Ileus: The Dark Prince

Murtagh had called all his rogues from the trade path in order to realign them according to his plans. He gave the rebel leader a cold stare. "That will make sure that they are confused and know that they can't contain us. It would be like where all would they send their troops? The attack is going to happen at five different places at the same time!" 

The rebel rogue's eyes became wide. He looked at the map and then shook his head. "You are brilliant Alpha Murtagh! No wonder the kingdom is so scared of you. At first, the queen offered her daughter's hand to you and when the girl was lost, you were put under house arrest." He chuckled. "Now I can understand that you are a force to reckon with and it is an honor to work for you!" 

Murtagh gave him a smug smile. "I am humbled by your words," he said, not at all meaning it. But he had to boost the morale of his men and increase their confidence in him. He went on to order them the locations where they had to go. After a round of brew, he dismissed all of them except Luke. "Tasha, could you ask the cook to get us more cinnamon rolls that they got in the last hunt?" 

"Sure," she replied and got up from his lap. She headed straight to the kitchen, hurrying up because she knew that Murtagh was going to say something very important to Luke, and she wanted to hear it all. 

Once she left and her footsteps faded, Murtagh said, "The main reason why I have asked them to attack five different locations at the same time is because I want you to take a large division, almost twice the size of the ones these leaders will be taking, and—" he exhaled a heavy breath as he looked at the map. He didn't know what to say, so he became silent. 

"And attack the Whiteclaw pack?" Luke completed his sentence. 

Murtagh jerked his head up. Luke was looking in his eyes intently. A long stretch of silence followed between them. Murtagh gave a one tight nod. Then he said, "If you don't want to, I will understand." 

Luke chuckled. "I would never leave the opportunity, Alpha Murtagh. You know how I feel about the peace treaty. I can't wait to see Vaarin's downfall. Once he is gone, I will make sure that I kill my sister with my own hands! They are traitors. They sided with those who stole our land and our freedom. I can never associate myself with them. I am so ashamed of my family that you can't fathom!" 

Murtagh tilted his head. "Luke, I really do appreciate your patriotism, and trust me that I am so moved, but that is your father…" his voice drawled. 

"So what?" Luke said in a sharp voice. "Before being my father, he was a soldier in your army, your beta. And now he is reduced to being a puppet of King Dmitri! I don't think of him as anything more than a pest who needs to be eliminated!" he spat on the floor. 

Murtagh narrowed his eyes. "You are having very strong views about your family." He laughed on the inside. Luke was going in the direction he had steered him. On the face, Murtagh was showing that he was actually concerned about his views about his family, but on the inside, he knew that the more he stoked the embers, the more the fire would burn. 

"My views are not strong, they are right!" Luke replied with arrogance. 

Murtagh laughed softly. He nodded. "I never expected anything less from you, Luke." There was a silence between them as they sipped more brew. 

Tasha arrived in the room with a plate full of cinnamon rolls. She sat down beside Murtagh on a chair after offering him the rolls. Murtagh picked up one and then took a big bite. "Ah! How much I missed these!" he said in a way that both Tasha and Luke sympathized with him, and that was what he wanted—complete dedication, complete sympathy. Once he finished the soft and fluffy roll, he licked his lips and looked at them with an innocent smile. They were gazing at him with complete devotion. "Tasha?" 

"Yes, Murtagh?" she said, alert. 

"Five days from now, Luke will be attacking the Whiteclaw pack. I want you to be with him. The two of you will spearhead the attack."

"That would be interesting!" Tasha replied as she looked at Luke for a reaction. But he was just as excited as Tasha. 

Murtagh made another map on the ground and then discussed all the weak entry points of the Whiteclaw pack from his experience. After two hours of strategy, they all dispersed. Murtagh went to his room while Luke and Tasha walked out of the cave. 

When Murtagh was the Alpha of the pack, he never ever disclosed those weak points to anyone because he was afraid that they might be used against him, but now—now the tables had turned. He was going to use every weak point to his advantage. He wanted Luke to lead the attack on the Whiteclaw pack because he wanted to shock Vaarin. Father against son. The shock would definitely depress Vaarin and would cripple his confidence. 

Looking at the stars across the black velvety sky, Tasha said, "Are you excited about the attack?" They were both sitting on a moss covered fallen log. They had walked hand-in-hand inside the forest to a small clearing. Tasha wanted to be alone with him to judge his sentiments and to feel his body. 

"I am," he replied, his chin tipped up. He gazed at the sky with restlessness in his eyes. "I want all of them to suffer, especially Olivia!" 

Tasha shifted closer to him. "Why?" she asked, as she laced her arm around his. 

"She married the wrong man…" 

Tasha placed her hand on his chest. She unbuttoned his shirt and slipped her hand inside. "Do you know that Murtagh has promised me to make his wife after we conquer the Whiteclaw pack?" 

"Is that so?" he said as his breath hitched. Her fingers were on his navel. 

"Yes. But I don't want to lose you either." She dipped her fingers beneath the waist of his pants. His shaft was already hard. She brushed it with his fingers. "Once we claim the Whiteclaw pack, even if I become Luna, I want to keep my lover with me." She opened the buttons of the pants, freeing his erection. 

He hissed and then in one swift motion, picked her up, yanked her slacks down and impaled her on his shaft. "I want to keep you too, Tasha!" he growled as he grabbed her hips and made her ride him. 

She curled her hands around his neck as she rode him hard. 

The next day Luke assigned men to each of the five leaders. They all started their journey to reach their destinations. They all had to attack on the night of the fifth day as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon. The locations that Murtagh had chosen were small villages where they could strike easily. 

--- 

Kaizan returned home after two days of scouring through the forest. He didn't find a single rogue. 

Music recommendation by Hollygolightly: "Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band