As Reyland swept out, Dorien watched him go.
Then, he followed the four visitors at a distance, fully cloaking his presence.
Once they were far enough from the campsite, the Noble heir activated his trap.
==========
The night before, after Dorien had left Reyland’s house, he had returned to the Alpha Mansion and finalized the plan he had kicked off earlier that day, in the early morning hours of Remembrance Day – after hiding in his father’s office and overhearing the discussion and fight between Alpha Dax and Alpha Corien.
After his declaration to his older brother, Dorien knew Reyland would not sit still. One way or another, his wise, caring, considerate brother would do something to get to Marian.
There were only two real possibilities; Reyland would send someone to Marian, or he would go to her himself.
From everything he had seen and felt from both his brother and from Marian, earlier that day, when she had crus
Two days before the attack on Bloodrayne, the night of the twenty-seventh, Alpha Tobias had received the update from his Head of the Runners, Tanner, about Lightmoon’s closed border.Tanner had also hesitantly informed him, and his son, Misha, the pack Successor, of the gossip concerning a purported rabid wolf with red eyes who had issued an Alpha Cry.At this point in his man’s report, Alpha Tobias’ mind had gone to old legends.Tobias Drakin was the pack Alpha, not because he was a brute. Well, he had not remained pack Alpha because he was a brute.He was well-versed in ancient lore and had magic skills himself.He had spent a lot of his youth reading spell books and histories of various clans.In his adult years, he had targeted packs and clans with magic and historical knowledge, for his own pleasure of learning, and building up the resources within Bloodrayne on how to make his people stronger – be it by magics o
Dorien had been very clear in his mind about what he needed to achieve – Reyland, and Jackson, gone.He would not risk his woman, his father’s men, or their allies, who would become his allies when his turn came to lead Lightmoon.So, he had been careful in laying out his trap.He had set up runes at Bloodrayne’s borders, and along various routes, depending on what needed to be done, to lead Bloodrayne shifters wherever he needed them to go.He had also laid out a few extra, as cover for when the attack was launched, such that no one would be suspicious about any magic evidence after the fact.These runes had been marked or filled with his blood, as required, depending on the strength of the spell he needed to cast.They would lead the Bloodrayne shifters away from the war camp, nowhere near it, in fact, directing them in a general direction that could be used by any packs or clans, but would certainly lead to Reyland.
As Reyland swept out, Dorien watched him go.Then, he followed the four visitors at a distance, fully cloaking his presence.Once they were far enough from the campsite, the Noble heir activated his trap.==========The night before, after Dorien had left Reyland’s house, he had returned to the Alpha Mansion and finalized the plan he had kicked off earlier that day, in the early morning hours of Remembrance Day – after hiding in his father’s office and overhearing the discussion and fight between Alpha Dax and Alpha Corien.After his declaration to his older brother, Dorien knew Reyland would not sit still. One way or another, his wise, caring, considerate brother would do something to get to Marian.There were only two real possibilities; Reyland would send someone to Marian, or he would go to her himself.From everything he had seen and felt from both his brother and from Marian, earlier that day, when she had crus
Reyland knew exactly what Marian meant.From the moment she had stepped up to him, Reyland had stopped breathing.He stared down at her now.At his…Mary.Once again, as she had done almost every single day since Christmas Eve, she had shocked him, taken his breath away. Literarily.He shook his head slowly, placing his hands lightly on her toned arms, tearing his gaze away from her green eyes.They stood quietly holding each other's arms.“What am I to do with you?” Reyland croaked after a moment.Marian tilted her head to the side, a small smile on her lips.“What am I supposed to do?” he whispered, speaking to himself.Marian placed her hands gently at his bent elbows, his eyes drifted back to hers.“As long as you do it with me, Andy, I promise you, it won’t matter one bit,” she said hoarsely, “You can do anything you want, just let me be there with
Marian reminded herself of her special assignment. To work with Beta Brock to locate the pack Alpha, keep him occupied until Alpha Dax could arrive, and support the key players – Alpha Dax, Alpha Corien, Beta Brock, and Dax’s main bodyguards – in taking down the Alpha of Bloodrayne.And along the way, take out as many Bloodrayne warriors as possible.After that, she would head directly back to Lightmoon, back to Reyland.==========As Marian reflected on what lay before her, Reyland and his men were running through trees, grass, fields, and streams, heading toward the camp.Without stopping, they arrived at the campsite by past nine p.m.They entered by the edges, moving directly to the most isolated tent.Inside, Marian was seated cross-legged with her eyes closed.The four entered silently. Marian’s eyes opened.All four froze as the gold light in her eyes cleared.The two guards had fall
Reyland had never heard Jackson use so many words at the same time.Jackson smiled wryly, his arm falling to his side.“I normally keep my thoughts to myself. I know this. But that just means that I have a lot of thoughts, my prince, and plenty of time with which to organize them.”“As it stands right now, I may no longer have the luxury of time to keep my thoughts to myself.”“I am a warrior. My life is for my Alpha. You, my prince, were put under my care by my Alpha. Therefore, by extension, my life is yours. It has been from the beginning.”“Command me. There is no time,” he pressed finally.“Jackson,” Reyland breathed, “I don’t want you to die.”Jackson smiled, his soulful gaze on the young prince.“I assure you, my prince, I have taken many lives in my time; giving mine is not an issue. Blood and Honor,” Jackson stated astutely, watch