Chapter 28: 28: Judgment Day

MAX

We’re all up and ready to go at the crack of dawn. And by dawn, I mean the unholy hour of two in the morning.

Our strategy is to use the darkness as a shield, arriving at our target while our foes are still wiping sleep from their eyes.

A heavy mood hangs in the air as we assemble in the training field. Each team leader reviews the plan one last time.

We’ll sneak in from various directions, using satellite phones to signal when everyone is in place. The Southern and Eastern border teams have the furthest to travel, so they’ll depart first.

I’m in charge of the Southern border team, while Beck heads North and Brock goes West. Collin, who knows the East well, takes the lead there.

Milo, despite being semi-retired, insists on leading the second Southern border team. He wouldn’t miss this battle for anything.

Milo will be joined by most of the Black Moon pack, including their lead warrior, who he trained years ago. They work well together.

Beta Jackson will act as backup, leading a small extraction team. Initially, my father was against this, worried it would leave our pack exposed.

But Jackson is stubborn, even with the alpha. He must have made some convincing arguments to sway Alpha Sebastian, but I won’t know the specifics until we get back.

My father wants me focused on my mission: to infiltrate the pack house and capture Alpha Jason.

Once we’ve finished preparing with my team, Milo and I decide it’s time to get moving. Collin’s team will follow about ten minutes behind us, with the others leaving in another two hours.

The trip to the Southern border is a familiar one. I’m well-rested and have agreed to share driving duties with another warrior, allowing us both to grab a few extra hours of sleep.

We reach our designated parking spot five hours later. From here, it’s a two-hour run to the border.

Now that we know the way, we can move faster. The sun is just starting to rise, and the morning air is cool, but it won’t stay that way for long.

It’s the end of June, and while Montana summers aren’t scorching, they can get warm. Especially when you’re running.

Not long after, we get word that everyone is in position. We pack our essentials, shift into wolf form, and pick up our packs in our jaws.

We slip into the forest, moving as quickly and quietly as possible.

Two hours later, we reach the trail where we found Seth’s body hanging from the trees. The scent of his blood still lingers in the soil, sparking a fresh wave of anger within me.

But I push it aside. I can’t afford to let rage cloud my judgment.

We shift back to human form, hydrate, and finalize our plan. I split off with two warriors, while the rest head in a different direction.

We need to approach the pack house from a distance to avoid detection, while the others launch a direct attack on Canyon Ranch.

My werewolf hearing is sharp. I can hear the sounds of battle in all directions.

It seems Canyon Ranch was expecting us, but not on this scale.

They have about a hundred warriors, while we’ve brought double that. Our numbers were already superior, but with the added support from Black Moon and Santa Fe, we could have easily taken the pack.

But we know they wouldn’t have surrendered without a fight. They sent rogues to kidnap my sister and nearly killed her.

These aren’t wolves who play fair. Especially their alpha. But his reign is about to end.

As we reach the edge of the woods behind the pack house, we stop to listen for any nearby wolves. There are two guards at the back door and another two patrolling the area.

We decide to take out the patrolling guards first.

As one of my warriors attempts to sneak up on a guard, he’s spotted and clawed in the face. Ridge Mountain warriors are tough, but a claw to the face can cause temporary blindness.

That’s what seems to have happened, as he rubs his paw over his bleeding face and spins in a circle.

The Canyon Ranch wolf seizes this opportunity to go for his throat, but I intervene, crashing into him and sending him flying into the brick wall of the pack house. He’s disoriented, struggling to stand.

I don’t waste time playing games. I shift back to human form, extend my claws, and rip out his heart.

It’s a move my mother taught me, one she used during a rogue attack when she was young. The story is still told to this day.

I shift back into wolf form and instruct my injured warrior to retreat to the brush until his vision returns. We heal quickly, so it shouldn’t take long.

I don’t know how my other warrior is faring on the other side of the building, but it’s time to deal with the rear guards. I creep along the wall of the building, stopping to listen before rounding the corner.

