THIS COULD MEAN WAR

21 FEBRUARY, SUNDAY, CONTINUED

But now that Ben mentioned it, I did realized my misquote might have carried quite a different meaning. Okay, fine. Lets consider my options:

OPTION A: SEND RIVER BACK HOME

I could send River back home, out of the Green Packlands. This way, Fount wouldn't be able to get him - of course I was assuming that Fount was too weak to travel out of the Green Packlands. Based on Alpha Gunter's story, he had traveled and had followed Amanda all the way to Snow Moon territory, which was not just far away, it was really remote. But the point was that, he hadn't traveled out of warlock territory for years, maybe he couldn't.

But if he could, who knew what he'd do?

OPTION B: FIGHT FOUNT TOGETHER.

We could wait for Fount to come and duke it out. We would have the homeground advantage without the traps and enchantments in the warlock forest. In fact, we could be the ones setting the trap. Of course our new Alpha House might explode like the last time when we tried to use it to trap the rogues.

But maybe if River stayed, we could defeat Fount with our combined power. Maybe Fount could be defeated by his own stone.

Only problem was that Fount was supposed to be old friends with Dad... I'm not sure Dad would take well to us killing the old warlock just because of a stone - which technically belonged to him in the first place since it was his life stone.

And there was also a time constraint to this plan. Fount had to get here and finish fighting us before our parents got home.

OPTION C: SACRIFICE SOMEONE

Even though Wilhelm had volunteered, I didn't quite want to take him up on that on that offer. But sending one person out would most likely prevent a full scale battle. Wilhelm though was just a human, which made sense for us wolves to sacrifice, but it's not likely he could survive facing Fount alone. Warlocks are terrifying to face off.

The one with the best chances to win the fight would be me. But I wouldn't be able to get past the enchantments in the warlock forest. And even if I did... I wasn't sure if my betas or anyone would do anything drastic, which would totally be the opposite effect of preventing a full scale battle.

Only white wolves like Ki could safely enter the warlock forest... or Mate. But Mate wasn't here right now, and Ki... If I suggested it, I knew he would go. That's why I must never say it.

"We could send Ki." Ben offered, "The dog can get past the enchantments, is diplomatic, and if all else fails, can heal himself and maybe even survive it."

I punched him, "Shut up, stupid!"

For a smart guy, Ben could be really dense.

"So goddess had thought so too?" Ki asked with the gentlest smile.

I wished Ki could be a little denser.

"No! You can't go. That's an order! Stay!" I seriously panicked.

There was a silence.

I opened my mouth to say, "I'll go." But I quickly shut my mouth again. If I said that, who knew what my betas would do?

"Well, that's true." Ben allowed, "Why should any of our wolves be sacrificed? It was the humans who insisted on coming here and bringing that stone with them."

River hung his head, "I'm... I'm sorry. If there was anyway I can make it up to you, I would."

"No, wait, it was you who came up with this idea, beta." Keanu pointed out, "You can't pin all the blame on us!"

"Guys, there's no point in pointing fingers."

We all turned to the speaker who just entered. Harvey!

"Harvey! Do you have any good ideas?" I asked.

Harvey smiled his usual wry smile, "Apologies, alpha, but no. This isn't a predicament I had ever considered."

Yeah, I guess it's not quite the standard perfect beta training scenario.

"Come sit." I invited, "I'm sure we can figure out something together."

Where was I? Oh right. OPTION D. What other options did I have?

Harvey sat down, and I noticed belatedly the crisp folder and pen he had on hand, I nodded towards it, "Did you need me for something?"

"Ah, yes Alpha. Your father is still at morning light and Alpha Gunter's special access permissions requires an Alpha's signature and seal." Harvey pushed the file towards me respectfully.

"That's it!" I suddenly figured out option D, "We can get our Dads to deal with Fount!"

"They'll kill us after that, you know." Ben reminded me.

"Yeah, but not literally. I mean, Fount might literally kill us." I argued.

"Or" Ben had a different idea, "You can ask your Luna. The guy has a whole army."

Eh? Bell? I shook my head. No, no, no, what kind of Alpha would I be if I had to run to my luna for every little thing?

"And then after that just flutter your lashes at him or something. I'm sure he'd forgive you." Ben nodded at his own plan, "It's the easiest way out."

"If Luna Bell and his army gets involved, it would definitely escalate to a full scale war." Ki informed us.

So much for the easiest way out.

"Point taken." Harvey nodded. His mouth was still pressed together so I knew his beta gears were turning in his head. Processing all the information, no doubt. He did enter late.

So OPTION D: GET HELP FROM SOMEONE

Like Dad. Dad had always been the first to run to my rescue whenever I got caught in a pinch. But Dad and Beta Lucas had just come out of a fight today. Beta Lucas was still recuperating.

And I'm not sure Alpha Gunter (aka River's parent) wouldn't end up making things worse.

Bell might be my best option. Ben was usually right about these things. Maybe we didn't even need his army. If Bell and Ki went together, they might be able to get to Fount themselves and settle it in Warlock lands (far away from the Night Leaf Town). But if I asked him for help, it would make me seem weak.

Oh, I wished my gift of insight wouldn't just point out the problem. A solution would be nice too!

"This is tricky." Harvey said at length.

"Is there no solution?" I asked.

"Well, it's not that there are no solutions." Harvey explained, "The question is, which solution would have the highest chances of effecting the outcome your desire, Alpha."

For some reason, I suddenly felt hopeful, "Like something that won't result in a full scale war?"

"That is not impossible." Harvey allowed.

