Page 58 of Wulf’s Pack

I clear my throat and try to say my next thought as delicately as possible. “They may have been killed along with their alpha and beta, but if they’re alive, they’re probably in the holding cells in the security building. I assume that’s where they’re keeping Skylar too.”

“What about the children?” Elise asks softly.

Ashlyn shudders and wipes at her face. “Aside from me, there are five.” She chokes on her words. “Tally, Jeff, Zach, Katie, and Reese. Tally is seventeen, same as me, and has some training. Reese is the youngest at two years old. The others are twelve, eight, and five.”

Everyone murmurs at this. The thought of such young children being held prisoner away from their parents after feeling their bonds with their alpha sever is awful.

“Those poor kids,” Sophia whispers. “They must be terrified.”

“We’ll get them out,” I promise. And we will. Skylar is my priority, and killing Victor, but we won’t leave any of Ashlyn’s pack behind, and we’ll do our best to protect them and get them to safety as quickly as we can.

I push off the table and stretch my back. Looking out over my pack again, I rub my neck and shoulders with both hands. My whole body is stiff from anxiety, tension, and impatience. We need to get moving.

“They have about twenty-five to our nineteen, and every single one of them is a strong alpha male, highly trained and violent. They’re lethal, and considering we helped destroy their home and killed off 75 percent of their pack, they’re going to be out for blood.

They’ll come at you hard and show you no mercy.

You’re going to have to be fast, fight smart, and do not hesitate. It’s kill or be killed.”

My stomach churns, and I again have to push aside a sea of doubt. We will do this. We have to. Everyone’s faces fill with fear. I hate to psych them out, but they need to know exactly what they’re up against.

Before everyone can dwell on the fear too much, I start handing out assignments. “We’ll want to get to the children first before the wolves can hurt them.”

Ashlyn raises her hand. “I can go get them. They know me. They’ll trust me.”

I wince, hit by another bout of internal conflict. “Actually, I need you with me to go to the security building. You’re the one who best knows how to get in. You can unlock the door. You can help us unlock the holding cells and the armory, and then you can use the surveillance equipment.”

I hate the thought of this young girl walking into such a dangerous situation. If I had any choice at all, I’d have her stay back at Brett’s place with her mother, who still isn’t really responding much to anyone. But I need her.

Still, I have to give her an out. “If you’re willing, that is. This is a dangerous mission, and the security office will probably be the most heavily guarded.”

I’m impressed at the determined look that washes over her face. An angry, stubborn glint shines in her eyes. She’s full of bloodlust and a need for revenge. I can’t blame her, and I can’t deny her the opportunity to help her family. “I can do it,” she says firmly.

I match her stubbornness with a serious nod. “Thank you. We’ll do our best to keep you safe.”

Brett watches Ashlyn with a pained expression. It’s obvious he loathes the idea of her coming along, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he quietly says, “I can go after the kids. They’ll know me too.”

The weight crushing my chest eases a little at that.

Having such a strong alpha along who is familiar with the place and the children is a blessing I hadn’t counted on.

“Excellent. Take Elise and Matthew with you. They’re not as intimidating, and seeing a female will hopefully put them at ease after having dealt with Victor’s pack for so long. ”

Elise and Matthew sit up straight at the assignment, and both give me solemn nods. The same determination that is consuming Ashlyn takes them over.

“Dennis and Easton, you’re with Ashlyn and me.” They’re two of my strongest fighters. I hate to keep the three of us together instead of having them stay with some of my weaker wolves, but the security office will most likely be the hardest place to take over, and it’s the most important.

I skim my eyes over the rest of the pack, mentally calculating who would best be where.

They all wait for my instructions, having a faith in me that I’m not sure I deserve.

“Preston and Luke, you’re in charge of taking out the guards at the front gate.

