The White Wolf

Chapter Eighteen

~Payton~

There was no crisis, so we decide to have a lay-in, we had some ‘us’ time. We cuddled in bed, relaxing into each other, we talked a little, about how moving would be, what I remembered of the pack, how they would react. No-one disturbed us. Once we got hungry, we got up, showered, and headed downstairs for food. Neither of us expected Claire to make us a late breakfast, we had told her we would make our own but she insisted, instead we sat at the island in the kitchen while Claire makes us breakfast and continued on her endeavour deep clean the kitchen. After we phone Valerie, 

“Valerie here, how can I help?” she answered gleefully. Things must be going well in the Shadow pack, which is good.  

“Hey, it’s Payton, we have spoken to the pack and they want to move to the castle, could you prepare for our arrival, please? Could you let Max know that Claire, our cook, is sorting out to bring our food stores with us?” I say, smiling to myself. 

“Ok, of course, I will, just to let know that those boys, the one’s that were the bullies when you were in school?” 

“Yeah, I remember them, are they causing problems?” 

“You could say that.” I hear her chuckle, “so they are all about black wolf supremacy and they don’t want the moon pack here to pollute our living.” She laughs. “Sorry, it is just, it’s so ridiculous. Don’t worry, the pack want to follow you, they ask daily if we have heard from you.” 

“I see, interesting, well they will learn the hard way, let me know if they start causing problems, tell them I will speak to them when I get back if this behaviour continues.” 

“Will do. Give me a text with the date and time what you expect to be here,” 

“Will do.” 

She hangs up the phone, I sit in the office chair, I wonder how to deal with them, there’s five in all, they are the worse of the worse, they helped Sebastian torture me. My mind wanders to the torture, it wasn’t the pull your nails out, waterboard you, take your knee cap torture, it was the watching and knowing you're being forgotten about, it was forcing me to torture rogues, it was teaching me how to heal them, so I could torture them all over again, it was never seeing my friends and mother, being cooped up with no way to let my wolf out safely, you see, torture comes in many shapes and sizes, it doesn’t have to be physical pain to be effective, and that is something only a torturer would know, knowing your victim helps create torture that is only fit for them. They took great pleasure out of knowing that my family, that my friends wouldn’t come for me. They would tell me that this was their payback for how I treated them in school, they were a few years ahead of me, and until Sebastian took notice of my mother they were favourite to be trained by him, I was about 3 or 4 years younger than them. I used to beat them in training, I ignored them at school or humiliated them when they were bullying others. Then I guess it all came around, they would buy food that I didn’t like, but I would be so hungry I had to eat it, they would turn my water or electric off. I got lost in the pain of my past, I would rather forget, but it keeps coming back. I felt a kiss on the side of my cheek, “I’m taken you know!” I try to smile, I knew the second he kissed me it was Jake, his smell filling my senses, reminding me I am not alone, I will not have to face them alone if I do not want to. 

“Oh really, a hot girl like you should keep your options open?” he purrs in my ear. 

“Maybe I should, but the man I have is just too good to want more.” I laugh. 

Nick gets bored of us flirting and continues talking about the coaches. 

“Payton, the coaches are booked for Friday, can you let Valerie know?” I nod, pulling my phone out and texting Valerie, “So we have two coaches booked, with a minibus too, the coaches can store a fair amount of luggage, as well as holding 70 of our pack on each one, that’s 140. They are sending extra drivers too, so we don’t have to stop, I explained that we were a community of teachers doctors and whatnot, being transferred to another place in need to help train up their existing community. How are we going to transfer those in the cell’s?” 

“Well, we could put them in a coach, the pack knows what they have done.” Nick says, “Means they can’t escape” 

“that is true. We shall do that, my mum will pack for Wyatt, and Payton will you pack for Tash?” Jake solemnly says. 

“Yeah I will do, she doesn’t need much, I will explain the situation to Thea, and she can deal with her baby’s needs,” I say to him. He just nods. Technically this baby is his half brother or sister, and he gets to be reminded of the crap his dad pulled on his mother. 

