"Every battle is won before it is fought."
~Sun Tzu

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Hunter

I waited for the inevitable dart to the chest with closed eyes and stepped in front of Josie to stop it from reaching her, but nothing ever came, not even after five agonizing seconds. Hesitantly, I opened my eyes and scanned the scene before me. Except for the Morningstar pack, myself, Josie, and Lily, everyone else lay unconscious in the snow. Shapes emerged from the top of the cliff, from the trees, and from the side of the cliff itself. I stared in shock as those 'shapes' turned out to be perfectly disguised people, kids, to be exact.

"-get their hair and put it in the marked bags," one of the twins instructed. I couldn't figure out which one it was in the confusion of what had just happened. "Then get them loaded onto the helicopters and take either Dom or Spencer with you to the Stark compound and either myself or Anna to the Laroche compound to instruct which house each person goes in. We don't want them catching frostbite, nor do we want them waking up on us, so time is of the essence."

The kids scattered, each taking a Laroche or Stark, snipping a piece of hair, and placing it in a bag with their name marked on it. Hardly thirty seconds later, two large military helicopters touched down, and the kids began carefully loading the unconscious people into them. I was so morbidly fascinated by what was happening around me that I failed to notice the twins and Stark brothers approaching.

"You four okay?" Anna asked, stopping in front of us.

"Wh-what is all this?" Josie stammered, stepping out from behind me.

"The only way we could feasibly get the hair from everyone if they didn't give it up willingly," Spencer explained, grimacing. "We explored every avenue, even breaking into the houses, but that didn't guarantee the hair we got wasn't mixed in with someone else's. This was our last resort. Everyone should be waking up in about half an hour, hence the need to get everyone back to the places ASAP. We have some Kids waiting for us at each compound to help us unload them, so we're not wasting time making multiple trips back and forth. We can get each pack on a helicopter each, including ourselves to direct where people need to go and then get the hell out of here."

"We're sorry we didn't tell you about the plan," Elsa said sincerely, albeit shyly. "We didn't want anyone to pick up on the fact that you were helping us if you reacted too calmly to having a laser pointed at you."

Caleb rubbed his chest ruefully. "It's okay. I only went into mild cardiac arrest."

Elsa winced sheepishly and apologetically. "Sorry..."

"Hunter, you good?" Anna asked, leaning into my line of view.

While I was still reeling from seeing my entire pack go down by tranquilizers, I couldn't help but put my focus on the twins. For three years, I'd believed them to be dead, and even seeing them over video call, I could barely bring myself to accept that they were truly alive. It'd seemed like a fever dream. Now, seeing them in front of me, breathing and talking, it finally hit home that I wasn't imagining things. They were alive and well, and before I could stop myself, I lurched forward, lifting the closest one I could reach into a hug, which turned out to be Anna.

"If you ever pretend to be dead again, I will kill you myself," I whispered, refusing to let her go until she promised me she wouldn't do so. Anna laughed through joyous tears and said the words I needed to hear. Setting her down, I turned to Elsa, who was disentangling herself from Josie. I stared at the sister I'd been at odds with the last time I'd seen her face-to-face in person, the night she ran away. She'd only forgiven Caleb after they'd talked, but I didn't want to do that in front of everyone. This needed to be a private conversation between the two of us.

As if sensing this, Josie said, "Starks, Anna, why don't I help you and your kids with loading everyone in the helicopters?"

Spencer locked eyes with Elsa, and a quiet understanding passed between them. Reluctantly, he left her alone with me, glancing over his shoulder every few feet to check on her.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Elsa beat me to the chase. Cowering ever so slightly, her eyes fearful and vulnerable, she said softly, "Saying 'sorry' will never suffice for what I put you through, both before and after my fake death, but I hope you know I am sorry, and that I never intentionally wanted to hurt you. You never deserved any of it. You wanted to help in the end, and I should've let you. The others wanted to get you, Caleb, Josie, and Lily more involved, but I'm the one that held them back, so if you're angry about it, I understand, but I just ask that you only be angry at me, not them."

