It was ti to go, whether everyone else was ready or not. I was rested and the packs were gathering. We needed to get to a vantage point where we could observe and figure out the other packs’ motives.
“Everyone, follow !” I bellowed to my n.
I motioned them in the direction of the Moon Goddess temple in Norwind territory and I took off without waiting to see them coming after . My only priority was getting to Mila and saving her. Whether my pack backed up or not was their concern.
Thomas gathered the troops to follow. At least, my Beta knew how to keep the pack organized while my focus was on sothing else.
Payne stayed at my side.
“Tell everything,” I said. “All the details.
“So of the other packs have already made it to Norwind’s Moon Goddess temple. They’ve all heard the rumors of the artifacts,” he reported.
Payne had his fist clenched as he ran beside . I heard the sound of his teeth gritting as he held back his rage. This was personal for him.
Mila and the artifact were symbols of the pack he lost. Chandler and Norwind were behind the destruction of his pack and the murder of his parents. I knew Payne would declare war on Chandler and Norwind all on his own if I wasn’t with him.
I didn’t bla him. There were horrible mories in Payne’s past. Things he’d blocked out, tried to forget, and questions he didn’t want answered but couldn’t live without knowing. I could relate to that.
“You think they want the artifacts?” I asked.
“I doubt they are gathering to rescue Mila.”
Ahh, that was the source of his anger. He was pissed the other packs were only there for greedy, selfish purposes. They didn’t care about Mila or her safety, they just wanted power or, at least, to keep Chandler from having the power.
It occurred to that a lot of the packs gathering could have been working with Norwind when Poni pack was destroyed fourteen years ago. Payne probably suspected that too.
None of the packs gathering were innocent, and neither was Norwind. By the end of the day, we could be involved in a complete bloodbath. None of these packs trusted each other and I was skeptical in regard to them cooperating and working together.
I’d tried to give them Chandler and Norwind as a common enemy to rally around. We’d see if my hard work had paid off.
As we jogged closer to the temple, I was glad that I’d rested. Rather, I was glad Thomas forced to rest. I was a lot more energetic and motivated. But my mind was clearer too. I’d had ti to cool down and I could handle this situation logically.
“Once we get there, Payne, our goal is to save Mila. Rember that. We’re not getting revenge on what happened to your pack,” I said.
“I know.”
“Do not let your anger and hatred sidetrack you, okay?”
“Yes, boss.” Payne grunted and nodded.
“We should pick up our pace.”
Payne and I started sprinting toward the temple. I felt completely refreshed and at full strength. Nothing was going to stop until I got Mila back.
I had to make sure that Payne was on board and wouldn’t give in to his anger or desire for revenge. This would be the first ti in over a decade he saw those responsible for his pack’s destruction. I trusted him to follow orders but I had a feeling he wasn’t as in control of his anger as he wanted to believe.
Sotis, I didn’t think that Payne was honest with himself about how strongly he felt.
We’d find out soon.
Norwind’s Goddess temple was on top of a mountain in Norwind territory. There was a thick forest around the base of the mountain. It slowed us down a little but the higher in altitude we got, the thinner the trees beca.
Payne and I stopped talking on the steep ascent to save our breath and our strength.
When our entire group made it to the end of the tree line, just below the temple, there were other packs gathering outside and talking.
I held my arm up to stop my n. With a quick signal, I told them to spread out and find cover. I didn’t want them to show themselves yet. We needed to know more about who we were getting involved with.
Payne and I moved close enough to hear what they were saying.
“How dare Chandler steal those artifacts! No alpha should have that much power.”
Those artifacts should be locked in the castle where no one can use them.”
“Not just the artifacts. Chandler kidnapped Miss Mila Hathaway! She’s the descendant of the Poni Hathaways.”
“Those bastards!”
“Well, that’s it, we have to rescue her and get those artifacts away from Chandler.”
“You can all play with the artifacts, I need to rescue Miss Hathaway.”
“You, rescue her? We’re all here to save her. You’re not taking all the credit!”
“Yeah, we’ll all get the credit for showing up and rescuing her.”
“You know, Mila grew up in Saboreef. Once she’s safe, she’ll co back with us, to her ho, of course.”
I scoffed under my breath. That must have been the Saboreef Alpha. All her life, he had tornted Mila and treated her like dirt.
