Chapter 24

Joey's P.O.V

"The new Beta is....." I paused looking from Kale to Adam and smiled. As I opened my mouth to speak the name of my choice I spotted something coming from the forest. Henry, and he wasn't alone. Rogues. "Rogues!!" Voices shouted in panic. I raised my hand to silence them and the bodies froze. A growl left my lips, "Henry. How dare you show your face?" I walked away from the two males I had been about to choose from and walked towards the man I hated more than anything. "Do you have a death wish?"

Henry stood at the edge of the forest watching me with a smirk on his pale lips. He was taunting me and I knew it. "Oh you couldn't harm a hair on my head let alone kill me sweetheart." His voice was like nails on a chalkboard to my ears. I hated him so much. Anger raged through me and the wind started to pick up and lightning crackled in the sky. He was pushing me right to the edge and he knew it. "You and your rogues are no match for my warriors. We outnumber you easily 6 to 1." I was only 10 feet from him now. I stood alone with my pack a few yards behind me.

Grinning he stepped forward and the rogues did as well showing more of them that had been hiding farther back in the forest. His numbers matched ours including our children and elders. Mindlinking Anna, one of our pack nursery nurses, I told her to gather the children and elders and take them into the pack house and down into the cellar safe room now. I didn't look back to see if my orders were followed I decided to keep Henry and the rogues distracted long enough to get the defenseless out. "So Mr. I-Think-I'm-All-That what do you want?" I continued to growl at him but started walking back and forth in front of them to keep them distracted from the movement 30 yards behind me.

His dark chuckle sent shivers down my spine. "I want what I've always wanted. You." The rogues launched themselves forward towards my pack. I snarled and raced forward at Henry through the rushing force of his rogues. Shifting midleap I tackled him to the ground. He was already in his other form. He was waiting for this. He wanted this. He wanted me to attack. My teeth latched onto his shoulder and tore through the fur and flesh easily. Not even a yelp left his muzzle. It was like he couldn't feel the pain or blood oozing from the fresh wound. A sharp pain came from my left flank. One of his rogues was trying to yank me off. Releasing Henry I whipped around and quickly snapped the neck of the rogue. Henry had just stood watching me with an evil glint in his eye. I hated this man more than anything. He just watched me kill one of his and he didn't even care. Watching him for a moment I walked closer and circled him. He didn't even flinch. It was like he didn't care. The only thing he seemed to care about was having me.

"What did you promise them so they would fight here today?"

"Your land."

I glared at him and bared my teeth still circling him. "You know we would fight until our death for our land. It was all a lie so you could come for me." Once I was behind him again I leaped raking my claws into his back. "I will kill you." Sinking my teeth into his spinal cord snapping it. His body fell limp into a pile of fur. I dug into his motionless body and ripped out his heart. "Well that's one less heartless bastard in this world." Distracted by my kill I didn't notice the rogue lurking behind me. Well I suppose I did notice him but I didn't really care too much. I figured he was fighting alongside the others. I was wrong. And I realized that the moment his claws sank into my back and he tried to repeat the move I just did on Henry but I recognized it too quickly and ripped free and ended up shredding my back in the process. A loud yelp left my lips as I slumped to the ground with a thud. Blood was pouring from my pounding, stinging wound. Red. Red. Everywhere. Everything. Red. Looking up at the rogue, as it slinked closer it's yellow fangs bared, I prayed to the Goddess for a miracle. It was too late. The rogue's jaws were already tightening around my neck. I didn't struggle because I knew it would just hurt more. Closing my eyes I gave in. I was ready to see my family again. Suddenly I felt the jaws yanked from my throat and I gasped my eyes fluttering open. A soft gentle tongue rasped itself over the blood matted fur on my face. Grant. It was Grant. He had fought through them to save me. Smiling on the inside I closed my eyes and a single tear slid down my cheek. 'He does love me.' I let out a breath then everything went black. All I could hear was Grant's grief stricken howl echoing in my mind.

Grant's P.O.V.