The sounds of battle are getting closer. I need to act fast.

Without further hesitation, I charge toward the door, taking out the first guard swiftly. I’m about to take down the second when my warrior rounds the corner and tackles him.

The impact sends them both flying across the lawn. Seeing that he has the situation under control, I shift my focus to getting inside the pack house.

I shift back to human form, strapping my father’s silver dagger to my thigh. I don’t bother with clothes; they’ll only slow me down.

I slip in through the back door and pause. It’s eerily quiet.

I move further into the house and come across the kitchen, where two maids are whispering anxiously. They’re upset that the alpha has ordered them to prepare food when they should be hiding in the shelter.

Their lack of loyalty to the alpha could make our job easier. I slip past the door and continue down the hall.

The maids pose no threat to me.

I reach the end of the hall, where a staircase leads up and a closed door stands. As I press my ear against the wall, the door swings open and a young woman steps out.

She jumps back in surprise.

“Who are you?” she gasps, her hand flying to her mouth.

I grab her, covering her mouth with my hand and pulling her against me. She’s mated, I can see the mark.

I suspect she’s the beta’s mate.

I whisper in her ear, “Don’t make a sound and I won’t harm you. I’m here for Alpha Jason. Tell me where he is and you’ll live.”

I feel her swallow and nod. I slowly remove my hand from her mouth, ready to cover it again if she screams.

“Please don’t hurt me. I hate the alpha. I’ll tell you where he is, just let me leave. Please,” she whispers, her tears wetting my palm.

I’m not one to harm women if it’s not necessary. “Give me his location and make a beeline for the back exit. One of my guys is out there. I’ll let him know you’re on your way so he doesn’t take you out. If you want to stay alive, follow his instructions to the letter. Got it?”

“Yes, yes, Alpha. Please.” She responds. I pause. I never revealed my identity to her.

“Why are you addressing me as Alpha?” I question.

“I sense your aura. You’re an alpha, aren’t you?”

“Where’s your alpha hiding? We’re wasting precious time,” I insist, holding her tightly against me. She’s cornered, with no chance of breaking free from my hold.

“His office. Second floor. End of the corridor,” she stutters, her voice shaking. I release her and she dashes toward the back door, straight into the waiting arms of my crew.

I begin my quiet ascent up the stairs, a message from Beck resonating in my mind. ~“Most of the Canyon Ranch warriors are dead, Alpha. We’ve captured their beta. We’re near the pack house.”~

I acknowledge his update and continue my climb.

Upon reaching the top, I scan the hallway. Two guards are stationed outside the office door, murmuring. I didn’t anticipate that.

I need to distract them. My gaze lands on a vase filled with flowers on a nearby table. I seize it and fling it down the corridor before retreating to the stairs.

The whispering stops. I hear the cautious footsteps of one guard approaching.

I crouch low, anticipating his high attack. As he turns the corner, claws out, he scratches the wall.

He doesn’t have time to react as I rise, plunging my claws into his chest and throwing him down the stairs. The second guard lunges at me, transforming into his wolf form.

He crashes into me, his jaws locked onto my shoulder. Adrenaline pumps, numbing the pain as I pry his jaws off and break his neck.

I stand, taking a moment to check my shoulder. It’s ripped and bleeding, but I can still use it. It’ll mend soon.

I roll my shoulders and neck, then proceed down the hallway toward the alpha’s office. He must be hard of hearing not to have noticed the ruckus.

As I approach his office, I hear voices—a man and a woman. I sniff the air, detecting no other smells behind the door.

I unsheathe my dagger, take a deep breath, and fling open the door. The scene that unfolds before me sparks a rage within me.

Alpha Jason has a female omega spread out on his desk, her hands tied. Tears are streaming down her face as she begs him to stop.

Alpha Jason is mercilessly pounding into her, her skirt gathered around her waist and blood trickling down her leg. Fury blinds me.

Without uttering a word, I propel myself across the room, crashing into Alpha Jason.