Page 67 of Wolf Marked

Outsmart Jerrick. It was a possibility.

“How did we win last time?” Filip asked, rubbing the dark stubble starting to grow along his jaw. “That’s what we have to consider. Most packs don’t survive one of Jerrick’s ambushes. We did. Why?”

“Because Jerrick wanted Erec more than he wanted us,” she replied. She still didn’t know why that was. She assumed it had something to do with Mikel’s pack or some form of revenge.

Filip considered that for a minute. “I don’t think so… There must be more to it. Jerrick wouldn’t pass an opportunity to destroy his enemy.”

Astrid sighed heavily, trying to think back to the fight. Everything had happened so fast. The arrows, the swarm of gruesome-looking men, the blood-painted snow. She intentionally skimmed over the memories of Filip being stabbed and Erec being kidnapped to save herself the pain of reliving it.

Erec had said Jerrick was trying to draw them out of Svanna Rock, and the stones had protected them. Maybe that had been it. Or maybe it was because their pack had outnumbered Jerrick’s—only barely, but they had.

Then she remembered something else Erec had said some time ago.“Jerrick works with the element of surprise, so if we can get the jump on him for once, we have a chance of winning.”

But what could have taken Jerrick’s men off guard enough to lose a fight?

The image of her first opponent—the skinny man with missing teeth—sprang into her mind, along with the shock on his face when she had struck back with her spear and sent him stumbling. He hadn’t expected her to be able to fight back, certainly not with accuracy or skill.

Because she was a woman.

Could that be it? Jerrick’s men hadn’t expected women to be part of the fight? It made sense, especially if they were so used to forcing themselves on the innocent females of the packs they attacked.

That had to be it.

“Surprise…” The word came out as a breathy whisper.

Filip glanced at her, confused. “What did you say, Ash?”

“Surprise.” Her voice rose with excitement. “Erec said Jerrick works on the element of surprise and that we could use it against him.”

He didn’t say anything, waiting for her to finish her thought.

“Jerrick’s men didn’t expect women warriors. They didn’t think we would be able to fight back.”

His eyes widened. “Sweet Moons,” he gasped. “I think you’re right.”

She grinned. “Of course I’m right.”

Filip chuckled but winced as the pain intensified. Astrid sucked in a sharp breath as it sliced through the side of her ribs, too.

“Careful now,” she sputtered, pressing a hand against the throbbing area. If the pain was this bad through the pack bond, she couldn’t even imagine what he was feeling.

“I know,” he said through gritted teeth. “Laughing’s not supposed to hurt.”

After the wave of agony eased, he relaxed back into the cushions. “So he knows we have female fighters now. He’ll be waiting for it. It won’t be as shocking.”

“True, but we can still use the element of surprise to our advantage,” she said and stood. “We attack Jerrick first. He won’t be expecting that. He’s always the one to ambush first. What if we turn things around and do it to him?”

“We do know his plans… And he isn’t aware we know.”

“Exactly.” Astrid began to pace the tent, her mind racing. “If he’s going to attack the morning after the Blue Moon, when he thinks we’ll be the most vulnerable, then we need to hit him before then. Tonight.”

“That’s too soon, Ash,” Filip said. “We still have people wounded from the fight. They’ll need another night to heal to be able to fight again. We’ll have to organize ourselves, make preparations, come up with a set strategy. This will be our last chance, so we have to make sure it’s right.”

“But we’ll need the cover of night. We can’t attack during the day. They’ll see us coming.”

Filip said nothing for a few breaths. Then, he said, certain, “It’ll have to be tomorrow night.”

Astrid’s pulse sped up at what her brother was proposing. “But the Blue Moon. How—”

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