Chapter 149: And So It Begins
* Merry Christmas! I launched a privilege meant for next month, sigh, so I gotta update 4 chapters today then 5 on the 31st... please bear with me with the slow release of the day... Happy holidays!
[AWUOR]
"Is everything ready?" Hawi asked as she looked at the army that had presented itself to her.
When she left eight days ago with Rukiya, she had no expectations from anyone. If anything, she only knew she would be back soon enough before Mbali even buried her father.
However, when she came back, twelve hours later, she was met with an army so huge she felt like she had been hallucinating.
It was almost unreal, seeing the eighteen thousand warriors rally up and be waiting for her. She thought it was all some sort of a game, but then as she looked at her protector, her killing machine – Mbali, and the Greyson beta, she knew that it wasn't an illusion.
Rukiya smiling from ear to ear also reminded her of the possibility that this was just a plan by the woman she had fallen in love with.
"The Lycans are ready, on your command, Hawi," Mbali said, her weapons at hand as she led the Clarkson warriors. They were supposed to be the weakest pack, but all of that was just a face for the Lycans to blend in with the regular wolves.
The lycans were dangerous, not just by name but because they were easily the devil's allies in any world. In this one, they were Haiw's allies, which made it all easier for the banished alpha to get her vengeance.
They were here to make sure the alpha got whatever help she needed, however barbaric the requests would be. They were, after all, her assigned killing machines, led by Mbali herself.
"The Greyson army is ready on your command, Alpha Awuor," Beta Adolf said, the pride in his voice as he looked at the woman who would be leading them.
They already knew this was Hawi calling onto the oath Rukiya had built them by, which made them Hawi's team by default.
If Hawi decided to command them to kill Rukiya Greyson, the warriors wouldn't be able to resist. They would kill her and mourn their alpha later.
Thankfully, Hawi didn't seem to be the kind to want that for the woman she loved.
"Your protector is reporting for duty, Your Highness," Malika said respectfully as she bowed for Hawi, an act that everyone else followed, including Rukiya. Hawi knew that this was almost impossible. She had never commanded an army this huge into war.
Eighteen thousand men and women were replying to do whatever their leader wanted and they also knew how unhinged Hawi was, which made it even creepier for Hawi. She had been used to people shunning her, but maybe, this right here was her ultimate army.
"The camps are set, alpha Awuor," Riley, the leader of the rebels from Sicario said as she bowed before her alpha. She never accepted her to be her alpha and her team was on the same side as her too.
The rebels were in charge of setting up camps for the warriors as the others trained the division of labor had been something that Hawi hadn't thought possible, but then there they were.
"Sorry we were late, alpha, we had to help the rogues clear the mass grave sites," Hudhayfah said, trying to catch his breath. The past week had been hectic for them all and they are just glad that it was over.
The rogues had been displeased with how Sicario had been running and even volunteered to join the banished alpha in getting the rightful heir on the throne. This was more than just them installing haw there.
It was more than just coming from the shadows to support the one woman who would kill them and feel nothing after. This was about them showing up for justice. So many things had gone wrong in Sicario and someone needed to clean the mess.
And if Hawi was going to do that, then they would help her regardless.
"Are all team members accounted for?" Hawi asked again and they all let out cheers of agreement.
"What of the mobile and on-camp medical team? Is everything set for emergencies and quick fixes?" Hawi asked, as she still took in the sight before her. There was just no way that she, the banished alpha, had managed to gain these many allies.
"Everything is set, alpha," Rukiya said as she bent the knee for her mate and mistress. She loved submitting to Hawi throughout his time, she was submitting to show that she was respecting the commander-in-chief of the greatest army to ever exist.
"Good. We leave in ten minutes. Dismissed," Hawi said to the warriors who didn't object. They had been training for this in their respective capacities for years now and now that they were called upon to serve their new mistress, they knew what to do.
Hawi, Malika, Mbali, Riley, Rukiya, Hudhayfah, and Adolf stood beside Hawi as their warriors lingered around, excited to go into the darkest of adventures against a pack that had an unstoppable army.
It was not what he had ever imagined for her people in Sicario, but then she knew that this was something they had to do regardless. She had to put things to rest and face her reality. She had to be ready to start over because this wasn't who she was.
She had promised to be better, but as Hawi looked at the people around her, she knew there wasn't much that she could do. Maybe if she still had her soul after all this then she could consider the definition of better. But until then, things had to be done.
"Malika, you have to leave before we do. It will take us six hours to get to Sicario. That should be enough time for you to prepare that dumb husband of yours for his first of many losses," Hawi said, her tone neutral.
There had been days when she thought about the day she would walk back into Sicario and get her vengeance. In those days she always imagined her father's face staring at her in surprise as he watched the girl he had banished come home for their blood.
She had always imagined Dom coming to laugh at her for coming against the entire Sicario army of her own, given that she has trained the warriors to be the most lethal bunch of them all.
Hawi always thought of the smiles on Elodie's face as the woman took in her appearance. She always believed that her best friend would forever have faith in her and would be on her side. Maybe she had been wild for thinking that Elodie would always be there to support her.
Hawi had had so many thoughts of how she would take out Sicario on her own. She had promised them a lifetime of suffering, destruction, and vengeance and she would keep it. However, with the new tea she had just gained, she couldn't help but feel lucky.
She wouldn't have to fight the war alone. She wouldn't be walking into the most dangerous place alone and that was comforting. She had a team that knew they could die but was still coming with her nonetheless.
"Yes, mistress. I'll see you guys in Sicario," Malika said thoughtfully as she hugged her mattress for the first time since they had met.
Malika couldn't remember if they had ever hugged and this was a whole moment for her. She always valued Hawi, always wanted her to be happy and right now, she was getting just that.
The Protector was determined to make sure that Hawi had a life after her vengeance. She wanted to see the bright smile that Hawi wore when she was beside Rukiya and she wanted the both of them happy.
Granted, the war would end in so many different ways, but one thing was certain. Malika would do whatever it took to make sure Hawi had a happy ending. The woman had suffered one too many times and she wouldn't let it ruin her.
"Be careful, Malika. Don't strain yourself too much, and don't break character," Hawi reminded for the hundredth time and Malika just sighed as she pulled back for the hug.
"Yes, mistress. The same applies to you. Remember you are not alone in this war. You have eighteen thousand souls ready to lay their lives for you. Please remember that, all right?" Malika said and Hawi just nodded in understanding.
"See you later, Mistress," Malika said, creating a portal to Sicario and going right through.