Chapter 28 Eric
Cathy couldn't sleep, and her nightmares and constant panic attacks wouldn't leave me either because since our bond became stronger, I could feel and experience everything she did.
"Are you sure I can leave you alone?" I asked her.
"Yes, it's your father calling you," she told me with her head tucked into her pillow. "It must be important."
I stroked her back with fingertips on the thin fabric of her pajamas.
"I know, but I don't want to leave you in this mood," I continued. "I know you're not well."
She hugged the pillow and curled up, covering her face. "I can't stop thinking about Morgan," she said, voice breaking.
"I know it's hard. Believe me, I know," I said. "But none of what happened is your fault. You ran away from there in time. Otherwise, you and our son might not be alive either."
I felt Cathy's pain and hugged it. But she had made a barrier and wanted to spend her mourning alone.
"I'll be fine," she told me and closed her eyes to try to get some sleep.
I tucked the covers around her, gave her a kiss, and went to my father's office.
"Son, you're just in time," my father said, coming over to greet me.
Since it was a private meeting, it was just my father, Andrew, Sebastian, my father's Beta, and me. The office felt small with the four of us there, but it was also because of the large table my father had the map of our territory on in the center of the room.
"What's going on?" I asked, seeing them all so focused.
"Explain Sebastian," my father ordered.
"Well, the enemy has infiltrated our territory along the border, specifically around the Delaware River.
And according to our informants, they have set up several camps scattered around the area and have not yet organized," he said, rounding the forest with a red marker.
"Nicholas would never have been so careless, so we must take advantage of that and strike now before they get organized. "
"We interrogated the intruders who ambushed Cathy and discovered that Alston is nothing more than a front and that the real leader of the pack is their former Luna, Lissandra," Andrew said, continuing his father's explanation.
"They will play dirty and attack to kill.
We are outnumbered, but their loyalty is compromised as they don't all accept Alston as their Alpha.
We have to use that against them somehow. "
"That's excellent news," I said. "Why haven't we attacked yet?"
My father walked over to the head of the table and rested his hands on it.
"Because there's something else I'd like to talk to you about," his expression was serious, the same one he wore when he was about to say something either very good or very bad, and I felt my throat go dry.
"I want you to be the one to lead this battle. "
I stood up with my back straight like a soldier and with my face raised proudly. "It will be an honor for me," I replied. "I want to make those people pay for what they did to Cathy and for threatening my son."
Andrew patted me on the back and stood next to me. "We will carry on our fathers' legacies," he said.
Sebastian nodded with an almost imperceptible smile and tried to hide the pride he felt.
"There is one other thing," my father said, walking toward me with slow but steady steps. "I’m planning to officially make you the Alpha of the pack," he said.
"I couldn't accept that. You are still here and capable of continuing in your position," I immediately replied.
"I know, but it is time for an old man like me to rest and leave the future of the pack in more capable hands," he said with an expression that he would not take no for an answer.
"Your mother and I have already talked it over.
We were waiting for you to get a worthy woman to take her place, and you have. "
My pulse shot up, and I felt the ground beneath me shift.
"I'd be honored," I said, "I'll go make the arrangements, and we'll leave right away."
"Very well, son, but remember not to take the enemy for granted," he said. "The Sith Pack is strong, and even though they have lost their leader, they have one advantage, and that is that we don't know their strategy, and it could all be a trap."
"I will raise the Night name among the other packs and return with victory," I said.
My father stayed with Sebastian and Andrew going over all the details they knew so far about the enemy. “Prepare for battle. We leave in an hour”, I announced to everyone in the pack in and around the mansion. When we got to the room, Cathy was sitting on the bed, putting on some boots.
"Where are you going?" I asked her, knowing the answer.
"To war, I heard your thoughts," she said. "And before you say no, I've already made my decision."
"Cathy, you're not ready for war. I won't let you risk your life like this," I replied, placing my hands over hers.
"You have two choices, you let me go with you, or I will follow you as soon as you leave and fight anyway," she said, more determined with eyes full of hate. "This war is because of me, and I will not sit back and wait for people to die for me."
