Alpha King Silas
The air around the pack had changed, thickening with unease. It wasn’t just the usual tension of an Alpha preparing for battle; it was the palpable knowledge that something far darker had brewed beyond our borders. The first attack had come swiftly, a calculated strike that left two of our sentries dead before the others could rally. The pack was restless, anxious, and rightly so.
The enemy wasn’t just another rogue band. They were a neighboring pack, one that had long been silent but now showed their fangs with a ferocity that hinted at outside influence. My gut told me it was the vampires. They had been lying low for too long, and now their shadows stretched over my land.
Selena stood beside me in the war room, her delicate fingers trailing across the map spread before us. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she studied the markers representing our forces and the enemy’s. Despite the chaos, she was a picture of calm determination, her mind sharp and focused in a way that both awed and frustrated me.
“You need to pull back your scouts from the eastern ridge,” she said, her voice steady but firm. “It’s too exposed. If the vampires are involved, they’ll use the terrain against us.”
I crossed my arms, studying her. “And leave our eastern flank vulnerable?”
“It’s already vulnerable,” she replied, meeting my gaze with a look that brooked no argument. “The high ground there is perfect for an ambush. You’ll lose more wolves if you keep them stationed there.”
She was right. She was always right. And yet, the mate bond made it impossible for me to ignore the faint trace of fear in her voice. I knew she hated the thought of me on the battlefield, and every strategic move she made was as much about protecting me as it was about ensuring our victory.
“Fine,” I said, nodding. “We’ll adjust the positioning.”
A flicker of relief crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by the Stoic mask she wore so well.
When the next attack came, it was as brutal as we had feared.
The enemy surged across our borders in waves, their howls splitting the night air. I was at the front, my wolf surging with fury as we clashed against them. The scent of blood and the cries of the wounded filled the battlefield, a symphony of chaos that would have shaken a lesser Alpha.
But not me. Not when my pack-and my mate-depended on me.
Selena had stayed behind as planned, coordinating reinforcements and managing the wounded. I knew she wanted to do more, to fight beside me, but I couldn’t risk her safety. Still, her influence was felt in every maneuver, every decision. Her strategies turned what could have been a devastating loss into a hard-fought victory.
By the time the sun rose, the enemy had retreated, leaving behind a battlefield littered with bodies.
That evening, the war room was quieter but no less tense. Selena paced near the hearth, her hands clasped behind her back.
“They’re testing us,” she said, her tone sharper than usual. “This wasn’t an all-out assault. They’re probing our defenses, looking for weaknesses.”
I leaned against the table, my arms braced as I studied the map. “And what did they find?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly, then hesitated. “For now.”
I looked up at her, sensing the unspoken worry beneath her words. “But?”
She stopped pacing, turning to face me. “They’re working with the vampires, Silas. You know it as well as I do. This isn’t just about space; it’s about destruction. They want you to up.”
Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let it show. “Let them try,” I said, my voice hard.
Selena stepped closer, her expression softening. “I’m not saying this to scare you. I just… I need you to be careful. They’ll use anything against you. Against us.”
Her hand brushed mine, and for a moment, the weight of the world fell away. The mate bond pulsed between us, a reminder of the strength we shared.
“They won’t break us,” I promised, pulling her into my arms. “Not now, not ever.”
I should have known better than to make such promises.
The attack came three nights later, swift and devastating. But it wasn’t aimed at the pack-it was aimed at me.
At her.
I was patrolling the borders when the warning howl split the air. I shifted immediately, racing back toward the packhouse, dread clawing at my chest. When I arrived, chaos greeted me. Wolves were shouting, their faces pale with fear.
“Selena!” I roared, shoving past them.
“She’s gone,” Lylia said, her voice trembling. “The vampires-”
I didn’t wait for her to finish. Shifting mid-stride, I followed the faint trace of Selena’s scent, my wolf howling with rage and desperation. It led me to the edge of the forest, where the faint stench of vampires clung to the air.
I stopped, panting, my claws digging into the ground. The bond still thrummed faintly in my chest, a lifeline telling me she was alive, but the distance between us burned like acid.
“They took her,” I growled, the words barely intelligible through my fangs.
A figure emerged from the shadows-a messenger. He was young, pale, and reeked of vampire blood.
“You must be Alpha Silas,” he said with a sneer. “They told me you’d come running.”
I lunged at him, pinning him to a tree before he could react. “Where is she?” I snarled.
He choked, his smirk faltering. “She’s alive-for now. My masters wanted me to deliver a message.”
“Speak,” I growled, tightening my grip.
“They want your surrender,” he rasped. “If you value her life, you’ll come to them. Alone.”
I released him with a snarl, and he crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. “You tell your masters this,” I said, my voice low and deadly. “If they harm her, I’ll burn their entire clan to the ground.”
The messenger scrambled away, disappearing into the shadows.
I stood there for a moment, breathing hard, my wolf snarling with frustration. Selena was gone, and the vampires had made their move.
But this wasn’t over.
Not by a long shot.