The Alpha's Choice

Part 10 in which shit gets real

Eric and Damien confirm and start their hunt. Meanwhile Tanner, Ben, and I start to mask our scents in the dirt and bushes around us. It works surprisingly well and it makes me a little uncomfortable not being able to smell my mate so well with him so close.

We start pushing into the territory and I check up on Eric and Damien's progress. They've located an over sized badger and are stalking it, making sure to leave as much as a scent trail as possible. Perfict.

"Ben, do you hear anything?" I hiss to him in the dark.

"Nothing yet, but I think we're getting close," he replies. The slight breeze is blowing towards us, which is good, we're downwind and they won't be able to scent us.

"Alpha, I think someone has spotted us," Eric contacts me in a hurried thought.

"Perfict, try not to engage right away, attract as much attention as possible," I order and after both wolves confirm I open a new link with Daniel an the girls. "We are a go for phase two," I tell them and Danny--one of the twins--confirms. She orders the three others around, gently, and they start stalking through the woods. Laying down a thick scent trail as they go.

"Let's keep moving," I say aloud to Ben and Tanner, "but not too quickly."

It is quite a long while. Really quiet. I don't hear any birds or wildlife, maybe it's the storm, or maybe they can feel the tension as we edge closer to the enemy camp.

Ben stops suddenly so Tanner and I follow suit. I hold my breath, trying to hear whatever he hears. Only very faintly can I hear the sound of voices, far away. I can barely make them out and it could very well be the wind or my imagination, but Ben seems to be getting everything.

"This is it," he says so quietly I wonder if I imaged it. Tanner's ears swivel on his head and I hear it too, a howl. A warning howl.

"Eric, Damien, check in. What's your status?" I hurriedly open the link.

"The same," Damien answers this time, his response level and calm but he definitely hear the howl.

"Tanner and I are entering the camp soon so if anything comes up--anything--contact Ben," I tell him and after he confirms I close the link to check on phase two.

"Just fine Alpha," Andrew answers, "through the howl was probably for us. I think we aren't as subtle as we thought..." That's good.

"Just keep attention on you and don't get hurt" I tell them all. "Contact Ben if anything happens. Stay safe." With that I turn to Tanner.

"Phase three," I whisper and he nods.

I turn to Ben. "Stay alive," he warns me.

"You too," I smile and clap him on the back as we pass.

Tanner slinks close to the ground, keeping his tail level to the earth. I slip silently through the brush, hiding behind trees as we edge closer to the camp.

Once it's in view I take in the structure. It isn't what I expected. It's a temporary headquarters for one thing. Logs set on their sides make up the walls and the ceilings--if there are any over that section--are just blue tarps thrown over top.

Two werewolf guards stand by what looks like the main entrance. They are talking and laughing, not really taking the job too seriously.

As we watch a group of three wolves go marching out of the doorway and shift in stride. Their clothes ripping to ribbons as their bodies outgrow them. Tanner and I duck out of their line of sight but they head away from us, towards where I guess Eric and Damien are.

After a second longer two more already shifted wolves run around the opposite side of the structure from us and sprint towards where I believe Andrew and the girls are.

Tanner wants to get closer and find a back entrance. I agree and we move with the wind, slightly left of the guards, rounding on the side of the structure.

I take a deep breath, trying to scent James, Tanner dose the same and he catches whiff of something. There's a gap between two of the logs in the wall. I venture forward to take a peek through it. My eyes have to adjust to the dark lighting but once they do I can make out the outlines of a person crouched in the corner. And I can smell him. Looking around it looks like he's alone but the trouble is getting to him, he's through a thick wooden wall. I back up looking around for an entrance.

Tanner finds one in a second. A gap between too walls, just big enough for me to fit through. Tanner promises to keep watch as I slip through the hard wood.

As I step inside the atmosphere seems to change completely. The stormy weather seems easily forgotten under the tarp, though I doubt it will be the same story once the rain starts. The tarp adds a dark blue tint to everything and as I glance around I can smell the other wolves. I find the hallway towards James' room. I freeze when I see someone--not James--seated in the doorway.

Shit. I was too careless. I think and I know Tanner can feel my fear as the figure looks up at me.

"Are you Cade?" It's a girl. As my eyes adjust a bit better I can make out her pixie cut and petite features.

"Um," I'm not sure how to answer her question. I decide nodding is a good enough answer and she glances over her shoulder and around a corner before continuing.

"Ok, get him and leave, quickly," she says and steps out of the doorway.

"Wait what?" I look at her dumbfounded.

"Are you daft? I said quickly," even in the dark I can tell she's rolling her eyes. "I'm going to pretend someone else was guarding, please be discreet."

"Y-yeah sure," I nod and start for the doorway. She stars to walk away down the hall when I turn and call to her before she's too far away. "Wait, what's your name?" I ask her.

"Brooke," she calls over he shoulder and then keeps walking. Brooke, I'll remember that.

I turn back to the room James is in. I rush over to his side and shake him awake.

He opens his eyes and looks at me with wide terror stricken eyes. Oh fuck. What did they tell him?

"James, are you alright? Are you hurt?" I as him slowly. James doesn't say anything he just looks at me with newfound realization. "James please, we have to leave. I'll explain everything later," I promise.

He opens his mouth to answer finally. "No. Explain now," he insists in an odd voice.

"I'll answer one question now and the rest later, there's really no time. I had to sneak in here," I explain.

"Ok," he nods and thinks a moment, he's probably trying to find the hardest question, "are you a werewolf?" Guess not.

"Yup," I reply without hesitating for his reaction I pick up the smaller boy and sling him over my shoulder. Turning I say, "lets go."

James lets out a surprised gasp as we start sprinting from the camp. I meet Tanner outside and he runs with us, we stick to the woods but even so we've attracted attention. I hear the wolves behind us shift and call for back up. We run faster.