Kale's POV-

The week passed quickly. Only the high-ranking wolves knew what the plan was so far. We had decided to keep the plans away from most everyone else. We had made that decision so no words would get back to the traitor. Though, most of us already had an inkling of exactly who that traitor was...

That was the reason why I was keeping my distance from the shady girl. I didn't want to get pulled back into her enchantments. I didn't want to let down my guard with her again. I couldn't let Lucy down again. I didn't want to hurt Luce. Never again.

It was the night before we were to be leaving for the battle. I had been getting really crappy sleep the whole week. Between my own nightmares and the bleed through of Lucy's distress through our mate-bond, I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was sleep.

When I heard my door creak open soundly, I stayed still. I pretended to be asleep to see if whoever it was would try something stupid. It was when her scent hit my nose that I sat up quickly and, in an instant, I had her pinned to the wall by her throat.

I growled loudly, not remembering that others were on my floor too. It didn't matter at that moment. At that point, I was so angry with the girl. What was she planning on doing? Killing me?

When I looked at her attire, I realized that killing me was not what was on her mind. She was going to try to seduce me once again. As if the last time wasn't enough! I wouldn't make that mistake again!

I tried to calm down. I tried to be rational. However, my body and my wolf were not cooperating. My hand tightened on her throat, hindering her breathing completely. I wanted to kill her. Honestly, fuck it... What's the worst that could happen, right?

"Kale, my love, while you are in proper protocol and justification to kill the girl if you wanted... maybe you should rethink it? Maybe we should prove her a liar first..." I heard Lucy's voice say and her scent surrounded me completely overpowering Raven's scent effectively.

I huffed. I didn't want to let her go. Everything would be much easier without the girl.

"Kale..." Lucy practically whispered and nuzzled her face into my neck.

That effectively made me drop the other girl to embrace Lucy with care.

Raven slid down the wall while coughing and sputtering dramatically trying to regain her breath.

I narrowed my eyes at the girl. "Now you see... this is who I love. The girl that came in here and saved your sorry ass even though she can't stand you. Her," I spewed hatefully.

I was so sick of the girl that was hindering mine and Lucy's already complicated relationship.

She just stared at me looking like she was going to cry. I felt nothing as tears formed in her eyes.

"That was a dirty move the last time you tried it too. Now you're going to try it in my own private bedroom in my own bed... That was an idiotic move. You're lucky that Luce came in when she did... otherwise, you'd be dead."

"I-I'm sorry," she said harshly. "I just... I wanted you to know how I felt before you went away for the battle."

"What, horny?" Lucy asked incredulously.

She bared her teeth at Lucy looking like she was going to attack her. I growled at the girl and pulled Lucy behind me in one fluid motion.

"I personally think that you're just trying to get on my good side because you're going to try to pull something. The plan certainly backfired. Raven, if you are going to be stupid and try something against me, Luce, or especially my pack then I hope you know that I will kill you. So very, very slowly and painfully."

She gasped in horror. "I would never even dream of doing something against you or you pack, Kale!"

I rolled my eyes. I was quickly beginning to see through her mask. Lucy was right about her. The more I removed myself from her and my lust for her began dissipating, the shadier she began to seem.

"You better not. Now get the fuck out and don't you dare come back," I ordered

She cowered away and ran out with her tail between her legs.

"Are you okay?" Lucy asked me as I began to shake in anger.

I didn't say a single word. I just simply wrapped my arm backwards around Lucy and pulled her flush with me. I just wanted her comfort and warmth around me. She quickly wrapped her arms around me as well and let me stand there with her for a long moment.

Soon enough, I quit shaking, and my anger was in the back of my mind.

"I'm quite proud of you, Kale."

"You shouldn't be. I shouldn't even be tempted by the stupid she-wolf," I grounded out bitterly as I shut the door to my room.

The room was engulfed in darkness due to the lack of light from the hallway. I guided Lucy over to my bed and sat her down gently. It was just too bad that I couldn't see her beautiful face. I quickly turned a lamp on, to remedy that, illuminating her beauty instantly. I smiled lovingly at the girl.

She looked at me for a long moment, not saying a word. She simply just studied me.

"Kale..." She said in exasperation. "Are you okay? You look like hell."

I sighed as I sat down. Of course, she'd be worried about me... Even though I didn't deserve it. "You are the only thing that seems to help."

"Help?"

"I've been having nightmares too. Not as bad as yours, even just the bleed through from yours are heart wrenching... but still."

"Nightmares?" She gasped and grabbed my hand. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really... But I will tell you that they're mostly about the battle and losing everyone like last time."

"Ah, that is a natural Alpha instinct to be nervous and worried over," she said with a nod. "Your pack is strong, my beautiful Alpha. I don't know how... but we'll be fine. Something grand is waiting for us in that land. I can feel it..."

I kissed her forehead as she gazed at me. "Stay here tonight, please?"

She looked skeptical at best.

"Just for tonight. We both need some sleep for tomorrow, and when I slept in your room, we both got that. I'll even take the floor if that will make you comfortable. We both need sleep," I pleaded.

"You may sleep on the bed with me, so long as you promise me that sleep will come easier for you," she replied softly.

Her answer actually surprised me because I had thought that surely, she'd deny me, especially after everything that had happened with Raven. "Everything comes easier for me with you," I told her honestly.

As soon as her head touched the pillow, she was out cold. I wrapped my arms around her smaller frame and kissed her forehead gently. "You are my Luna, Luce. We'll prove it eventually."

----

The next morning, I woke with my arms still around her while cradling her gently. I had such a wonderful sleep with her in my arms. No interruptions at all.

