The Royal Wolves

Where it hurts!

* * * King Edward’s POV * * *

The sound of commotion disturbs me from my thoughts, the camp is alive with a tense energy and loud voices. I cast a final look at the portrait of our old home and stretch before I stand: I best find out what is going on.

“KING EDWARD!! OVER HERE!” My head warrior shouts from the medical tent.

The medical tent isn’t much, and I spot the problem as soon as I enter. “Ethan, what happened?” I ask as I rush to my Beta and kneel by his bed.

“Fucker stuck me with a copper spear,” he grumbles as the medic tends to his wound which is almost healed.

“So they know our weakness. I wonder if they know about our strengths. It looks like your healing has kicked in, so you should be right as rain very soon. Once medically cleared, bring the men to my tent. We need to plan,” I tell him and shake his hand, before retreating from the medical tent.

While waiting for Ethan to finish heeling, I begin marking out key points in the map and prepping the words I intend to say. The wolves nearly destroyed us and their comeuppance is due. First the Black family annihilated us and stole our lane, and then while we were down, our King was killed. I still don’t know how that wolf bested my Father. We are by far the superior species. My Father had dragged his broken body back to our camp, his wounds too great to heal from and told us what had happened. I swore to his corpse that I’d avenge him, and I will. If it’s the last thing I do.

It’s taken a lot of years to build our numbers, our women have sacrificed themselves time and time again, by reproducing endlessly. But it has all paid off, our numbers are sufficient to fight this war and reclaim what is ours.

“Sir. Requesting permission to enter,” Ethan says from the entrance of my tent, interrupting my thoughts.

“Permission granted. Do you have our leaders with you?” I ask him.

“Yes, sir.”

“The come on in, Ethan,” I say quietly on a sigh, knowing his enhanced hearing will pick it up.

They don’t take long to take their seats around the table, all eyes are on me as they wait for me to begin. “As you are aware, we made contact with the wolves that are inhabiting our land. I apologise for the delay in holding this meeting, however, Ethan was injured by the wolves…” I pause and look around the table, noting the angry expressions when they hear that Ethan was in fact harmed by the wolves.

“The time is upon us, to take back what is ours. I won’t rehash old statements, we’ve been through them before and you’re all still here. I propose we hit the other wolf packs to make our intent known. That we will no longer sit idly by, while they prosper from what is ours,” I smile as I see the hunger and need for revenge in my mens eyes.

“Which packs do you propose we hit? There are several smaller packs around this area and…..” Ethan’s words die down when he spots the marks on the map. He’s silent as he analyses my plan. “Sir, this many attacks would leave us potentially vulnerable if they have more numbers than we anticipate. Perhaps if we strike a couple at a time,” he expresses concern.

“I already thought of that. But then no doubt, the packs would seek refuge within our land, behind that boundary. I plan for our allies to hit these two packs,” I tell him, as I point to two of the smaller two packs on the map. “The bears will hit these three packs, I will take this one,” I tell him as I finish on Alpha Adrian’s pack. That prick’s family were our closest refuge and they turned us away, partly because they feared the Werebears and partly because they feared repercussion from the Black family.

“Sir. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but, are you sure we can trust them? They are fickle creatures, who are only interested in self gain,” Ethan voices his concerns respectfully.

“And that is why you are my Beta, Ethan. Because you are confident to voice your thoughts. To reassure you, I am very aware of how fickle they are. Which is why they are set to attack at the farthest point from us, that we even if their allegiance were to change, they will not be a hinderance or danger to us.”

“So this is the plan?” Our elder asks me.

“Absolutely. We hit them where it hurts! Wolves are pack animals. To lose members of the pack, will destroy the emotionally, which will make them easier to defeat in war.”

“Where it hurts,” the elder repeats, nodding in approval.

“Yes. Wolves are nothing without their Luna. In this case, their Queen. Whichever pack she attends to help, she is to be taken. That is the priority.”

“Then it is a good job we are ready for war,” the elder says firmly.

“All that is left, is to divide our warriors into the three strike teams. Once we’re allocated, we leave.”

“And what of the rest of us?” The elder asks.

“If you’re up for it, I’d like you to move our camp do this location,” I tell him and slide the house shape across the map, to where I’d like us to be positioned for phase two.

“Very well, it will be done. May I propose that the three strike team leaders are yourself, Ethan and Luke? Then allocate the warriors based on which leader they are able to follow without question. I think that could help reduce potential casualties.”

“Of course you may suggest, and we will allocate this way,” I reassure the elder.

“Sir,” Ethan interjects. “There’s one small problem: the King’s wolf. It’s not a normal wolf. I’m sorry, my mind was on my injury, it’s no excuse I know, and it should have been my first comment of this meeting.”

“It’s okay. You were injured with copper. What do you mean his wolf is not a normal wolf?” I ask him, trying to remain calm.

“It’s real jacked up, sir. It reminds me of the Lycans of old, from our books. It’s impossibly fast and strong. I dare say, he would have taken me down.”

“But he didn’t. Why?”

“I don’t think he’s aware of the true power he posses. It was like it was new to him. But he will still have an advantage, we must fight smart and hard.”

“We will train for this fight in our return to camp.”

The next half hour is spent dividing our strike teams, each team will have eleven warriors, plus the leader. Next is to arm and prepare them, I’m ready to leave, already.

“Sir! One of our scouts has contacted to say there is movement at the Land of Unity,” Noah rushes into the armoury tent.

“Any further information to report?”

“Sir?”

“People arriving? People leaving? Numbers? That kind of information,” I say impatiently.

“Right. Sorry, sir.”

“Leaving. People leaving. The scout said a large group, maybe a hundred. Splitting into groups and heading different directions, Sir. He’s ask for orders. Sir.”

“Tell him to head to camp. The rest of us will leave now.”

I’d like to consider myself a werewolf expert, especially after all the research I’ve done over the years. And this sounds to me like a rescue mission. Will these warriors be based at the packs we have chosen?

‘Ethan, I believe this is their attempt at a rescue mission, a preemptive defensive strategy. The King is likely to support a smaller and weaker pack. You and I will trade strike locations. We’ll add an extra six warriors to each group,’ I speak to my Beta directly, through our link.

This could ruin my entire plan for the werewolves. All these years spent preparing, could be for nothing. I have to salvage this. I run various scenarios through my head. I’m on my fourth, when Ethan’s voice pushes into my mind to inform me that the extra warriors are ready.

‘Everybody, assemble into your allocated strike team. We move now! Run hard. Run fast. In and out. As much destruction and pain as you can deliver, while remaining safe. Show no mercy. Our time is NOW!’ I command the men through our link.

War warrior roars loudly in response to my words. They are ready for this. No matter how this plays out, I will hit them where it hurts.