Alexander’s POV
Tyler and Jake exchanged a glance, their expressions hardening. They were committed to their mission, and they weren’t about to let me or Ethan, my loyal companion, stand in their way.
With a swift movement, Tyler fired a shot from his silver pistol, narrowly missing me. I dodged to the side, the sound of the gunshot ringing in my ears. Ethan leaped at Jake, their forms colliding in a flurry of fur and teeth.
I put away my contempt for the wolf hunters and focused on the battle at hand. Tyler and Jake were no amateurs; they had trained for this moment for years. But so had I.
We clashed, our bodies moving with precision and agility. Over the years, the werewolf hunters had lacked the rigorous training that I had undergone as the Alpha of the Shadow City. It wasn’t long before they found themselves at a disadvantage, their stamina dwindling with each passing moment.
Tyler clutched his side, blood staining his shirt from a wound I had inflicted. Jake’s face was bruised and battered, and his grip on his pistol had weakened. The guns, their only advantage in this fight, were knocked to the ground, out of reach.
I couldn’t help but feel a surge of arrogance as I looked down at them, a contemptuous smile playing on my lips. Despite their injuries, Tyler and Jake glared up at me, their determination unwavering. They were fighters, and they wouldn’t back down so easily.
I approached them, my wolf instincts roaring with triumph. I had the upper hand now, and I intended to make them see reason. But just as I was about to strike a decisive blow, Sophia’s voice rang out, filled with worry and desperation.
“Stop it, please!” she cried, rushing forward to stand between us.
I halted in my tracks, my eyes locked onto hers. She looked torn, her gaze moving from me to Tyler and Jake. It was clear that she didn’t want to see any more bloodshed.
“Please,” she continued, her voice trembling. “Stop the fighting. We can’t continue like this.”
Tyler and Jake, their bodies battered and bruised, seemed to deflate slightly. They had been willing to fight for their cause, but they couldn’t ignore the woman they cared about.
Sophia pleaded with them, her voice filled with urgency. “We’ve all misunderstood each other. Alexander, as the Alpha of the Shadow City, has never harmed humans. Tyler and Jake, you took me away out of concern that the werewolf hunters might discover my close relationship with the werewolves and harm me. But we can find a way to reconcile, to live in peace.”
I watched as Tyler and Jake exchanged a glance, their expressions conflicted. The tension in the room began to dissipate, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.
“We never wanted to hurt you,” Tyler said finally, his voice tired. “But we also couldn’t stand by and watch you get caught up in a war that wasn’t your own.”
Jake nodded in agreement. “We care about you, and we thought we were doing what was best for you.”
I stepped back, my anger and arrogance giving way to a sense of understanding. They had acted out of concern for Sophia, just as I had. Perhaps there was a way for us to find common ground, to protect her without resorting to violence.
Sophia smiled, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “Now, can we please find a way to work things out?”
I nodded, my heart swelling with affection for her. She had a way of bringing out the best in people, of making them see reason even in the midst of conflict.
I halted my attack, my eyes locked onto Tyler and Jake. The tension in the room was palpable, but I couldn’t ignore the burning need to protect Sophia. She was not only the mother of my child but also my Luna, my mate, and I would stop at nothing to keep her safe.
“I won’t allow anyone else to harm her,” I declared, my voice low and filled with determination. “She’s mine, and I’ll protect her myself.”
Tyler and Jake exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of anger and frustration. They had come here with the intention of taking Sophia away from me, but I wasn’t about to let that happen. I had made up my mind, and I was willing to do whatever it took to keep her by my side.
“Listen carefully,” I continued, my tone unwavering. “If you ever lay eyes on her again, if you continue to pursue her, you’ll make enemies of the entire werewolf hunter organization. I’ll annihilate every last one of you.”
My words hung in the air, a heavy threat that left no room for negotiation. I knew that the hunters were a formidable force, but I was an Alpha, and I had the power to protect what was mine.
Tyler and Jake glared at me, their fury evident in their expressions. They had underestimated me, had thought that they could simply take Sophia away from the Shadow City. But they had no idea of the lengths I would go to for her.
I turned to Sophia, my gaze softening as I reached out to embrace her. She came willingly into my arms, her trust in me unwavering. I held her close, my lips brushing against her neck. With a swift, gentle motion, I marked her, biting down on her skin.
Sophia gasped in surprise, her hands coming up to clutch my arms. It was a powerful and intimate gesture, one that bound us together in a way that no one could break. She was mine, and I was hers, and nothing could change that.