Secret Mates

Chapter 12 Leaving at Dawn – Chad

Chad POV

My phone vibrating on my night stand next to the bed woke me up. It was five am. I was supposed to be at formation at six am in front of the pack house. Tammy laying on my chest I tried to grab my phone and turn off the buzzing before it woke her. I finally got it. I laid my head back peering down at her. She slept peacefully snuggled into me. This was the first time I had every woke up with a woman in my bed from the night before, I usually left as soon as they fell asleep or in her case she left when I did. She didn’t snore that I could remember just slept quietly. My arm was asleep under her making my slightly uncomfortable, but it was bearable. I laid there with her until my phone buzzed again.

Formation in forty-five minutes- Alpha

A reminder my life did not belong to me but to my pack and I would dedicate it to them, die for them if necessary. I shuffled Tammy down onto the bed off me and went to the bathroom. I showered quickly and brushed my teeth. Threw on some shorts and a t-shirt and went back to my room to grab my bag and head to formation.

When I stepped back into my room. I saw Tammy slightly propped up with pillows behind her awake waiting for me. “Good morning sleepy head” I told her grinning at her. “Good morning.” She answered me with a smile grin of her own. “Funny, it took you leaving for war to spend a whole night together.” She chuckled but I understood what she meant. She meant that I wasn’t willing to chose her as a mate against the Goddess’ will, but I would enjoy her and leave her behind whatever happened. I nodded my grin falling from my face. The moon goddess didn’t make her my future Luna for a reason even if I didn’t understand it.

I walked over and sat on the bed beside her, throwing my arm over her legs. “I have formation in,” Glancing at my clock on the night stand, “ thirty minutes.” I told her. Her grin was gone with that as well. She nodded acknowledging what that meant for her. “You can go back to sleep if you want for how ever long. You can use my bed when ever you are missing me while I am gone.” I whispered to her knowing that when I returned if she did use my room, I would have to force her to leave. “That’s okay. I would like to walk down to formation with you and see off everyone who is leaving.” She said, getting up and changing quickly into what she wore yesterday since she couldn’t wear my clothes down to formation without everyone knowing that she was with me.

I turned my head giving her what privacy I could. After a moment she was by the door waiting on me. I stood up and grabbed my bag from in front of my closet door and we walked out together and headed down to formation.

Reaching downstairs my mother had rose even earlier and had everyone breakfast made. She had packed us lunches and snacks like trail mixes to put in our bags that would help us for a couple days but we eventually would turn to our wolf form and allow them to hunt to provide our bodies the substances it needed in battle. I quickly grabbed a plate with some scramble eggs and cheese and scarved it down followed by some toast and a sip or two of an orange juice. Threw some lunch and snacks into my bag. Tammy did the same hurrying knowing she wanted to go out with me. Once finished we walked out together.

Members filled the front yard of the pack house. I thought it would be small headcount maybe twenty-five but from what I could see we had about a hundred members there to go to the front lines with. Fathers telling their children and mates goodbye for now; some women warriors telling their families goodbye.

“Line up!” My father yelled through a microphone. “Role call.” He told us. We did just that and fell in line. He held out a clip board and began the roll call. “Atkins,” with a pause for the wolf to answer. “Present, Alpha” Adkins answered. “Avery,” my father called going down the list. “Present, Alpha” he answered. “Brooks,” he kept calling the names down the list. “Present Alpha.” She answered him. I looked around at these people, knowing that they were willing to fight and die for their pack. . . knowing I would fight and die for them, my pack. Pride washed over me for their bravery coming from such a strong pack, their sacrifices will not go unrewarded when I took over the pack from my father.

Finally, my father called my name “Present, Alpha” I answered him formally. I glance at the families around, some crying, others seem to be on auto pilot. I wish we didn’t have to take so many from their families. Tammy catching my eye holding some children and I watched as a single tear slid down her face her eyes meeting mine. Sadness flashed away in a moment. She mouthed some words to me “You will make this pack proud.” He words of encouragement ringing in my head knowing it would help fuel me later, I nodded back to say thank you. She nodded back wiping the single tear from her cheek and turning away from us with a child on her hip and went back inside the pack house.

I stood their forcing any emotions I had down, knowing we would shift and run to the battle fronts at any moment when my father finished the role call. Making my heart stone to face the future as I watched more and more families turned back to enter the pack house not being able to watch us leave or taking the children in because they were getting restless. When I returned if any did not survive, I would remember these faces and accompany my father in checking in on them. The mate bonds would tell them immediately if their mate died. All we could do is check on them and try to offer purpose by working for the pack.

“Attention, at this time families take your last look and return inside. Warriors!” Alpha called out. The families turning and going back in. “Yes, Alpha” we all answered. “Strip. Place clothes in your bag and shift.” He commanded. We did as we were ordered. I quickly removed my s**t and shorts. I didn’t even bother to put shoes on. I placed them in my bag and forced my wolf forward.

Feeling the shift and the pain that comes with it only last a moment before I am on all four paws feeling the breeze move the fur now covering me around. The ground was damp under my paws from the morning dew still. I grabbed up my bag and headed to the front where my father was also doing the same as he ordered us.

Joining him by his side as her grabbed his bag. We would all only be able to communicate mind link now we were all shifted.

You will lead out with me son. He told me his wolf’s eyes meeting mine and only speaking to me. My wolf nodding his head in agreement. His wolf nodded back.

Run! He commanded out pack of warriors as he sprinted off and I followed right on his hind quarters and the rest of the warriors following us.