Rushing towards the boardroom while frantically clipping my hair into a bun, I dodge an Omega with their arms full of clean linen. A week has passed since Shadow Rose came to train with Crescent Phoenix and in that week Quincy has caused a fight and now lay in the infirmary after his punishment, being chained with silver cuffs for three days while staying in the dungeons. Ashton hasn’t left Devlyn’s side as the latter has yet to wake from a coma, and Quest has told Asteria that he and Ashton have talked to me and wish to leave the Pack when Rune and I take over Crescent Phoenix. Add on Rune finding out he can see visions of the future and that this power might be inherited by our pups in the future and I have no idea how I am still standing after the week I have had.
Not only that, but today I had a weekly checkup with Jasmin to see how my pregnancy is progressing which made me late to our war strategy meeting now that the two Packs are slowly working as a team. After our foraging session, Rune, Asteria, Tristan and I discussed a training routine that would work for both Packs. Those that would follow us to attack Pine Moon and the wolves Tristan brought would train in the morning in hand-to-hand combat where Crescent Phoenix would spar with Shadow Rose. From there, we would give them a few hours to relax before meeting at the forest edge at six in the afternoon to train both in stealth and foraging.
With these exercises, each team was given one mesh bag to protect. Rune, Caspian, Tristan, and I would sneak around the forest while they forage for wild herbs, vegetable and mushrooms and steal their mesh bags. From there, they would have to track down whoever stole their bag and steal it back before sneaking away and continuing their foraging. We decided that each team would receive a prize after each training session.
The only catch we had was that you could not team up with the same wolf twice and this rule seemed to be working as after the initial awkwardness, the wolves get into a rhythm with one protecting the bag while the other forages before switching their role after an hour had passed.
“Sorry I am late.” I pant out as I burst into the board room, Rune smiling as he pulls out the seat beside him and helps me settle in. I receive a peck on the cheek before he moves to the mini fridge in the corner and returns with a bottle of water and a bottle of apple juice, both for me.
“It’s fine. Rune told us you had a check-up with Jasmin.” Asteria waves me off, a smile on her lips.
“How is everything going?” Gale asks, Rune settling beside me. I look around the table to find Tristan with Delilah and Michael, Avery being busy with training the wolves today in our stead with Milan at her side.
“Good. Jasmin says I can still fight in four weeks but not any time after that.” I answer, getting a sigh from Rune. He and I still disagree on my joining the fight but he agreed that as long as I am at his side fighting alongside him, he won’t protest against me fighting in the battle for Pine Moon that is to come.
“Rune told me about your little bundle of fur coming in a few months. Congratulations by the way.” Michael chimes from his seat, a smile on the burly man’s face. I turn to scowl at Rune, watching my Mate ignore my stare with a grin on his face. He knows I do not want many people to know about our pup. Knows that I am not ready to continue sharing until we have reached the twelve-week mark – which so happens to be in three weeks time. The time we leave to take back Pine Moon.
“So, about our plan.” Rune states, trying to change the subject. I let out a small growl of annoyance, everyone in the room looking on in amusement.
“You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.” I state, turning away from my Mate who finally decides to look my way.
“What? No!” He shouts, reaching out and trying to take my hand in his. I push it away, deciding to be petty for now. Delilah chuckles, telling Rune he should have kept his mouth shut while Michael tries to apologize. I reassure him he did nothing wrong. That it is Rune’s fault for telling everyone I am pregnant once again and that he needs to face the consequences of his actions.
I explain that Asteria was the first to blurt out my pregnancy when I wasn’t ready to announce it yet at our first meeting to which Gale chimes in stating I proceeded to beat some revenge into her during training. This has Asteria looking at her Mate with a glare before she turns to Rune.
“You should count yourself lucky that you are sleeping on the couch tonight.” She states with a smirk on her face.
“After the last time you did something to piss Brynlee off where she handed your ass to you on a silver platter, sleeping on the couch is an easy punishment instead of being dragged to the sparing ring again.” The room bursts into laughter at this and Gale has to go into details on how Rune said I would be an Alpha beside him, having an equal say in how to rule a Pack at our first meeting. From there, Rune put his foot in his mouth by stating that I would not be fighting in this battle beside him. Of course, Caspian had to be the one to explain the next part, that I lead him to the training facilities and right to the sparing ring to fight him. Tristan looks from me to Caspian, then back to me, disbelief in his eyes.
“You did not hand my god-brother a well-deserved ass whooping?” He asks in awe, making me snort out a laugh.
“I did. He could barely move, let alone sit for the rest of the day and well into the next morning.” I answer. Delilah stands from her seat, rushing to my side to hug me. I smile, accepting the friendly Luna’s embrace as she asks me when I will hand Tristan a good ass whooping since our original day was canceled because of Quincy’s outburst. I happily state tomorrow morning during our sparing session and she squeals in delight, plopping down onto the empty seat next to me while Tristan grumbles about his Mate being a bloodthirsty midget.
“Now that we have everyone here, lets start our meeting.” Holten chimes in from beside Gale, a smile on our Lawyer’s face. We all settle into our respective seats with Holten bringing up the chat between Valor and his allies on screen.
“It seems their attack is nearing its final planning stage.” Asteria begins to explain, standing from her chair and moving toward the screen. Holton minimizes the chat so that it takes up the top left corner of the screen before bringing up a map of Crescent Phoenix territory with dots drawn along the border in three points.
“From what we can tell, three packs will be attacking from here.” She continues, pointing to the North-Western side of the Pack.
“Here.” Her hand moves to the Eastern side.
