THE DEBRIEFING
After lunch the King called a meeting with his important advisers and the Midnight Moons Alpha out of respect since it was his lands they were on, Isabelle was shocked to discover the King had requested her presence too.
Isabelle walked into the room and took in the raw power that radiated in it.
The room was filled with the King, the Queen, the five Royal guards, the King's three Beta's, Alpha Darren and Isabelle mate Jake who held out his hand and smiled at her reassuringly.
Isabelle took Jake's offered hand and stood beside him then she looked around at the Werewolf's faces in the room and was surprised to discover that despite the power emanating from them they were all smiling at her in welcome and looked friendly. " Thank you for joining us Isabelle please have a seat. " The King requested as Jake pulled out the seat next to him and Isabelle compliantly sat down returning everyone's smile as she did.
" Isabelle I have asked that you join us today as we need you too if you're ready to debrief us on yesterdays events in full so we can document them and respond accordingly. Are you able to do that? "
Isabelle nodded as she replied " yes. Kin.... I mean Soreen..." Jake chuckled
" You'll get used to it I promise. " The King smiled " We are listening when you are ready, we will let you tell us what happened and we will hold our questions until the end, please take your time to remember everything."
Isabelle looked nervous before beginning " well the Rogue Alpha was preparing for our mating ceremony.... "
Half an hour had passed and Isabelle had told them everything in great detail and the whole time despite their shock at events and admiration for her actions the group stayed respectfully quiet.
" I am so proud of you my love, thank you for saving my life and I am so sorry I couldn't help. I had no idea he knew I was there and I honestly thought it was the safest way to get you out unharmed. " Jake said turning to look at her and holding her hand.
" I know you did and it was the right call I believe if you had bought your army he would have slaughtered them using magic and then the same would have happened anyway only worse as without your army spotting the fleeing Rogues the Kings army wouldn't have been able to step in and save us both. " Isabelle replied.
" You are incredibly brave and strong, I have never heard of a wolf powerful enough to take on 60 Rogues near single-handed and after battling some on of the Rogues and his Beta's power. " the King said in awe and his advisers nodded in agreement.
" There is one thing however Isabelle, I ordered some of my armies to say behind to clear the scene as it would not do for humans to witness it as it would only lead to their questions and of course the council of hunters becoming aware of our existence possibly leading to further dangers for our people, the solider's who stayed behind found the 81 Rogue bodies that were killed in battle and the assassin killed by my mate as well as 118 bodies of the Rogues who fled and the Rogue Alpha body, however they did not find Damien's body or that of the two remaining Rogues meaning Damien and two Rogues may still be at large.... "
A loud gasp burst out in the room in the realisation that the King could be right.
" But that's impossible.... Isabelle gutted him and the two Rogues couldn't stay hidden from a whole army who were hunting them surely! The solider's must have counted wrong and missed his body... if Isabelle gutted him maybe his body parts were mixed up with that of another wolfs? It was carnage after all limbs were littered everywhere. " The Queen suggested.
" I am afraid not my love, I ordered the solider's to behead all the corpses and line the heads up to count them as the battle was too bloody to be able to count the bodies themselves as most were already dismembered and there was too much blood. " The King said solemnly trying not to upset his mate at the news there may still be a threat. " Isabelle when you killed the Rogue Alpha you nearly beheaded him it was enough force to wound him fatally but when you fought Damien are you sure you struck him with equal force? " The King asked softly.
Isabelle replayed every scene from the battle with Damien in her head before replying sadly " No I am not. I struck him from shoulder to tail and his stomach was split open I could see some of his organs... there was blood everywhere but as I mentioned he distracted me by ordering some Rogues to attack Jake and my trainer and I was frightened for their safety and he managed to get a bite in... I managed to shake off his attack and that's when I struck a what I assumed was a fatal blow but the angel was awkward admittedly... it is possible I guess although very deep in some areas that my attack was not fatal due to Damien being a Beta he may have started to heal quickly and was either playing dead or was weakened and unconscious by the attack but not killed. " Isabelle said in shock as she came to terms with the possibility Damien might still be alive and looked at Jake slightly in fear.
" It's Okay Isabelle we just had to hear if it was possible or not so we can be prepared. He may not be alive maybe one of the Rogues took his body to bury it respectfully? But even if he is you killed the Rogue Alpha a Beta is no match for you and you will not be alone the whole kingdom will be searching for him and the two missing Rogues we will find him in no time do not worry dear. " The Queen said as she walked around the table and enveloped Isabelle, her newfound close friend into a calming hug just before Jake had the opportunity to do so.
The Queen cared deeply for Isabelle already and hated to see her upset. She was amazed by Isabelle's strength not just physical either but the mental strength Isabelle had to overcome so much hardship and to come out the other side as a kind person still the Queen greatly admired her, not to mention she owed Isabelle a great debt for saving her mates life - the thought of her mate dying was unbearable and Isabelle had earned her eternal gratitude and unwavering friendship the moment she had carried out the heroic deed." It will be okay Isabelle I promise. " The Queen smiled at her and Isabelle who had grown equally as fond of the Queen returned the smile.
" The Queen is right, Isabelle took on and killed our greatest enemy single-handed, one Beta and two Rogues are nothing to fear but we will use as many soldier's as it takes to hunt them down -not because they are a great threat but because the need to seek justice for the people affected by their past crimes is and we owe it to the people to deliver them justice. " The King said with an air of authority.