"I'm not- Elsa, all I care about right now is that you're alive, and all I want to do is give you a hug. The only reason I've restrained myself is because I wasn't sure you'd want me to."

"I-I'd really like one." Without giving her a chance to recant her statement, I lunged forward and tugged her into a tight embrace. Elsa buried her face in my shoulder, her fingers curling into my shirt. "I'm sorry, Hunter. I'm so sorry for hurting you and for causing this war and for-"

"Shh, no more apologies. It's okay. Listen to me-" I told her firmly, pulling back just enough to look at her- "the only ones at fault for this is the Controllers. None of this would've happened if they hadn't pitted our families against each other. We're going to kill them, and when this war is done, you and Spencer will be welcome back by decree of me, Caleb, Josie, and Lily. No one else gets a choice in that."

Elsa sniffed, wiping away some tears. "Don't turn the pack against you for it. If it comes down to choosing between them and us, choose them. They hate me, Hunter. I'm a traitor and a murderer to them, and it'll take a miracle to change that."

"I refuse to accept that and-" an awful epiphany struck me- "wait, did you think Caleb and I hated you?"

"Up until a few weeks ago? Yeah..."

"I could never hate you, Elsa, and I am so sorry for making you think I did."

"No more apologies," she said, offering a small smile. "Are we okay?"

"Absolutely. What do you say we rejoin the group and help load the last few pack members into the helicopters?"

Elsa agreed, and the two of us walked shoulder to shoulder back to our families. Spencer approached us first, eyeing me warily when he saw his wife's bloodshot eyes. I stopped in front of him and said, "I know we've had our differences, but moving forward, I'd like you to know you have an ally in me. I also want to thank you for protecting my sisters when I couldn't."

I offered my hand, and he shook it. "You're welcome. Thanks for the help you've given us."

"It's what I should've done in the beginning. So what can I do right now?"

"We've got it mostly covered. We're about to take off to our respective compounds to help unload everyone."

"All right, then I have a couple of questions to ask. What did you need our hair for? What's the weapon you have?"

"We need your hair for the weapon. Essentially, it's a magical protection barrier. They can't punch a hand through your heart, and any magic they use against you is severely diminished, but it can still hurt you. It gives us a fighting chance, especially if we're fighting all together, but the chances of that are slim. Speaking of which-" Spencer pulled out a bag from his pocket with a pair of scissors. I noticed the bag had my name on it. Elsa took the scissors and stood on her tiptoes to reach my hair. She snipped a small lock off and placed it in the bag. Spencer sealed it and returned it to his pocket. "Thanks. Wanted to get that before I forgot."

"No problem. Listen, give me and Caleb some time to work on our pack. There are some that will fight with us when we join you."

"Again, don't risk your position in your pack for us," Elsa warned, "but we'll take any help you can get us. Despite what we said earlier, we're not letting any of you die on our watch if we can help it."

"Much appreciated," I said.

"We're ready!" A Kid hollered.

"That's our cue," Elsa remarked, glancing over her shoulder briefly. "We need to hurry before the tranquilizers wear off. Spencer, I'll see you back at the house?"

"Of course." He pecked her on the lips. "I'll see you soon."

Elsa smiled as he walked off, a soft, adoring gaze that I'd never seen her give anyone else. It shouldn't have taken me so long to realize what I did in that moment: Elsa and Spencer were wholeheartedly, unequivocally in love with each other, and something deep down told me that no matter what they went through, the only thing that could tear them apart would be death, and even then, it probably wouldn't be for long.

The whirring helicopter blades broke me out of my morbid thoughts. I followed Elsa to the craft and crawled in, buckling in and clinging for dear life to the seat when I saw a kid - no older than fifteen - flying the damn thing.

I kept my eyes closed most of the way until I felt the helicopter lowering itself, and I was relieved when we touched the ground. I hopped out before anyone else. A familiar face greeted us with a pack of kids behind him, but instead of saying 'hello' to me first, he lit up at the sight of the twins and exclaimed, "Elsa! Anna!"

"Viktor!" They replied equally as enthusiastically, hugging the boy. Elsa smiled broadly and added, "It's so good to see you in person! It's been too long."

