How is it impossible to find this Spine contact? Is this contact even real?

"Hey do you see anything?"

"No. Just snow dep la." It is a bit suspicious.

"Hey Nam-" A sickening thud stopped us in our tracks. Did Raya get caught in trap? Did somebody hurt her?!I was backhanded skidding away from her. Once my senses were regathered, I growled rushing over to Raya.

"Raya answer me please!" Cam?! General?! Tala?! More thuds echoed across the silent forest. No! No! No! "Hey Undercut just sleepy." Shit! Concussion!

Someone grabbed my ankle throwing me back! Why isn't Tala, Cam, and the general fighting!?

I stopped breathing after landing! Fuck what's the call sign!?

The tall figurine walked over I rolled away jumping on their back. Broad shoulders and a thick neck made it difficult to choke him. That was short lived after the giant grabbed my collar slamming me to the snow-covered dirt. Fuck. How many times will I stop breathing? Studying his one free eye; his large hand easily covered my throat lifting me up and pressing hard.

Here goes everything. "S-Spine c-cracker." Shit was it breaker!?

His good eye narrowed and grip became tighter. "S-Spine b-breaker." Please be it. A black blob started pulsing in the bottom corner. If only it could cover the alpha's face.

Cam kicked his side the general jumped on his back trying to choke him out.

He gruffed, alpha! I should've known!

"stop please!"

Dep la?

The blob started spreading breaking into smaller bits, feet helplessly dangled in the air.

The tall alpha growled out, "You could be the mysterious squad!"

We got annihilated! How are we the squad!? "Let them go! We were sent here!" A few more seconds I won't make it. "Blue elephants."

All the oxygen rushed back in growing my shrinking lungs. I coughed scrapping up the snow. It was blue elephants!? The tallest alpha nodded. "Black serlots. I am Tong." You knew who we were, yet you attacked us! Why didn't you say the call sign?!

"Apologies Princess Namaari." His large hand went up to my forearm. "We can't be too careful now." Why?

Raya went under my arm following after our contact. The general and Cam were leaning up against each other. What happened? Raya softly spoke, "Who do you think we are? Namaari and I are princesses!"

The brute stopped walking. "Spine warriors are traditional. The night vision googles I use do not give sharp details. We must camp for the night before we continue on. Until then the information will have to wait."

Clearly, I also have a head injury. "You attacked us! You expect us to wait on information! We have exactly three days to return and we spent one and a half looking for you!" This is why Fang has weak alliances.

He studied the group and the setting sun. "There's a cave. We will make camp there then you will be shown what we have so far." Fine! This better be worth it!

I limped forward closely watching Tong. Just because you're old doesn't mean you aren't a glory hog!

"Princess Undercut shimmer down!" I don't trust him.

"Hey, are you listening to me!?" I'm watching his every move!

"Namaari!" We're almost at the cave an ideal place for an ambush.

"Fang!"

Tong turned to us. "If you set your tent up against the ledge, it would be nearly impossible for any alpha to attack you Raya." Attack or claim? Are you setting up false security for your prize!

Raya glared at me. "Thanks Tong, I think the rest of them need it more than I do!" Don't trust him dep la!He nodded. "The fire and meal will be prepped until then please accommodate to your needs." No.

I cut off Raya, "I can prepare the food." I can easily watch you. "Cam and the general can set up the tents." Raya you stay away from him! "Raya can probably help the other two."

The omega dragged me away. "Excuse us." Too polite what are you mad about?!

"What the hell Namaari?!" Oh this shit!

I lowly growled, "I don't trust him!"

"Seriously! He's on our side!"

"You don't know that!"

"Because he's an alpha or because he whooped your ass?" Both!

"He attacked first having a small clue of who we are!"

Raya pinched the bridge of her nose. "You do the same shit! If there's one soldier, clearly something dangerous happened. By all means, let's mistreat our potential alliance!" I'm partially jealous but Spine has never been an easy pack to communicate with!

"No! He could also be toying with us!"

"Princess Raya, if I may disrupt, you're discussion, I request the assistance from Princess Namaari." That's right you better use my title.

"Knock yourself out big guy."

He gruffed offering a hand. I don't need it! "I'm fine thanks." My pride is the most damaged.

"I need Fang's expertise on starting a fire." He walked over waiting for me to follow. A quick scan didn't show any weapons or points of ambush. It's clear for now. I started the fire waiting for the Spine warrior to say anything.

"After what happened, I understand your reluctance. I apologize for attacking you." You knew Fang was sending a small squad why attack?

