Chapter 22: Readiness

WILLOW

Alpha McCall calls a pack meeting the next morning. He tells everyone to get ready. A few of the humans have chosen to take the unshifted to the city for the night, leaving only the fighters and warriors behind.

I’m fine with this. It reduces the number of people we need to protect and gives us a clear field to operate in.

We continue with our training and ensure the warriors are armed. I distribute the squirt bottles filled with holy water and show them how to aim for the eyes. It won’t kill, but it’ll definitely sting to get a face full of blessed water!

Thorn has been a great help throughout this process. He’s good at following instructions. I’m considering asking him if he’d like to join the shadow wolves.

He’d need more training, but his warrior spirit and quick thinking are wasted here. He’s not cut out for farming. I watch him help Jenna ensure the she-wolves have sharp knives.

I sense an attraction between them. Jenna lost her mate in a pack fight shortly after they found each other. It’s one of the reasons she joined the shadow wolves.

She’s feisty and cunning. That’s why I bring her along. She’s strong, but unassuming.

People often mistake her for being innocent, when in reality, she’s lethal. If Thorn is looking for a chosen mate, he won’t find anyone better than Jenna.

“I’ve doubled the border security,” Silas tells me as he walks up to me.

“That’s good for now, but let’s pull them back when it gets dark. I don’t want to alert the vampires, nor do I want to lose any men unnecessarily. Leaving them too far out could be deadly. We’re safer closer in.”

He ponders this, then nods. “I think I’m starting to understand how you think. Always trying to stay one step ahead.” He smiles and goes to talk to the guards.

Rueben finds me. “You okay, princess?” He wraps an arm around me.

I shrug. “I’m okay. Not sure how many are coming, but I’m hoping King Mihai is among them. I’d love nothing more than to rip that monster’s heart out,” I growl softly.

“It’s a shame Andrei didn’t make it,” Rueben says sadly. “He was a great king, and we all lived in peace with him. Do you know who’s next in line if we succeed in killing Mihai?”

I lower my head, thinking about my mate wasting away in a mausoleum on the Royal Pack. I hate lying to my team, but Andrei’s life is at risk. “I don’t, but whoever the bloodsucker is, he better play fair, or he could end up as dust too.”

“This pack is as ready as it’ll ever be. They have heart, princess. That’s all we can ask for.” Rueben joins the others in setting up traps and building fires around the fields.

Vampires don’t handle fire well. They’re highly flammable, and with my ability to control flames and create fireballs, throwing a few at the vampires could be fun!

We gather for lunch, and the families are loaded into trucks and cars to head to the city. We continue to prepare ourselves, and I take the chance to check in with my brother. I want to know how Andrei is doing and how the other teams are faring.

“Hey, sis,” Boris answers my call, sounding tired.

“Hey yourself. Are you okay? You sound really tired,” I ask him.

“I’m not sleeping well. Johannes is acting up. He senses trouble. He’s been yipping at me. Mother is having issues with Sadie too. Our wolves are itching to be out in the trenches with you guys.”

“You need to tell them that they’re needed to protect the pack and ensure we have a home to return to,” I say firmly. “How’s Andrei?” I ask quietly.

“He’s the same. Lira checks on him three times a day. He doesn’t move, but she talks to him and keeps him updated on what’s happening. Eros checked in this morning.

“The dragons haven’t found anything suspicious at the pack they’re with, but Tobias reported two vamps lurking around the pack he’s at. They got caught in some vine traps he set up. He was able to question them.

“It seems they were heading toward London. They heard about the movement Mihai is making and they were looking for a safer place to hide because Mihai is forcing a lot of the vamps to follow.

“He’s not asking anymore, he’s commanding. Tobias let them go and told them he’d be checking on them. He sent them to a place he calls ‘Safe Haven.’ It’s near his father’s pack.

“It’s hidden by trees and vines, thanks to the Fae. He said he set it up after he took the throne. It’s for any species looking for protection.”

“That sounds like a good place to be. I killed four vamps myself last night. Overheard them talking. We’re gearing up for an attack tonight. The humans have left the pack for the city. It’s just the pack warriors and us here now. We’ll be ready for them. Genisis is antsy. We have a new gift. I found out about it last night.” I giggle. “I’ll show you when I get home. Give Mom and Dad my love. I need to finish getting the pack motivated.”

“I’m going to send Eros your way. He and the dragons can help.”

“Okay, but not the whole team! We won’t have room, and I don’t want that pack left unguarded.”

“See you soon, sis.”