by Leia Stone
Then I was focusing all of my energy on getting Sawyer and Walsh out of prison.
We exited the mess hall, and my mom and Raven were there holding and cooing at Creek. I slowed my approach and my mom held him out to me. Taking him in my arms, I gave him a little snuggle and kissed the top of his head. He craned his neck into my chest, searching for my boobs. My boobs hurt; they felt rock hard, full of milk, and I knew nothing about how to dry them out, but I did know that I was raised on formula and I turned out okay. If I wanted to go after Sawyer and be fighting a war to regain Wolf City, I was going to have to take trips away from my baby and stop breastfeeding.
“Mommy has to go plan a big escape. Can you stay with Grandma and Auntie Raven a little longer?” I asked Creek.
“Of course!” my mom and Raven said simultaneously.
I looked up at mom. “Mom, how do I … dry out the girls? Assuming we have enough formula in stock?” I pointed to my chest.
She nodded in understanding, cheeks reddening as Rab and Arrow suddenly turned their backs on us to give us privacy.
“We have more than enough, and I know it’s a tough decision, but I think given your situation, it might be best. You just stop. It will be painful, and you can hand express to get a little relief, but naturally you will dry up.”
My throat tightened in emotion at the thought of just stopping breastfeeding; it had become so natural to me. Definitely freaked me out in the beginning, but then it was this amazing thing that kept my kid alive.
I nodded, kissing Creek’s head, and handed him back to her.
“It’s best if someone else bottle feeds him until you dry out so he doesn’t smell your milk. Is it okay if I take over the feedings?” my mom asked.
Emotion welled up inside of me, a deep sadness that Creek wouldn’t need me as much for survival anymore, but I knew this was for the best given our current situation.
I just nodded. “Thanks, Mom,” I croaked. “Thanks, Raven,” I added, and pulled my bestie in for a hug.
She squeezed me hard. “I love you, but you smell.”
I burst into laughter and pulled back with a smile.
“Please tell me we have hot water here,” Sage called out behind me.
Rab nodded. “This way. I’ll show you the lavatories.”
Thirty minutes later, every square inch of my body had been scrubbed with a coconut vanilla, yummy-smelling soap and I’d shaved off all of my body hair. I scrubbed my scalp so hard it hurt, massaging my hand all the way to the ends with the sudsy soap. The conditioner was heaven; my hair had never felt so smooth.
“Holy crap, that was…” Sage looked at me wide-eyed with her bright red hair tied up into a damp knot. She was wearing some military-issued black fatigues, same as me, and we stood in the locker room style shower staring at each other with our newfound cleanness.
“Pretty amazing.” I grinned.
Sage smiled, but then her face fell a little. “I mean … not as pretty as hearing the bubbling creek after you stepped out of the shower and looking onto the thick forest.”
We both stared at the concrete walls with dismay.
“No. It’s not,” I agreed. I would always have a love-hate relationship with the Dark Woods. They made me realize I needed nature, but also kept me from those that I loved. We brushed our teeth and flossed, and then stepped out to find Arrow waiting for us.
“Meeting is this way. We’ve got Rab, Eugene, and then Star. She’s the leader of the defector witches. And also Rick. He’s the representative of the Independent Society of Werewolves.”
I stopped and stared at Arrow with my mouth hung open. “The what?”
That was good that we had some witches in here with us. I was going to need magical help, but Independent Society of Werewolves? What the hell was that?
Arrow sighed. “They formed after Sawyer was taken. They claim to need nor have no leader, nor follow any laws, and just want to exist harmoniously and not take sides with anyone.”
I snorted. “That’s fucking convenient.” This Rick character was about to get his ass handed to him, because I wasn’t in the mood for a bunch of freeloaders.
Arrow stopped in front of a large metal door and pulled it open, ushering us inside. Sage and I stepped into the dimly lit room, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d just walked into a coffin. The entire feeling of being underground was suffocating.
The four leaders sat around a metal table, and quieted as I approached.
