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Chapter 19: The Weak One
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I sat with Tobias in a silence that was just beginning to become awkward when it was shattered by shouts and cries from across the camp.
Tobias got straight to his feet and I quickly followed him as he began marching towards it.
"Alpha Brynn, a group of soldiers broke through the Pheonix Southern border," one of the Nightingale soldiers said as she ran up to us, "They've attacked the camp and Alpha Rivers has ordered the patrols to disperse. He says we're too targetable here."
Tobias nodded, "Any fatalities?"
"No Nightingales," she said.
"Good. Find your patrol and follow Alpha Rivers' orders," he said to her and she ran off again.
Tobias then turned to me.
"Stick with me, Esme," he said, "We need to find Rose and then help fight off these enemy soldiers. Then I'll come with you to find Alpha Rivers."
I nodded and followed him through the camp until we reached the source of the fighting.
A small battlefield had cropped u
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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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Darkness was quickly descending on the forest when we reached the disused bridge that Alpha Rivers had mentioned. It stretched across a gulley with steep rocky sides and when I squinted through the darkness, I could just about see a road at the bottom."This is the perfect vantage point," Alpha Rivers said, peering down, "We'll make camp here. Maybe for a few days."I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't sure how much longer I could have kept up with this patrol and was worried I was going to have to admit my weakness to Alpha Rivers. Now I had an opportunity to rest."But it's dangerous here," he continued, "Sleep with one eye open and Esme you are not to go anywhere alone.""Surely none of us should go anywhere alone?" I asked."Quit the act, Es," he said in a bored tone, "You know you are weak. We all do.""I am not weak," I hissed, "But I am hungry so if you don't mind I'm going to hunt."I then gave him a sarcastic smile before gl
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That night, Alpha Rivers was in a better mood. When Flynn the messenger returned, exhausted but having successfully spread the orders to almost all patrols, he thanked him with a genuine smile and cut him a large piece of rabbit to eat after he had finished catching his breath."Good work, Flynn," he said, "Make sure you rest up and eat enough."Fifteen minutes later, I got up and walked around the crackling fire. I'd been sat next to Lou as we ate but the men had now spread out around the camp giving me the opportunity to approach Flynn."Did you see my brother and Luna Brynn?" I asked him.He was slumped against a tree, finishing his rabbit and as I sat down beside him he glanced up to where Alpha Rivers stood, sharpening his knife on the other side of the camp."No," he said after looking me fleetingly in the eye.My face sunk, "But you went to all the patrols, right?" I asked."I found another messenger on his way to the Eastern b
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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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They were getting close. Uncomfortably close.Their heavy footsteps vibrated the ground as their hushed whispers became clearer and clearer.I clutched my bow, Lou gripped his knife and every Pheonix soldier I could see, held his breath ready to spring into action as soon as Alpha Rivers gave us the signal.We were all hidden, still and silent. They wouldn't know we were here until they were close enough to catch our scents at which point we'd lose the element of surprise. But Alpha Rivers held out and my anxiety only rose.When I peered around the wall of the bridge that I took cover behind, I could see figures emerging from the forest. They were all hesitant and careful, clearly surveying the surroundings and looking for any sign of us.I was crouched on one knee, my skin digging into gritty stone floor as the other leg began to cramp.I was ready and dying to attack.Come on, Alpha Rivers.What are you waiting for?Th
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We sprinted through the trees as fast as I could. Lou gripped my hand, pulling me behind him and helping me go faster. But I could hear footsteps behind us and they weren't getting further away.My legs burnt and my lungs screamed. My head pounding with intense adrenaline that wouldn't let meIt wasn't long before I felt somebody seize my waist and throw me to the floor. But before I could even begin to start fighting, the man was dragged off me and his neck snapped.Alpha Rivers then pulled me back to my feet and pulled me close to his chest."I couldn't hold them back," he said to Lou, "Dozens more showed up and-"But before he could finish speaking, soldiers had leapt out of the trees towards us and we were both pushed to the floor.I had two on top of me, pinning me down and when I looked to the side I could see Alpha Rivers was fighting against five of them. Although he had managed to get up, he was thoroughly occupied."Lou," he
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We rode four at least two hours. The land began to get rockier and bumpy so Alpha Rivers was forced to slow the pace in the name of keeping control of the horse. But he was an expert rider and we still wound through the trees at an amazing speed considering he terrain. The fresh wind blew through my air as I clutched onto him. It chilled my face with its wintery grasp but he was warm and I harboured his heat to keep off the shivers."How do you ride so well?" I asked him."The Pheonix territory is vast. All soldiers are taught to ride from boyhood to make getting around more efficient," he replied."I hadn't been on a horse until today," I admitted."Well I'm sorry your first ride had to be with that poor excuse of a man," he replied. "I hope your second makes up for it."After letting out a short laugh, I wrapped my arms tighter around him and rested my head on his back.I smiled to myself, "I think it might," I said quietly.Darknes
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I was taken through a large pair of wooden doors into a large room. I stumbled forward as the men holding me shoved me forwards to where a middle-aged man sat comfortably on an ornate chair."Well, well, well. What do we have here?" he asked, looking me up and down.His voice was deep and patronising. His features were sharp and oddly familiar. I even knew those brown eyes. It felt like I'd experienced their piercing stare many times before.Klaus stepped forward and brushed my hair off my neck.The man's eyes lit up and he instantly got to his feet. He smiled warmly yet his eyes remained dark and beady as he strode over to me and held out his hand."Alpha Kane, a pleasure to meet you, Luna Rivers," he said.I looked down at his hand and scoffed."You expect me to shake your hand? After everything?" I asked.He continued to look down at me."Yes," he said sharply, "Has Theodore not taught you how to show respect yet?"
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