Chapter 15: Chapter 15

ALVARIUS

Valery’s first week at the pack house flies by, and I’m amazed by how rapidly she’s adapting to the routines and procedures. It’s as if she was born for this kind of life. For the umpteenth time, I thank the Goddess for sending her to me.

I am filled with pride when I think about how respectful and friendly each member of my pack has been toward their luna, and I am grateful to have such a fantastic group of individuals on my side.

We’ve practically decimated Ethan’s pack. During the battle, he had snarled in frustration as he found himself surrounded, his pack dwindling in numbers with each passing moment. And then, with a final, desperate lunge, he made a run for it, disappearing into the darkness with his tail tucked between his legs.

Since then, we’ve been on guard 24-7, training practically all hours of the day. I won’t rest until Ethan is out of our lives for good.

Today, I pair Valery up with Dale for training. I’m glad she finally knows him for what he is. Even though I knew Dale was at the university, I couldn’t help sending Sam to watch out for her. It’s not that I don’t trust Dale. I do. But Sam is our best, and with Ethan’s sly actions, only the best will do.

“Ugh. You won’t go easy on me, huh?”

Dale has Valery pinned to the ground, and he chuckles before getting up and lending her his hand. “Sorry, Valery. Not my style. I won’t suddenly treat you differently just because you’re my luna.”

He winks at her and pulls her up, and she smiles.

It doesn’t sit well with me. Is he being too friendly? He should be treating a luna with respect!

They both tense when they hear me growl, and I stalk over, glaring at Dale. “Dale, respect your luna more.”

Dale bows his head. “Yes, Alpha. Forgive me, Luna.”

Valery groans. “Alvarius, stop. It’s sweet you want to help, but you can’t do everything for me. I have to earn the respect of your pack by myself.”

We go back and forth about this for a couple of rounds, but I’ve had enough. My luna ~will~ be treated with respect. I growl and throw her a glare. “But he—!”

Suddenly, a growl comes from her throat. “Shut. Up!” she roars.

Startled, I freeze in my tracks, and my mouth hangs open as I stare at her. Even Dale and Sam—no, everyone—have stopped their training to look at Valery.

Her cheeks turn fiery red, and she immediately looks ashamed as she casts her eyes downward. “Sorry,” she mumbles.

I chuckle, my surprise fading as pride takes its place. “Don’t be. You’re evolving your luna voice already. That’s impressive. Most females only get the hang of it after months.”

~Luna voice? What the hell does that mean? ~Her thoughts are loud in my mind.

“It’s something like a command. Your pack can’t disobey when they hear it.”

She groans as she listens to my reply to her thoughts, still not used to it. “I see,” she says out loud.

Sam clears his voice. “All right, everyone. Training’s over for today. Alpha, a word.”

People leave the yard, and I seize the opportunity to walk over to Sam. From the corner of my eye, I watch as Dale steps up beside her, and with half an ear, I listen to his words. “Miss. Taylor, will you accompany me for lunch?”

She hesitates, her focus on Sam and me, but she nods to him and after watching us for a few moments more, she turns to swiftly catch up to him.

“Any word on Ethan?” I ask once I’m sure we won’t be overheard.

“He’s to the north of our territory.” Sam runs his fingers through his hair roughly. “Alpha, he has joined up with rogues.”

Rogues. Shit. Any werewolf is dangerous, but rogues will stop at nothing because they answer to no one.

“Do you know how many?” I ask, my voice weary.

“Hard to say, but not more than we can handle. Alvarius, we have to take him down before he can gather others.”

When our conversations are serious, like this one, Sam will only call me by my given name if something scares him. Ethan joining up with rogues is a dangerous combination, and he has every right to be frightened.

I nod. “Let’s not wait then. Gather up our best warriors—we’re going to need them. Inform them of the location and instruct them to go out at different times and in small groups, in case someone is monitoring us. I don’t want Ethan getting wind of anything we’re up to until it’s too late. We go as wolves.”

Sam’s eyes meet mine, and he nods before walking away. He waves to someone and stops to chat with another. It’s a strategy we came up with years ago. If we do have eyes on us, it’s the best way to keep them in the dark about our actions.

