Chapter 6
"Bang,” The door closes behind Damon as he makes his way into the pack house where the elders were gathered.
"I'm sure you've all been told about the threat from the witches,” Damon says as he rises up to address them. "We cannot and would not be treated like mere dogs,” He shouts. "For this reason, the elders have been gathered here. Some of you have had experience with the witches, we need to gather intel on them. We'll new as much information as you can provide to come out victorious,”
"From what we were told by the Beta, it seems an Imbrulus has a hand in this,” One of the elders says. "A surprise attack is the best we can do against those,”
"Whatever information you have should be given to the Beta. He'll know what to make of it,” Damon replies. "This meeting is closed,”
"Yes, Alpha,” They all bow as they exit the packhouse.
It was late and the moon was up but Damon still couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about his late grandfather and the witches. I'll stop them no matter what it takes, he says, slamming his fists into the pillows.
"We attack tomorrow Alfred, what is the plan?" Damon asks.
"We'll attack the Grey Widow's coven from the east. The forest would be to our advantage. We should also attack when the moon is at its highest, a little more wolf magic would be good for us too,” He replies.
"The soldiers have been training and foot soldiers would be needed, a fight against the witches with us in our wolf forms wouldn't be too good. With the moon at its highest our regenerative and physical abilities would be increased,” He added.
"Do you have the potion the elders spoke about?"
"Yes, but we can't rely on it for too long. 20 minutes is all we would have against them and we'll have to make the best of it,”
The elders had spoken of a potion used to cut off a witch's magic for a short while. Since the Dark widow's coven draws their magic from their ancestors it wouldn't last for long as the ancestors would always find new holes to send magic from. The potion would be enough to completely cut off their magic for about 5 minutes and reduce their attacking capacity for the next 15 as their spells wouldn't be strong enough to do any damage. Moreover, the strongest of the coven would be on their ten months journey in preparation for 'The Ten Ritual'.
"That's great. How would the potion be used tho? We can't just spray it now can we?" Damon asks, ruffling his hair.
"We're currently sharpening the foot soldiers' archery skills for that purpose. Arrows would be used,” Alfred said with a bright grin.
"You always think ahead, don't ya?" Damon says standing up to pat him on the back. "We're going to show these witches not to mess with us,” Damon said with a smile. "Have the soldiers train as much as they can today, we attack on the night of the morrow at the moon's highest,” He declared.
"Am I the only one who is scared and nervous?" Gary, the third in command and leader of the hunters says jokingly as he strolls in.
"We're about to attack a formidable foe, this is a serious matter,” Damon barks at him.
"Sorry Alpha,” Gary replies. He straightens up at the sight of the serious look on the faces of the Alpha and Alfred.
"We're about to go into battle,” Damon shouts at the top of his voice. "The witches have taken from us before, it is time to take back!" He says in a bid to boost the troops' morale. "We'll go through the plan once again with Alfred,” Alfred steps before the troops.
"First are going to be the foot soldiers, they'll go in and cause a diversion while the hunters shoot the witches with arrows dipped in the potion. The leaders of each unit burn the building while the rest of the troops attack in half shifts to enable flexibility,” Alfred says. "We're going up against witches, subdue them in any way possible,”
"The use of your venom is allowed,” Damon adds. "It's the only poison they don't have an antidote for,” A werewolf venom has only one cure, the blood of any full-fledged wolf blessed with more than one ability. They're very rare to find as they have always been targeted by other wolves and are seen as a threat, while some lose one ability within months as both sides of their wolf fight for supremacy. Finding a werewolf who can use both abilities is like finding a needle in a haystack as they also die at an early age due to an overload on their magic.
Damon's statement caused a lot of grumbling among the soldiers. They barely used their venom since some of them lose control and end up attacking each other.
