Chasing A Runaway Mate

Chapter 13

Black

There was a stillness in the air that only a winters morning could bring. The soldiers were quiet, everyone readying themselves mentally for the fight to come. Wren stood in front of his tent with his eyes closed as he breathed deeply. Black didn't know the man but respected him for how he had handled Kat's refusal to address their mate-bond. He walked over to the Commander. Dimitri watched him carefully but said nothing.

"You made yourself pretty clear last night, Black." Wren spoke first when Black reached his side. "I let you have your say because you are her brother and her Alpha. Kat might be avoiding it, but I am her mate and I will not give up on her. Her happiness is all that matters to me now. You keep that in mind when you next feel the urge to talk to me about my mate."

"Very well, Wren, I'll leave Kat to you. It's not like she ever let anyone interfere with her life anyway. I'll say this, though. I love my sister dearly, but f**k knows she hasn't made it easy. You're going to have your hands full."

Black gave the battle-scarred man a half smile. Wren looked at Black for a moment before letting out a harsh laugh.

"Of course she will be hand full. I suppose it's no more than I deserve." Wren shook his head.

"Is this going to be a problem? Do I need to do some digging, Wren?" Black asked sternly.

"What? No, of course not. You really think I would've gotten this far with the Council if I had a sketchy past?"

"Yes," answered Black without hesitation.

"Humph. I know you have some serious issues with the Council, Alpha but you need to reevaluate what you think you know versus what the truth is." Wren drew his mouth into a thin line and looked at Black with disappointment. "What I meant was that I was a right pain in the ass for my mum when I was younger. You know, always getting into trouble like only a lad can."

Black looked at wren with a raised eyebrow but in the end nodded his apology. It was as much an apology as Wren would ever get so the men turned to look at the rest of the Enforcers in silence as they readied themselves for the task ahead.

"This is the worst part, I think." Wren's expression matched his sombre tone. "It's more than the anticipation. It's the idea that we are all getting ready to go and kill other wolves and everyone is acting as if this is the most normal thing in the world."

"You know that's not true, Wren. If that was the case, we would be fighting on the other side. We would be like Ivan. Look carefully. Look at their expressions. They are all just as conflicted and concerned as you and I."

"Right, well. I suppose we better get on with it, 'ey." Wren gave Black a smack on the back as he turned to leave.

Black watched Wren leave, trying to decide what his impression was of the man. Dimitri's familiar smell became stronger as he walked up to Black. It reminded him of why they were there and of the home they were defending.

"Everything alright, boss?" Dimitri asked. Hearing him call Black boss, reminded him of when he first met Rose.

"It will be, D. It will be."

"Ready to go then?"

*****

The men made their way quietly on foot through the trees. Everyone was still in their human forms. If this was the Renegade Pack's Enforcers, Black would've had at least half of them shifted already. But because the Council's Enforcers couldn't use a mindlike, shifting would make communication impossible. Black wondered how they managed to be such an effective tactical force when they couldn't communicate.

I don't like this, Alpha. You know we would be able to tell much better what is waiting for us if we used our wolves' senses. Dimitri sounded on edge. Black looked over at where his Beta was advancing a few yards away. His concern didn't show on his face, however, and he looked focused as ever.

I know, Dimitri. Black looked around and thought about his next move.

OK, D, shift. But you have to keep the mindlink open and one of us has to be in human form at all tines so we can relay the information to the rest of the Enforcers.

Fucking finally.

Black smiled at the relief and excitement in Dimitri's voice.

"Alpha Black, what is your Beta doing? No one gave the command to shift?" Commander Peter hissed.

"I gave the order, Commander. He answers to me, not to you."

"Alpha Black -"

"Save it, Peter. I don't have time for your bureaucratic bullshit. I can still communicate with my Beta, remember. And now we have a better sense of what is waiting for us."

Dimitri's wolf leapt forward, his paws making barely any noise as he ran. He weaved between the trees, keeping out of sight. When they could no longer see him, Black decided to check in.

What do you see, D?

A wall, Alpha. Must be at least twenty feet tall. No idea how far it goes.

Any patrols?

Small groups of about four every hundred meters or so.

Shit. There goes the plan of going in unnoticed.

"Commander Peter," Black beckoned the man closer and relayed the information.

"Well, if Ivan can afford to have so many men outside his border, he either has more men than our intel suggested, or he is bluffing. What do you think, Alpha?" Peter asked.

"I think we would be stupid to go in thinking he is bluffing. I'll rather have more men on the ground and have this fight over sooner than possibly having too little."

"Agreed."

Peter walked back to his squadron. After speaking to them for a minute, his voice came over the coms.

"New intel shows patrols at frequent intervals. No point of entry has been sighted. Team Charlie, split in two and go forward as discussed. Once the wall has been breached, Team Delta and Echo will enter on the left and engage. Team Bravo, you will enter on the right."

Black watched as a tactical team carrying a lot of firepower made their way forward. After a short while, a loud explosion could be heard followed by another some distance away. As they rushed forward, Black saw the bodies of the patrols lying in the snow. Each one with a bullet wound in the head. Black was not used to fighting with anything but his fists and claws but knew firearms were also effective.

The dust was settling when they reached the wall, and Black could see that a massive hole now allowed them entry. The battle had finally started. Everything else left Black's mind, his sole focus now on every opponent that crossed his path. Instinct took over and Black shifted into his massive wolf. With teeth and claws he slowly cut a path through the large force of wolves on the other side of the wall.