Choosing My Mate, My King

5. Let's fight

We were almost at the border of Jackson’s land. But we stopped at the tree line. Lucas was at my right side and Garret at my left. I brought forty of my warriors. We didn’t know the exact numbers of Jackson’s pack, but we had a feeling that this would be enough. I looked over to Riley. She was so nervous. She was shaking.

I took her hand and looked her in her eyes. Fear was all she felt.

“How many scents do you smell?”

She snapped out of it and looked me in the eyes. She calmed down a bit and focused on the smells around her. Most of the warriors were excited. That was also the reason we didn’t bring more because I only wanted the best of the best. I didn’t need a bunch of chickens around me. I rather have fewer warriors that are excited and ready to fight.

“I smell around sixty…. Yes sixty,” Riley nodded.

I let go of her hand. I signaled with my right hand that we should split up. We already discussed the plan beforehand. We would split up into three groups. Two groups would go around and to the sides. And one group would go straight toward Jackson. I hoped he would then surround us and that groups two and three could come in and surround them. I would be in the middle of the fight, of course. With Lucas by my side. Riley would also come with me. I didn’t want to leave her unattended.

Garret went with the group to the left side and Maya went with the group on the right side. I waited until we were all in position. I looked over at Lucas, he gave me a smirk back. I looked around and nodded. We stood up and started walking into Jackson’s land. He knew we were coming. There wasn’t any wolf patrolling, just as I expected. It was quiet; the calm before the storm.

“Are you sure you’re going through with this,” Jackson’s voice was loud, he showed himself surrounded by his warriors, and his Beta by his side. You could feel his aura. Showing off in hopes I would back down. I never felt to need to show mine. I always kept my aura to myself. I somehow liked that I was underestimated, and I was always told by my parent to keep it hidden as my mother did the same.

“Some of them are scared,” Riley mind linked me.

“Good,” I responded to her.

“I’m not backing down, Jackson.” My voice was steady and calm.

Jackson signaled to his man to attack. He didn’t send his full force. His Beta was leading the attack.

“Get ready,” I mind linked Riley.

There were only a dozen of us. So yes, we were outnumbered. But I didn’t want it to be too easy. They were trying to surround us, and we let them, we all knew what to do. Wait for them to attack, they have to make the choice. I could feel some of them were anxious, they didn’t want this. His Beta lunged first. Trying to go for my throat. With his move, they all started.

“Finally,” I sighed with a smirk.

I jumped up and placed my hand on his shoulder to steady myself so I could jump over him and land behind him. I didn’t let go. I took my other arm and put his Beta in a chokehold. I kicked his legs from under him and turned him so his Alpha could see. I put just enough pressure. I didn’t want to snap his neck, but I did want him to go down.

I whispered in his ear, “Celare pulsation.” And he fell to the ground.

I listened closely and the sound of his beating heart faded away. It seemed as if he was dead. My eyes found Jackson, watching his reaction.

He was furious and in pain. The rest of his men started attacking and just when they did the rest of my men flanked them. His warriors were hesitant by attacking me. Three were standing before me, mind linking each other.

“Let’s go, boys.” I smirked and waited for them.

They all came at me from the same side. I went for the one on the left. Jumped under him and turned, I let my claws rip him from his throat to his legs. I was much faster than most. He instantly fell to the ground. The other two looked in shock, as I got up covered in blood. I lunged toward them, but they stepped back. Riley jumped on one and slid his throat. I could feel she was getting more secure. She knew that it would be difficult to get harmed in her gear. I walked over to the last one. I could smell his fear. I punched him in the stomach he fell to his knees. I elbowed him in the back of his neck, making him black out. I had no intention of killing his entire pack.

I could see Lucas fighting two fully shifted wolves. I smiled; I knew he didn’t need my help.

“They are afraid of you,” Riley whispered. I fought my way through his warriors. I needed Jackson. It would only stop with him.

So many fallen warriors on Jackson’s side, so much blood. But I wouldn’t stop, not until I had him.

And there he was. He wasn’t fighting. He stood there in shock. He fell to his knees. Every last one of his warriors stopped fighting. He surrendered. We didn’t lose any of our warriors, but he lost plenty. I walked over to him. He was defeated, but I was happy and relieved he saw that. He didn’t want us to kill his whole pack and neither did I.

“Do you, Alpha Jackson, renounce your title and accept me as your Luna.”

He glanced up, tears brimmed in his eyes. “I, Alpha Jackson Yema, renounce my title as Alpha and accept you as my Luna.” He bowed down, baring his neck.

I bit my hand so we could complete the ceremony. I put out my hand; he drank my blood, and I could feel my pack expand. Every one of his pack members was now my pack member, my responsibility. It was customary Jackson would die, but I was not going to kill him. He would remain in my pack.

“Get up, Jackson.” I gripped his arms, pulling him up to his feet.

“Come with me.” We walked through his fallen warriors, towards his fallen Beta. I could feel his pain. I could only imagine how I would feel if I would lose my Beta. If I lose Lucas.

Jackson got on his knees and tugged his Beta on his lap. He was devastated.

“I’m not a cruel Luna.” I touched his Beta’s head. “Revelare.”

Jackson stopped sobbing and listened. He could hear his Beta’s heartbeat again. He looked up at me in shock. He didn’t understand how.

“You have lost many today, put your dead to rest and I will see you tomorrow.”

I let him be with his Beta and turned my focus on his pack members, who now were mine. They got to their knees, baring their necks, and said simultaneously, “Luna.”

I felt proud of what we have done, we succeeded and didn’t lose anyone. I also felt heartbreak for the lives lost. This is just the beginning. All my warriors walked towards me, I could feel their relief and proudness. Lucas placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. I must have looked insane, still covered in blood.

“Let’s go home,” I said to them. Some had shifted and stayed in their wolf form on the way back.

We were almost home. Everybody was glanced at the three-line waiting for us to step through. When we did, I could see the surprise on some of the faces but also relief we didn’t lose anyone.

“Go get cleaned up,” I told everyone. “I’ll see you at the bonfire.”

They all went back to their houses to clean up. Lucas and Garret stayed by my side until I was at the packhouse.

“You know, I can walk alone safely to the packhouse Garret,” I said with a smile.

“I know Luna, I just wanted to ask you something.”

Something was eating at him I could tell by the expression on his face.

“How did you do that with Beta David?”

I smiled. “Ow, that’s his name.” I chuckled. “You know, I’m not a witch, but we have a few in our pack. They taught me that little trick. To hide someone’s or your own heartbeat. You can always cover your scent but not your heartbeat.”

His brows knitted together. “How did you come up with it?”

“Lucas, actually,” I said with a shrug.

He glanced at Lucas and Lucas lifted up his shoulders like he didn’t know what I was talking about.

“He didn’t come up with it, but if he tries to scare me or something, he always covers up his scent, but his heart always gives him away,” My eyes found Lucas’s and even now, covered in all sorts of mess he still was perfect.