Chapter 5 GATHERING AND TRAINING THE TROOPS

In every place I visited, upon learning of my existence, our witch cast a spell on the inhabitants. The enchantment ensured that if they tried to betray me, their tongues would wither away.

            It was crucial to keep this a secret from the tyrant who oppressed my people.

The initial reaction of these pack Alphas was to belittle my youth and decline to aid our cause. However, once my alpha genes asserted themselves, I made it known that my age, be it 16 or 17, did not diminish my ability to lead as an Alpha.

            My warriors and I would then lay out our strategy, infusing our audience with a sense of hope. Such optimism was vital to bolster the spirits of my people and to pave the way for triumph.

The most challenging encounter awaited me at the Eastern Kingdom. The King there had a reputation for being the most difficult to persuade. My head warrior, Rector, was met with a dismissive 'No' from the King—without even the perfunctory civilities.

            Fortunately, Rector is a skilled negotiator. His efforts secured a meeting between the Eastern King and me.

Recently, my inner wolf has been plagued with anxiety, resulting in loss of sleep and appetite—afflictions that affected me as well. Whenever I inquired about her distress, she remained unable to articulate her troubles.

            My thoughts bounce all over the place with the many endeavors I need to have accomplished. My thoughts bounce from my warriors, shadow warriors, meeting Alphas' and then the king.

Now, as we are set to provide a week of rigorous training, led by my shadow warriors, to those wolves who exhibit superior tracking and stealth abilities.

The shadow warriors, specialists in covert intelligence gathering, will prepare these select wolves to mentor others in their skills. For packs lacking formidable warriors, we will arrange for the stronger packs to provide mentorship.

            Combat training will be mandatory for everyone, including women aged 15 and above. The collective strength of our pack is only as formidable as our weakest member.

            Upon discovering a bank card left to me by my parents, I realized I was exceedingly wealthy. Intent on reinvesting most of it into my kingdom, I knew these funds would also finance our war efforts.

During my three-day stays with each pack, I endeavored to build rapport and assure them of my unwavering commitment to fighting by their side, even if it meant facing death.  

The Shadow Warriors who once served my father had grown accustomed to living within the Winter Dragons' packhouse.

Many had formed lasting bonds there—finding mates and starting families. Their allegiance to my father naturally extended to me, and in turn, my dedication to their welfare remains unwavering.

            Rector, who arrived to serve as my protector, was already an accomplished warrior at the age of 17. Yet, tied to my side in the remote wilds, he missed the chance to find a mate. Now at 28, he's viewed as quite mature for such a rite, but I have faith in his resilience.

            To me, Rector has always been like an older brother—our playful brawls often amusingly mistaken for the antics of a couple. There was a time when he was my shadow, accompanying me to school, but we soon realized the sheer improbability of anyone guessing my guardian to be from a dragon clan.

            The one who becomes Rector's mate will discover his remarkable nature—his steadfast loyalty, kindness, and playful spirit. Sure, he can be mildly irritating, but he's become one of my dearest friends and part of my chosen family.

            Letting go of the little community we've forged within the Winter Clan won't be easy. We've come together like a true family, and while many are content and wish to stay, my path seems to lead back to the castle to reclaim and restore my kingdom.

            My brother, bound by his dragon nature, will not be able join me.

Though parting with him and the rest will weigh heavy on my heart, I must remain resolute in my mission to free my people.

            After I had departed, Cadma, furious upon realization, pursued us in flight. His presence, as a dragon shifter, made the packs distrustful—not to mention the dragon warriors that the winter king had assigned to my detail. Werewolves traditionally maintain a cautious distance from dragons.

I instructed Cadma to head home, but he refused, contending he was not a mere child to be dismissed so easily. Moreover, he'd uncovered information about a clan of dragons in the east with knowledge of the Sun Dragon legend.

After parting ways with us and the Wolf King of the East, he intended to seek them out.

            His resentment towards Rector knew no bounds. All I could do was shake my head in dismay, making sure he understood a few key points:

1. What I did, or what Rector did, was simply none of his concern.

2. Rector was akin to an elder brother to me, and his quest to find his true mate was genuine—a quest I also considered important.

3. Though I grappled with my own desires regarding the search for a mate, I nonetheless committed to the effort.

            I felt compelled to make it clear to Cadma that whatever bond we once shared was now dissolved, as if it had never existed. Recalling the lengths, I went to move past our concealed relationship was aggravating; the secrecy compelled by his excuses that his father would disapprove, or his friends wouldn't understand our cross-species pairing, struck me as cowardly. Had his love been as profound as he claimed, such obstacles would have been immaterial.

            The infatuation I once felt for Cadma, an older individual by a couple of years, is now dissipating. His arrogance and immaturity, epitomized by sulking off to seek solace with the she-wolves of our pack whenever he's upset, leave me unimpressed and, surprisingly, unaffected by jealousy.

            Rector and I, mindful of the steep challenge in visiting all fifty packs, devised a strategy to engage with the alphas before training much-needed warriors. After the warriors are prepared, we dispatch them to the packs we cannot personally visit. This methodical process involves Margot, a witch whose task is to identify the most suitable liaisons for each pack. She casts a truth spell before her interrogations, ensuring the delegates she chooses are perfectly suited for the role.

            Six months have elapsed since the commencement of our campaign. I wish I could claim unanimous support from all packs, but concerns linger—some about my youth, others over the desire not to provoke Malcom. However, it's promising that our growing legion of warriors offers us a substantial opportunity to restore the kingdom. Success hinges on persuading the East's King to align with our cause.