No. No. No. I won't believe it. Another grief stricken howl ripped through me. She can't just die. 'Joey no! Please!?' Her final thoughts had been about me loving her. Of course I loved her. She was my mate. How could I not? Now I would never get to tell her. I lifted my head and looked to the moon praying to the Goddess to send her back to me. Minutes passed and nothing happened. It felt like years. Sobs shook my body and I rested my head on her fur and just cried and cried until there was nothing left. Anger and hatred began to fill the sadness and grief. I left my mates motionless body and fought to avenge her death. My love would not die in vain.

Battle raged on through the night until dawn. Everyone was tired but none had stopped. Both sides were fueled by anger by the killings of their leaders. I ripped out another rogue's neck and then charged at another. I was soaked in blood. Most of it was not my own. Thankfully. I tried to keep the image of my dead mate from my mind and focus on the rogues. The numbers had begun to dwindle down but the battle was not won yet.

Joey's P.O.V.

The heat of the Sun overhead had caked my blood to my fur,which is very uncomfortable I might add, and made it hard to move. Wait move? I can feel the heat. Thank the Goddess she is a miracle worker. One of these days I'm literally going to be her slave. Opening my eyes slowly the bright light burned  them so I closed them immediately. The sounds of fighting were still ringing in my ears. At first I wasn't sure if that was because I was dead before or if because they were still fighting but when grit hit my fur from another's battle I could tell it was still going on. I had to move. I had to end it. Opening my eyes again I blinked quickly adjusting. I had to stand. Standing. Legs. Feet. Ground. Baby steps. I can do this. Slowly I got to my paws and the caked in dirt and dried blood weren't the only thing making it hard to move. I was stiffer than a board. I stretched out my aching body and winced with each movement. Grant. Where was Grant? My eyes surveyed the scene before me. He was fighting the rogues still. My pack was still fighting. We were winning. A shuffling noise came from behind me and I turned and ducked just as a rogue launched herself at me. I stood up straight again wincing as I did so. Goddess I was sore. The rogue leaped again this time I didn't move in time and she got my shoulder. I growled and snapped at her legs managing to latch onto one of them and snapping the bone. Her yelping was loud and fast. Almost like a pup. No. I couldn't think like that. I killed her swiftly and finished stretching. I didn't ache as much except for my new wound in my shoulder.

As quickly as possible I raced towards my pack and howled loud. "Enough!" The remaining rogues and my pack members stopped and looked. Gasps rang out. I'm sure word had spread that I had died. My pack moved away from the rogues. There were so few left. Compared to the hundreds that had been here yesterday to start only about 20 remained. Grant was watching me with a confused yet relieved look. I walked towards the rogues who stood their ground even now. "Leave peacefully or die."

The largest rogue snarled and leaped on me latching his teeth on my neck. Grant launched forward and killed the rogue swiftly. I stood saying nothing I only looked at my warriors and nodded. They knew what to do. The last of the rogues were torn to shreds. I looked at Grant and licked his cheek pressing against him. We could have stood there forever and I never would've noticed but we didn't. Eventually we moved. I had to check on the wounded and pay respects to the dead. I had yet to announce the new Beta still.

By High Noon the pack had gathered together again but we weren't as cheerful and happy as before. Battle does that I guess. I looked at my pack and then at the two men in front of me. "Our new Beta is Adam." I stepped forward and kissed my new Beta's forehead "Do you promise to protect the pack and your Luna under any means necessary?"

"I do."

"Will you obey our laws and make sure our laws are obeyed with no exceptions and punish those who deserve to be punished?"

"I do."

"Do you Adam Mycroft Augustine pledge yourself, your wolf and all that you hold dear to me?"

"I do."

"Without further ado I present our new Beta!" My voice rang loud and clear throughout the field. Cheers and clapping echoed as the pack rushed forward to congratulate their new Beta on his promoted status.

I stepped back pulling Kale with me. "My third in command died today. Now I know that's not the rank you wanted but....its the one I'm going to give you should you accept it."

Kale grinned happily and hugged me, "Thank you Joey you won't be disappointed." He then ran on and celebrate  with the pack. For now they would have their fun because tonight we would hold a vigil for the fallen.

Arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close, "I love you Joey."

"I love you too Grant."

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Well the wait is over! I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did!

P.S. Not edited so don't judge pretty please. Okay love you guys!