One 116

ONE 116

Chapter 116: Aftermath Hunter When I get back to the packhouse, I see that Penny has done a great job of taking control and starting to get things cleaned up. Warriors are dragging the dead out of the packhouse, and all three safe rooms are open. Pups are crying, asking for their parents, but she’s put them in a relatively quiet, war free area. “Penny, what do you need from me?” I ask her walking up. “Alpha,” she says, looking around “I think I’m good here. How are our Luna and Beta Kinsley doing?” “Sophie is fine, she’s just exhausted but she’s resting in the pack hospital. Kinsley is still in surgery, but Brooklyn said that The baby is safe, and she’s just lost a lot of blood. Lucas is taking an inventory at the hospital of our warriors who are too severely injured to work and those that will be back more quickly. He’ll be staying in the hospital until Kinsley is out of surgery, maybe longer “Understood. Several warriors have come in asking me what to do with the dead outside,” she says, still looking around and silently answering questions that others are asking, pointing in the direction someone needs to go or where to put something. “I’ll told them to make a pile of the other pack’s dead. I didn’t think you’d care about being respectful of them since they attacked us. For our, dead, what few I’ve heard that we have, I’ve asked them to lay beside the packhouse for now. Warriors have already taken the mates of our dead to the pack hospital.” Chapter 116: Aftermath 288 Wouchers “How many?” I ask, looking around. I don’t hear any keening sounds of someone who has lost their mate. “Five that I’m aware of,” she says, turning to look at me. “Which is extraordinary considering how many attacked us and how much time we fought alone until Alpha Carter’s and Alpha Kayce’s packs arrived to help. It’s a testament to you and our Luna and what a strong pack we have, Alpha.” I nod. She’s right and I’m proud of our pack and what they accomplished today.

“Do know how many pups lost both parents?” I ask. “To my knowledge, none. However, we do have some pups whose parents are either dead and the other, or in some instances, both parents are in serious condition at the pack hospital.” “Direct the warriors who are working outside to me. I’ll go talk to the pups, then head outside. I see you set them up away from all of this,” I say. “Yes, they became even more terrified when we opened the doors and they saw the main room, especially those whose parents aren’t here to console them.” “I’ll go talk to the pups first. Oh, and Penny?” “Yes, Alpha?” “How long before you turn eighteen?” “A couple of months, Alpha.” “Let’s talk soon, then.” 19.15% III 13:07 hajde 176 Aftermath 2 She smiles, looking excited. “Yes, Alpha.” I turn and head to where I can hear pups crying and asking for their parents. There are several men and women here, consoling their own or others’ pups. When I walk up to them, they all get quiet, sniffling softly as they look at me. I crouch down, speaking more to the pups than the adults. “I know all of you are scared and many of you don’t know where your parents are. I want you all to know that, as your Alpha, I’m telling you that you are okay, and you are safe. We have a lot of work to do and some of your parents are in the pack hospital being seen for their injuries. Just because they aren’t here, it doesn’t mean that they gone. You are not alone. The pack will make sure you have food, a place to sleep, and someone to look out for you until your parents are able to come for you. That’s what packs do. We look out for each other, and this pack is a very strong, very loving family who takes care of each

other.” I push my Alpha aura out, letting them feel their safety through my strength, pushing love and comfort out to all of them. “What can we do, Alpha. Some of us have wolves, we’re just still young,” one of my warrior’s sons asks. He’s probably in his early teens. “And I can help too,” a daughter of a warrior says, standing next to the first pup. ‘Penny, can you come here a moment?’ I ask in the mind link before answering the pups. “We need all the help we can get right now. Many of our pack members are injured and waiting to be seen or stitched up by Brooklyn or another nurse, so there is a lot of work that needs to 34.34% 111 13:07 Chapter 116 Aftermath be done.” “Alpha?” Penny says, coming to stand behind me. Her voice is soft and when I turn, she’s smiling at the pups, helping to calm them. “Penny, we have some older pups here that would like to help. Do we have something they can do to help you?” I ask her, seeing the pups looking at her, their eyes entreating her to give them a job. “Are you willing to help make food? To pass out water to those who are helping to clean up and can’t stop right now?” she asks them. They nod and several others stand, saying they can help too. “Then, you report to Penny for now. You do what she says, and you don’t complain.” “Yes, Alpha!” When they walk off with Penny, I turn back to the adults. Most of them came from Owen’s old pack. “Do you need anything? I’ m asking you to stay and look after the pups while the warriors and I get this packhouse cleaned out and dead outside buried.” “We’ll stay, Alpha. We’ll protect the pups and make sure they get fed,” one woman says, and theCopyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

others nod. “Thank you. If you need anything, let Penny know. She’s in charge of the packhouse for the moment.” “Are your Luna and Beta female alright?” another woman asks. “Beta Kinsley is still in surgery. My mate is weak from blood 55.07% III 13:08 loss, but she and my pup are do we i stand, looking around again and seeing that Penny has everything well in hand before i step outside to take care of the next problem. “Alphat How is our Luna?” the warriors begin asking as soon as they see me. After letting them know about Sophie and Kinsley, we begin the job of burying the dead who aren’t ours off of our parklands and creating pyres for those who are I find Kayce and thank him for coming “No problem. I’ve spoken to Robin. He was attacked, just as we expected,” “NIKKI?” “Safe. Although she ‘forgot to mention to Robin that she was pregnant and when the battle came, she was too far along to shift. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that anger.” “Who attacked them? Alaric?” I ask. “No, his Beta, Camden, the one who wants her as his mate, led that attack,” he says, sighing and gesturing for Carter’s Lead Warrior to come over. “But, we have a problem.” The warrior comes over, looking haggard, “What happened. Are you injured?” I ask him, reaching out to put my hand on his shoulder. He looks like he’s about to fall to his knees. “H**, Alpha, Well, not terribly injured. It’s just…” he stops, looking up at Kayce, 1 look at Kayce, trying to figure out what’s going on “We were right about Aiden attacking Dutton to get to the twins. What we didn’t take into

consideration is that Alaric would use that opportunity to try and take over Carter’s pack.” I snarl, ready to go and fight to regain Carter’s pack now. Kayce holds up his hands for me to wait. “Dutton and his pack pushed him back after defeating Aiden’s pack. The coward retreated quickly from what I understand. But Hunter, Alaric got to Alpha Carter. We all know he should have retired by now and he can’t without an heir…” He cuts off as his phone begins to vibrate, and a moment later, multiple wolves around me lift their heads to the sky and begin a mournful cry. He looks at the caller ID and turns the phone. Dutton’s name is on the screen. He answers putting the phone on speaker, but I already know what he’s going to say. “Dutton, I’m here with Hunter,” Kayce answers. “From the howls I hear in the background, I’m guessing you already know. Alpha Carter is dead.”