Chapter 85

-Dorothy-

The cells were nearby, close enough that Angie and I arrived their in just a few minutes. The van squealed to a halt in front of the illuminated building and I climbed out of the passenger seat and stared at the glowing yellow light that shone from the entrance.

Two shifters stood on guard around the area, waiting for the final call before joining the battle themselves.

I nodded to them as we headed inside and Angie whispered at my shoulder, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“We don’t have any better ideas” I whispered back. “And it’s worth a try

I came face to face with some of the recent prisoners in the first cell and spoke quietly to Angle, “Just be on guard in case things go bad. If they decide to attack, we don’t fight. We get in the van and leave. These people don’t want war they just want freedom”

“And some of them are more than ready to cut down their Luna to get it. Angie muttered but she stayed at my side as I approached the first cell

One by one, the attackers who had been imprisoned since the Tally had forced them onto our land, began to take notice of my presence. Heavy heads lifted and weary eyes watched from behind bars.

1 cleared my thoughts and spoke as evenly as I could manage although my hands shook and my knees felt weak beneath me. “I am Dorothy. I’m the Luna of the Bielke Pack.”

They remained silent, staring at me like I was just a dream or apparition straight from their imagination.

I swallowed: “I’m here to set you free.

A murmur began as the shifters got to their feet and came to stand at the bars. Some eyed me suspiciously and others paid no head as if they took my words to be a lie.

1 looked around me and continued. “We can’t guarantee your protection during this fight. Anyone who wishes to leave is welcome to. Alternatively, anyone who wishes to join in the fight against the Tally is welcomed.

“I won’t force any of you to fight. You’ve been caught up in a war that had nothing to do with you and for that I am sorry. You are free to leave if you wish. But keep in mind, if we fall to the Tally they won’t stop at just the Bielke Pack

“They will come for the rest of you too. As they already have. Your packs have been dispersed. Even if you leave now, there’s a good chance that they will be back. And so I give you the chance to join us and help us take down the Tally to end their reign entirely,”

I held my breath and waited. There was no response from the shifters but they gradually began exchanging glances and talking amongst themselves. I turned to Angie and nodded. “Open the gates”

Angie hesitated and then pulled out the keys that one of the guards had handed to her. She went to each cell and unlocked the gates, stepping back and allowing the shifters to pass through.

One by one they emerged from their cells. They looked cautious and mistrusting and I raised my hands. There is no trick You’re free to go. All I ask is that you consider my offer. It’s not really an offer actually. It’s a request Help us put a stop to

the wat

I watched with bated breath as a few shifters approached me. Angie put her hand to the blade at her side but halted her with glance. The doorst shifter, a young girl barely taller than I was walked up to me and looked me in the eye

Theld her pase and fer expression changed from confusion to anger to exhaustion “I won’t fight in your war,” she said

partly “I am und of wars but you have my gratitude and I wish you the best. Perhaps the Bielke has some hope after all *

me out of the door. As soon as she pibed out the rut and no

tin came to her, others relaxed

KS59%

Chapter 85

enough to follow after.

My shoulders slumped as 1 watched them leave. I was disappointed but I couldn’t blame them for their decision. They had gone up against the Tally once before and they had failed. Who was I to ask them to do it again? Furthermore, they had been imprisoned by the Bielke, I doubted they were very thrilled at the idea of defending our pack now.

I accepted that my plan had failed and looked up at Angie. She shrugged as the final shifter left. “It was worth a try,” she said quietly. “We should get back.”

“There’s one more person I need to see,” I said and tread past her to stand in front of the cell that held the ex-elder council member who had tried to take me hostage.

He looked up at me grimly. “So it’s that dire of a situation is it?” he muttered “Asking our assailants for help. And where is Ignatius? How can he send his pregnant wife to do such dangerous work for him”

“Ignatius is doing his best to protect his pack.” I said coldly. “He’s on his way back right now. And he didn’t send me here, I chose to come here myself.

I stared him down and took the keys from Angie’s hand. “Will you fight?”

He looked me up and down and then examined his open palms Slapping them to his knees he stood up and clicked his back. “Of course, I will. The Bielke are still my people after all.”

