Dec 1

When Jonas stopped howling back gradually the others faded out too. They could still hear Jules howl and slowly it faded away too.

Jonas links everyone, "we have won this battle, but this war has just begun. Many of these warriors died to support their pack even if they did not believe in the cause their alpha shared. Many of these warriors were rogues who died wanting a pack. Striker Pack stated they would give them and their families homes.

Warrior Quinton laughed in a murthy way, "even though I was not one of the warriors he would share his plans with. Those he trusted would talk and not pay attention to their surroundings. He had planned to kill the rogues and families. Many of the rogue families were escorted to Jeremy by Lily and Tanya's family once we departed on our way here."

Jonas replied, "those rogues still came here."

Quinton replied, "the idea of being back into a pack gave them some hope. Alpha Jon had planned to send the warriors he trusted back ahead of us. Those warriors were to kill the rogue warriors' families. This would have caused many of these warrior rogues to clasp from broken hearts and become easy targets for Alpha Jon to kill."

"How would you have stopped him from murdering them?"

"About five minutes before this battle Lily's family message to say all but three families left with him. Those three families were sent to Julieanna's parents in hope Luna Kaylee could keep them safe. When the warriors left I planned to lead them to where Justin was."

"You know where he is?"

"Of course I do. Justin and I have been best friends since we were pups. I helped lead him away from the pack when he was weak from his mate's betrayal. This is what best friends do."

He shook his head, "Alpha Jon felt I was not to be trusted because of this action, but I had seen him kill fated mates that were decided the other half was chosen."

Jonas growled, "if you knew of this and did not report it to council you can be found guilty of conspiring and knowingly supporting illegal activity."

"We did not commit any illegal actions. Alpha Jon showed paperwork that mating laws had changed when we questioned it. It was even signed by your cousin."

"I do not believe my cousin would ever sign anything like that."

Quinton pulled out his phone and accessed his email. "Here is the email and copy of the document that Alpha Jon sent." He showed it to Jonas.

"Can I forward this to myself and my cousin? I am 99% sure that is not his signature."

"Of course my king."

He forwards it to himself. He pulls out his phone and opens it. He then forwards it to his cousin. He calls his cousin. "Hey cousin."

"Peter, check your email and look at this letter I forwarded to you." He looked at Quinton,"come closer Quinton." He had Warrior Quinton and Guide Quinton move closer to him.

It was then Guide/Lycan Quinton looked at the Warrior. "You look a lot like your grandfather."

At the same time you hear Peter roar, "who in the hell forged my signature and used my seal on this? This letter was sent last summer when I was with you at the campsite. I need to get back and investigate this right away."

Jonas ordered, "No, you will stay here. We have a memorial to plan. I have to decide on my replacement as alpha, and we will then together take on the corruption in the council."

"How the hell did you just command me and make my wolf yield to you?"

Jonas replied, "when I was reading at the forgotten library one of the books commented that Royalty can command council members who support him."

"You are the king they have been chanting about here. "long live our King. They never said a name."

"Yes, I am."

"My king, I will start planning a memorial."

"Make sure you invite all Striker Pack. We will honor their warriors and their top three. Peter, I am still your cousin so I am still Jonas to you."

He paused and looked out over the battle ground. Lucan is commanding all wolves to bring the injured to the hospital. He notices Quinton talking to Quinton. "Peter, with me getting my Royalty power, go check on my mate. I will head there after I assist moving all the injured and dead wolves.

"Yes, my king," and he hangs up the phone."

Jonas picks up Alpha Jon and brings him to the crematorium. Jonas lay him on one of the tables.
He turn on the fire. He pick up anotebook and wrote down on page one- Striker Pack- Alpha Jon Eklem.

Others bring in bodies, "Do you know who you are carrying."

Some said, "yes."

He replied, "write down their pack and full name in the notebook. Then set their body on an empty table.

Some said, "no."

He pointed to a room to the left. "Set them in that room on the table. We will see if someone can identify them later."

Once the kiln was hot enough King Jonas went to the first table, "Moon Goddess please bless this person and give them peace in their journey to the afterlife." He picks up the body and throws him into fire.

Warrior Quinton walks up to the King, "I can relieve you King Jonas."

"You can ask each person who carries in a body if they know the person set the body on a table in this room. Then go write their pack and name in that notebook." He points to the room to the left. "If he or she does not know the warrior's then place in that room. We will try to identify them later."

He then returns to the known warriors and gives each a blessing. He throws them in the fire. Jonas blessed 134 wolves.

