The Luna's Alliance

Chapter 5: Alpha's Ending

WARNING: VIOLENT CONTENT AHEAD! MAY BE TRIGGERING!

The air was… off. Too still. Lucy felt the hair on her neck rise. A storm of sorts was coming. Then an air raid siren sounded in the distance. It was coming from the patrol station at their most southern border; a border no sound should ever come from. This was the blast everyone feared most in the Southern Forest. Until that moment she had never heard its deafening eruption.

Within seconds, wolf howls were heard in every direction. Warriors shifted on site, heading to the south. The cacophony of sounds was alarming enough, then Lucy received the mindlink from her Alpha. It must have gone out to the entire pack.

Northern Forest has breached our defenses at the southern pass. Warriors are already on their way. Every member is required to protect our home. Steel your faith. I will defend our home with my life.

Alpha Cain also ordered anyone under sixteen into the packhouse. A few other she-wolves were designated to guard them; Lucy and Luna Mary were included in that list. Everyone else was to remain outside to join the warriors in case they were forced to retreat for reinforcements.

Imogen was angry not to be allowed to shift and fight for her home. She had lethal training, indeed. Lucy assured her wolf that was the precise reason they were told to guard the pups. Without pups, the pack wouldn't survive the night.

An hour of waiting felt like a lifetime. Trying to distract children who knew they may never see their parents or siblings alive again was the hardest thing she had ever been asked to do. The youngest pups seemed content with junk food and television. The preteens were the worst. Boys fought angrily as they were left behind and not able to demonstrate their prowess. Girls competed for the award of most dramatic with their endless hysterics. All children, though, were characteristically selfish.

Luna Mary was a godsend. She turned the packhouse main floor into a giant game room, playing, serving, and joking as if she were throwing the ultimate slumber party. Of course, Lucy had spent enough time with Luna Mary to see her mask starting to peel around the edges. The Luna was always on the verge of breaking over the whereabouts of her boys. When Lucy asked her Luna if they should instead move everyone into the basement as a last resort to protect them, she saw a single tear fall down Luna Mary's cheek.

"Lucy, if we are the last wolves left to protect the packhouse, then everything is already lost. We cannot lock ourselves away. We will be trapped; a fate worse than death. If the Alpha falls… our last resort is to run."

Lucy was stunned. Her pack was still strong. Even after years of war, they still had hundreds of members, nearly half of whom were deadly, trained warriors. Has it really come to this? Luna Mary wiped her cheek quickly and readjusted her mask of optimism.

"Do not worry, Lucy. I can still feel my Alpha fighting. And he is the best man I've ever known."

Another twenty minutes passed. Lucy and Luna Mary heard it at the same time. There were wolves at their doorstep.

Suddenly, Luna's face drained of all its color.

"The children…" Luna trailed off.

"Is it time? Should I organize the children t-to r-run?" Lucy choked out.

"No, MY children. They are here. I must go to them."

Lucy tried to grab her arm, but Luna Mary went out the front door too quickly. The Luna was a woman possessed - a mother. There was no chance of stopping her. Lucy bolted the door again behind her, praying to the Goddess that they still had time.

***

Theo and Jace had obediently stood at the back of the Northern Forest's invading army. Neither were eager to enter the fray anyway. Once upon a childhood, they would have found this battle exciting. Since they had both learned of Alpha Brock's involvement with the young Southern Forest twins, they were disgusted. Now that the fighting had stopped, the two future leaders were brought to the front lines to watch a war end.

Alpha Cain, Beta Edwin, and their top remaining warriors were on their knees in front of a defeated pack. Theo didn't see any children in the group, and realized they must be hiding in the packhouse behind their Alpha. There were corpses from both sides scattered on the ground. Theo recognized faces from his childhood in both the living and dead of Southern Forest. Lucy’s father, Beta Edwin Butler, in particular, caught his eye. Edwin had a look about him that Theo never believed he’d see; defeat.

Alpha Brock was standing close, holding the sniffling twin boys. Bile rose in Theo's throat watching his intimidating Alpha using the lives of two children as both shield and sword to win a battle. Alpha Cain was seething. His body shook violently and waves of fury rolled off him as he stared, unblinking, towards the man holding his children captive.

Suddenly, the Southern Forest Luna ran out the packhouse front door screaming her children's names. The ear-splitting desperation in her voice cut through the autumn night. Theo shivered as the temperature seemed to drop another ten degrees upon her arrival.

"Mama!" The twins cried out to her. Their little hands released each other to grab the empty air in their mothers direction. If determination was all it took to reach one another, the family would've reunited in seconds. It was not enough.