I nodded and unlocked his cell. Angie kept a close eye on him and he stepped out from between the bars but I knew he wouldn’t try to pull anything.

His ideals were slan ted and old-fashioned, but he did care about the Bielke. His family was a part of the battle after all we didn’t have the luxury of excluding anyone. We needed fighters, and this man was willing to fight.

It wasn’t much but it was something, and I was reassured that our detour hadn’t been a complete waste of time. My eyes widened however when we stepped out of the building and at least ten of the shifters who had been imprisoned stood waiting outside.

Amongst them was the girl who had been the first to leave. I raised my eyebrows and Angie bared her teeth, but she lifted her hands in surrender.

“Look, we thought it over and maybe you’re right. I don’t like the Bielke and I sure as hell am not going to lay down my life for you. But the Tally needs to be stopped before they can cause any more damage.

She came to stand before me and lifted her chin. “If we join you, if we fight for your people, can you promise me that no harm will come to us after the battle is over!”

I met her gaze evenly. “When the battle is done you will be free to go and the Bielke will never bother you again.”

She stared me down for a moment, searching my eyes for any trace of a lie. When she was satisfied with what she found there, she nodded and gestured for the other shifters to follow as we led them over to Gideon’s van. They clambered into the back and pulled the doors shut, waiting to get going.

1 climbed back into the passenger seat and looked at Angie. Herlands were shaking and she seemed as nervous as ever but there was a hint of excitement in her voice. “We might have a chance, she whispered. “We might actually have a chance

I leaned back in the seat and folded my hands over my stomach. “We’re the Bielke,” I said casually. “We’re not going down without a fight”

-Ignatius

“Can’t this thing go any faster? I pounded my fist against the interior of the van. “My mate is alone out there, she needs

“Calm down. Ignatius.”

Carly put a hand on my shoulder to calm me and Plato gave me ja half-smile that he must have thought was comforting.

1:02 Fri, Jan 26

Chapter 85

“We’ll be there soon. There’s no point in losing your mind over it now.

I leaned back against the grimy floor and closed my eyes. I knew she was right but I was restless. Tor tossed and turned in my chest, desperate to reach my mate, to protect her. The thought of Johan inching ever closer was terrifying and it made my heart pound too quickly in my chest.

“We’re going into this battle outnumbered and without support. I said quietly. I turned to look at my team. “Are you read for that?

They stared back at me. There was determination in their eyes despite their fatigue.

I sighed. “I know I’ve already asked too much of you. But I have to ask a little more now,”

Carly spoke first, wiping ash and blood from her face. “It’s alright Ignatius. We knew what we were getting into when we agreed to this mission. You have our support to the very end.”

I smiled at her to show my appreciation and nodded at the others who confirmed her words.

I turned to look at Plato who had fallen silent and sat with his knees curled up to his chin. “As for you, you’ve already helped us more than you needed to. You had no reason to trust us, let alone help us as much as you have.”

He brushed my thank-yous aside like it embarrassed him to be complimented. “Don’t worry about it. If it wasn’t for you guys I would still be chained up to that pole or worse.”

“Regardless of that. I continued, offering him my hand to shaket thank you for everything that you’ve done. And with that being said, this isn’t your war and the Bielke are not your people. You’re free to leave us whenever you wish.”

Plato looked at my hand for a moment. When he took it, he didn’t shake it but rather pulled me into a quick embrace. He pulled away just as quickly and patted my shoulder with a grin.

“Look, I’m short on friends right now and you all seem great. And besides, 1 kinda feel like I played a small part in sending Johan loopy in the first place, so I think it’s only fair that I stick around for a little longer and help out.”

“I can’t ask you to do that”

I tried to protest but Plato brushed my words aside. “In fact, I think I might be able to help you a little more,” he said and looked around at the other shifters. “Anyone here got a phone?”

They exchanged confused glances and then one of them dug in the d*rty duffle bag that we had brought with us and pulled out an old fl*p phone to hand to him

Plato swiped it from the guy’s fingers and fl*pped it open. “Retro,” he said before dialing a number and putting the phone to

his car

He looked up at me with a smile on his ash-streaked face. “Now let’s get you guys some backup.”

SEND GIFT

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