26 FEBRUARY, FRIDAY, WARLOCK TIME
The special team and Keanu met us the moment we had stepped out of the broken tower.
"It's snowing." I whispered, mostly to myself.
"I guess the Warlock's hold over this land is over." Ben concluded next to me.
No one else seemed to notice.
Bell for one was too busy bossing Ki around, "Have someone clear out the spiders. I dislike spiders."
"Yes, Luna." Ki's practiced smile never wavered. In fact, it looked a little frozen in place.
Did my poor beta ever wonder how long before he could be free of the hold this warlock Luna had over him?
Meanwhile, Keanu was really taking our reunion to the extreme, "Riiiiiveeer!!!!"
He grabbed River in a bear hug and shook him hard, "Don't you ever dare do something like that again! I thought you'd be dead this time for sure!"
"Yeah, little guy totally freaked out." Torque grinned.
Little guy? But Keanu was the same height as me! Then again, I supposed if you compared us to the Special Team, we would be on the XS side.
My wolves weren't much better than Keanu either. None of them could wait to tell us how they got out of the tower.
We didn't even have to instruct them to "report". It was told to us, every single one of their antics in colorful detail and embellished with EJ's sound effects in surround sound because he wouldn't stop bouncing around us.
While I quite enjoyed their story, Ben was less patient (or impressed), "Stop. So to cut the long story short, you guys climbed over the walls when the roof came off."
Which yes, was essentially it. But hearing how the roof of the forest tore off like a "can of sardines being opened" (my wolves being the sardines) and how they used the jungle vines to make a rope long enough to climb down from the top of the second floor, and how it snapped at the last minute was more interesting than Ben's one sentence summary.
"Luckily, Cobra broke our fall." Fluffy smiled.
"Shhhh...." Cobra sulked wordlessly.
"None of you are allowed to talk anymore." Ben decided.
My poor wolves looked crestfallen, but said nothing.
"I'm so glad you're alright!" River told Keanu.
"Ah yes, well, they took care of me, so...it wasn't unexpected that I survived all that." Keanu admitted before taking on a scolding tone, "But even so, how could you sneak off without me?"
"Ah, sorry!" River quicklu to apologize.
"You promised that if we managed to come to the Warlock Land, you wouldn't leave my side!" Keanu scolded.
"Sorry, sorry, Keanu." River apologized again.
"Geez, at least you had Wilhelm with you." Keanu allowed.
"Well, actually..." River started.
Luckily for River, we were interrupted by the arrival of Harvey with the Snow Moon wolves. They had stopped at the perimeter of the Warlock's lawn to survey the damages.
We walked over to meet them.
Harvey had his usual wry smile when he spoke, "Good afternoon, Alpha."
And then he commented at the sight of the broken tower, "Well, at least this solves the mystery of the falling roof."
The fire wolf, Wolfgang, was far less amused, "Prince River! This must be your doing! I'll have you know, you very nearly killed us!"
"Wha- what was my doing?" Poor River looked completely caught off guard at the sudden accusation.
Beta Glenn frowned at the space where the roof should have been on the broken tower. Only Adele smiled and then she shrugged, as if deciding to stay out of whatever would ensue.
"What happened, Harvey?" I asked. So Harvey reported.
Unlike us, Harvey and the Snow Moon Wolves did okay. They were lost, yes, but they had managed to keep their horses, bike, and supplies. They were also capable enough to fend off the large Gyaaras they met.
Not to be confused with the little baby ones that mobbed River in the caves. The ones Harvey and the Snow Wolves had to deal with were all at least the size of the Rat King that used to live in our dungeons.
"If not for your beta's level headed coolness and quick tactical planning, it would not have gone as easily for us." Beta Glenn informed me.
"I only had a bit of prior experience." Harvey answered modestly.
Things were going relatively well until they passed a pool of water and decided to rest. Suddenly, what appeared to be a large conical unidentifiable piece of building structure appeared from out of the blue, smashing over Harvey and the Snow Moon Wolves.
"If not for Beta Glenn's ice cage, we would be dead." Harvey returned praise to the Snow Moon Beta.
