Chapter 13: Chapter 12~ Blood Oath

The day dawned bright and beautiful.. after showering together…taking an inordinately amount of time…Orion headed to the conference room to see if there were any new developments overnight… when he heard Aaron in his head🐺Alpha have approaching rogues from the west…at least 50 ..from the tremor of the ground 🐺’I am on my way’

Orion grabbed Matthew on the way out the door, ordering Brian to stay close to Renata..It took nearly 15 minutes to reach the border..and they could see the rogues approaching fast. They stood..waiting..knowing they had to stay on their side of the border until a breach. They watched the line of wolves charging their direction. Orion ordered “Steady, warriors! We attack to defend only! I want prisoners!” The wolves charging had divided into three rows… smart actually..first wave plays offense..the next row is defense and the last row would be the actual muscle! Strategies like this are usually not utilized by rogues. They are incapable of organization because they respect no authority. And this formation reeks of training!

As the first row of rogues crouched to prepare their leap over the border, Orion’s warriors readied their stance. Then, the rogues sprang at the border…they all seemed to hit an invisible wall…hard! The impetus of their leap was so intense that when they hit that invisible barrier…half of them snapped their own necks. Everyone looked at each other..Orion said “what the fuck?” The rogues stood on the other side of the border, wondering the same thing.

Matthew heard a sound behind him and turned to look…he whispers “Ummm Orion..I found the reason” Orion turned to Matthew and saw where he was looking..He stormed over and pulled Renada back into the shadows and asked “Was that you, baby? Why are you out here?” She responds “I was out gathering wild mushrooms for a risotto when I saw Heracles and Matthew’s wolf running this way. And I’m nosy. So I followed you. When I saw the wolves charging the border, I knew to stay concealed but I wasn’t about to allow them to harm our people. So I threw a shield at the last moment..as they jumped “ Orion let out a loud burst of laughter and said “Goddess! I love you! Wait here with Matthew for a few..please?” She nodded..

Orion stepped in the open..directly in front of the shield..and went to speak. Before he opened his mouth…5 wolves leaped at him and slammed into the shield and Aaron muttered “dumbasses!” Orion spoke “You have come here…and attacked our land with no provocation. For that alone..you will die! However, I will offer one other option which will allow you to survive the day… Surrender! Give me the information I seek and you will live to boast you survived your one and only contact with the BlackAlpha!” He watched the shock roll through the rogues. One wolf shifted…and when he stepped toward the border three others tore him apart. Orion snarled “So say you all?” He waited…and no one else tried to come forward and Orion said “So be it!” And Heracles shouted “End This!” And his men jumped into the fray! Within minutes it was over and only 4 enemy survivors were taken to the cells. The bodies were piled at the border and set on fire..

Renata stepped out..beside Orion..and said “Such a waste! To accept money to fight and die for someone you don’t know..for a cause none of us understand yet!” Orion pulls her to him and breathes deeply “Maybe the 4 we captured can shed some light on this mess! It’s frustrating and I have to remind myself to be patient. We need answers before I launch a full out war on four packs! Elden is a fool!”

Renata kissed him deeply and said “I’m leaving you! I still need my mushrooms and then..my girls and I are pampering ourselves so I can look good tonight! I want to be at my best when I become Mrs. Orion Demeter! Oh My Goddess! I’m so excited!!” And Orion laughed..saying “ You are always beautiful! Tonight you are mine forever!”

The men walked to the cells… stopping in front of the new rogues and asked “ who wants to have a chat?” None of them looked up…and one muttered ‘go to hell’ Andrew laughed from across the hall and told them “You don’t know what you’re doing! I was just like you! All tough and shit…then they brought in a witch who literally forced me to nearly drown on my own spit! I almost died! And I would wager they won’t hesitate to call her in again!”

Orion watched them for a bit… then he pointed to the one who told him to go to hell and told the guards..bring him! And he walked to the interrogation room…waiting for the guards to secure the prisoner.

Abraham and Aaron joined him in interrogation this time. Orion is letting them take lead..they are out for blood and Orion is tempted to just let them have it.. Aaron told Orion “ we get answers..or he dies..right here..right now!” And the rogue shivered..

Abraham set directly in front on the rogue..he spoke “I am Abraham..Lieutenant of the DarkShadows Pack. You..and your unfortunate associates..were hired to attack my friend..my brother..My Alpha! We will not only not tolerate it..we do not accept it! Your bad luck is failing to do your due diligence and finding out the Alpha you were paid to attack is The BlackAlpha! You stood no chance! Destined to failure was your penance for your greed! Now…you have one choice..tell us what you know…or die..like your colleagues.”

Aaron laughed and said “Damn Abe! You have me wanting to take back shit I never stole! That was impressive!” And the three laughed! Aaron looks at the rogue and growled “Get to sayin’ or get to prayin’ …time’s up!”

The rogue starts talking “My name is Tobias. And those fuckers don’t pay me.. I have to fight! They have my mate and my daughter! I don’t fight for their cause… I fight for the lives of my family! I will tell you what I know..which isn’t much..and I will tell you what I overheard….but I have conditions.”

Abraham smirks “You are in no position to demand anything! But entertain us…I admit to being curious” Tobias responds “After I tell you what I know..you rough me up…bad enough to be convincing so those other fuckers believe it! So..when this is over, I can save my family! I will swear a blood oath to the BlackAlpha if you release me..and I will be your eyes and ears in th enemy’s camp.”

Abraham links Orion to see what he thinks and he comes back with 🐺 Hear him out. If what he knows is beneficial in any way…we do as he asks. It saves us from trying to infiltrate them on our own. And a blood oath will end his life if he betrays us. It’s a win win!

Abraham says “start talking!” Tobias starts talking about what he knows “ Our pack was decimated almost 8 months ago. We were attacked at night..caught totally by surprise. The AutumnMoon pack was small…only 380 wolves. Only 50 of us were warriors..and 35 of them died in the attack. After it was all said and done…there was only 75 survivors. We were loaded into vans and taken to BlackWater pack and forced into slavery. My mate and daughter are locked in an outbuilding with the rest of the remaining women and children of our pack. I see her once a week as incentive to stay loyal! The…hostages are not physically beaten..but they are seldom fed..and have little to no clothing. Some incentive..right? Now you know my reasons for being in a battle I do not want…I will tell you all I know…”