RALPH
As I sped down the road, the dense forest on either side blurred into a greenish-brown haze. My mind was already crowded with the thoughts of the tasks awaiting me at the Werewolf Council state, but my heart tugged me back to Keilah. Last night’s conversation replayed in my mind, her soft voice, the way she looked at me with a mixture of scepticism and hope. Her vulnerability and her laughter had all left an indelible mark on me.
I hope you meant every word you said to her. My wolf finally spoke up after ignoring me since yesterday. I thought you were dead. I teased. Not yet, but I will if you don’t fulfil your promises. He said.
Fur, did I look funny to you? I asked him. Before he could reply, I confirmed. I really meant every word and am so determined to make things right, to be the kind of mate she deserves. I said, but my Wolf didn’t say anything else.
Suddenly, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw Zac’s name flashing. For a moment, I considered ignoring the call, focusing instead on the task at hand. But something made me pause. Zac wasn’t one to call me without a good reason.
With a resigned sigh, I answered the call. “This better be important,” I said, my tone clipped. And before I could get another word out, his voice erupted through the speakers, loud and aggressive. “Mr. Alpha, are you having a good time while the people you swore to protect are dying at the hands of your enemy?”
The words hit me like a sledgehammer, shattering any sense of calm I had. “What the hell are you talking about, Zac?” I demanded, my grip tightening on the steering wheel.
“The pack is under attack, Ralph! Vampires are tearing through our people, and you’re nowhere to be found to guide them!” Get your damn ass back over here. He said before hanging up the call.
My heart raced as I processed his words. Images of my pack, of Keilah, flashed through my mind.
Why would that mother fucker end the call without giving me enough explanation. Vampires are well known as werewolves enemies, not only mine. So I don’t get it when he says my vampire enemies. And I don’t think that it’s Damien. Am very certain Damien and I made it clear to stay away from each other’s business.
I floored the gas pedal, the engine roaring as I turned the car and surged back to the packhouse. Every second counted, and I pushed the vehicle to its limits, my mind a whirl of strategy and fear.
As the high walls came into view, I knew there was no time to waste. I screeched to a halt, leaping out of the car and shifting into my wolf form mid-stride. The familiar rush of power coursed through me, my senses sharpening, my instincts taking over as I sprinted towards the pack’s territory.
As I tore through the battle, my heart sank at the sight of my wounded pack members strewn across the ground, their pained expressions fueling my rage. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, mingling with the acrid stench of the fucking bloodsuckers.
Suddenly, a heart-stopping sight caught my eye: Damien, loomed over Benita. His fangs gleamed menacingly, poised to strike. Without a second thought, I leapt forward, covering the distance in a heartbeat. My body collided with his, knocking him away from Benita just in time.
We tumbled across the ground, a chaotic mix of fur and vampire strength. I landed on top of him, pinning him down. A deep, vibrating growl erupted from my chest, echoing through the clearing like a thunderclap. The sheer force of my growl made everyone freeze in their tracks but not Damien. He kept on hissing at me while struggling against my hold. But my grip was unyielding, fueled by a primal fury that surged through my veins.
Damien’s eyes flashed with a sudden, fierce power. In an instant, a surge of power coursed through , and he unleashed it with a roar. The force hit me like a tidal wave, sending me flying through the air. I crashed into the porch, my impact breaking the wooden posts with a loud splintering sound. Pain seared through my body, a sharp, burning sensation radiating from where the jagged wood had pierced my side.
Gritting my teeth, I struggled to push myself up, but my vision blurred from the pain. Before I could fully recover, I saw Damien charging towards me with murderous intent in his eyes, and his speed unnerving.
My instincts kicked in, and I rolled to the side just as he reached me, his claws scraping against the broken wood where I had been lying moments before. The near miss gave me a moment to catch my breath, but it wasn’t enough. He was relentless, his movements a blur as he charged again. I barely managed to dodge his strike, my side screaming in agony with every movement. The sharp, jagged piece of wood lodged deep into my body burned with a searing pain. Gritting my teeth, I shifted back to my human form, the transformation intensifying the pain but freeing me from the limitations of my wolf body.
Breathing heavily, I stood up, clutching my side where the stick protruded grotesquely. I glared at Damien, my eyes blazing with fury. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Damien?” I snarled, my voice rough and filled with anger. “Are you here to showcase your powers by attacking my pack?”
