chapter four

Alpha Lucian Voss's POV

Faster. Harder.

I pushed my body to the limit, fists slamming into the training post until the wood splintered. My muscles burned, but I didn't stop. I never stopped.

Weakness had no place in a leader.

I was Alpha Lucian Voss, ruler of Shadowfang Pack, and I had no patience for failure.

Rolling my shoulders, I stepped away from the wrecked training post. My warriors stood nearby, watching in silence, their respect evident in their lowered heads.

I ignored them and headed straight for my office.

There was unfinished business.

Word had reached me rumors.

The Alpha of Silvercrest Pack was making moves, whispers of him allying with vampires. If that were true, he was a traitor to all of us. And I would end him before he brought ruin upon our kind.

The moment I stepped into my office, my Beta, Darius, entered right behind me. His face was grim.

"The warriors are ready," he said.

I met his gaze, unwavering, my will as solid as stone.

"Then we move."

We stormed toward Silvercrest's borders, my warriors behind me in perfect formation.

This wasn't a negotiation. It was an execution.

The moment we reached their land, we struck fast and hard. Warriors clashed, growls and snarls filled the air as my men tore through their defenses.

Then—I stopped.

My body went rigid. My wolf snapped to attention.

A scent.

Sweet. Alluring. Impossible to ignore.

My heart pounded. My wolf roared.

What is that?

I turned sharply, inhaling deeply, letting the scent pull me. It couldn't be.

My mate?

What was she doing here?

I had come to this pack before, but there was no trace of her scent then.

But now now she was here.

My steps quickened, my focus shifting entirely.

I needed to find her. Now.

I moved through the chaos, my focus sharp.

The scent was pulling me dragging me in.

Wolves lunged at me, trying to block my path, but they were nothing more than obstacles. I tore through them with ease, slicing through flesh, snapping bones, leaving nothing but bodies in my wake.

I ascended the stairs in three powerful strides, my senses locked onto that intoxicating scent.

Sweet. Warm. Delicate.

I heard tiny footsteps running.

A door locked.

I stopped in front of it, pressing a hand to the wood, inhaling deeply.

This is it.

I pushed the door open, stepping inside. The room smelled of an unfamiliar male, but beneath it, the scent of her my mate was overwhelming.

I moved swiftly, checking a door nothing. Just clothes. The scent wasn't there.

I turned away, scanning the room, listening.

Then—I found it.

I approached the bed, my breath heavy, my wolf clawing to get out. I gripped the frame and lifted it in one motion.

And there she was.

Curled up beneath the bed, her hair spilling over her shoulders, the prettiest thing I'd ever seen.

Blue eyes, wide with fear. Brown hair, messy but soft. Pink lips, trembling.

Mate, my wolf growled, possessive and certain.

Something in me weakened.

She looked so small, so fragile, yet my entire world shifted around her.

She lowered her head onto her arm, scared.

"Baby, you don't need to be afraid," I wanted to say. "I will keep you safe."

Before I could move, my Beta, Darius, entered.

"Alpha," he said, his voice sharp. "The Silvercrest wolves are surrendering."

I didn't look at him. My eyes stayed on her.

Slowly, I straightened, my body still burning from the pull of the mate bond.

"Not now," I told myself. "I will come back for her."

I turned to Darius. My voice was cold, firm.

"Guard her with your life."

Then I left.

I had a war to finish.

I stepped out of the room, leaving my frightened little mate under my Beta's protection.

Outside, my warriors had subdued the Alpha of Silvercrest, forcing him to his knees. His defiance wavered under the weight of my dominance, but he still dared to glare up at me.

"What is this, Lucian?" troy spat. "I will report you to the Councils—"

"Shut up." My voice was cold, lethal.

I crouched before him, my gaze sharp as I studied his reaction. The guilt in his eyes told me everything.

"The Councils already know," I told him. "They sent me."

His body stiffened.

"You've been working with vampires," I stated, watching him closely.

His eyes widened. His mouth opened then shut.

"Caught."

"You're planning something," I continued, "What is it? A war? A betrayal? Tell me now, before I decide to wipe out your entire pack."

"No! I swear!" he gasped.

I exhaled sharply, growing impatient. "Then explain why an ancient vampire was seen with you." My voice was razor-sharp. "Not just any vampire but one of the old ones. What deal did you make?"

His face twisted with torment. He hesitated before muttering, "The witches took my mate."

I narrowed my eyes.

"They took her. I have searched for years. The vampires promised to help me find her."

I scoffed. "And you believed them?"

Pathetic.

"The Councils already had people tracking her scent," I told him. "You didn't need to involve vampires."

His jaw clenched. "They were taking too long," he admitted.

Weak. Foolish.

Then—a scream.

The sound ripped through the air, chilling my blood.

I stiffened.

That voice.

My head snapped toward the source.

My mate.

She was running dodging my Beta her terrified eyes searching desperately for someone.

"Mira!" she screamed.

I moved without thought. In a blink, I was in front of her.

Before she could take another step I caught her.

Her small body crashed into mine, trembling. I gripped her waist, holding her in place.

She panicked, struggling in my hold, her fear twisting my chest.

"Mira!" she cried again, looking past me.

I turned my gaze.

Mira a wolf was frozen in place, eyes locked onto my mate with a mix of guilt and concern.

I exhaled sharply. She is human.

I looked at my mate my delicate, terrified little mate.

"What is this?" I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.

I glanced at the Silvercrest Alpha. "You have a human in your pack?" My tone darkened. "What are you really planning?"

