Sitting under the willow tree just outside the Pack House, I take a deep breath enjoying the fresh air. In the distance, the sound of childish laughter can be heard as pups chase after a ball that they found in the Pack House storage room. After the meeting has ended, I went to my office to continue my regular Beta duties. Planning training and hunting schedules with Quest and Quincy before noting who will be ready to advance in ranks in our army.
Quincy suggested the Pack should know about the upcoming battle. I didn’t agree with this, stating that only our Warriors should be informed to prevent chaos and anxiety inside the Pack but ultimately it wasn’t my decision. Instead, I told Quincy to bring this idea to Asteria and Gale. Next thing I knew they were calling for a Pack meeting with all wolves over the age of eighteen. Asteria was the one to explain the situation to the Pack. How we had a spy sneak into Crescent Phoenix and give information to Valor.
As I thought, many wolves were worried about their safety considering that many of our Pack Mates either were once Rogues in need of a Pack or suffered at the hands of Valor and came to Crescent Phoenix for a safe and secure life. I stepped in, reassuring them that a plan of action was taking place and that no one would lose their life or livelihood because of the situation we found ourselves in. We kept the fact that Rune and I were planning to take Pine Moon back from them, not wanting to reveal our plans to stop any sort of information from being leaked.
After that, Asteria told everyone that they are free to inform their pups of this news. That the training facilities will be open twenty-four-seven for those who wish to become stronger or increase their self-defense knowledge.
Many of our stronger Warriors stepped up and volunteered to help with training those who seek it, especially if pups were to request more in-depth training than the basics they receive currently. Many wolves were happy with this arrangement, and even happier to be kept in the loop of what was going on.
“Thought I would find you here.” Rune calls out as he parts the willow tree branches, stepping under the cover the tree provides.
“Yeah. It’s been a long day and I thought hiding here would be the best decision.” I shrug, smiling at my Mate.
“That it has.” He groans out as he takes a seat beside me, his vanilla and mint scent wrapping around me. I take another deep breath, feeling myself relax further. Rune was busy with his tasks after the meeting. He stayed back to help Gale search the cell phone taken from Devlyn to see if they could fuse the network access to see if they can find the contacts to Valor’s allies before Devlyn, Jett, and Ashton brought in the list of wolves Devlyn believes would help us. From there, the two spent time calling Gale’s friends until Asteria called the Pack meeting.
“I am just glad that we have six weeks until our fight with Valor and Tanya. Killing them will be the best reward for our society.” He grumbles, lying under the willow tree with his head on my lap. I smile, running my fingers through his black hair as I study his face. Gone are the scars from when I clawed his face. His skin is just as perfect as the night we found out we were mates. Not only that, but it seems the mark of a Betrayer is gone as well. I never noticed that it had vanished until now, too busy dealing with all that life threw at me since Rune rescued me. To see that the only thing marring his skin is my Mate Mark, a crescent moon with a lilac stem cutting through it, makes me happy.
“I agree. I can’t wait to sink my claws into Tanya’s and her goons’ flesh. They owe me years of misery.” I agree instantly. Rune pops up at this, turning as best as he can from his position to look at me with possessiveness.
“You aren’t fighting!” He exclaims, his tone low and serious.
“Yes, I am.” I counter, frowning at my Mate. Killing Tanya and Valor and taking back Pine Moon is my plan to begin with.
“No. I am not risking you and our pup being injured during the battle. You can come with us and give orders from a distance, but you are not fighting.” He refutes, running a hand through his hair. I can tell that Rune is frustrated, can feel it through the bond, but I will not be backing down.
“Rune Stearling, I am not going to be hiding away like some damsel in distress. I will be fighting alongside you as your equal.” I argue back, standing to my feet and marching towards the willow branches.
“Brynlee, come back here!” He calls out, his words ending in a growl as he follows me.
“Brynlee!” I ignore him as I push the branches aside and step out from under the tree, the breeze brushing past me.
“Brynlee!” I turn around as Rune has caught up to me, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“Where are you going? We need to talk about this.” He questions; his eyes filled with anger. I shake off his hand and take a few steps back before deciding to answer him.
