War Dog: The Lord of Wolves Series.

Chapter 9: Declaration

Apollo looked very uncomfortable being in a clothing store...well this whole outting to begin with. I had told him we didn't need to go but he insisted that we go it made me realize that when Apollo says he's going to do something that he does it, it was nice to see a part of his personality that isn't twisted or over shadowed by his military training. "Hey what about this one?" I ask holding up some nice blue jeans for males I have decided he needed some new clothes.

"I don't know..." He answers with a head tilt as he stands wearing his black tactical pants, black military boots, black long sleeve.

"Well aren't tired of looking like your prepared to battle all the time?" I ask him teasingly but his answer makes me frown. "No. It's good to be prepared."

I sigh heavily. "You need to learn relax just a little bit." My eyes gaze around the store then a thought hit me putting the pants back I walk up and grab his hand. "Come on." Smiling as I pull him over to another section a mens working section with loose fix jeans like Wrangler and such he seemed to like them much more but change for him was difficult but he's trying. After picking out a few clothes we grab something to eat I had to help him order... Clearly he's never eaten at McDonald's before. I ordered the same thing for him that I ordered for myself except I doubled his order two of everything, I knew he ate a lot he would order two of everything at the pub most male wolves ate a lot more then human males so it's no surprise to me. He has paid for everything that was bought today despite me trying to pay for it stubbornly... so he ended up taking my wallet.

I didn't realize I was staring at him until he spoke. "Is something wrong?" Is the question he asked I shake my head and stuff a fry into my mouth blushing softly and looking off the side.

"Is... There a away to talk to... This Moon Mother?" He asks finishing his second meal and piles our trash on the tray. Taking a deep breathe I nod straightening up in my seat clearing my throat. "Yes... But don't expect her to speak right away...you pray to her we have an alter for her and the All Father." I explain we've went over our Gods to him in class for the young wolves to learn as well and he asks questions here and there about them but seems uncomfortable fully speaking about them. Apollo nods then scrunches his brow in thought before taking a breathe to speak. "What or who is a Wolf Lord? I've heard a few speak about it with your instructors." He asks playing with a napkin I smile at this question has it was my favorite to learn about when I was young. "Wolf Lord is a Lycan that is picked and blessed by Odin to protect and lead the Lycans as a whole... Supreme Alpha to all Alpha's in one region... But we haven't had one for many hundreds of years." I answer proudly leaning forward a little on the table.

"Why haven't you had one?" He asks curiously looking at me with a amused look in his golden eye. Shrugging a little at him. "I don't know I supposed Odin hasn't picked one to his liking. We hold a festival every year and wolves can do what is called a proving to show Odin their skills and see if they will be selected to be Wolf Lord but again we haven't had one picked but the festival is a lot of fun. It's held at the summer solstice." I say standing up with him as he grabs the tray before I can and walks it to the trash and dumps it.

"I see... I think your father would make a good supreme leader." Apollo respects and likes my father but my Father on the other hand as mix feelings mostly I think it has to do with me but he'll get over it he'll have too.

"I think you'd honor him if he heard that." I chuckle as we walk to my truck but we come to a stop and I swallow a lump in my throat as I see Myles leaning on the tailgate. Apollo puts an arm around my shoulders holding me close before we walk forward and he meets us half way. "What do you want?" I asks wrapping my arms around Apollo's waist Myles leans forward and sniffs deeply but backs away when Apollo lunges forward growling and showing his canines with a nod to himself Myles walks away without a word. Creeped out I hurry for the door and jerking on it for it to open before I could get in a sudden calm feeling washes away my panic as Apollo wraps his arms around me and buries his face in my neck and hair letting out a soft growling whimper that gave a territorially vibe before opening the door, picking me up and sits me in the passenger seat closing the door and getting in driver side. "Can we go home? Please?" I ask I won't fully relax until we're in the territory of my pack. With a nod Apollo starts the truck backing out of the parking space then down the road we go.

There was a frenzy at the top of the driveway Apollo and I look at each other then he puts the truck in park and we get out I get nervous glances as the pack parts to allow me through almost reaching the center but my father stops me from going any further.

"Apollo take her inside." He says sternly looking over my shoulder at him.

