**Ethan’s POV
After several days of running with very little sleep, we decided we needed to make a camp for the night. I knew that my fighting forces could stand up against any other soldiers in the world, but even the strongest warriors would need ti to restore their stamina.
‘I think this looks like a good place to bunk down and get a few hours of sleep,’ Talon said as we reached a thicker part of the forest, several hours into our fifth day of travel. It was dark, and the stars were beginning to descend as the sun would be coming up soon enough. We’d better take advantage of the darkness before heading into another long day tomorrow.
I surveyed the area. We could take shelter against a rocky slope that would protect us from one side. We’d have to watch the other three to make sure that we weren’t attacked from any other direction.
‘I agree,’ I said, after I finished examining the place Talon had selected.
We’d already tracked down so small ga in our wolf forms earlier and eaten, so there would be no fire. The smoke would signal to others where they could find us.
‘Vicky, I suggest you stay in your wolf form,’ Talon told her. ‘But it’s up to you.’
She nodded and looked around. Vicky wasn’t used to being outside in the elents like the guys. She wasn’t one to complain, and I knew she wouldn’t say a word about the ground being too hard, about being cold or hungry. However, she wasn’t like the guys who had been out in the forest fighting and knew how to make do with what they had either.
‘We need to establish a watch,’ I said. ‘At least three per shift.’
‘I’ll go first,’ Richard said imdiately, and he appointed Matthew and Arther to go with him.
The rest of us found spots on the ground to sleep in. Almost everyone stayed close together. It was safer that way. Vicky was right next to her brother.
I thought I should probably lie down on her other side, to make her more comfortable, but I wanted to walk around the periter first.
An unsettled feeling perated my gut, and I wasn’t going to be able to rest until I determined its source; it seed to be sothing more than just the events of the day, though those were weighing heavily on my mind.
As soon as the others were sleeping, and the first watch was in their spots, I got up and went for a walk around the outskirts of the camp. I wanted to make sure that there were no unwelco wolves anywhere near us.
I walked along the edge of the woods, nodding to Richard as he patrolled his part of the periter. He nodded in return, and I continued on my way, cutting between the thick trees as I made my way through Matthew’s section. His eyes cut through the darkness, but he didn’t move as he sniffed his Alpha’s scent and knew not to be concerned.
When I ca to Arthur’s area of the periter, I stopped. I didn’t see the third wolf anywhere, which was alarming.
Was it possible so of the enemy forces had gotten close enough to pick him off? That’s how rogues preferred to operate, after all. They liked to find one wolf out on their own and pull them out into the woods, killing them, and then strike again.
Slowly, I crept forward into the trees, listening. I could sll Arthur, so I knew he had been there, but I wasn’t sure how old the scent was. Sothing was different, though. I wasn’t slling his wolf anymore.
I was slling... a different wolf.
I turned around just in ti to see another wolf coming through the trees, sprinting at at full speed.
I could tell this was one of Jas’s royal guards. The scent of the capital was all over him. He had obviously been sent from Jas to assassinate .
I got into a defensive position. As soon as the wolf ca barreling through the trees, I leaped in front of him, knocking him out of the air.
He hit the ground hard, but he struggled and got up again quickly and bit on my forearm. In a split second, I had to release him, and he jumped up again.
B*sdard, where the f*ck was Arther?!
The invader was ready for his second attack and was charging towards at high speed.
I was fully ready, however, the anticipated crash didn’t land on , and the wolf leaped past and he knocked down sothing behind instead.
I turned around to figure out what had just happened.
I moved closer and saw that Arthur hit his head on a large rock. Blood spurted everywhere, and his eyes rolled back into his head. He was dead.
I howled to warn the pack and squinted my eyes at the murderer. How dare he!
I leaped forward again and landed on the wolf. This ti, he couldn’t get away from . However, he shifted back to his human form.
I shifted back as well so that I could speak. “You’re from the capital. How did you find ?!”
He was panting and wiped away the blood on his face, “I found you because of Vicky.”
Vicky?! Did she leak my whereabouts to Jas?! No... it couldn’t be!
I grabbed his neck and warned him, “Watch every word you say... you killed my man, and now you’re lying about Vicky?!”
‘Alpha!’ Vicky’s voice filled my head. ‘Alpha, please, stop!’
Within a few seconds, I saw Vicky run towards along with Talon. She had switched back to her human form and was dressed. She charged straight towards – or the man whose neck was being grabbed by .
