Chapter Two

All the pack could talk about was the gathering and the honour that it was to host so many alphas in one place, I knew it for what it was, Alpha Rick wanted to show who was on top on the pretence of offering a place to unite the packs with alliances across the lands. When the royal kingdom fell a decade ago the council took charge and what I have heard from the whispers of gossip spreading across the pack is Alpha Rick has been working closely with the council and working his way on securing his position as ruler of the wolf kingdom. Its laughable but I know that the council deems his pack as the biggest and strongest.

"Sammy, Conner we need to make a move." Turning to Taylor, Julie and Aaron "Once you finished with the clearing up guys, make sure you go straight back to the cottage until lunch." I hadn't wanted any of the pups around but there was no way I could deal with the added workload on our usual workload on my own, so I agreed that Sammy and Conner being the oldest could help me settle the other packs into their accommodations and deal with any of their requests, hoping that they would not be as bad as the Red Moon pack and a few of the others to help with the food service. With the number of wolves arriving there was no way I would be able to that all on my own.

Heading to the front of the pack house I mentally go through the list of things that needed to be completed before the arrivals, it had taken me the rest of the week working nights to finish the preparations with all the various injuries I obtained during the day and with the lack of sleep my healing abilities were slower than normal. Keeping to the side we stand straight with are hands behind our backs, we don't have to wait long until the first SUV pulls up in the driveway.

Remember what I told you both. I warn them through the bond as we watch the wolves exit their vehicles.

Keep out of site as much as possible.

Don't draw unwanted attention are way.

If we suspected trouble let you know immediately.

You taught them well Jen, stop stressing it will be ok. Let's just try and enjoy the weekend you know they will punish us as soon as everyone has left for everything, they find fault in. And wasn't that the truth and all I could hope is that I could direct all of it to me like I always did to ensure that the pups stayed unharmed. I felt my wolf nod in agreement before curling up to rest ready to lend me her strength when I started to dwindle with exhaustion.

Ok guys let's do this.

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Stifling my yawn, I feel Valkyrie push some of her strength to me, the dinner prep took me forever for the number of mouths I had to feed. Myself, Sammy and Conner have been working non-stop since breakfast and I can see them starting to lag from exhaustion, we were finally on the last stint of washing up with the other pups. Last of the dishes away I start herding the pups with Sammy and Conner's help towards the door, its later than normal and I still need to make sure they all eat tonight and to do that I need to go hunting.

Jen, rogues Valkyrie screams in my head as I step outside the door, I was too wrapped up in my own head to realise.

"Run now" I urge the pups in front of me just before a group of rogues bound out of the tree line towards the pack house, why hadn't the alarm been set off? Unlike everyone else who is probably now running to the bunker in the packhouse, we are having to sprint across to the cottage right by the tree line, as slaves we aren't allowed in the bunker. To be fair we are probably safer there anyway, nearly to the house a pups whimper suddenly draws my attention to the right.

"Sammy, Conner you know what to do. Pups geta moving" I order skidding to a stop, glancing over the area I finally spot the female pup backed up against a tree by two rogue wolves, they look feral and unkept with their matted fur, growling lowly they get ready to pounce but I am already sprinting across the yard, launching myself in front of her just in the nick of time, I manage to knock one of them off balance whilst the other ones claws dig deeply down my back, grunting from the pain I spin myself around throwing the wolf off me as I reach down grabbing the dagger out of my boot and launching it at the first wolf I had knocked off balance, right into his throat, ducking down to miss the other wolf leaping at me I kick my leg out landing it in the wolf's abdomen sending it flying back as a scream escapes the little girl next to me.

Keeping her in my sights but not letting her distract me I leap back up onto my feet and launch myself towards the stunned wolf plunging the knife straight through his chest and into his heart for an instant kill, withdrawing my dagger I stand tall and take in my surroundings for any other immediate danger, none in sight. I spin back to the little girl "Hey sweetheart, I need you to be brave for me and come with me" she gives me a small nod as tears streak down her cheeks, lifting her onto my hips I start a steady run towards the cottage.

Sammy, I need you to open the door on the count of ten. mentally link my brother, I have never felt so exhausted in my life luckily Valkyrie is my guardian angel and sends me more energy through our bond, I feel her yawn as her energy dwindles from the amount, she has sent to me.

"My brother. My brother. He is in the woods with Luke" the girl stutter screams in my ear making me wince as she struggles to get out of my arms and run off towards the forest.

"Where?" I question her sharply causing her to pause in her escape, pointing back to where she was, I groan inwardly in frustration "It be ok. Sammy is going to look after you and keep you safe. I'll bring them back too you sweetie."

"But the rogues" she whimpers as the door in front of me flies open just as my foot hints the porch letting us in without me having to pause, setting her down I catch my swords my brother throws towards me.

"I promise you I will bring your brother back to you with Luke" I turn in time to slice my blade across the air, just as a wolf leaps from nowhere as I plunge another one the opposite direction into the chest of another "You all know what to do" I say to them as Sammy pulls the hysterical girl into his arms and slams the door shut. By the looks of the battle to my right the rogues are nearly dealt with which should mean the pups will be ok.

They will be ok Jenni. My wolf tries to reassure me as I place one foot in front of the other in the direction she pointed. "Brother and Luke" I start as a mantra in my mind, it doesn't take me long to sense them and the rogues, picking up their scent my wolf pushes the last of her energy into me allowing me to almost fly through the forest. Jumping over logs and dodging the trees it doesn't take long before I hear the whimpers of the pups.

Breaking out of the tree line I make it in time to ram the grey wolf launching itself towards them away. What a joke, there is six of them, six adult wolves against two pups. Growling I crouch down prepared to defend the pups at my back who are trapped behind me and the river.

Wolves circling us I choose to make the first move, using my swords, I make quick work of the first two wolves as I slit their throats. The other wolves then start to take their time as they try find my weakness to take me down, they won't find one though. I was trained to be a young warrior before joining the Red Moon pack and was possibly the youngest warrior in history to date. Watching them they give away their moves every time they move making it easier for me to fight them. Taking down another wolf I am left with three of them but after the long day I have had I am starting to struggle where it looks like they could carry on like this for hours, I need to start becoming more aggressive with my attacks.

A rustle of leaves draws my attention to across the river where a hunter emerges from the shadows, I'm unable to get out the way as he shoots a dart into my thigh, due to the bigger of the wolves launching itself at me at the same time. Shit, are they working with hunters? My leg starts going numb from the effects of the wolfsbane dart and I know I need to hurry in taking out the other wolves. The smaller one of the rogues helps me out with that by attempting to get past me to the boys, flicking my wrist I let my sword fly through the air lodging itself in the skull of the wolf, leaving me with the last two and a hunter.

Needing to make an opportunity to get the pups out of here I lunge at the left wolf faking an attack to get it to move, unfortunately for me the hunter seems to understand my motivation and sends darts into the pups knocking them out cold, before sending another two into my back. Letting my adrenaline ride I take the last two out swiftly but before I can do anything else I feel another dart hit me in the chest, collapsing to the ground beside the two pups the darkness envelopes me as the wolfsbane finally takes me out.