☽ Chapter 39: Intel ☾

?Chapter 39 – Intel?

I sigh as the shower water turns cold, knowing that my time under the warm spray is up and that I have to face reality. We agreed to an impromptu meeting with Mika, Lace, Dominic and Amberle within three hours, giving Mira, Abigail, Malachi and me enough time to clean up, have a warm meal, and prepare for the meeting. Having these three around with important intel on Lupus will help turn the tide of the war that I have a feeling will be leading to something bigger, something that can change the werewolf world and expose us to the humans. We cannot allow that to happen. Secrecy of our people is necessary in order to keep everyone safe and avoid a war between humans and supernatural beings. “Gem, darling, are you hungry?” Ariven’s voice calls from the other side of the door. Climbing out of the shower and wrapping a fluffy towel around my body, I push open the door to the heavenly scent of pasta and garlic bread. Ariven places the food on the nightstand beside the bed before handing me a large bottle filled with a yellow liquid that I eye with a questioning look. “Electrolytes. The doctor here suggested giving them to you and the other three.” Ariven explains as I take the bottle and down its contents, feeling instantly better with a cold drink. My mate chuckles as he gently pulls me into his arms and plants a soft kiss on top of my head. I feel the bond hum happily between us while we just enjoy each other’s comforting presence after a week of being kept apart. I can tell that Ariven wants to kill Lupus just as much as I do. Part of me wants to share the kill, and another part wants to hog the satisfaction of ending that disgusting disgrace of a wolf’s existence. “The meeting will happen in about an hour and a half. The three you brought here are being watched by Christian, Maddie and Matt, although I am positive the three are harmless.” Ariven explains before scooping me into his arms and carrying me to the bed, relieved to know the three who helped me escape Lupus are safe and well, and shocked to know that Christian, Beta to Blood Moon, is here as well. “I thought Christian’s mate Camile was due any day now with his third pup!” I exclaim as we settle in bed and Ariven passes me the plate of food. “She is. She is also ready to kick his ass and the two pups’ and told him to bring the pups with him for the experience. Having a twelve- and sixteen-year-old who know how to train pups have helped with training while searching for you.” Ariven chuckles. He then explains how training has been, with the wolves from Blood Moon helping to train Hidden Claws while the rest went searching for me. Pride swells inside me knowing that instead of halting the progress made to focus on my kidnapping, my pack and my friends’ helped to keep the training going. Hidden Claws will need to become stronger for the upcoming war. “Do you think I have enough time to nap?” I ask yawning once full of food and feeling relaxed. “Yeah, I’ll wake you up before the meeting to get ready. Sleep tight, darling.” I smile and snuggle closer to Ariven, his hand combing through my hair and helping me to fall asleep.