“Paul! What are you doing here?!”
I was confused. What the h*ck was going on?!
I looked over at her, and didn’t let go of my prisoner. “You know this b*stard?” I asked her.
Her eyes were wide with fear, and she nodded. “Alpha, he’s my mate! Please!”
I released him, giving Paul a chance to speak.
Paul was finally able to breathe. “Alpha Ethan! Please, I ant no harm!”
I scolded, “You killed my man!”
The rest of the group gasped, and they all looked at Paul with hatred, except for Vicky.
Paul shook his head, “No, Alpha Ethan. If I didn’t kill him just now, he would’ve hurt you!”
I narrowed my eyes. Talon threw a cape to and Vicky did the sa for Paul.
I got up to examine Arther. Next to Arther’s body was a large butcher knife. He was only a step behind , and he would’ve stabbed in the neck because I was focused on the battle and couldn’t sll him in his human form.
A shiver sent down my spine– Arthur was the one who tried to kill , and Paul indeed saved .
“They sent after you because they knew I’d be able to find Vicky,” Paul explained. “In case Arthur’s assassination failed, they wanted to tell you that King Kal has retreated, thanks to you injuring him. King Jas wanted to let you know that he wants you back at the capital. He wanted to tell you that he regrets what has happened.”
I stared into his dark eyes for a mont, waiting.
“But that’s not true,” Paul continued, and I began to feel that perhaps I could trust him after all. “The truth is, I’m supposed to trick you into coming back with so that they can kill you. The king and the queen want you dead, Alpha. I’m sorry.”
For a mont, all I could do was look at him, my mind running over all of the words he’d just told .
My own cousin wants dead and would stop at nothing to accomplish that.
I helped Paul up, and Vicky dove into his hug. “Thank you for coming....” I heard her sobbing.
Taking a few steps away from the couple, I thought about how I’d almost killed the wolf coming to warn . I was glad that hadn’t happened.
But what about Jas? My own cousin? The man I would’ve given anything for? The man I had been willing to give up my life to protect? And the queen...I’d always seen her as a gentle older sister.
However, they had ordered this. They had told this ssenger to co and lie to to lure back to the capital? Locking up or trading to the enemy was one thing– now they wanted dead?
I couldn’t believe what had happened.
My shock and disbelief quickly turned to rage as I turned to look at the others. They were all standing in the clearing, the whites of their eyes reflecting in the moonlight as they stared at , trying to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
“Is there anyone here who agrees with my cousin?” I asked. “Are any of you here to do King Jas’s bidding? Do any of you wish to see dead?”
No one moved. They only stared at , none of them able to comprehend what they had witnessed, just as I was unable to.
My cousin and his wife were fearful I’d co after the throne, that I’d hold a grudge against the king for asking to go with Kal. It was their only option. Kill or face the possibility I might co for them.
I shook my head. What they should have realized was that, until that mont, it never would’ve crossed my mind. I would’ve been content to leave that place, to find Rosalie and my baby and start over. Even if I was to live the rest of my life with nothing, at least I’d have them. I would rather be a poor man with love than a rich man without my family.
But now... they had made my heart burn with anger, and I couldn’t promise that I wouldn’t co back and seek revenge for what they’d tried to do this night.
Jas turning his back against was one thing.
Throwing out of the capital I’d fought to defend, that was an act of cowardice.
Now, they’d taken it a step forward and sought to have eliminated.
“Alpha Ethan, please allow to join your pack and follow your lead! I vow to protect Vicky with my life, and I will be loyal to the person she’s loyal to!” Paul bowed to .
I looked at him, but I shook my head.
“Paul, I appreciate it. However, I’m no longer an Alpha. You are welco to stay, but you are also welco to leave. You have my gratitude either way.”
Vicky sighed. “You should get so rest, Alpha.” I looked over and saw her step up to stand beside Paul. “I know you’ll say you’re not tired, not now, but you should rest. We have a long journey ahead of us. We’ll make sure that nothing happens.”
She turned to Paul, “And so should you, Paul.”
I wanted to argue with her, but the adrenaline rush from before was starting to wear off, and I was growing weary. My body did need to rest. I was glad to see she wasn’t holding it against that I’d almost killed her mate.
If I was to accomplish everything that was on my mind, I was going to need to rest.
Either fleeing or revenge took a lot of energy.
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