Chapter 12: The Storm

Chess, a battle on a board of shaded squares and painted lines. A team of Pawns, Rooks, Knights, Bishops, King and Queen against an exact copy with the only difference being colour or make. A move in the right direction could prove positive or go the other way around. Alpha Monroe was in love with the game of chess, before he accepted the mantle from his father he would sneak out of the pack into the city just to fight the board battle which he dominated. But those were simpler times, now, his love for chess further depleted as he stood at the top of the hill staring down an army that has haunted his dreams every night and a little more spice. The army of the Lycaon order and the Rogue Nation.

His plan to employ mercenaries biting the dust his best alternative were the cleverly placed silver and wolfsbane coated traps down the side of the hill.

From afar they all seemed like multiple moving dots with two from each side approaching each other. The Betas from both sides on their way to see if they could meet a compromise as per code of war.

Jeremy reached the boarder first waiting a bit for Krystal the white haired Beta whom was fast approaching.

"I never thought this day would come by so fast!" Krystal said his smile of satisfaction genuine.

”Can we go back to our sides now, I can't wait to make my way through your army with your head as my price." Jeremy replied, it was the truth. He was done with Lycaon Order being a looming threat tonight they end once and for all.

"Well then, may the best pack win!" They turned walking back to their sides of the line. Jeremy avoiding subtle reminders of ' the death triggers' as they were named.

"Warriors of the Equinox. Today is a day of war and also a mile stone in our history. Today we go against the whole faction and we are going to come out Victorious. In the name of the goddess!" He ended his speech with a battle cry.

"In the name of the goddess"The warriors echoed back...

Battle ready lines formed a second war front at the East. Two packs United against one, the warriors of the Equinox stood in unwavering fury with Grey as the leader. The butt of the obsidian blade a witness peeking over his shoulder like a rising sun.

On the opposition, The Council's Alphas waited. Alpha Gerald and Alpha Benjamin stood side by side. Their plan was simple, the Blood Moon assault first then ShadowLake after. A tactical advantage they exploited in many battles before this one..

"Where is Quincy?" Alpha Gerald Colt asked after a quick survey. He spotted Alpha Grey as expected standing as the leader. To him the chances of Equinox bagging victory were simply impossible but he was worried. He couldn't find Quincy no matter how hard he looked.

He knew how deadly her smarts, gift and strength were in battle, he knew because he trained her with his very hands as a favour to her father, a dear friend.

"I'll send word to the other side. They'll let us know if they have eyes on her!" A wolf in his rank spoke.

"Prepare for the first assault!" He gave the order and the ground echoed out thuds as formations shifted....

Grey looked formidable in his leather battle gear but deep down he had worry. Ten had insisted on going behind battle lines to capture an alpha. A plan they argued about into the early hours of noon. He won the argument, it meant nothing. A minute she was there and the next a note in her place.

"I Am Sorry But I Have To Do This, For Me" it read in bold letters. Her edge gave him a ray of pride as events from the night before washed over his mind. She was his and he is never going to let anything happen to her.

In the distance he saw the Council army change formation, it was time.

"Warriors of the Equinox.." He walked up and down the line making sure his voice was heard.

"...this is your pack, your land. They do not deserve to breath the air of this great land or feel it's soil. Together we will send them back, if not to their places then the goddess they shall meet!"

"The goddess they shall meet!" He shouted with a fist in the air.

"The goddess they shall meet!" They shouted in one voice filling empty space with morale.

The Numbers of a hundreds wolf split in two, a part ready with their weapons while the other moved far behind the line. Cracking bones and several roars later they all shifted to their wolf form. A counter measure against the classic ShadowLake dual wave.

A horn sounded, the Blood Moon signal for attack. They swarmed towards the Equinox with swords and crossbows as gun's were illegal in battle.

"ATTACK!" Grey boomed tearing through the air with impressive speed, his army following behind. His wolf active turning his fingers into claws.

An enemy charged at him with a dagger, he sidestepped with his hand held out causing the warriors to slump over giving him clear access to his spine which was ripped out with ease.

He cleverly cut through warriors turning bloody bodies the moment he git there. Making his way down the line according to plan...

A slender figure shifted through an array of empty tents. Dressed in a pure black leather battle gear and a yellow bandana to sealing her identity like a mask. Finding the tent always marked red the figure hid in a dark corner, waiting.

Soon enough, the reward made his way to the tent, Alpha Gerald Colt and two guard warriors. He entered while the warriors stayed guard outside.

The figure produced a dagger with a glossy black blade. Padded feet devoid of sound the figured approached the men from behind. In a quick motion, the dagger went through ones throat and into the forehead of the other. The figure untied the bandana to reveal Ten heaving in battle glory.

Parting the entrance of the tent she walked in to see the alpha bowed in prayer, a tradition she knew from the ShadowLake.

"Amen Uncle Gerald and while you at it pray for my mother too!"...

"Grey!" A warrior called his attention as a bag sailed through the air. He caught it, dropping it next to him as he uncovered a laying bike from it's camouflage of tree branches. A kick brought the bike to life. He bent forward abdomen over the fuel thank as he speed through the ShadowLake territory. Ahead he spotted four enemies with crossbows. Before the arrows sailed he jumped off the bike landing on the balls of his feet. A huge explosion erupted from their burning bodies.

He was in the ShadowLake side of the boarder exactly an hour two minutes after the start of battle but Ten was nowhere to be found. He hated the feeling coming to life in the pit of his stomach, a violent churn. What if something happened to her.. I should have gone with her.. I should never have let her go alone...

"For exeptional time keeping, 50 points to Greyfindor!!" A heavy thud sounded as she dropped the tied up Alpha in a head bag to the ground. Her face full of healing bruises and a cut lip but with a Satisfaction she couldn't place. To him she look like a kitten done with several barrels of fish. Beaten but absolutely beautiful..

"What's Greyfindor?" He asked securing the alpha with bigger silver chains.

"Seriously, you haven't watched Harry Potter!?"

"Harry who?" He had no clue what she was talking about. He got the Alpha to his feet in a raspy grunt.

"Another addition to the movie night list!" She brought out a pen and paper from her breast plate scribbling words on paper.

"You do notice that we are in the middle of war, right!?"

"Yes and we are always fighting and fighting. When will there ever be the right time to make plans?" She shoved them back into her gear.

"Mm, those plans only include Theater?" He asked with half a smile.

"Well they are other things!" She stalked closer, going to him. 'goddess, that smile will be the death of me' she cursed as his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Any things like this?" He placed a kiss on her soft lips, short and sweet.

"No, more like this!" She pulled him closer and locked their lips in a moment she hoped will last forever.

A flash of red took the skies from a flare gun.

"Oh no, the Equinox territory has been breached!"...