The Beta's Justice

Chapter 9

Hunter's POV

Parker and Alice waited as I worked. They both appeared somewhat nervous. Stan and the head warrior will be here soon. As much as I wanted to catch up with them, I needed to solidify the schedule or at least have some idea of what it would look like.

There came a knock at the door and I called them in. Stan came in first, followed by a warrior. "Who is he?" I questioned, confused why the head warrior was not with Stan as I had requested.

"Yes, well, it would seem, in all the chaos, I had forgotten to inform you. The head warrior died in battle. It took us a day to identify his remains. My apologies for not informing you sooner," he bowed respectfully.

"It's understandable. We are all trying to clean up after the chaos Catherine and my father started," I sighed. The head warrior was one of the strongest wolves I knew. He could train a wolf to be an excellent warrior in days. We needed him. "Is he the replacement?" I asked as I looked the young wolf up and down.

"This is Marcus. He is the replacement. I know he appears young, however, he is well trained and was actually trained by the head warrior himself," Stan praised the young wolf.

"If you will vouch for him, then I will allow him to hold the title."

"Thank you, Beta," Marcus spoke with a bow.

"Now on to the matter at hand. I have been informed of rumors that have already begun to spread to the packs closest to us. We are being perceived as weak. Therefore, I would like you to prepare the warriors. Gather those who are able-bodied, begin training again, and strengthen the schedule for border patrol," the commands rolled out. I was asking a lot and I knew it, but it all needed to be done.

"Yes, we will gather them right away. Marcus will begin training and I will schedule the border patrol myself," Stan promised. "Is there anything more?"

"Yes, I need all the wolves and she-wolves in the dungeons to be interrogated. We need to know if they were coerced or voluntarily followed Ryker. Those who did not volunteer will be released to where the pups are to await training. Those who went willingly will remain in the dungeons until further notice," I told him, hoping very few would remain in the dungeons when the interrogations were completed.

"How will we know if they are being truthful?" Stan inquired.

I thought for a moment before responding. "Audrey, she will be able to command them to speak truthfully. I will have her meet you around nine to begin the interrogations at the police station," I informed him.

"Sounds like a plan," Stan nodded.

I pressed print on my computer, took the papers from the printer, stabled them, and placed them on a clipboard. "Take this. It is the original schedule for border patrol. Change it as necessary and then please send me your copy."

"Right away," he bowed.

He was waiting for me to dismiss him, however, there was one more thing. "Parker and Alice, here," I motioned for them to come forward. "They are at your beck and call," I informed them.

Alice stepped forward, appearing as though there was something she wanted to say, but was apprehensive. "Alice?" I tried to prompt her to speak.

"I was just thinking about all the pups. They aren't going to school and many of them are probably frightened. Maybe we should have them go to the school for a kind of event day or days. It would then free up more wolves to help the back recover from everything," she rushed to say as she nervously looked everywhere but at me.

She was right. It had been a few days since they had gone to school and it would be another week or so before we would be able to reopen the school. "Alice, can I put you in charge of the event? Also, let's make it a week-long one. The pups can arrive at nine and depart around six. This will allow for the parents to help with repairs and other pack-related matters. Contact the packhouse chef. She will be in charge of preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the pups and volunteers. Gather she-wolves from grades ten to twelve along with some facility members to be among the volunteers. Pups from daycare to grade nine will be allowed into the school. You don't have much time, but do what you can and as fast as you can for today." After I finished, I felt as though I may have given her too much.

"Yes, Hunter... I mean Beta," she bowed.

"Alice, you have thirty minutes to get the volunteers and begin planning. Once you have the volunteers, I will have a pack-wide message sent out. Expect the pups to begin arriving within an hour," she nodded.

"I will take my leave now then," she said as she rushed out the door.

I turned my attention back to Stan. "It would appear you will have more help on the way within the next hour or two. Please delegate what needs to be done. We can't have you getting sick."

"Of course, I will take Marcus and Parker. We will begin preparations immediately," he bowed and began to leave.

"One more thing," I said as a thought suddenly occurred to me. "How close are we to identifying all the deceased, both from our pack and Ryker's?"

"About eighty percent, why?" He asked as he turned back to face me.

"Send wolves there to help. I want it to be a hundred by nightfall. Tomorrow we will arrange to have a funeral for all those who passed away. I want to give the pack a chance to mourn. Then, in the afternoon, training for the pups and wolves with special abilities will begin. Audrey will also assist with that," I told him. I could see the gears spinning in his mind. We had so much to do with so little manpower to do it.

Without complaint, he bowed. "I will set everything in motion. You will see progress within the next few hours," he promised.

"Good. You may leave now," he nodded, and then he was out the door, followed by Marcus and Parker.

I leaned back in my chair for a moment. I needed to sleep. I could already feel a pounding headache coming on, but I needed to update Leon. I was worried about him. The last time I went by he wasn't looking so good.

Pushing myself out of my chair, I left my office. Walking down the hallway, I could feel the emptiness. This place used to have so much life, but now it felt as though everyone was fading away. Leaving the packhouse, I made my way to the hospital, finding Leon standing outside Nova's door. "What are you doing out here?"

It took him a moment to register that I was here and then that I had said something. "Oh, the twins are inside working on Nova. They kicked me out," he responded. His eyes were bloodshot and his face was paler than the day before.

"How long?"

"All night."

"When will they be done?" I watched as his gaze never left the door.

"Don't know," he muttered.

"How long have you been standing?" He looked like he was ready to collapse.

He shrugged. "All night, I guess," he responded nonchalantly.

"How about you take a seat and I'll give you an update about the pack?" I said as I went over and guided him to a could of chairs behind him.

Reluctantly he sat. I gave him the highlight version of what I had just met with Stan about. He was listening, but it was hard to tell if he was comprehending. "You're doing great," he whispered. "Thank you."

"What are Beta's for?" I grinned, trying to lighten the mood. It didn't work. "Is there anything you need?"

He shook his head. "Just her, but you can't help with that," he sighed, his shoulders falling as he somehow sank further into the chair. He looked so defeated. Nothing like the Leon I knew. He was all but a husk of himself.

I opened my mouth to say something more when my phone rang. I picked it up and heard Audrey on the other end. "Hunter, come get breakfast, I'm cooking," she sounded so excited, but I worried for my own safety.

"Alone?"

"No, Darren is helping," she responded.

"Helping? I'm doing most of the cooking. You are scrambling eggs," I could hear Darren huff on the other end of the line.

"Audrey, I'm with Leon," I glanced over at him and, for the first time since Nova fell into a coma, he looked at me.

"Go, eat, and rest. You look terrible," he told me.

"Then you should come too. You look worse than I do," I responded.

He shook his head. "Already left and right now, it feels too important to leave again," he said as his gaze shifted back to the door. "Go before I use my Alpha voice," he warned.

"Fine, but only because you asked nicely," I tried once more to make him laugh or even c***k a smile, but he wouldn't. I knew he wouldn't. I also know he won't until she is awake and well again.

"Eat something soon," I told him before I left the hospital.

"Moon Goddess, we could really use a miracle right about now," I whispered as I walked back to the pack house.

I was going to ask Leon to link the pack about Alice's plan. However, I couldn't. He already looked like he was about to pass out. Alice linked me just as I was entering the packhouse. I pulled out my phone and sent out a packwide message to inform everyone of what was going on at the school and to make sure their neighbors knew as well. Then I made sure to mention those able-bodied would be expected to report for duty on the training ground by no later than ten. They would be sorted into groups.

No one responded to the message. However, I knew everyone had read it. This pack was going to survive one way or another. I was not going to let it fall because of my father's stupidity and greed.