Pipe down beta
On a ranch on the outskirts of the community. The Alpha pack made it their safe haven. They had been rearing the animals on the farm and growing crops in the fields. Everyone was equally tasked with a portion of the land.
Xander was resting in a small cabin behind the ranch. He was cleaned up and covered in satin lacks and a v-shaped vest. He was covered with drapes. Faye sat by his side holding a cup of fresh mildew.
He opened his eyes surprised to see her caring face, “Fa–Faye?”
“You look like shit,” she smirked.
He sat up on the bed and felt a strain in his chest, holding himself tight with a groan, “Those bastards got me good.”
Faye brought the cup closer to him to sip, “I know. I cleaned you up myself.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
Xander worried she had taken advantage of him, “Did you…?”
“Oh come on,” she teased. “What would be the fun in that? A little hassle is worth the try.”
Xander shook his head smiling and sipped the mildew.
Shawn entered the room with Eric. Manny and Joni’s head were bobbing behind the small door.
“Good to see you all freshly baked,” Shawn laughed haggardly.
Eric grimaced at Shawn, “And what the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Xander sniffed and dropped his feet to the floorboard. faye aided to help him, he held her hand briefly and let go when she looked him straight in the eyes.
“Pipe down beta,” Shawn yawned at Eric, scuffling the latter’s hair jokingly.
“Always saying random shit” Eric slapped Shawn’s hand slightly disdainful.
Xander got to his feet and Faye stood beside the others. He walked to the windowpane and stared out at the trees further away from the ranch. The sun was just rising at the top of the trees, crispy bright burns like the head of a firefly.
He shielded his face with his palm and breathed out slowly. Relieved of being in the keep of the elders. It was just hard for him. He remembered the whiplashes he got on his back the whole night. Jack reed taking a test of the sledge on his ribs till each and everyone was broken.
He rubbed his sides gently. The smoothed lay of the bandages. He turned back to look at his wolves and said, “They will come back, but I am not worried about that now.”
Faye leaned on the wooden pillar, “What do you want us to do now?”
“When can plan a hit on them before they find us,” Eric said eagerly.
“And risk the end of the Alpha back?” Shawn grunted. “A revolt won’t be the best idea now.”
“Never thought you would turn down a fight,” Faye gleaned.
Xander folded his arms behind and nudged forward, “Damn the consequences,” he sniffed. “The mission now is to save Catherine.”
The room fell silent. They stared at each other waiting for Xander’s next few words.
“The betas and the delats will be divided,” Xander coughed and held his side. He looked at everyone in the room sternly, I will ask now, who is with me?”
Shawn stepped forward, “Till the earth swallows me whole.” He bent the knee to Xander.
Eric waited for a reaction from Faye. She stood her ground and sighed, “For the glory of the house Marion.” She lowered to her knee, “Whatever happens, happens.”
Eric took the knee hesitantly by her side.
***
The whole pack was gathered in the stables. Xander stood on a wooden crater and stomped, “This is the moment we give our all. We are not restrained by the laws of the community. Treason or not, it breaks my heart but the spirit of each and everyone here is bound to house Marion, you stand with me in a time of crisis. My crisis. We will fight til there is no cause for fighting. Damn it, let them come, now we go and save Elena.”
“All hail the Alpha,” Manny said.
“All hail the Alpha!” Faye seconded.
The pack set put in three squad divisions. Shanw and the deltas were sent to defend whatever was left of the south. Faye and the betas journeyed north ahead of Xander who took Manny and Joni a different route north.
The deltas would hit back at the council wolves if they came to find Xander. And so it happened. The next light, everyone departed.
***
Shawn and the deltas were camouflaged in the green bushes of the wickedness and mud covered in their faces and skin. A group of council wolves was on the move.
“We have surrounded the perimeter,” a delta said high up in the trees. “The air team is a go.”
Shawn and the others rose from the dirt they were covered in and grabbed the council wolves by the legs, “Ground team is a go. Go, go, go!”
The wolves on the trees swung around grabbing wolves from the ground and pinning them against the trees with pinewood stakes.
The deltas engaged in a tough battle in the south. The forces of the council were large in numbers but less coordinated and skillful than the Alpha wolves.
The deltas were full-on waging with all their might. A delta wolf could take on two council wolves at a go. Bodies dropped dead and the wounded surfaced to the roots of the trees to shelter. The quinoa trees were the battleground.
A few kilometers from them were the fallen treess from a fight long before. Piles and piles of gigantic logs of wood. The deltas were progressing till a distress signal came from the air team.
“More enemies abound!” a delta yelled.
“Fall back, fall back!” Shawn warned.
The deltas gathered the most of themselves, “where do you go?” another delta panted. Shawn remained brave for them, “There’s a drift in the forest. We need to move fast and now. We can hide out in the fallen trees ahead.” Immediately, they dispersed into the thick forest.