“Assassins. They were sent as assassins to kill any of your pack they came across.”
“Assassins? Would we really call them that, Number Seven? They weren’t trained or even experienced. Cannon fodder, more like. Anyway, you killed one at the riverbank, then waltzed over and toyed briefly with the other five. You even tasted their cooking before you left, as I recall the report saying. Was it my rabbit or my trout that you enjoyed?” I smile at him and then laugh, loudly.
The fighting around us has almost ended. There are a few scuffles going on, but it’s mostly over. There is still a battle raging with the Blood Pearl Pack warriors.
“I vaguely recall it, but as you say, it was insignificant.” He is impatient now. There isn’t much happening for him to use as a diversion and slip away.
“Then you will recall that you killed one at the river and five in their camp. My scouts had already counted the six before you showed up and simply became Number Seven. So, you see, you were just as insignificant yourself. Just another number, and not even a good one. Not even number one. That privilege went to the shifter by the riverbank. You seemed to think you were being watched, too, as one of my scouts told me,” I say, tipping my head to one side just to add insult to injury.
“They were in the oak tree. I thought so, but again, the whole incident was so insignificant.” I can see he is ready to leave andthat, as we now have an audience, he is going to need a quick victory so he can escape in the shock of it. Remembering how he so quickly dispatched of those at the camp, I’m sure he’ll gamble on that speedy method again.
“Well, Number Seven, I can’t say it’s been a pleasure, but it has been entertaining…”
“It’s Levi! My name is Levi,” he snarls and this time I’m sure I have him.
I see him start to extend his claws, and he is preparing to sweep that right hand across my throat. I send my right hand crashing forward in a straight-arm jab. As my hand closes around his throat, I see confusion in his eyes, then fear as he realizes I have only to extend my claws and his throat will be ripped out as effectively as he was going to do to me.
Smiling, I extend my claws, feel the warm blood run through my fingers and hear his last sharp gasp of breath. Levi, Number Seven, is gone. Now to find Arric and put an end to him and his dream of being a king.
Chapter 33
GERRY
Watching the rogues appear from the forest, I grin. There are not as many as I was expecting, but would assume that some are being held in reserve. Judging by the way that they just run towards us, they don’t appear to be well disciplined in the art of war. Even if they have double our number, I don’t see beating them as such a big problem.
We stand our ground and let them come to us. At the speed they’re running, half of them will be winded by the time they get here. We can discount their first wave as sacrificial lambs. Watching my warriors dispatch the rogues is like lambs to the slaughter. Apart from one or two impressive fights, there is no competition.
Seeing one larger than average wolf forging a path through our ranks, I go to meet him. Asher comes forth and heads toward thelarge brown wolf. Seeing our approach, it turns and waits for us. I can’t help but notice its confident look as it waits.
I sense it too. While I fight, keep your senses alert for a second wolf. This smacks of a trap.Asher pops into my mind.
‘Wallace, form a circle around Asher and this large wolf. Let’s see how confident he is then, when he knows that he is alone.’Gerry mind links.
Wallace, my Head Warrior, immediately gathers warriors to form the circle. When the space around us clears and the large wolf sees he is alone, he smiles. I can’t help feeling I’ve been played here. What is his advantage in being alone with me in a large open space cut off from his comrades?
The circling and sizing up begins, and something is ringing alarm bells. Concentrate. What is his advantage? His size? No, Asher is larger and of Alpha stock. He is no match for Asher. If he knows that, and he does, then why put himself out in the open?
Stopping his circling, he holds his position. His eyes flick behind me for a split second, and he edges to his left.
‘Asher, when he stands on his back legs, do not engage him. Throw yourself low and to the right.’
I can take him,Asher replies.
‘I know you can, but you can’t take his friend behind us. Trust me. Low and to the right is the way to beat this wolf.’
Tensing his muscles ready for the low lunge, the large brown wolf must believe we are going to leap at him. He stands tall on his back legs and snarls. Asher throws himself low to the right, and we both hear the whistle of arrows slicing through the air.
In near death, the large wolf shifts to its human form, and a young male is revealed. Two large arrows protrude from his chest. The two that had been destined for Asher’s back as he fought. Asher recedes, and I stand over the dying rogue.
“My father said it would be easy. I would be hailed a great warrior for killing an Alpha.” The young man looks confused as he stares at the arrows.
“Your father lied to you. Seeing their Alpha killed in such a cowardly way would have turned the entire pack on you. They would have torn you to pieces in seconds. Why would your father want you dead?” I can only imagine the answer, and yet I’m sure I already know who his father is.
“Arric. My father is Arric…” With those words he dies.
Seeing a group of my warriors in the trees where the arrows came from, I have no doubt the archers will die, if they are not dead already.
“Alpha Gerry. How did you know what they planned?” Wallace is by my side and looking at the young man dead before me.
