Xander’s POV
The air felt heavier than usual as dawn broke through the castle windows. Each ray of light seemed to mock my mood, indifferent to the storm raging inside me. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, adjusting the thick leather belts and silver clasps of the Official Nightfang Alpha’s war attire. Every piece fit snugly, a second skin that promised dominance, but beneath it, I felt hollow.
The face staring back at me was taut with fury and guilt. Alison. The one person I’d vowed to protect now lay in the infirmary, death circling her like a vulture. And I had failed her.
A knock broke through my thoughts. Luke entered cautiously, bowing slightly before speaking. “The car’s ready, Alpha. The team awaits your command.”
I nodded without looking at him. “Pick only 4 warriors to accompany us, Dismissed,” I said curtly. I needed a moment, one last goodbye before I plunged into chaos.
My boots were heavy against the stone floor as I entered Alison’s room. The stillness here was suffocating. Her pale face, once vibrant and full of life, now looked ghostly against the sheets. I knelt beside her, my hand closing around hers. It was cold… too cold.
“I’ll find who did this to you,” I whispered, my voice rough. “And when I do, they’ll beg for the mercy I don’t intend to give.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingering as if willing some of my strength into her frail body.
I rose, turning sharply and striding out without looking back. If I stayed any longer, I might break, and that was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
The car ride to Silver Moon territory was agonizingly silent. The steady hum of the engine did little to drown out the cacophony of emotions tearing me apart. Guilt, anger, and an insatiable need for vengeance churned in my chest. Cain, my wolf, growled restlessly. He wanted blood.
Hours later, the Silver Moon gates loomed ahead, tall and imposing. The air here was different, laced with tension and the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Memories of Alison surfaced unbidden… her lonely expression, the way her eyes sparkled the first time I saw her. It had been here, by the side gate. Now, that memory was tainted, overshadowed by her motionless form back at the castle.
Two warriors stood guard at the entrance. Their rigid postures betrayed their nerves. They recognized me, their eyes darting between each other, uncertain.
“I need to see Kendrick,” I said, my voice low but commanding.
The taller one shook his head. “We can’t let you in, Alpha. Orders are.. ”
That was all Cain needed. He surged forward, the shift taking over before I could think. My body contorted violently, bones cracking and reshaping as fur erupted from my skin. The pain of the transformation was something I hadn’t felt in years now but it hard suddenly resurfaces, replaced by the raw power of Cain’s form.
Standing on four massive legs, I was an imposing shadow of black fur and muscle, my glowing amber eyes fixed on the guards. Cain’s growl rumbled deep and low, vibrating through the earth beneath us.
The first guard didn’t even have time to react before I lunged. My claws tore through his chest with a sickening sound, his blood spraying across the ground as he crumpled. The second tried to retreat, but Cain was faster. With a leap, I pinned him down, my jaws closing around his neck. The crunch of bone was swift, and his body fell limp beneath me.
Blood dripped from my fangs as I lifted my head, letting out a thunderous roar that echoed through the territory. Cain wanted more, but I forced him back. The shift was smooth this time, my body snapping back into human form with practiced ease. I adjusted my uniform, ignoring the blood staining my hands and the metallic tang that clung to the air.
Luke approached cautiously, his eyes wide. “Alpha…”
“Let’s go,” I snapped, cutting him off. I didn’t have time for his concern.
Inside the packhouse, the scent of fear was palpable. Kendrick’s pacing figure came into view, his brow furrowed in frustration. His head snapped up as I entered, his face paling at the sight of me.
“Xander,” he started, but I wasn’t here for words.
I closed the distance in a heartbeat, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. The impact cracked the wood, and his gasp of pain was music to Cain’s ears.
“You dared to harm Alison,” I snarled, my voice barely human. “You have succeeded in killing her. But hear me now… you won’t live to see another day if she stops breathing.”
Kendrick’s eyes were wide with fear, his hands clawing at mine as he struggled to speak. “I didn’t… ”
“Don’t lie to me!” I roared, tightening my grip.
“I didn’t do it!” he choked out. “I swear! I loved her!”
The words made me falter. Loved her? My grip loosened slightly.
“She was my mate,” Kendrick said, his voice hoarse. “My true mate. I rejected her, yes, but I didn’t want her dead. I just wanted her back!”
The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. Alison had been Kendrick’s mate? My Alison?
I shoved him away, disgust twisting my features. “I don’t care,” I spat. “Whatever she was to you doesn’t matter now. If she dies, so do you and everyone in this godforsaken pack.”
Kendrick’s face twisted with desperation. “Xander, I didn’t do this! You have to believe me!”
I turned my back on him, the fury simmering beneath my skin barely contained. “Pray that she survives,” I said coldly. “Because if she doesn’t, you’ll wish you were dead long before I’m through with you.”
His voice rose behind me as I left. “I didn’t do it, Xander! Please!”
Outside, a group of warriors had gathered. Their wide eyes followed me as I approached, their fear thick in the air. None of them dared move as I passed, their bodies stiff with terror.
Luke caught up with me at the car. “What now, Alpha?”
“Keep watching them,” I said. “Someone here must know the truth. I want answers.”
He nodded. “I’ve got a scout on it. We’ll have something within two days.”
I climbed into the car, the silence between us stretching thin. Cain growled softly, restless and unsatisfied.
“Your time will come,” I muttered, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
The road back to the castle was long, and the weight of guilt pressed down on me with every mile. Kendrick’s words lingered in my mind, but I shoved them aside. Alison was mine. I had failed her once, but I wouldn’t fail her again.
As the castle came into view, I exhaled slowly, steeling myself. There was still much to do, and I wouldn’t rest until the one who hurt her paid with blood.