"There isn't much resistance out here." I want answers. The alpha nodded. "The last time Fang sent assistance my people were poisoned." What? Mother never approved. "Impossible. I know when and where Fang forces were sent. We are the only ones who are supposed to be here!" Who ordered this!?

"Yes." He pulled out a tablet showing me. "Whenever you're ready."

I pressed play watching masked figures wearing Fang's attire. They dragged out someone injecting them with a purple liquid. The feed cut out.
"I will personally question everyone when I return to Chief Virana. Ensure constant updates are sent to you." I understand now. "I apologize Tong."

"My people are reluctant to accept aid. I harmed Raya, it's your alpha revealing itself." I-I..I wasn't careful.

A light layer of pink tinted my cheeks. "I'm sorry."

His massive hand patted my back. "Don't I was young once!" He laughed, "I'm happily married with my wife and little one." Good! I doubt Raya would be attracted to someone like you!

The older soldier went on. "Being an alpha is the silent acceptance of protecting everyone dear to you. From one alpha to another you are doing, well despite your young age." Really? Would Ibu agree though? You two seem similar.

"Thank you, Tong."

His large finger easily lifted my chin. "Most of us knew Gia. You feel lost without your alpha mother and constantly questioning your actions. She would be proud." How did you know Ibu?

"We have the victim at the hospital, tomorrow we will do a more careful analysis." How far is the hospital from here?

The Spine contact started prepping herbs, boiling water, and fresh meat on the fire. "Not to worry young one, the hospital is a day of walking. This tea should aid all of you with any physical damage."

"I'm going to check on Raya." I stiffly walked over looking at the rest of our squad. They're nursing their wounds. If I was more prepared this wouldn't have happened, Tong just lied to make me feel better.

"Raya?"

"Hey Princess Undercut." She's flinching from the fire. Definitely a concussion.

"How are you feeling?" I sat down wiping the blood away.

She paused studying me.

"Stop there's a reputation to uphold." Maybe the general or Tala can escort her out I don't trust Cam. While we follow Tong.

"You're not clear for duty someone will take you back to the rendezvous point."

"Hey!" Please don't argue.

"Raya look at yourself." I held our hands together. "Please you need medical help that we don't have."

The princess studied me. She pressed a soft kiss. "Fine. Don't end up in the hospital again." I'll do my best.

Cam walked over. "Princess Namaari a word." Don't tell me you have a concussion as well.

"Excuse me." I followed Cam out of the cave. "The general may have a concussion as well." Shit.

"What about you?"

"Landed on my stomach and braced for the fall." You aren't showing the symptoms.

"Raya has one too." I didn't realize how tight the fist, was until a dull nail broke through the skin.

"Don't do that." Cam slapped my arm. "This is his territory we did our best. I'll take them back and catch a chopper ride signal with the flare." I don't know. You easily lose control.

"Look Raya and you have been together a while don't consider me competition."

I nodded. "Fine double check on the flare. Rest I'll take the first watch."

"What did I just say!" I should've done better!

"Tala and you need to watch some intel. After that, you need some rest to wake up at the crack of dawn. Tong is cooking no one else is available." If I study the environment, it can maybe help understand how he snuck up on us.

"Go please."

The alpha looked at me before hesitantly nodding.

I leaned against the mouth of the cave looking at the lay of the land. Some snow mounts are taller than others. It seems the sides are shaved off for a rounder shape. Not by nature's doing.

I walked over moving the snow off. There was wood on the dirt with a small hole. I lifted it up revealing a hole dug out. No wonder. There's a vile with some liquid. It can't be.

"Hey what are you-. Of course you would figure out why he got the drop on us." Not now Tala hesitation only hastens death.

"Here eat and drink."

"Not hungry." I jumped in the hole there are tunnels connected. Spine is a lot more creative than we acknowledge. This must be how the imposters wondered through Spine.

"Hey, you need to eat and drink like the rest of us!" No distractions are what hurt us!

"Tala stop!" I crawled out walking back to the cave. "Have you checked the intel?" Do something useful.

"I did before coming out." She grabbed onto my wrist. "Nami stop. It's not your fault she got hurt." It's always my fault!

"She shouldn't be here!" If we stayed as friends, she would be happier!

"Namaari!" Her hand scaled up to my shoulder roughly shaking me. "Stop. She would be miserable without you!"

"If we stayed as friends, she would be off at culinary school!" She stopped her dream for me. What have I done for her?! Nothing!

"You missed a lot on those two years." What?

I turned finding the alpha with a disappointed look. "She missed you so much. She made me promise to never tell you. She always wanted to be with you and wished she had done something sooner." It was never one sided. If it weren't for the delicate alliance, I would've done something too.

My voice cracked. "Every day she risks her life because of me. She joined because of me. I can't protect her."

