Surviving My Fate

Chapter Twenty-Six Packs and Plans

The bar is empty being closed this early in the morning. It won’t reopen until later this evening leaving the movement of the human workers to be loud compared to the hushed sounds coming from my pack. We are currently gathered around the far left table discussing our plan of attack.

The dull lights hide our maps from the prying eyes of the humans still cleaning from the night before. Raya and Kyle banter back and forth going over the different routes that we’ve mapped out from Ashley’s knowledge of their pack. We are almost ready to invade Silver Crest.

My eyes are glued to Raya. She’s strong, unlike Ashley. She intrigues me in ways that the little minx can’t. Since having Raya join my ranks and her easy defeat of that insufferable rogue the first night she was here the other wolves have stepped up their training, not ready to die in the same manner. Everyone respects the Gamma female. That is everyone but Ashley. Ashley hates that she is getting all the attention. That the men look up to her and see her as a warrior rather than a f**k toy.

“We need Ashley Alpha,” Kyle says drawing my attention back to our strategy meeting.

“Send someone to fetch her,” I reply dryly. He is the beta after all he can easily command the men.

“What if her intel is wrong Ian?” Raya asks. She refuses to call me alpha. Her mate was an alpha. He rejected her and forced her from the pack on her eighteenth birthday. So she’s always skeptical.

“That’s a risk we’ll have to take.”

“Do you give us permission to retreat if that’s the case?” Her eyebrow raises as she meets my eyes.

Would I allow my army give up so easily?

Would we show that type of weakness?

“We will fight, if all odds turn against us we will fall back.” I can’t lose the full pack in one attack if things don’t go as planned.

“What do you need me for Ian.” Ashley’s disrespect earns her a growl. She comes in with her attitude that has emerged again with Raya’s presence here. I’m over it. She needs another lesson. If she pushes me anymore I’ll give it to her in front of everyone.

“Don’t disrespect me, little minx.” I step towards her watching her cower. “Go over the maps with the beta,” I order.

She does as she’s told taking the place next to Kyle and reviewing the stacks laid out on the table.

One of my patrollers walks into the bar striding up to us. Raya and I move to meet him halting him halfway to the table.

“How did the border look today? Any run-ins with Silver Crest.” Raya questions so low it’s hard to hear while leading us further away from the group.

“None today Gamma, the border was open we were able to cross near the southwestern edge.” The rogue replies a smirk twisting his features.

“Good.” She turns to me. “I think that’s our best shot of getting in from this side of their territory. If we had to travel around we would tire ourselves out on the trip. We need easy access and someplace we can slip through undetected.” She looks back at the rogue “you’re dismissed.”

He scurries out.

“Isn’t that the border guards are stationed on?” I ask, tuning into Ashley’s conversation.

“It’s supposed to be” she pauses “they’ve not been there early in the morning for a week. The men are encountering them further west.” She very close now whispering directly into my ear and her sweet scent of marigolds envelops me. Raya is beautiful. I take a step back breaking the trance.

“That’s why you believe Ashley’s intel is incorrect.”

“Yes,” she squares her shoulders standing taller. Damn.

“I’ll consider what you’ve said.” I walk away. I couldn’t stay in her presence any longer or I would be more tempted to take her which she would never allow.

“What have you got?” I lean over the table across from Kyle staring at his notes.

“If we come in from the northwest border where their guards are light since it only lines cities and no other territories we have the best shot at making it undetected,” Kyle informs me.

“Do we have the manpower to divide into two?” I meet his eyes and see the confusion in them. “Head out minx.”

“Ugh, our deal better still stand Ian.” She rolls her eyes.

“Punish her,” Ivan demands.

“I told you not to disrespect me.” I stand stalking around the table and grabbing Ashley by her throat. She squirms in my grasp her eyes pleading for mercy.

I bend her over the table pressing her pretty face into the hard wood. My hand that’s been around her neck makes its way through her hair as the other lifts her skimpy dress. I bring my hand down swiftly and hard the slap making her body shake as she whimpers.

Carter's POV

The rogues keep getting closer. It is becoming more frequent that we find scents near our territory and they are always changing, meaning the rogues are growing in numbers. Whatever or whoever is at play is getting stronger.

Amelia is doing a good job handling the business side of the pack so I’m focusing on our allegiances. I’ve spent the last few days reaching out to every pack to see if they are having the same rogue problem that we are.

None are.

The nearby packs haven’t spotted any rogues in weeks.

This has to do with the warning from the moon goddess.

This is about my mate.

I sigh slamming my laptop closed. Cassie may have agreed to come home with me but she hasn’t been the same. My mate is closed off, and distant, she spends all her time training or with Alex. She won’t even sleep in our bed. I haven’t touched her in days and it’s driving Cain insane. I don’t know how to make her forgive me. No matter what, I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe even if she hates me.

“Alpha, the southwest guard station was tampered with.” Marcus links.

“f**k” Cain growls.

“I’m on my way.” They were on my territory.

Cain forces the shift and we’re out of the office in no time.

***

I split the men up sending Marcus with a team to the north, Levi to the south, and kept a small team with me in the west we’ve been out all night without any sign of a rogue.

The sun crest over the horizon dim rays lighting the western border as it makes its way into the sky. That’s when both Marcus and Levi link me.

Cassie’s POV

I am getting stronger every day. Using my physical gains to keep me occupied so I don’t fall back into Carter's embrace. I won’t sleep in his room. Whenever we’re alone like that it’s easy to fall into the mate bond and the desires that tend to overwhelm me. It helped that he didn’t come in last night but that only made me worry.

My mind is cluttered and I’m unable to dodge Mel’s next blow her fist knocking my head to the side and splitting my lip. The metallic taste of my blood fills my mouth and I spit spraying bloodied saliva onto the ground.

“Hey, you alright?”

“I’m good.” I wipe my hand over my mouth the bleeding has stopped. It isn't even sore anymore.

“Wanna keep going?”

“Yeah.”

I get into my fighting stance ready to continue when Mel’s eyes glaze over.

“Get inside Cassie.” She orders.

“What’s going on Mel?”

“Rogues.”

That’s the last word she says before she shifts into a beautiful amber-colored wolf. Howls rip through the air turning my veins to ice.