"I know! What's it been? A year?"

"At least."

"How's Nicole and the team? How's the hotel treating you? Making good pay? Guests are being pleasant?"

"Yeah, yeah, everyone's good; your family's been super supportive of us and-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Caleb interrupted, shaking his head. "How the hell do you three know each other?"

Elsa slung an arm around Viktor's shoulders. "He saved my life, and I helped him run a coup to take down the Shadows with my pack."

"She did more than that. Obliterated half of them before her pack even entered the fray while injured from the torture."

"That's because of the Godforsaken patch Kline gave me. Still don't want to know what was in that thing." Elsa shuddered slightly. "Anywho, if you've wondered how we knew things ahead of time, it's because we've had eyes and ears on you and the Controllers since our 'deaths.' Same for the Starks."

"Some things slipped past us, like Caleb and Lily's secret relationship, but we could only keep track of so many things without getting caught. Hey, I'm going to help the Kids get a move on because I do not want to be here when your family wakes up, but after this is all said and done with, we need to catch up."

"Absolutely. We'll see you soon!" Viktor scampered off, barking orders at his comrades. I watched as two buff teens lifted Dad gingerly out of the helicopter and toward our house, which had been left unlocked when we raced after the Morningstar pack. The twins started to help, but Caleb called out, "Elsa, wait."

Our sister turned around. "Hmm?"

"It just dawned on me, but we never did thank you for saving Riley and Akira."

She shrugged. "Don't mention it."

"You got yourself tortured in place of them, and while we don't know what happened, we know it was bad and-"

"It's no big deal, seriously, but I'd really rather avoid talking about that time, okay?" Elsa shot us a small smile, then left to help the Kids. Anna lingered behind with us, staring after her sister worriedly.

"You're not going to tell us what happened to her, are you?" I said, the question coming out more as a statement.

Anna shook her head. "No. While I know what happened to her, I'm not going to subject you to the horror. Trust me, you're better off not knowing. If it weren't for the Kids, she wouldn't be here right now, and Elsa will never admit to this or agree to it, but if it weren't for her, the Kids wouldn't be here either. The Kids love all of us, but their loyalty started with her and will always be stronger to her."

My heart warmed at the idea. "I'm glad she has them in that way. I think she needs their support right now more than ever."

"You're not wrong. Again, she won't admit this, but it's difficult being back here for her. It's the home she always wanted to return to but believed she never would or could. After today, that's only been reconfirmed in her mind, regardless of what you two said. I had the pack's respect when I deserted; she didn't. Their feelings toward her are different than they are toward me, and Elsa knows that. She's going to be on the defensive with them, even if you two are around to support her, so just... don't take it personally if she gets snappy with you around them, okay?"

"We won't. Whatever you two need, we're here," Caleb promised. "Let's go help the others."

We trudged to our house and entered the eerily quiet building. Mom and Dad were placed gingerly on the couch while Ember lay on the loveseat. Elsa was covering them up with blankets. Standing up, she said, "The tranquilizers will be wearing off shortly, so we have to get out of here. Give us a call if you need anything. I recommend you two-" Elsa wagged her fingers at Caleb and me- "pretend you were drugged as well. Josie, with your heart condition, say you weren't tranquilized but blindfolded, so you don't know what we did. If the Controllers are tipped off, I don't want them knowing too much about what we did or who our allies are here."

"You can count on us," Josie declared, nodding. "When will we see you next?"

"Most likely the battlefield," Anna replied grimly, causing an unsettling silence to fall over us. The time was really right around the corner. I wasn't sure I was ready for it.

"We'll see you then," Caleb said, opening his arms. Without a word, we moved into a group hug, holding onto each other. Josie trembled in an attempt to keep her weeping at bay, but some tears escaped down her cheeks.

"If we don't go now, we'll never leave. You have to let us go," Elsa whispered, her voice hitching at the end. With a Herculean amount of effort, I did what she said, knowing she was right. Caleb and Josie backed up too. The three of us watched the twins walk out of the house, disappearing with the Kids on the helicopter and leaving me with a sinking feeling in my heart that it would be a long time before I could hug them again.