He walked outside. He sees every warrior standing outside with the various alphas. In a tired voice he says, "we have seventeen bodies who we have no name for. I would like to request that those who can to please go in and help identify the unknown. If you know them, move them to the side of the known warriors. Please add them to the notebook. I will bless them and add them to the fire."

One warrior ask, "King Jonas, what will happen if no one can identify them?"

"We will take photos of those wolves and hang them at the memorial. When the families, packs and councilmen come we will see if anyone can identify them. If they are, we will add their names to our list. If they are not identified we will say seventeen unknown wolves."

He looks at the wolf who asked the question, "each of them will still be blessed and placed in the fire."

It was about 3:00 in the morning when the last five wolves that no one could identify were blessed and placed in the fire. Jonas wearily looks out, "If anyone is still awake who has been in the safe room you can sleep there or head to your homes."

He looks at every warrior who is standing outside, "we have many cabins here, Each cabin we always keep blankets there. Those who fought with Striker packs have six youth cabins that have twelve bunks. Plus two rooms for counselors. Those can be the ranking top two. If anyone has a warrior mate the counselor's room is set up for couples. Each bunk can sleep a total of 26-28 wolves."

Vicky walked up to her mate. She gave him a hug and kiss. She then turned to the warriors, "I heard King Jonas tell you about the cabins. I called over to the Symposium Pack asking for volunteers. There were a few Symposium Omegas who came over and have been making food. If anyone wants to grab a meal before going to bed head to the lodge. All meals will be set up buffet style in the cafeteria there."

"Yes, Queen Vicky."

She looked stunned when all but four wolves knelt and pounded their chest. King Jonas looked at the four and growled, "why did you not show respect to your Queen?"

One stepped forward, "we had bowed to our last alpha and he allowed others to take our mates and kicked us from their pack. The four of us were part of the Golden Meadow Pack run by Alpha Keaton Depths. When Alpha Jon offered up a chance to join his pack we accepted. We have now learned from Warrior Quinton that Alpha Jon planned to betray and kill us. How do we know you're not a lying sneaky leader who will betray us?"

Jonas looked at them, "I can understand your reasons, and will let it slide. You will learn I am a man of my word. I am offering amnesty to that pack and to the rogues. I will protect you as your king. However, you ever show disrespect to my mate again it will not be the king going after you. It will be a mate who is protecting his mate you will have to worry about."

They nodded in understanding, and the one warrior replied, "your voice has a ring of truth, but I will still watch you with a leery intent." He looked at Vicky, "I am sorry for showing disrespect to you as the king's mate, but I still cannot show respect to you as a queen. I would be lying to myself."

Vicky replies, "I am sorry to hear about those unscrupulous alphas, and one day you will learn we do have honor and integrity. Now I would like to know your names."

I am former Beta Kurt Depths, yes, Keaton Depths was my older cousin and he took my mate as his own. These three were deltas who ran various stores in our pack: Todd Rider, Stanley Jones and Rich Henson."

Vicky looked at him, "betrayed by family seems tough. If you wish you can join our pack to keep a closer eye on us to evaluate if we are true or not."

Jonas adds, "we welcome you if you wish to stay at Symposium, Raging Vatic or any of the packs represented here today. The choice can your yours. It is almost 3:30am. It is time to head to get food, bath and bed." The groups split up going various ways. As they all started to depart, Guide Quinton and Lucan came up to him. They merge back together as one.

******************
Frank lifted and carried Jules back in his arms. Jules was staring off in a daze. She was still mournful and in shock after killing her mate.

Henry ran back to his shack and grabbed a travois and a sled with tarp. He brought it back and carefully laid Cassie on the traivois. Randolph looked at Henry, "is it ok I pull her back?"

"You are welcome to take care of her. When we pass the area you were cutting trees I will grab and bring your sleigh back."

Randolph looks at him, "but you do not like being with a bunch of wolves."

"I will just have to get use to it. I want to stay with Cassie and Jules until they are healed. "

Frank replied, "you are welcome to stay with us. You earned that right when you gave us support. Randolph and I are going to head back with Jules and Cassie. A couple of you have injuries and you are to come back with us too. The rest of you bring back the bodies on the sled and we will dispose of them."

They walk back and come across trackers. Frank asked, "why are you out here?"

"We had about a dozen rouges run away and are trying to sniff them out. King Jonas had requested we find them. They are to be given a choice of amnesty or to send them to Hidden Valley. The choice is theirs."

"Just let them go for now. Take us to where they set up the hospital. These five need medical attention."

"Yes Sir."

Thank you for reading ONE YEAR. Would love to hear your input. This chapter is 2058 words.