Pack Ties, Blood Lies

Chapter 56 - Divide and Conquer

Since completing the bond, I found that I could 'feel' Jack, even when we were apart.

It wasn't a perfect picture, more of a fuzzy impression. A vague potential of his current mood or state of mind.

We had finished preparations for the invasion of Drake's factory. Every wolf knew their place and expected action.

It was finally time.

Vengeance. Justice. Closure.

Nothing could be sweeter and more healing for our kind than those three things in trilogy.

It had been decided that Alden would remain at the Point with Rebecca, Scott, Naomi, and their Pack's. The Point should never be left un-guarded.

Alden would send his consciousness with me, to help push my wolf into the minds of our two-legged enemies.

That left my father, his model-like friend Nick and the angry firecracker that was Fern to back me with their Packs.

The trek through the forest went smoothly. It was our home. The place we were most at ease on this land. And yet, it had pretty much been taken from us.

The fear that Drake had caused had spread through the Packs like a disease. Infecting and attacking our kind until no one felt safe.

Now, in my position as Elder. I felt even more compelled to fix the issue.

The problem was, I didn't feel any more qualified.

The new power that thrummed through me made me feel innately capable of handling those of my kind. But Drake was not wolf.

The thought of those grey eyes no longer tricked my brain into anything. That effect had stopped the moment I became Elder.

What they did do, was cause revulsion, loathing and anger. I longed to tear him apart and watch the blood spray to paint the sky in a red mist.

But I had to keep my head. People were looking to me to lead now.

It was obvious that Drake would catch on pretty quickly that his little group of poisoners had befallen an ill fate.

Before that happened, we had to make our move.

The night was cold, clouding our breath as we crouched in the bushes surrounding the factory.

The building was more of a bunker than anything else. Most of its bulk settled underground like a potential land-mine. Housing the dangers that were Drake, his 'Pack' and their poison.

Wolves were prowling the grounds, but clearly weren't expecting anything to happen. Their shoulders were relaxed, and they were lax in their exploration of the shadows. It didn't even seem as though they were scenting the air for intruders.

Alden nudged my consciousness to address my other half. "It's time. Are you ready, wolf?"

My wolf hummed in bold confirmation. She was delighted in our increased power. In her pivotal position as the Luna of the enemy's Allegiance wolves.

Alden gave his approval. "Here we go then..."

The High Alpha seemed to hold the 'hand' of my consciousness and walk us through the night to capture the minds of the sentries. My wolf snarled, pulling them to an immediate attention. "Who amongst you believes in this ridiculous cause? Those who don't and want to live beyond this night... lay on your bellies in submission to your Luna!"

Nine out of the ten wolves we could see, immediately laid down. Their snouts resting on their paws in a position of surrender.

The tenth wolf glanced around, baring his teeth angrily. "Who is that? Who dare assume to be our Luna? We have no Luna, only an Alpha."

The roar of my wolf made him whine; a moment of fear flickered in his eyes before the silver shadow of my father's wolf tackled him to the ground.

No wolf moved to help as blood began to drip from the empty hole where a throat had just been.

First step achieved, Fern and Nick circled around the factory to the East and West respectively. My father's Pack flanked me as I began a careful advance across the darkened, empty parking lot.

The humans had clearly not used this place in a long time.

Yet it was close enough to their villages that the stink of them invaded every inch of the place. My nostrils flared in distaste at the greasy, sweaty stench.

"Disgusting creatures, aren't they?" Callum's wolf wandered boldly beside my left flank.

I snarled silently. Snapping at the air in front of him to push him back. "Don't be disrespectful. And know your place. Fall back."

I let my Alphine; Elder aura leak out to ensnare the errant wolf. He was all too familiar with me considering our past, but now was not the time to test our boundaries.

The low whine that left his lips was fairly pitiful and I might have felt sorry for him if he had been anyone else.

Jack sidled past him, gently nudging him out of the way with an intense glare. "Is it time to breach?"

The fact that he asked, rather than told me, spoke volumes for the incredible shift in our relationship dynamic over the past few months.

I nodded my wolf's head. Heading for the giant plastic curtains that hung like crooked teeth in the mouth of the warehouse doorway.

Jack stepped ahead of me just before I entered. "Please. Allow me to go first?"

I could sense his need to protect me. His worry and love. Again, I nodded my head. I would need to learn to delegate.

We continued in the way we began. Making steady progress through the dark corridors of the factory.

The air was dank and slightly putrid with the harsh scent of chemicals.

The corridors snaked inwards, maze-like in their complexity.

Our Pack slowly divided. Separating to conquer the hallways one by one. Slowly collecting brainwashed wolves and eliminating those who felt that murder was an acceptable part of a bigger plan.

After a small amount of deliberation between my father and Jack, Julian had grudgingly allowed a final separation. Leaving just myself and my mate to continue onwards.

Alden paused us as we came into the main part of the building. The room was huge, with giant silver vats taking up the majority of the space. The place was silent and eerily empty.

"This is going too well." I projected my words to Alden whilst narrowing the silver gaze of my wolf. "Drake is smart. There is no way this goes without a hitch."

Alden rumbled an agreement. "It does feel too easy."

"That's because it is." The man that stepped out of the shadows was unfamiliar to me. His crooked smile and grey eyes were warm, seemingly friendly.

How could he possibly have heard Alden speak inmy head?