Ethan pov
I made my way to the storeroom, glancing around with unease as I tried to figure out the source of the darkness. The windows that should have been open were securely locked. “Clark!” I called for my beta, my gaze scanning the area cautiously. The pack house was bright, but the storeroom was shrouded in shadows. As Alpha, I had mandated that the storeroom always be illuminated, yet now it was unnaturally dark. I waited, but there were no footsteps. Instead, a foul odor filled the air, reminiscent of decay. Suddenly, I heard the buzzing of flies.
Where is the pack security officer?
“Alpha Ethan?” Clark’s voice came from behind me.
“Clark, something feels off,” I replied, a sense of dread creeping in.
I turned to face Clark, who wore a worried expression. His brow was knitted, and he was clearly disturbed by the rancid smell.
“What’s happening, Clark?” I asked, keeping my tone steady. “I instructed that the storeroom be kept well-lit. What is that odor?”
Clark scanned the room, his hand moving to the radio on his belt. “I’m not sure, Alpha. I was on my rounds and saw the windows were locked. I was about to check the fuse box when I heard you call.”
I approached the windows, my instincts heightened. The locks were secure, with no signs of tampering. But the stench was overwhelming.
“Get the security team here immediately,” I ordered, my mind racing with alarming possibilities. “And find out who is behind this.”
Clark nodded and immediately spoke into his radio. “We have a security breach in the storeroom. Alpha needs immediate backup.”
As his voice resonated through the radio, I moved toward the center of the room. The buzzing of flies intensified, and my stomach twisted with unease. Something was definitely off.
Out of nowhere, I heard a faint rustling from the shadows. I froze, my heart racing.
“Clark, step back,” I warned, scanning the dark corners.
Clark paused briefly before backing away to the doorway, his hand poised on his weapon.
The rustling intensified, and I could feel movement nearby. My instincts urged me to react, to prepare for a confrontation.
Yet, I remained steady, my human side resisting the urge to panic.
“Alpha, please stay back. It’s our responsibility to protect you,” he said quietly. The rustling sounded like someone trying to escape or speak.
I leaned closer to Clark and whispered, “Clark, there’s someone in that sack, struggling.”
I caught a human voice mumbling, “Alpha.” He responded quickly, turning to the security guard.
“Check the shaking sack.”
“Secure the perimeter!” Clark commanded the security guard, his gaze fixed on the sack. “No one enters or exits until we understand the situation.”
The guard nodded, his expression resolute, and quickly left the room.
I stepped forward, my heart pounding with anticipation. The muffled voice became louder, more insistent.
“Alpha, please,” Clark cautioned, placing his hand on my arm. “Let us evaluate the situation before taking any action.”
I shrugged him off, my attention fixed on the sack. “We must determine who or what is inside.”
Clark’s grip tightened, yet I managed to free myself, my Alpha instincts surging to the forefront.
The sack trembled violently, and the voice within grew increasingly frantic. I could discern words now: “Help… me… please…”
For a brief moment, my vision blurred, accompanied by a rush of adrenaline. Whoever was trapped inside was in dire straits.
“Cut the sack open,” I commanded Clark, my tone resolute.
Clark hesitated for just an instant before retrieving his knife. He meticulously sliced through the coarse fabric, and the sack fell away, unveiling a battered and bruised figure.
A young woman, likely no older than twenty-five, lay before us. Her eyes, wide with terror, locked onto mine.
“Alpha,” she murmured, her voice quivering.
I knelt beside her, my heart pounding with concern. “Who did this to you?”
The woman’s gaze flickered to Clark before returning to me. “She… she is coming for me,” she stuttered.
Clark’s expression darkened. “Who is coming?”
Suddenly, the woman’s eyes rolled back, and her body began to convulse.
“No, no, no,” I growled, holding her steady. “Stay with me.”
Clark quickly called for medical help as I cradled the woman’s head in my lap.
“Alpha, we need to ensure her safety,” Clark insisted.
I nodded, my mind racing with questions. Who was responsible for this? And what were their intentions?
As the medical team hurried in, I overheard the woman’s faint words: “she …she.”
A wave of fury washed over me.
We had a traitor in our midst.
“Please take her. Ensure her safety. Begin all necessary treatments immediately,” I commanded, my tone resolute yet tinged with worry.
I hoped she would survive.
“Please take her. Ensure her safety. Begin all necessary treatments immediately,” I reiterated, my voice steady but filled with concern.
The medical team swiftly placed the woman onto a stretcher, and I observed as they hurried her out of the storage area.
Clark’s face reflected my own emotions-determination and anger.
“Discover who is responsible for this, Clark,” I demanded. “I want names.”
Clark nodded, his jaw tight. “I will uncover the truth, Alpha.”
As we trailed the medical team to the infirmary, my thoughts raced with uncertainty. Who was this woman? What had led to such violence against her? And who was the “she” she had mentioned?
Upon our arrival at the infirmary, the doctor met us with a serious demeanor. “Alpha, we will do everything within our power.”
I nodded, my gaze fixed on the woman’s delicate figure. “Keep me informed.”
He acknowledged my request and began his examination.
Clark placed a hand on my arm. “Alpha, we must address security matters.”
I nodded and followed him to a secluded corner of the room.
“Our pack is at risk,” Clark murmured. “There is a traitor among us.”
My eyes narrowed in response. “Identify who it is.”
Clark’s expression darkened. “I will review the security footage.”