“We are going to the training grounds and I am going to show you just how sure I am about joining this fight.” I state, glaring at my Mate.
“If you want to fight about me joining the battle and tearing apart our enemies' flesh, then I am going to kick your ass until you are on the training ring floor ready to apologize to me.” I continue, turning on my heels and marching towards the training grounds. Rune follows after me, calling my name and telling me to talk this out with him. But I know Rune. He is just as stubborn as I am. Except his stubbornness is all about keeping me locked away somewhere safe whereas mine is about keeping my independence while being with him.
I walk past many buildings, Rune moving from calling out my name in the open to trying to link me and make me see reason. At one-point Asteria links me, asking me what is going on as I dodge Rune’s attempts to grab my hand, arm, or shoulder, and I explain that Rune doesn’t want me to fight beside him when we take back Pine Moon. She just told me to beat some sense into him considering he wants to make me his equal and become an Alpha beside him and I wholeheartedly agreed with her.
By the time I had reached the training grounds, word had spread that Rune and I would be sparing for some unknown reason and a crowd had gathered to watch. Not many people have seen me spar as my duties keep me in my office most days. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t watched me take down a moose or a buck mid-summer to fill our freezers with fresh prey.
“Brynlee! I am not fighting you.” Rune growls out as I step into the ring and turn to face him.
“Either you fight me and prove my strength, or you sleep on the couch tonight, and every night until you apologize to me.” I call back. Wolves around us whisper, wondering what fight their Beta pair had gotten into to make me so mad. Some speculate that Rune called me weak and this one came close to the truth.
“Brynlee, you know why I won't fight you!” Rune tries to reason. By now Caspian, Odette, and Quincy have entered the building, the three wolves standing behind Rune.
“Do we want to know what is going on now?” Caspian asks, a frown on my sworn brother’s face. Deciding that stating the problem out in the open is a bad idea, I open a mind link and pull Rune, Quincy, Odette, and Caspian into it.
[Did Quincy and Quest fill you in about our plan to take Pine Moon from Valor and Tanya and kill those two?] I ask.
[Yes. Caspian and I are going to join you.] Odette answers, brows furrowed in confusion.
[What does this have to do with you wanting to fight your Mate?] She asks in return.
[Rune says I am not allowed to fight beside him because I am a liability.] I answer, my gaze still on my Mate while I wait silently for him in the ring.
[Brynlee is the strongest she-wolf we know. Why would she be a liability Rune?] This time Caspian asks a question, his confused gaze on Rune.
[Because she is with pup. It’s why I was so hell-bent on hurting Odette a few weeks ago when she and Brynlee were sparing.] Rune answers. I can feel the shock emanating off of Odette and Caspian at this reveal, Caspian looking between Rune and me.
[How…I mean I know how, but when?] Caspian asks, running a hand through his hair.
[Happened because of my forced heat. But right now I need to beat some sense into Rune. I refuse to allow him to order me about the way Valor ordered Luna Clairice about. I am his equal, not his property.] I answer, growing impatient.
[You know that’s not why I said I don’t want you fighting.] Rune argues back, snarling in exasperation.
[I don’t want you or our pup getting injured.]
[Dude, you could barely handle them when we lived in Pine Moon. You need Brynlee at your side in this battle.] Caspian chimes in with a shrug, getting a glare and a growl of warning from Rune.
[He is right, Rune. You said yourself that Brynlee would be an Alpha ruling beside you. Not a Luna that needs to be kept behind you.] Quincy says, becoming the voice of reason.
[Now either apologize to Brynlee and accept she is fighting beside you or join the ring and prove your point that she should stay out of danger.] he adds, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Fine!” Rune shouts, striding towards the ring.
“I will show you that you should listen to me and just stay put and stay safe.” I smirk, feeling his frustration and anger swirling in the Mate bond. The crowd cheers as Rune kicks off his sneakers and I do the same, the two of us circling each other in the ring.
Then, as if a bell only we can hear rings around the building, we rush towards each other, our fists in the air as our fight begins.