Kate’s POV
A soft brush of warmth on my lips pulled me from the deep sleep. I stirred, blinking hazily against the darkness of as my eyes drifted open slowly. Dimitri’s familiar scent filled my nose before I even saw him.
When the shadows blurring my vision cleared, he was standing above me, his dark eyes softened with affection but again weighed down by something.
I really needed to get my mate a vacation that lasted.
“Dimitri?” My voice came out groggy, as I quickly pushed myself up, the sheets pooling around my waist a soft glow from the moon filtered through the window, casting shadows across the room.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sighed
“You’re back.”
“I am.” His voice was low, almost distant. He sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his thick hair, which was a bit longer than usual I liked it and the scruff that came with it too but definitely not the . tension radiating from him
I shifted to sit up, my pulse quickening with worry.
“What happened at the Council?”
He let out a deep sigh, sitting on the edge of the bed beside me. His hand found mine, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles.
“It’s worse than we thought,” he began, the weariness in his voice cutting through me.
” We have a bigger threat to face now ”
” Ok, what do we need to do ” I asked
” That’s the problem” he huffed
“We agreed that the packs need to unite under one leadership to face Lycaon ‘s forces. But not everyone is on board. Despite the Council’s decision, several of the packs are choosing to fight alone. They think they can handle this on their own.”
I cursed under my breath, a knot of frustration forming in my chest.
“Typical.”
The Alphas were too headstrong, too proud, and equally caught up in their own territories to see the bigger picture.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and leaned closer to him, placing my hand on his arm.
” Idiots” I hissed
He sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping.
“Tell me about it .”
I clenched my fists, anger rising inside me.
“They’re being foolish. If this Ancient werewolf is as strong as we’ve seen we can’t fight him on our own. If we stand divided, he’ll pick us off like prey.”
Dimitri nodded, the frustration clear on his face
. “They know that, but they won’t listen. They’re too proud, too stubborn.”
I stood up, pacing the room
“So they’ve abandoned the alliance?” I asked, my mind was already racing, thinking of what could be done to turn this around.
“Not entirely,” Dimitri said, running a hand through his hair in.
“Some packs are still loyal to the cause. But too many of them-especially the larger packs-are opting to fight on their own terms. They think they’re invincible.”
My chest tightened with anger.
” Typical but annoying we can’t afford this division. If they go out on their own, they’ll be picked off one by one.”
” He killed full packs in hours, he’s not above doing that to”
Dimitri’s jaw clenched.
“I know. But convincing them… is not that simple. A few allies like Alpha Thrain and Alpha Selena are amiable but that makes about four other packs that are on the fence or outrightly refuse”
I turned to face him, walking to him, his arms came to wrap themselves around my waist
“Then we need to make it simple for them.” My voice grew stronger as the idea came together in my mind solidly
“If the Council can’t convince them to stand together, then maybe it’s time we take a more… personal approach.” I pulled away unable to stop fidgeting
Dimitri’s eyes followed me as I paced, a flicker of curiosity and wariness replacing the exhaustion on his face.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” I said, turning to face him,
“that we don’t wait for them to come around. I’ll go to them. I’ll speak to these Alphas myself, one by one if I have to. If they won’t listen to reason at the Council, maybe they’ll listen to someone who’s lived through a few battles and who’s bled for it.”
“Kate, you don’t need to carry this burden on your shoulders and I really don’t want you getting involved in Council politics any more than you already have.”
I stopped and turned to face him, crossing my arms over my chest brow arched
“I’m already involved, Dimitri”
” I saw that woman just like you did, I saw that ba” my voice cracked and I stopped swallowing
” We both saw that baby, we’re all involved. This is about survival, Dimitri. If these packs won’t listen to the Council, maybe they’ll listen to someone who’s not tied down by tradition and stubborn pride. They need to hear from someone who buried that woman and her baby, and they need to know that if we’re not careful there will be no one to bury us.”
” If I can make them see the bigger picture, we have a chance.” I muttered
Dimitri stared at me for a long moment, his expression softening into something like pride, even with a hint of worry.
. “You know this won’t be easy. Some of these Alphas are as stubborn as they come. They won’t want to listen to anyone, not even you.”
“I know,” I said, nodding, sometimes I think Dimitri forgot that I had lived with my father”
“But I’m not giving them a choice.”
“You always surprise me, Kate. You’ve already impressed more people than you know.” He stood and crossed the room to me, taking my hands in his.
“Alpha Denzel… he’s worse than the others. He’s not going to bend easily, especially not to a woman.”
I tilted my chin up.
“Then he’ll learn that underestimating me is a mistake.”
Dimitri’s lips twitched into a half-smile
“If anyone can do it, it’s you. Just… be careful.”
I squeezed his hand and nodded. “I will.”
—
I left the Pack the next day, it was going to be a long journey over the werewolf kingdom, we had four pack already certain and over ten more that were up in the air and would need work.
Dimitri went with me and a few beta’s leaving Louis in charge again
” At this rate, I’ll battle you for the post of Alpha ” Louis joked and I laughed
” We’ll make it up to you I promise, a long vacation” he nodded
” I’ll hold you to that Luna”
Over the next several days, I continued my mission, visiting pack after pack, speaking to Alpha after Alpha.
Some were easier to convince than others, some were stubborn, refusing to see the bigger picture. But one by one, they came around. They saw the truth in my words, the reality of the threat we were all facing.