"Okay, okay, we get it." Ben grumbled, "You're both great admirers of each other."
Ki bonked Ben on the head, "Apologies, please continue."
So the warlock's roof that had been shot off in the middle of our fight had crash landed on Harvey and the snow wolves while they were resting. It destroyed Harvey's bike, and the horses fled.
At least the Snow Wolves hoped so since they saw no signs or remains of their horses when they eventually emerged from the rubble of ice and rafters.
They decided to take Harvey's suggestion to make their way towards the direction from which the projectile cone had come from.
"I felt quite sure that something of this magnitude could only be catalyzed by my Alpha." Harvey explained calmly.
Wait, as in me?
"It wasn't me!" I said quickly.
Wolfgang coughed in his hand, "Well, naturally not, princess. Although I wouldn't be surprised if this idiot prince here was the REASON WE NEARLY DIED!"
I quickly shook my head, "It really wasn't River's fault!"
But Wolfgang tutted, "No princess, you do not have to make any excuses for him. This prince of ours is notorious for destruction. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a roof came off because of him."
Which really made me wonder what River usually did at home.
"Well, it's true that neither our Alpha Princess nor your Prince River was the one at fault. It was the warlock who cast the roof off his own tower." Ki decided it would be best to to intervene. He produced a smile like a flower to the sun, "Both Prince River and our Alpha Princess are terrifying in their potential. It would not have been possible to have so successfully completed the mission otherwise."
"The mission you speak of?" Beta Glenn looked to River at once, "The stone..."
"It's here." River showed his wolves the bright blue stone, and then the smaller matching one, "I even have the control stone for it now."
"Then the warlock?" Beta Glenn asked. It was like he knew, but he couldn't believe it and just had to ask to be sure.
"He's dead." River shrugged his shoulders and looked regretful.
"Ah." But Beta Glenn looked truly relieved then, "Your Alpha Father may finally be at ease again."
I guess this arrangement did work out perfectly for River and his new kingdom. With the warlock out of the picture, and both stones in his hands, River would now have the power to rule his kingdom of humans and wolves until the time his Alpha son with Savy was old enough to solidify the throne among the wolves living there.
As weird as it was to think of Savy as the queen and mother of a future alpha, I was equally relieved that River would be unable to turn into a warlock and cut off their mating bond. Savy wasn't going to lose her soul mate!
This was too good to be true. Beta Glenn turned out to be the type who couldn't not look a gift horse in the mouth, "But... If you don't mind me asking, how did the warlock die?"
And of course Bell would not let this opportunity pass by without showing off, "I killed him."
Bell smiled, his otherworldly smile that he had just gained, "And I will kill anyone who threatens my princess in the same way."
To his credit, he didn't show off his cursed fumes or blue flame. But he did bombed an alpha dominance so dark and foreboding that even Beta Glenn took a step back.
Of all the wolves in the world, how was it that my soul mate had to be this one?
{Mine ~❤️ } Boo was most agreeable about it. I sighed.
I suppose if I had to end up with a mythical beast for a soul mate, a Tyger was still better than a merman.
"Don't mind him." I waved off the dominance effect and produced my usual wide smile, "He's just messing with you. River is as good as family to us, so you don't have to worry."
"Ah, yes!" River apparently felt he should also try to soothe things over, "Everything's fine here. We're all getting along well."
To which Bell smirked, "If you say so, brother."
Sometimes I feel that Bell was being difficult on purpose. Luckily, I had Ki around, "It's not convenient to talk here. Perhaps we should head back to Night Leaf. We can discuss everything in further details later. I've just received word that Alpha Gunter has returned. I'm sure he would like to be updated on the events that had transpired too."
Ki ended his suggestion with the most innocent of smiles, but the faces on our Snow Moon friends were... Priceless.
Beta Glenn cleared his throat, "Then we should return as you say."
He sounded as enthusiastic about it as a pup agreeing to go back to school after summer break.
River gulped visible, "S***. Dad's going to kill me."
