Page 43 of Alpha's Promise

A silent invocation passed his lips, and he reached out along the supernatural link that tethered him to Dakota—a bond wrought from desire, necessity, and something far more ancient. The connection thrummed with her essence, pulsing with a rhythm that spoke of movement, of distance being conquered. Landon concentrated on the faint signal that beckoned him toward her. His senses expanded beyond the tangible, straining against the unseen threads of their entwined fates.

And though the night was quiet, the whisper of danger was ever-present, seeping into the cabin with the chill of foreboding. Landon Savage flew on, a lone avenger cloaked in shadow, racing against time to thwart an unknown fate.

The chopper's blades sliced through the night air as Landon descended upon the estate owned by Dakota’s grandfather like a predator drawn to the scent of turmoil. The moon hung low in the sky, a silent witness draped in a shroud of silver mist as the sun began to rise at his back. Below him, the canvas of land began to come to life in color.

Landon landed the helicopter with a controlled urgency, the skids kissing the ground as he leapt out, boots grinding on the displaced gravel as he ran towards the house. His senses, already heightened by the supernatural bond he shared with Dakota, were now razor-sharp, zeroing in on the scuffle he could tell was taking place inside the house.

"Let her go and walk away," he called out, his voice steady and commanding despite the chaos that clawed at his insides. It wasn't just an offer; it was a final warning, charged with the latent power of his lineage.

He could tell she had reached the end of her endurance and strength. If he’d done anything to truly harm her, or if Dakota wanted him dead, her ex would die.

"You were late coming home," Landon teased, lacing his tone with the wry humor he knew she enjoyed.

‘Focus, Landon,’he heard her say down the bonding link, despite the pain he knew she had to be in.

Her ex, fueled by anger and entitlement, howled at the interruption — a grave mistake. Ignorance and arrogance blinding him to the danger that now faced him, he turned back to Dakota, intent on proving a point.

That single act triggered something primal within Landon. With a guttural growl, he summoned forth his inner wolf, its form growing in size and strength as Dakota's dire wolf DNA surged through its veins. The once calm mist now became a raging maelstrom of raw power and ferocity, and as it cleared, there stood a creature straight out of ancient legends. Eyes ablaze with primal fire, the man was no more, replaced by a beast fueled by instinct and untamed savagery.

The fight was brutal, savage and furious. Claws and teeth met flesh in a symphony of snarls and growls. Each move was instinctual yet precise, honed by years of navigating the untamed lands of Copper Canyon. Her ex fought with the desperation of a cornered animal, but he was no match for the raw power of Landon’s unleashed wolf.

Blood stained the floors and carpets and was splattered on the walls, a scarlet testament to the ferocity of their battle. As the end drew near, the ex's eyes widened with the dawning realization of his fatal error. With a final, decisive blow, Landon ended the threat once and for all, the life fading from the man's eyes as quickly as the first rays of dawn began to climb into the sky.

Silence reclaimed the home Dakota had known with her grandfather, broken only by the labored breath of the victor standing over his vanquished foe. In the aftermath, Landon's human consciousness returned. He shifted back, the magic of his being weaving him whole again, every cell remembering its place.

Dakota shifted and approached, her eyes reflecting a tumultuous storm of emotions. She reached out, her touch grounding him and pulling him back from the edge of his feral nature. They stood there, united by blood, spirit, and a love that had weathered the dark storms they had passed through to reach the dawn of their new beginning.

The faint light of dawn streaked the sky in hues of gold and crimson, painting the rugged landscape below with soft warmth. Landon tightened his grip on Dakota’s hand as they walked toward the helicopter, the rotors casting a faint, rhythmic shadow against the morning light. Her presence beside him was steady and sure, her wild spirit no longer a secret but a strength that had saved them both.

The first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon as Landon shrugged into a spare shirt from the copter, the scent of dawn mixing with the faint tang of fuel from the helicopter. Dakota zipped her jacket, her eyes catching the golden light, and gave him a small, knowing smile.

“I love you, you know,” he said simply.

“I know. Ready?” she asked, her voice laced with humor.

He grabbed her arm, turning her around and pulling her in. “Oh no, you don’t get away that easily.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing her body to melt into his. “I love you, too. Good enough?”

“That’ll do for a start,” he said, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face.

They climbed into the cockpit, the rotors slicing through the stillness as the helicopter lifted off. The ground fell away beneath them, the horizon glowing brighter with the promise of a new day. Beside him, Dakota rested her hand lightly on his as he gripped the controls firmly. Giving her his best smile, he flew the helicopter east to the wolves, chasing the sky and the promise of a new day and endless possibilities.

BRYCE

Bryce Savage stood at the edge of the paddock, the early morning light painting the world in soft hues of gold. He watched a young colt tentatively step toward its mother, its leg wrapped in fresh bandages Bryce had carefully applied at dawn. There was a quiet satisfaction in moments like this, a reminder that even the smallest wounds could heal with enough patience and care.

The crisp air carried the familiar scents of the ranch—hay, damp earth, and the faint musk of the pack's territory beyond the rolling hills. Bryce ran a hand through his dark hair, his wolf stirring faintly beneath his skin. Something felt different today, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

A soft growl caught his attention, and he turned toward the barn. A truck rattled up the gravel driveway, its tires scattering stones with an urgency that didn’t belong in the ranch’s usual rhythm. Bryce narrowed his eyes as the vehicle came to a stop, the engine cutting out abruptly.

The door opened, and she stepped out.

She looked like a shadow brought to life, her blonde hair a tangled veil that couldn’t hide the bruises along her cheekbone or the guarded look in her hazel eyes. The oversized flannelshe wore swallowed her small frame, as though she were trying to disappear within it. But even from a distance, Bryce could feel the faint hum of something beneath the surface—something wild, restrained, and desperately afraid. Something that called to that part of him that was primal and feral. The wolf within. He could feel the buzzing in his head, and he was completely disoriented, even though he had grown up on this ranch and had stood in this same spot more times than he could count.

Her eyes met his, and Bryce felt it like a punch to the chest. Pain. Not his own, but hers, radiating off her in waves he couldn’t ignore.

The ranch foreman stepped out of the barn and waved her over, breaking the spell. Bryce watched as the woman—Sable, the foreman had called her—approached, her steps hesitant yet purposeful. Her hands gripped a battered duffel bag, knuckles white with tension.

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