Chapter 32 #2
“Max will be able to sense the Axis Pack as they approach. He’ll be the one to let our soldiers know where to move in order to create the funnel that will restrict their movement and decrease their ability to attack us head-on.
He will be the one to keep track of Walter and to identify any sneak attacks, any solo assassins who might be sent to attack my father. ”
Gray Stubble Wolf scoffs. “We’re trusting your boyfriend to win us this war?”
“Max has seen more action and faced greater danger than most of our soldiers. He has proven himself a formidable opponent and he alone has the power of the blood wolf.”
“He’s a child,” the stocky woman at the end of the table says.
“And so am I,” Jasper shoots back. “But I trust my mate.” He looks to me and there is this gleaming zeal in his eyes, he’s staring at me like I’m the greatest treasure and his secret weapon. “I’ve seen what he’s capable of and let me assure you all, he has the power to turn the tide of this war.”
Jeez, go easy Jasper. I gulp down the basketball-sized lump in my throat. He’s not over-hyping my abilities at all. And just when I thought we’d relieved some pressure, a new weight lands on my shoulders.
“Under normal circumstances,” Jasper says, turning back to the room, “an alpha would be able to communicate with his troops via mind-link. As I am not yet the alpha, I do not have this ability. Max will perform this function for me. He is the key to our success. We don’t have the numbers, we don’t have the power, but if we’re smart, we have the advantage. ”
“But Jasper,” I say quietly, aiming for privacy even though the whole room is listening, “I can only mind-link with you.”
“You can put images into the minds of the pack, send messages that way. And with the punched-up lunar energy who knows, maybe you can even speak to our troops.”
My mouth flops open and I shake my head a little.
Jasper leans down toward me. “I trust you, Max. You can do this.”
With a gulp and a breath, I nod, then more loudly I say to the room. “I can do it.”
Salazar stands. “I back Alpha Jasper’s plan,” he says, banging the table once more. “Do you stand with us?”
“I agree with Alpha Jasper,” Morven says, standing too.
One by one, each wolf in the room stands. I follow suit, gazing at my stupidly amazing mate, who has never looked more like an alpha.
The afternoon passes oh so slowly and altogether too quickly.
Once the plan is agreed upon there are hours more of discussion about where best to station our troops, where Walter is most likely to attack from, who should take which section of the woods.
And to be honest I sort of lose track as the session wears on.
Finally, we’re let out of the conference room. The officers are sent to relay our plans to their battalions, and I head out to find my friends.
Down by the lake, on one of the picnic tables outside the canoe shed, I find Aisha, Katie, Todd, Simon, and Omar.
Our Rocky Pack friends are back with their troops getting ready.
Mia and Mason are in charge of their own battalions, as is Olivia, and they are off discussing the plans with their soldiers.
Though no one is feeling particularly chatty, we sit with each other as the shadows lengthen and the sun dips lower on the horizon.
“Soooo,” I say to Omar, wanting to lift a little of the tension that seems to have settled like a weighted blanket over the whole camp. “How’s it going with Mason?”
Omar shakes his head but can’t help smiling. “We’ve only talked a little bit.”
Katie chirps in. “There’s more to that grin than just talking.”
“You holding out on us?” Aisha asks.
“Fine.” Omar rolls his eyes. “He’s cute, okay. I . . . I really like him.”
“Good,” I say, now I’m the one who can’t stop smiling.
Tension broken, we slip into easier conversation, chatting about nothing much as the sky turns pale then orange. Sundown is almost here.
Finally, a howl sounds across the camp.
“Is it time?” Katie says, a worried look coloring her expression. Todd places a reassuring arm around her and Simon takes her hand.
The civilians who’ve volunteered will be stationed back at the camp to help the healers attend to the wounded.
Though, some have joined what’s being called a civilian battalion.
Aisha, Omar, and Todd have all joined this battalion and will fight in the battle.
While Katie and Simon have decided to stay back.
“That’s time,” Omar echoes.
We stand and slowly walk to the lodge, where the troops are gathering in formation, ready to head out into the forest.
Before we part ways we stop a little distance from the crowd of wolves all standing in lines.
“This is it,” I say, turning to everyone.
Katie runs at me first and wraps me in her arms.
“We’re going to get through this,” she says. “Don’t you dare think of getting hurt.”
