Saving His Mate

Ch. 27: War Declaration

The tension in the air was palpable, everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells every time the hunters were mentioned, and at the same time, the rumor of the declaration of war had already spread through the town.

A strong storm was brewing, the crash was already inevitable, Almec couldn't change his mind even if he wanted to.

Despite having spent the days after Faustina's kidnapping locked up in the mansion, the news from the town reached me thanks to Demian and Khalia. The concern they conveyed only increased my nerves, my fear of being hated for being the cause of the fight haunted me even in my dreams.

On the other hand, Almec looked more gloomy than usual. Beneath his calm façade I could see his fear. Perhaps to the other members he might still seem like the lonely alpha they knew, but to me, at that moment, he was a man conflicted about the announcement he was about to make.

The last rays of sunlight illuminated Almec through the wide window as he walked from one side of the room to the other. Since we set foot in the pack meeting room his nerves became obvious, so much so that instead of staying with the rest of the people he snuck away to the small storage room.

"Everyone is here, I'd say that it's time to start," Geldra let him know, peeking through the door.

"We'll be there in a minute," I answered for Almec who still seemed trapped in his mind.

"Alright, I'm going to distract them a little," she said before closing the door.

Talking to Almec wasn't going to make him react so I stood in front of him and held his face in my hands. A gleam of recognition appeared in his eyes as our gazes met and he let out a long sigh.

"It's time," I told him, caressing his cheeks. "Geldra is distracting them but I don't think she can do it for much longer."

"I don't know what to say," Almec confessed, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Yes, you do." I rested my forehead against his and brushed my hand across his chin. "They know that sitting back and doing nothing is not an option, they'll be even angrier if you don't say anything."

"But this pack has been living in peace since my grandfather was the alpha, I don't think they'll be very happy with what I have to say."

"No one is happy about going to war, but the hunters will attack even if we do nothing. They know it and they trust in your power."

"They shouldn't trust me so blindly." Almec lowered his head and hid it against my neck. "I want to rip the hunters apart for what they did to you, but I don't know if I'm good enough. What if I put you in more danger because of my decision?"

"You are more than enough, I know that, and I don't just mean your power as a lycan." I caressed his back. "I have never met someone as brave and selfless as you, you left your life behind to protect the pack, they can't have a better leader than you. And about my safety, I don't think there's a safer place for me than next to you."

Almec straightened his body and let go of my waist. He smiled at me, making my heart skip a beat.

"Thanks. If that's what you think of me then I can't fail." He closed the distance between our lips in a long, sweet kiss. "For good luck."

"Do you think that's enough luck? If you need more I can sacrifice myself for the good of the pack," I joked, winking at him.

"I think that's enough for now, otherwise I'll keep wanting more and Geldra is gonna kill me if I don't get there soon."

We walked through the door holding hands, there was something empowering about knowing that I wasn't alone anymore. I was no longer afraid of making a mistake when Almec was there to support me if something went wrong.