My Laughable Fate

23. Rougarou pack

LUKE POV

NEXT DAY

As soon as I arrived at the Rougarou pack, I understood why the council chose it as a starting point for my headhunting mission. It wasn’t the biggest pack, but my twin’s assessment was spot on. I was positive that by the time the renovations were done on the South’s council building, one or more wolves from this pack would have positions there.

I hadn’t bothered meeting with the current “Commander” of the South’s army. Uncle Jerry had already determined that the current leadership of the South’s werearmy was inadequate. Mainly because it’s comprised of former high-ranking members who appointed themselves.

It wasn’t hard for a handful of former Alpha’s, Beta’s, and warriors to get the support of their former packs and gain control. Especially when sed Alpha’s and packs have been allies for years. Alpha Ivan’s father, former Alpha Curtis, is the ringleader of that click. I’m not entertaining that s**t.

Why would I when Alpha Zachary’s pack had Leia's top ranking as the least difficult pack to work with. More importantly, they are hungry to improve and grow as a pack. The expectations the Alpha has for all his wolves, from the pack members who run the day to day to his Beta, drives them to be better wolves.

It helps that it’s one of the few packs that didn’t take more than a few weeks to assess. They didn’t bullshit or cry about the fact that a shewolf was in their pack to take measure, so to speak. The Alpha was also one of the tiny faces that did not look pleased with Alpha Daniel’s attempt to embarrass my sis.

That surprised me because while Leia’s assessment ended on a positive note, it didn’t start out that way. She and the Alpha had a “sparring session” that stamped respect after her name in his book. It even managed changed his views on the abilities of his own shewolfs. So much so that he now has ten new shewolf warriors.

I’ve been here a week and I already have a healthy list of candidates to fill leadership roles. Three of which are warriors that I’ve already sent on a mission. “You don’t waste any time. That’s why I love you, human.” Soran said the last sentence in a sickly sweet and semi-sarcastic tone.

What kind of Master Sargeant anything would I be if I took a step without the next one carefully planned out? There are territories in each region that I want to scout while I’m headhunting. If there are strong wolves, and I believe they can assist, then I’m going to use them and test their abilities. Win, win.

I’d be in a better mood had I been able to get restful sleep last night. There was excitement, anxiety and uncertainty bubbling inside of me, but they weren't my emotions. “It’s time to see our other half, face to face.” My wolf voiced what I was already considering. I didn’t want to crowd her but for me to feel her emotions, there was something heavy going on with her.

A familiar wolf began his approach and I set my coffee cup on the table, next to my plate of bacon and toast. I’d chosen to sit with the warriors this morning for breakfast, despite being invited to sit with the high-ranking members, to avoid the usual morning small talk. My head wasn’t in it today.

“Sargeant Master Luke. Kane and his team are back, they have important news for you.” The wolf spoke even though I’d only lifted my head in acknowledgment. When I turned, his bowed head tilted up as he eagerly waited for my response. Clarence is a few years younger than me, and had been assigned to be my guide.

Normally, I don't take in a male wolf's appearance, but it's hard not to in his case. He has dark bushy hair that I wished he would keep out of his face. If I wasn’t a wolf, I wouldn’t know his eyes are blue because the damn mop on his head is always in the way. “You have issues.” Soran snickered.

I didn’t have time to tell my wolf or Clarence that I couldn’t take him seriously when he looked like Chong. “Elder Becky raised a fascist.” Soran tskd. “I’m not a fascist, just tired. Besides, it’s her fault I know who Chong is in the first place.” I gripped. My mother expanded the selection of movies vastly in her reign as Luna.

I like order and his hair is the opposite of that. I don’t have a problem with long hair, I have a problem with unkept hair. Unkept anything for that matter. “Issues.” Soran echoed. In truth, the wolf’s hair irked me but not enough to merit my current irritation level. Maybe I did have issues this morning.

Either way, it’s not Clarence’s fault that my twin’s emotions are f*****g with me. “It’s also not his fault that you’re a strange human who focuses way too much on other wolves hair.” My wolf was going for gold this morning. He’d never admit it, but Leia's emotions were getting to him too.

Shaking my head, I got up from my seat and walked toward the enchanted mop. The Alpha, Beta and Gamma were already standing a few feet behind him. “Go home. Find a way to keep your hair out of your face. I don’t trust a wolf I can’t look in the eyes.” I instructed, and walked away. I never trusted Chong.

Alpha Zachary led us to his office where Kane and his men stood. They bowed to their Alpha but when they raised their heads, they all had odd yet familiar looks on their faces. I recognized that look. It was the look of accomplishment combined with wariness. I've seen and worn that look often enough.

“You’re findings.” Alpha Zachary got right to the point. Good Alpha. “We have a video.” Kane grinned, lifting the usb in the air for all to see. The potential of could be on the video had me salivating. Without saying a word, the Beta took the usb and went around the desk and handed it to him.

