Gray Valley

f o u r t y - e i g h t

"HERE IT IS." Liam slid the large map onto the table. "This is a map of Gray Valley and the surrounding mountains."He drew a circle between the river and the forest." This is where the Pack House is. As you know, some of the Gray Wolves live here with us." He circled another area, slightly South of the Luna Pack House. "This is where most of the Gray Wolves in our pack live."

"And whereabouts is the Bronze Pack?" I asked, mainly towards Blayze.

"We have a Pack house up North and many of those who don't live there, live around it," he answered. The moment he spoke, it was as if something snapped inside Liam. "In fact, it's right next to the Northern Mountains."

He turned to glare at him, his eyes darkening to a dangerous black, and slammed the pen onto the table, so that it snapped in half.

"Whoa," Blayze muttered. "What did the pen ever do to you?"

"The pen?" Liam laughed coldly. "It's not about the pen, Walker; you know that. You know exactly what this is about."

"Oh Luna..." Blayze exhaled, turning to me. "Remind me, Weslyn, why couldn't the others come with us?"

As my third-in-command, Martyn had gone South to help the pack members gather their belongings and evacuate their houses. Bryan had gone with the Gray Wolves, who lived further in town. West and Anna had left to organise a safe place for those who couldn't fight, leaving me to figure out the technicalities with the worst possible company...

I ended up alone with Liam and Blayze.

"What? I'm the problem, now?" Liam growled, stepping forward and shoving Blayze away. He stumbled backwards and caught himself on the table, just in time.

"No, William," he replied calmly. "That's definitely not what I said."

"But that was what you were implying," he gritted out. "Let me tell you one thing-"

"Liam, stop it," I snapped. He clenched his teeth and looked at me, his eyes gradually lightening. "I've told you time and time again... This isn't about us. And Blayze-" I turned to him. "Don't say anything that makes him lose his temper..." Our eyes met and he nodded gently. "Now, Liam... How many people are in our pack?"

"491. But some of them can't fight and..."

"What?" My voice was a mere whisper. That was impossible. Back when my father was Alpha, the numbers were much higher.

"A lot of people left while your brother was Alpha and others were killed from breaking the Promise Code - just like my father."

That was when I realised it. I had been so convinced that I already knew him; I didn't notice what I didn't know. There was something important that I didn't know.

"What about your mother?"

"I don't want to talk about her." And just like that, it was as if the walls had been rebuilt around him.

"So, Weslyn... About the numbers..." Blayze intervened, clearly trying to change the subject. I shifted my attention back to him.

"Yeah..." I trailed off. "I was just thinking that we needed another safe place for you, Bryan and Anna-"

"Wait a minute," he stared at me with his chaotic eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"It's full moon tomorrow, right? You need to be somewhere safe when you shift."

"What about the war?"

"Blayze... I'm not your Alpha. And I'm not Bryan and Anna's either," I told him. "I'm in no position to make you go through more pain than you already do."

"You're not asking me to fight for you, Weslyn," he pointed out. "I want to do it."

"But it'll be putting your life at risk."

"We're Brown Wolves, Weslyn. We are cursed to a lifetime of suffering and an untimely death. Even if I die this instant, I wouldn't lose any more than 20 years. And it's not like our destined death is easy, either. Just like every other Brown Wolf... I know I can't speak for Bryan and Anna, but I would rather die in war then in illness."

For an second the grief returned, but I pushed it away. I was in no situation to be upset.

"But Blayze, it's fine," I insisted. "The Bronze Pack is the one of the smallest Werewolf packs; it's not a threat. If you endanger yourself, it'll be without reason."

"Actually... Not anymore," his voice was grim. "And if what William said about the numbers is true... You're going to need all the help you can get."

"What do you mean?"

"Even though, as Brown Wolves, we're much weaker than Gray Wolves in human form... Once we shift we're equally matched," he explained. "The Bronze pack has been increasing in size, over the years. And right now, our numbers are almost the same."