Stronger- #Wattys2019

Part 47

Finalizing the last few details, Alexander stopped in front of his beta. "You know the plans."

Yuri nodded his head. "Just end this quickly and don't get hurt. You just healed from the bear fight."

The king shrugged. "I don't regret that. I only regret the reasons we were there at all. But I will say that one thing was clear. What remained of the Wade camp showed me that I should have just killed Liam Wade when he challenged me. His pack was already there before the graduation even took place. They were determined to attack even before he was ousted."

"He's a coward. Pushed enough to challenge, then quickly submitted to try to get away with it. Willing to lead his pack after defenseless pups, then run and hide. Did you ever learn why they targeted the children?"

Teeth ground as Alexander remembered the shit the Wade Pack members threw around. "Fastest way to drive a wolf crazy and weaken them, death of a mate. But they knew they couldn't reach the lunas directly, so went for the pups to draw them out and/or shatter them completely." Amber eyes remained hard as he looked at the beta. "Be prepared. I know they will go after Nadine again. For the same reasons. They want to weaken me."

"Plans are already in motion. Alpha Markus called his beta and son... they are sending half their warriors, so is Zima pack. Whether she realizes it or not. Markus and Ahran care deeply for her. She will be protected at all costs. You just focus on ending it. Not just the Wade boy, but all of it."

Alexander glanced up to the window of the third floor, Nadine watched the scene below. Part of him wished she could come down to bid him a safe trip. The other part of him was glad she wasn't there. His acceptance of her was too new. He wasn't sure his wolf would leave at all if she was there where they could hear her voice, smell her skin, itch to run fingers through her hair.

He promised his wolf he would call her once he was settled in camp, the night before the attack. Wade and Alpha Cratus would expect a straight line of attack. Instead, the king would take the longer way around, set camp on the opposite side of the mountain ridge from where Cratus made a home for his Bogomil pack. Then they would crest the ridge early in the morning, hopefully catching them by surprise.

*****

A soft knock echoed on Nadine's door, finally pulling her away from the window as she watched her mate and his warriors leave. A feeling of worry went with him. She may not trust him to be an intimate part of her life. Yet, she still cared that he was safe. Whatever happened between the two of them, she could see he did care about his people, even if he had been overly protected and aloof to the problems of the omegas. And the rumors she heard about some of the other packs, they needed to be dealt with. Not for a girl who lost a challenge. Rather, for the systemic abuses of those weaker than others. For once, she had hope that things could truly get better for omegas, or anyone who had been victimized.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her door. It wasn't a surprise to see Grace Volkov.

A small smile slid across the elder's lips. "I hear my son finally pulled his head out of his ass."

The younger woman nodded and opened the door wider to allow the former queen to enter the room.

"I really am happy for you both." She said with sincerity.

Instead of returning the smile, Nadine sat on the edge of the bed while offering her... what, soon to be mother-in-law?... a seat in the only chair in the room. "We will see how things progress."

Grace clutched her hands in her lap. "I understand your hesitation. He was rather out of character toward you at first. At least he is taking necessary steps now."