Eugene and Rab nodded to me in respect and I did so in return. Then I focused on the witch. Her long black hair was dyed purple at the tips, and she was younger than I expected. She looked about my age. Her fingernails were extra long and bright lime green, and she wore a flowing black dress that skimmed the floor.
“Hi, I’m Demi. Alpha of the werewolves.” I extended my hand to her.
“Star, leader of the Witches’ Revolution.” She took my hand and shook it with a firm grasp, which I liked. I also liked that she led the Witches’ Revolution.
“Happy to have you here,” I told her, then I narrowed my eyes on the giant man who sat with his arms crossed over his chest, making his biceps pop. He was in his late forties and wore a white crisp linen top with some kind of crystal shard around his neck. He smelled of patchouli oil and indecision, and I immediately didn’t like him.
“Hi. Rick, is it?” I pinned him with a direct gaze. “I’ve been informed the Independent Society of Werewolves has no leader and no laws, so you can leave now.”
His mouth popped open, and Star, who sat next to him, grinned.
“It’s true we don’t believe in hierarchy, or a chain of command, but I was assured we would be respected in the decision-making process of what happens to this community as a whole.” He looked at me like I was a savage, and for some reason it pleased me.
Leaning forward, pressing both palms to the table, I stared him down. “This is a room for leaders. This is a room for people who are about to decide how to end a war. This is a room for men and women who make hard decisions that later their people will benefit from. You are not that person. Go. Now.”
He stood so fast his chair skidded backward, the metal scraping against the concrete so loud that it made my skin crawl. I missed the sounds of the birds and the bubbling creek right now.
“This is why we don’t want leaders. You’re all bullies,” he snapped.
He moved to step past me, and I snaked to the right, lining up to block his path so that he was forced to stare me down. “When we leave, you’re welcome to come and follow my command and my rules. Or you can stay and see how long the food lasts down here. It’s your choice.”
He swallowed hard, nervousness crawling into his features, then I stepped aside and he left the room.
It was a bad way to start a new leadership position, but I was inheriting a shitty situation in which I had to act extra hardcore now so I wouldn’t be challenged later. After what Rab told me had been going on in my absence, it was necessary. Sawyer wasn’t here, so I was going to have to lead two packs and take no shit lest I have complete chaos on my hands.
“Sorry about that,” I told everyone left in our group. “I just want to make sure that later on down the line, everything runs smoothly and there are no freeloaders. It’s going to take a lot of work to fit everyone in Paladin Village and live off the land.”
Rab nodded and so did Eugene.
“Witches are fine with hard work. We just want sunshine and fresh air,” Star said. “How can we help?”
I relaxed, grateful to have her so easily committing to hard work. “Rab, how did you get the thousands of Paladins in here without being seen or smelled? We’re going to need to get everyone out. Probably over multiple days, hopefully without anyone knowing until we are all back on Paladin land and in a strong place to protect ourselves.”
Rab nodded to Star. “Star and her coven helped. They did a spell that masked scent and sound, and we snuck people in through the hedge in the dead of night.”<
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The hedge was a godsend, but twenty-four thousand people was a lot. “We have a lot of people to get out, and I’d like to do it over a maximum of two days. I don’t think the vampires will care to even go into the Wild Lands. It’s the Ithaki we will have to contend with.”
Eugene nodded. “I can attest that most of the Magic City territories avoid the Wild Lands. As long as we lay low in Paladin Village, they probably won’t even notice we are there.”
Sage cleared her throat behind me. I’d totally forgotten she was even here. “Do the vampires know that a bunch of us survived?” she asked.
Great question.
Eugene nodded. “We overheard them saying there weren’t enough dead bodies to have gotten all of us. They know we are hiding somewhere.”
Rab tipped his head. “And you’re sure it’s safe to go back? The fungus is gone? We can grow food again? Clean water?”
I smiled, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “I promise.” I couldn’t explain my experience in the cave if I tried. Someone would have me committed. But I saw the land heal before my eyes, Astra too. “It’s time to go home,” I assured him.