Before she reached them, Jace’s cousin, Nico, caught her around the middle and pinned her body to the ground. Nico, a full-bred Lycan, used his weight to trap Luna Mary. Nearly twice her size, there was no escaping him. Nico picked up her head and brutally slammed it to the ground to keep her from screaming again. Saliva dripped from his bared fangs onto her cheeks as Nico enjoyed watching the pain he inflicted reflected back at him in her eyes. A furious growl escaped Alpha Cain, watching the scene unfold. As long as his family was in danger, though, he stayed on his knees. Alpha Brock addressed them all.

"Alpha Cain. I once asked for parts of your territory in tribute. You foolishly refused me. You thought you could hide your good fortune from me all these years. I searched for your coveted treasure. I even asked nicely; once. Your stinginess in keeping the Goddess’ blessing for your own must be compensated. Now, I will take those lands, with sufficient interest, and you will pay me a new tribute. Either the life of your sons and heirs, or that of your Luna. Decide."

Theo's jaw fell. No man could make that choice and survive to live another day. For a man who had truly loved, the impotence and agony would consume him. Theo supposed that was the point. Although he understood the strategy well enough, his own hatred for Alpha Brock grew.

Beta Edwin of Southern Forest spoke up instead. “We are defeated, Alpha Brock. We have submitted to you in order to spare lives. There is no need for a further display of your strength or bloodlust.”

Theo wondered if the Beta was stalling for time. He doubted there were any words that would sway Brock. Nevertheless, Edwin continued.

“These children are no threat to you - or your line. I see your son, Jace, behind you. He has grown into a strapping and astute young man. We would gladly support his rule.”

So this speech was not meant to sway Brock after all. Edwin was making a last appeal to Jace, hoping he would intervene on their behalf. Jace faltered, staring down at his own feet, clearly unsure how to respond.

Brock laughed with disdain. “My boy doesn’t have the tenacity to finish this. You are wasting my time, Beta.” He turned his attention back on the livid Alpha Cain. “I'll give you until the count of five before I decide the cost of your indiscretions for myself. One…”

Everyone’s hackles seemed to rise. “Two…”

Alpha Cain seemed to be evaluating the circumstances, his eyes cutting wildly around the landscape. “Three…”

Theo saw the hopeless conclusion in Cain’s eyes. “Four…”

Everything happened shockingly fast after that.

Before the count of five, Alpha Cain shifted in mid air as he lunged for Brock's throat. Simultaneously, Brock snapped the boys’ necks with a popping sound like that of a chicken leg disjointing from its body. Then he threw the two limp bodies at their father, blocking Cain’s attempted fatal blow.

Luna Mary wailed in anguish, as only a mother could. She was immediately silenced forever by Nico, yet the resonance echoed in Theo’s ears. Cain's wolf crumpled to the ground in pain. He laid there only a few more seconds, whimpering, before Alpha Brock resumed his hollow, merciless laugh, joined only by Nico. Then the Northern Forest Alpha took a silver dagger from its sheath at his belt, and cut the wolf's throat from ear to pointed ear. Alpha Cain made no attempt to stop it, assuming his life was forfeit before the shift. Cain’s massive black wolf bled out before everyone's eyes. A fresh iron scent coated the mountainside with the ample pooling of blood.

Alpha Brock turned his attention back to the remainder of Southern Forest. The last moment was still registering on the pack’s crestfallen faces as they slowly took in the monster in front of them.

"Now, Beta Edwin. I will consider your tribute paid. This year. I will leave a small contingent of warriors behind to see that my forthcoming instructions are adhered to." Edwin’s eyes narrowed on someone else instead as he straightened his back in defiance. Alpha Brock obviously turned to address his own warriors, who were clearly upset by this sudden display of savagery. To harm innocent children was barbaric. Even the trackers who brought the children on this journey looked appalled. Brock had made more enemies tonight than he defeated.

Still in Alpha mode, Brock arrogantly continued, "I am proud of Northern Forest efforts here today. You have earned your King's gratitude. Nico, begin clearing out the packhouse. It’s best that the children and cowardly women meet their fate with the rest of the conquered pack. We'll rest here tonight, I -"

Alpha Brock never finished his sentence. At the mention of the packhouse occupants, Edwin snapped. With Brock’s back turned, Beta Edwin went for his throat, not wasting even the split seconds required to shift. Theo’s incredible reaction speed saw Edwin's intention first, but Jace caught his eye and put his hand up slightly. Jace wanted this to play out. Apparently, Jace found his tenacity in that fifth count. Theo’s father's words echoed back to him, "see what comes." Theo remained rooted in place.

Once the rest of Northern Forest processed what was happening, it was too late. Jace's father, Alpha Brock, laid dead next to his enemy and the two young boys. Edwin, canines extended in his human form, had ripped the side of Brock’s throat out from behind. The pieces of flesh not shredded couldn’t possibly heal to resemble a human throat ever again. Blood and spinal fluid spurted as the body thudded to the ground.