After that, help the others get the kids free, then check the alpha house. ”

Preston and Luke share a look. I hate to split up Sophia and Preston. I know in a fight I wouldn’t want to be separated from my mate. But I want at least one alpha at each location. Preston and Luke will be a good pairing since they’ve fought together for so many years.

“I doubt Victor will be in the alpha house, but if he is, don’t hesitate to kill him.

As much as I’d love that kill myself, we don’t have time to allow for personal vendettas.

” I look up and eye the pack. “That goes for all of you. If you see a member of Victor’s pack, you take them down. No survivors tonight.”

I make eye contact with Preston and Luke again.

“We’ll drop you off up the road from the compound instead of you going to the tunnel.

Ashlyn will give you the code to the gate.

You’ll need to wait until we’re all inside to attack, and you’ll have to sneak up on the place through the woods instead of the road.

There are cameras, and we can’t afford for you to be seen and alert the rest of the pack.

Brett, Elise, and Matthew, you’ll go with them.

It’ll be easier for you to get to the kids if you come in through the front. ”

All of them nod without question.

“Ben and Isabella, you’re in the air. Help out wherever possible, and if you see anyone that needs help, reach out to me, and I can relay it to the pack.

“Sean and Caleb, you’re on the two guards at the dock. Take them out, and then head for the rec room and bunkhouse. Everyone else, that’s where you’ll be. It’s going to be the most populated. Draw them out of the buildings and into the yard, if you can. It’ll be easier to fight out in the open.

“We’re going to have to spread out and get as close to our intended targets as possible before we make a move, and then we’ll attack all at once. As soon as the first wolf goes down, Victor will feel it through the pack bond, and the element of surprise will be gone.”

Despite squirming in their seats, everyone nods again, accepting their fate.

I can only hope I’m not sending us all to our deaths.

My chest aches at the thought, and I feel nauseated.

People are going to die tonight. People I’m responsible for.

People that I may have only met in the last week, but I already feel such a connection to.

I have a love for my pack that was unexpected.

If I lose any of them it’s going to hurt, and I’m going to carry the blame for the rest of my life.

None of them deserve this. They’re all in danger because they’ve chosen to follow me.

They’ve chosen to trust me. I don’t understand their loyalty, but I’m grateful for it.

I wish I could reward them for it instead of possibly condemning them.

Silence settles heavily over the pack. The mood is somber, but there is determination to match their fear. Their courage makes me proud. So proud, I’m practically choking on it.

This is the moment in the movies where the general gives the inspirational speech to his troops before battle, but I can’t find the right words.

Last week, I was just a lone wolf bartender whose biggest problem was avoiding she-wolves.

I never imagined I’d find myself in a situation like this.

I honestly have no idea how I got here, but I’m sure each of these shifters feels the exact same way, and they’re looking to me for guidance and reassurance.

“It’s going to be brutal.” I kick myself.

What a way to start a motivational speech.

“It’ll be chaotic, intense, and bloody. For most of you, it’ll be your first time fighting for your life.

They outnumber us, and they’re stronger than us, but we have something they don’t.

We have a reason to fight. We have love, loyalty, friendship, and trust on our side.

We may be new. We may not know each other very well.

But we are a true pack. We’ve banded together not out of greed or a desire for power, but to protect and support one another.

“We are a family. That is our luna in there. Those are innocent people, innocent children , and they need our help. We’re smart, we’re courageous, and we’re strong.

We are fierce . We’re going to show the world that we won’t go down without a fight.

We won’t allow anyone to push us around, threaten us, or take what is ours. We protect our own.”

Silence reigns again. There are no cheers or excited shouts. Nobody’s clamoring to run headfirst into danger. But there is fire burning in every single one of them. A steely resolve. An unwillingness to fail.

I take a moment to meet the eyes of every single one of them, letting them each see my confidence. I am their alpha, and I will be there with them every step of the way, fighting for them. For us. For the safety and the future of our pack.

“We. Can. Do. This.”

With nothing else to say, I give a firm nod. “Let’s go.”