Chapter 66


    My head started spinning on an axis.


    We were in no position to wage war and everyone was well aware of that. Jaxon was weak and


    exhausted, he had just deployed half of our soldiers towards the vige and there was no way to


    call them back. I couldn’t help but think that was what Noxian wanted. He probably attacked the


    vige as a distraction to make sure that we were at our weakest because as stupid as he was, he


    had to know that he couldn’t win against a lycan pack at full strength. Right now, it is still highly


    improbable that he wins but he has to have some sort of assurance.


    “What game is he ying at?” I asked and all eyes turned to me. “Doesn’t anyone think it is


    remotely suspicious that he decided to attack today of all days?”


    “We already deduced that he had someone on the inside,” Aiden was the one who responded to


    me. “He must have known that we sent guards to the vige. He thinks he stands a chance.”


    “That’s not it, Noxian is stupid but not that stupid,” they still looked confused so I sighed and sat up


    straighter. “He wouldn’t attack unless he was one hundred percent sure that he would win. This


    pack is more than twice the size of his in poption and manpower. Even if half our guards are not


    here, we still outnumber him. There must be something else that we are missing because this is


    looking suspiciously like a trap.”


    The room went silent and I could tell they were debating my words. They knew I was right but I


    wasn’t sure being right was enough to change anything right now. Noxian was already at the


    borders and if we didn’t prepare, he was going to spring an attack. I turned to Jaxon trying to see


    what he was thinking about but his eyes werepletely hazed out and he was lost in thought.


    “You might be right,” he began. “But we don’t have the time to think about that right now. Gather the


    women and the children, Freya, Aiden will tell you where to take them.”


    Even though I was against the idea, I resigned myself to it and got to my feet. Aiden led me closely


    with a hand on my shoulder. I was not prepared for themotion that met me outside the doors.


    Jaxon must have already mind linked his soldiers because they were running around trying to get


    themselves ready for the impending battle. Jared and Jael were the only two who weren’t running


    around and that was because they were following Aiden and I but I could tell that they were


    anxious.


    Aiden and I went to Kiara’s room first. She was sitting cross legged on the floor ying with dolls


    but the moment she saw us, she knew something was wrong because she put her dolls on the


    ground and stood to her feet. I changed her into a pair of morefortable clothes- sweats and a


    shirt. I wasn’t praying for anything bad but I needed to be prepared in case something bad


    happened and she needed to run.


    Aiden picked her up and she stayed silent as we rounded up the maids and the children. I didn’t


    know there were other children in the pce until I saw them. Aiden exined that the younger


    ones were the children of some of the maids and the guards while the older teenagers were


    probably maids or guards in training. Most of them looked terrified but I tried to put on a brave face


    for them.


    Aiden led us out through the back and towards the woods when he suddenly stopped. I turned to


    him in confusion and he ced Kiara on the ground.


    “I don’t know where the bunker is,” I was about to protest but he held up a hand to stop me. “Jaxon


    wanted it to be safe from everything- including the possibility that I am arrested and tortured. He will


    direct you from here. I hope I see you on the other side.”


    “Stay safe, Aiden, and keep him safe too.”


    Aiden turned on his heels and left. He didn’t look back once and it felt more like a goodbye than a


    see youter. I refused to think about it that way because I was officially the highest ranking person


    and everyone was looking to me for leadership andfort. I was determined not to fail them.


    As soon as Aiden disappeared from sight, I heard Jaxon’s voice in my head. “Hey baby.” I smiled


    softly at his voice. “I need you to go north into the woods. I’ll tell you when to stop walking.”


    I started walking and everyone followed behind me quietly. I could hear the murmurs but I couldn’t


    be bothered with them. The most important thing was getting them to safety and I knew that Jaxon


    was the only person who could do that for me. Kiara was walking next to me and holding my hand


    and Jared’s, she had reached out for him and he had happily obliged her. I could see the small


    smile on his face as he watched her.


    Jaxon led me into a clearing in the woods. I was confused and thought he had taken me to the


    wrong ce when he suddenly asked me to stop. He led me over to a rock and that was when I


    saw it- the entrance. It was covered by rocks and leaves so I cleared it and pulled it open. I heard


    gasps all around and I stepped aside for them to go in. I could see the hesitation in their gazes and


    on a normal day, I would have gone in first to prove it was safe but I needed to make sure everyone


    was safely in before I went in.


