RETH

When Reth reached the storage tree they were using as a jail, he stormed past guards with barely a word, the guards that came with him stopping at the door when he cut them a glance as he slipped through the door.

The female was curled in the corner, her back to the wall. He'd ensured she wouldn't be dehydrated, but she was likely hungry by this time. Her eyes widened when she saw him and she scrambled to her feet as he crossed the floor between them.

He could smell the terror coating her and hated himself for it. But it was necessary.

She pressed herself back into the wall as he stormed up to her, stopping only just short so her panting breaths—sour and shallow—washed him. He wrinkled his nose, but let her think it was disgust for her that made him do so.

"You have benefited from the business of war because I haven't had time to deal with you. But the time has come. I have a final proposal for you. I will exchange the life of your unborn chick—and you with it—for a simple deception.

"

She turned her jaw slightly away from him, but her eyes didn't leave his.

Reth snorted the air from his nose.

"I have received information. I know how you work. I know what you did, how the wolves are travelling, and how they reached the Royal cave. It didn't come from you, but I will tell anyone who will listen that it did. So… you have the option to remain alive and aligned with us here, help us—and if you do, you will not be trusted, but you will be protected.

"

She blinked.

"Or?

"

"Or you can return to the encampment with the rumor on your heels that you spoke and betrayed them.

"

Her brows pinched.

"You would make me a traitor even though I am not!

"

"Yes.

"

"Then they would kill me!

"

He nodded.

"Likely with no regard for the life you carry. The wolves care only for wolves—have you figured that part out, yet?

"

"But you are just as bad!

"

"No. I am not. You have lived this long because of the life within you, and I offer you a means to remain alive and to care for your offspring. That is mercy. I will protect you from them. That is generosity. I suspect you would not find the same among the wolves.

"

Her lips twisted and she looked away from him, searching her mind. He knew he was right, but given that she had not submitted before now, it was likely she wouldn't admit it.

"I don't have time for this. What is your choice?

" he barked.

"There is no choice!

" she cried.

"I must stay. You have left me no choice at all!

"

"I have left you the only choice I can. And you have made it correctly. The day will come when you will thank me.

"

They stared at each other a moment, then Reth turned on his heel and stalked out. He left an order with the guards to feed her, and to give her a blanket, sleeping roll, and pillow. The guards blinked in surprise, but one of them trotted off to get the supplies before Reth had even left the clearing.

He felt… satisfied. He'd been terrified she wouldn't take his offer. Terrified that he'd have to sentence her to death. Because he knew, even if he'd let her go, return to the wolves, and they had killed her, he'd have done so knowingly. Her blood would have remained on his hands.

He had been a coward, offering her that instead of simply showing her mercy. But the line he had to walk was so fine… so easily broken…

He growled.

This entire situation made him sick. But he had to get back to the security council building now. It was nearly dawn. Behryn and Tobe would be there soon to discuss the movement and positioning of the scouts and trackers who would look for Lerrin and his assassins. They would make the final review of the ambush and preparations to keep the City safe from fire.

But soon… just hours from now… it would all begin. And once that boulder began rolling down the hill, nothing and no one would be able to stop it, Reth knew. Not even him.

His father had warned him of this during his training when he was young, and he'd always prayed he would never need to find the truth of it…

…they'd been training at the grounds with his father and his Captain, and several of the young apprentices. He and his father had been arguing the strategy of war the night before, and Reth wasn't backing down. He was full of his own growing power and strength. He couldn't see any reason not to simply wipe out an enemy when your strength was greater. While his father insisted diplomacy was the best approach to any conflict.

When the training was almost at and end, his father leaned into the ear of his Captain, and pointed towards the young males. His Captain eyed Reth, then nodded.

What ensued was, perhaps, the most chaotic hour of Reth's life.

Time and again the two older men split the trainees into groups and set them at each other in combat, each with a specific goal or target.

And every time, something went wrong, or something changed.

Reth beat his opponents more than once—even helped others with theirs twice. But more often the plans he'd made to engage or overwhelm the target he was given were forced to change by necessity when the enemy didn't do what they expected.

His father kept watching him, a grim smile on his face.

The lesson wasn't lost on him, but Reth was young and hungry. Reluctant to admit this exercise with only dozens of fighters, was an appropriate reflection of true war.

Then, on the last run, the Captain set the enemy to all target Reth on his side.

It took only seconds for his allies to shift their focuses from attacking the enemy, to protecting Reth. But that was a few seconds too many.

They had him on the ground and pinned, forcing him to submit, and laughing when he finally did.

Reth sprang up as soon as he was released and strode for his father.

"That would never happen in war! They would never disregard the threats of others—the numbers would be too high!

" He went on and on, yelling and gesturing. The other trainees watched with wide eyes as the King's son spoke to the King as a father, not as a ruler.

But the father was a ruler and he did not respond with any less authority.

"That is where you are wrong, son. And if you allow yourself to believe your enemy will not sustain harm in order to deliver a killing blow, you will lose.

"

Then he turned to all of them, chin down, shoulders back, the Alpha power emanating off of him like an invisible wave.

"All of you, learn this lesson and learn it well: War is evil. War is destruction. War is death. And many, many minds that accept that fact will turn that evil destruction into a tool. Never allow yourself to believe your enemy is not more ruthless, more deadly, harder hearted than you. Never let yourself believe he will not sheath the sword in his own flesh in order to then sheath it in your heart.

"War is ugly. It is not noble. It is not exciting. It is death, walking. It is and always should be your last resort to stifle conflict. But if you find yourself on the battlefield, remember: He will cut off his own arm to take your legs. Don't let him. Don't let him hurt himself to bleed you out. Because he will do it, and he will laugh. And you will call yourself a fool for believing his conscience as soft as your own.

"

Then he turned to Reth personally and spat through his teeth.

"When the day comes that I am forced to war, I will protect those I love—you—from that destruction. Because I do not underestimate my enemy. Do not waste my efforts by throwing yourself away on an arrogant conflict with no thought for anything except your own victory. Because you will not meet victory on that battlefield, Son. You will meet death.

"