********

The rest of the week is spent organising the pack and packing our stuff. Jake, Jamie and Nick all go out shopping for suitcases, apparently, I need to take more than my bag, and apparently, no one has any bags to back in. Jake found this really cool suitcase set, they were based off the TV series supernatural. It was a set of four. A large, medium and small suitcases then a bag too. I packed my clothes, all of them, my books, my herbs, plus any book they had on the white wolf. Jake had loads of stuff so he used some of my extra space. Nick and Jamie were busy organising the pack, so I help Steph and Zoey pack, I pack their baby stuff, they don’t have a lot, so I tell them we will order them when we get to the pack, I pack their clothes, and Nick and Jamie's stuff too, I check on Claire who is stress baking her way through food for the pack to eat on the trip. 

Friday comes quickly, the coaches turn up at five in the morning, Jake, and Nick allocate the coaches out, they all pack their things until the coaches are full then they go into the third minibus. 

They don’t need me, so I decide to go to the garden. I sit with my back against the old tree, I could smell the flowers, feel the grass, the tree felt hard against my back.

“Earth, this may be a big ask, and I understand if this cannot be done for any reason. This land means a lot to my people, this is where their blood has been spilt, this land has seen their happiness, their sadness, generations have lived here, they have welcomed new life here, they have burnt their dead here, this is their ancestral home, and I was wondering if you could protect this land from trespassers, so that one day, when all is safe, they can come back here, themselves or their descendants. I understand that you may not want to do this, so I leave it up to you.” I gently rub the grass. I sit against the tree until Jake appears, 

“Ready?” he asks as he holds out his hand, 

Feeling apprehensive about going back ‘home’ I just smile and say “sure”. I take his hand, and get up, he slings his arm around me as we walk, I lean my head against his shoulder. Before we get on the coach, I bend down, and touch the gravel, “Thank you for taking me in, protecting me here and allowing me to be with my mate, I call on earth less, not because you are forgotten, but because you have already given me so much” I run my hand over the gravel, I stand up, and Jake guides me to the bus that we are to be on. I close my eyes, and call air to me, “can you please watch over us today, alert me of anyone trying to harm us, there are two coaches and one minibus, please ensure our safety”. I feel the airbrush my check. The minibus sets out first, followed by the other coach then us. Everyone from our coach is looking behind sadness filling their features when I hear a little gasp. I look behind and there is a thorn wall covering the entrance to the pack estate. “Thank you earth” I whisper.

I slept most of the journey, using my dreams, air shows me our surroundings, shows me the car behind us, following us making notes of stops, how long we stop, if anyone leaves, then they text someone the information. I gently walk up, cuddling into Jake more, lowering his voice so no one can hear. 

“You finally awake.”

“Not sure I was asleep, more like dreaming of the car following us,” coping his voice so no-one can hear, I don’t want mass panic on the buses./

“Ok, what shall we do?” he says, cuddling me tighter. 

“they are making notes on when we stop, so my guess is they want to jump us then. The problem we got is the first coach doesn’t have any supernatural help onboard, so I need to cover that one. I say we alert the shadow pack and see if they can help, by their notes we should be stopping soon, that would be the last stop.” 

“Miss, we are nearly there so we have discussed it, and we aren’t going to stop ok?” 

“yeah sure, sounds good to me,” I say to the driver who approached us. “So just alert the shadow pack,” I say to Jake. 

‘Hey Valerie, I didn’t call because I don’t want to freak the pack out but we are being followed, did you manage to refill the moat full of water?’ I link to Valerie. 

‘We did, but there’s some back news here, there are vampire and rogues here waiting in the forest, they aren’t surrounding us, but they have tried testing our defences, we have been using the archers to keep them at bay. We have raised the bridge, so please tell me when you are close’ 

‘Will do, I have an idea when I get close, I will tell you when the water raises around the castle lower the bridge, the busses will be able to pass through but they won't, meaning temporarily we will be safe.’ 

‘Sounds like a really good plan, talk soon, stay safe.’ She replies. 

“Ok, so massive problem” I whisper to Jake, his face says it all, “yep, they are waiting at the castle for us, so I have a plan, they managed to fill the moat, I’m going to tell the drivers to just drive through the water, that will keep us safe for a while” I half-smile at him. 