I found myself in the fourth pack, two days later standing on the outskirts of Lockway ‘s territory.
Thick canopy of trees above us blocked out most of the light, casting everything in shadow and to dispel all efforts of tension Dimitri had sent a handful of his most trusted warriors with me while he went on to the bordering pack, we would meet when I was done. If we were going to convince Alpha Denzel, it would have to be through diplomacy, not force.
I could feel the eyes of Lockway warriors watching us from the trees, their presence hidden but unmistakable. They were waiting for us to make the first move, to see if we were friend or foe.
“I don’t like this,” one of Dimitri’s warriors, Landon, muttered beside me. His sharp gaze scanned the forest, clearly on edge.
“Denzel’s men aren’t known for their hospitality.”
“They’re territorial,” I agreed, keeping my voice low.
“But they’ll listen. They have to. No attacking first we’re not here to start a war ” I muttered
We continued forward, and soon enough, the massive gates of Lockway ‘s main compound came into view. Two beta’s stepped forward, barring our path.
“State your business,” one of them growled, his tone aggressive and distrustful.
“I’m here to speak with Alpha Denzel,” I said, meeting his gaze steadily.
“My name is Kate. I come on behalf of the Blood Moon Pack as it’s Luna .”
The guard’s eyes narrowed, his eyes lighting with recognition of some sort
“Blood Moon ? We have no quarrel with you, but our Alpha isn’t interested in alliances right now. Turn around and leave.”
I stood still, crossing my arms over my chest. .
“I’m not leaving until I speak with him. Tell him it’s about the survival of his pack.” I hissed
” Tell him it’s about Lycaon .”
The beta hesitated, glancing at his companion before nodding.
“Wait here.”
We waited in silence, as the minutes dragged on the tension thickened.
Landon and the others growing more uneasy by my side I was tempted to tell them to sit still.
Finally, the gate creaked open, and a figure stepped out. Alpha Denzel.
He was not as imposing as I’d thought he would be.
He was the basic alpha -tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and a large scowl on his face but he was also young and likely inexperienced.
His presence radiated authority, but there was something else there too-arrogance. He had the look of a man who believed himself invincible and while that was to be expected it could go badly for him if he wasn’t careful.
“You’re the one from Blood Moon ?”
Denzel’s voice was low, laced with a mixture of curiosity and slight indifference
” This is our Luna, you’ll treat her with respect” Landon growled stepping forward which made all the others step forward too
” Stop it all of you” I barked, I turned to him and walked towards him
“Yes I am,” I replied,
” I am the Luna and mate of the alpha of the Blood Moon pack. And I’m here to make sure you and your pack survive the war that’s coming.” he laughed when I was done
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
“I don’t believe we asked for your help and frankly we don’t need your help. Lockway fights its own battles.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“That’s the problem. This isn’t just your battle, Denzel. Lycaon isn’t coming for just one pack-he’s coming for all of us. We either stand together, or we’ll all fall alone.”
His scowl deepened, but I pressed on.
” I heard your mate is with child” I said softly, and he became rigid
” Four days before the council meeting, our scouts noticed something off, we went to check it out and we found them, men, women, slaughtered and destroyed. A mother had been pierced through leaving a gaping hole in her and the infant she was holding, she was running from her mother’s pack to her mates” one of the men winced
” An omega had been clawed through and her baby was pulled out of her womb and tossed on the floor” I said making the details as clear as possible.
“You think your warriors are enough? You think your territory will keep you safe but Lycaon did all this by himself because the packs were small”
” He has forces larger and more ruthless than anything you’ve faced. He’ll tear through your defenses, slaughter your people, to take what he wants. And after that, he’ll come for the rest of us.”
” Do you really want you mate living with that uncertainty”
Denzel’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t interrupt. I could see the stubbornness in his posture, the way his arms were crossed, and his jaw was set.
His eyes though had a flicker of thought, he was considering it.
“Your pride won’t protect your pack,” I continued, taking a step closer.
“But an alliance will give us a fighting chance . We’ve seen what he can do. You don’t have to like me, and you don’t have to trust me. But if you care about your people, you’ll listen.”
Denzel’s gaze bore into mine, and for a long moment, I thought he might tell me to leave. But then, slowly, his posture shifted. He uncrossed his arms and let out a long, frustrated breath.
“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that,” he said finally.
“Most Alphas would’ve tucked tail and run by now.
But you… you’re different.”
” So are you, you’re younger than I expected, I was sure it would make you more stupid ” I said brow raised, the beta’s hissed and he laughed
” Your alpha must have his hands full”
” So does that mean you’re willing to listen?”
Denzel’s lips twitched into a reluctant smirk.
“It means I’ll consider what you’ve said. But don’t think for a second that I’m following you or Dimitri blindly.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I said, matching his smirk.
“But you’ll find that standing together is better than dying alone.”
He glanced at the warriors standing behind me, then back at me.
” I’ll send a message once I’ve decided ” he said and I nodded
It wasn’t a victory, but it was a start.
As I left the compound, my mind raced we had four packs left but it seemed news spread faster than I traveled by the time I got to most of them the news of my meeting with Alpha Denzel had reached them, it made thing easier.
By the time I returned to the Blood Moon Pack, we had gained the loyalty of several key packs.
Ancient werewolf or Lycaon he wasn’t killing us off that easily.