Alphas United: The Battle Before the War

Chapter 9

2 days later

Zac’s POV

I’m in my office just finishing up some work so I can meet Lauren for lunch. She brought our kids with her to the daycare to work. She doesn't work often at the daycare anymore; she has more of a casual position now. If someone wants to take some time off, or someone calls in since, they usually call Lauren in. She usually has our kids most of the time, on top of Luna duties, her hands are full! She insists on helping our pack in any capacity she can, and she loves kids... so she's happy to help.

She’s only needed until lunch, but she's going to leave our kids there for a few extra hours today. Apparently they're doing fun crafts this afternoon that Cash and Cami will love. The sweetheart that she is, she wants to come and help me with some pack business because I’ve had a lot piling up. She’s the sweetest thing. She’s always quick to help, and she never complains. 

I see my cell is ringing, and “Alicia Parker” appears on my screen. I asked her to do what she could to figure out anything she could about Hogan. I have Jack on it too, and so far he’s come up with nothing. Hopefully, she has had more luck than he has.

Me: Hey! Please tell me you found something. (I say optimistically, as I answer the phone)

Alicia: Hi, uh, no I wasn’t able to find out anything about Hogan... If that's even his real name. I have some news though. 

Me: What is it?

Alicia: After everything that happened the other day, I thought it would be best to prepare for a counter-attack in, anyway we could. Part of that preparation meant we extended our boundary spell to the highway. As soon as anyone from the supernatural world crossed the highway, entering into Red Riverview we would feel it. 

Me: Okay…

Alicia: Well, we felt it. And a lot. In the last 40 minutes, we’ve felt dozens of vehicles crossing into Red Riverview. Mostly your kind, but I felt a few of mine too. 

Me: Okay. I’ll-

Alicia: I’m not done. I also sent a few warlocks to follow, inconspicuously. I just got a text that they’re searching the forest where Jacques and his pack were camped out. 

Me: You have warlocks there? How many are there?

Alicia: It’s hard to tell. Hundreds. I’m not sure. They’ll keep me updated, but they’re entering sporadically. 

Me: They’re coming for one reason, and one reason only. 

Alicia: (Sighs) I know. This time, we will fight together. You proved yourself when you helped me and my people, and I won’t hang you out to dry. We'll work together. What you did... that goes a long way with me. 

Me: Well I appreciate that you’re willing to join us. If they have witches, your services will be of great value. My pack has about 700, but 450 warriors. I need to know if I need to call an allied Alpha close by. 

Alicia: I’m not sure. How far is this ally of yours?

Me: Not far. Half hour. 

Alicia: Why don’t you warn him. I’ll tell my warlocks to try and get estimates and let you know if you need to call for backup. My guess is yes, though. If Jacques was telling the truth we should expect approximately 1200 people. I think they’re looking for a fight, otherwise, why would they have so many coming? If they were simply looking for them, they’d send what? A dozen at most? This seems extreme and-

Me: Calculated.

Alicia: Exactly. 

I tell her to keep me posted, and that I will call and ready backup. As soon as I hang up, I call Jack and let him know what’s going on.

Hogan’s Point of View

I scoured the entire field that Jacques and my brother Zane were camped out in over the last few weeks. I expected to find a field full of vehicles, tents, and even dead bodies but there’s nothing. I know this is the right place because I can see where the long grass is matted down and is discoloured from having tents and equipment on top of it for several weeks. 

“f**k,” I rasp.

“What is it, King Hogan?” my beta asks.

“I need Zane’s body. I need his DNA for the necromancy spell. I can’t bring him back without it,” I growl. I lean up against my car with my hands on my head thinking for a moment, then I force myself up.

“Listen, we’re going to find this sorry f**k and he’s going to regret the day he ever crossed me. I am going to torture him until he tells me where he put their bodies, and if he doesn’t tell me, I’ll enjoy torturing everyone he cares about. They’ll be begging for death before I’m done with them. Thomas, Joel, find a few guys to take with you. I want you to start asking around. I want his head on a stake. Some battles to the top are necessary, and this is one of them. It’ll send a message. Let this be a warning to all who cross me,” I say firmly. I look out at the men standing around watching me. Waiting for orders. I am their king, and this is the path that leads me to ultimate respect, authority and glory. 

The way they look at me, I’m not sure if it’s fear or respect but they are loyal to me. More loyal than my father's men were to him. Maybe it was his strength or his ambition, but they deceived and usurped him. Like cowards, they crept in the shadows of the night. He never saw it coming when they slit his throat in his sleep. They nearly got away with it, too. If it weren't for me, they would have. I was 9 years old and was up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. In the quiet of the night, I crawled out of bed and was walking towards my bathroom when I heard a squeak from the floorboards. It stopped me in my tracks. My mother had been out of town for the week with my little brothers visiting her sister, and when my father was asleep, he was out cold. 

It shames me to admit, but my first thought was that my father had a woman in his room. I peeked my head outside into the hallway. The light of the moonlit up the hallway just enough to see several large figures. Then I heard gasps and gurgles. The men rushed out of his room, and down the stairs. I couldn’t make them out, but I ran straight to my fathers' room. 

There he laid, his hand on his throat and the sound of gurgling blood, and gasps filled my ears.

“Dad, No! Dad. Oh my gosh, I’ll go get the doctor,” I wailed as the tears burned my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. His eyes met mine, and he shook his head.

“Who did this? Was this Purple moon? A rogue?” I say through tears. He shook his head slightly again, and his hand clasped over his heart. 

His heart? “Your men?” I rasped, and he nodded slightly. 

I grabbed his hand and told myself to be a man. For my father, be a man and toughen up. I wiped the last of my tears.

“I love you, dad. I’m going to make them pay. Maybe not today, but I will. I’ll get my revenge. I promise you, Dad. I’ll take care of Mom,” I assured him. 

“I love you, Dad,” I added, and his grip on my hand started to loosen. The gurgling and gasping for air slowed and then stopped.

“No, Dad… Not yet, please. Dad. NO!” I cried out. The strength I had managed to gather for a moment for my father was suddenly gone, and so was he. 

I was a weak child. I’m neither of those things now, and I’m building a life for myself that will ensure that that sort of thing never happens to me or my future pups. I have lost both of my brothers and my mate in the pursuit to ultimate power, but I’ll get them back. That’s the plan, anyway.

“Donnie, grab a few guys and do the same. Ask around town for a Zac. I want to know where his pack is, how big it is, and who he cares about,” I order. 

“Yes, sir!” I hear in unison. 

“Everyone else set up camp. We might be here for a while,” I order.

 If I’m lucky, he’ll come to me. For now, I’ll wait and I’ll go over the area, taking in the terrain and deciding where to set up guards. I won’t be blindsided. This pack is 1000 KM north of my pack, so I’m not familiar with the area, but the likelihood of this guy having a bigger pack than me is slim to none. I’ve never met an alpha with a pack any bigger than 800. I have almost 1200 members, almost 1000 of them being warriors that will be here, all within the next 6 hours. My pack is new, and we have lots of younger members. I have encouraged my members to hold off on having kids until we get established. I don’t need to be losing my women warriors to their children. For the most part, they have done well at that.