“Oh great, honestly, why can’t we just move? I'll get the pack ready, how to prepare them, vulnerable in the middle of the coach in case they attack the coaches, you work on getting the drivers to drive through a wall of water, because if they stop we are dead.” He says to me. I nod, I get up and move to talk to the drivers, while Jake talks to the pack through the link. 

“So, there is a problem at the castle we are staying at, they thought it would be nice to put on a water show for us, well it went wrong and now the driveway has water all over it, so they have tried several times, and driven through it and it is perfectly safe, we just can't stop we have to slow down to 15miles per hour and just drive through it, it won't do any harm. People are waiting in the woods to ensure we are safe.” I smile at them. 

“Oh, that sounds like a right pickle, why don’t they shut the water off?” He questions, keeping his eyes on the road. 

“So it’s been in my family for generations, my father used to maintain it, however, he recently died, and he didn’t pass on that information to his groundskeeper, I am the only one who knows where it is” I smile at him, “he was a stubborn old man” I laugh. 

“Ok miss, not a problem,” The driver picked up the radio and told the others, that we couldn’t stop we just had to keep driving, they both laughed at my story but said they wouldn’t stop. 

As we near, I concentrate on water, feeling for it, soon enough I was able to concentrate on making the works happen, I did let Valerie know we were close too. I concentrate on allowing the coaches through but no one else. The coaches get through when they others try they bounce straight off, which is a relief, least we are safe for now at least. 

No one leaves the coaches, they are waiting on their orders, Jake and I get off the couch, we are greeted by Valerie, Max, Thea, Owen and Bree. They are all in fighting gear, it’s flexible, durable, keeps you warm but you don’t overheat, it is also cut-resistant, it can still be broken but it’s just another layer in resistance, it is also easy to move for shifting. The courtyard bit, that is in front of the castle but after the outer wall, was quite quiet, you had those on the wall, then you had those who were gaining weapons, we made our own arrows, so we had a near on endless supply of them, more so because our archers, hardly ever missed, and when they were training they had to make their own to train with, it was interesting. 

“Hey,” I say giving them each a hug. “Shall we get the vulnerable hidden? The coaches empty and people into place?” I smile at them, “Max can you get food and drink for the drivers please” he nods, walks backwards a few steps then turns around and walks into the castle. Jake asked everyone to get out of the coaches, I ask the drivers to wait in the minibus while we unload the coaches and that max will bring them food. They nod and get on the bus, chatting amongst themselves. 

“Luana and Gertie, can you take the children and hide them in the nearest hideout please?” She nods, and starts to gather and talk to the children, Elizabeth gives her a list of children to check off. “Jamie, remember that hideout we had?” He nods, “ok, so take Steph and Zoey, they won't be able to get into the hideout with the children, use the lift for them to get there.” He nods, and helps Zoey and Steph into the castle, “don’t worry, Nick they will be safe, Jamie will protect them with his life, and the room as no windows.” He nods, Jake starts talking next, 

“Right, we need to get these coaches emptied, Nick and Elijah can you get some people and empty the coaches into the foyer, please? Maybe make it so that people can get their stuff easy. You can block off the entrance to the courtyard, we won't be needing that for now.” Nick and Elijah get moving on the unloading, it's not long until Max turns up and is feeding the drivers. 

“Ok, can Elijah grab some people and empty the coaches please?” 

He nods and grabs some people who start emptying the coaches, they empty everything into the main foyer. Stacking it in groups. Blocking off the entrance to the courtyard but we don’t need that. 

“Ok everyone, Bree here has paperwork with information on it, she will also have someone show you to your rooms, Bree” I smile handing over, 

