Impending war

Denzel provided Nira with the care and affection she needed, yet despite his support, she couldn't shake a lingering sense of impending doom.

The following day, during breakfast, Denzel attempted to engage her in conversation, but she remained reticent, only picking at the food on her plate.

"Darling, come on," Denzel urged, his voice gentle.

"Cheer up. An ugly incident happened, but it's time to put it behind us, right?"

Nira emitted a sound that resembled a snort and a scoff simultaneously.

"Put it behind us, you say?" She paused, her gaze distant.

"It's only been hours. I still have vivid flashes of Reid's vengeful face."

Denzel sighed, acknowledging it might be too early for her to forget. A pang of empathy struck him every time he looked at Nira, seeing the lingering horror in her eyes.

"Nira, I know you're traumatized, and that's why I'll work my ass off to find that bastard and end him with my own hands. I'm sorry you had to go through all that."

Nira clicked her tongue, her eyes fixed on her plate. Denzel stood up, circled the table behind her chair, stooped down, gently squeezed her shoulder, and kissed her neck until she giggled.

"Don't be a sourpuss, my dear," he murmured, holding her hand and pulling her to her feet.

She enveloped him in a tight embrace, locking eyes with him, a smile illuminating her face.

There was a specific look Nira gave Denzel, a prelude to their most passionate moments — lips curled in a small smile, lips parted slightly, one eyebrow raised, an expression of unbridled hunger.

Denzel closed his eyes, inching closer for a kiss. Unexpectedly, Nira broke the moment, "Reid said something yesterday that had me thinking," she revealed, hands still around his neck.

He sighed, almost exasperated. "What?" he managed.

"Something about you needing a mate and all that stuff," she explained.

"And I just want to know, how much of a hindrance am I? Like, am I blocking the path of you finding a mate and doing whatever it is werewolves do?"

"Nira," Denzel said lightly, still wanting to kiss her, to feel her close.

"Tell me, Denzel, please."

He hesitated. The desire for a mate was there but not overpowering.

Ignoring it was a temporary solution. Soon, he'd have to find a mate suited by nature. This meant turning his back on Nira, a thought he pushed away, continuing to love her.

"I don't know, Nira," he confessed.

"Honestly, I don't want to know. I just..."

"At some point, you have to confront it, Denzel," she insisted.

"Don't you think you should do so early?"

He sighed wistfully. "I love you too much, Nira. You are my world, worth more than any werewolf mate."

"Hush it before anyone hears."

"I'm sick of this. Sick of having to confront it. And you, what do you think?"

"Do what you should, Denzel," she urged matter-of-factly.

"Attend to your needs. I'll be here afterward as long as I have breath."

Denzel had a sudden thought. "Reid said all this?"

"Not entirely. I've always known. But he—"

"What? What did he say?"

"Look, don't worry. But you do have to take care of Reid. He knows I'm your weakness, attacked me, and won't stop until he gets the vengeance he craves."

"Hmm, I know."

Denzel settled back into a chair, fingers massaging his temple as he delved into his thoughts. Nira draped an arm over his shoulders.

"I'm sorry for scaring you like this, baby," she apologized. "But I can't help the feelings that I get."

"It's fine, Nira. None of it is your fault," Denzel reassured, his gaze meeting hers.

Nira's expression softened, and she sighed. "I just hate being a burden to you, especially with all this werewolf business you've got going."

Denzel cupped her face in his hands, "You're not a burden, Nira. You're my love, and I'll deal with whatever comes our way."

She managed a small smile, "I know you will, Denzel. But first and foremost, you need to devise a strategy to deal with your ex-beta. I can't stand the thought of him coming after us again."

Denzel nodded solemnly, "I won't let him harm you, Nira. I'll make sure of that."

"He's not only out to get me, you know," Nira reminded.

"The safety of the whole pack is hanging on a noose."

"Yeah, yeah, and Reid is the executioner, right?" Denzel's tone dropped with playful sarcasm, and Nira giggled softly.

"Judge, jury and executioner." Nira matched his sarcasm.

"Then I must be god if Reid's all that. And what's a judge to a god? Don't worry about Reid's vengeance, I'll crush him."

Denzel warmly stroked her neck.

She leaned into his touch, finding comfort in his reassurance. "I love you, Denzel. More than anything."

