Page 81 of Broken Forced Mate
“Do it,” Wyn tells her.
Sage Willow places her hands on my temples, and I feel a strange cooling sensation flow through my mind. The hollow feeling doesn’t disappear, but it becomes more tolerable and less noticeable.
“Better?” she asks.
“Yes. Thank you.”
The next hour becomes a complicated dance of positioning different types of fighters. Traditional pack warriors understand terrain and pack tactics, but they struggle with the fluid command structure Llewelyn forces prefer. The witches operate almost independently, communicating through methods I don’t recognize.
“This isn’t working,” Theodore observes as we watch a Llewelyn unit repeatedly fail to coordinate with one of our defensive teams.
“Different fighting styles,” Lydia explains. “Pack fighters rely on hierarchy and instinct. Llewelyn forces use distributed decision-making.”
“How do we make them work together?”
“By giving each group specific roles that play to their strengths rather than forcing integration.”
She spreads a map across our planning table and starts assigning positions. Shifters get defensive positions that require holding ground. Llewelyn units receive mobile assignments that let them adapt quickly. Outlier witches are positioned to provide magical support without needing direct coordination.
“What about command structure?” Oren asks.
“Simplified. Each group reports to its own leaders, who coordinate with your central command. No complex chains of authority.”
The approach feels chaotic, but it might work better than trying to force different cultures into identical roles.
Captain Morwen studies the defensive layout. “My units can provide rapid response capability. When Thornridge commits to their assault, we can hit their flanks while they’re focused on the central trap.”
“How quickly can you reposition?” I ask.
“Full unit movement in under three minutes. Individual squads are faster.”
Elder Nettle traces magical symbols over the map. “The covens can establish overlapping barrier networks. If their magical weapons break through initial defenses, we can contain the damage.”
“What kind of barriers?”
“Energy absorption, kinetic redirection, and life force protection. Layered defenses that adapt to different attack types.”
A commotion near the command center draws our attention. My mother appears, leading a group of older pack members who are coordinating civilian evacuations.
“Maude,” Wyn calls. “How are the non-combatants?”
“Secured in the deepest shelters we could find,” she reports. “But there are concerns about the magical weapons. Normal shelters might not provide adequate protection.”
“The witches can establish magical barriers around civilian areas,” Lydia suggests. “It will reduce their availability for combat support, but protecting non-combatants is a priority.”
“Do it,” Oren decides immediately.
Elder Nettle nods and signals to several younger witches. “Take half the defensive specialists and establish protective barriers around all civilian shelters. Priority on family areas.”
Watching my mother coordinate with the witch leaders, I see the generational impact of this conflict. She’s protecting her children, ensuring the Blacklock line continues regardless of what happens to us in battle.
“How many civilians are we protecting?” Captain Morwen asks.
“Nearly two hundred non-combatants,” my mother responds. “Including children, the elderly, and the injured from previous conflicts. Mostly shifters.”
“That’s a significant commitment of magical resources,” Elder Nettle observes.
“It’s necessary,” I state. “We’re not just fighting for territory. We’re fighting for families.”
