Going to war (for not_a_cub and so_far_fallen)

[luciendasky]

The last thing that Lucien expected for his humble little home in the woods to become was a war room, but that was exactly what was happening. The majority of the adult members of the pack were gathered in the tiny living room, getting ready to go into territory that was alien to them: Going into battle

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[not_a_cub]

Eli would be lying if he claimed not to be afraid of the outcome of this. For years they've mostly heard stories about hunters, they've had a few close encounters. But nothing like this. No real evidency of dead cubs, of torture. Not this close to home either.

"Bait," he offered.

Of course he was afraid. He was going to be a father and now of all times, putting himself at any risk truly meant something.

"Are you out of your mind?" One of his uncles called him out. "We go in there and take our own, just like the alpha said. No risks."

"And then what?" Eli raised his voice. He wanted to rise from his seat as well, but he didn't want to defy Lucien's leadership. The alpha was the one standing in the room. " We keep an eye on that one place? What if they moved? What if their new base is somewhere else and they are watching us?"

He was going to be a father. And as a father he was willing to put anything at risk in order of protecting his cubs.

[so_far_fallen]

Aria sat beside Lucien and did his best to keep his head up, to look like he had every right to be there. He wasn't used to being in pack meetings like this but Lucien had assured him that as the alpha's mate he had almost as much of a place there as anyone else.

Half of their savings had gone on acquiring weapons, and after a nerve-racking exchange at 3am in a car park on the edge of the city they had returned home with a couple of hand guns and plenty of ammo. Aria had spent the morning practising his aim and found, to his surprise, that he wasn't a bad shot.

Aria took a breath and piped up, "I don't think hoping that they're not still around is good enough, we have to be sure we're safe before we let our guard down. If they are watching us then the recovery mission will draw them out, there's no need to send anyone as bait. We just need to make sure that we're prepared, and maybe only send half the pack in case there's trouble and the other half need to intervene."

[luciendasky]

Lucien looked down at Aria by his side, surprised to hear his voice weighing in on this debate. Of course, Aria was important in this discussion, both as a pack member and the only other witness, apart from Fox, who was hiding in another room well away from all these wolves suddenly in his den, that had seen the inside of the underground bunker. He truly hadn't expected Aria to be vocal though. Lucien found he actually had to suppress an inappropriate smile from the pride he felt and the satisfaction of having his mate raising his voice to support his view

[not_a_cub]

Eli might not be vocal about it, but it was clear that he was not as proud of Aria's imput as Lucien was. Lucien, who of course would weight on the opinion of whoever was grabbing him by his dick. Eli could barely suppress a growl.

"So, you'd rather put six of us at risk instead of just the one in the open?" A few wolves supported his view, the argument against those supporting the alpha's plan becoming a heated one.

"How's risking half of the pack the best defence? I say we should stay close. If they attack, we can judge the situation. We have no idea of what kind of weapons they have or their number, Lucien. We don't know if leaving the books and bodies out in the open is a trap."

[so_far_fallen]

"Then let me go alone," Aria offered. "Some of you can wait at the top of the hill with the cow truck, I'll load it up and if there's any trouble collecting I can claim ignorance and say I wanted to empty the place out to sell the things on eBay or something. Then if there's any real danger you can come and get me."

He knew that Lucien wouldn't like that plan at all but he would have to admit that it made sense to send a human, there'd be less danger than sending a wolf.

[luciendasky]

Lucien had been ready to argue that if it was a trap than they'd already missed their chance to spring it when he and Aria had walked to the very back room and effectively cut themselves off like foxes during a hunt. But then Aria had spoke up...

For what felt like a long moment, all Lucien could do was blink at Aria. Aria, so smart and good and willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the pack. Wolf or not, no one could argue that he didn't belong as his mate. It was a good plan.

"I'm not letting you risk yourself like that."

[not_a_cub]

"I think he has a point. And that's very brave." He nods at Aria, truly meaning his respect. Of all of the creatures in the room, Aria was the most gentle one. Even Fox probably knew how to properly defend himself with teeth and claws if needed.

"Besides, out of everyone here you're the only one who cannot have cubs." It's an awful jab, but that is something all of the pack is sure considering at the moment. Despite of his duty making the pack grow, Lucien cannot live up to that obligation. "Aria or you are the best choices and you ahve too many duties, Luc."