His eyes softened, "And I love you, Nira. Always."

Nira gently turned his face toward hers and kissed him, reigniting the briefly waning passion.

"Come on, let's go inside," Nira suggested, straightening up with her hand extended. Denzel took it, and together, they entered the bedroom.

***

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Denzel felt the weight of responsibility pressing on him.

Gathering six of the highest-ranking werewolves of his pack including Ronald, his newfound beta, and Moss – they convened around the dining table. Tension hung thick in the air, etching worry lines onto their faces.

"This is a blatant affront on the pack," Denzel asserted, his tone cutting through the silence.

"Vandalizing property, laying hands on Nira – such disrespect."

Mikey, the deliberate speaker of the group, interjected with a measured question, "What intel do we have on the intruders?"

"Reid did it," Ronald swiftly declared, catching Denzel's sidelong glance.

"Reid? Wasn't he banished?" Quinn questioned, a perplexed frown creasing his forehead.

"Not entirely surprising," Denzel explained, his gaze piercing the room.

"He was plotting against me before. Banishment didn't deter him; he found a group of misguided wolves to lead and exact his revenge."

Ronald absorbed every word. His eyes locked onto his Alpha as if etching the information into his mind.

"We can't let that happen," Jeff, a formidable pack member, asserted with a deep bass rumble.

"If Reid teams up with rogues, they could threaten our territory."

Ronald, a hint of mockery in his voice, questioned, "What can a pack of rogues do?"

Denzel calmly replied, "Damage. A lot of damage. They may seem disorganized, but they're full of spite, full of unexpressed rage."

Silence enveloped them briefly, each member lost in contemplation.

"We hunt them down," Denzel declared, his voice slicing through the quiet.

"Every single one of them, we hunt down and kill."

"Absolutely," Ronald affirmed, nodding in agreement.

After agreeing to regroup later, the werewolves dispersed. Denzel ordered Ronald to stay behind.

"Alpha, do you have something on your mind?" Ronald inquired.

"Yeah. Ezrianna, the witch who resides on this property," Denzel replied.

"When did you last check up on her?"

"It's been a while, Alpha," Ronald admitted.

Denzel clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"That's not right. We promised her safety, especially now with Reid on the loose. Go to her cabin, check on her, and report back immediately."

"I'm on it, Alpha," Ronald responded with a respectful bow before turning to leave.

"Ronald, before you go," Denzel called out, his expression hardening.

"I need your insight on Reid. What's he capable of besides the obvious?"

Ronald leaned in, studying the map alongside Denzel. "Reid's strategic, Alpha. He's cunning and knows our weaknesses. But his real danger lies in rallying the disgruntled, the wolves who harbour grudges. He's a charismatic leader, even if his intentions are twisted."

Denzel nodded thoughtfully.

"Any idea where he might be hiding?"

"He's familiar with the woods surrounding our territory. There's an old abandoned cave system he used to frequent," Ronald explained. "It's a good place to start."

Denzel's eyes met Ronald's. "We'll deal with him, but I need you to watch Ezrianna. I sense there's more to these disturbances than meets the eye."

"Understood, Alpha. I'll make sure she's safe," Ronald affirmed.

Denzel's expression grew serious. "And Ronald, if Reid is behind those rogue encroachments in the woods, we must tread carefully. He's playing a dangerous game."

Ronald nodded a steely resolve in his eyes.

"I won't let him catch us off guard, Alpha."

As Ronald turned to leave, Denzel's voice stopped him. "One more thing, Ronald. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, don't hesitate to act."

"I will, Alpha," Ronald replied, acknowledging the weight of the responsibility placed on his shoulders.

With a determined stride, he left the meeting room, ready to face the challenges ahead.

Denzel watched him depart, pride swelling in his chest. He knew he had chosen the right man.

If it were Reid, there would have been subtle protests evading responsibility. Denzel nodded, returning inside, resolved to safeguard his pack and those within its boundaries.

***

Ronald sped towards the cabin, intimately familiar with every pothole and crag.

Arriving, he sensed an unusual atmosphere, intensifying the eerie ambiance that the cabin and its surroundings typically emanated.

Knocking and calling Ezrianna's name yielded no response. In a swift motion, he pushed the door, nearly dislodging it. Inside, he discovered an empty cabin.