"If anything happens to you... I couldn’t stand it." I sat down next to her and took her hands in mine. "Someone has to stay and take care of Elliot, besides if something goes wrong, you have to be there for him."
Cathy looked me straight in the eyes. "We won't lose. I already know how to control my wolf. I'm capable of fighting," she said. "Elliot is not alone. He has Lydia and a whole pack to support him, plus his life is on the line too because if we lose, they will come for him for sure."
She had a point, and I knew I wasn't going to persuade her, but I didn't want her to get so involved in the battle, but since I knew her well enough, I was aware that if I didn't let her go with us she would go on her own and there I wouldn't be able to protect her.
"Ok, but you'll always be by my side," I said, "And wear combat clothes. I'll have one made for you."
"Okay," she said. "But first, I must prepare something."
She hurried out of the room, almost running, and I assumed she was going to say goodbye to Elliot.
I put on my battle clothes, a black shirt tailored from a unique fabric that gave me more mobility, black pants, and titanium-tipped boots.
I took a deep breath feeling the weight on my shoulders, and looked at the clock impatiently until the time was up. I walked out into the courtyard, and all the members fit to fight were waiting in their war suits.
"Today, we will do justice," I said to get their attention. "And we will show the Sith pack that no one crosses our borders and threatens one of our own without getting away with it." They all shouted in response and beat their chests loudly as a show of respect.
I looked around for Cathy and found her walking towards me with a belt full of crystal spheres filled with purple gas that moved as if it had life in it.
"What is that?" I asked.
"It's for Lissandra. I'll give her a taste of her own medicine," she said, and I could feel the aconite.
"Be careful. It can be dangerous," I said.
"I may not be able to fight like the rest, but I do know something about chemistry, and I will use it to give you guys an advantage," she said.
At that moment, my mother came out with Elliot by the hand and my father beside her.
"Come back safe and come back victorious," my mother said.
Elliot ran to us and hugged us both as best he could. "Come back soon. Grandma told me you are going to fight the bad guys, so beat the crap out of them," he said with his eyes full of energy.
"Son, the future of the pack is in your hands," my father vociferated.
I felt the weight of his words and the responsibility he had placed on my shoulders. This was no longer about revenge but about commanding respect from those who tried to attack us from the shadows.
We got in the cars, this time SUVs. Andrew drove ours, Sebastian rode beside him, and Cathy and I rode in the back.
The caravan of black SUVs made up of pack members, and territory allies followed us down the road.
"My father's pack is not like yours," Cathy said. "They are loyal to no one. They simply obey out of fear of being killed. That's what the Sith pack is based on, and once you wipe out their leader, they'll scatter like flies."
"Then we can avoid the whole conflict if we attack the leaders directly," Sebastian said. "But in the forest, it will be like a needle in a haystack."
"Not necessarily," she replied. "I know the scent of Lissandra, Linda, and Alston, and now that my senses are enhanced, I might be able to track them."
"In that case, you should go to the front," Andrew said, and I shot him a murderous look.
"Are you sure? It can be dangerous," I asked my destined mate.
I felt afraid, not for the battle but that she would get hurt. I didn't want to lose Cathy, not after I finally had her.
"I will," she said.
We arrived at the place just where the forest began. We got out of the trucks, and out of the bushes came our two informants.
"You're just in time," one of them said with a face full of maple ashes to hide his scent. "The enemy is on the move."
One of them took the lead, pointing us in the direction of the enemy groups, but Cathy turned away and started walking in the opposite direction.
"Cathy, what are you doing?" I asked, holding her hand.
"Lissandra is in that direction," she said.
"No way, we checked that area," said one of the informants.
"Do you trust me?" she asked, looking me in the eyes.
I looked at Sebastian and Andrew. They were my advisors in this war, and they didn't look very convinced.
"I trust you," I said, "Let's split into two groups. One will come with me, and the other will be commanded by Sebastian. Our meeting point will be the river bank."
Sebastian ran his hand through his grizzled beard and selected the half that would go with him. He grabbed my hand tightly. "Good luck Eric," he said with a strong voice.