“Well, then, I guess we are on our own. We will make a contingency plan. A small squad that will protect the weak and the children. If things go south, they will be evacuated, and we stay here and fight,” Lilly said.
“Why do I have a feeling that things are about to get fucked up?” Kai whispered.
“Because they are,” Lilly said, grinning at him.
Chapter 17
Lilly stood in front of her squad, flanked by Brian and Carlos on either side. She tightened her hand around the gun she was holding as Helen finalized the formation.
“Right,” Brian shouted, turning towards their small army. “We need to buy enough time for Kai to get us some help. That means we need to be able to hold our own for the next few hours. There is a strong chance that help might not come. In which case, this might be the last battle you fight, and this may be the last day you live.”
Lilly could hear the soldiers muttering amongst themselves. Brian started to pace and paused his speech for a minute before resuming.
“I saw my sisters raped in front of my own eyes, and I saw my father and mother executed. I was tied to a stake and tortured brutally while this happened. I barely managed to get away,” Brian said, the soldiers immediately becoming silent. “They stole the land that my father and his father worked to buy. They stole all our land! They killed our families! How many of you saw your own loved ones dead? How many of you saw your sisters raped and your brothers brutally tortured for fun?”
The soldiers were standing up straight now, listening to Brian with all their attention.
“For how long did we hide in this forest because we were too weak to fight them? How many more did we lose to them in just the last battle? We have hidden and ran away for too long!” Brian shouted. “Well, I say, no more! No more hiding! No more running! It’s time to avenge the deaths of those we loved! It’s time to remove these tyrants from our homes! It’s time to destroy them, once and for all!”
“Yeah!” the soldiers shouted. “Destroy them!”
The chant spread as the entire army joined in causing a ripple of excitement to run through the camp. Even Lilly could feel the blood pumping through her veins in excitement, and she could see why Brian was such a good leader. He knew exactly how to get people to follow him, even if it was to their deaths.
“So, yes! This might be your last day. The help we wait for may never come. We might be walking to our deaths right now!” Brian shouted. “But either way, we can hide like rats or we can fight out there, like warriors! If we die, we die with dignity! We die like soldiers! So, if any of you wants to step away, then speak right now. Because this might be your last moment alive! There is no retreat! We either win or we die on the battlefield. Is there anyone who wishes to leave?”
Silence reigned as no soldier stepped forward. No soldier would dishonor themselves by refusing to fight, and Brian’s speech had removed what misgivings they all had.
“To arms!” Lilly shouted, breaking the silence. The soldiers immediately followed her chant and the atmosphere got even tenser.
“The weak and the children are gone,” Helen said, appearing behind her. “Abigail took Elisabeth with her. A small squad protects them. If anything goes wrong, they will hide and evacuate.”
Lilly nodded, remembering the painful parting with her daughter. She didn’t know if she would ever see her again, but she hoped that her daughter would understand why she did what she did. She had held the baby close to her heart for the longest time before finally letting her go. Surprisingly, Kai had been even more emotional, hugging and kissing Elisabeth.
“To arms! To war!” Brian chanted and Lilly shouted with him as they all headed out of the forest.
“We will all separate into different directions on the main road. Go to all the blocked paths and attack!” Brian shouted. Lilly nodded as she followed him with her own squad. They rushed toward the main road, and Lilly stopped when she realized that Brian had stopped moving and was staring ahead with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, running towards him.
“We have been betrayed,” Brian said. Lilly followed his gaze and her heart dropped at what she saw. The entire army of the bear clan stood there, in all their glory.
Lilly knew at that moment, that all was doomed.
***
Kai ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Even though his leg had started healing, it was still causing him severe pain and slowing him down. He was almost out of the valley and on his way to meet Rio. He reached the main road leading out of the valley and was starting to feel extremely confident when he saw a group of shifters blocking his way.
He stopped, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at them. There were three of them standing there, grinning at him. How did they know he was going to come here? The resistance was supposed to keep them all distracted! Had they already lost? Kai’s heart plummeted as he thought about his dear Lilly, and he shuddered at the idea of losing her.
“I told you!” Keven said, stepping forward suddenly. “I heard their plan and I told you that he would be here!”
“Kevin!” Kai snarled. “What did you do?”
“I can’t believe it. I thought I got rid of you all those years ago! I thought you were gone! When Lilly gave that note to her friend to give to you, I lied about being your friend so I could get it. I hid it and when you left, I thought you were gone for good. I am the one who truly loved Lilly. I am the one who deserved to be with her! And she fell in love with you!”
“How could you do this?” Kai growled.
“I thought I was the luckiest when her father agreed to marry her to me. And then I read that letter she left for you and realized that she was going to have your baby! Yours!” Kevin shouted. “No matter. I consoled myself with the thought that you were gone, and she was mine! And now years later, you show up and she falls for you again!”