" Thank you, Isabelle, I know that must not of been easy sharing the torture he put you through with us or reliving your mates near death but it was very important information and because you were brave enough we managed to confirm our suspicions about Damien and the two Rogues, who we will catch in due course. " Said the tallest of the Kings Beta.
" Yes Lucas is right that was very brave of you Isabelle, but I believe that is it for now you may all go and spend the rest of the day how you wish but you must be gathered in the grande hall at 7 pm dressed in your best we have much to celebrate, and in the morning we will all be heading back to our own packs. Dismissed. " The King said and everyone but the Queen bowed and exited.
" That must of been very hard for you to relive Isabelle but I am so proud of you for being such a capable warrior, not every warrior can debrief after such a traumatic event the fact you could just shows what a great warrior you are. " Jake said proudly as he kissed her affectionately on the forehead.
" Thank you." Was all Isabelle managed to shyly reply as she was not used to so much praise?
" You look gorgeous when you blush." Jake laughed and Isabelle nudged him playfully in response.
"Okay sorry mind my wounds! " Jake mocked in fake defeat.
" What do you want to do for the rest of the day," Isabelle asked and Jake winked in response.
" Let me rephrase that, what would you like to do today other than have sex and risk harming your wounds" Isabelle asked as she smirked.
" Well, the Queen and Sophia that's the Midnight Moon pack Luna has just mind-linked every one informing us that we are to stay out the great hall so why do we go see your trainer who is under Mable's care and then we can go for a walk around the gardens before getting ready for tonight? "
" That sounds like a great plan. " Isabelle responded as she took Jake's offered arm and let him lead her towards the room the trainer was being housed. " Jake can I ask you something? " Isabelle asked shyly and Jake turned to look at her curious by her shy tone. " You can always ask me anything, my love. " Jake responded lovingly and Isabelle assured by his support continue " Why is it I can not mind-link yet? I have been trying to mind-link you and Carl since I phased and have had no success, shouldn't I be able to do it now since I am fully matured? "
" Well, I think it's because like I said before your mind-link with your pack as a pup was so violently served it may have shut off your ability to mind-link until you matured fully and your connection to your wolf was strong enough to reopen it, you're fully matured now but you've used up a lot of strength since you phased and it's exhausted you. You will be able to mind-link Isabelle I promise just like you'll master the your primal urges and reach your abilities fully potential it will just take time and you will need a good trainer and patience." Jake said comfortingly.
" Thank you for your reassurance, it just worries me I want to be the best Alpha for our pack I can be and I want them to be proud of me not embarrassed that I can't do something as simple as mind-link like a pup can. I look forward to working with the pack trainer when I get back home. "Isabelle said with a slight sadness thinking about having to leave her trainer.
" Listen Isabelle the pack love you, you are the best Alpha they could ask for you have always impressed them with your strength and abilities but the thing they appreciate most about you is your loyalty and kind heart, it was your loyalty and heart that saved me and then led the pack when I could do despite your own exhaustion putting on a brave face and acting strong for them when you were really feeling neither of those things, near every pack member has mind-linked me to say how lucky they are to have you and how proud of you they are since I woke... " Jake admitted making Isabelle speechless that the pack would so such a thing. " And you will mind-link eventually but for now you did something no one could do especially not a pup you killed the Rogue Alpha single handed you should be very proud of your accomplish- we are all very proud of you. " Tears of joy spilt from Isabelle's eyes at her mates kind and sincere words.
" One more thing though before we go and rescue your trainer from the terrors of Mable if you're sad about something please know you can always talk to me about it and I will listen always. " Jake said as he stroke her face lovingly.
" I don't understand... " Isabelle said genuinely confused.
" When I mentioned you would need training you said you will look forward to working with the pack trainer when you get home... but I know you were really actually sad about leaving your trainer behind and not seeing him again. "
" Oh... " Isabelle said it was a blessing and a curse sometimes having a mate that understood her so well as Isabelle wanted to avoid this upsetting topic and just enjoy her reunion with Jake and enjoy the time left she had with the trainer making happy memories without the sadness of officially knowing it was goodbye." Jake please, can we have this conversation tomorrow? I would like to use the time we have left to focus on making happy memories. " Isabelle said sadly.
" No Isabelle we can't. " Tears began to fall heavier from Isabelle's eyes this time tears of sadness.
" There is nothing to talk about Isabelle we mare going home tomorrow... all members of the Blood Fang Pack..." Isabelle nodded her head in understanding sadly. " You are a member of the pack Isabelle so your family automatically is as well....you once told me you saw him as family and he saw you as family too so if he would like to come home with us as long as he joins the pack officially he is welcomed. "
" OHH JAKE!!! " Isabelle ran into his arms and squeezed him tightly forgetting about his wounds until he moaned slightly. " Oh, your wounds... I am so sorry I am just so happy and I love you so much I forgot! " Isabelle giggled as she wiped the tears from her face and smiled.
" Don't thank me yet, it was my idea to put him under Mable's care the poor old wolf might not have been able to cope the whole night with Mable and ran off or been driven mad by now... " Jake teased.
" I am sure they are getting along wonderful but in case you're right come we better go and check on him and I would like to go and introduce you officially. "
Isabelle let Jake led them to the trainer's room and both went to visit him completely unaware of the war zone they were walking into.