Now worried I try to get past my father to see what happened forcing myself past I am to see somewhat of what is going on and I scream. "HOLLY!" Desperately trying to get to her, her body is mangled with bite marks and her throat ripped out then an insult to injury a note stabbed into her chest. Apollo picks me up by my waist and carries me, beating on his arms and struggling with in vain as his hold was like iron I couldn't compose myself in front of the pack...my best friend is dead.

Once inside Apollo carries me to my room and locking to the door then stands in front of it he wouldn't budge or move when I hit him and try to push him out of the way. "MOVE! WE CAN STILL SAVE HER MOVE!" I scream at him until he grabs my wrist places my hands to sides of his face leans and places his forehead against mine looking at me as he understood my pain this makes me burst out into tears. Apollo picks me up and then sits on the bed with me in his lap and holds me while not saying a word because he knew words won't soothe this pain of loss.

Opening my dry and swollen eyes from crying so much I'm cold no longer in the warmth of Apollo, sitting I am met with the picture of Holly and I that always sits on my nightstand and I want to cry but no more tears will come. "I'm sorry." Is all I whisper. Standing up out of bed I hear many voices speaking in the main hall of the pack house walking close to the door I crack it slightly.

"First it was our daughter! Who would be next?!" Holly's father yells with slight hesitation in his voice and I know why.

"I am sorry for the loss of your daughter. If it had been on pack territory we would have been to get to her sooner but we all know the risk of going into the neutral territory. After the kidnapping of your future Luna I strongly warned against going alone did I not?" My father asks the whispering and murmuring of voices stop they knew this was true.

"If she is our Luna and if the note is true then it's her responsibility to up hold peace and safety for-" Holly's mother is cut off by a loud viscous snarling snap of teeth and deep growling some growls answer back out of instinct but not many this is how I knew it was Apollo because no one would dare to answer back to their Alpha.

"Marie would you subject yourself to marrying a male that wasn't your mate? Knowing full well who your destine mate is? Could you live with that?" Father asks her in a stern tone.

There is a moment of silence before she answers. "No Alpha I couldn't..." She was suffering the pain and loss of her only pup and was scared for the rest of the pack I can relate to her.

I hear Father take a deep breathe. "We have three days until the declaration of war is in place." He trails off and I can hear heavy foot falls walk a few steps then stop the sounds of a clicks follow after causing growls to erupt in the room but comes to a slow stop. "Please hear him out." Father says firmly.

"Why should we? He's an outsider a rogue with no home or pack!" Someone yells and Apollo clears his throat. "You're wrong. My home is with her and my pack is spread out and with you." Apollo says making my heart accelerate and butterflies flip in my stomach.

"Alpha Roy and I have already cleared out my weapons from the shed I was staying in and I will show you how to use them. This gun was taken from Wild Wood, Myles is using silver in them." More worried cries and whimpers sound from the pack but Apollo continues. "My pack and myself have developed a strong resistance to it through training if I can get them to come here we take care of this problem. I just need to make a few calls." Apollo finishes then my father speaks. "With that being said no one is to go to the neutral territory at ALL it now has become a war zone." Father speaks again as he got understood acknowledgement from the pack he goes over how there will be 24-7 patrols around the property and everyone able will be put on a schedule for it. Upon hearing foot steps approach the door I scramble away and sit on the bed as it opens Apollo walks in looking at me for a moment then closes the door and makes his way over to me kneeling in front of me he knew I was listening.

"He won't have you. I won't allow it." Apollo's voice was dark and possessive. Placing my hands on his face and rub his cheeks with my thumbs. "Please... Help protect them." I beg in a soft voice I worried for my pack more so then myself. Taking one of hands and kisses the palm sending a tingling sensation up my arm. "I will." He answers sending a wave of relief through me I wrap my arms around his neck. "Thank you." I whisper softly.

Putting his arms around me. "Of course... Just don't do anything foolish and please trust me." His rough voice was in a whisper as he pulls away he's pulling an old flip phone from one of his pockets and opens clicking on it a few times then holding it to his ear. "Apollo-37." He begins saying then suddenly speaks in many different languages switching from to another until he stops and in the phone I here. "Confirmed." Not from one but many different tones of voices before he hangs up. We hear a noise from the door making us both look it was my father giving Apollo a confused and impressed look.

Apollo shrugs slightly. "It's how we use a type of morse code." He explains simply with a nod my father mouths the word 'oookay' as he turns and walks away.

Chuckling softly at Apollo as I run my hand through his hair.