The Alpha’s Return

Jaxon's voice cut through the cave like a blade, sharp and cold. Lila froze, her axe slipping in her sweaty grip as his gold eyes locked on her from the entrance. He stood tall, broader than she remembered, his black hair wild and his leather coat streaked with dirt. Behind him, a dozen pack wolves flanked his sides—big, gray beasts with glowing eyes, their claws clicking on stone. Torches flickered in their human handlers' grips, casting jagged shadows across the walls.

"Home?" Lila spat, her voice trembling with rage. She stepped forward, ignoring the ache in her scratched arm. "You threw me out, Jaxon. Scarred me. Tried to kill me!"

His grin widened, teeth glinting. "Changed my mind," he said, his tone mockingly light. "You're still mine, Lila. Always will be."

Kade moved beside her, his knife raised despite the blood soaking his shirt. "She's not going anywhere," he growled, his voice rough but firm. He swayed slightly, his injuries catching up, but his gray eyes burned with defiance.

Jaxon's gaze flicked to him, amusement curling his lips. "Who's this? Your new pet?" He sniffed the air, his nose wrinkling. "Rogue trash. Step aside, mutt, or I'll gut you."

"Try it," Kade shot back, stepping closer to Lila. His hand brushed hers, a silent promise.

Mara notched an arrow, her silver hair glinting as she aimed at Jaxon. "Back off, alpha," she said, her scarred throat tight. "You're outnumbered."

Jaxon laughed, a harsh bark that echoed in the cave. "Outnumbered? Look around, old woman." He waved a hand, and more wolves emerged from the dark—twenty, maybe thirty, their growls filling the air. The rogues tensed, spears and axes ready, but their numbers were thin. Sasha gripped her sword, her leg trembling, while Ryn clutched her hatchet, her freckled face pale.

"You're a long way from your pack," Sasha said, stepping forward. Blood crusted her bandage, but her green eyes blazed. "What's this about?"

"Her," Jaxon said, pointing at Lila. "She's got something I want." His gaze dropped to her belly, and Lila's stomach twisted. He knew. Somehow, he knew about the baby.

"You rejected me," she said, her voice rising. "You don't get to claim me now!"

"I rejected a traitor," Jaxon snarled, his grin fading. "But that brat in you? It's mine by right. Pack law. I'll take it, and you'll beg me to keep you alive."

Lila's hand tightened on her axe, fury boiling over. "You'll never touch my child," she said, each word sharp. The baby kicked, hard and fierce, like it agreed.

Jaxon's eyes narrowed. "We'll see." He raised a hand, and his wolves lunged.

The cave exploded into chaos. Mara fired her arrow, hitting a wolf in the chest—it yelped, falling, but others surged past. Sasha swung her sword, cutting down one mid-leap, while Ryn hacked at another, her hatchet lodging in its skull. Tor roared, spearing a wolf through the side, blood spraying across his bald head. Rogues fought back with whatever they had, but Jaxon's pack was fresh, strong, relentless.

Kade tackled a wolf aiming for Lila, his knife sinking into its throat. It thrashed, claws raking his arm, but he held on until it went still. He staggered up, blood dripping, and grabbed her wrist. "Stay with me," he said, pulling her toward the back.

She swung her axe at a wolf lunging from the side, the blade catching its flank. It howled, retreating, and she stuck close to Kade. Her scratched shoulder burned, her legs shaky, but she kept fighting. Jaxon's words echoed in her head—*mine by right*—fueling her anger. He'd rejected her, scarred her, and now he wanted her baby? She'd die before letting that happen.

Mara blew her horn, the sharp note scattering the wolves for a heartbeat. They flinched, shaking their heads, but Jaxon roared over it. "Take her alive!" he shouted, his voice booming. "Kill the rest!"

A wolf charged Lila, jaws wide. She ducked, swinging her axe up—it caught its chin, blood splattering her face. Kade finished it with a stab to the neck, his breathing ragged. "We can't hold 'em," he said, glancing at the entrance. Jaxon stood there, watching, his gold eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"He's not even fighting," Lila said, wiping blood from her cheek. "Coward."

"He doesn't need to," Kade replied, his voice grim. "He's got numbers."

Sasha stumbled back, a wolf's claws slashing her leg. She fell, cursing, and Ryn dragged her behind a rock. Mara fired another arrow, hitting a wolf in the eye, but more pressed in. Tor went down under two, his hammer swinging wildly before he vanished in a mess of fur and blood. The rogues were losing—fast.