“I promise,” I say, squeezing her head to my chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too, so much.”
By the time we part we’re both blubbering messes, she wipes at her red eyes, touches my face, and looks at me like she’s trying to commit the sight to memory. “Go get ’em,” she says finally, then turns back to her mates, who hug her from either side and say their own goodbyes.
Omar is next, he pulls me close as well.
“Fight them tooth and nail, okay Cuz?”
“Let’s do it for Mal and Kairos and Malachi and all the other rogues,” I say back.
“Amen to that.”
Omar wipes a tear away and coughs to hide his sobs as he moves off to join the troops.
Finally, Aisha steps to me.
“Be careful out there, dude,” she says.
“You too.”
“Drinks at mine when this is over, okay?”
“I’m there.”
Aisha leaves before she starts crying too, not looking back as she hurries to join Omar.
Todd manages to extricate himself from the poly group hug and jogs to catch up with the other civilian volunteers.
Katie waves one final time, and she and Simon head to the lodge, where a makeshift hospital has been set up in the great hall.
I gaze at my friends walking off to join the battle and can’t help feeling super freaking lucky to have them all in my life.
To my right the lake is beginning to glimmer as the first stars spring to life in the darkening sky.
The full moon is just peeking above the trees, a silver sliver that will soon be hovering above us, helping us and hopefully guiding us to a safe and quick resolution.
There’s no time left to stand and feel philosophical, because as another howl calls out into the night, battalions of troops start to march into the forest.
I hurry to where Jasper is at the front of the wolf army. Morven’s troops are just moving out, snaking around the periphery of the camp like a defensive boundary. Jasper is standing waiting for me, the wind blowing his hair.
He looks taller than usual. In his black battle gear, his shoulders are back, his chin lifted to the sky. He’s the commander at the head of an army. An alpha. My mate.
“Hey,” he says. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
“We’ll position ourselves in the forest first then shift on my signal.”
“Jasper,” I say, suddenly feeling the weight of everything that’s about to happen bearing down on me.
I guess I’ve been ignoring the danger and the reality of what war means this whole time, getting caught up as usual thinking about marking ceremonies, and my relationship.
But this is about so much more. This is real, and this is .
. . terrifying. My chin quivers as tears blur my vision.
Jasper, noticing, pulls me aside, turning his back on the waiting troops for just a moment. He places both hands on the sides of my face.
“We’re going to get through this, Max. You hear me?”
“I don’t want to lose you, I can’t . . .”
“You won’t and I won’t lose you either. I promise.”
I almost laugh, instead I smile a sad smile and say, “You can’t promise that.”
With his thumb he traces the corner of my lips. “Remember what I told you,” he says. “I’ll always, always be with you.”
He places a gentle kiss, full of meaning, full of care, on my lips.
“You know what to do?”
“Get to the highest point, find Walter, tell the troops.”
“The pack is with you, Max. And so am I.”
We throw our arms around each other, and I never want to let him go. But as yet another howl pierces through the growing night, it’s time for us to go our separate ways. Jasper will be leading his battalion to the clearing in the forest, while I’ll be going ahead to scope out our enemy’s arrival.
“I love you, Jasper,” I say.
“Love you too, Blood Wolf,” he says, grinning teasingly.
“I thought you were going to say Bonehead.”
“You’re not a bonehead, you’re the most amazing wolf on the planet, that’s why I know what I know.”
“What’s that?”
“We’re going to win.”
My mouth drops open. How can he be so confident?
All this trust he’s placing on me and I have no idea if I’m up to the task.
If we lose this war, there’s a good chance it’ll be because of me.
But looking at Jasper’s serene expression, the smile playing on his lips, the steely determination in his eyes, courage and hope flood my chest.
“We’re going to win this, Max,” he says again, then plants one last kiss on my forehead. “Now . . . go.”
I nod, squeeze his hand one last time, hoping beyond hope that I get to feel his hands again, that I get to stare into his eyes again.
“Yes, Alpha,” I say, then before I collapse, I turn and jog toward the tree line. I don’t look back, I don’t dare search the rows and rows of wolves to my right for my friends, even for one last glance.
Instead, I run.
I bite down to stem the flow of tears, to galvanize myself, and I run, away from the camp, and into the shadows of the forest.