[so_far_fallen]

"I already said I'd do it," Aria snapped, not appreciating that comment at all. Since Sybil had become pregnant he and Luc had felt the strain of the knowledge that they could never have cubs of their own, it was a particularly touchy subject for Aria and he reacted with anger that would probably surprise even Lucien. "I don't think it's necessary to remind me that I'm not of any value because I can't pop out a baby like a pez dispenser."

[luciendasky]

Lucien's eyebrows rose. There was nothing he could do to hide that. Temper was not something that Lucien ever connected with Aria, but then he himself was mild and reasonable, except when he wasn't

[not_a_cub]

Eli is very aware of what a low blow he has delivered, but he knew that he was not the only one to share that idea. He knew he was being practical, that he was protecting his pack, his own.

Nothing could prepare him for the shock of having Aria raise his voice instead of his brother. Why couldn't he stop thinking of it, even as now Lucien babbled, a cold as ice glare aimed at him? No, he could not be ashamed. He was being practical, like a good Beta should when giving advice.

"We'll have his back," Eli agreed. For a moment, he considered adding 'like we'll have the back of all of our own', but would Aria or Lucien think he was pushing it? Trying to save face? Eli added nothing.

He simply shrug out of his coat instead. ready to shift forms if Lucien asked him to.

[so_far_fallen]

Aria remained unapologetic for his heated remark and was relieved to feel Lucien's squeeze of support. He hadn't overstepped, which he was glad of. It had been a difficult two years trying to settle into the hierarchy and he'd negotiated it by mostly keeping his head down and not stepping on anyone's toes, but now he and Lucien were about to start making things official he was determined to find his place whether the rest of the pack liked it or not.

Aria nodded. "I'll do it. And I trust in the protection of the pack."

[luciendasky]

"Okay."

It was already tearing him apart with worry. If anything happened to Aria it would all be his fault for not stopping it at this point. But he couldn't have favourites, nor could he forbid Aria from doing something. It was Aria's choice, his own free will.

"I think we should go just before dawn. If there is anyone around that's when they're most likely to be resting."

[not_a_cub]

Eli simply nodded, allowing others to make their questions. He folded his arms, glancing away.

Sue was staring at him, scowling lightly in disapproval. All he could do was shrug, play dumb. The reunion was ending, it seemed, other members of the pack were already daring to stand, go get something to drink. The Alpha had already given directions.

Eli approached his brother then. "Shouldn't we part ways until then? If they're spying on us they'll notice that it's not a common thing for us to get together on a night that's not a full moon one."

[so_far_fallen]

Aria went to the kitchen to make a pot of tea and whip up something in bulk that he could feed everyone at short notice. Half a dozen pizzas and a big pan of macaroni cheese would probably do the trick.

"Help yourselves to the TV, you know where the bathroom is, make yourselves at home," he said to nobody in particular. He'd rather keep busy playing the host than have any time to actually worry about being centre of a potentially dangerous mission in a handful of hours.

[luciendasky]

"If anyone is spying on us, watching everyone leave at the same time will definitely make it look like we had some big, special meeting." Although Eli did have a point, but it was too late to consider that now.

Various pack members were milling around, trying to make themselves comfortable, offering help in the kitchen. It occurred to Lucien that it might be worth getting a couple to help round up the animals and give them their last feeds before bed. If Aria didn't feel too weird about that.

"Okay, everyone!" He raised his voice one last time. "Anyone that wants to stay is welcome. We'll get some dinner going and have a good meal. If anyone wants to go and get some rest, go home and do so. We'll meet back here at 3am."

He slipped into the kitchen and put his hands on Aria's shoulders as he heated up the oven. "And you get some sleep after we've eaten, okay? I'll get Eli and some of the others to help put the animals to bed."

[not_a_cub]

"Not all at once!" Eli pointed out, growing frustrated as he watched his brother walk away on him once more to give the last pointers the pack needed to know.

After considering things for a moment, he pulled his mobile out to text her. Choosing to stay at the cottage was not a last minute decision, but rather a thought he'd been toying with ever since Lucien called him over, telling him about the bunker, those books and the corpses.

He couldn't go back home, back to Sybil. Neither could he let her stay at home by herself, not when they did not know how much these hunters knew about them.

Everything's ok here, sweetheart. I'll call you in the mornin, try and get sum sleep. love you. xx