“Please, sit,” he says, and Salazar and Morven, plus a few of the other officers who jumped out of their seats, retake their places. “Thank you.” Jasper shuts his eyes briefly and takes a breath, then he continues. “I know the odds seem stacked against us. I know the numbers don’t add up. Make no mistake, we are the underdog in this fight, we have a serious uphill battleahead. The enemy has greater numbers, greater strength. But there are a few things they don’t have.”
The wolves around the table glance at each other like they have no idea what Jasper is talking about.
“Firstly, the Axis Pack are unfamiliar with our forest. With the exception of the Rocky Pack soldiers, we know this land. We’ve been running in these woods since we were children. Even if Walter mapped it out for them, there is no way his wolves will have the same advantage when it comes to the lay of the land. And that is why I would like to suggest that we position our Elite wolves within the woods, while the Rocky Pack creates a barrier between the tree line and the camp.”
Morven gives an assenting nod.
“We station Elite wolves at various points throughout the woods to create a funnel, we whittle down the numbers by filtering them through the trees to a central battle area. With their numbers drip-fed to our soldiers we have a greater chance of defeating them. It will be long and arduous, but we have the stamina.”
Salazar slaps his hand on the table. “I concur with our alpha.”
Jasper’s gaze shoots to Salazar. I suppose until now everyone has been skirting around the fact that he’s only alpha in Jericho’s stead. But now that we’re on the brink of war, the time has come to give Jasper the respect he deserves. He nods to acknowledge Salazar then continues.
“Next,” Jasper says. “Walter will be wanting to get to my father, that will be his main target—along with my father’s personal security division, who will be stationed outside his room. I suggest we position a contingent of our strongest wolves outside the lodge. They will be our last defense should Walter slip through.”
The block of a wolf with the silver stubble stands and interrupts. “This is all well and good, sir. But they still outnumber us two to one. Do you really think we can win this?”
“Yes,” Jasper says, eyes gleaming. “Because the last thing we have that they don’t ... is the blood wolf.”
Again, all eyes turn to me.
“Max will be able to sense the Axis Pack as they approach. He’ll be the one to let our soldiers know where to move in order to create the funnel that will restrict their movement and decrease their ability to attack us head-on. He will be the one to keep track of Walter and to identify any sneak attacks, any solo assassins who might be sent to attack my father.”
Gray Stubble Wolf scoffs. “We’re trusting your boyfriend to win us this war?”
“Max has seen more action and faced greater danger than most of our soldiers. He has proven himself a formidable opponent and he alone has the power of the blood wolf.”
“He’s a child,” the stocky woman at the end of the table says.
“And so am I,” Jasper shoots back. “But I trust my mate.” He looks to me and there is this gleaming zeal in his eyes, he’s staring at me like I’m the greatest treasure and his secret weapon. “I’ve seen what he’s capable of and let me assure you all, he has the power to turn the tide of this war.”
Jeez, go easy Jasper.I gulp down the basketball-sized lump in my throat. He’s not over-hyping my abilitiesat all. And just when I thought we’d relieved some pressure, a new weight lands on my shoulders.
“Under normal circumstances,” Jasper says, turning back to the room, “an alpha would be able to communicate with his troops via mind-link. As I am not yet the alpha, I do not have this ability. Max will perform this function for me. He is the key to our success. We don’t have the numbers, we don’t have the power, but if we’re smart, we have the advantage.”
“But Jasper,” I say quietly, aiming for privacy even though the whole room is listening, “I can only mind-link with you.”
“You can put images into the minds of the pack, send messages that way. And with the punched-up lunar energy who knows, maybe you can even speak to our troops.”
My mouth flops open and I shake my head a little.
Jasper leans down toward me. “I trust you, Max. You can do this.”
With a gulp and a breath, I nod, then more loudly I say to the room. “I can do it.”
Salazar stands. “I back Alpha Jasper’s plan,” he says, banging the table once more. “Do you stand with us?”
“I agree with Alpha Jasper,” Morven says, standing too.
One by one, each wolf in the room stands. I follow suit, gazing at my stupidly amazing mate, who has never looked more like an alpha.
The afternoon passes oh so slowly and altogether too quickly. Once the plan is agreed upon there are hours more of discussion about where best to station our troops, where Walter is most likely to attack from, who should take which section of the woods. And to be honest I sort of lose track as the session wears on.
Finally, we’re let out of the conference room. The officers are sent to relay our plans to their battalions, and I head out to find my friends.
Down by the lake, on one of the picnic tables outside the canoe shed, I find Aisha, Katie, Todd, Simon, and Omar. Our Rocky Pack friends are back with their troops getting ready. Mia and Mason are in charge of their own battalions, as is Olivia, and they are off discussing the plans with their soldiers.
Though no one is feeling particularly chatty, we sit with each other as the shadows lengthen and the sun dips lower on the horizon.
