Chapter Nine (Arric - The Loot)

Arric left the she-wolf sleeping in his tent with two of his gammas standing guard and went back to join his men. Trailing their scents, he met them in the woods on a hillside overlooking the black wolves' grounds. 

“Status?” he said, crouching low beside Bishop. 

“How is the she-wolf?” York; one of his gammas and good friends asked. 

“She will live,” Arric replied.

“Great!” York said. 

“Who is she?” Jarom, another of his men asked.

“No idea. I suppose we will find out when she wakes up,” Arric replied, taking a glance at the dark-haired werewolf and then reverting his gaze to meet Bishop’s.

“Yeah … Status. There are still a significant number of the black wolves scouting the grounds…”

“Doing clean up?” Arric asked, assessing the grounds.

“Yes, and …” Bishop pointed to a secluded area of the grounds. And Arric could see about twenty heavily armed guards parading the corners.

“We are still trying to figure out why they are there… I mean it looks like no one was speared,” Bishop added.

“Any sight of the alpha and his luna? I heard they have a daughter…” Arric asked.

“They are dead…” Jarom replied in a quite solemn tone. 

“We saw them set them ablaze … they burnt all the bodies,” Caineghis; another one of  Arric’s men said, sounding a tad infuriated. “I suppose burying them was too much of a bother.”

“Even though they don’t seem like they are in a hurry to leave…” Bishop said.

“If I know our dear alpha Roffe Barther very well. Whatever is in there is his reward and he isn’t leaving without it” Arric said as all eyes settled on him. 

“What do you think is in there?” Bishop asked with an earnest gaze. 

“Something worth killing for…” Arric said in a tight voice. 

“I suppose our job is done here then. We get to save one at least…” Caineghis said with gritted teeth. 

“I think that bear trap saved her,” said York.

“Hmm…” Arric said. His eyes darted in their sockets as he continued to survey the grounds. 

“Our job is not done here, is it?” Jarom said.

“I know that look. What’s the plan, Boss?” Bishop said.

“Since we are here … why don’t we make sure alpha Roffe Barther doesn’t have his happy ending … just like the ones he murdered,” Arric said, his eyes gleaming coldly in the dark. 

“Whatever the plan is, I am so in…” Caineghis said with a malicious grin. 

“Can we do it with like a lot of casualties?” said Jimothy; one other of Arric’s men that had been quiet all the while. Arric chuckled. 

“Only if it is absolutely necessary and jeopardizes the mission…you know the rules,” Arric said. His men grinned. He chuckled, shaking his head. But he understood perfectly why they felt the need to avenge the innocent's blood unnecessarily spilled for something Arric was certain would be senseless. 

“Get your dart guns ready. We are going to find a way to the other side of the grounds undetected, make certain those guards don't stand in our way, and then find out what is inside that building. If I am correct in what I think it is, Bishop, call Danny to get the helicopter ready.”

“Using a helicopter would kind of announce our presence, boss,” York said, “I am certain we can carry whatever is in there.”

“If it is that easy to cart away, I doubt Alpha Roffe Barther’s men would still be here. Armed and waiting. And yeah, a helicopter would announce our presence but by then any one of those fuckers who isn’t tranquilized would be dead,” Arric said and geared into action. His men promptly followed his lead. 

They crept through the shadows, using their heightened senses to detect any guards or obstacles in their path. Arric signaled to the others to draw their tranquilizer guns, ready to put any opposition to sleep without making a sound.

As they approached the guarded building, they sprang into action. One by one, they took out the guards with precision shots from their tranquilizer guns, ensuring they would not wake until after they had completed their mission.

Arric tried the door to the guarded building, finding it locked. With a quick snap of his powerful claws, he broke the lock and opened the iron door. Strolling inside, they discovered an expansive room with a massive vault framing the side walls. The men exchanged glances, their eyes widened in amazement. Arric walked to one of the vaults that were already opened and saw gold blocks lined in iron briefcases. When he walked to another section to break the locks and looked inside he found jewelry and gemstones. 

Bishop let out a low whistle, impressed by the sight before them. 

“Get Danny,” Arric said, barking out a series of commands, directing his pack to start loading the gold and jewels into their backpacks. They worked with speed and efficiency, knowing they had limited time to complete their mission before the guards woke up and alerted alpha Roffe Barther. A few minutes later, Bishop left and came back with three other men. 

“Boss,” the three greeted and watched in awe at what they had come to cart away.

“Take your time,” Arric said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Sorry boss,” Danny, the biggest of the three newcomers, said and geared into action. 

As they loaded the last of the treasure, Arric could hear footsteps approaching. He signaled for the pack to be ready, as about ten armed werewolves rushed through the door.

“What the hell?!” one of them said. His eyes widened in horror and then transcended into a rage, gleaming with fury. “Who the hell are you?” he growled.

“Boss?” York said in a somewhat silent inquiry. Arric let out a sigh of resignation. 

“Well, I did say when it is essential,” he said, causing alpha Roffe Barther’s men to look befuddled. And before they could make sense of what was happening. Arric, York, Caineghis, and Jimothy shapeshifted and scaled through the air, tearing the guards apart. By the time they paused to breathe, the formerly pristine marble floor was sleek with blood. 

“Let’s get out of here,” Arric growled. 

Danny and his team left with the helicopter while Arric led his team back the way they came with their packs heavy with some of the treasure disappearing into the night with alpha Roffe Barther's spoils. 

Returning to camp, Arric gave orders for his team to pack up and ready to leave. Working side by side with them to clear up the camp. 

Afterward, he carried the still unconscious she-wolf into a waiting helicopter.  Settling on the seat, he waited for everyone to get on board before instructing the pilot to take off. 

Soon enough they were flying over hilly plains covered with snow. He lowered his eyes to the beauty in his arms and wished for the umpteenth time that she would not blame him for his father's sins. When she steered in his arms, and her eyelids fluttered, he went very still.