“And here.” She finally lands on the south side of the Pack border. I can see the plan our enemies have in mind and ask Holten if he can pass me the laptop. He obliges, passing the laptop to Gale who then hands it to Jett and then to Rune. Once it reaches me, I immediately use the tracking pad to draw on the map, everyone in the room watching the screen.
“Fuck.” Jett curses, moving to stand beside Asteria.
“Valor is using the pincer technique your dad came up with, Brynlee.” He states, following the arrows I drew. The pincer technique requires three tree teams to form a triangle of sorts around a pack border. The main force will be at the points with wolves slowly moving inwards and out until the attacker reaches the center of the targeted Pack – the Pack House – and the wolves performing this attack have captured or killed everyone in their wake. For me to recognize my father’s work so quickly means Valor is as stupid as we thought he was.
“So what does this mean?” Caspian asks, staring at the screen in confusion.
“It means the attack will likely happen faster than we thought. My guess is in another three weeks.” I answer, anger rising inside me.
“What should we do then? This new information changes our intended plans.” Tristan is the one to voice this concern now and everyone agrees, their eyes turning to look at Rune and I. Our plan was to leave Crescent Phoenix for Pine Moon in three weeks. With this update, we won’t be able to stick to our original strategy and will need to move our attack up.
“If we want to win this fight, we will need to leave for Pine Moon in about ten days to catch them off guard.” I state, feeling Rune take my hand in his and squeezing it gently.
“Our strategy will stay the same, go in at night, take out all the Warriors and guards and make our way into the Pack House to bring Valor and Tanya out and kill them execution style.” My eyes move from the screen before me to look at each and every wolf in the room. I was hoping to train with everyone for another two weeks before we finalized our travel arrangement to get to Pine Moon, but it seems like the cards just isn’t in our favor.
“I can work on coordinating Omegas who can drive you all to Pine Moon.” Holten volunteers, motioning for his laptop to be brought back to him. Once again we play hot potato with the laptop until it is sitting on the table in front of its rightful owner.
Holten is quick to put the map of Crescent Phoenix in the top left corner of the large screen while bringing up a new map, one I recognize as Pine Moon.
“We can have each van placed in specific locations just outside of Pine Moon borders. Devlyn’s friends have already been cleared as allies and over the last five days I have been conversing with them on patrol schedules.” He continues, pushing his glasses higher up on the bridge of his nose as he begins to place pearl-wide dots around Pine Moon.
“They have all switched to being on night patrol as of tonight. So no matter what day we attack on, we will be able to sneak in and work quickly.” I watch as a list of wolves with their pictures beside their names pop up on the screen. Holten then explains that each wolf will wear a white bandana indicating they are our allies in this fight. Our wolves will also wear the same bandanas so that they know not to attack us if we are seen sneaking past Pine Moon borders.
“Asteria, have you talked to anyone in the infirmary to see if they can work on some drugs for us? Something like a low dose of wolfsbane that we can inject into any Warriors who are not on our side and drag them to the Pack House?” Gale is the one to ask this, turning to look at Asteria who has returned to her seat by now.
“I have. The only wolf I can trust is Jasmin and she has already prepared everything for us. Holten, she is waiting for you to talk to her and plan out how to use the drugs.” Asteria answers, turning her attention to Holten. Pride swells in me at the mention of my friend and doctor. I had just seen her today too and now knowing she has kept this secret of helping us in our war efforts makes me happy to know she is on our side.
“Good to know. I will check in with Jasmine later so I can divide the drugs equally among our wolves. Tristan, will you be okay with mixing our men into each van?” Holten asks, his fingers flying along the keyboard as out plan is slowly hashed out.
“Yeah, that works with me, Holten. We have been training them to work together this past week so my men should be fine working with any Crescent Phoenix wolf.” Tristan answers Holten’s question, the other wolf nodding in satisfaction. Our meeting finishes twenty minutes later, and Holten rushes off to deal with the final preparation for equipment and transportation with Delilah volunteering to help him. I stand, ready to go to the training facility when both Rune and Asteria stop me in my tracks, the duo staring at me with stern gazes.
“You are going home to the cottage to sleep.” Rune orders, taking my hand gently in his and leading me out of the board room. I turn to look at Asteria who is walking behind me, my godmother not allowing me to protest at all.
“Rune told me you have been running yourself ragged the last two weeks preparing to take down Valor and Tanya. You need a break Brynlee.” Her voice is soft yet stern, filled with motherly love. Any protest I have has died down and reluctantly I allow Rune to take me to my truck with Asteria following behind and making sure I am obediently listening to her and my Mate.
“Tristan, Rune, and I can continue planning. You, on the other hand, can rest and relax. If anything, Rune can fill you in on what we have done later tonight.” Asteria added while I was climbing into the passenger side of my truck with Rune’s help.
“Okay. I’ll take today off, but that’s it. We leave in ten days and I need to make sure everyone is prepared.” I concede, Asteria pressing a kiss to my cheek and giving me a tight hug after Rune stepped aside to allow her access to me. Rune sighs with relief, happy to know I am not arguing with him on this decision. Truth is, I am exhausted. Training wolves and keeping up with the Pack schedule and Beta duties while pregnant is a heavy workload. One I am happy to be rid of for a day, maybe two if Rune convinces me to take tomorrow off.
Speaking of Rune, my Mate hugs his Aunt, promising to return as soon as I am safely tucked away at home before climbing into the driver's side while Asteria closes my door. In moments the truck is pulling away from the Pack House, windows down and fresh air filling the cabin. I watch the scenery pass by, waving at the pups that play in the yards. I can tell that Rune is taking his time by how slow he drives, wanting me to enjoy the ride and relax.
It works as I slowly feel my eyelids grow heavy as the exhaustion finally sets in until the last thing I see is the lilac bush when we pull up in front of the cottage.