I stayed still and just watched her breathe in her sleep. She was magnificent, and I still couldn't believe that she could be my mate. I think that was part of the reason why I had been so reluctant to accept her. How could someone so pure and perfectly imperfect be mine? And maybe that was why I kept monumentally screwing it up with her too. She felt too good and too pure to be made for me.

"I could get used to this," I whispered with a smile when she woke up and turned over to bury her face in my shirtless chest.

She squeaked and moved back as if she'd been burned.

I laughed at her cuteness and shook my head. "Good morning, sunshine."

"Good morning," she spoke with a smile and kissed my cheek.

I could see the reluctance in her to leave, but we both knew that we needed to get down to breakfast. Then we had to finish the preparations for the battle. We had a lot to do which sucked because I really could have just basked in us being alone together all day long. But alas, that couldn't happen.

"I'll see you downstairs," she said with a nod and exited the room.

I was happy with her, so happy.

I got ready and made my way to the dining room. It was still quite early, but I felt so much more refreshed than I had in days. However, as soon as I entered the dining room, the air had changed into a somber mood. Everyone knew that we were leaving later that day to go into battle. We were all nervous about it. That was how it always was the day of the battle, no one liked to think about if none of us returned. It was heart wrenching to think about.

I got a plate for myself, and Lucy then sat it down at the Luna spot. It was her spot, not Raven's. Only hers. Lucy got there, and her eyes lit up as soon as I ushered her over and sat her down in the Luna's spot with the plate of food before her.

"You're very sweet, thank you."

"Anything for you, Luce," I said as I pushed her chair in for her and watched her eat a few bites before I sat down myself.

"Good morning, Lucy... everyone," Wes said nicely as he sat down next to Trevor.

I had to smile at how much he cared for Lucy. It really was a Luna type of love that he had for her. I was glad that he felt that way towards her because she deserved to be loved like that.

"Good morning, Wes!" She said with a large grin and bowed her head to him as she usually did.

"Ah, no Raven today? Pity," he commented sarcastically.

Lucy couldn't help the giggle that escaped her mouth. "Wesley, be nice!" She chastised as if she was his mom, but it lost its effect when she laughed again.

"As soon as she starts being nice to you, my dear," he clarified.

I should have been angry or jealous or something over their relationship... But honestly, it was very endearing. I was glad that someone held her in the place where she belonged, even when I seriously had been lacking. Wes treated her like a Luna, like we all should have.

"Wes, we'd like you to join us in my office after breakfast... We have some things to discuss with certain people," I said then changed the subject quickly.

Wes looked at us skeptically but nodded anyways. He agreed hesitantly. I didn't blame him, being asked into the Alpha's office was equivalent to going to the principal's office. It wasn't for a bad thing though. It was time to debrief people for what they were going to be doing during the battle. We had to start implementing our plans.

Soon enough, we all headed up to my office. We had all the warriors that we were leaving behind in the room around the table with the door closed and locked. We couldn't let this get out to too many people because it couldn't get back out to the rat.

"We have gathered you all here today because we need you to stay behind," I spoke quickly.

I knew that some people wanted to argue, but they wouldn't go against me.

"We have been setting up certain procedures all week long. We have been testing y'all on them for the whole week as well..." I paused and let everyone register my words. "Y'all were all the ones that have been chosen because you were the most successful with the tests. We need you to stay behind to defend the pack from any attack that may occur while we are gone."

"An attack? You think there might be an attack, and you are still going to go to battle?" One of the female warriors asked.

"Yes, it is the only way for now," I answered.

I specified some of the women that I wanted active during the couple days that we'd be away. "We need you to make your presence known around the compound while we are gone. The rest of you, however, we need you to stay hidden in the third pack house. You will pretend to leave with us and then go take shelter within the packhouse quietly."

Everyone looked at me in confusion.

"There is some sort of traitor in our pack... We want the traitor to underestimate when orchestrating the attack against us."

Everyone understood the plan.

"Nat and the guardians," I spoke directly to them as I pulled out the blueprints of the house that Lucy and I had been diligently going over. I pointed to the library's back corner. "Behind two small bookcases back here, there are two steel doors that lead to the tunnels... As soon as intruders arrive get all women, children, and people who cannot fight, into the tunnels. Nat, you are the highest-ranking woman in Cory's pack... you are in charge down there. Get everyone to safety, and then one of the guardians needs to seal the entrances back up then conceal them. Nat, it will be your job to keep everyone calm and collected."

She nodded in confirmation that she understood her role.

"Cory will be staying behind as the Alpha in charge. All my pack members should already know to listen to him. He and his pack are our allies," I reiterated.

Cory stood and nodded at everyone.

"Wes will be second in charge," I finally spoke after Cory was acknowledged.

His eyes widened along with everyone else's. "What?"

"You also will be in charge of finding the traitor, Wes. Although, it shouldn't be too hard. We suspect as soon as the attack is implemented, she'll show her true loyalties." Wes' eyes widened even more as everyone gasped. "I want the traitor to be kept alive for questioning, but if they get too wily and dangerous. Kill it."

"Any other questions may be directed to Alpha Cory..." I said cordially. "Breathe no words of this to anyone... the traitor could catch wind of it." Everyone bowed respectfully to me. "We will be leaving soon."

----

It was completely pitch black when we made it to the other pack's land. The moon was high in the sky as we continued further into the land. It was not long before we met up with the snarling wolves from the pack whose lands we had infiltrated.

It was time...

I slowly slid Lucy off my back, and she was already half shifted. She pulled the daggers out that she had been training with ever since the day at The Smith pack. She was ready.

Everyone was ready.

We were all ready.

I growled loudly when the Alpha of the other back howled. And just like that... it began.