Saving Tragedy Chapter 114

**Ashton's POV**

The first thing I noticed as we rolled into Sawyer's pack territory was the sheer number of warriors standing at the border awaiting us. 

It wasn't just Clark — his figure was unmistakable as he stood tall and steady in front of the others, flanked by an entire squad of guards behind him. My pulse spiked with a mixture of relief and adrenaline. 

It looks like we had made it... 

We had beaten Jacob here, and for the first time in hours, the weight on my shoulders seemed to lighten massively...

I brought the car to a screeching halt, my convoy following suit behind me, each vehicle parking in perfect unison behind me. Hunt, the others, and I spilled out of the car, our boots hitting the earth in a synchronized beat, sharp and decisive. 

Clark made his way over, his eyes scanning the convoy before they landed on me, sharp and steady. He didn't waste time with pleasantries.

"No sign of the train yet Alpha," Clark said, his voice steady but his face betraying the exhaustion of the night. "We're in the clear for now. You got here first, thankfully." His words hit me like a weight lifting off my chest. We had outmanoeuvred Jacob. 

The plan so far had worked! 

My heart raced with both the victory and the urgent reality of what was still to come as the sun positioned itself high in the sky as a reminder of what little time we actually had left. 

I nodded at Clark, giving him a brief but appreciative glance. "Good work on your end. I'm relieved to hear we made it," I replied, but there was no time for comfort. 

Not yet.

Clark went on, his voice dropping lower, the gravity of the situation settling over him. "The pack's been fully evacuated. Everyone's been moved to the safe houses. I've got patrols in position, and the perimeter's secure."

I let out a breath I didn't realise I had been holding. The kids were safe. The most vulnerable were hidden away, out of Jacob's reach. That gave us the leverage we needed to go to total war. 

Now, it was time to play the game with him...

I nodded, turning to glance over the mass of bodies, before I climbed up on top of the car, my boots hitting the metal with a sharp clang. 

My warriors followed suit, gathering in closer in front of me, their eyes locked in on mine, waiting for the next orders to come. 

I surveyed them all, taking in their faces — the men and women who had sworn to protect these lands, to stand by me and Sawyer, to fight for the future of our pack. They weren't just fighters; they were family. And in this moment, they were the key to bringing Jacob down... 

The first lights of dawn painted the sky in pale gold, casting long shadows across the field as I addressed them all together. "We have one shot at this," I began, my voice booming across the gathered crowd. "Jacob's men are somewhere out there, probably not far off now. But we beat him here. We took the high ground and therefore, we have the advantage we had wanted."

I let the words settle. The tension in the air was growing, every warrior focused, every wolf ready to spring into action at any given moment.

"As far as Jacob knows, I'm not here yet," I continued, turning in front of them. "But we are." My eyes scanned the faces before me, their expressions a blend of determination and anticipation. "I want you to make Jacob think that he's winning for as long as possible. I want him to think that he has control over this pack. He'll start rounding up those who look like easy prey, those who he believes are under his thumb. But that's when we'll hit. We'll take him by surprise at the gathering."

A murmur rippled through the group, the idea of outsmarting Jacob sending a ripple of excitement through the warriors. The plan was risky, dangerous, but I could see the fire in their eyes. This was a fight we could win.

"But we're not just here to win," I added, my voice hardening. "We're here to end this. To bring justice for everything Jacob has taken from us. And for Sawyer. For Millie. For poor Elsie."

The mention of Sawyer's family silenced the group. Millie and Elsie, their safety would be the foundation of everything we did. They had to be protected at all costs - being the most vulnerable amongst the group. 

"We'll break up into three groups," I said, moving to the side as I pulled out a map from my pocket. "The first group will act as if they're members of the pack. You'll blend in. You'll become part of the facade, so Jacob doesn't suspect a thing. I need your acting skills. Think like pack members. Feel the shift. We'll fool him. He won't know what hit him."

The warriors nodded, each of them showing their trust in my command.

"The second group," I said, turning to face those who would remain hidden, "will take cover in the trees and forests. You'll remain out of sight, positioned where we need you the most. We'll use the element of surprise to our advantage. We'll strike them from the inside when he's vulnerable, when he thinks he has the pack cornered."

"The third group I want positioned at a height! Climb the trees, climb the roofs, and I want silver sniper rifles set up! We will attack them from all fucking angles - just be sure of who you're hitting with the bullets!" I warn, as some of the men instantly move to grab the weapons from the trunks - putting themselves forward as the most skilled for the task. 

I looked over to Clark next, signaling him to begin coordinating the efforts. "Clark, get the perimeter locked down tight but let them think that they have you all captured - don't fight them back yet. We need eyes on every inch of this land and I want to know when they're approaching. No one gets in or out without us knowing about it."

He gave a sharp nod, barking orders to his men as they instantly scattered...

I climbed back down from the car, my mind running over the plan again and again as everyone rushed to their given positions. There was no room for error. 

We couldn't afford it.

My friend and his family's lives were on the damn line! 

I focused back on my warriors. "I'll be with you all in mind-link too. We have to be coordinated. This is where the mind-link comes in handy. As soon as the first signal is given, I'll guide you all to attack. I'll direct your movements, tell you when to strike, when to fall back, when to shift. So stay open to me, and stay alert."

The warriors nodded as they unpacked and moved. 

"Once you've unloaded, hide the cars throughout the territory - blend in!" I state next, as Hunt climbs back inside of our vehicle. 

The air hummed with a new energy, the kind that came just before battle. It was the kind of energy that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and your heart race in your chest... but dare I say that I enjoyed it? 

The final part of the plan was the hardest of all. 

Getting Millie and Elsie to safety. 

I couldn't risk them being caught in the crossfire. Once we launched the attack, we'd have to make sure they were hidden away, protected, safe.

A sharp breath escaped my lungs as I activated the mind-link, feeling the power surge through my skull. The bond between my pack was strong, and through this link, I could feel their readiness, their eagerness to end this war. 

"Everyone, stay close. We move together. When the time comes, we hit them hard. Millie and the baby is priority! Whoever can get to them first to help - don't hesitate!" I speak through the link for the first time, feeling the hums of everyone who had received the message. 

I looked out at the mass of warriors one last time, rushing around and barking commands to one another before me, with the weight of their lives — their futures — resting in my very hands. 

They were trusting me, trusting us, to see this through and we definitely would! 

Jacob wouldn't know what hit him this time... 

"Move out!" I bellowed, the words cutting through the tense silence like a command as I checked my watch and seen that it was growing closer to seven. "We fight for Sawyer. We fight for Millie. And we fight for Elsie."

The warriors sprang into action, the urgency of the moment consuming them as they dispersed in perfect coordination - driving off in their cars whilst others beelined for the trees. 

The first part of our plan was set in motion. 

The hunt for Jacob was on, and this time, it was beyond fucking personal...