Mated To An Enemy

The men and women were shoved through the gates, barely making it through before they were shut with force, and the hum of the electricity filled the air.

Several yelps and howls rang out from the other side of the fence as feral wolves charged at the electrified gate, trying to catch the refugees that had gotten away from them.

The refugees and the Summer soldiers accompanying them were escorted to the temporary hospital. After they were given a quick check, they were put into cars and sent north to the Safe Zone.

Among them was a man that was being taken directly to Alpha Axel.

When they arrived in the Safe Zone, hospital workers and volunteers led the refugees to get food and clothing and to set them up with a place to lay their heads.

The soldiers and the man remained, waiting to see Axel.

He did not make them wait long. He and Luna Corrine greeted them, welcoming them and thanking them for their hard work.

“I know you are eager to return to Summer,” Axel said. Several affirmative grunts sounded among the soldiers. “But unfortunately, that is not possible at this time.”

“What do you mean?” one of the soldiers shouted.

“You can’t keep us from returning to our homes!”

“Please,” Axel spoke calmly, waiting for them to calm down and listen. “I don’t wish to keep you. I know you want to return to your homes and your families. I can’t blame you. I would want the same. But the problem is that we cannot let you leave. The communications between the packs are gone.”

“What?”

“How is that possible?”

“Doesn’t that mean the towers have been attacked?”

“We don’t know what is happening in Summer, but we know that our tower stands,” Axel continued. “Which means that the problem has originated in Summer.”

“Summer is under attack!”

“We have to go!”

“Please, listen!” Axel shouted. “I understand, and I am sorry. But the last communication I got from Fiona was to keep you here. To ask you to understand that it is too dangerous to send you back when we cannot know what you will face.”

There were groans of protest and anger, but no spoken objections.

“After I spoke with Fiona, communications went down. Shortly after that, one of our scouts radioed that an attack party was heading straight for Winter. The feral wolves you encountered at the gate were just the beginning.”

Silence fell over the small crowd.

“I am not your Alpha, but a fellow wolf,” Axel said, “I, too, have a family I wish to protect, and beyond that, an entire pack and the survivors of many others.”

“I cannot order you to stay or to help me defend this territory,” he continued. “But I am asking each and every one of you. If you are able, please, please, help me protect these people.”

There was nodding and several soft voices agreeing, though not all.

“These people whom you have already taken into your care. Those you have protected on the long journey to get here are now in danger once more as the threat is running full speed toward them. So, I ask you to do only what I am willing to do for them. To protect them from harm, to shield them from our enemy.”

While most of the men and women who stood before him agreed immediately, a few still remained silent.

One of these men looked back at the others and then at Axel. He thought it through and then addressed his men.

“Beta Galen sent us to guard those refugees,” he said. “He told us it was our job to protect them with our own lives if necessary.”

Axel listened, as did the others.

The man sniffed and nodded.

“As far as I am concerned, my Beta’s orders still apply,” he said. “Those refugees remain in danger, which means… job’s not done, boys.”

The remaining men stood at attention as the man turned to face Axel.

“Alpha Axel,” he called out. “I am Team Leader Sampson. I speak for the men behind me. Until such time as our Beta calls us back or the parameters of our mission have been met. We will follow under your leadership if you will have us.”

Axel grinned.

“I thank you,” he said, giving a slight bow to Sampson. “For now, see that your men are fed and given a chance to rest.”

Sampson nodded and then led his men away. The others that had already rallied behind Axel joined them in the search for food and sleep.

The only person left behind was a dark man, with his arm tied up in a crude sling, who waited patiently in the back.

“Remi?” Axel asked.

“Yes, Alpha Axel, I am Remi,” the man smiled.

“Welcome to Winter,” Axel said.

“Thank you,” Remi replied. “Though I am afraid I have not entirely succeeded in my mission.”

Axel furrowed his brow.

“I was told that you brought the weapons.”

“I did, but I was ambushed along the way. As a result, I lost many of the weapons while trying to get away from the feral wolves,” Remi replied.

Axel put his hand on Remi’s uninjured shoulder.

“Some are better than none, and the weapons are not worth your life.”

Remi smiled.

“I believe the smiths in Burning Ember would disagree with you on that,” he laughed.

Axel lowered his eyes and swallowed.

“Remi, there is something we should talk about.”

“What is it?” Remi asked, feeling concerned by the Alpha’s tone.

Axel told him about the partial report he had received from Penelope. Remi was visibly upset by the news.

“I’m sorry,” Axel said. “We have not gotten any news about whether or not Alpha Sofia made it out.”

“She is alive,” Remi stated.

“You know this?” Axel asked.

“I know her,” Remi smiled sadly. “She will have gotten the smiths out before anyone could have attacked. But I am sorry about your wolves, and I will honor their sacrifice.”

“Thank you,” Axel said.

“Axel,” Corrine called.

“Excuse me,” Axel said. Remi nodded and walked away.

As Axel approached Corrine, he saw the look of concern in her eyes.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Another report from the scouts in the mountains just a few miles outside of Winter,” she said.

“And, what did they say?” Axel asked.

Corrine looked at him sadly. She took a deep breath.

“They saw hybrids, wolves, and bears. Even more feral wolves,” she said. “A lot of them.”

“How many?” Axel asked.

“Axel,” she said gently. “It’s a war party.”