Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

“ B ut the Blue Moon is tomorrow night,” Filip said, looking at Astrid with his thick brows pinched at the center. “That only gives us hours to…”

Although she could feel her brother’s fear leeching through the pack bond, not a hint of it shone on his pale face. Still lying in bed, he appeared to be calm, more pensive than panicked, but his horror at the news of Jerrick’s plans vibrated against her aura, making her insides shake.

“I know…” Her voice quivered, too. “We don’t have much time.”

Really, she didn’t have much time. A sense of urgency ricocheted through her as the realization sank in. She couldn’t ignore what was going to happen to her any longer. It was already morning, and only one more night separated her from the rise of the Blue Moon. If she didn’t get to Erec before nightfall tomorrow, that would be the end of them both. Her pack needed to act and act now.

I should have never left him in that cage. The spear Henrick had made for her had done a good job slicing through the lock. Maybe she could sneak back after dark and…

She started to lift herself off the bedside and onto her feet as her plan formed.

“I know what you’re thinking, Ash, and you can’t do it.”

His warning stopped her mid-action. “What?”

When she glanced at her brother, he was staring at her with the same severity she’d seen so many times before from their father. Filip’s injuries had left him looking decades older than he was, and because of it, the similarities between him and their father were more outstanding than ever before.

“You know what I mean,” he said, his tone still holding an edge of threat despite its weakness. “You said it yourself. There were too many of Jerrick’s men and most of them aren’t bound to the curse. They live out their lives as wolves more than humans. They’re dangerous. Pure animals. You, Bec, and Kalle were lucky you got out this time.”

She sat back on the edge of the bed and put her face in her hands, knowing deep down he was right. “Every second I’m not with him feels…wrong.” Her palms muffled her voice, but she didn’t move them away, afraid her brother might see the tears gathering in her eyes. “Like I’m not trying enough and I’m running out of time. I can’t…I can’t just leave him there.”

There was silence for a long moment, but then Filip’s fingers wrapped around hers and gently removed them away from her face. His touch was still cold, alarmingly so, and when she looked down at their linked hands, she noticed lines of blue veins peeking through his translucent skin. They matched the curse’s ribbon-like marks weaved around her own.

“Just because I won’t let you barge in there doesn’t mean you’re abandoning him.” Filip’s brown eyes warmed, and he gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll get him out of there in time. You have my word.”

She could sense his determination above all other feelings. Even over his pain, which was still a constant, agonizing throb in Astrid’s side. He was going to make sure she and Erec were reunited and both of them were saved from the curse. Even hurt, he’d figure out a way. He wouldn’t let her down; he never had and never would. She could trust his promise.

“We just need to figure out what our next step will be,” he said. “We may not be able to out-muscle Jerrick, but we can outsmart him.”

Outsmart Jerrick. It was a possibility.

“How did we win last time?” Filip asked, rubbing the dark stubble starting to grow along his jaw. “That’s what we have to consider. Most packs don’t survive one of Jerrick’s ambushes. We did. Why?”

“Because Jerrick wanted Erec more than he wanted us,” she replied. She still didn’t know why that was. She assumed it had something to do with Mikel’s pack or some form of revenge.

Filip considered that for a minute. “I don’t think so… There must be more to it. Jerrick wouldn’t pass an opportunity to destroy his enemy.”

Astrid sighed heavily, trying to think back to the fight. Everything had happened so fast. The arrows, the swarm of gruesome-looking men, the blood-painted snow. She intentionally skimmed over the memories of Filip being stabbed and Erec being kidnapped to save herself the pain of reliving it.

Erec had said Jerrick was trying to draw them out of Svanna Rock, and the stones had protected them. Maybe that had been it. Or maybe it was because their pack had outnumbered Jerrick’s—only barely, but they had.

Then she remembered something else Erec had said some time ago. “Jerrick works with the element of surprise, so if we can get the jump on him for once, we have a chance of winning.”

But what could have taken Jerrick’s men off guard enough to lose a fight?

The image of her first opponent—the skinny man with missing teeth—sprang into her mind, along with the shock on his face when she had struck back with her spear and sent him stumbling. He hadn’t expected her to be able to fight back, certainly not with accuracy or skill.

Because she was a woman.

Could that be it? Jerrick’s men hadn’t expected women to be part of the fight? It made sense, especially if they were so used to forcing themselves on the innocent females of the packs they attacked.

That had to be it.

“Surprise…” The word came out as a breathy whisper.

Filip glanced at her, confused. “What did you say, Ash?”

“Surprise.” Her voice rose with excitement. “Erec said Jerrick works on the element of surprise and that we could use it against him.”

