Stellaluna

Battle

Sebastian

The next few months were a blur, as we prepared for the attack. I didn't see Evangeline but maybe a handful of times, and she made sure it was only for seconds each time. I had managed to convince Rowan to stop ignoring me as we needed to be a team when the attack happened. Though he made sure to let me know that if I hurt her again, he would not forgive me.

"Sebastian, we need to go now." Perry said, pulling me from my thoughts. I followed him into the alphas office where Marcus, Alana, and a few of his men waited. Alpha Ryder sat at his desk, his beta Flynn to his right.

"Alpha Ryder," I greeted him, nodding my head respectfully. "Thank you for gathering everyone and meeting with us so quickly."

"What's this all about?" He asked, getting straight to the point.

"As you know, we came to teach new fighting techniques as well as to learn from your pack. However, we have not been entirely forthcoming. My name is Sebastian DeLune, Heir Prince and Alpha to be of the Northern Kingdom." I let my aura spread out, though I was not yet alpha, it was already quite intimidating. "We have come to assess the situation of the Western Kingdom, and to see if you were involved with the South."

"You dare come to spy on us in our own home?!" Beta Flynn growled.

"We are sorry for deceiving you, but it was imperative we find who is involved with the attacks on the neutral territories. Especially as the attacks have now escalated to claimed territory."

They looked at each other, and Alpha Ryder looked thoughtfully at me. He nodded, having silently decided something. I braced myself.

"Don't look so worried, you have helped out my pack in the time you've been here." I sighed, he would not try to punish us.

"Thank you," I bowed slightly, my men following suit. "Now, it has come to our attention that the South is on their way here. I assume because your kingdom is the smallest and quite different than the others, the majority mainly residing here in this small compound, that they are going to try to take you down before attempting larger ones."

"How sure are you of this?" Alpha Ryder asked gravely

"Our intel believes we have only a few weeks time before they arrive.'

His men swore and the Alphas eyes glazed over, and I knew he was sending a pack wide mindlink. His men filed out of the room.

"I've informed my people, we will be prepared. Thank you for the warning. You have safe passage out of the kingdom," he said standing up.

"We intend to fight Alpha Ryder. If we are still welcome to stay here, of course." He looked at me, and I thought I could catch a glimmer of respect flash across his eyes.

"You may. But do not die. I don't need your father trying to wage war against us too because his son died in my kingdom."

"You needn't worry about us. We do request however, that we be allowed to keep and interrogate one of the raiders."

He nodded and dismissed us, leaving to take care of his pack.

"Well that went better than expected," Marcus laughed.

"I thought we'd get a bit more of a struggle." Perry agreed.

"Alpha Ryder isn't stupid. He knows that the North is very powerful. And he needs all the help he can get right now to protect his tiny kingdom."

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Ryder

I was running to all the patrol stations with Ember, in our wolf form, making sure all were ready. I had a feeling they would come tonight. It had been a week since Sebastian informed us, and I had been running around ever since.

We had our safe house set up for the children, the elderly, and those who couldn't fight. It was well hidden, behind the waterfall that fed the lake, with a small escape passage known only to a select few.

"Alpha," a few of my men mindlinked me in greeting.

"You know your positions?"

"Yes alpha!"

"Excellent. Stay alert, and remember to work as a team." They bowed their wolf heads in acknowledgment, and I moved on to the next.

Once I hit all of them, I ran back to the castle, shifting and throwing on a pair of shorts. Evangeline stood waiting by my office, her arms crossed and leaning against my door.

"Ryder!" She stood straight, and looking at me with a frown

"Evangeline," I smiled at her. Even now, she made me feel better when all hell was breaking loose. "Are you okay?"

"I am perfectly fine! Which is why I don't understand why I have been told I need to go to the safe house. I am a great fighter! You can use me!" She put her hands on her hips, looking at me defiantly.

"Hypatia told me why you are here." I told her, watching as her hands fell in shock. "I'm sorry, I was going to wait for you to tell me of your own accord but he have no time. If the Southern King really is looking for you, then I'm afraid we cannot allow him to find you. I will protect you no matter what." I placed my hand on her arm.

"I will not just sit by and let everyone fight for me!" She shrugged my hand off, her eyes flashing angrily.

"You don't have a choice. You are in my kingdom and you will follow my orders."

"Are you commanding me then, Alpha Ryder? I do not belong to your pack." It was highly frowned upon to command wolves from different packs, and it was never as potent at someone from your own, but it could be done.

She placed her hands on her hips in her now familiar stance of defiance. Goddess she was so stubborn.

"I am asking you, please. I don't want to have to command you.." but I would if I had to. I left the last part unspoken, but judging by how she stormed off angrily, I knew she had understood. I had come to really care for Evangeline in the time she'd been here. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to her. I said a quick prayer to the Goddess, hopefully we'd all make it out of this alive.

I suddenly heard the alarm sound, and ran, immediately shifting and sending orders. I contacted Alyssa, ensuring she had started the evacuation. Everyone was in the castle for quick escape.

"Is Evangeline with you?"

"Yes Alpha, the witches made it with their sleeper. Nearly everyone has made it to the safe house. Everything is going according to plan."

Thank the goddess she had listened to me, now I would not have to worry about her.

Everything afterwards happened very fast. My men informed me the raiders were in the valley, the entrance to the compound. As planned they released the boulders and arrows, slowing their forces.

"Alpha, there are so many! Over one hundred so far!" One of the scouts called

"Remember your training! We fight as a pack! Do not falter! We fight for our families, we fight for our home! We fight for our freedom!"

The raiders emerged from the valley, all shifted, running wildly towards us. The battle had begun.

My men were prepared and took their places. I had complete faith in them. We would not lose.

It had started raining, and we were deep in combat. I had killed countless werewolves, all nothing but blurs of teeth, claws and fur. Some barely put up a fight, while others attacked ruthlessly.

I yelped, as I felt teeth sink into my hind leg. We whirled around, but my assailant was gone. I saw a black wolf swiftly take the kill. It had to be Sebastian, judging by his size. I stumbled, feeling yet another precious life string snap, within my soul. I lost another. I growled, catching a brown colored wolf by the throat as he jumped at me. With a firm shake he was gone. I don't know how long we'd been at it, but it felt like hours. The raiders seemed endless. I had lost five of my own already.

I saw Thomas's sandy colored wolf being cornered by three raiders. I ran, grabbing one by the tail and threw him into a tree, before jumping on another. I would not lose another soul!