Chapter 123
Cadron’s POV
Without any allies to depend upon, it was decided that we would send the bulk of our fores to the border to help premer from the looming Crimson Claw army. We were set to leave as a group the next morning. As Alphix, I would be leading the charge
Unfortunately, just as I was getting ready to spend the last night I would have in my bed for a very long time, Xavier came to my bedroom door.
“I’m sorry. Alpha, but a scout has returned from the front lines with more information,” he said. “This can’t wait til the morning. He carries vital news.”
“Very well,” I said and followed Xavier down to the meeting room where the scout was waiting. A few of my council was also there, though they weren’t speaking yet, clearly waiting for me to arrive.
When I did, we all nodded at each other and looked to the scout.
He was worn, sitting down and drinking deeply from a tall glass of water. He must have run the entire way here. His chest was still heaving, panting with breath.
“Alpha, I have desperate news,” the scout said.
“Report,” I said.
“We had assumed that the army belonged to the Crimson Claw, but a few of us ventured closer. We learned that this is not an official branch of that pack’s military at all,” the scout said.
The councilmembers exchanged worried glances.
“How can you be sure?” I asked.
“Because the group was packless, Alpha. They were rogues. A huge group of them running rampant all along the border. They’ve been hitting towns in both packs as they have traveled. We weren’t sure of their motives at first, but then we found this…”
The scout uncovered a crumpled up piece of paper from his pocket. He tried to smooth out the crinkles as he handed it to me. As I unfolded it, I realized it was a letter.
But to whom. From whom.
Reading it, I realized it wasn’t a traditional letter but a set of instructions, all about raiding the border before finally attacking my pack.
I knew the handwriting at once. I had seen it a hundred times over the years, little notes or lists, birthday cards, and the like.
“One of us recognized the handwriting,” the scout said.
I already knew whose it was. “Daphne.”
This wasn’t just a rogue group. This was a bloodthirsty bunch set on a specific course for invasion.
With Daphne involved, this was personal.
We had a much bigger problem on our hands than I had thought. I possible invasion from another pack was troublesome,
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Chapter 193
but boundary disputes happened a lot. An attack by rogues was much more unpredictable. The rogues had no home of their gwn to defend. They didn’t care how hard they fought or how far into the pack they pressed.
They only cared about destruction.
I cursed, then looked back to the scout, “How big is the rogue group?”
“It’s huge, Sir,” the scout replied. “And from what we can see, the Crimson Claw has been attempting to contain them but cannot. Though they are telling their people that there is nothing to worry about. They are entirely downplaying the sheer power of the rogues.”
“To prevent chaos,” one of the councilmembers said.
Another councilman looked at me. “We might not be able to hold back a force like that.”
“We don’t have a choice,” I said. “The rogues are coming for us, and with these instructions, there will be no negotiating with them. They want to destroy us. We can’t let them.”
“Sir…”
I turned to Xavier. “Keep the bare minimum here. We are going to need as many people as we can manage to fight back this threat.”
It would leave the capital more exposed than normal, including the pack house. This would be a test for Leo’s guardians. Now was the time for them to truly prove their worth.
“We can’t wait until morning,” I said. “We need to get to the border at once.”
Leo’s POV
Everyone at the pack house seemed to be on edge, but I didn’t really care. I missed Raven and Nova. No one else around would pay attention to me or play with me. My own bodyguards treated me like I was a nuisance to them. And Dad was too busy and stressed with whatever was going on, that he hadn’t even come to say goodnight.
In the morning, I found out he had left without even saying goodbye.
I hadn’t felt this alone in a very long time. At least, not since meeting Raven and Nova.
Now, I had no one.
In the courtyard, I played with my ball alone, but without anyone to toss or bounce it too, I wasn’t having much fun.
My bodyguards weren’t very nice but I was lonely enough to try to talk to them again. I walked up to the one closest to me. He was scrolling through his phone.
“Excuse me,” I said and held up the ball. “Would you like to play catch with me?”
“Get lost, kid,” said the man. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Lowering my head, I pulled the ball back against my chest. “Sorry…”
Hurriedly, I turned and walked back into the grass.
After a moment, I checked behind me. None of the guards were even looking this way. I bet I could sneak out of the pack house. Maybe in the town outside, I could find some kids to play with.
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1:29 pm pp●
Chapter 128
M
Taking my ball with me, I didn’t even need to sheak. I just walk
No one even looked as I walked through.
Outside, I exhaled, excited to be so free.
I only took two steps before someone caught me on the collar of my shirt and yanked me berk
“Where do you think you are going. Leo?”
I looked up at my captor, to find Raven’s friend Peter was the one who had captured me.
“I’m looking for friends.”
“You think you will find some out there?”
“More than I would find in here. If I walk far enough, maybe I could even find Raven and No
Peter tilted his head, giving me a curious look. “That seems pretty dangerous.”
“I’m the Alpha’s son,” I said. “I’m tough and brave.”
“Sure,” Peter said. “But do you even know the way?”
“No… but… they are out there somewhere.”
“I don’t think your father would like you walking around on your own.”
Immediately, my boldness deflated and I slumped in on myself a little. “Daddy isn’t here. He didn’t even say goodbye. I don’t think he cares what I do.”
I said the words out of hurt but I knew they weren’t entirely true. Dad did love me, even if he had been kind of distant lately.
It stung that he hadn’t said goodbye.
“You know he cares about you, and a lot of other people do too.”
“Like who,” I said, pouting.
“Raven, for one. Nova. And I like you too.”
I looked up at him. “Would you play catch with me?”
Peter looked kind of sad in the way adults did sometimes, even though he was smiling too. “Yeah, sure. Just come back inside. Raven wouldn’t want you to get lost.”
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