Chapter 32
THE WOLF WAR BEGINS
The air is crisp this morning. The world feels still, like it’s held between two panes of glass. Only the gentle birdsong indicates that there is still life in the forest.
A little achy from having slept on the ground, Jasper and I head back to camp as the sun rises, our hands intertwined. We don’t speak, everything we needed to say was said last night. Now there is only the battle ahead to think of.
The camp is still sleeping as we arrive and wander back to the lodge.
It’s so peaceful.
The pine-scented forest air drifts on a cool breeze between the cabins. The surface of the lake is a placid mirror. Even the mountains in the distance, though tall and rugged, are calm in their stillness, like they’re the tips of the fingers of a hand cradling us securely in its palm.
Contrasting with the cool morning, the air inside the lodge is warmer, denser. As we head through the great hall a shadow moves near the doors to the dining room, and I spot Tobias moving around under the second-floor balcony.
“Tobias,” Jasper says, and the pack secretary emerges. “You’re up early.”
He shuffles forward, nervously toying with one curling end of his mustache.
“I was hoping to catch the two of you as early as possible. I did visit your room, and you weren’t there. Ah, well, the door was open, you see.”
“What can we do for you at this time in the morning?” Jasper asks, calmly but authoritatively.
“I wanted to catch you as early as possible in case either of you had considered what I’d said about the, ah, the possibility of holding a marking ceremony today. Before you were pulled away.”
Jasper and I share a glance, then Jasper releases my hand and steps up to Tobias.
“Thank you,” Jasper says, holding his shoulder. “You care greatly about your pack.”
Tobias looks like he’s blushing under Jasper’s touch.
“Does that mean it’s a yes?”
“No,” Jasper says. “Max and I aren’t ready to take that step.” He glances back at me, smiling. “Maybe we will one day, but maybe we never will be.” Then turning back to Tobias, he adds, “And that will just have to be okay for you and the pack.”
Tobias lowers his head a little, so that his eyes are cast in shadow.
“I understand, sir.”
“You’re a devoted wolf and we cherish you as a member of this pack,” Jasper says, trying to soften the blow. “Now, we have a lot to discuss and to arrange before sundown and I could use a hot shower.”
Jasper moves past Tobias, and I follow, giving him a respectful nod.
I know Tobias meant well, but adding pressure to an already highly pressurized situation was sort of a jerk move.
At least Jasper and I are on the same page about when and if we’ll ever have a marking ceremony.
And with that knowledge I feel secure in our future, at least as secure as one can be the morning before a mass invasion.
By the time we’re showered and changed, the pack and the campsite have woken up. Outside my window, soldiers are moving around, some jogging in laps around the campsite, others doing push-ups in the grass, while others are heading for the showers or to get breakfast.
Downstairs in the dining hall, breakfast has been laid out for the officers and high-ranking wolves. Jasper is already deep in talks, even though the final war council is supposed to be happening at eleven. So I sit with Aisha and Katie and we eat as much as our stomachs can handle.
“Max,” Jasper says, arriving at my shoulder just as I’m stuffing my last forkful of waffles and bacon into my mouth. “The council is starting.”
I try to swallow. “Okay, I’ll see you after?”
“No,” he says. “I want you there. We think there’s a way we can win this but . . .”
He trails off, almost looking a little ashamed of himself.
“What is it?”
“But we’d need you to use your blood-wolf powers.”
Aisha has put her fork down on the tablecloth and is looking between Jasper and me, like she’s trying to assess the situation.
I’ve spoken to her in the past about not wanting to use my abilities for warfare, so she’s probably concerned Jasper’s stepped over a line.
Katie is sipping a glass of orange juice and pretending not to be listening though she obviously is.
“Okay,” I say after a long pause.
“You’re not mad?” Jasper asks.
“Of course not. This isn’t just about our pack and it’s not about getting the upper hand. It’s about defending wolfkind against Walter and his extreme agenda. I’d be happy to help.”
Jasper’s cheeks flush a little. “That’s great. Thank you.”
To my right I sense Katie breathing a sigh of relief and putting her not-so-conspicuous juice glass down.
“We’ll be meeting in the conference room in fifteen.”
Jasper heads off and I turn back to my table, where Aisha is giving me a cool, concerned look.
“You don’t have to do this, you know?” she says. “Just because we’re in danger doesn’t mean you have to compromise.”
