Page 34 of Alpha's Heir

I snarled in response, my mind racing. He was right. We were outnumbered and outmatched. The Unseen Pack was stronger, more ruthless. But I couldn't just give up. I had to protect my pack, my family.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I lunged at Preston again, my teeth bared. But he was quick, dodging my attack with ease. I spun around, ready to strike again, but he was always one step ahead.

The fight raged on, my body moving on instinct. I could feel my strength waning, my movements becoming slower, more labored. I was tiring, and Preston knew it. He was toying with me, wearing me down.

I glanced around, looking for any sign of help, any opportunity to turn the tide. But all I saw was chaos and destruction. My pack members were falling, one by one, their howls of pain and fear echoing through the night.

Preston saw my moment of weakness and pounced, his fist connecting with my jaw. I staggered back, my vision blurring. I shook my head, trying to clear the fog, but it was no use. I was losing this fight, and I knew it.

As Preston advanced, his eyes gleaming with triumph, I braced myself. I wasn't going to go down without a fight. I would protect my pack, my family, until my last breath.

My lungs burned with each ragged breath, the coppery taste of blood in my mouth. Preston stood before me, his expression one of twisted amusement. He was in his element, reveling in the chaos he'd unleashed.

"You're out of your depth, Weston," he sneered, circling me like a predator.

I growled, low and menacing, my eyes never leaving his. He was right – he was stronger, faster, but I couldn't afford to let doubt creep in. I needed to stay focused, for my pack, for Cora.

Preston lunged, his movements a blur. I barely managed to dodge, feeling the whoosh of air as his fist narrowly missed my face. I countered with a punch of my own, but he easily sidestepped, laughing mockingly.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice laced with contempt.

Anger surged within me, fueling my next attack. I threw a series of punches, each one more desperate than the last. But Preston danced around me, effortlessly avoiding my blows.

"You can't win, Weston. You never could," he said, his voice cold and merciless.

I tried to ignore his words, to block out the sounds of the ongoing battle around us. But it was impossible. The cries of pain, the roar of the flames – it was all-consuming.

Then, a loud, thunderous crash echoed through the night, pulling my attention away. One of the burning houses had collapsed, sending a cloud of ash and embers into the air. My heart sank. How many more would we lose tonight?

When I turned back, Preston was gone. Vanished into the chaos like a shadow. A part of me wanted to go after him, to end this once and for all. But I couldn't. Not while my pack needed me.

I shifted back into my wolf form, the transformation fueled by adrenaline and instinct. I threw myself into the fray, my teeth and claws my only weapons against the shadow wolves.

They were relentless, striking from the shadows with lethal precision. I fought with everything I had, but it was like battling smoke – they were everywhere and nowhere all at once.

I managed to save a few of my pack members, dragging them away from the heat of the battle. But for every one I saved, another fell. It was a losing battle, and deep down, I knew it.

I scanned the compound, desperately searching for any sign of Preston, but he was nowhere to be found. The realization hit me hard – he'd played us all along. The peace we'd thought we had was nothing but a ruse, a chance for him to strike when we least expected it.

The sound of the battle raged on, a cacophony of growls, snarls, and screams. The smell of smoke and blood filled my nostrils, a grim reminder of the cost of this war.

As I dove back into the fight, my body aching and my spirit waning, I knew that this was just the beginning. Preston had made his move, and now it was our turn to respond. We had to survive the night, regroup, and come up with a plan.

But in that moment, all I could do was fight, fight for my pack, for my family, and for the hope of a future that was slipping further away with each passing second. The chapter ended with me, a lone wolf amidst the chaos, determined to keep fighting until the very end.

The battle's ferocity was dwindling when a bone-chilling howl echoed from the depths of the forest. It was otherworldly, filled with a sinister power that made my fur stand on end. Within moments, the shadow wolves of the Unseen Pack began to vanish, melting into the darkness as if they were mere illusions.

I stood there, panting heavily, my heart racing in my chest. The compound was a scene of devastation. Homes were ablaze, their flames licking the night sky. Wounded pack members lay scattered across the ground, their moans and cries filling the air.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath. It was a disaster, the worst attack we'd ever faced. And I knew, right then and there, that we couldn't stay. Our time here was up.

I shifted back into my human form, my mind racing. "Damian, Jared!" I called out, spotting two of my most trusted pack members through the haze. "We need to organize teams – now!"

They hurried over, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. "Weston, what do you need?" Damian asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Damian, take a team and handle the fires. Save what you can," I instructed, my voice firm despite the chaos around us. "Jared, you're on first aid. Get anyone who can help. We need to treat the injured right away."

Jared nodded, his expression grim. "Got it, Alpha."

---