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Sitting at the head of the table in the conference room, I watch as Lace and Mika argue about whether to attack the hidden base now or later. A headache forms while I think about who to hit upside the head first. “He’s been under our land for Goddess knows how long! We need to flush him out and kill him!” Mika yells, frustrated by his sister’s calm and easy-going demeanour. “No, we will wait for all the information and intel before we do anything. Maverick called yesterday saying the witch was finishing mind walking the Blakes, and we will have everything from them soon!” Lace exclaims exasperated with her brother. I look to Ariven with a questioning gaze and he nods. Whatever force stopped my father from coming and ripping the land apart to find me must have been strong, and for that, I am happy. I have enough on my plate and really do not want to deal with my father in "overprotective Alpha Dad mode" as Connor has put it multiple times since I reunited with my family. “How about we let Malachi, Abigail, and Mira give us what they know, and we go from there first.” Amberle suggests, walking into the room with the aforementioned wolves trailing behind her. Mika glares at the fire-haired wolf, who just shrugs and takes a seat beside me. I send her a grateful look, happy to have her stop the arguing as my three new pack mates take a seat. “H-hi.” Mira stutters shyly, trying to hide behind her sister. “You know, after a shower, you two look really pretty.” As if a switch is flicked, Mika goes from angry and annoyed to civil as he takes a look at Mira, something in his eye shining. I chuckle as I get the feeling my mother is having fun playing with a few strings of fates over in the dreamscape. “Mika now is not the time for flirting. We need to gather as much information as possible on what Lupus has planned.” Amberle chides the wolf as if talking to a pup. He rolls his eyes in annoyance at her words and takes a seat beside Lace, all the while glaring at the Alpha she-wolf who just ignores him. “I am going to call my father and see if he has all the information ready.” I declare, trying to diffuse the tension between Mika and Amberle. I keep an eye on the two, seeing Dominic give me a reassuring nod before I take out my cell phone. Once I am sure Dominic is ready to step in if a fight breaks out between my friend and my ex-mate, I dial my father’s number and bring my phone to my ear, waiting for him to answer. “Geminie, thank god you’re okay!” I wince, pulling my phone away from my right ear and switching to the left. “Was there a need to yell?” I question, rubbing my sore ear and rolling my eyes. “Sorry, Gem, but I was so worried about you. Connor and your Uncle wouldn’t allow me to rush down there to find you, and your mother was stopped by the Goddess of Destiny from descending down the dreamscape to Hidden Claws.” I sigh, reassuring my father I am fine, uninjured, and ready to kill the bastard Lupus for kidnapping me. After a couple of minutes reassuring my father I am fine and will see him soon for my birthday, I place the call on speaker and put the phone on the table. “We have Amberle and Dominic, Lace and Mika, Ariven and now three new members to S.C.C., Abigail, Mira and Malichi, here in the room. These three were once held against their wills by Lupus.” I state so my father can address everyone properly now that the meeting is ready to commence. “Hello, everyone.” He calls out. “Hi, Dad!” Amberle calls back jokingly. I roll my eyes as my father’s chuckle rings through the room. “Hi, Amber.” There is a chuckle in the background after my dad replies, and I smile. “Hi, Connor.” Ariven calls out followed by Amberle yelling, “Hi, baby bro!” making me chuckle as well, happy to have this fiery wolf as a best friend and someone I consider a sister. “Anyway, I am guessing this call is about the Witch’s result in dream walking the Blakes.” He continues. “Yes. We need to know what the Blakes know both about our parents’ deaths and the budding war with Lupus.” Lace answers, Mika taking her hand in his as the sibling stare at my phone with a sombre look. The answers they’ve been looking for about their parents’ death are now within their reach. “Unfortunately, the answer is yes. The anonymous tip my pack received about your pack hiding my daughter was called in by Lupus. The Witch, Cassandra, walked their dreams and memories, and one thing is, Lupus is no ordinary wolf.” “He is a Royal, isn’t he!” I state, everyone turning to look at me with wide eyes while I stare at my phone on the table. Everyone displays some form of shock, that is, everyone but Malachi. He stares at me with a steady gaze and I realize he already knew this information. “He is. How do you know?” Connor calls out and I frown. “When we escaped his base, he released his power. Everyone submitted to him but me. Instead, I felt something in my mind click, as if I should pay respect to him as an elder.” “So that makes him your some-what great grandfather?” Mika asks but I shake my head no. He is something else to me in my family tree. Now the question is what or who exactly is Lupus. “Actually, he would be considered a somewhere-down-the-line great-uncle. He goes by Lupus now but his original name is Prince Coro, the first Prince of the Werewolf Lineage.” No one speaks, too shocked by the information my father just released. Prince Coro is the sibling that caused the first Heir of the throne to go missing. In the legend, Prince Coro is jealous of his twin sisters, one that inherited the power of the Moon Goddess and one that inherited the power of an Alpha King. He received neither power himself; he was the weaker of the three siblings in every sense, even with the twins only being a few days old. In the end, his jealousy got the better of him, and in the dead of night, he had a witch kidnap the Princess in order to kill her. He then became King years later, until his sister learned of the truth behind her twin’s disappearance. He was removed from the throne and stripped of the King title, but unfortunately, without the true heir, Prince Coro’s bloodline has continued to sit on the throne for years to come, including the current King, King Alexander. “So that bastard is the First Prince, and he’s doing all of this for what?” Mika shouts, standing to his feet and sending his chair crashing to the floor. “He wants to kill his sister once and for all and claim the throne.” Malachi’s voice is quiet, but silence settles as everyone stares at him. “His sister is missing, though. No one knows where the Lost Princess is—” Amberle points out, running a hand through her messy locks and giving an exasperated sigh. “—Unless…” “She is Crystalline Thorn and the current Heir to the throne.” I continue, our eyes meeting as Amberle and I come to a quick understanding. The Lost Princess never died; someone hid her. “So, what do we do now?” Dominic asks. “He is still looking for Geminie, and by the sounds of it, all three entrances to his base are open and unguarded. If you wish to end him or cut down part of his power, now would be the time.” Mira answers, her eyes glazing over. She must still be able to link with a few wolves from the Soulless Army. “Then we attack at midnight when the moon is high, and Gem is at her most powerful.” Ariven states, and I nod in agreement. We must do something to end Lupus, and tonight may be our best bet.