No River. He's going to kill everyone else. Haven't you figured out by now that your Dad, the guy who transforms his entire pack to a kingdom for you to rule, the guy who wakes up early to cook picnic lunch boxes for you to eat at school with your friends, the guy who has cast aside his Great Teacher position in the Colored Mountains to be your dad here...
"You better take responsibility, River." I told him, "Whatever happened, it was your idea and your fault."
I nodded. The other wolves took pause.
"Eh? Seriously, Sam?" River complained, "You don't know my dad, Sam. He'll really kill me!"
"Better you than me." I shrugged. (Or anyone else here.)
And then I grinned, "Okay, how about we make a deal? If my dad asks, it's all my fault. If your dad asks, it's all your fault."
River considered this for a moment.
"That's fair!" Keanu jumped in on the offer, "Look, you're already in over your head with your future father in law. It would be better if you let Sam take the rap for it on her side."
River nodded, "Alright then. I'll be counting on you."
None of our other companions looked in anyway convinced that this was going to work out.
"What?" I turned to my unimpressed betas, "You don't think it'll work?"
"If pigs flew, Sam." Ben told me with a smirk.
"Then make the pig fly!" I decided. My betas are smart! They can do anything!
"Forget it Sam. Just wing it like you always do. We've got your back." Ben promised.
Wait, did that make me the pig?
"I would suggest the both of you use your ultimate weapon on your fathers." Keanu advised with a knowing smile, "Your charming cuteness!"
I face palmed, "For a moment there, I thought you actually had a plan."
River shook his head, "No way, Keanu... Well maybe it'll work for Sam... But I'm a guy!"
I flared, "Why would it work for me? Don't even joke about it! I'm the alpha! How would any of my wolves respect me if I went about acting cute?"
I made a fist to show my determination, "I'm not afraid of facing the consequences of my own actions!"
"Yeah!" River seemed to be somewhat encouraged by my speech. He made a fist too, "Whatever happens, I'm going to take it like a man!"
"Me too!" I wasn't going to lose to River.
"But Sam," River felt he had to point out, "You're not a man."
I took immediate offence to that, "Neither are you!"
"What?" River looked truly taken aback.
"Don't think just being male makes you a man!" I argued, "If it comes to fighting and making a mess, I won't ever lose to a man!"
"Hai hai, you're both very manly." Ki tried to soothe it over, but he was obviously lying. Grrr...
"Have you no shame, prince?" It was Wolfgang who stepped in seriously on this matter, "Why are you comparing your manliness with a delicate princess?".
"I suppose you're right..." River was extra meek when dealing with Wolfgang, "That is a little embarrassing."
"As our young prince, you should be more careful not to embarrass your wolves when you're outside." Wolfgang folded his arms and nodded at his own advice.
Hahaha. Wolfgang was a really interesting wolf.
"I'm not a delicate princess!" I informed the fire wolf. And then I had a brilliant idea! "Let's fight!"
I'd show him how delicate I was!
"Wha...what, but princess!" This seemed to go against every fibre of Wolfgang's being, "I am not such a brute to hit a young lady!"
"You won't accept my challenge?" I goaded.
"A...a challenge?" Wolfgang repeated, looking like I had just slapped him.
"She means a friendly spar, of course." Ki immediately step in to prevent any huge misunderstanding.
"Of course... a sparring match." Wolfgang sounded somewhat dazed. Why? Did he think all girls were quiet and submissive like Adele?
But I was grinning because the fire wolf had just agreed to fight me, "Okay! That's a promise, alright?"
{So fun!}
My good beta offered the Snow Moon wolves a wry smile, "Then I will arrange for a friendly competition between our packs when everything has settled. For now, might I suggest we make all reports clearly as to what had happened, but leave out any indicatives towards the onus of responsibility."
Sigh, it was back to work again for my betas.
Beta Glenn nodded, "Agreeing with Beta Harvey, it is not our place to assign judgement. We will report the mission as is."
"You betas don't have to be so considerate." Wolfgang shrugged it off, "It's definitely our Prince River's fault as usual."
"Ehhh? Me?" River protested, "Why is it always me?"
"I often wonder the same thing." Wolfgang said scathingly, "Why is it always you?"