"Their troops are about two hundred yards across, camped out in the woods," my Beta informs, drawing me away from the silence of my tent as I take in a deep breath. Looking over to Fiona, I try and think of the next steps. I've never given orders in a battle, I've never directed warriors on what to do, how to attack, formations to take, and everything which can make or break a battle. I've watched shows with battles, seeing how those put in charge lead their men, but even then, their tactics are not for us. Our cavalry is not built of horses with men atop, but of werewolves. We have no true archer unit, yet the witches can take on long distance. 

"You give the orders," Fiona comments, relaxing in her chair as I look to the banner of Crimson Lock hung from the side of the tent, the deep red flag hanging down as it comes to a point, the head of a wolf overlaying a circle made of thorns. Nixon knew how to lead his men, his father taught him battle tactics and his Gamma and Beta were there to provide support, not to try and direct the entire battle. 

Turning around, I look to the small map laid out across the table, Fiona placing down a block to resemble the opposing side. "Who fights against us?" I ask, needing to know what packs have joined together. 

"Alpha Penelope gathered men from four different packs for what we can see," my Gamma informs, "it seems that Nightfall Pack, Silverridge Pride, Bloodmoon Walkers, and the Crescent Moon Banes have joined her." 

Writing down the names of the packs, I look up to my Beta and Gamma as I hand them the note. "These will be the first packs to fall when we have taken the palace. Alpha Penelope will be the first one we go after." Turning to Fiona, I motion for her to follow me as we exit the tent and look out upon our camp of warriors, all awaiting the fight ahead as the sun has just started to rise. "How man battles have you fought in?" 

"Seven, this will be my eighth." I lead Fiona down a little way to the edge of the camp, looking out upon the field before us. The palace lays to the right and straight ahead is the camp of Alpha Penelope. "Most of my coven has fought the same amount. Others have been lucky to fight less." 

Rolling back my shoulders, I try and relax my tense muscles, trying to find a little bit of peace within myself before this battle. "My Beta and Gamma want to charge the enemy head on, for them to see us coming and be ready to shift into their wolves. My men cannot just sneak up on the other packs because a werewolf can sniff out another werewolf easily." 

"Let my coven send a few over, to sneak up and drive them out of their camp with some casualties." Looking to Fiona, I ask her to continue with what her coven would do. "We can set their camp on fire, startling them, scaring them, and trapping some warriors in the flames while those who get out soon enough will have no choice but to come out of the woods." I like her idea, it allows for the other side to be caught off guard and become flustered because of that. 

"When could you do this?" I ask, watching the sun rise over the treetops as the leaves are bright colors of gold and green in the sun. 

"Just give me the word." 

Nodding, I send Fiona off to collect a few of her coven to start the attack. As I am about to head back into the tent, I take a moment in the sunlight to enjoy the peace. My skin warms up as the sunlight shins onto me. I can still remember his eyes, deep and filled with passion. Nixon was always there for me, coming to my aid when I was attacked, enraged when he found me covered in my own blood after Zion had attacked. Nixon held me through the entire night, holding me close as he swore to me that Zion would pay. I never expected Nixon to go after Zion in the way he did, ending up killing Sybil who now lives again, but I think that deep down, I knew my husband was one of violence. 

I have never been blind to the fact that Nixon was violent, handling those who opposed him with the terror of finding him in their house one day to kill them. I know much of the violence he took out was too far, for he killed Gavin, but I learned to forgive him, and Nixon learned to change. 

But now I am following in Nixon's footsteps, going forward with violence as I cannot allow it to end any other way. Violence must be met with violence. Zion will get what he asked for, the crown will get what it asked for, and the kingdom will learn of how broken this kingdom has been for centuries. Things have to change and it has been to long. Zion's ancestors slaughtered thousands just to wear a crown, oppressing others for centuries as they kept rogues and smaller packs weak, giving them no true power both physically and legally. So many things that Nixon documented will come out when I have killed Laraxis, Zion, and watched this palace burn to the ground. 

Going back into the tent, I am met with my Gamma and Beta debating strategies. "Fiona has sent some of her coven to drive out their forces. We should be ready for an attack any second." 

"Our men are ready," my Gamma informs, heading out the tent to go and gather his men. "I need you to send out a third of our men to meet them head-on in wolf form. We will attack in two waves in wolf form, plus with the witches, we can have half of them working on the palace shield while the others attack from the distance." My Beta nods, as he takes in my instructions, tensions rising as we both know we may not see one another tomorrow. "Go get your men ready." 

I stand alone in the tent, taking in a deep breath as I look down to my ring finger, my wedding ring still sitting there. The diamond hasn't been polished since Nixon died, but I have not taken it off since he passed, unable to think I could find someone else and move on. This is a pitch black world, one of darkness where the world is cold. This world is unjust, death seeing no difference between the good and the bad in people, coffins built for every age and everyone. 

I throw the map off of the desk, the pieces upon the map falling to the floor as the map floats down. I move quick, wiping away a stray tear as I know I need to go out and join my men, to view the battle and give orders. 