“I don’t feel like I’m compromising. The Axis Pack wants to destroy every wolf that disagrees with them, that goes beyond our pack. If I don’t do everything I can to make sure every wolf is free to live how they want, what are these powers even for.”
“Okay,” she says, glancing at Katie. “Just know we’ve got your back.”
“Amen,” Katie says, echoing Aisha’s sentiment.
The conference room is full when I arrive. Jasper, Salazar, Olivia, Morven, Mia, Mason and his dad, and a whole bunch of the other officers are there, taking their seats around an expansive pine table.
Every eye turns to me as I enter. Some looking like I’ve stumbled into the wrong room. And some like they’d rather I was anywhere else. But still Jasper’s eyes light up and he gestures to the seat next to him.
“Great,” he says, as I and the remaining officers sit. “We’re all here. Let’s begin. Salazar can you give us an update on the status of the Axis Pack and their movements.”
“Yes.” Salazar stands. “Thank you, Jasper. Our scouts have reported the Axis Pack and their troops are indeed on the move. It seems they’ve taken the bait and are due to arrive this evening sometime after sundown. Of course, with the blue moon full their energies will be boosted, but so will ours.”
“Thank you, Salazar,” Jasper says. “And what about their numbers?”
“The Axis Pack’s numbers have grown significantly in the last couple of weeks. Our reports indicate that they’ve amassed an army of over ten thousand wolves.”
A panicked wave passes through the room.
“How have they gotten so large?” a gamma wolf, a large man with gray stubble, says.
“It seems there’s been something of a snowball effect, with entire packs either feeling pressured into joining or glad to finally have leaders willing to make big moves on their behalf.”
“And what about our numbers?” Jasper asks, trying to take back control of the conversation.
“The Elite Pack’s army sits at just over three thousand,” Salazar says.
Jasper turns to address Alpha Morven. “And with the Rocky Pack?”
Morven stands as well, pressing his palm flat against the table. “We’ve brought just over two thousand soldiers.”
The room erupts into panicked chatter. Officers shake their heads, looking at each other with terrified or furious expressions.
“This is a suicide mission,” one says, a weedy-looking guy.
“How did we think we’d stand a chance?” a beefy-looking woman says.
The hubbub grows until finally Jasper snaps. “Quiet!”
Every mouth shut and all eyes turn to my mate.
“Please, sit,” he says, and Salazar and Morven, plus a few of the other officers who jumped out of their seats, retake their places.
“Thank you.” Jasper shuts his eyes briefly and takes a breath, then he continues.
“I know the odds seem stacked against us. I know the numbers don’t add up.
Make no mistake, we are the underdog in this fight, we have a serious uphill battle ahead.
The enemy has greater numbers, greater strength.
But there are a few things they don’t have. ”
The wolves around the table glance at each other like they have no idea what Jasper is talking about.
“Firstly, the Axis Pack are unfamiliar with our forest. With the exception of the Rocky Pack soldiers, we know this land. We’ve been running in these woods since we were children.
Even if Walter mapped it out for them, there is no way his wolves will have the same advantage when it comes to the lay of the land.
And that is why I would like to suggest that we position our Elite wolves within the woods, while the Rocky Pack creates a barrier between the tree line and the camp. ”
Morven gives an assenting nod.
“We station Elite wolves at various points throughout the woods to create a funnel, we whittle down the numbers by filtering them through the trees to a central battle area. With their numbers drip-fed to our soldiers we have a greater chance of defeating them. It will be long and arduous, but we have the stamina.”
Salazar slaps his hand on the table. “I concur with our alpha.”
Jasper’s gaze shoots to Salazar. I suppose until now everyone has been skirting around the fact that he’s only alpha in Jericho’s stead. But now that we’re on the brink of war, the time has come to give Jasper the respect he deserves. He nods to acknowledge Salazar then continues.
“Next,” Jasper says. “Walter will be wanting to get to my father, that will be his main target—along with my father’s personal security division, who will be stationed outside his room.
I suggest we position a contingent of our strongest wolves outside the lodge.
They will be our last defense should Walter slip through. ”
The block of a wolf with the silver stubble stands and interrupts. “This is all well and good, sir. But they still outnumber us two to one. Do you really think we can win this?”
“Yes,” Jasper says, eyes gleaming. “Because the last thing we have that they don’t . . . is the blood wolf.”
Again, all eyes turn to me.