“Ok Luna,” she smiles at me. “ I have the families listed here in Alphabetical order, so I will start there, those with children, I know your children aren’t here right now, but I have information packs for you about their learning and activities.” She smiles and calls the first on her list, I notice that the housekeeping team appear in their fighting uniforms, just in case they are called to fight. Bree spoke to the family gave them their packs, it had a map of the place, the children’s school schedule in it, plus what roles the parents could fulfil within the castle. Bree had emailed over a copy of what she had in it, there were also application forms for them to apply. Then someone working on Bree’s service takes them to get their bags and stuff, and to then to their new accommodation. Bree had asked if it was ok to update the rooms, I had told her yes, she said she would start with the guest rooms then make her way to the shadow pack accommodation. She tells them that dinner will be at 6. Jake comes over and tells me the coaches are ready for departure. The drivers get into the coaches and line up the coaches to leave, I get up on the gatehouse, tell them to drop to the bridge, as the minibus drives through the water. That’s when the rogues and vampires start to use the bus to get through the water, thankfully the coaches just keep going, once the last one is through I shout for the bridge to be pulled up, the vampires and rogues were already through the bridge, and the wolves were fighting them, once I am sure that no one else can get through I go to the stairs and run down them when I get to the bottom, the five boys that were causing problems that were bullies where stood at the bottom waiting for me, 

“Excuse me,” I say politely, Jake does not look happy, Valerie is talking to him. They don’t move. 

“I am your Luna, I expect you to move.” They laugh. “Ok, what is your problem?” I say getting angry. I put my hand on my hip, if I could look more intimidating I would. 

“Well, you bring this scum here to start.” The ‘leader’ says, his eyes changing to show how annoyed he is.

“Scum? Really? Because this pack watched the atrocities of the last Alpha, all the men knew I was being locked up, and none of you tried to help me, and then these scum you are refereeing too, they have been the ones to accept me, to look after me, to help me hone my skills. Sebastian tortured me. Made me torture other wolves. These scum never put me through that, if anything, they have protected me, loved me and nurtured me. I never put the atrocities that Sebastian committed onto the shadow pack, I allowed you to be the men and women that didn’t get judged based on Sebastian, and you stand before me and call the pack who saved my life scum. You were one of the wolves who knew what Sebastian was doing to me, and YOU” emphasis on you, “allowed it, making you more scum than these people.” I growled at him, “So, you have two choices you accept me as Luna, you do as I say without question, with moaning, without treason, or you challenge me, and attempt to kill me?” 

“I challenge you, Payton Saunders. To the death.” 

“I accept the challenge, but do you really want to die? Death is permanent and you cannot come back from death.”  

“I do, while your alive your packs will follow you.” 

“ok then, just me and you.” 

Those that were lining up to get packs from Bree, moved, most now lined the outer wall, those archers looking down in disgust, and then Bree joined Jake and Valerie on the steps to the castle. We walk into the middle of the ring, even his four friends stood close by. They must know he will die. He shifts straight away, showing his big and powerful wolf, he lunges at me and I dodge him, I will not strike until he lands a blow, I laugh and taunt him, goading him into making mistakes, making him look more stupid. 

“I thought you were going to kill me?” I would say, “How can you kill me if you can’t land a shot?” All the time he was getting angrier and angrier, his friends had shifted too and were circling us.

I was biding my time, waiting for them to jump in and help him, Jake knew I had taken out those five the day we met, these five will also underestimate me. They all darted for me at the same time, I call forth my wolf, without shifting, eyes glowing in colour, and jump up towards the stars. They all land in a heap, 

“Are you ready to concede yet?” I laughed, instead he shifted back his face was pure anger. 

“No, I am not,” he growls, “you forget we trained with you Payton, we know your tricks they won't keep you alive,” 

“Oh they will, even Sebastian was no match for me, thing is, he knew it. It is why he hid. But with the pack now know what you did, even me dead, I don’t think they would follow you. I think that you’ve missed something important about the shadow pack, they aren’t just a pack, they are family, and these people raised me, trained me, never gave up on me, my other pack may be the ones who saved my life, but the shadow pack created that live worth saving, they won't want to follow you after knowing you tortured me.” I look at them, the Shadow pack nodding.  

He growls at me, shifting forward, and lunging at me. I dodge out of the way of their advances, they get more and more aggressive, 

“Last chance boys, I do not want to harm you, I do not want to kill you, but if I need too, I will have too.”

They growled at me, I shift into my wolf, which is just as big as theirs, ‘only go for the leader girl’ I say as I sit back and allow my wolf free rein. Watching them through her eyes is interesting, you can see their wolves being suppressed, she pity’s the wolves, they want to submit to her but their humans won't allow that. They eventually manage to work as a team and tear open my stomach. Cutting deep. My wolf growls fiercely defends myself, killing the leader instantly, I shift back, my feet buckled under me, the pain in my side killing me. Jake comes running to my side, the other four bowing down to me, Jake growling orders at someone to lock them in the dungeon, 

“Jake no, look at them, really look at them,” I mummer to him.

