Chapter 81 – Virago

“Gather the pups and group here in the mansion, everyone.”

Although she could barely hear her voice because her hammering heartbeat was deafening her ears, Leal still managed to announce a rushed plan. They just discovered what the nearby explosion was from the wives of the Epsilons. Other than grouping everyone in here, she doesn’t know what else to do. They’re all females and pups here! The men are all out to bring down the Ministry!

A few minutes later, everyone was sitting quietly still on the lounge, watching the monitors that were showing live footage of the masked men stealthily crossing their borders. The wives of the Upsilons managed to use their slight knowledge about computers from their husbands and apply it today.

Leal, who was supposed to be formulating a plan as their leader, was restlessly pacing back and forth around the lounge. She never thought this would happen. She never expected the other side to retaliate. And she’s sure Axel also didn’t see this coming. If he did, he would’ve stationed a few to stay here.

“What’s happening here?”

Her head snapped to the baritone voice that came down from the stairs. Her eyes almost brightened as she saw Uncle Trivon slowly descend, looking over all the women and pups in the mansion.

“Leal?” He looked at her, expecting an explanation. He held his cane tightly for support and wrinkled his forehead.

She’s never really talked to him before because they only greet each other with curt nods and in her case, shy smiles. But today, she really needs advice from the wise Gamma. He was the only male who was left behind because of his age and inability to fight. If they’re to flee today, they’ll surely tag Uncle Trivon alone.

“Uhm…” She trailed off, unable to pick the right words to describe the situation. “Axel and the other male wolves are gone to ambush the Ministry and only the females and pups are left to safety, b-but recently we just discovered the Ministry’s men trying to infiltrate the border with explosives.”

He looked around and locked eyes with everyone, his gentle eyes roaming the lounge. The pups were quietly fiddling with their toys, some sleeping, but most can feel the tension in the area and chose to stay silent.

“Luna, you know what your job is,” he said, sighing. “Let’s put them to safety. I’m pretty sure the Alpha and the other males have picked up what’s happening and are on their way to defend us now.”

“Should we…escape?” She hesitatingly spoke. She’s still yet to develop the leadership in her.

Uncle Trivon was about to respond when he suddenly clamped his mouth shut and wearily looked around. Not even a mere second later, there came another explosion.

Almost everyone in the room flinched and instinctively ducked for protection. The pups started sobbing. It was a near explosion.

“We need to go,” her voice hardened. “Immediately.”

She’s had enough. There have already been too many statements of intimidation thrown at them, and those are enough to tick her off. This pack is hers to lead, and she will never let them go down.

“Luna,” one called out, “We want to fight, too. Our husbands have taught us to fight. We’ll be fine.”

The others nodded in agreement, while those with pups held their children closer. Looking at their determination, Leal knew she didn’t have any other choice but to let them fight. They don’t have the time to not trust the females.

She looked to Uncle Trivon who slightly nodded.

Sighing, she turned to the females looking up at her. “Alright. May I know who can watch the pups and who can fight with me?”

Axel sharply inhaled upon the sharp turn his vehicle took to avoid heavy traffic. He’s really not having Brooklyn’s noise and disorderliness at this time. The driver of his Cadillac shot him a sheepish smile and resumed driving.

After discovering the Ministry’s retaliation move, it immediately sparked a sleeping fire inside him. How dare he target their core, their life? Now his team will die a brutal death. Not only from their hands but also from the females. One thing he’s sure the Minister knows but totally forgot is how female wolves become extremely violent once their pup is threatened. Judging from the cockiness of the Minister, he probably brought C4s and machine guns to rattle the peaceful subdivision. And with a threat of explosion, they’ve already probably evacuated the pups and faced the men head-on.

The females of White Claw Pack aren’t to be messed with. They’re equally lethal as their husbands.

Axel sharply inhaled upon another sharp overtake, which led them to go over the speed limit again, and in less than 10 minutes, they stopped in front of a bombed entranceway. His jaw clenched as he assessed the situation. Smoke is everywhere and their gate is nowhere to be found.

The Ministry’s main staff are gone. Who are they reporting to? Or is this one of those do-or-die top troops? The Ministry never gives up, huh?

With all the other dozens of vehicles, they all stopped in front and climbed down with their firearms’ safety being removed simultaneously as they neared the mansion.

His eyes were sharp despite the fog and the sun setting from behind. His ears perked up upon hearing an object clash against a wall nearby.

“Stay alert,” he commanded. “Look for bodies.”

“Copy that, Alpha.”

As soon as he said the command, his eyes darted to a flying body to the left. They immediately ran to it and saw a mere corpse that had fallen against a house’s wall, with torn legs and a neck displaying raw flesh.

“Find your Luna and introduce yourselves to avoid being eaten alive.”

She’s gone berserk. She was in her wolf form, one thrice the size of a normal wolf and twice its size. She was a magnificent yet dangerous golden brown lycan, one that reeked of the stench of death.

When his men surrounded her, she ferociously growled and the females surrounded her.

“Luna! We’re the Epsilons of the pack! We mean no harm!”

It took everyone a while to recognize what was happening. Finally, Leal calmed down and got out of her defensive stance, only to be taken advantage of and be thrown a C4 from a distance.

“No!”

The explosion took everyone aback and forced out a painful howl from the lycan. Axel, who was immediately furious, forced a shift on himself and ran to the masked man like a bull seeing a red flag. Even as an Alpha wolf, it was painful to force a shift on a non-full moon but it wasn’t as painful as feeling your mate’s pain when she was bombed.

He relentlessly tore off skin and flesh from him, pouring out his anger on his body. While Axel lost his mind, the females rushed to Leal’s side and aided her, whimpering every once in a while. The Epsilons surrounded them and finished off the remaining, before being greeted by a new batch of masked men.

When all else seemed to finish, another wave arrived.

Unfortunately for them, the second wave wasn’t in the main HQ, the reason why they still keep coming.

“Alpha! A new wave arrived!”

Fuck, he cursed mentally. His eyes landed on Leal, her fur burnt and half her body paralyzed. He shares her pain, and he knows that if they don’t treat her in the next hour or so, she will die.

“Retreat. Retreat!”

As a last resort, they evacuated their own territory because they were outnumbered and their Luna is severely wounded. They can’t handle another fight to break out while she’s barely hanging on.

“Where are the pups?” He asked, heaving.

“They are in the safety of Alexei Elcort, Alpha,” one female replied.

He turned to her, surprised. “He’s here? Since when?”

“He has just landed a few hours ago, hoping to surprise you. When he learned of the situation, he immediately moved and took care of the pups with the other females that stayed behind. They are currently in our base in Queens, in a casino front.”

He sighed, leaning on the hospital’s bench. Leal’s currently inside as a private patient.

“Arrange our planes and get the pups. We’re claiming a new territory somewhere far from New York,” he ordered, eyes half-closed.

“Alpha?”

“I am not asking for opinions right now.”

“…Yes, Alpha.”

He has decided. New York no longer holds a good future for them. Similar to Leal years ago, he also feels like fleeing to a completely foreign place and staying peaceful for a few years. Maybe after calming down, they can start dominating other packs again. Not now, not when the Ministry is still hot on their trails. Not when he is still heated against them. One day or another, they’ll have to end them for sure. It’s time for a new Ministry. This time more capable.