“I saw it on my way out,” Sage piped up behind me again. “Green grass all growing back, fields showed new growth too.” Her voice held pride.
Why was she still standing? Did she not think she had permission to sit or something? I pulled out a chair next to me and patted the seat. “Oh, by the way, Sage is my second-in-command. You can bring any concerns you have to her and she’ll get them to me.”
Rab bristled for a second, maybe thinking I would give the honor to him, but she pulled a baby from my vagina and we’d been through hell together, so it was always going to be her. My ride or die.
“Alright.” Rab cleared his throat.
“Fine by me,” Star added.
“Welcome to the leaders’ table.” Eugene winked at her.
I looked up to see her swallow hard, frozen like a deer in headlights. Pulling on her wrist, I yanked her into the seat and carried on.
“The second we get everyone to Paladin Village, I want to build up security first. A huge fence, patrols, and lookouts. That goes before our comforts, understood?”
They all nodded.
“And then when I feel we are settled and safe, I will take Sage and leave to get Sawyer. Leaving you three in charge while I’m gone. Can you handle that?”
Rab puffed up his chest a little at that and they all nodded at the same time.
“Okay…” I cracked my knuckles. “Give me every idea you have on how to get us all out of here in the shortest amount of time without tipping off the vampires. I don’t want them knowing how many of us are left. Best to surprise them with that later, when we take back Wolf City.”
Over the next hour, everyone shouted out wild ideas while Sage scribbled them down furiously and we tore each one apart for weak points. The witches were low on supplies for spell casting and needed to make a supply run if they were to shroud that many people. We decided that Sage’s crazy distraction to get her and Creek inside was actually something brilliant that could be recreated on a larger scale to draw any vampire or fey patrols away from the bunker while we snuck out. We determined even at a brisk pace it would take four hours to move twenty-four thousand people, and that’s with everyone packed and having practiced a dry run and being fully prepared.
“How do you draw someone away for over four hours…” I mused aloud. My eyes fell to the cuffs on my wrist, and then it came to me.
“They still want me,” I breathed, tracing my finger over the cuff. “What if I lead them on a wild goose chase?”
“Too dangerous,” Rab inserted.
“No way!” Sage yelled.
“You could be caught,” Eugene piped in.
Star was silent, and I looked at her.
“Aren’t you like super vampire fast and can walk through walls and stuff?” She looked at the cuffs on my wrists and I smiled. The rumor mill had gone around even in my absence.
“My wolf can walk through walls yes, and I am very fast.”
Star shrugged. “I mean if you can outrun a vampire, then I think it’s safe to say you have a great chance of not getting caught.”
She was so right. Everyone here was trying to protect me, which I admired, but what the hell was I afraid of? If I took off the cuffs and let the vamps scent me, then I could lead them on a chase while everyone got out. Then I would just put the cuffs back on when I wanted to hide again.
“What if we could get everyone out in one night? I could take off the cuffs, lead them away from the Wild Lands, and then put them back on and meet up with you.”
“Run for four hours straight! That’s too long. You’ll collapse from exhaustion.”
He was probably right, but wasn’t that what marathoners did?
“I could take them off and on as I needed breaks. I hiked the mountain in the Dark Woods every day for a nearly a year. I’m in the best shape of my life. I can do this.”
“And she can control bears!” Sage blurted out, and every person at the table’s eyes went wide.
“I’m not sure how useful that will be in the city.” I laughed.
Sage shook her head. “No. What I mean is … I think you used … compulsion. I think you could do it again on a lower-level vampire to confuse them.”
Compulsion was a myth, right? But in that moment I was reminded of the piece of paper Sawyer tore out of that book that explained split shifters. Didn’t it say they could do compulsion?
Star leaned forward, eyes wide. “You can compulse?”
I squirmed in my seat. “I mean, I did once to a bear, maybe twice, but…”
Everyone was staring at me like I was an alien.
