Chapter 31

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"Take cover!" Delta yells and everyone puts their back up against the surrounding trees and arrows rain from the sky once more. I throw my arms around Alpha's neck, holding him tightly. He sits, rocked back on his hind legs with his back against the bark of the tree. I can hear a few chuckles here and there as the arrows slowly begin to die down, a few yelps and pained cries but mostly laughter and disbelief. 

"Cheeky fucks!" Sota scoffs. I take inventory of everyone that I can see. Nobody is dead, except for Fleet. They pull arrows from each other like it's nothing unless they look particularly deep.

"The pack had to have heard that howl. I suspect Adriam and Victor will be here any minute to aid us." Delta reports.

Alpha scoffs, laying his ears back. "We don't need bloody aid. We can take care of these ones ourselves. They are in the woods, their arrows are useless in short-range unless they've taken to the trees and we will see them if that's the case. We need to chase them out into the open. " His response is absolute, I'm still reeling from the death of a beloved twin.

It's Ol' One Arm who comes to the defense of the pack against their bloodthirsty leader. "These are elves; they are some of the best in the world with a bow. Don't think some dead leaves are going to muck up their aim." Sota reminds him, uncertain.

With a harsh growl, the gray wolf bares his teeth. "Got any other suggestions?" Alpha snaps back in response, bringing the surrounding wolves to heel as they lower their heads in respect. The Alpha would have his blood.

"Yes. Stay here until aid arrives." He tells him sternly. 

Alpha doesn't look amused. "We are vulnerable in this position. There are too many of us to just hunker down with so little cover. We need to move forward and take them out. Drive them out." He stands up, determined. The pack readies itself as they rise to their feet, they would follow their leader, they would die for him if that's what it took.

Desperate to prevent any more bloodshed, I quickly speak up. "I can help. I can provide a fog and that will give us some cover? I don't want to kill anyone but we need to get out of this alive." I plead with him, it's his turn now. He must trust me; if only he could. Wasn't that the point of all this?

Alpha watches me for a long moment, considering his options before he nods, much to my surprise. "Okay. Let's see it." He allows.

I can't believe what I'm hearing. But I limp away from him, putting my hand over my pierced thigh to support it. I take a deep breath, I don't have my book so it makes things a little more difficult but as I chant, I can feel the mist pulling in from around me. Thankfully our home is located so close to bodies of water. The fog rolls in thick and heavy, the damp air leaves a fine film on the fur of the wolves surrounding me. 

The castle is going to smell of wet dog tonight, I just know it. 

"I don't know how long this will last, I'm pretty charged up but I have to focus on this if I want to keep the cover as heavy." 


Impressed, they regard me with whole new respect. All save for the Alpha who appears unjustly suspicious. I'm sure, in his mind, he can't help but wonder if I'm behind this attack in the first place. "We don't need long," Alpha assures me and he addresses the pack. "Move forward! Push them out of the woods!" He commands and the pack begins to move. 

I put my arm over Tonic's shoulders and limp alongside him as the pack soundlessly moves out in front of us. They hunt, heads low, soundless in the leaf litter as their natural coat colors blend seamlessly into the forest.

Shutting my eyes, I see Fleet, he didn't have to die. "Tonic, am I doing the right thing?" I ask him with a frown, because it feels like I'm helping to murder a group of elves who never stood a chance before I surrounded them with fog.

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