"It's why we're using a half shift. Losing to your wolf by just transforming your claws, fangs, ears, and heightening your already heightened senses isn't common,” Alfred says. "It's a matter of choice and strength. If you do lose to your wolf, we'll make sure to put you out honorably,”
"The moon is rising,” Gary shouts.
"Crimson wolves! This is war!" Alfred shouts.
Damon announces the beginning of the battle with a howl as the troops make for the city through the woods.
"Damon, come closer,” Edward coughs. His skin was burnt and would have been worse if he hadn't used his protective buff ability. "Do not try to take revenge on the witches for this when you're older. You should understand that some battles can't be won,” He struggles to say as he had lost a lot of blood due to the witch's spell, he was only alive due to the pack doctor's ability to transfer life force.
"But they took you away from me Grandpa,” Damon cries.
"Stay away from the witches. Damon,” Edward says with his last breath.
Damon shakes away the memory as the wolves fought with the witches. They had managed to take them by surprise but were losing ground as some of the witches' spells had gotten stronger.
"The effect of the potion is waning Alpha,” One of the soldiers shouted.
"Set fire to their buildings and kill those who try to escape,” Alfred shouts back as he fights off the leader of the witches' conjured knights.
"Boom" The sound of an explosion distracts the witches which gave the wolves the opening they wanted. Everyone outside was killed or badly injured. It was a night of victory for the wolves.
"We'll camp in the forest for the night and take whatever valuables the miserable witches have if they have any in the morning," Damon says.
The wolves make their way to the woods where they spend the night.
"Alpha, I think there's a werewolf among the dead,” A soldier shouts as they search the building for valuables and survivors.
"He isn't one of us,” Alfred adds after inspecting the body.
"Send our best wolves to find out what pack he comes from and status if he has any. We'll take him to his pack at the week's end for a proper burial and an apology to the alpha,” Damon says.
"Yes Alpha,” Alfred says with a bow.
"Tell everyone to pack up too, we leave in an hour,” Damon says, staring at the horizon.
"All units pack up, we leave in an hour,” Alfred shouts.
"Do you think we did the right thing?" Alfred asks as they make their way back to the pack.
"I don't know anymore. I have a bad feeling about this, I've been feeling weird all morning,” Damon replies.
"Yeah, me too,”
"It feels like a storm is coming. A very strong one at that,”
"Send the maiden who last left my quarters a couple of days ago,” Damon shouts at the attendant who opened the door as he made his way to his quarters.
"The last one from the duo?" The attendant asks.
"Should I crack your skull open to remind you?" Damon growls at the terrified attendant. He was troubled and needed to burn off the stress somehow, he thought about how much he enjoyed his last meeting with her and the interruption at the end. He was going to savor every bit of her this time.
"You requested for my presence Alpha,” Cami says from the doorway.
"Oh yes, now I didn't get your name the last time,”
"Cami,” She says with a bow.
Damon walks up to her by the doorway and with his hands on her neck pulls her in for a rough kiss. A soft moan escaped her lips as the kiss got more intense. Damon pushes the door close and raises her up by her hips, pinning her against the door without ever taking his lips from hers.
She tasted better than anyone he'd ever had, he thought as he moved his hands to her nipples and squeezed until she moaned loudly in his ear.
"Knock, knock"
"Alpha, your presence is needed at the packhouse,” An attendant says from behind the door.
"At this hour. What the hell do they want,” Damon growls as he jumps off the bed and pulls on a robe.
"Looks like they enjoy breaking up our finest moments,” Cami sighs.
"We'll continue from where we stopped when I'm back,” He teases. "And you better not be a bad girl and touch yourself,” He adds
"I'll always be good for you Alpha" She teases back
Damon makes his way out of the room and doesn't meet the attendant. Looks like they've learned a thing or two from their dead friend he thought as he walks into the packhouse only to meet the elders and his subordinates sitting with gloomy faces. One look at Alfred and he knew this wasn't going to be good.
"What's going on here?" He asks.
"We made the wrong choice. The witches have struck,” An elder replies.