Revenge of the fallen Beta

Chapter 05

　　Cara hadn’t slept much in the last few days and it was starting to catch up with her. Every night she was restless, tossing and turning as her mind was consumed with the decision she would have to make.

　　Elusive as it was, sleep offered no reprieve, as even her dreams were plagued with visions of the man who owned her heart, and the mate who could give her the future every she-wolf yearns for.

　　Dane was right, though. As much as she longed to leave her Omega status behind and have her place in the pack secured, she loved Dane and couldn’t just throw away their history together and her feelings for him.

　　Kissing him goodbye as he left for the packhouse, she felt at peace with her decision. If Lucas wanted her as a mate, he was going to have to work for it.

　　Despite everything that had happened in the last few days, Dane was genuinely excited for today, where he would finally tour the extended reaches of his new territory to the north. The Head Warrior position was a slap in the face to a born Beta, but anything Dane did, he did it well, and this would be no exception.

　　If he was going to defend this land and send his people in to fight for it, he needed to know it intimately. Territory knowledge was very important in his former pack, and learning how to interpret the geography was something that was passed down from generation to generation. Dane was taking an equally primitive approach to it, armed with a notebook and pencil to jot his thoughts down.

　　With him on the expedition was the pack’s Delta, Bruno Amaro, plus the former head warrior of Green Plains, Trent Feeney – who was now under Dane's command – accompanied by six Green Plains warriors.

　　“Is this everyone? Let's get going,” said Dane eagerly.

　　He took a sip of water from his flask on his belt, and put on a bright orange running cap, to the chuckles of his companions.

　　“You're wearing that?” scoffed Bruno.

　　“Unlike you ladies with your flowing locks, I haven't got anything to protect my head,” joked Dane, lifting his cap and showing off his short, shaved haircut. “So I'd rather not get sunburnt if I can help it.”

　　Dane hid his lack of respect for Bruno, who he thought had no right to outrank him as Delta, behind cheap shots thinly veiled as humour. The chuckles subsided as Bruno ordered the party to get moving.

　　“Whatever floats your boat, Dane. Let's go.”

　　They started their trek with Dane at the back, letting the others lead. Dane was taken by the expansive forest they were now walking through. It was certainly very different to his home territory.

　　“You know what, lads?” he announced to the rank-and-file warriors marching ahead of him. “Maybe I'll make my first official order of business to mandate shaved heads for the warriors.”

　　He was enjoying baiting them, and with the training regimen he had planned, he knew they would be in for a huge shock. He saw them as lazy, unskilled fighters and was determined to mould this army in his image.

　　“Maybe I'll personally take care of getting rid of your luscious locks. We can start now, if you want?” Dane teased as he pulled his machete out.

　　They climbed up a small hill as the path curved to the right, and the warriors ahead started to grumble about Dane's request to do this in human form, rather than scouting in wolf form, so he could make notes in his book.

　　“If you spent more time training in human form instead of lazily letting your wolf do the work, this wouldn't be a problem.”

　　The warriors knew better than to bite back. Dane’s reputation preceded him, but he wasn't done yet.

　　“It’s good that I can write notes. I'll add one about getting you slobs into shape.”

　　As they started their descent, the land opened up a bit, revealing a small clearing with a wooden hut in the middle. The group stopped when they reached it, as Trent, the former head of the Green Plains warriors, gave Dane the low-down.

　　“This is one of six marshall posts that surround the city. Warriors stay out here for a week, do patrols, and keep an eye on things. But today is changeover day, so this crew have gone back to town and another crew will take over this afternoon.”

　　Dane scribbled a note in his book. "So, right now you've got an unmanned post?"

　　“Well, I guess so, yes,” conceded Trent.

　　“We need to clear the forest back, it's too close to the hut. Your guys are in here making patchwork quilts together while the enemy can get within five metres without being seen. They're sitting ducks.”

　　Trent nodded in agreement with his new boss as they continued to walk north. After what seemed like an age to the warriors, they finally reached a clearing called Mawson's Hollow, which Dane had circled on his map.

　　“You lot look exhausted,” said Dane, putting down his pack. “Take off your packs and relax. Have a drink. We've got to get back as well. I'm not carrying you home if you pass out.”

　　Dane started walking towards the forest line. “I'm going to take a piss,” he announced. He noticed the others were giving him strange looks as he moved into the forest for privacy. “Don't want you ladies getting turned on by my d**k now, do I?”

　　The warriors groaned as they dropped their packs to the ground and sat down, the rising temperature taking its toll. They hated to admit it, but Dane was right about their army, and they weren't looking forward to the endless jokes he would make at their expense as he pushed them past their limit in training.

　　As Dane unzipped, he heard an almighty noise. The unmistakable sound of thundering paws preceded the appearance of at least twenty wolves coming out of the forest from every direction. Together, they rushed into the clearing at full speed, ready to attack.

　　The men were outnumbered and sitting down. They didn't have time to think, let alone shift to their wolves, before the rogue wolf pack had pounced on them.

　　Screams of pain rang out from the travelling party, but they were drowned out by the sheer number of wolves snarling and snapping as they went for the throats of the men. They tried to fight back as best they could, but it was futile, for every one of them there were at least two wolves to contend with.

　　Bruno had managed to escape the clutches of one of the rogue wolves, staggering to get up onto his feet before shifting into his muddy-brown coloured wolf. Panicked, he deserted his men and ran as fast as he could to get away from the battle – a small bit of respite to collect his thoughts and plan how he was going to survive this attack.

　　As Dane finished his toilet break and walked over to the chaotic scene, he passed by seven lifeless and barely recognisable bodies that were lying in the middle of the clearing. The rogue wolves had already finished with them and had left quite a mess in their wake.

　　Bruno was now surrounded by all the rogue wolves as he backed himself up towards the forest line. He knew that heading into the trees was his only avenue of escape, but against these wolves he knew he wouldn’t get very far. Until he saw the bright orange cap of Dane coming towards him, and hope blossomed. He’d thought Dane had already been killed.

　　“Dane! Help!” he mind-linked. The wolves turned to look at Dane and barked a menacing growl at him.

　　Dane took off his cap and waved it above his head. Bruno was grateful that Dane was making a distraction to take their focus off him for a bit. It didn’t work. He was shocked when the wolves turned their attention straight back to him, and by now two of them had circled around into the forest to stand behind him.

　　He was trapped and outnumbered, and he knew it. One by one, they leapt onto him, sending him crashing to the ground. He tried in vain to fight them off, but eventually he could do nothing but let out an angry, pained howl as they tore his body to shreds with their claws and teeth.

　　Dane calmly picked up his backpack as one of the rogue wolves shifted back to human form and started walking towards him.

　　“Orange cap,” grunted the now-naked werewolf.

　　Dane reached into his pack and pulled out a bag full of cash. He threw it to the rogue.

　　“This pays your men and buys your silence. I never want to see you on our territory again.”

　　The rogue looked inside the bag and gave it a quick count in his head. Smiling, he seemed satisfied with the amount inside.

　　“It was a pleasure doing business with you,” he said, before shifting back to his wolf form and leading his pack away though the forest with a bag of cash between his fangs.

　　Dane swapped his pants with one of the dead warriors' blood-stained and slashed pair, and smeared blood on his face to look like he'd just survived a battle. He stuffed his orange cap in his backpack and started the journey home.