The Royal Wolves

A Message

Florence’s POV

‘I told you that we should have spoken to Stefan about the pregnancy,’ Kate scoffs, her tail tucked between her legs as we walk away from Stefan.

‘And we both know how that would have gone down. He would have shackled us to the prison walls for even trying to come on this mission,’ I scoff at her.

‘But our baby would have been safe.’

‘You have seen the same things I have.’

‘I don’t know what those things were.’

‘I do. They were a gift,’ I smile, as I think back to eight weeks ago. It was the night I dreamed of being a mummy, our Daughter had Jo’s skin tone and raven black hair, but every other feature was my own. We named her Pavan after Jo’s Mumma, Pavvi for short. It was so real and I was three days late for my monthly, so I decided to do an early detection test.

Since that dream, I’ve been having regular visions. Most have been unimportant and come at night, leaving me to live the next day with a sense of déjà-vu. The others have been snippets of things I’ve been unable to make sense of, meeting people I don’t know, setting a course to end this war between the werewolves and Werebears. All I know is that every vision I’ve been unable to explain, has led me to this moment, I can feel it in my bones. The change of plans, walking away from a hurt and angry Stefan – these are the things I’ve seen in my visions that let me know I am on the right path.

‘Or you’re just sending the three of us to an early grave. I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,’ Kate grumbles as we catch up to our group.

‘You feel it as much as I do. You know what this means for our child.’

Rain clouds, silver and black, in a multitude of precious-metal hues, adorn the sky as if they long to kiss the land. Just like in my vision, the rain will come earlier then forecast, I believe in my visions and a small part of me fears we will be too late.

To the land comes the rain, water in its most natural form. Its fall begins slowly, but as the wind picks up, the rain fall becomes torrential. The wind slows our pace slightly, but we keep pushing forward.

‘Darran, I don’t expect you to trust me. But, we need to push our pace, the bears will ambush and people will be hurt. If we can get there first…’ my words hang between us as I await his decision.

‘If you’re telling me you knew of this and still came, I’m in even more disbelief. I will push the pace, but, you will NOT fight!’ He warns me.

He gives the group the order, and every wolf is now sprinting to the aid of the Blue Moon pack. After half an hour we hear the sorrowful howls of the wolves. We have just entered the nature reserve ahead of schedule and yet we are still too late.

* * BOOOOM! * *

A collection of ground shaking explosion ring out around the pack grounds, so powerful it uproots some of the nearby trees and sends the forest trees into a quiver.

‘They’re under attack!’ Sadie screams through the link.

‘Sadie, you will escort Florence to where the elderly and children are kept, you will flee like your depends on it. One warrior is to fly like the wind and bring aid. There’s simply too many of them for us to prevail,’ Darran sighs through the link, almost like he is accepting his fate:

Kate quickly follows Sadie and we easily find where the elderly and children are being kept. It’s the most heavily guarded bunker I’ve seen. These warriors should be out there, with their pack. Sadie shifts and explains to the guards who she is, the look of relief in their faces in palpable.

My heart breaks as the scared and frightened screams of the young permeates the air, as they are separated from their mothers. The silent tears of the mothers who know that their pups safety is the most important thing in the world. The warriors promise to protect them with their lives. In less than five minutes the pups out of the bunker and being taken away, towards the Land of Unity, some kicking and screaming.

Despite knowing that this will only infuriate Stefan and the others more, I sneak away from Sadie while she is busy. I have to prevent my next vision. Kate’s paws skid to a stop as the commotion in front of us unfolds.

In the blink of an eye, the werebear charges and Darran pushes an injured warrior out of the way, landing on the floor with him. The werebear trips over Darran, and lands on his hands and knees. Darran raises both hands and brings them down together against the small of his back.

The werebear’s breath rushes out in a whoosh, and Darran grabs his beefy wrist with both hands. Years of training with Stefan in his dual form has given him above average strength. His grip is punishing.

But his exhilaration is short-lived as the werebear recovers, pushing himself from the floor. In the next second, Darran’s head hits the ground as the werebear’s fist connects in a jolting uppercut. Darran jumps back to his feet. “You sonofabitch, your kind ruined everything,” the werebear snarls, hurling his body into Darran’s, sending both men to the floor.

Darran rolls to one side, escaping a kick to his ribs by inches. The werebear’s next blow hits him square in the ribs. Sucking in the pain, Darran rolls to his knees. He manages to land a series of punches to the werebear’s jaw that sends the big man sprawling backwards.

Darran is taller, but the werebear has his bear strength and is bigger, built like a damn truck. And like a truck he picks himself up and rushes forward. Darran has only a second to prepare for the assault before the full weight of the werebear hits him square in the gut.

With a groan, Darran lets his body crumple to the floor. The werebear scrambles to his feet, breathing heavily. One booted foot catches Darran in the small of the back. The next kick hits him in the shoulder and I can tell that he feels the pain explode and vibrate down his arm.

Hate fuels Darran’s next move and, without thinking, he flings his body against the werebear’s knees, knocking the bigger man backwards. Just when I think the werebear is going to fall, he gains control and with a quick move, he has Darran in headlock.

I recognise the scene as soon as my eyes register what is about to transpire. My heart rate spikes; my heart is sitting in my throat and my stomach is churning, Kate quickly gives way and I shift to my human form. “Release him,” I command the enormous werebear before me, making my presence known.

“You’re not our Alpha. You’re not our King or Queen. You do not command us,” the werebear spits at me. He’s battle-worn and I can tell he lives for this.

The wolves close ranks around the werebear, ready for their opening to rescue their Beta. My blood begins to simmer, I’m not sure where this rage comes from, but it bolsters my courage.

“I am Florence Leake, my wolf is Kate. We are blessed by the Moon Goddess. You will submit and end this campaign. You will kneel,” I command. My tone merges with Kate’s to deliver an Alpha command that contains raw power. The wolves around me drop to their knees, ‘perhaps we should have been a little clearer,’ Kate mutters and smirks at the shock on Darran’s face. Surely he didn’t forget I am of Alpha blood.

The wolves around me, stand on shaking legs as their knees give way and their wolves force them to submit to me. The werebear is shocked to see such power, but it has no effect on him.

“Release him,” I order him.

“My Beta does not answer to you,” a deep, menacing and powerful voice sounds from my right. My head whips to assess the new comer. Who is he?

“I would never answer to another, my King,” the Beta says while bowing his head.

‘Well this wasn’t in the vision,’ Kate snarls at me, just as I feel my mind stretch and a new scene plays out.

“You have come for our Queen, but she is not here. This mission is fruitless,” I tell the King of the Werebears.

“It’s not fruitless, if I take out as many ranked members as I can,” he grins at me.

“I have a message for you, from the Moon Goddess and Balador,” I tell him. I know what I must now do. I just hope Jo will forgive me.