While Edward was battling August’s three Generals, Jacob, Monique and the others re-grouped and devided themselves. They had already thought of a plan to make full use of the information they got, and it was nothing different to the strategy Axel thought of.
They weren’t prepared beforehand, so they can only do a thing or two. That said, to strengthen their plan, they asked Terrance, Samuel, Jayson, Michael, and Hansel to be the lookout. Like the test they had conducted during the Wesleyeian’s training, each of them guarded the divided groups, informing them with the enemy’s presence.
Their formation had completely changed. What the wolves, and Axel had agreed to do has been void. The war had become a battle that would test their ability to adapt to the situation. Their skills, and information, against the monstrous strength of the Wesleyeian wolves.
It had become more intense, yet on the brighter side, they had more chance to win now.
Jacob and the other four high ranked wolves, and four healers, used their lookout to know where the nearest enemy were. They attacked, baiting them with the healers, and overwhelming them afterwards with their strength. Like a bottle of wine, the moment the Wesleyeians’ strength were gridlocked, they became useless.
It became their strategy. The other groups used the same tactic, decreasing the enemy’s numbers. But whilst they were indeed winning that way, their healers were weakening.
The only obstacle that would truly become their hindrance was if they would lose all their healers before they completely defeat the enemy. Or worst, a back up plan.
Axel, Edward, Efraim, and the allied group of wolves continued on their battle. Killing August’s army, by weakening them first, before giving them a fatal blow. It was working at first. Until Terrance, and the other lookouts lost their connection with those who were in actual battle.
Rather, it was those who were fighting that lost connection with the lookouts.
Amidst of everyone’s cooperation, and gambit, August had released one of his hidden trick. August communicated with his brother, who were in charged of leading the group of wolves who were supposed to be the back up plan. They were the Crimson Red’s prisoner. Wolves from different tribe, whom he also allowed to be test subjects so he could use them in war.
At first, it was only for his daughter. But upon knowing the involvement of Axel, he could not sit still. Surely, if they were to underestimate the Western Border, they would lose. Axel was quite popular. If he was to support the Wesleyeians, then, without any doubt, he will be defeated. It will shame their Kingdom, and it will spread throughout the whole continent.
Thus, he finally agreed on making a deal with the human scientist, Rakim.
Rakim was a human scientist, who had been researching for creatures like them. When August sent his group of high ranked wolves, to get a sample of their weapon, one of his own was captured. Rakim tried to communicate with them, by sending back the captured wolf after they were done being his test subjects. He proposed a drug August had no knowledge about.
Thence, he refused.
But under the circumstances, August found a reason to make a deal with Rakim. But beforehand, August had asked Rakim to prove that his work would be of help. He sent several of his men. And when they came back after a few days, they sent them to the mountain, where the Wesleyeians lived.
It was forbidden August was aware. But for as long as he could remember, even if wolves were to battle themselves, the Goddess never showed herself. Nor had she meddle with their affairs. For a thousand years, the stories about their Goddess, became nothing but a myth. A folklore.
August did not want to lose just because he was afraid of the existence of a woman who was not even real. Thereupon, he decided to break the “law” the other tribe continued to believe existed.
What he did not see was Edward’s treachery. He had only found it out, the day before they attacked. He wanted to ask Edward to join him, but was straight upset when he heard the news about their alliance. He sent his men to gather information, but what they found out was Edward’s betrayal.
But at some point, it allowed him to prepare.
They arrived late than they were supposed to, because he had all of their prisoners injected. But to make sure they’d follow him, he made a promise to lure them.
“Kill them, brother.” August ordered his brother from the transmission.
They will not just win tonight. They will also slaughter them. Own their lands, and enslaved their pack who remained in the Kingdom. August had already calculated what would happen in this war. And the only thing left to do was to go through it until they wipe them out.
August continued to stand on a branch of tree while drinking on his sake. He entertained himself, waiting for the victory. The battle was near its climax. Yet for the allied Kingdom, it will only be the start.
“What happened?” Axel asked the wolves who were with him. “Hansel lost connection?”
“So it seemed.” One of his high ranked wolf, responded.
Half of them were wounded. The healers, however, were trying their best to heal it. But at most, they could only stop it from bleeding.
Not all of them could last until the end of war. The healers have their limitation, and saving it by wisely using their abilities was important, especially in their situation. Not to mention, they have themselves to heal, too. After baiting the enemy. They received bite marks and wounds deep enough to decrease their healing ability.
“They could be attacked. Where were they positioned?” Axel started to think of different possibilities. “Their location might have been pinpointed.”
They halted, for a moment. Right now, they were almost on the bottom of the mountain. The trees were apart from each other, giving them the space they needed. But at some point, it was also an area where they could easily be seen.
“They had no specific area. They were following the group they were reporting to.”
Axel growled. What could it be?
“Still, be alert. Tell the others to continue what they were doing. Let’s just trust Hansel and the others.” Axel directed.
The Alpha of the Western Border used his ability to see in the dark, and his sense of smell to search for the enemy’s location. They headed back. The healers continued on their job, while the high ranked wolf followed Axel’s order, and communicated with the others.
Axel was anticipating for an attack. But whilst they were walking to where they came from, Axel felt an enormous, overwhelming presence. He stopped from his track, and looked back. He focused his sense of hearing, and sight in one direction. It was no mistake.
There were more wolves coming.
Only their scents were different from the Crimson Red. But Axel could smell from the distance that they weren’t an ally, either. Axel had concluded it was yet another group of enemies. Thus, he looked up in the moon, and howled.
It was a signal. An Alpha’s howl to his pack.
The sound Axel made reach those who were with him in this fight. They immediately recognized the message he wanted to relay, allowing them to prepare for the enemy that were to come.
Axel ran towards north. With their number, and the enemies’ quantity, they could easily be killed. Not to mention Axel was already suspecting them to be under the same drug the Crimson Red were in. Axel needed to think of the worst case scenario, and make a befitting decision.
He led his group up in hope to gather with the others.
He was putting the pieces in his head together. Their scents. Their sudden appearance. It might be one of August’s plan. In their condition, they might have been able decreased the Crimson Red’s numbers, but they sure wouldn’t be able to do the same to the another set of army.
“Oh my god…” A female wolf from Edward’s pack gasped. “Hundred of them. We won’t be ready for that, Alpha!”
“Regroup with the others, Valentin. They won’t attack in different directions now. The situation had completely changed.” Axel respond in a serious manner. “Go and find ran faster.”
The only reason they had chose to separate were because the Crimson Red did to. It would be easier to deal with them separately, especially with their learned weakness from the enemy. However, August’s ally were together. They were almost double the quantity of August’s wolves.
They’d be doomed if they separate from each other.
August wasn’t planning to let them go from the very start. Though, he already had the advantage, he wanted to secure the victory.
But who were these wolves? Whose pack were they?
It was impossible for Edward to not see through with this. Unless, they got through Edward’s betrayal first.
The plan to regroup was easily met. But whilst their hope to win had waver for a bit because of the new presence of the enemy, Edward continued with his fight with the two left Generals.
“As expected for the Alpha of the Eastern Border. You attack in the most unexpected way…” Greyson smirked. “Afterall, it was how you managed to deceived us.”
Goss was down, still wailing for the injury he received from fighting Edward. He turned back his human form, unable to fight anymore. His back was skinned alive. Even after his transmuted, it did not vanquish. Nor did it stop itself from bleeding. Goss was in an awful state. But that just made the situation easier for Edward.
“But all of that will end now…” Greyson continued, as they started to trudged, preparing for an attack. “Because we won’t let any of you come out alive from this mountain.”