Page 17 of The Alpha’s Seer (The Shifters of Stormhollow #1)

Chapter Seventeen

CALIX

TWO WEEKS LATER

I’m watching the wolves train with Cox, but my head isn’t in it.

“They’ve improved, but we need to know what we’re up against.” Cox frowns as two wolves get into a heated argument, but Blake, my Gamma, soon sorts it out with his no-bullshit attitude and bulk that got him the title of Gamma.

He’s my third in command, but even though he’s young at seventeen, he’s the third strongest after me and Cox.

He comes from a powerful line of Gammas, but his father was killed when the pack was attacked, and he stepped up, no questions asked.

He shares the same bloodlust I do, and the need for revenge puts him in the right place at the right time; as Gamma, he trains our warriors for battle.

I have every faith in him when war comes.

“We can train until we’re half dead, but if we don’t know what we’re up against, we’re fucked.” Cox narrows his eyes and sighs, and I know he’s thinking of my brother.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Rebel, and my anger grows with the need for vengeance.

“I’m going to see Lexie tonight,” Cox says, and I nod my approval. “Do you think she’ll know more than we do?”

I don’t answer him because it’s a stupid fucking question.

How do I know what a witch knows?

I can only pray she knows more than we do.

“Alpha,” a young female pants from beside me, and I recognize her as an Omega. One I don’t speak to often, but from the way her eyes dart around us, she’s terrified. “I have news.”

“What news?” Cox barks, and she flinches, lowering her head.

“Forgive me,” she rasps but glances towards Blake before continuing. “I’ve heard the Applegate Pack has been attacked.”

I still, my entire body alight with fury. The Applegate Pack is the closest pack to us, and I have no doubt that whoever attacked us was responsible.

“What’s your name?” I ask the Omega as her eyes widen.

“Lucy.”

“Lucy, what else do you know?” I watch as she bows her head further, and I prepare myself for more sad news.

“Alpha Triton was killed, and his Luna was taken,” Lucy whispers, almost apologetically.

“Gather everyone,” I instruct Cox before stalking to the packhouse. “War is coming.”

My vision blurs as I stumble into the packhouse, my chest tight and my heart sore.

It’s happened again. Not to us, but to another pack. I slump at the head of the table, waiting for everyone to arrive. There aren’t many of us, but there’s Cox, my Beta, Blake, my Gamma, and Lyron, my Delta. When they all file in, I begin.

“Another pack has been attacked.”

The three men stare at me wordlessly, but each reacts physically to the news. All of us lost someone dear that day, some more than others. This attack is as personal as if they’d attacked our pack again.

“What we know is that they’ve killed Alpha Triton and taken Luna Grace,” I explain quietly, mourning for my old friend Triton.

He had always been a level-headed Alpha and a good friend of my father's; our mothers had me and their son, Asher, days apart.

My heart aches for Asher and his sister, Nina. “Like what happened to us.”

Cox uncrosses his arms and growls, dragging a pack map onto the table as the others hold the corners. He stabs a finger at our location and then the Applegate Pack’s location.

“They started with us,” he mutters, trailing his finger to the nearest pack before tapping at the two packs on either side of us. “The River Pack and Crimson Shadow Pack are the next closest. We need to warn them.”

Blake nods his agreement, and I listen as Lyron speaks.

“They’ve left some time between the attacks, Alpha.” He gazes at me before looking back at the pack map. “What are your thoughts on what they’re doing with our Lunas?”

All eyes turn to me as Lyron asks the question no one has dared to ask. The question is on my mind when I go to sleep, and it’s still there when I wake. The question that owns me.

What have these bastards done to my mother?

“I don’t know,” I bite out, scrubbing my face. “I wish I could tell you I do, but I don’t. Whatever they’re doing it for, they need to be stopped.”

“Agreed,” Cox confirms, still frowning at the map. “All packs increased their patrols on their borders after we were attacked. I’m trying to think of any weaknesses that may have sealed their fate, but I’m struggling.”

“Alpha Triton was old school,” Blake adds. “He knew how to protect his pack.”

“Not well enough,” I say sharply as the three men turn to look at me. “My thoughts are that whoever attacked them was known to them. Because there’s no way a rogue pack would’ve gotten into Applegate with Triton as Alpha.”

Blake purses his lips and moves on his feet from left to right, his nervous energy irritating me.

“What is it?” I snap, glaring at him.

“We let them in,” Blake blurts out, shrugging his shoulders as the others stare at him. “What if they’re known to us too?”

I’d considered this, but I couldn’t think of a single pack that would want to do this to another pack. Not one.

“I’m all for suggestions, Blake, but until we have a name, we’re fucked. What’s the plan?”

“I’ll double the wolves on patrol,” Blake states, glancing at Lyron for confirmation.

Lyron nods and looks at me. “I’ll tell the pack the news.”

“Tactfully,” I remind him, not wanting the pack to lose its mind. We’d been through enough, and too much blood had already been spilled.

“Of course, Alpha,” Lyron assures, bowing his head before leaving.

“I’ll get the extra warriors at the borders,” Blake adds, bowing his head when I nod for him to leave.

Cox is still staring at the map, his knuckles white as he grips the chair.

“We need to go to the Council. Someone must know something.”

I nod my agreement and rise from my seat.

He’s right. The Council comprises a mixture of Alphas and Lunas from across the pack territory, and they make decisions for us all. I’ll need to tell them about Blair being attacked because, in my gut, I know it’s related somehow.

“I’ll go. I need you here, but I’ll take Blair.”

Cox stares at me, knowing I’m treating her with Luna status right now, but wisely decides not to question it.

“She needs to learn the ways of the pack anyway,” I comment. “What better place to start?”