Eugene looked intrigued. “It wouldn’t work on the queen or those high up in her coven, but a lower-level vampire for sure.”
That was good to know.
“So we’re doing this?” I asked. “One night? Get everyone out and then I’ll meet you back at Paladin Village when I know it’s safe?”
Everyone regarded each other, eyes darting around the room to find someone to disagree with.
“We can’t stay down here much longer … and getting out into the open air, building a community together, it would be good for morale,” Eugene said.
“Then it’s settled!” I smacked my open palm on the table.
“Hold up.” Rab put his fingers out in a gesture of calm. “And what’s the plan if we get caught and war breaks out again?”
He was right. We needed a fallback plan for that. “Eugene, do we still have a good weapons cache?”
He nodded. “The base level is full of them.”
“Any grenades?” I raised one eyebrow, and he nodded with a smile.
“Okay, if we get caught, you run east toward the Witch Lands and we funnel them into the Wild Lands at the border. There we will set off the grenades as a distraction, before doubling back and going back into hiding,” I told them.
“Genius.” Rab sat up. “I can set the traps tonight with Arrow. When are we doing this?”
I wanted to get to Sawyer as soon as possible. “Tomorrow night. Start preparing everyone now. One bag each person, only what they can carry, and they will line up in alphabetical order of family last name. Do a trial run in the morning of the lineup.”
“I’ll sneak out with Rab and Arrow later tonight with one of my witches and get the spell supplies needed,” Star added.
We had a plan. My first real day as alpha and I didn’t completely screw it up.
I looked at Rab. “Where is medical? I need to check on Astra.”
I needed to make sure my number one fan was okay.
Astra was lying in the fetal position on a cot in the medical ward, fast asleep. I’d spoken to the doctor who treated her, a nice submissive wolf in his late fifties. He said he’d given her IV fluids and a feeding tube for the time being, but he was confident he could take it out by morning. He just wanted to load her up with nu
trients, and she was too weak to chew and swallow right now. My heart twisted in agony as I saw bones protruding from her back in her thin hospital gown. This young girl had been through hell for me, and it was important to me to take care of her from now on.
“Alpha,” she croaked, and I scrambled to the other side of her bed where I could face her. She looked up at me with heavy eyes. The doctor said he’d given her some pain medication to ease the discomfort of the feeding tube while her shifter healing kicked in.
“Astra.” I fell to my knees before her and took her small hands in mine. “I just wanted to check on you. I’m getting us out of here, back to Paladin Village, and everything is going to be okay.”
“I heard you in your despair,” she said softly, eyes closing in exhaustion. I frowned, confused.
“What?”
She blinked a few times as if her eyelids were too heavy to hold up. “In the Dark Woods, when you were at your lowest point and you cried out to God. I heard it.”
Chills raced up my spine. I didn’t know if she was being serious or just high as a kite. But there was one night, on my third day there, before I found the cabin, that I was starving, thirsty, and helpless, and I’d screamed at the sky, aiming my desperation at the man upstairs.
“I knew you would come back. I knew you would make it. And now everything is going to be fine.” She smiled, her eyes rolling closed as she fell asleep, the steady rise and fall of her chest making me sleepy as well.
I wondered what it was like to live with that much blind faith in something. I wasn’t capable of it, but she clearly was. Faith in me, in God, in everything. This small thing had more faith than our entire pack combined, and I wasn’t going to let her down.
Leaning forward, I placed a kiss on her cheek and made a promise to make the world a safer and better place for people like Astra.
Sleeping next to little Creek, all snuggled in a soft bed with real blankets and pillows, was heaven. Sage slept above us on the top bunk of a shared room. Rab said he could arrange for me to have some fancy captain’s quarters and kick a family out that was sharing it, but I insisted I be treated like everyone else. It was only for one night anyway, and I didn’t think Sage and I were ready to live separate lives just yet. We hadn’t said it out loud, but we’d both become each other’s support and comfort person over our time in the Dark Woods. Coming back to reality was nice, but also a shock. We needed to ease into it.