He turns and they instantly start apologising, saying he was making them,    

“Very well, learn from his mistakes, I will give you mercy, you can be part of this pack as long as you accept, pledge loyalty to me and Payton as alpha’s” he growls at them, 

“I do” they all answer in unison. 

“Very well then, get up, get yourselves cleaned up then get back to the jobs Valerie has assigned to you.” He grumbles to them, they get up and hurry along. 

Jake turns his attention to me, Thea is looking at my wound and whispers something to him, Jake is kneeling beside me, I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder, he puts an arm around me and one under my legs, and we head into the office, Claire, Max, Valerie, Nick, Bree and Owen all follow Jake, Thea runs ahead to get the door open and one of her staff hand her, her medical bag. Dam I remember that thing from when I worked with her. 

“Can someone ensure that the bodies are burnt, please? Max, we have brought some food with us, can you take it to the stores?” I smile at him, Thea is moaning for me to stop working, I smile at her as she swaps the wound. 

“Yes mam,” he chuckles. 

“Oh please, call me Payton. This is Claire, she is the chef for the Moon pack” as soon as they lay eyes on each other you can see the sparkle that shows they are mates, “So before you lose the ability to hear me, you two will work together, Claire will be in charge of the Moon pack people who apply for your job. Dinner will be at six” I say, taking Jake’s hand as Thea starts to sew me up. They nod and head out the door. Well, at least they heard me,  

“Thea, that hurts a little,” I say as she’s putting some cream on the stitches she’s just done. 

“Thea did you work out the medical student's timetables” I look at her, 

“I did and Bree has their schedules and it is in their packs.” Thea answers me, “stop moving” she looks at me. 

“Bree, can you carry on with getting people in their rooms please?” I smile at her, and she heads out of the room.  

“Owen do you have a strategy on dealing with this issue please?” 

“Well, I think that the moon pack should take first watch, the shadow pack eat, then they replace the moon pack so they can eat and have a decent sleep, they have travelled for hours so they must want to get set up in their new homes and have a decent nights sleep.” 

“Jake, Nick, what do you think? good plan?” I say as I move on the seat to get comfier, 

“If I may” Nick speaks up, “while that sounds like a great plan, the moon pack won't like knowing someone else is on watch while they sleep, I also think everyone should eat together, Elijah told me eating together was an important part of the Shadow pack culture, Payton you can control the air and ask air and water to let us know if they attempt to breach?” Nick says, 

“I can,” I start to say, as Thea, interrupts, 

“using your magic with a wound like this will only leave you weak Luna.” 

“I know, but I think Nick is right, this is our first night together I think that we should eat like one and my magic will be the only way I can do that. After when we have sorted out who’s on watch, I can drop the magic and heal.” I smile at her, “plus I know Jake will defend me,” I smile at her, “What about a plan to get rid of them? We can’t just hide within these walls forever.” I say, 

“Well, what about before your magic runs out, how about after dinner, we get everyone ready in the courtyard, archers ready, and you drop and reinstate the barrier allowing a few of them in a time, making the kills more manageable?” Says Owen, 

“I would have to be in the courtyard to do that, so I would need wolves assigned to keeping me alive” I point out.

“I think we should choose a mix of the shadow pack and moon pack, as well as me or Valerie overseeing, Jake needs to be fighting among the packs,” Nick says. “Valerie, up to you if you want to protect the Luna or fight within the pack, I’m cool with either.” Nick shrugs. 

“Sounds like a good plan, I’ll protect the Luna. The pack need to see you fight to respect you, plus, everyone needs to see that the Alpha trusts Payton with me, it will help build a more solid pack. We can let a fair few in as your pack are trained too,” says Valerie,

“Ok, I will patrol with Valerie and Nick, Payton, you find Jamie fill him in and check on the girls,” Jake says. I don’t want to be separated from him, especially when I feel weak. “We have one hour before dinner, Payton call air before we leave ok?”  I nod,

“I’ll call air at quarter to six, and be in the hall for six, Jake,” he looks at me as the others are leaving, “please be careful, I will heal but I won’t heal if you die ok?” I smile at him, he helps me up and gives me a big hug. Now to make it up two flights of stairs, and into the hidden room, all without pulling my stitches. Bree pops her head in, 

“Luna, all the Moon pack are in their new rooms, except Jamie and Zoey, and Nick and Stephanie, I don’t want to disturb Nick, so I thought I would show Stephanie, but no one knows where she is?” 

