. Some move to step away, but a vicious growl from the head Alpha has them stopping in their tracks.
They are using their Omega mates against them, Sera says through our link.
"No need to fear retribution from those cowards. Your Omegas will be safe. We won't be leaving until every last one of them is dead and buried," I announce. "Join us or perish with them."
This time, the wolves don't hesitate to back away from their packmates.
Instead, they turn toward them, growling ferociously, letting me know they've joined our fight.
Between one breath and the other, the fight is on.
My wolf rips through me just in time to meet the attack head-on.
I tear through their warriors, forcing my way through the battle to where the head Alphas are trying to slip away.
I'm going to get the Omegas before they do something to them, Sera says.
I can feel her determination, and I know I have to let her do this. My fight is here. It doesn't take long for me to catch the head Alpha. He's obviously grown complacent, thinking he is above retribution. Time for his reckoning.
I tackle him to the ground. He bites deep into my shoulder, causing me to pull back briefly. We circle each other. He got a good hit on me, but he's bleeding from several places from my teeth and claws. He's flagging fast, but I've barely exerted myself.
I attack again, wanting this over with so I can get back to my mate.
I'm about to sink my fangs into his exposed throat when I'm tackled from the side by one of his underlings.
I turn, biting down on the wolf's leg until I hear the bone snap.
He yelps and tries to escape, dragging his broken leg behind him like wounded prey.
I don't let him get far before I sink my teeth into his throat, ending his life quickly.
The head Alpha uses my brief distraction to make a run for it.
With his injuries, he doesn't make it far before I've caught up to him.
I can smell my mate close, and I know that he's trying to get to where the Omegas are held.
I don't hesitate to strike. I'm on him in seconds, ripping his throat out and spitting it to the ground.
I throw my head back and howl, letting everyone know that the leader is dead. The fight still rages around me. Those who supported this pack's way of life are fighting to keep the status quo, and will quickly learn that we aren't here to take prisoners.
Knowing my warriors have things under control, I rush to my mate's side.