He didn’t say anything, waiting for her to finish her thought.

“Jerrick’s men didn’t expect women warriors. They didn’t think we would be able to fight back.”

His eyes widened. “Sweet Moons,” he gasped. “I think you’re right.”

She grinned. “Of course I’m right.”

Filip chuckled but winced as the pain intensified. Astrid sucked in a sharp breath as it sliced through the side of her ribs, too.

“Careful now,” she sputtered, pressing a hand against the throbbing area. If the pain was this bad through the pack bond, she couldn’t even imagine what he was feeling.

“I know,” he said through gritted teeth. “Laughing’s not supposed to hurt.”

After the wave of agony eased, he relaxed back into the cushions. “So he knows we have female fighters now. He’ll be waiting for it. It won’t be as shocking.”

“True, but we can still use the element of surprise to our advantage,” she said and stood. “We attack Jerrick first. He won’t be expecting that. He’s always the one to ambush first. What if we turn things around and do it to him?”

“We do know his plans… And he isn’t aware we know.”

“Exactly.” Astrid began to pace the tent, her mind racing. “If he’s going to attack the morning after the Blue Moon, when he thinks we’ll be the most vulnerable, then we need to hit him before then. Tonight.”

“That’s too soon, Ash,” Filip said. “We still have people wounded from the fight. They’ll need another night to heal to be able to fight again. We’ll have to organize ourselves, make preparations, come up with a set strategy. This will be our last chance, so we have to make sure it’s right.”

“But we’ll need the cover of night. We can’t attack during the day. They’ll see us coming.”

Filip said nothing for a few breaths. Then, he said, certain, “It’ll have to be tomorrow night.”

Astrid’s pulse sped up at what her brother was proposing. “But the Blue Moon. How—”

“That means you’ll have to get to Erec before it rises,” he explained. “Jerrick’s pack will be resting for the morning attack. They’ll be unsuspecting.”

“So I reach Erec the same time our warriors strike?”

“Yes. If we time this just right, you both can survive the curse and we can take down Jerrick.”

It sounded crazy, and too risky. But what other choice did they have? They were running out of time. “I can go a different path. Head east a few miles then turn south to get behind the camp and to the cage where they’re holding him. The warriors should take the same way Kalle, Bec, and I did. It’s a more direct route.”

“That’s a good idea,” he agreed. “Are you going to be okay going alone? I can have Bec join you.”

She stopped pacing and stared at him in disbelief. Was he actually asking her instead of insisting she didn’t go by herself? He really had lost too much blood.

“No, I think this is something I should do alone.” As dangerous as it was going to be, Astrid wanted to be with Erec, and only Erec, to finally tell him how she felt, that she truly did love him. And if this Blue Moon was definitely their last, and they weren’t the mates the sky spirits had chosen for them, that was okay. There wasn’t anyone else she would rather spend the last remaining minutes she had alive with than him.

“I understand,” Filip whispered. “The Blue Moon is a moment you two should share together. And you’ll join in the fight afterward, I’m sure.”

She grinned. “If we both live through it, absolutely.”

He tried to laugh again, but it came out more like a shuddering gasp of breath.

“And what about you?” she asked. “Did Mila say when she thinks you’ll be able to get up and walk again?”

His expression became very serious, and he hesitated. “No, she hasn’t,” he said but there was caution to his words, as if he knew something he didn’t want to tell her. “All she said was that I’m not healing like I should be. It’s going to take me longer to recover.”

That made her nervous. She looked over her brother’s disheveled state, her gaze resting on the bloody bandages around his torso. There was no way he was strong enough to fight. Not like this. “I hope you’re not thinking about being a part of this attack. You need to stay behind and rest. Bec and Kalle can lead the others.”

His brows rose. “I will do everything I can to be there. I’m the pack’s alpha. They’ll be looking to me to guide them.”

She narrowed her gaze on him.

He let out another breathy cough for a laugh. “I guess we both got that same stubbornness from Father, didn’t we? And here I thought it was just you.”

“And now it’s my turn to tell you, ‘Don’t even try it.’” Even though her voice was firm, she couldn’t help the smile forming.

“Oh, how things have changed!” He was grinning now, too, and like he used to. Full and toothy, his brown eyes sparkling with warmth and laughter.

“You may have to get used to it.” Chuckling, Astrid walked over to his bedside and placed a kiss on his forehead. “Besides, you’ll be no use to us if you’re limping around and can’t even swing a sword. You’ll only slow us down.”

“Ouch, Ash! That’s harsh.” Filip’s next attempt at laughter came out as a loud hog-like snort, and it only made her howl even harder.