In seconds, the large flat screen on the wall came on. With a small glance my way, the Alpha hit play. On the there was a sea of green that didn't appear at first glance to be focusing on anything. Just lots of trees. Little by little, the drone zoomed in and narrowed in on a small camp.

“We finally got this after two days of nothing.” One of the warriors complained but righted himself when Kane shot him a glare. The warrior frowned but bowed his head. “Sorry Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Sargeant Master Luke. These assholes are sneaky. They appear out of nowhere, and it’s hard to pinpoint the target.” He said in frustration. “That’s enough, Eric.” Kane growled.

I understood Eric’s frustration. We find traces of them but have never gotten close enough to see one of their camps. The video kept playing, wolves milling about getting whatever job they had been assigned done. Like the workers on the Death Star. That one you can thank my grandpa for. Every time I hear my name, I do.

We all stiffened when a woman appeared on the screen. I’m not sure how, but we knew what she was instantly. It was the way she walked, the way she carried herself. “She’s a witch.” The third warrior spat. “You have a problem with witches?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the screen.

I felt his mood shift, from anger to angst. “No… Yes!” He affirmed. “I have a problem with witches that kill wolves or any innocent being.” He quickly added. “Nice save.” Eric muttered. This conversation would have been much more tense if we weren’t all engrossed with the woman on the screen.

Long chestnut brown hair cascaded around as she bounced from one hunter to another. A broad smile on her face as they frowned and nodded their heads. Clearly, they didn’t like taking orders from a witch, but they had made their bed. Kane pointed at the screen, unnecessarily. “Watch.” Again, unnecessary since we hadn’t turned away from the screen.

The witch floated around the camp, spreading her joy. The hunters gritted their teeth at her orders, but complied. We couldn’t hear what was going on, but we could see a group of men talking behind her. Angry faces, spitting even angrier words. While we couldn’t hear, she clearly did. The smile on her lips widened, and she turned to face them.

All of them froze in place. Her hips swayed as she sashayed in their direction. From the right, another man appeared. Young, tall, and slim. The men eyed him warily but kept their focus on the witch. She raised her hand, possibly saying something to them, their eyes growing like saucers.

The new arrival grinned, raising his hand, mimicking the witch. They both closed their fists and all three men's faces contorted in pain as they clutched their chests. “What's the f**k?” Alpha Zachary growled. “Wait.” Kane whispered. The witch opened her hand into a claw. Suddenly, the men’s shirts tore to shreds, blood spilling from gashes on their skin. Their mouths were wide open, likely screaming in agony.

“Look at the gashes.” Eric instructed, and we all did. At first, it just looked like a bloody mess. Little by little, words on the men’s chests started to form. One of them said Onyx, the other… it was hard to read, but there was a capitol H and too much blood to tell the rest. The word on the last man’s chest. That one caused me to pause. Lilit.

The men fell to the floor, obviously dead from blood loss. The witch turned to the man, who was now kneeling on the floor exhausted. “Which one of them is in charge? Which of the two is Onyx?” Alpha Zachary asked what we had all been wondering since they first appeared. Since they first attacked Leia.

“Doesn’t matter." I deadpanned and, the Alpha sighed. "Please elaborate." With a hand waive he sat back. "It doesn’t matter because individually neither of them is stronger than Maeve or Heidi.” I asserted. They were the only witch and… hybrid I had to reference. He nodded slowly, and the others tried to follow.

The man, who has similar abilities to Hedi’s, is too weak to stand after using his powers on three men. It’s hard to imagine he was capable of what he did to my twin. Unless he wasn’t doing it alone. Not much is known about Heid’s powers outside of our pack. Because as Alex put’s it “It’s none of their f*****g business.” But I knew enough.

“Watch the video again. Because to me, it looked like they were combining their efforts to attack three men.” Yet he was able to attack my twin and her men all by himself? AND put up a fight against Heidi and Maeve. Not by himself. Though, that's what they wanted it to look like.

“That means, all we have to do is take one of them out.” Kane grinned. If it were that easy. I shook my head and Kane frowned. I felt Alpha Zachary’s eyeroll but didn’t acknowledge it. “The man, he’s one thing. That witch, she has her coven. More than one witch is helping him…. BOOST his power.” Probably the whole coven.

We could divide and conquer, but they never stayed in one place long enough. This is the first time we get eyes on them and we need to act quickly before they disappear. There is only one person that can help me "track" them, but I can’t reach out directly. Unless I want to die.

“Call the council.” The Beta picked up the phone after a nod of confirmation from the Alpha. “I think you’re right. It might be time to go see Leia.” Once I manifest the plan I'm working on into reality, she's going to lead the team to take them down. With me next to her. “Hmm.” Soran hummed in approval.