Page 82 of Wolf's Redemption

"Where are you going?" I asked her, knowing the answer.

"To war, I heard your thoughts," she said. "And before you say no, I've already made my decision."

"Cathy, you're not ready for war. I won't let you risk your life like this," I replied, placing my hands over hers.

"You have two choices, you let me go with you, or I will follow you as soon as you leave and fight anyway," she said, more determined with eyes full of hate. "This war is because of me, and I will not sit back and wait for people to die for me."

"If anything happens to you... I couldn’t stand it." I sat down next to her and took her hands in mine. "Someone has to stay and take care of Elliot, besides if something goes wrong, you have to be there for him."

Cathy looked me straight in the eyes. "We won't lose. I already know how to control my wolf. I'm capable of fighting," she said. "Elliot is not alone. He has Lydia and a whole pack to support him, plus his life is on the line too because if we lose, they will come for him for sure."

She had a point, and I knew I wasn't going to persuade her, but I didn't want her to get so involved in the battle, but since I knew her well enough, I was aware that if I didn't let her go with us she would go on her own and there I wouldn't be able to protect her.

"Ok, but you'll always be by my side," I said, "And wear combat clothes. I'll have one made for you."

"Okay," she said. "But first, I must prepare something."

She hurried out of the room, almost running, and I assumed she was going to say goodbye to Elliot.

I put on my battle clothes, a black shirt tailored from a unique fabric that gave me more mobility, black pants, and titanium-tipped boots.

I took a deep breath feeling the weight on my shoulders, and looked at the clock impatiently until the time was up. I walked out into the courtyard, and all the members fit to fight were waiting in their war suits.

"Today, we will do justice," I said to get their attention. "And we will show the Sith pack that no one crosses our borders and threatens one of our own without getting away with it." They all shouted in response and beat their chests loudly as a show of respect.

I looked around for Cathy and found her walking towards me with a belt full of crystal spheres filled with purple gas that moved as if it had life in it.

"What is that?" I asked.

"It's for Lissandra. I'll give her a taste of her own medicine," she said, and I could feel the aconite.

"Be careful. It can be dangerous," I said.

"I may not be able to fight like the rest, but I do know something about chemistry, and I will use it to give you guys an advantage," she said.

At that moment, my mother came out with Elliot by the hand and my father beside her.

"Come back safe and come back victorious," my mother said.

Elliot ran to us and hugged us both as best he could. "Come back soon. Grandma told me you are going to fight the bad guys, so beat the crap out of them," he said with his eyes full of energy.

"Son, the future of the pack is in your hands," my father vociferated.

I felt the weight of his words and the responsibility he had placed on my shoulders. This was no longer about revenge but about commanding respect from those who tried to attack us from the shadows.

We got in the cars, this time SUVs. Andrew drove ours, Sebastian rode beside him, and Cathy and I rode in the back.

The caravan of black SUVs made up of pack members, and territory allies followed us down the road.

"My father's pack is not like yours," Cathy said. "They are loyal to no one. They simply obey out of fear of being killed. That's what the Sith pack is based on, and once you wipe out their leader, they'll scatter like flies."

"Then we can avoid the whole conflict if we attack the leaders directly," Sebastian said. "But in the forest, it will be like a needle in a haystack."

"Not necessarily," she replied. "I know the scent of Lissandra, Linda, and Alston, and now that my senses are enhanced, I might be able to track them."

"In that case, you should go to the front," Andrew said, and I shot him a murderous look.

"Are you sure? It can be dangerous," I asked my destined mate.