“Oh sorry, Jamie is hiding Zoey and Steph, hang on” 

‘Hey Jamie, the girls are all safe, can you come out of hiding, Bree wants to show the girls where they are staying, and I need you to take mine and Jake’s bags to our room’ 

‘Ok, you in the office?’ He replies, ‘also take your own bags’ 

‘I am’ is all I reply, he will soon change his mind when he sees me. 

“They are on their way Bree after you get them in their rooms, can you show me mine please?” 

“Of course Luna, I have re-modelled it for you Luna, I hope you like it, if not, I can redo it,” 

“I am sure I will like it” I smile at her, we make small talk until Jamie turns up, who sees my wound and is instantly fussing, I pat him away,

“Don’t be stupid,” 

“Was it them idiots?” 

“He’s dead now, it's all ok,” 

We leave showing Zoey and Jamie their mini apartment, then we show Steph her and Nick’s apartment, both been lovely decorated, and kitted out, Bree told us that she also brought the baby stuff thinking ahead on them not having the time or the ability to bring stuff with them, both apartments have nurseries already decorated and kitted out, both in neutral colours, they both loved the rooms, it neared half five, and Bree took us all upstairs into the Alpha quarters to see my new room, Jake brought up our luggage with Bree helping I took the lighter stuff. Thankfully it was two big cases, that Jamie had, two medium cases which Bree had and the girls took the bags as they were extra light, and I took the two small cases, using them to get me up the stairs, Jake is going to carry me up these later, not sure I could make them twice in a day. We head down the newly decorated hall, it was awash in a magnolia, pictures of the previous alpha’s hung there, Sebastians crossed out with tyrant underneath it. The other side, pictures of mine and Jakes family hung down the hall, 

“I haven’t manage to decorate all the rooms on this floor, I will get round to it though,” she smiles at me, Jamie and Bree put down the bags, and open the door, I walk through, and this wasn’t the room I remembered, it had all changed, there were two huge windows that had dark blue curtains in front of them, both windows were down to the floor, they had clearly been cleaned and opened to create fresh air, there was a reading nook in front of the windows, filled with throws and blankets, I smiled at her, the bed had been moved from between the windows and put at the far end facing the door, it was also a new bed, looked like oak, with the cutest bedspread on it, all in light and blue, the walk in wardrobe which was behind me, had been refreshed and added to the colour scheme, the carpet was new too, with the most beautiful oak dressing table, complete with loads of draws for different beauty products, I opened the door to the bathroom, again all completely re done, nothing was how Sebastian had it, the bath was no a huge, roll top bath, free standing, the shower was completely modernised, with a waterfall shower, and a heated rail for towels, which were new and fluffy, the sink and toilet looked brand new too. In this room, one wall had a wallpaper of a forest on it, the towels were forest green too, I played it in my head to Jake, knowing he wouldn’t be overly bothered about how it looked, but he liked it. Bree also pointed out the underfloor heating that was installed in here too. I gave her a big hug and thanked her. 

“Payton, it’s quarter too,” I smiled at Jake and we headed downstairs, on the way down, I called air and felt it’s familiar brush against my cheek.  

We get downstairs and into the hall, Jake comes and helps me to my seat. 