His eyes darted to Elara, his lips parting but I was already done with him.

My grip on my mate tightened.

Mine.

He would answer later.

For now I needed to calm her.

I tightened my grip on my struggling little mate as she tried to pry my hand off, her panicked whimpers only making my wolf more restless. She was fragile but she was mine.

I turned to Mira, my gaze sharp. "Mira, what is a human doing in my pack?" Alpha Troy's voice came from behind me, but I ignored him. My attention was on my mate.

Mira quickly stepped in front of me, "Please, Alpha Lucian, don't hurt her." Her voice was urgent, but she held her ground. "Elara is innocent. I brought her here to keep her safe she has been through alot,you scaring her".

My grip on Elara tightened for a second before I shoved her into my Beta's arms. "Keep her safe." My voice was firm, my dominance filling the room. Then, my eyes locked onto Mira. "Is someone after her? Who hurt her?"

Mira hesitated.

I could see the defiance flash in her eyes before she took a step back and muttered, "It's not my place to answer."

Wrong answer.

In a blur, I closed the space between us, my hand wrapping around her throat. Her body tensed as I lifted her slightly, forcing her to meet my eyes.

"You better tell me." My voice was low, laced with warning.

Mira gasped, struggling against my grip. "Her brother," she choked out. "Her brother is after her. He… he hurt her."

The room felt colder as rage settled deep in my bones.

I slowly turned my head, looking at my mate in my Beta's hold. She looked so small, so breakable. And her own brother had dared to lay his hands on her?

A deep growl rumbled from my chest.

Without another word, I released Mira, letting her stumble back, gasping for air. Then, I turned toward Alpha Troy.

"I'm taking my mate with me."

"No!" Mira's voice rang out, desperate.

She lunged forward, but my warning growl froze her in place.

Behind me, my mate began to thrash in my Beta's arms.

"Mira!" Elara's broken scream made something tighten in my chest.

I moved forward, scooping her up effortlessly.

She kicked and struggled, her cries frantic. "Mira, help me!"

Mira turned desperately, looking at another wolf who stood stiffly beside Alpha Troy.

"Jace," she begged. "Please, help me!"

Jace's gaze flickered between me and Mira, uncertainty in his stance.

I dared him to try.

Jace hesitated, his stance shifting slightly as he looked between Mira and me. I could see the conflict in his eyes.

I growled lowly, my patience wearing thin. "Try it, and I'll rip your throat out." My voice was cold, final.

Jace clenched his jaw but didn't move. He knew better than to challenge me.

In my arms, Elara kept thrashing, her small hands pushing at my chest, kicking her legs wildly. She was terrified, her screams raw, desperate. "Mira! Please! Don't let him take me!"

I tightened my hold, adjusting her weight effortlessly as I turned to leave. She was mine. And no one no damn wolf was going to take her from me.

Mira took a shaky step forward, her voice breaking. "Alpha, please…"

I ignored her and strode out of the room, my warriors parting for me as I stepped into the bloodied corridors of the Silvercrest packhouse.

Elara kept struggling in my arms. "Alpha Lucian Voss's POV

Jace hesitated, his stance shifting slightly as he looked between Mira and me. I could see the conflict in his eyes.

I growled lowly, my patience wearing thin. "Try it, and I'll rip your throat out." My voice was cold, final.

Jace clenched his jaw but didn't move. He knew better than to challenge me.

In my arms, Elara kept thrashing, her small hands pushing at my chest, kicking her legs wildly. She was terrified, her screams raw, desperate. "Mira! Please! Don't let him take me!"

I tightened my hold, adjusting her weight effortlessly as I turned to leave. She was mine. And no one—no damn wolf—was going to take her from me.

Mira took a shaky step forward, her voice breaking. "Alpha, please…"

I ignored her and strode out of the room, my warriors parting for me as I stepped into the bloodied corridors of the Silvercrest packhouse.

Elara kept struggling in my arms. "Let me go! You can't just take me!"

I didn't stop walking. "I can. And I just did."

She slammed a small fist against my chest, but it was weak, almost pitiful. She was exhausted, her tiny frame trembling.

"You're a monster," she whispered, her voice cracking.

That made me pause for half a second.

I glanced down at her, taking in the tear-streaked face, the wild blue eyes filled with nothing but fear.

Something sharp twisted in my chest.

She should never be afraid of me.

But I had no choice. She was my mate. And I wasn't leaving her in a pack that had already failed to protect her.

I pushed forward, stepping out into the night air where my warriors waited.

"We leave. Now."

The moment we reached the black SUVs parked at the border, I opened the door and placed Elara inside, her body still trembling, her breathing ragged.

She turned her face away from me, curling into the seat as if she could disappear.

I exhaled sharply, my wolf restless. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know how.

So instead, I climbed in beside her and shut the door.

"Drive."

With a sharp roar of the engine, we disappeared into the night taking my mate away from the only world she'd ever known.

Let me go! You can't just take me!"

I didn't stop walking. "I can. And I just did."

She slammed a small fist against my chest, but it was weak, almost pitiful. She was exhausted, her tiny frame trembling.

"You're a monster," she whispered, her voice cracking.

That made me pause for half a second.

I glanced down at her, taking in the tear-streaked face, the wild blue eyes filled with nothing but fear.

Something sharp twisted in my chest.

She should never be afraid of me.

But I had no choice. She was my mate. And I wasn't leaving her in a pack that had already failed to protect her.