"It's not your job to protect her. It's your job to watch her back. It's your job to trust her. It's your job to love her." Sometimes… that's not enough. I shrugged off her hand walking back to the cave.

Cam was ready to travel back to the rendezvous point.

"Are you sure you won't need Tala to go with you?"

"Relax Fang, This tied rope will help them. You need to collect all the intel until I come back." That doesn't make me feel better.

I leaned in whispering. "I found this. Get it to Amba as quickly as possible. I'll explain the rest later."

"Tong doesn't know you found this?"

"It's complicated. I'll explain later."

The former football player nodded.

Raya leaned against the general rubbing her eyes.

"Dep la?" I cradled her neck lowly whispering. "Talk me?"

"A little blurry on the eyes. Don't worry Cam got us." At least you have the confidence.

"Get going."

"You better not end up in the hospital again. I want to make love after this." She pecked my cheek walking after Cam.

We silently followed the brute to the hospital. "After the incident in Talon, Chief Akro wanted precautions." Hence the dugout snow.

We found the victim cradling back in forth on the bed. What happened to them?

"Tong?"

"We haven't fully understood what they were injected with. A while back a useless ancient scroll was stolen from our archives." Clearly, it's not useless if it was stolen.

"Can we talk to them big guy?"

"No. Talking to our patients only frightens them. We have a theory their deepest fears manifest. No cure." Mother needs to know about this immediately that could be cured. There isn't much we can do.

A messenger walked over whispering to the one-eyed man. He nodded dismissing the stranger.

"Unfortunately, Chief Akro is still in a meeting. You would need to wait for about an hour." Dammit.

I need some fresh air. "In the meantime I hope you don't mind if I catch a short walk." Tong nodded. Thank you. T caught onto my code. "Can you quietly survey the area?"

"Will do. Don't wonder off to far Ma will skin me."

"Ooo look at you afraid of Chief Virana."

My younger sister flipped me off walking away.

No wonder the other packs don't trust us. The imposters purposedly use Fang uniforms. Do they hate us? Is it because of the attack all those years ago we are easy to scape goat?

There were voices hissing at each other.

"What do you want with us?" Sonja?

"You're tiny mind can't comprehend what is planned!" Shit what is she doing here?

A scuffle started it sounded like the Tail woman was pushed down.

I rushed over aiding the Tail secretary. "Secretary Sonja are you alright?"

"Princess Namaari? Yes, but the individual carries valuable intel please retrieve it." Alright. I bolted after the assailant. Why didn't I bring a gun?

They were shorter than me it'll be easy to catch up. They're agile like the princess. Now that's a problem. They climbed up the wall. Dammit!

I looked at the crates scrambling over them barely watching the lean figurine jump over the small rooftops. Off to the right I can catch them and tackle them. With a quick pace I easily caught up jumping after the figure. A miscalculation caused us to land on the glass ceiling.

I grabbed their collar. "What are you planning?"

Eyes narrowed. I can't catch their scent either.

"Answer me!"

I saw stars gazing into the bright afternoon sky. A gunshot shortly followed but nothing stung or pulsed. Everything rapidly fell my heart plummeted to my feet. Teeth fists and small kicks scraped us fighting for dominance. At the last minute I landed on the lean figure.

I pulled out a small knife pressing into their jugular vein. "You have no leverage! Answer me or else!"

"You miscalculated." What how?

I wasn't fast enough a metal stung across my back. Dammit. I crawled looking for leverage. A hard boot met my stomach. With each crawl I was kicked. I can't breathe! My ribs are starting to throb.

Someone grabbed my hair lifting me up. "Ah Princess Namaari what a lovely surprise!" Fuck you. I spat small droplings of blood. The mask chuckled. Two more grabbed chains wrapping them around my wrists.

"Are you too cowardly to kill me?" What would the general do? "Have fun Princess Namaari." They threw the chains over a beam tying them against a stand. I tried swinging back and forth. Nothing! Dammit! I can't reach my lockpick or knife. I swung again but my bad shoulder popped. "Fuck!" I won't feel it now but eventually my arms will get tired. Then it all goes down from there.

I don't know how long I was there for. Voices faded in and out. I was gently brought down until everything became black.

Bleach, machines, a comfy bed. It's definitely the hospital and she's going to kill me.

"Didn't you make a promise to not land in the hospital?" Yes. "Good to see you too Princess." I rubbed her cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. About two weeks then come back." What's my damage?

"Sorry."

"We're soldiers we live dangerous lives." Another reason I didn't want you to join.

"We're safe. We haven't found a lot of intel."

"We'll get them Princess Undercut."