The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 169

Zane POV

‘How soon can we leave to rescue Madison?’ I asked, breaking all this sentiment up before we are all crying like young children.

‘As soon as the twenty men can be rounded up and ready to go.’ Zeek replied, looking over at Alex and Zakary for confirmation.

‘Our men and Alex’s will meet us at the other end, they are already on the way, you just need to pick your twenty.’ Zakary said and that made me look over at dad, and noticed he was mind-linking someone.

A knock at the door and in walked Graham.

‘Alpha?’ he said in greeting and he bared his neck to dad.

‘Can you organise the twenty Blue River warriors that came here with you please, get them to pack an overnight bag. They may be gone for a few days. We want those from the first group, not the ones that came later with Alpha Daniel.’ Dad ordered kindly

‘What is going on?’ Graham asked with confusion.

‘We are sending them with Zane to go get Madison.’ Jonathon replied before dad could and we watched the change in Graham.

‘Well, I am going to, I am part of the first twenty.’ He stated confidently and stood up straighter.

‘No son, we are staying here, get Roberts to take your place.’ Jonathon countered in a tone that broke no argument.

‘But dad.’ he tried to argue anyway.

‘Don’t argue. You have a new mate to consider just like I do. We will stay here and wait. You know how Madison would feel if we showed up, or if either of us got hurt, she would kill us if we were still alive. She was determined to give our mates the time she had not had. You need to be around your mate in the first few weeks, not months, for our wolves’ sake.’

Graham nodded his understanding, though he wanted to argue, he knew he would lose this one, and he gave me a brief look and a little nod.

Graham left the meeting room to round up the men.

Jonathon could have mind-linked them and I assumed giving Graham the task of rounding them up and telling them the job at hand, might make him feel he was in a little way contributing to the rescue effort.

‘What are we going to do with Gladys if we come across her?’ I asked dad and the three men looked over at dad for his answer.

‘If you could kill her, you have my blessing to do it. She is dangerous to everyone.’ That seemed to please the Deep Earth men.

‘When you have your team together come to the nearest cave entrance, we will meet you there and guide you through the tunnels.’ Zeek said, and the three Deep Earth men left the room and headed back to their homes.

Jonathon left the room too, saying he would track down Graham and the warriors and give them a last-minute pep talk.

‘Son.’ I looked over at dad, who was sitting on the sofa next to me.

‘What is up dad?’ I wondered if he was going to give me the same pep talk.

‘I love you son, keep your head about you.’ and dad pulled me into his embrace and hugged me tight. It was comforting. I won’t deny I am a little nervous, this is not going to be easy.

‘Dad, I got to go get more of that neutraliser. Now we have more men to cover. Anything else, you think, I will need. How about more darts?’ I was at long last going to get my mate back.

‘Yes, let’s go out to Madison’s shed and see what we can replace. The more we can get the better for you, it is not going to be easy up there, and it will be cold too.’ We headed out to her shed, like two kids heading to the lolly shop. What Madison had been doing there was always a surprise. She had a knack at making new things.

The shed had her lingering scent in there and I breathed in deeply, we found a large box of darts and two bottles of neutralizer. I stuffed them into a bag and headed back out. Graham met us as we entered the main hall and called us over, saying the men would be out front in ten minutes.

Everything was moving along nicely, my excitement of at long last going to get my mate was closer, we would enter the cave system soon, and that part I was unsure of. Zeek said it was their homes and part of me felt like I was going to intrude on their privacy and another part of me wondered what the fuss was about, and was eager to see what Zeek considered his home.

The Deep Earth people had already returned to the nearest tunnel, which was a closer tunnel than the one Alex uses as his main one. We had gone to in the past. When we visited them, this one would only take half an hour to arrive, and one I never really noticed till they pointed out where we were to meet on our diorama. I had to look twice at the area indicated. To me it was just a rocky area, not used much by anyone, even grass or bushes hardly grew in that little area of rocks, the side of the mountain had fallen down, it was a messy useless part of the land, that was a little unstable, with the occasional rocks and debris falling from above during the warmer weather.

We met outside, the twenty Blue River warriors waiting patiently for us to arrive, each with a backpack on and quietly chatting to each other, waiting for their orders.

‘Men, you are going with Zane to get our future queen back, Madison’s position has been located.’ Murmurs of relief were heard among the men as they acknowledged that Madison had been found. Dad quietened them down and continued.

‘She is a prisoner there, under heavy guard and the room is covered in wolfbane, so you can’t use your wolf if you go into that room.’ Dad waited for that bit of news to filter in before he continued.

‘You will be traveling through peoples’ homes so be respectful at all times.’ Dad was interrupted by one of the warriors.

‘Who’s home?’ he shouted out.

‘You will be traveling through the tunnels, it is the quickest and safest way to get there, also less chance of being spotted.’ Dad continued as he answered the question.

The same man interrupted again.

‘Under the ground all that way?’ he sounds shocked and in denial.

‘Graham.’ I shouted and Graham ran over to me and bowed slightly, showing his respect in front of his men.

‘Remove him and get me another man, I won’t have someone questioning our every move.’ I growled softly, but loud enough for all to hear.

‘Jones, replace Harry.’ A man in the back, who was there to see his fellow warriors off, nodded and turned and ran in the direction of the barracks. I thought he might be getting his backpack.

‘Graham, please, I will behave, I….’

Graham put his hand up to stop him from saying another word. The warrior, Harry, sighed and stepped back, joining the other Blue River warriors who were there to see their mates off.

‘Men, as I was saying, you will be travelling through the tunnels, and will meet up with the Deep Earth warriors at the other side, where some of Alex and Zakary’s warriors will join you and also Zeek’s men to rescue Madison, go and get our Madison and make me proud, and all of you return in one piece.’ dad said the last part to make sure they knew this was dangerous and some might not return.

Fist, pumps and arm hugs were given between those going with the ones staying.

Dad gave me a hug, right there in front of all the men, something he rarely did in public.

Jonathon came and gave me a hug too, telling me to be safe and to return his daughter home safely.

Together, the group of men and I headed off to the rocky area.