I head toward the pack house and the dining hall where I know Valery is eating with Dale, but at the last minute, I change directions and head to the small outpost a short distance from the main house. The last thing I want to do is worry her when she has finally gotten comfortable here.

Sighing, I stare out as far as the eye can see, a shiver of anticipation tingling my spine. There’s too much at stake to let fear get the better of me. These are my lands. My people. My mate.

This ends today.

***

The crisp fall air fills my lungs as I prowl through the dense foliage, my senses sharp and alert. There’s a tension in the air, a sense of impending danger that sets my fur on end. My pack is under threat, and I’ll be damned if I let Ethan and a bunch of rogues tear it apart.

As I prowl through the dense forest, my senses are on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sets my heart pounding. I know Ethan is out here somewhere, plotting and scheming with those who would dare challenge me.

A low growl rumbles in my chest as I catch the faint scent of his trail. It’s tainted with the stench of menace, a sickly sweet aroma that makes my blood boil with rage. But beneath it lies something else, something darker and more sinister. The scent of rogue werewolves, the ones Ethan has allied himself with in his bid for power.

My jaw tightens as I follow the trail, and Sam follows behind me several steps. My best warriors are scattered in the general area, all of them trying to keep a low profile until it’s time to attack. And although we know our mind-links can’t be penetrated, we keep chatter to a minimum.

Finally, I catch sight of him. Ethan stands at the edge of a clearing, his posture tense and suspicious. Deliberately, I step on a twig, snapping it in half, and the sound makes Ethan jump before he spins toward me. His eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of defiance and fear.

“Alvarius,” he growls, his voice dripping with spite. “I was wondering when you’d come sniffing around.”

I let out a low rumble, my lips curling back in a snarl. There’s no need to transform so we can talk. He knows why I’m here.

He scoffs, taking a step forward. “Your pack is weak, Alvarius. Your sheer dumb luck is the only thing that has saved them, but now I have new friends, and they’re even better warriors than my last.”

He sucks on his teeth and gives me a sideways glance. “With you gone, your pack has no choice but to join mine.” He claps his hands together. “Then we’ll see what true warriors they can really be.”

I shake my head, my claws flexing involuntarily.

He laughs, a bitter sound that sends shivers down my spine. “And how’s the little human? She’ll be mine too. Is she keeping her bed warm for me?”

With a roar, I launch myself at him, my claws slashing through the air like knives and my teeth bared. Ethan meets me head-on, his own claws extending as he shifts in midair. All around us, the clearing comes alive with wolves.

Sam was right. We can handle the rogues. For every one, there are two to three of my warriors, waiting to tear them to pieces. Several rogues try to flee, but my warriors swiftly take them down, their powerful jaws ripping into their throats.

We clash in a flurry of fur and blood, each blow resonating through the forest like thunder. But despite his bravado, he is no match for my strength and determination.

We clash in a whirlwind of fur and blood, and each time one of us lands on the forest floor, we send shockwaves through the earth beneath us. But in the end, there can be only one victor, only one alpha standing tall amid the carnage—and I’m determined to claim that title.

He lunges for me, and at the last second, I change my defense, catching him off guard. Snout first, he lands on a fallen log, and he shakes his head, dazed from the impact. I don’t give him time to recover. Leaping into the air, I land on top of him, my fangs inches from his jugular.

Ethan tenses momentarily before going limp. He knows I’ve won. He whimpers, a ploy to get me to relent, but his tricks are not lost on me. Growling, I sink my teeth into his neck and clench my jaws together.

I can feel his pulse grow weaker and weaker until, finally, it’s no more. With one final growl, I tear out a chunk of his neck and spit it to the side. Then I lift my head toward the sky and give a long, victorious howl. My warriors lift their heads in unison and echo my cry.

A sense of grim satisfaction washes over me. The threat to my pack has been neutralized, at least for now. I know there are other rogues out here, lurking in the shadows of the forest. I can smell them. But for now, the threat to my mate and my pack has been neutralized.

It’s time to go home. It’s time to be with Valery.