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Chapter 16: Playing Nice
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I ran in silence towards the village with Alpha Rivers beside me.
"It's been weeks," I said eventually, breaking the quiet, "Where did you go?"
He looked down at me, a sly smile creeping onto his lips, "Why? Did you miss me?"
"No," I said sharply, "But how could you just vanish like that? It's unsettling."
"I had things to do," he replied shortly before the silence resumed until we reached the edge of the village.
"How many of them are there?" he asked.
"Forty. There are two villages and a few lone houses around the territory," I said.
He nodded, "My men will round them up."
I clenched my jaw, "Pheonix men," I said, "The same ones who have killed their friends and family members? There are kids in those houses who are orphans because of them."
"We can leave them to die if you'd prefer?" he asked, "Or you can round them up yourself and have your most vulnerable pack members wondering through a warzone unprotected."<
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All Thanks to Theodore Chapter 21: Best-Left Unknown
We kept walking through the forest for the rest of the day.I stayed at the back with Lou whilst Alpha Rivers lead and the rest of the men followed silently in the middle."Does he have any friends?" I asked Lou.Lou smiled, "Careful, Esme.""Serious question," I probed, "Does he?""He keeps himself to himself," Lou said, "I've been his Beta for eight years and I can't tell you much about him.""...Why?" I asked, "He's not exactly shy."Lou gave me another smile but this time his eyes darted from mine, "It's just who he is.""What about family?" I asked, "I know his mother died but he must have other relatives that he's close to?"Lou swallowed, "He hasn't got any siblings.""His father?""They never got on well," he replied shortly, "But that is not my business to discuss with you. I'm sorry."I groaned, "Why does he have so many secrets?""Esme," Lou said quietly, "Somethings are best-left s
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I wasn't woken again until well into the morning."Get up," a deep voice said.I groaned as I felt a foot rest on my shoulder and shake me."Fuck off," I grumbled."We have a war to win remember?"I opened my eyes to see the leaf-littered floor of the forest. Then I felt the stiffness of my neck and the bright sunlight as my vision adjusted. And reality came hurtling through.I let out one more groan before I sat up and squinted as I looked up at Alpha Rivers, who stood staring down at me."Where is everyone?" I asked noticing the emptiness of the camp."I assigned them all posts around the bridge and surrounding forest," he said. "They all have a clear sight of the road well in advance."I grimaced and looked around, noticing his men scattered around all with their eyes on the road."Why didn't you wake me earlier?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows."You looked like you needed rest," he replied. "You missed
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