CHAPTER 76. A WAR TO KEEP HER
RYDER
“What?!” I was already hurrying inside and they came behind me.
“They sent over the warning at midnight, a few hours after you left the nightclub,” Jay explained, "And in the letter, it stated that they were giving us two days to let Hara return to them, or we go to war,”
“That's absurd. Red Moon Pack doesn't stand a chance against us. They might have good warriors but they're just on the same level as our trainees. Waging a war against us is suicide,” I was gloating, I was being downright disdaining and arrogant right now. But that's the only reaction I could come up with.
In all honesty, I'm a bit anxious about this news. I knew it would come to this someday, the very moment I set eyes on Hara in my pack, I knew this day would come. And when her mate showed up, I knew it would come faster. And here it is, the bloody day I get to choose between Hara and the safety of my pack.
After last night and how blunt she was about her feelings, the Ideal reaction would be to bundle her up and throw her right back to her people. But the mere thought of that hurts, I can't do it. I can't return her to Red Moon Pack, to Roland. I'd rather go to war against the universe itself than let her go. And that's why I was feeling anxious right now, I was scared for the life of my people I might endanger in a war for my benefit.
”Ryder, are you even listening?!” Giveon demanded brusquely, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Yes, I'm sorry. Where's Father?”
”In the general hall. The councils are with him, they've been in there for hours,”
We got into my room and I hurried to the bathroom. Darius was supposed to start selecting my outfit but he wasn't doing that. It was only at that point that I realized he wasn't with the guys. It was just Jay and Giveon.
“Where the hell is Darius?”
“He disappeared, right after the message from Red Moon Pack arrived,“ Giveon said as he walked over to my closet to pick out my outfit.
”Thank you,” I nodded to him and dashed into the bathroom. In a few minutes, I was stark clean and wasn't reeking of alcohol anymore. I got out and dressed up in the clothes Giveon chose for me.
We headed out of my room to the general hall. The hallway was filled with activities, the Gammas were here, they're barely seen here as they govern the pack house. I was getting more agitated with each fleeting second. But a thought hit me and I gave an abrupt halt.
“Where's Hara?”
”In her room. We had our trainees stand guard outside her door,” Jay said.
“I appreciate it, but I think one of you should do the guarding. I know you have loads of faith in your trainees, but I can't feel at ease knowing they're the ones guarding her. Do you understand?”
”Yes, Ryder. Don't worry. I'll go guard her,” Jay volunteered with an assuring smile.
“Thank you, man. And please, don't stand outside. Go inside her room. Stand an inch away from her. Make sure she doesn't make any funny moves. Knowing her too well, I'm sure she's got a million thoughts running through her mind. Don't give her a chance to execute any of those damned thoughts,“
”Got it.“ Jay nodded and hurried off to her room.
It was just Giveon and I and we resumed walking but slowed in our steps as Darius approached us.
“Ryder, where the heck have you been?” He demanded like he had the right to.
”I should be asking the same question, don't you think? Where the hell did you run off to?” I backfired.
“I sent a message to Fred. He'll return to the palace before noon,”
Somehow, his excuse soothed whatever doubts I had about his disappearance. Fred has been away for too long, overseeing the flooded packs. It's about time he returned home. With a war lurking around, I needed all my warlords here. If only Jason was healthy enough to join us…
We arrived at the grand door to the general hall and they opened it. Father was throwing a fit and everyone present was trembling under his murderous rage.
”Father, that's enough,” I spoke up as I walked to his side, “If you wanna lash out at someone, it should be me,”
“You idiot!” He barked, hitting me hard on my face. It brought about a deafening gasp, but Father was not done with his outburst. He raised his hand and hit me again. I didn't budge, I just let him have his way. I deserved it anyways.
“After everything I sacrificed for these peace treaties, now I'm gonna sit and watch it go into flames?!” He howled, ”You failed in your filial duties and your Alpha duties. And now I ask the Moon Goddess just what wrong did I do for her to give me an incompetent son like you?!”
”I'm sorry, Father. I never wanted it to get to this point,“
“I warned you, didn't I? Time and time again, I asked you to send that witch out of here. But no, you wouldn't listen. You were already too enchanted to think right,“
“I'll take the fall for this, Father. I'll go to war alone against Red Moon Pack. I'm not gonna endanger the lives of my warriors…” I was cut off by another resounding slap on my face. It was the most disparaging thing for an Alpha to be slapped by his Father in front of his people. But I don't mind. Father was right on this one, and I'm wrong. Still, I'm not even considering letting Hara go. That's what I find amusing in all these.
”Shut the fuck up!” Father seethed in rage, pointing a finger at me, ”You're not immortal, Ryder. If you fight the warriors of Red Moon Pack alone, there's every possibility you're gonna get hurt,“
“But, your majesty, It's either that or our warriors join in the war,” one of the councils voiced out his thoughts, “We can't ignore the warning, and wait till they attack us,“
“We are not gonna ignore, and we're not gonna go to war with them either. Alpha Zed has been a good friend of mine, and I'm sure all these are gonna be resolved over a little talk. All we need to do is release that witch to them,“
”What?” Father's words resounded in my ears and knocked me back to reasoning. What did he just say?
