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75. Ivan
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The Beta's Prize 76. Ivan
Two weeks from revealing my identity and word is spreading. Villages are actively seeking us out. Every time we turn over a battered, miserable town and free it from its local thugs we are greeted like heroes. Some brothels are actually empty, the women abandoned as the men have already fled in fear of the Inferno arriving. The men are buoyant, positive, with new recruits joining after every attack. There appears to be some kind of local prestige involved now. Being part of the crew that took back the Shadowlands. We have a team, a method and it’s working. There is only one Cherish though. Nobody has come close to her speed or scouting skills. Now I have infantry, cooks, stock managers who go into the villages with the gold we were given by Alexander to buy supplies, we are practically a functioning army. Each night we all eat together. There is no distinction between the Battalion originals, still clad in green and the recruits. I address them all the same, they call me Beta Iv
The Beta's Prize 77. Cherish
As Ivan tried to help, sending hot calming waves of adoration I tried to shake off the creepy feeling under my skin. Jackson took the lead and addressed the group. “We knew some of you wouldn’t be cut out for this. But the rules we kill by are the rules we live by. This is your exit, you can walk away. If like Anders it’s not what you signed up for then I’ll give you your gold and you can leave head held high. Otherwise…you keep in line,” kicking the dense, unmoving body of Anders as his blood stained the gravel and met the rivers flow. “I’m here for the Battalion,” Kharkov said flatly, a chorus which echoed around the men. “Here for the Battalion became a chant, a chorus that soon had every man beating his chest, looking at Ivan with steadfast commitment. He gave a nod, raised his hand and said, “Cherish are you still happy to scout or do you need time to recover?” “We can wait a day,” Jackson offered, followed by grunts of agreement from the rest. Kharkov’s dark brown eyes trained
The Beta's Prize 78. Ivan
Why does it feel as though everything has been leading up to this? As though all the other skirmishes and battles with lesser gangs have been driving me towards confronting the man I despised the most in the Cage. I had no idea what kind of stunt he must have pulled to get out of there alive. He definitely didn’t stay to protect his father. That's for certain having seen him swinging like a gory red flag as we left the Cage. This briefing was serious. All the men, Battalion and new recruits sat together as I explained what we were likely to head into. Traps, poisons, sneaking ambushes. There was every chance he knew we were coming for him. “I know we haven’t had too much resistance so far, but this is why we came. It is gangs like the Axelon family that are ruining the Shadowlands.” “Alpha Ivan,” Marius said before correcting himself, “Sorry, Ivan, Beta Ivan, Sir…erm the village we just passed said they bought an awful lot of long pole lengths. I don’t know if that’s relevant?” “
The Beta's Prize 79. Ivan
Kharkovs howls more than did the trick. He even remained on all fours, somehow. Though the very act was twisting an already broken leg he tried to look intimidating. He was an all brown wolf, muscular and chunky in build. As soon as the first wolves out of the compound saw him they would mind-link for back-up. Injured or not he was still formidable. Just two doors of the compound opened as the first batch of men appeared. Confirming he was shifted I saw a rapid succession of clothes ripping and shredding. At least ten bald, hulking guards shifting into various colours of wolf. Like a distorted ballet, a collection of twisting, crunching limbs all came together. All with their jaws snapping, claws scratching at the ground ready to hunt and kill Kharkov. Aided by the darkness of night my Battalion remained unseen. Following their orders to not attack until the third door opened I took deep bracing breaths. However much I prided myself on being a Warrior, this was either going to rea
The Beta's Prize 80. Cherish
I spend the night trying to get organised and be productive. Halo won't stop whirring away in my mind, she is so edgy it’s making it impossible to focus. Wave after wave of fear and dread washes over me as darkness descends for I know the Battalion is walking into their hardest battle yet. The camp is soon fully packed and ready to vacate. It’s done so quickly because I am itching to get away and can’t sit still. The instant I hear Ivan’s voice I will be sprinting back into his arms. I know he's doing it for a higher purpose, to help the Shadowlands but surely for a couple so newly mated there shouldn't be this much time apart. It's physically hurting me, the gaps that are growing between our existence. /Cherish/ came the voice of Lyon, why was he linking me? Dropping a final batch of blankets to the ground I sprinted into the woods on foot to meet him. It was well after midnight and he was exhausted. He must have sprinted the whole way. "Get him food and water!" I shouted at my h
The Beta's Prize 81. Ivan
I knew I would be injured after taking on a dozen or so guards. I had no idea I would end up in limbo. I am in a strangely dreamy state. One where you know it’s not real and yet it’s too vivid to wake up from. I also know it’s a dream because standing in front of me is Azalea. The Azalea I remembered anyway, the petite stunner with olive skin and brown eyes. That stunning, deep green mermaid style dress she wore the night we were mated. Goddess she sparkled that night. I could remember how I madly grabbed her to me, our first kiss, everything just fitting together so perfectly. She smiled at me, the way she had done that night too, so soft and gentle, a little dimple forming in one cheek. I turned around and realised I was in a ballroom with her. The White Forest Pack ballroom to be precise, with its wooden floors and white walls. I kept trying to communicate with Kohl but there was nothing. The silence was terrifying. For over ten years his constant calm guidance and now the l
The Beta's Prize 82. Ivan
“Ivan!” a gruff male voice exclaimed as I woozily battled my way back into consciousness. Leveraged into a sitting position I almost fell back off the bed through the noise that followed. “He’s awake! Tell everyone, EVERYONE RIGHT NOW!” and with my vision still blurry I knew from that ridiculous announcement Jackson was beside me, bellowing like a bull. “Drink this,” a woman's voice said urgently. A perfumed aroma overcame me as I gagged on the lukewarm liquid. “You need to rehydrate, keep going,” as I slurped messily, the warm liquid spilling onto my bare chest. Kohl? Where is Kohl and my heart skipped a beat in panic. /We are fine. Better than fine and you are almost fully healed./ The more liquid I drank the more my memories started working their way back. The battle with Kharkov, the blood and claws everywhere. Laying down and then the ballroom. Shit, Cherish offered me Halo’s strength, where is she, is she safe. Was any of that real or a fever dream? As I dropped the bo
The Beta's Prize 83. Cherish
It felt like falling for the longest time. Floating through a blackness. Halo was there with me, distantly keeping me calm and focused as she looked after Ivan and Kohl. I seemed to land back on the earth and fluttered my eyes. I didn’t have time to think as before I could even make a sound Ivan was on me. Like a puppy. His body scooped me to him, covering me in kisses, praise and reprimands for being so foolish. “Cherish, you shouldn’t have risked yourself like that,” he said whilst holding me close to him, fervently kissing my cheeks, waking me from whatever world I’d been travelling in the most delightful way. “I’m meant to look after you, you silly mouse, you silly thing.” “Ivan,” raising my hand to cup his cheek and smile. “We’re here. We danced, was that real?” “It was, your lilac dress,” he whispered, “your gorgeous hair curled up and we danced together.” “And Azalea?” “Gone, permanently, her mark has been erased from my body. I don’t know if the rejection didn't work or
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