Ashford
The Alpha's face drained of color, rendering him momentarily speechless. He finally surrendered, drawing in a deep breath before uttering, "Are you planning to punish us for what my brother and his family did to her?"
I shook my head, reassuring him. "No," I replied, "the Alpha Heir has no intentions of holding the whole pack responsible for one family's scheme." Relief seemed to wash over the Alpha, but it didn't last long.
"Unless," I continued, my tone growing somber, "unless the Alpha refuses to help us find the real Serena."
He knew exactly what I meant, so he began unraveling Serena's story. He described her life and the hardships she endured, recounting the abuse she suffered at her stepmother Mathilde's, hands. Mathilde couldn't accept that her mate had fathered a child with another woman so she decided to make her life a living hell.
Disappointment clouded my expression as I leaned forward. "Why didn't you step in? Knowing what Serena went through, why didn't you do something? She was your brother’s daughter, for crying out loud!"
The Alpha leaned back, his face showing a mix of regret and understanding. "I wish I could have," he said solemnly. "But our pack's laws are strict, and they apply to everyone, even me. Personal matters, especially those within families, are off-limits for me to intervene in. You heard me and my brother earlier, right? My brother was too drunk in love to do anything about the abuse and my hands are tied."
I clenched my fists, unable to contain my exasperation any longer. "To hell with your laws," I exclaimed, my determination unwavering. "I don't care about pack traditions right now. I only want to find the real Serena. Where is she? I want to see her.”
Alpha Craig shook his head. “Serena is no longer here. She escape one night after the Alpha Heir’s visit. No one knows where she is right now.”
“Fuck!” I cursed, raking my fingers in my hair. I should have expected that the journey of finding Serena would not be easy yet a part of me was happy that finally, she had the courage to run away from this pack that failed to protect her.
A cloud of silence above us. Eventually, it was I who broke it. “Is there anything that you can give for us to recognize her? Like a picture, perhaps?”
Alpha Craig thought for a while. Then, his eyes lit up when he remembered something. “Serene is best friends with my daughter, Shey. Maybe we can find something in her room.”
We headed into Shey's room, footsteps gentle on the floor. The Alpha grabbed a picture from her bedside and handed it to me. When I looked at it, I couldn't help but let out a surprised sound.
The woman in the photo was incredibly beautiful. Her eyes shone with a special kind of charm, and her smile was just so warm and inviting. She seemed to jump right out of the picture with her loveliness, making the room feel magical. I was utterly captivated by her.
But before I could soak it all in, the outside world crashed in on us. Shouts filled the air and I knew right then and there that something bad happened. In so much hurry, we ran outside to check what was happening.
"We are under attack!" The omegas shouted in hysterics.
“What? Who are the intruders?” Alpha Craig queried. Some of the warriors gathered around him and provided an update.
“Rogues, Alpha Craig. They infiltrated the southern border and before we realized it, it was already too late.” The warrior leader’s voice was full of regret. Alpha Craig put his hand on his shoulder. “Now is not the time to feel that way. Protect the pack at all costs. We will get through this.”
The eyes of the warriors twinkled with their Alpha’s encouragement. I smiled at the scene. Maybe, Alpha Craig had let Serena down but I could feel how much he cared for the pack.
With that, I removed my upper tunic and flipped my head left and right to join them. “Count me in. Let’s show these rogues what were were made of.” With that, I let my inner wolf take over, transforming into my magnificent gray wolf form.
Alpha Craig nodded in appreciation but immediately turned to his warriors. "Stay alert, and please, be safe," he commanded everyone in all seriousness.
Every male wolf rushed outside to join the battle afterward. What I could feel at that moment was the desire to kill whoever it was that dared to attack this sanctuary.
The fight went on, and by the looks of it, we were gaining momentum. It was not until a copper-hued wolf came forward that the course of the battle, which we thought we were winning, changed.
I was never a stranger in a battle and so was Alpha Craig and a few warriors at our side. But the rogues were beating us by their numbers, adding to the ruthlessness of that mysterious copper-hued wolf helping them. It wasn’t long until I received my first injury from the fight.
I bit my lower lip seeing the once peaceful pack turned to rubble.
Alpha Craig's voice cut through the turmoil, and he approached me, his eyes filled with both determination and sorrow. "You gotta run, Beta Ashford," he urged as his words carried the weight of our pack's plight. "Go back to Blood Rose Pack and ask for their help. We will try to hold them until the backup arrives. I’m afraid we can’t win this on our own."
Gritting my teeth, I shook my head, sweat, and dirt clinging to my skin. "I won't run, Alpha. I'm the future Beta of Blood Rose. I won't abandon this fight. I am not a coward."
Alpha Craig's gaze was unwavering. "It's not cowardice, Beta. It's our only chance. Also, have you forgotten why you were here? This is not your fight and you cannot die here. You're the key to getting Serena her justice, something my brother and I failed to do."
I remembered my mission and the promise I made to Damon. He was right, I should have not intervened in this fight. But how could I not? They obviously need some help.
“Please, Beta. I am begging you,” the Alpha continued. “My men and I were ready to die defending my pack but not those pups and helpless pack members who have no skills to defend themselves. Do it for them, please. Save our people. You’re the only one who can do that. Make our sacrifice bloom.”
I looked around and saw the severity of the situation. Goldenridge’s line of defense was crumbling down and I grasped the sense on Alpha Craig’s suggestion.
My heart weighed heavy as I nodded, and the courageous Alpha bravely covered my escape. However, a few of the rogues caught sight of me. One of them shouted commands, and several others pursued me through the moonlit forest.
As I left the Golfenridge territory, I heard sorrowful howls. At that moment, I knew that Alpha Craig had fallen. But I could only mourn him for a moment, as my thoughts went back to my determination to escape in that place. Alive.
Just then, another being jumped at me already making me roll violently on the ground. I cursed myself for failing to dodge his attack. With my energy depleting, so does my heightened perception.
The rest of the wolves attacked. I felt the sharp claws of one of the rogues pierce through my back, tearing my skin. Another one targeted and wounded my neck.
I poured my last ounce of strength into the fight but I was too weak. I was even too weak to hold on to my wolf form. And as expected, I changed back into my original form, helpless.
I was catching my breath so hard as I felt the numbing of my body. It looked like it was the end of the line for me.
All of a sudden, a black wolf came from afar and began attacking the rogue who wounded my neck.
The rest of the rogues were obviously distraught. They stepped backward, ears straightened up, and bared their teeth. Just then. More wolves arrived. In a split second, the rogues who had been hunting me turned to be the prey. They all fell to the ground. Dead.
The rest of the wolves transformed into their original form as they walked in my direction. The red-head lad scooched and before I could figure out what he would do, everything turned black.