Alpha Among Shadows

The packhouse was on edge as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the sprawling estate. Every wolf was alert, their heightened senses tuned to the slightest disturbance. The unease that had crept into their territory was now a tangible weight, pressing down on everyone.

Ethan stood at the window of his study, watching the tree line in the distance. His wolf prowled restlessly beneath his skin, a low growl rumbling in his chest. He had spent the day preparing for the worst, but no amount of preparation could shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching.

Amelia entered the room, her expression grim. "The patrols are in place, and the pack is ready. If they make a move tonight, we'll be prepared."

Ethan nodded, his jaw tight. "Good. But remind them—no one engages alone. We stick together."

Amelia hesitated, then stepped closer. "You think it's tonight, don't you?"

"It feels like it," Ethan admitted. "The air… it's too still. Too quiet."

Amelia glanced out the window, her sharp eyes scanning the darkening woods. "Do you think Lila was right? That they're trying to distract us?"

Ethan's gaze hardened. "She's been right about too much already. I can't afford to dismiss her warnings."

The first howl pierced the silence just after midnight. It was a sound of alarm, sharp and urgent, and it sent a ripple of tension through the packhouse. Ethan was out the door before the echo faded, Amelia close on his heels.

They raced toward the eastern border, where the patrols had reported the strange scent the night before. As they approached, the air grew thick with the acrid smell of smoke and something else—something darker.

Ethan's wolf snarled as he broke through the tree line and saw the source of the disturbance. A section of the border had been breached, the reinforced barriers torn apart as if by some massive force. Three of his wolves stood nearby, their hackles raised, their eyes scanning the shadows.

"What happened?" Ethan demanded, his voice sharp.

One of the wolves, a young male named Caleb, stepped forward. "We caught the scent again—faint, but it was there. We started to track it, but then… this."

He gestured to the wreckage, his expression grim.

Ethan stepped closer, crouching to inspect the damage. The wood and metal were scorched, as if by fire, but the burn marks were unnatural, jagged and uneven. His wolf growled, sensing the foreign energy that lingered in the air.

"This wasn't a simple attack," Ethan said, rising to his feet. "They're testing us. Seeing how we'll respond."

Amelia frowned. "Then what's the play? Do we push back or hold the line?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "We hold the line—for now. But I want every patrol on high alert. If they show themselves again, we take them down."

Hours passed with no further sign of the intruders. The pack remained on edge, their senses sharp as they patrolled the territory. But as the night stretched on, the tension only grew.

Ethan returned to the packhouse just before dawn, his mind racing with possibilities. The breach was a message, a warning—but why? What were they waiting for?

As he entered his study, he found Lila waiting for him. She was seated in one of the leather chairs, her dark eyes watching him intently.

"You're late," she said, her tone light but her gaze serious.

Ethan closed the door behind him, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "If you're here to tell me something cryptic, don't bother. I've had enough riddles for one night."

Lila tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It wasn't a riddle. It was a test."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You knew this would happen."

"I suspected," she said calmly. "They're feeling you out, trying to gauge your strength. They'll keep pushing until they find a weakness."

"They won't find one," Ethan said firmly.

Lila stood, stepping closer. "You're confident. That's good. But confidence won't stop them, Ethan. You need to think like them—anticipate their next move."

"And what's their next move?" he asked, his voice low.

Lila's expression darkened. "They'll go after what you value most."

Her words sent a chill through him, and his wolf growled in response. Ethan turned away, his mind racing. His pack, his territory, his people—they were all targets. But there was something else, something even more personal.

Lila watched him, her gaze steady. "You can't protect them all, Ethan. Not without help."

"I don't need your help," he said, though the words felt hollow.

"Then why are you still listening to me?" she asked, her voice soft but cutting.

Ethan didn't respond, his hands clenching into fists. She was right—he hated it, but she was right.

As the first rays of dawn broke through the window, Ethan made a silent vow. Whatever it took, whoever he had to face, he would protect his pack.

And he would find out who was behind this.