Alexei
The night air was thick with tension as we stormed the pack house. Shadows danced along the walls as we moved swiftly, with our mission occupying our thoughts. Damon, determined as ever, began his climb to the balcony where Romin awaited.
I could hear the echoes of my wolf spirit, a growling reminder of the atrocities Romin had committed. The desire to personally punish him burned within me, but I knew it was Damon's right, given the role Romin played in his tragic past.
I found myself in the west wing, facing down guards one floor below the impending confrontation. The clash of fur and fang echoed in the air, punctuated by the occasional howl and the thud of bodies hitting the floor under the silence of the night. The plan was clear – my team and I had decided to scatter, each of us taking a different route to maximize the chaos and take down as many guards as possible.
As I maneuvered through the dimly lit corridors of the west wing, I encountered a few more guards. Their eyes gleamed with the feral intensity of the wolf within, ready to defend the Alpha they swore their allegiance to. There was no need for weapons; our strength and primal instincts were the tools of our trade, and each battle I faced, I emerged victorious every time.
Stopping momentarily to catch my breath, a familiar smell caught my attention. Turning around, there she was—the she-wolf that put meaning in my life only to shatter it into tiny pieces afterward. Her presence amidst the chaos was unexpected, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
“Tori…” I struggled to breathe as her name escaped my lips. Tori smiled, and I could have sworn everything turned bright afterward.
"Hi, Alexei," she murmured, and a wave of conflicting emotions surged within me. The desire to embrace and kiss her clashed with the bitter memories of her betrayal. My eyes involuntarily dropped to her growing belly, a painful reminder of how deep the wounds are inside my heart.
"I miss you, mate," Tori spoke again, this time with warmth, and I struggled to maintain my resolve. Ignoring her seemed like the right choice, even as her words tugged at my heart.
I turned around, praying to the goddess that she didn’t catch the deep longing I had for her. Gathering every bit of courage I had in me, I revealed, "You better run and save yourself while there’s time. We raided the whole pack house with Damon leading us. He is on the balcony, confronting the fake Alpha."
Tori's eyes widened, confusion etched on her face. "Fake Alpha? What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity evident.
I could see the confusion in Tori's eyes as I spilled the truth about the deceptive wolf she had chosen to be with. I couldn’t blame her, really.
"The wolf you chose to be with was nothing but an imposter. He was Romin, Alpha Roman’s twin brother, who took the Alpha seat of Blood Rose through blood and betrayal," I explained.
Tori's face twisted with shock, her mouth slightly agape. Before she could respond, another figure emerged from the shadows. It was Mathilde, Tori's mom, and her gaze bore into me like a dagger.
"What the heck is this rogue doing here?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing. Then, with a furious command, she shouted, "Guards! There’s an intruder who entered the pack house. Seize him at once!"
The atmosphere became filled with a strong feeling of unease as the urgency in her voice echoed through the hallways. Tori, feeling torn between disbelief and the instinct to protect herself, stood motionless, trapped in the midst of the surprising revelation. The sudden commotion unfolded like a storm, and I couldn’t do anything about it but face it.
Out of nowhere, three guards came, their expressions stern and determined. In swift movements of limbs, I effortlessly dealt with each of them. My movements were precise and calculated, and it didn’t take me long to take down all of them.
Mathilde, visibly upset by my skills, turned her rage towards Tori, firmly grabbing her arms.
“You traitor! Are you the one who let him in? We had a deal! I spared his life because you promised never to see him again. How dare you defy me!”
Mathilde's accusations rang through the tense air, rendering me speechless. But the sharp sound of her slap startled me even more, adding weight to the already conflicting emotion swirling up inside me.
Inside, my wolf spirit growled, seeking answers. "What does she mean, Alexei?"
But I failed to respond to him immediately. Confusion knitted my brows as I faced Mathilde, equally puzzled.
"I don't know," I admitted to my wolf, my voice tight with uncertainty.
Tori, still holding her stinging cheeks, met her mother's furious gaze head-on.
"The goddess knows I had nothing to do with this, MOTHER. But if I did know, I wouldn't hesitate to help. I'd gladly aid my child's father in taking down that fake Alpha you're so desperate to make your son-in-law!"
Both Mathilde and I were taken aback. I couldn't help but utter, "What do you mean?" The air hung heavy with revelations, and I braced myself for the storm that was about to unfold. Tori, tears streaming down her face, declared, "The child I'm carrying is yours, Alexei. The night we shared in the dungeon before Mother blackmailed me to betray you, and Serena bore a pup inside my belly."
Mathilde's eyes widened in shock, and she vehemently shook her head. "No! That's a lie! You're only saying that because you hate me and Alpha Roman. Impossible!"
"It's true, Mother! Why don't you ask the pack doctor how old the baby is? It doesn't correspond to the date you let the Alpha rape me!" Tori's voice carried the weight of truth, piercing through the room.
"You traitorous witch!" Mathilde shouted, anger contorting her features. The color of her eyes shifted, signaling her wolf's impending dominance. She moved to push Tori, but I swiftly intervened.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on my mate," I declared, my voice low and menacing. The air crackled with tension as the revelation settled in. I stood ready to defend Tori from any harm that might come her way.
Mathilde remained silent, with fear etched across her face. Suddenly, Tori's voice pierced through the tension, "Alexei!"
When our attention turned to Tori, she was in distress. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her belly. Blood oozed from her legs, a chilling sight that sent panic coursing through my veins. I turned to her in urgency, and in that moment, Mathilde seized the opportunity to run away.
"Our baby!" Tori cried, her anguish palpable. The too much emotion might have caused her significant distress. I tried to reassure her in the middle of everything, with my own anxiety seeping through, which I desperately wanted to conceal.
"I am here, Tori. I won't let anything bad happen to you and our child. Where's the infirmary?"
Tori weakly pointed to the east wing. Without a moment's hesitation, I scooped her up in my arms, carrying her in a bridal style. Urgency fueled my every step as I ran towards the direction she indicated, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on my shoulders. The world blurred around us as I raced, determined to reach the infirmary as if our lives depended on it.