"But it's damn limiting." Ben complained. I decided to ignore him.

"And maybe not get us in trouble with our parents?" Which was always high in my priorities.

"Sam, I wouldn't think would matter. Especially if we were dead." Ben the doomsayer said.

Oh right, "And in a way that nobody needs to die."

Ben opened his mouth, but I beat him to it, "Not even the humans."

Ben shut his mouth and glared at the humans, "It's not like they'd do the same for us, you know. Heck, they'd even sacrifice their own children for lesser things!"

Okay, yeah. I know humans had a bad rep over the course of history, but there had been heroes too. I forgot the names, but there were humans who had fought for what was right. There were even those who had taken our side against their fellow man - which was arguably another strike against them for disloyalty, but it's tough to be loyal to despotic leaders even for wolves.

It happens, even for wolves, losing a luna could do that to the best alpha wolves. At least that was how the stories usually went. I don't know... I guess my world had always been somewhat sheltered, and these stories felt quite far away. I guess I was lucky to have my Alpha Dad and Luna Mum. I was just really lucky all this while, especially for the everyday things that I never really noticed.

"So, our solution needs to not start a war, not get any of us killed, and keep us blameless in our parent's sight." Harvey summarize.

I nodded.

"And help me return the stone, please." River chipped in, "If you don't mind."

"You don't get a say, human." Ben growled.

I huffed impatiently. Ben's bad attitude... Sometimes it was funny. Sometimes it was cool. I've never minded it... even when it was troublesome. But I don't know why, it annoyed me right now, "Ben, that's not helping."

Ben shrugged, "No they're not."

I flared, "They're trying. Wilhelm even offered to go. They're just human okay? Give them a break."

"No, Sam." River stood up, "He's right. I've brought you nothing but trouble since we first met."

Eh? Well, that was kind of extreme.

I waved it off, "Don't worry about it. I get into trouble all the time."

"We should go." River decided.

"Yeah, run away." Ben said, "Leave us to deal with it."

"What's your problem, Ben?" I really got fed up now.

"No, it's nothing," Ben laughed bitterly, "other than the fact that it's happening all over again. Suddenly, another piece of the prophecy is going to be fulfilled in record time - the last piece too. And then you're going to die."

"I'm not going to die!" Could this guy stop cursing me like like that?

"What's this about a prophecy?" Keanu asked.

"None of your business, human!" Ben growled protectively.

Keanu looked to me. I shrugged. This was Bell's prophecy, and if I remembered right, had been kept a Lorent Secret. It wasn't in my place to say it to outsiders. That's right. These humans were my friends, but essentially, they were outsiders. I was the alpha. My first priority was to protect my pack, my wolves, my mate. I can't let my friendship with others interfere with that.

"You're right, River. Maybe it's best the three of you leave. I can't protect you more than this. Leave and don't ever return again." I couldn't look River in the eyes. Part of me felt like I've already failed.

Ben picked up the cuffs, "Let's go. Alpha Gunter is at the check point. The warriors will take you to him."

I turned away so I didn't have to watch my friends put back in chains and led out of the door.

I listened as the chains clinked and the humans shuffled out. It was the same sound as the rogues when Mate and his army was hunting them. But with all my heart, I hope that River and Keanu and Wilhelm would be safe and well.

Suddenly the chains stopped clinking, "Sam." It was River, "Before I go, I just want to say thanks, for being my friend. And I understand. I'll do better. I'll get stronger. One day, I'll be a friend who can truly be an ally to you and your pack. I promise."

I gritted my teeth and didn't reply.

"Let's go, guys. I'll see you off." Harvey prompted, and the humans started walking again. I listened as they walked out of the living room and down the hall towards the front door with my betas.

I didn't want it to be like this! Not like this! I was the alpha. I would protect everyone around me. Everyone! Didn't that include my human friends?

I raced to the door, "Wait! Stop!"

Ki had reached out for the knob, but he stopped his hand, "Is anything the matter, goddess?"

I blinked, only just realizing my eyes were wet. (But I wasn't crying - if it stayed in my eyes, it's not crying.)

"I... uh... I changed my mind." I admitted.

"Sam!" Ben groaned.

I hugged him. This was totally out of character for me in normal circumstances, but I realized that this was Ben. We grew up together. We ran and made mischief every summer. Even before he was tall enough, or fast enough to run next to me, he had always run behind me. He had to know that he was too important to me to ignore.

"Ben, I get it." I said as I released him, "You're my brother. But you're also my beta. And I need you to trust me."

"You're going to run off and try to fix this on your own again, aren't you?" Ben said with a bitter smile.

He really knew me well, but the me he had known had also grown up since.

I shook my head and gave him my widest smile, "Nope, I'm going to do this with everyone's help. Call an emergency meeting at the Packhouse conference room. Bring Alpha Gunter and these three. Also call my Mum and Dad and Mrs Beta and Laura. Gamma Harry, Jonah, Nix, and Lola too. Beta Lucas if he can get out of bed... everyone in my inner circle."

Not that I officially had an inner circle to call up yet.

"Understood, Alpha." Harvey bowed and immediately went on the mindlink.

"I wonder what my goddess is planning?" Ki murmured, his usual smile in place.

I returned his smile, "Don't worry, Ki. I'm going to get advice. With many cooks, the stew is made."

"Sam." Ben shook his head, but he was smiling properly now, "You mean, with many advisers a war is won."

And then Ben smirked, "Either that or too many cooks spoil the stew."

Grrrr... Ben was such a know it all.

"You know what I mean!" I flared, "Now get to work beta!"