Now, he was there to rescue her and take her ho? He probably only had any interest because he knew her identity now and thought that it would gain him power and status. Not to ntion the artifacts.
No one in Saboreef had been protective of her until they realized she had power and status.
Sneering, I glanced at Payne. None of these packs would be here if it weren’t for the artifacts. They wouldn’t have co just to rescue her.
Payne was crouched down, his jaw tense, eyes glaring at the gathered packs. He had one fist clenched and the other curled around a knife handle that I knew he kept in his pocket.
Reaching out, I put a hand on Payne’s shoulder, reminding him to keep his cool. He was right on the edge. We still needed to stay in control.
For the ti being, it was better to have them on our side. We could take advantage of their greediness and selfishness until we got what we needed.
My ears perked up again when I heard the conversation center around the artifacts, including the one I’d made up and spread rumors about.
“Who even knows what Chandler can do now.”
“Probably not much. Miss Hathaway won’t use the artifact no matter what Chandler does. She’s too sweet.”
“But he must have the Blade of Souls and she’s the only one that can use it. He probably has ways of controlling her through magic or...”
“Or the Moonstone of Blessing.”
“What is that? I’ve never heard of that.”
“It is the other rare artifact that Chandler has. Supposedly, it can control all other artifacts. He wouldn’t even need Miss Mila for the Blade of Souls.”
“So, Chandler has both artifacts. He’s unstoppable.”
“Not yet. He doesn’t know we are here to stop him.”
“He won’t have to know! Norwind pack, with both artifacts, could take all of us down in a second.”
“How do we even know what the Blade of Souls does? Is it really that powerful?”
“I’ve heard a lot of rumors, like how it can kill anyone without leaving a trace.”
“But then, how do we stop him?”
“Even with the Moonstone of Blessing, that isn’t the sa as a blood connection. If we can rescue Miss Mila and the Blade of Souls, she’ll have the advantage over Chandler and Norwind.”
“You think she’d help us?”
“Miss Mila is honorable and strong. She will help us against Chandler. She won’t let him beco all-powerful.”
“That voice,” I whispered.
Soone stepped out of the crowd. It was Eros, he was the one who spoke!
How did Eros get here? The last ti I saw him, he was chained up in the basent of the inn.
Groaning, I shook my head. Eros was free and there was only one person I knew that would free him.
Ashley.
Eros was her mate, she loved him and believed he was a good man. She might have made a deal with him to prove it, though I wasn’t sure why he’d care. He didn’t seem all that concerned about Ashley’s safety before.
I bowed my head. She’d helped him escape, despite my orders. I’d have to deal with her appropriately.
Although, Eros didn’t seem to be there to cause problems... yet. He didn’t think the Moonstone of Blessing was real, because it wasn’t, yet he hadn’t tried to convince the others of that.
Beside , Payne gritted his teeth.
“Ashley helped him,” he growled, coming to the sa conclusion as .
He tensed and was about to jump out of our hiding place. I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
“Payne, rember why we are here. To save Mila,” I hissed in a sharp whisper.
Payne sighed and relaxed slightly but his eyes never left Eros. I was comforted to know that he could keep his cool or redirect his focus. Though, given the chance, I knew Payne would rip Eros to shreds.
“Once she’s safe, we can take care of Eros but now is not the right ti.”
Eros’s voice ca to us again.
“With both artifacts, the Blade of Souls and the Moonstone of Blessing, Norwind can easily take over any other pack.”
“Then we must take down Chandler!” soone yelled.
“Take down Chandler! Take down Chandler! Take down Chandler!”
The whole crowd started to cheer. The noise grew louder, echoing off the trees and the mountains.
My stomach was uneasy. Was this Eros’s plan, get rid of Chandler and take over Norwind? I already knew he wanted Chandler out of the way.
“Take down Norwind! Take down Norwind! Take down Norwind!”
“Save Mila! Save Mila! Save Mila!”
The cheers grew louder and spread through the entire gathered group.
Eros moved to the front of the group, leading the chant, and heading toward the temple. The others followed him readily.
That was a bad sign. Eros would love that power and control. He might have been the one to unify the packs for the ti being, but I didn’t plan on him becoming an ally, no matter what Ashley tried to tell .
Eros was bad news.
I looked at my n solemnly. This was our big mont. It pained to send them off into this ss because I knew so of them might not make it back.
“Follow them.”
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