    A young teenage boy walked up. He gave me a small smile and descended into the opening first.


    We waited with baited breath until we heard him reach the bottom.


    “It’s kind of cool, down here,” he called out. “I call dibs on the couch.”


    A small shakyugh went through the clearing and everyone started to climb down. I waited until


    thest person went down and finally it was just Jared, Jael, Kiara and me. I knew it was now or


    never to make my n known so I turned to Jared.


    “Go in with Kiara,” I ordered and he hesitated for a second but did as I asked. I waited until he


    landed at the bottom before I spoke again. “If I’m not back in thirty minutes, seal the entrance.”


    “Freya, what are you doing?” Jael asked but I ignored him,.


    I shut the door to the bunker and ran. I knew Jael was following me as we made our way back to


    the pce. The pce was a chaotic mess and people were shocked to see me but I ignored them


    and rushed over to the room I knew I would find Jaxon. I got to the council room and pushed the


    door open. Jaxon was there with Aiden and some other guards. When they saw me, their eyes


    widened and Jaxon muttered a curse under his breath.


    “Leave us,” he ordered and immediately the room cleared out.


    I shut the door behind me once we were alone and I threw myself into his arms. The tension in his


    shoulders bled out as he inhaled my scent but there was still a tightness to his movements. One


    arm wrapped around my waist while the other wound itself into my hair and he held me close to his


    body.


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    “You shouldn’t be here,” he murmured into my hair. “But fuck, I don’t want you to leave. How did you


    manage to get away from your guards?”


    “I got away from Jared. Jael is waiting outside for me.”


    Jaxon sighed and pulled away from me albeit reluctantly. He looked worse than he did when I left.


    To the outsider, it may not have been obvious but I knew him better than I knew myself. I knew


    when he was at his worst and this was it. If I had my way then he would be locked up with me and


    the other innocents but even if I had the power, Jaxon would have never agreed to it.


    “Be careful,” I whispered and the corner of his lips quirked up. “I’m serious, the others may not know


    how sick you are but I do. You shouldn’t be fighting this war. None of you should but you are


    because of me and-”


    He cut me off with a dizzying kiss. I felt like I was floating in the air and for a second, there was


    nothing. There were no threats of war or pack troubles, it was just us together. I relished that


    moment for as long as I could because I knew within a few moments, it would be broken. Jaxon


    pulled me close as he kissed me and he didn’t release me until we both had toe up for air.


    “I will fight a million wars for you, baby,” he spoke with such conviction that I knew I could believe


    him. “Even at my weakest, I can defeat Noxian easily but I need you to be safe. I need you to go


    back to the bunker with Jael and stay safe. You might be able to hear what is going on above but


    under no circumstances are you toe out. Is that clear?”


    “Jaxon, what if-”


    “No,” he cut me off. “Listen, I cannot fight at my full capacity if I am worried about you or Kiara. I


    need you to promise me that you will stay down there. It is safe and I will try to keep the battle away


    from the bunker. Just promise me that you’ll stay.”


    I sighed in resignation. “I promise.”


    “Good.”


    He took a step back and before I could blink, he kissed me once more. It was more dizzying than


    the first. He pulled back when someone knocked on the door. I knew it was Jael before I even saw


    him.


    “What about the civilians?” I asked Jaxon. “Are they going to be safe as well?”


    “There are bunkers all around the pce. There is a leader in each district to take the innocents to


    the bunkers. Everyone will be safe and you need to be as well.”


    I knew if I hesitated then I would not be able to leave so I forced myself to turn away from him. I


    hoped and prayed that he would call me back or tell me to stop but he didn’t. I knew it was hard for


    him as well but it was a matter of safety and Jaxon would never do anything to jeopardize that.


    The walk back to the bunker felt longer than before. I checked the time on my phone and realized


    only twenty five minutes had passed. Jael pulled the hatch open and gestured for me to go in first.


    “Do you wish you were fighting?” I asked him and he looked taken aback by my response.


    “I’m doing a job of great honor- protecting you.”


    I appreciated his answer so I began my descent.