”You heard me, son. Let that witch go. That's the only way we can avert this attack. You wanna keep your people safe? You wanna keep the peace treaty? You wanna be a good leader? Then do what's right. Let her go. She belongs with them, not here,”
Until the end, everyone's gonna demand that I let Hara go. That makes me sick and fucking lonely.
“I'm afraid your Father is right, Your highness,” One of the councils chirped in, “You need to let that woman go. She's the reason behind this war, so letting her go will resolve it,“
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that,” I deadpanned, meeting Father's gaze with my defiant ones, “Hara stays with me. And I'm more than willing to go to war against them alone. I wouldn't wanna sacrifice innocent lives, so as I said, I'll take the fall for this. I'll clean up my mess. Just don't touch Hara, Father. If you do, I'll send us all to hell,“
Father was taken aback by my coldness but he knew I meant every bit of what I said. I walked out of the hall, fuming with fury.
”Hey, Ryder. Wait up,“ Giveon ran up to me, pulling me back by my shoulder.
I turned around and exhaled sharply, “You heard what I said back there, right? I'll do this alone. You guys don't have to worry about fighting with me,“
”C'mon, man. That's crazy. We might not agree with you about keeping her, but we'll always be willing to fight with you, anywhere, any day, anytime. Right, Darius?“
“Right,“ Darius nodded, “We have your back on this, so you don't have to do it alone.“
I could feel the sincerity in Giveon's voice, but not in Darius' voice. Again, I remembered just how weird he's been lately, especially when it had to do with Roland. I was scared to tap into his mind, scared of what I would find. I've been betrayed enough, the pain from the betrayals is excruciating enough to last a lifetime. I don't wanna add to it. My gut feeling tells me what he's hiding isn't good at all, and I'm fucking scared to find out.
“Thanks, guys,” I forced a smile, not taking my eyes off him for a second. He was jittery, nervous, and scared. What's your deal, Darius? What are you hiding? Whatever it is, just don't hurt Hara. Or I might be forced to send you to hell with my claws.
We went into our meeting room and stayed there till nightfall. Fred arrived before nightfall and we spent long hours mapping out our plan. I was seated with Jay, Giveon, Fred, and Darius.
It was gonna be five of us against the soldiers of Red Moon Pack. We have our chance of winning, all we need to do is plan.
It was almost midnight when the door burst open and Hara walked in. It was an insulting intrusion, any other person I would have reacted to, but seeing it was her, I held my cool.
“What nonsense is going on in your head?!” She yelled furiously, slamming her hand on the table.
“You guys, please excuse us," I said to them and they silently got up and left. I was observant enough to notice Darius glaring at Hara. That dude better gets his mind straight. Not another motherfucker turning crook under my nose.
“Why do you seem so disturbed, Queen? Scared I'm gonna hurt your little mate?“ I taunted her with a lopsided smile. But deep down, it was raining tears.
Here I was, on the verge of sacrificing my life and that of my warlords in a fight to keep her. And I'm not even sure what's in it for me. What do I get from keeping her? She already made it clear that her heart would never beat for me. I'm such an idiot.
“You know, that mate of yours is one hell of a liar. I'm sure he told your Alpha that I sneaked you out of their pack the night I came for the mate ball. That's why they're furious and demanding a war if I don't return you,”
“Roland wouldn't tell such a lie…“
“Are you saying that to convince me or to convince yourself?“ I asked. She gave no reply, so I continued, “If you're here to beg me to spare his life, then you better leave. I got no plans to spare him, I'm gonna slit his throat even if I have to risk my life to do that,”
She was visibly shaking from my words but I had no bit of consolation for her. I meant every bit of what I said. I'm gonna kill him.
“Don't hurt my Alpha and his son…“ Her teeth clattered as she spoke in such a low tone.
“I'm sorry but that's not on me. If your Alpha and his son think they're men enough to beat me in combat, then it's only fair that I indulge them,“ I taunted her further.
She gasped out tears at how indifferent my tone was, “I know you love spilling blood and ending lives but I'm not gonna be a reason for it. I'm leaving,“
She turned around but barely made it to the door before I stepped in front of her.
“You'll do no such thing,“ I said flatly. But she was in so much tears I couldn't keep up my act of being indifferent. Once again, I let my guard down, ready to bare my heart to her.
I shut my eyes in a harsh growl, bringing our foreheads close enough to caress each other. My arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to me.
“If you leave, if you leave, Hara-“ I couldn't get the words out. I was surprised when she cupped my face and gave me butterfly kisses. I sighed softly and continued, “If you leave, you take my heart with you, leaving me with nothing but grief and loneliness. My Wolf can't be apart from his mate, and I can't be apart from you,“
”Ryder…“
“You're mine, Hara. From the moment I set my eyes on you, I knew it. And every single time I fucked you shitless, that was me, leaving a statement that You're mine, only mine…“