"We need out," Lila said, her heart pounding. She scanned the cave—stone walls, no exits, just the entrance Jaxon blocked. Her eyes landed on the alpha wraith's corpse, still sprawled near the mouth. An idea hit her.

"The wraith blood," she said, turning to Mara. "You've got more, right?"

Mara dodged a wolf, firing an arrow before nodding. "Last drop," she said, pulling the vial from her pocket. "Why?"

"It worked before," Lila said, grabbing it. "I'll try again."

Kade frowned, his knife dripping. "You don't know what you're doing."

"No choice," she shot back, uncorking the vial. She pricked her finger on her axe, mixing her blood with the dark liquid. It flared—red, purple, pulsing like last time. The hum started, low and deep, vibrating in her chest. The wolves paused, heads tilting, and Jaxon's grin faltered.

"What's that?" he snarled, stepping forward.

Lila didn't answer. She focused on the hum, the pull, the spark she'd felt before. It was stronger now, wilder, like a fire waking up. She pushed it out, her hands shaking, and the purple light erupted again—brighter, sharper. It slammed into the wolves, and they howled, clawing at their faces. Some dropped, twitching, black ooze leaking from their eyes.

Jaxon staggered, clutching his head, but shook it off. "Nice trick," he growled, his voice thick with fury. "Won't save you." He shifted, bones cracking as he became a massive black wolf—bigger than the others, his gold eyes blazing. He charged through the light, unaffected, straight at Lila.

Kade tackled her out of the way, his body shielding hers as Jaxon's claws raked the stone where she'd stood. They rolled, hitting the wall, and she scrambled up, axe in hand. Jaxon turned, snarling, his teeth snapping an inch from her face. Kade stabbed his flank, drawing blood, but Jaxon swatted him aside like a fly. He hit the ground hard, groaning, his knife skittering away.

"No!" Lila screamed, swinging her axe. It caught Jaxon's shoulder, sinking deep. He roared, rearing back, and slashed at her. She dodged, but his claw grazed her side, tearing her shirt. Pain flared, hot and bright, and she stumbled, clutching her belly. The baby kicked, frantic now.

Jaxon shifted back, human again, blood dripping from his shoulder. "You're weak," he spat, advancing. "Always were. Give up, Lila. I'll make it quick."

She glared, her vision blurring with tears and rage. "Never," she said, raising her axe. Her scratched arm shook, her side bleeding, but she stood her ground.

Mara fired an arrow, hitting Jaxon's leg. He grunted, stumbling, and Sasha lunged from behind, her sword slashing his back. He roared, spinning to face her, giving Lila a heartbeat to breathe. Kade staggered up, grabbing his knife, and joined the fight. They circled Jaxon—three against one—but his wolves recovered, shaking off the light, closing in again.

"We're done," Ryn said, dragging Tor's hammer to the group. Her wrist bled, her freckles stark against pale skin. "Too many."

"Not yet," Mara said, pulling her horn. She blew hard, the note piercing. The wolves flinched again, buying seconds. "Run for it!"

They bolted toward the entrance, past the alpha wraith's corpse. Jaxon roared, chasing, his wolves at his heels. Lila's legs burned, her side screaming, but she kept moving. Kade limped beside her, blood trailing behind him. Sasha and Ryn flanked them, weapons swinging, while Mara fired arrows over her shoulder.

They burst into the forest, the night cold and dark. Jaxon's pack followed, howls splitting the air. The path twisted, rocks and trees blurring past. Lila's breath came in gasps, her scratched arm numb now. The baby kicked harder, a rhythm matching her panic.

"Hide!" Mara shouted, pointing at a barn ahead—an old, weathered thing half-hidden by pines. They veered toward it, piling inside. The door slammed shut, rogues bracing it with beams. Lila collapsed against a wall, panting, her axe clattering to the floor. Kade slumped beside her, his face pale, blood pooling under him.

"Safe?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"For now," he said, his hand finding hers. His grip was weak, but warm.

The barn shook as wolves slammed against it, claws scraping wood. Jaxon's voice boomed outside, closer than she'd feared. "Lila!" he yelled, his tone dripping with venom. "I know you're in there! You can't run forever!"

She squeezed Kade's hand, fear choking her. The door rattled, cracks forming. Jaxon was here, and he wasn't stopping. Not until he had her—or killed them all.