Twenty-Two-Prepare for War!

Rafe walks up to the stage stepping up to the podium and speaks into the mic….”I seem to be making a habit of this and I would like to quit. Cold turkey, preferably “ The crowd chuckles. “It has been brought to our attention that we are facing a larger threat than previously believed. We have three antagonists…working together to bring us down! They think we are weak! They think we are vulnerable! They forget who we are! We are PineCrest Pack…the fiercest Pack in the nation! We are 900 warriors strong! I am the BlackAlpha and I fall before any of my family fall!”

And the crowd went wild! Forgetting to close her mindlink Andrea thinks Holy Fuck! He made me wanna run off and kick some ass right now! And everyone busted out laughing. She looks up and says “What’d I miss?” And Rafe explains she forgot to close her link. She just shrugs and says it’s the truth! Jax asks her “Do you ever get embarrassed?” She said “No.. if I make a mistake, then it is simply a lesson taught. No shame in that. But humiliated and embarrassed are two entirely different things and I have definitely been humiliated enough times to not wanna go back there”

He reaches out and hugs and she hugs him back. After Rafe has everyone calmed down and refocused he began again “We know our enemies. Armand Hellier…a useless, weakened deposed Alpha looking for redemption. Alpha Beaumont of BlackRiver Pack looking for revenge and William…a human hunter looking for retaliation. They have less than 350 men… I say men.. and not warriors because two-thirds of them are rogues. They do, however, have our ex Head Warrior Duncan and we know he has been training them in our battle techniques so we are changing it up. Over the next 25 days, we will be training twice a day..anyone proficient in different fighting discipline please step forward “

He turned to his left and watched his pixie step forward. He watched as she walked over to the podium and went to speak… she looked at him and said a little help? He said what? She pointed to the microphone two feet above her head and he grinned. By this time the crowd is rolling. She stomps her foot and stomps over behind her..grabs a chair and sets it down in front of the podium stepping up on it “I will be training in jiu jitsu, tae kwon do..and kickboxing. Also…all my Luna ladies, I require every bunker to be equipped with enough cots and linens for all those unable to fight! I will help you go over lists to make sure every bunker is geared for at least 5 days. I want each of you ladies to learn how to load and shoot a gun. I want a wall of arms in every bunker..you ladies are our last line of defense if the bunker doors are breached”.

All the ladies shouted “Yes Luna!!” And Rafe could only stand there, once again, completely amazed and stupefied..this woman..this gem..is his mate! He steps to the microphone and yells “PineCrest….OUR Luna!” And the crowd erupted!

Rafe says “You are dismissed and thank you all for coming “ Turns and takes Andrea’s hand walking towards the house saying my office gentleman and his three ranks fell into follow.

All 5 of them were seated and Andrea says “we gotta stop meeting like this” Rafe looks at her and asks how she knew so much about fighting and she said “I knew you would ask. The first 14 years of my life I was alone with only my grams. She was my only friend. She started hiring tutors to come in and teach. I had instructors in almost every fighting discipline there is. I had gymnastics instructors and dance coaches.. from the age of two. She thought if she filled my life with people I wouldn’t be lonely. She didn’t understand that I wasn’t lonely and I wasn’t alone. But, I trained hard and became good at what I am trained in”

Jax says that explains your warehouse and she nods. Rafe says I want another crack at Liam now that we know what we know. Everyone agreed and they head out for the cells. They stopped at Cassandra’s cell while the guards got Liam moved to interrogation.. Rafe says “your father is back”

She said where is he? I didn’t see him brought in.. Rafe says “because he wasn’t. He was brought to the infirmary on a stretcher after Duncan and a couple of his rogue buddies nearly killed him. It was touch and go. Almost lost a leg” She whimpered “why was he so close to this border?” He looks at her, just shaking his head “Because he has had a change of heart. He apologized. He gave us invaluable information..all the while expecting to be banished without his family. Do you know what’s that’s called? Remorse.. Regret…Atonement! You exhibit none of those! I doubt you even have a conscience!”

He storms down the corridor actually preferring the company of Liam! He enters the room with Jax.. the others in observation. He smiles and says “Good news Liam! Your daddy’s in town! Good news, yeah? Daddy’s here! I bet you just can’t waaaaaiit to see him! I mean, any grown assed man who needs Daddy to buy him a woman, must need Daddy to get him out of trouble,too” Jax links him and said “harsh dude” Rafe says “too much” Jax says “nah.. just enough. He’s gonna blow” And blow he did! “How dare you! You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable of! I am set to ascend in a few months then you just watch! I will come for you!”

Rafe says “you’re kind of a prisoner and it ain’t looking good for you to get out of here. Now, let me tell you a funny story. Your daddy’s pack is a medium sized pack boasting an impressive population of 700. 200 of which are warriors…the rest of the population are non violent workers… because..well…your ignorant father refuses to let women fight..Now, other side of the country..3000 miles away sits PineCrest Pack..on 48,000 acres of luscious ranch land.. meadows and streams..rivers and waterfalls. A beautiful place and home to an extremely impressive population of 13,000… 900 of which are Warriors with 300 more set to graduate soon. The rest of the population are businessmen and women…professionals…tradesman, teachers..doctors, lawyers. Now, I want you to answer a question for me… If your Alpha has 200 warriors….and he ups and takes 150 with him to rescue his son 3000 miles away…leaving his entire pack vulnerable..ripe for the picking from any avaricious Alpha…how many warriors would I have to kill? Do the math… I’ll wait” laughter could literally being heard from the observation room.

Jax had his hands over his face but his shoulders are shaking.. He looks at Liam and Liam says “50?” And Jax can’t hold it anymore…he slams himself out of the room trying to catch his breath. Rafe says “Bingo! Give this young man a prize” Liam says “you aren’t going to attack my pack, are you?” Rafe says “Fuck no..what would I want with that piddly assed pack? But I will call an ally I have up by you and alert him to the situation..who knows, yeah?” He orders Liam back to the cell and they leave. Damon said “which Alpha are you going to call?” And Rafe says “Oh that? I’m not calling anyone. I just wanted to fuck with head” They all laughed!