Damien’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint as he bared his fangs. “It wasn’t my intention to attack your pack,” he growled, his voice dripping with irritation. “Your people were stopping me from getting to the person I mostly want.”
“And who the hell is so important that you’d risk an all-out war?” I demanded, taking a step forward despite the pain shooting through my body. I needed to understand what had driven him to such reckless aggression.
Damien’s expression hardened. “That’s none of your concern, Ralph. I’ve stayed out of your way, and I expect the same in return. But your pack interfered.”
I could feel my blood boiling, the pain mixing with my rage. “When you threaten my pack, it becomes my concern,” I spat back. “You can’t just waltz in here and expect no resistance. We protect our own.”
“Call off your pack,” he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “Let me get what I came for, and I’ll leave. There’s no need for more bloodshed. But if you can’t, I will go through you.”
“Before I get you the person you want, tell me who it is and what he did,” I said, my patience wearing thin. “Who is it? Tell me who you’re after.”
“Is this about your late wife again?” I asked, eyeing him warily. “This is exactly how you reacted a few years ago when you thought I killed her.”
The mention of his wife sent a visible tremor through him. His eyes flashed with the same dark power he had unleashed before. In a heartbeat, he sent a wave of force toward me, driving the jagged stick deeper into my side. I crumpled to the ground, gasping in pain.
As he moved to get inside, a sudden surge of magic erupted in front of him, halting his advance and sending him flying backward. He landed hard, skidding across the ground before coming to a halt. Between him and the entrance stood Isabella, her eyes glowing with a fierce, otherworldly light.
“That’s far enough, Damien,” she said, her voice calm but deadly. “You will not harm anyone else here.”
Damien snarled, pushing himself to his feet, his eyes narrowing at Isabella. “Stay out of this, witch.”
Isabella’s expression remained unchanged, her power crackling in the air around her.
“You’ve crossed a line, Damien. You attacked our pack without provocation. You won’t get any further.”
Damien launched forward, propelled like a gust of wind towards Isabella. But she was ready. With a flick of her wrist, she halted him mid-air, suspending him with an invisible force. He hung there, struggling against the magical bonds that held him in place.
“Stop!” Isabella commanded, her voice ringing with authority. Her eyes bore into his, glowing even brighter as she exerted her power. “Leave now, Damien. This is your last warning.”
Damien struggled, muscles straining as he tried to break free from the magical hold. The air around him crackled with the intensity of his efforts, but Isabella’s magic held firm. She stepped forward, her gaze unwavering.
“You’ve lost yourself in your rage,” Isabella continued, her tone softening slightly but remaining resolute. “This path leads only to more pain and destruction. Turn back before it’s too late.”
Damien’s face twisted in a mixture of anger and frustration. For a moment, it seemed as though he might relent, but then his expression hardened once more. He glared at Isabella, defiance blazing in his eyes.
“I can’t,” he growled. “Not until I get what I came for.”
“Then you leave me no choice,” Isabella said quietly. With a flick of her wrist, she sent him hurtling backward. He hit the ground hard, the impact driving the air from his lungs. The other vampires tried to intervene but they were no match to her.
“This is your last chance, Damien. Walk away. Don’t make me do this.”
Damien lay on the ground for a moment, breathing heavily. Slowly, he pushed himself up, his eyes locked on Isabella. For a moment, it seemed like he might attack again, but then, with a snarl of frustration, he turned to the other vampires and urged them to retreat. Once all his people had left, he vanished too.
Isabella rushed to my side, her hands already glowing with healing magic. “Hold still, son,” she said, her voice softening with concern. “This will hurt, but I need to get that wood out.”
I nodded, gritting my teeth against the pain. “Do it,” I managed to say.
She worked quickly, her magic easing the worst of the pain as she carefully extracted the piece of wood. I could feel the warmth of her healing energy knitting my torn flesh back together, the pain gradually subsiding to a dull ache.
“Thank you, Isabella,” I said, my voice hoarse.
She gave me a small, reassuring smile. “It’s my duty, Ralph. And my honor.” She glanced toward the direction where Damien had disappeared. “Does he still think you’re the source of his wife’s death?” she asked.
“The last time we talked, he seemed to understand it wasn’t me,” I replied, frustration edging my voice. What I noticed, though, is that he somehow used his abilities to locate the real culprit, and that culprit is one of my pack members and he knows who it is. But what I don’t understand is why he wasn’t saying their name.”