Mated to A Rival Alpha-Chapter 212: The Gentle General

[JIHOON]

As Yanna was being taken away, the pack seemed to have practiced the art of patience and not talking shit anymore. They looked like they were finally understanding the repercussions of everything that was happening.

They had questions, but unlike earlier, when they could have tried to coerce Jihoon into giving them their answers, this time they knew that there wouldn’t be any answers.

They would see for themselves what actions were taken and even then, they would have the chance to say shit. This wasn’t the alpha they would make do with. He was different and a force to be reckoned with.

"As you have heard my son. We will be running the pack and letting him make the decisions. You all know how this works, so I won’t stand here and start making promises that don’t even make sense at this moment.

"So as of now, you will all go back to your homes. The women and children are to evacuate to the safety centers by midday tomorrow. That means you have twelve hours to pack and say your goodbyes.

"War is coming and if Incayon refuses our negotiation, we will have to defend our home. So be ready. All the able-bodied men are to join the battle. Whether you are part of the Calindra warriors or not. I do not care.

"Make sure you get yourself familiar with the weapons systems, and make sure that by noon tomorrow, you also are ready, because tomorrow is the first day that Incayon swore to attack.

"Make no mistake and go to war if you are sick. No one will be dragging any of your asses while we defend ourselves with spears. This is why I have said that the able-bodied men who aren’t hurt will stay behind.

"If you are an able-bodied man and you hide and go with the women and children despite not being hurt, make sure the skirts fit you well, because otherwise, Calindra will never feel like home for you," Alpha Park said, ignoring the gasps in the room.

The war was here and no one was going to be asking if they were okay or mentally stable. It didn’t matter that they had lost, because they still had to show up and fight. If this was the grand war, then they would rest later.

Until then, they had to pretend like they hadn’t lost their men in the Incayon massacre and they had to stand and protect their home from Incayon.

That was non-negotiable and the sooner they understood that, the sooner everything would be easier for them.

"Also a reminder that the women and children are to be protected at all costs. So if you don’t find yourself at war, then you are assigned to be the protectors of our future. You had better protect them with your life, or your life will be next.

"I know this may sound harsh given what we have gone through, but as I said, if we get emotional in war, we will lose more than we could have if we put aside all our emotions. So the choice is yours.

"You either be an emotional fool and get killed, or be clear-headed and win the war, then we can grieve together as a pack. Everything will fall into place once we are sure that Calindra is safe.

"So get moving, and say your goodbyes appropriately, because you might not see each other for a long while and sometimes, you might not see each other again, forever. Such is war.

"Even I will be in the war," the alpha said and the wolves just nodded in understanding.

They were finally understanding the magnitude of what was happening right now. They were finally knowing what it felt like to be on the side of the war that was receiving the hits. They finally understood why Jihoon had to make his decision.

Granted, they were still curious about what Yanna had said, but they would figure that out if they lived long enough to survive the long war, but until then they had to listen to the man who had given them the crazy instructions.

Besides, wasn’t life what they were all fighting for at the moment anyway?

One by one, the wolf walked out of the assembly hall. Some had stayed in because the rain had kept on pouring. They knew it was because the moon was crying on their behalf and the skies were sad for them.

They had so many assumptions and if only some of those weren’t as terrifying as the part that needed them to be staying alert at all times.

Calindra had been to war thousands of years ago, long before most of them had even been born.

And now they were at war with Kim Rania, the psycho of Obren and their alpha had stepped down to let an even more psychotic alpha take the stand. It was all so fucked up but then wasn’t this what they had come to anyway?

Fate was done staying on the sides and the sooner they faced this reality, the better their lives would be. If anything, it wasn’t like they were about to go have a long party with the dead, right?

"Do you think I made the right decision this time? I mean father is so brutal, what of the wolves rebel? What if everything does work out, who will we be able to explain that?

"At the end of the day I’m the one responsible for all their lives, but what if I got them out of one danger and thrust them into the hands of a worse fate?" Jihoon asked his best friend who looked at him like this was the most absurd thing that he had ever heard.

"Of course, he understood Jihoon and his worried, but then these wolves had been under the brutal alpha before and they had survived.

They had been on the same side with the man who had just promised to force sunshine out of their asses if they didn’t try and follow those simple instructions.

"You made the right decision. You were compromised and there was a chance that you would abandon the war and go to Rania. What you did was what every alpha that cares for his people would do.

"You did choose your people and that is admirable, Jihoon. Don’t blame yourself for wanting to make their lives better and giving them a reason to hold onto life. You gave them that chance, and whatever happens after this is not on you.

"Besides, your father is a good man. Sure, he is brutal, but what general isn’t brutal in the time of war? What general does not want to make sure that the casualties are minimal no matter what war they are fighting?

"Don’t blame yourself too much brother, at least give yourself credit for making their lives better. You deserve it, and they do too," Daehyun said sincerely, making Jihoon just nod as he looked at the man beside him.

They had been so worked up in the battles and now that it was all here and facing them, they had to make the tough decisions.

Hopefully, he wasn’t late.

Yeah, maybe you are right," Jihoon sighed as he looked at his father who was already addressing the other warriors.

"What will you do now that you have stepped down? I know you didn’t just step down because you can’t lead people to war. What is going on in your head, Jihoon?"