“Thank you, everyone, for being here” Jake starts, I look around and family members are all together, but seated with the Shadow pack, mixed in together and someone remembered to tell them it was safe for children to come to dinner, “I know this is a weird time for both packs, I hope the moon pack like their new accommodation”, everyone is nodding, “we the moon pack would like to thank the Shadow pack for working so hard to get this place ready for us, I know some of you had to move to make room for us, and that we really appreciate” he smiles and looks around the room. “We have a plan to take on the outside threat so we can get about preparing and learning what our new everyday life will be like, Nick and Valerie will go through everyone’s roles in this upcoming battle. As many of you saw or heard, Payton was injured due to someone challenging her, while we will be using her magic, she needs to be in the courtyard to make that happen, Valerie is assigned to keeping our beloved Luna safe. Now, let's enjoy our first of many meals together,” he raises his glass and so does everyone else. The meal was delicious, which made me happy, I couldn’t eat as fast as I normally would, due to not be able to bend over my plate. Everyone waited for me to finish and they clear their plates themselves, Jake clearing mine for me. All the children were taken down into the safety bunker below the dining hall, it can easily house everyone in the two packs down there incase the humans got stupid and started bombing places again. Steph and Zoey went with them, along with the elderly, and the teachers. Those that were trained to fight, saw Nick and Valerie who issued peoples jobs. The shadow pack archers got onto the battlement, that’s the bit on top of the wall that goes around the whole castle, there was enough of them to go around the whole castle. Then the moon pack, was with them, ready to fight or light the arrows. There was a team waiting at the bridge entrance, those that can lower and raise the bridge are hidden so that no one can kill them, those who built the castle really did think of everything, Valerie chose people to protect me from the shadow pack and Nick chose those from the moon pack. They circled me, Thea and the medical team were waiting in the wings, they were ready to collect anyone harmed, and transport them to the medical wing if needed. I sat on the ground, Valerie had found a blanket for me to sit on. I sit cross-legged, I call the elements to me, I feel them swirl around me, the smell of fresh grass filling my scents, I close my eyes picturing the scene outside that Owen showed me, he was the one telling me when to lower the water and in charge of the archers. Valerie whispered he had given the signal. I open my eyes and allow the water to drop. The Vampires rushed forward first, the bridge dropped and then ran over it, headed straight to the walls, the wolves then came over next heading to the gate entrance, Jake, Nick and a mix of the moon and shadow pack stood with them. The archers killed the majority of them, Owen gave me the nod, and I put the wall back up. The last ones threw were surprised and panicked, trying to get out, the water didn’t let them, they died, we kept this up until they wouldn’t come when the water fell, then the ran, I used air and earth to ensure they moved the hell on, they ran for miles until they got into cars then drove off. Once I knew the packs were safe, I released the elements, thanking them for their service. As soon as the last element parted I pass out. I didn’t dream this time. 

~Jake~

Valerie catches her head before it hits the ground. I instantly rush over and swoop her up into my arms. 

“Nick, Valerie, I expect you two to work together to ensure the pack's safety while I see to Payton, work out rotations, burn the dead, and ensure that everyone in the moon pack has their roles and jobs sorted. Thea and I will be caring for Payton, anything major come see me in the alpha wing. I want updates too.” I say as I begin to walk to the castle holding my poor wife. Thea follows behind me picking up her medical bag. Once we make it to our room I put Payton on the bed, and run a bath, I ask Thea to get the ingredients I need from Payton’s bags put them in, Thea undresses Payton’s wound, then excuses herself, the medical team need her, so I thank her, I undress once the bath is ready, I undress Paton and then hold her while I climb into the bath, I lay her on top of me. It’s not long before I fall asleep. 

A couple of hours later, I am gently woken by Nick, 

“Hey man, sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to give you an update in person before I head to sleep, We have cleaned up the courtyard and burnt the dead, those needing medical assistance are now all in the hospital, which is amazing by the way, Zoey and Steph have got appointments tomorrow with Thea. Valerie and I, have spoken, everyone can sleep tonight, we will start talking to people together and help them fill out the forms Bree sent us, I know some of our pack could work from home for their job, but I will explain to them they will need to contribute money into the pack, as the way the billing system is set up here. Thea said Payton should wake up in the morning, but she doesn’t want her to do any pack stuff and wants her to rest, and she won't do that without you, so Valerie and I will have the pack stuff sorted, I will give updates throughout the day,” he smiles at me and excuses himself, I am glad they are getting on, I quickly fall asleep. I wake up around 8, Payton starting to stir, I notice we have little water left, so I drain the tub, pick up Payton and get out of the bathroom, I dry her off and then myself, and lay her in bed under the covers, I get in next her and cuddle up to her, and there we sleep until later.