Walking out, I look outside to see my warriors tearing down camp and pumping themselves up. Many of the older warriors in their thirties and forties are relaxed, composed, and ready for the attack, while the younger ones are tense and afraid. You can see the fear in their wide eyes, their pale skin, and how stiff they stand as they wait for the battle to begin. We all look ahead to the field, seeing a small rise of smoke from the forest across as I know Fiona's small group has done their task. 

We all watch as the small rise of smoke grows, flames consuming the trees as screams can be heard, the first few men running out of the treeline as I inform my men to stay put, to hold their ground as we wait for them. As a few more men are drawn out, I inform my men to take their positions, my warriors emerging from the forest as we stand in line, several rows thick as I know we will appear larger to Alpha Penelope's army than we actually are. 

Screams consume the air, screams of pain as more men come out of the forest, putting out the fire on their clothes as they stop in their tracks to see our army positioned ahead. Looking to the palace, I know that the guards who watch will not begin to attack until the witches begin to tear down the barrier. Laraxis thinks what I am doing here is taking out a few packs who have joined together to overthrow him. Elijah and I have taken him into the palm of our hand, allowing for this battle to happen right before the palace walls. But I know the palace should not be underestimated, for I know they have crossbows, trebuchet, and skilled fighters. 

I notice the forces ahead of us begin to take form into a line, ready for battle as the fire as driven them out of their camp and into the open, exposed as we can now begin the battle. Taking in a deep breath, I nod to my Beta, giving him the signal to attack as we see that the majority of their army is driven out of the forest. My first line of warriors begin their charge, shifting into their wolf forms as their howls of battle cry fill the air. Standing beside Fiona, I form fists with my hands as I watch the first wave attack, howls of pain filling the air as wolves attack one another, their powerful jaws ripping into each other's throats and torsos. "Begin taking down the barrier," I confirm, giving Fiona my support as she turns to her coven, instructing them as they begin their magic. 

A shimmering blue and purple shield can be seen around the palace, as if coming straight out of some fantasy novel, a perfect globe forming around the palace as I watch in awe as the witches target the globe. Fifteen witches stand in line as they put their arms straight out with their wrists connected, golden mist coming from their hands as I can see the golden mist turn dark green against the magical barrier of the palace. A set of witches have put up a shield of their own to cover the majority of our men who still remain here waiting to fight, shielding us and the witches who work to bring down the barrier from the attacks of the palace. We are fighting two sides here now. 

Royal guards begin to panic on the walls of the palace, shouts instructs as they begin to gather long-distance weapons to try and stop our attack. Looking back to the battlefield, I spot warriors tear at one another, some in human form as they use weapons like knifes to give themselves an advantage. My eyes scan across the warriors of Alpha Penelope and the joining packs, standing strong with our first wave. I watch one of my own warriors change in their black wolf, watching as he leaps over a limp body as he goes to attack a black-haired human. Just as my warrior is about to attack, the human turns around and throws a knife into the neck of my warrior. The warrior falls to the ground, his howl of pain drowned out by the others as the man drags the knife deeper into his flesh and then pulls it out. Looking closer to the man, I recognize the black-haired man, the actions he did still haunting me. 

"Zion is here," I inform my Beta, pointing to where he is on the field. "If you are able to attack him successfully, do not kill him."

"Alpha?" My Beta questions, turning to me as he seems puzzled. 

"I want to be the one to kill him. Let your men know and let them know if they are to beat him, to bring him back here to me alive." My Beta nods, shouting the orders to his men as I hold my chin high. "Send out the second wave of our men." 

Another set of wolves charge towards the battlefield, no longer protected from the barrier as I turn to look at the palace, seeing from afar the familiar face of the one who now wears the crown. Laraxis stares ahead at the battle unraveling before him, shouting orders to his guards as a smile creeps upon my face. I notice the tebuchet being loaded, Laraxis willing to attack someone he once thought highly of. Yet Elijah still remains in the palace, whispering lies to the King as we are to get our way. Elijah informed me he would be the one to open the gates for my men when we got the barrier down, that he would tell me where Laraxis has gone if he hadn't stopped him from running, and that we would end this together. 

The trebuchet is launched, a massive piece coming at our side as it is lit on fire. As some of my men become scared, worried that the shield the witches have put up around us will not hold, the mass is unable to break the barrier, falling to the field as we stay protected. It will not be soon until Laraxis gives the order to attack those fighting on the field, willing to kill both sides of this battle. I can spot a hole beginning to open in the barrier of the palace, the surrounding area no longer a shimmering color, but deep green as Fiona instructs some of her witches to begin firing into the hole. 

Zion still fights strong on the battlefield and I watch from a distance, looking how he stays in human form, taking down another warrior. Just as another one leaps at him, it falls limp beside him, a redhead standing beside him as he thanks her. He suddenly takes her hand, pulling her closer to the palace as the fight beside one another. Raising an eyebrow, I call Fiona over to my side. I watch as the redhead stands beside Zion, the two of them seeming to protect one another, giving no concern to the people around them as they seem to be only concerned with one another. "Look to the redhead beside Zion," I instruct Fiona as she stands beside me. "Does she look familiar to you?" 

Fiona looks ahead to Zion and the woman, watching close as I can feel anger rising in my chest. "I recognize her," Fiona confirms, looking back to me. "That's Sybil." 

"I want them both fucking dead."