Nico made a move towards Beta Edwin, but Jace stopped him in his tracks.

"NO! STAND DOWN!" Jace roared. It was the first time he used an Alpha command. Nico, Theo, and everyone else on the battlefield bared their necks in submission. "The bloodshed is over.” Northern Forest murmured a chorus of agreement. “Beta Edwin, I wish for peace. Will you help me find it?"

Alpha Jace extended his hand out to the Beta of Southern Forest. Beta Edwin locked arms with him as lightning flashed across the sky and thunder boomed over the mountains. The moonless night dumped buckets of rain over everything, seemingly trying to wash away the blood on the ground.

***

Northern Forest had withdrawn to the outskirts of the territory before Lucy's father knocked on the packhouse door announcing the battle was over. Adults had moved the dead to a secured recreation area so the children wouldn't stumble onto the bodies of their lost friends and family. It had rained at some point throughout Lucy’s confinement to the packhouse, but the stench of death, blood, and bowels still lingered. Everyone cried, embraced, and cried some more as they found each other - or didn't.

Lucy spent the first hour reuniting the children she guarded in the packhouse with their families. More lost parents than she imagined. Lucy had to find next of kin, which was considerably harder. In the end, only two children needed to be found foster homes within the community; a thirteen year old girl who wouldn't stop crying and a seven year old little boy who was too stoic for his age. The little boy hugged her before she left him with an elderly couple, and he reminded Lucy of Darnaris and Darnell. As her vision again watered and blurred, she blinked the tears away. This was not the time for sentiment. The living were her priority tonight.

Lucy spent another hour assisting with minor injuries during a triage at the clinic. It was more an act of compassion, since wolves healed quickly and didn't need much fuss over sprains, bruises, or a couple of broken ribs. Doctors and nurses were freed for more severe cases, such as stitching bite marks, resetting broken limbs, or treating burns. Several warriors sustained burns trying to put out a fire on the Southern border set by Alpha Brock in a Cortes-inspired strategy to keep his own men from retreating under any circumstances. Luckily, few homes were damaged before the spread was controlled, but their old Gamma Matthew did not survive the smoke inhalation that blackened his lungs with soot.

Lucy and Freddy barely had time with their father before the Council of Elders cornered him into deep conversation. While they waited, she listened to Freddy's secondhand account of events. Being fifteen, Freddy had been in the packhouse with her during the battle, but he was keen to share stories of praise he'd heard about their father's bravery.

Lucy finally saw her father disengage from the Council and climb the steps of the packhouse. Lucy looked around for Alpha Cain to step in front of him, then was struck by the renewal of loss. Friends at the clinic had delicately informed her of the twin's and Luna Mary's deaths, and the tears hadn't stopped threatening to roll off Lucy's cheeks since. When Edwin mindlinked the pack to quiet down, she wiped her raw nose once more on her sleeve and gave her attention, along with everyone else. Then Edwin began to address the weary crowd of the Southern Forest pack.

"We have lost too much. But it stops tonight. I have secured peace negotiations with Alpha Jace of Northern Forest. The Elders and I will finalize details over the next several hours. I have his assurance they will not cross into our lands while matters are settled, and they will remove a portion of their forces from our border as a sign of good faith. Of course, our warriors should be praised, but tonight we fought as one pack. Thank you all for defending our home. I see the strength of Southern Forest in the hearts of each and every one of you. For tonight, return to your homes and hold your loved ones. See my daughter, Lucy, if you need placement or assistance at the packhouse. Tomorrow we begin burying the past."

Edwin stood solemnly on the stairs. He almost looked small, alone in front of the big house. Lucy then realized that her father was the last remaining ranked member of the pack. Without a Luna or Beta she-wolf, Lucy would need to provide those services for the pack. Her family was all that was left.

"Beta Edwin, if I may address the pack."

Elder Williams, the self-appointed head of the Council, stood at the bottom step and turned to address the pack as well.

"In the absence of an Alpha line, and on account of what transpired here tonight, the Council would like to put forth a motion for a vote of approval. All in favor of promoting Edwin Butler and his future bloodline to Alpha of the Southern Forest pack, say aye."

A chorus of "ayes'' shook the mountain. The killing of an Alpha may be the original way to own pack leadership, but Southern Forest gave every member a voice, regardless of age, gender, or hierarchy.

Edwin shifted nervously on his feet. Alpha Cain was a greatly respected leader and his lifelong friend. Edwin was not eager to replace him.

"All opposed?" Elder Williams asked the crowd.

There were nearly four hundred men, women, and children of the Southern Forest pack standing in front of their packhouse. Not a single voice was heard in opposition. Lucy saw her father give a shrug of acceptance.

"Before we disperse, please give your support to Alpha Edwin," cried Elder Williams. Howls and barks must have been heard throughout the continent. Lucy’s voice went hoarse joining in.