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Chapter 18: Stray
As we walked, I could see the light of dawn growing brighter through the blindfold. The dewy smell of the forest came alive and the birds above us began to tweet again. It was a relief to escape what had been a dreadful night but I was under no illusion of safety. My shoulders were tense and with no vision, every sound and brush of a branch on my arm put me on edge.
"Relax," Alpha Rivers said after I had flinched with his hands resting on my shoulders, "I'm taking your blindfold off."
He pulled the tie and it soon slipped down, allowing me to rub my eyes and reinstate a comfortable distance from him.
At long last, I caught sight of Tobias.
"Finally!" I said marching towards my brother and hugging him.
I looked over his shoulder to see the rest of the Nightingale army behind him. They all looked tired but thankfully, we hadn't lost too many and morale still seemed okay.
Rose smiled warmly and squeezed my hand before she glanced over to Alpha
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I sat with Tobias in a silence that was just beginning to become awkward when it was shattered by shouts and cries from across the camp.Tobias got straight to his feet and I quickly followed him as he began marching towards it."Alpha Brynn, a group of soldiers broke through the Pheonix Southern border," one of the Nightingale soldiers said as she ran up to us, "They've attacked the camp and Alpha Rivers has ordered the patrols to disperse. He says we're too targetable here."Tobias nodded, "Any fatalities?""No Nightingales," she said."Good. Find your patrol and follow Alpha Rivers' orders," he said to her and she ran off again.Tobias then turned to me."Stick with me, Esme," he said, "We need to find Rose and then help fight off these enemy soldiers. Then I'll come with you to find Alpha Rivers."I nodded and followed him through the camp until we reached the source of the fighting.A small battlefield had cropped u
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Alpha Rivers marched us through his territory for hours. We'd had word from the border that fleets of Alpha Kane's men had leached into the pack so our primary task was to find as many as we could and kill them.All the patrols were doing the same thing but only the most unfortunate of Alpha Kane's men were found by us. Not only were their chances of survival incredibly low against the eight strongest men in the entire Pheonix army but Alpha Rivers fought with an unimaginable ruthlessness and violence. Throughout that day I watched him mercilessly batter our enemy far beyond what was necessary and practically enjoy watching their lives slowly drain away.I had already known what he was capable of. I'd lived through years of his attacks on my people. But to actually see him in the act was a stark reminder of who he was - even if this time we were fighting alongside each other.It was after chasing a group down into a valley where they met their gruesome end at th
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We kept walking through the forest for the rest of the day.I stayed at the back with Lou whilst Alpha Rivers lead and the rest of the men followed silently in the middle."Does he have any friends?" I asked Lou.Lou smiled, "Careful, Esme.""Serious question," I probed, "Does he?""He keeps himself to himself," Lou said, "I've been his Beta for eight years and I can't tell you much about him.""...Why?" I asked, "He's not exactly shy."Lou gave me another smile but this time his eyes darted from mine, "It's just who he is.""What about family?" I asked, "I know his mother died but he must have other relatives that he's close to?"Lou swallowed, "He hasn't got any siblings.""His father?""They never got on well," he replied shortly, "But that is not my business to discuss with you. I'm sorry."I groaned, "Why does he have so many secrets?""Esme," Lou said quietly, "Somethings are best-left s
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Darkness was quickly descending on the forest when we reached the disused bridge that Alpha Rivers had mentioned. It stretched across a gulley with steep rocky sides and when I squinted through the darkness, I could just about see a road at the bottom."This is the perfect vantage point," Alpha Rivers said, peering down, "We'll make camp here. Maybe for a few days."I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't sure how much longer I could have kept up with this patrol and was worried I was going to have to admit my weakness to Alpha Rivers. Now I had an opportunity to rest."But it's dangerous here," he continued, "Sleep with one eye open and Esme you are not to go anywhere alone.""Surely none of us should go anywhere alone?" I asked."Quit the act, Es," he said in a bored tone, "You know you are weak. We all do.""I am not weak," I hissed, "But I am hungry so if you don't mind I'm going to hunt."I then gave him a sarcastic smile before gl
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That night, Alpha Rivers was in a better mood. When Flynn the messenger returned, exhausted but having successfully spread the orders to almost all patrols, he thanked him with a genuine smile and cut him a large piece of rabbit to eat after he had finished catching his breath."Good work, Flynn," he said, "Make sure you rest up and eat enough."Fifteen minutes later, I got up and walked around the crackling fire. I'd been sat next to Lou as we ate but the men had now spread out around the camp giving me the opportunity to approach Flynn."Did you see my brother and Luna Brynn?" I asked him.He was slumped against a tree, finishing his rabbit and as I sat down beside him he glanced up to where Alpha Rivers stood, sharpening his knife on the other side of the camp."No," he said after looking me fleetingly in the eye.My face sunk, "But you went to all the patrols, right?" I asked."I found another messenger on his way to the Eastern b
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I wasn't woken again until well into the morning."Get up," a deep voice said.I groaned as I felt a foot rest on my shoulder and shake me."Fuck off," I grumbled."We have a war to win remember?"I opened my eyes to see the leaf-littered floor of the forest. Then I felt the stiffness of my neck and the bright sunlight as my vision adjusted. And reality came hurtling through.I let out one more groan before I sat up and squinted as I looked up at Alpha Rivers, who stood staring down at me."Where is everyone?" I asked noticing the emptiness of the camp."I assigned them all posts around the bridge and surrounding forest," he said. "They all have a clear sight of the road well in advance."I grimaced and looked around, noticing his men scattered around all with their eyes on the road."Why didn't you wake me earlier?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows."You looked like you needed rest," he replied. "You missed
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They were getting close. Uncomfortably close.Their heavy footsteps vibrated the ground as their hushed whispers became clearer and clearer.I clutched my bow, Lou gripped his knife and every Pheonix soldier I could see, held his breath ready to spring into action as soon as Alpha Rivers gave us the signal.We were all hidden, still and silent. They wouldn't know we were here until they were close enough to catch our scents at which point we'd lose the element of surprise. But Alpha Rivers held out and my anxiety only rose.When I peered around the wall of the bridge that I took cover behind, I could see figures emerging from the forest. They were all hesitant and careful, clearly surveying the surroundings and looking for any sign of us.I was crouched on one knee, my skin digging into gritty stone floor as the other leg began to cramp.I was ready and dying to attack.Come on, Alpha Rivers.What are you waiting for?Th
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