Page 31 of Alpha's Heir

The three of us huddled over the map, tracing routes and discussing potential locations. Every suggestion was weighed against a myriad of factors – secrecy, safety, resources. It was a daunting task, and the weight of our responsibility pressed heavily on my shoulders.

As we talked, I couldn't help but glance towards the stairs occasionally, half expecting Cora to come looking for me. But she needed her rest, now more than ever. We had to make this work, for her, for our unborn child, for our pack.

"We also need to think about how we're going to transport everyone," Tara said, breaking into my thoughts. "It's not just the people; we've got supplies, medical equipment, all the essentials."

"Right," I said, rubbing my temples. "We're going to need vehicles, a lot of them. And drivers who can keep their cool under pressure."

The conversation shifted to logistics – vehicles, supplies, routes. The complexity of the situation was overwhelming, but we couldn't afford to miss anything. One oversight could mean disaster for everyone.

Hours passed as we strategized, the room filled with the scratch of pens on paper and the low murmur of conversation. We plotted and planned, our minds working overtime to cover every angle, every possibility.

As dawn approached, we were still deep in discussion, the map on my desk littered with notes and markers. We were making progress, but there was still so much to do.

Finally, Rick leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath. "We've got a solid start, but there's a lot more to figure out."

"We'll meet again tomorrow night, keep working on this," I said, determination steeling my voice. "We're going to get everyone out, no matter what it takes."

The silence of the night was shattered by a sudden eruption of chaos. Screams pierced the air, accompanied by the feral snarls and growls of wolves. "Shit," I muttered, bolting upright from my chair.

Rick, Tara, and I rushed out of my office, heading towards the sounds of the attack. Outside, the compound had turned into a battlefield. The Unseen Pack was here, their shadow forms weaving in and out of the fight, striking with a ferocity that chilled me to the bone.

My pack members, both in human and wolf forms, fought bravely, but the Unseen Pack was relentless. I watched in horror as one of our own was cornered by a shadow wolf, its claws raking across their flesh in a way that I knew too well could lead to them turning.

I was about to jump into the fray when my eyes landed on a figure standing amidst the chaos, orchestrating the attack. "Preston," I hissed under my breath. There he was, the bastard who had been my friend, now commanding these monsters.

Anger surged through me, propelling me forward. I needed to confront him, to end this. But as I moved, a desperate cry nearby caught my attention. One of our younger members was being overwhelmed by a shadow wolf. Damn it. I couldn't leave them. With a frustrated growl, I changed course, lunging at the shadow wolf and tackling it away from the young wolf.

By the time I looked back to where Preston had been, he had vanished, swallowed up by the shadows and chaos. "Coward!" I yelled into the night, knowing he could hear me.

With Preston gone, I had no choice but to focus on the immediate threat. I shifted into my wolf form, letting the animal within take over. My instincts, honed through years of training and fighting, kicked in. I lunged, bit, and clawed, fighting alongside my pack to push back the Unseen Pack.

The battle raged on, a blur of fur, teeth, and shadow. I fought with everything I had, protecting my pack, my family. But deep down, a sinking realization took hold – this was just the beginning. Preston, now the alpha of the Unseen Pack, had declared war.

As I dove back into the fray, a fierce determination fueled my movements. I wouldn't let them take us down. Not without a fight.

The compound was a whirlwind of snarls, growls, and clashing bodies. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging through me as I darted through the melee. Eyes scanning the chaos, I searched for Preston, that traitorous bastard, amidst the clash of wolves.

A shadow wolf lunged at me, its form almost blending into the darkness. I sidestepped, barely avoiding its snapping jaws. Another came from the side, and I twisted, feeling the air brush against my fur as its claws swiped where I had just been. The ferocity of their attacks was relentless.

I was a seasoned fighter, but even I could feel the strain. My muscles screamed with the effort, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Each dodge, each leap, each counterstrike was pushing me to my limits.

"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath as a shadow wolf managed to graze my flank. The pain was sharp but bearable. I couldn't let it slow me down. I had to keep fighting, for my pack, for Cora, for our unborn child.

Two more wolves charged at me. I met the first with a powerful swipe of my paw, sending it reeling. The second one was smarter, waiting for an opening. I feinted left, then lunged right, catching it off guard and pinning it to the ground. But I didn't have time to finish it off – another shadow wolf was already on me, forcing me back into the fight.

The battle seemed endless. Each time I thought we were gaining ground, more of them would appear, like shadows given life. I was fighting three, sometimes four at once, pushing myself harder than ever before.

My heart raced, my limbs ached, but I couldn't stop. Every time I saw one of my pack members in trouble, every snarl and yelp, fueled my resolve. We were outnumbered, but we wouldn't go down without a fight.

In the midst of the battle, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure – one of the pack elders, cornered by two shadow wolves. Without hesitation, I charged towards them, barreling into the attackers and sending them sprawling.

I fought with a ferocity born of desperation, of the need to protect my pack. But even as I fought, I knew that this was a battle we couldn't afford to lose.

The fight raged on, the night air filled with the sounds of battle, the scent of blood and fear. I didn't know how much longer we could hold them off, but I knew one thing for certain – I wouldn't stop fighting until my last breath.

For my pack. For my wife. And for my child’s future.

Chapter fifteen

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