Chapter 109

Alexander

The heavy door slammed behind me with a resounding thud, the sound echoing through the quiet hallways of the pack’s stronghold.

My hand was still gripping my phone, knuckles white, as if the device itself could contain all the anger, frustration, and helplessness I was feeling right now. But nothing could hold it back. Not anymore.

The interrogation of the captured rogues had revealed something worse than I anticipated. They were organized—too organized.

And there was a traitor in my pack.

Someone had been feeding them information, helping them breach our defenses.

I paced in front of the door, my hands running through my hair in frustration. Every part of me screamed to stay—to lead my pack, to prepare for the fight that was coming. But my heart wasn’t here anymore. It was miles away, with her.

Lauren.

I couldn’t shake the image of her face, pale and worried, the children clutching her side. My heart ached just thinking about the danger they were in. I was Alpha, my duty was here with my pack, but my responsibility was also to her—my family. And I couldn’t ignore that.

But more were on there way. A battle was sure to be fought at sunrise.

I wasn’t stupid enough to think that leaving my pack in the middle of a rogue attack wouldn’t have consequences. The council would tear me apart. They’d accuse me of abandoning my role as Alpha, of neglecting my duties, but I didn’t care.

I couldn’t stand here knowing the rogues were closing in on my family.

I wasn’t even sure I had made up my mind when I stormed toward the war room, my footsteps heavy and deliberate, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to make a decision.

Just as I pushed open the door to the war room, Miles was there, his frame blocking the entrance. He looked like he was ready for a fight. The tension in the air between us was cutting the air.

Miles had always been a sharp, loyal soldier, but I knew the moment I asked him to take command of the pack in my absence, he’d question my decision.

“Alpha,” Miles’s voice was firm, his expression unreadable, “we need to talk. Now.”

I held up a hand, cutting him off before he could say anything more. “Miles, not now. The rogues are almost at the border, and I need you to prepare the pack for a full assault. Keep the borders secure. Lead them.”

His eyes narrowed, and I could see the immediate tension in his posture. “And where are you going?” His tone had a bite to it now, like he was trying to mask his concern with authority. But I could see right through him.

“Lauren,” I said, my voice hard, resolute. I couldn’t hold back now. “I’m going to get her. The rogues are closing in. I need to make sure she and the kids are safe. They’re my priority.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, his brow furrowing, clearly debating. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, running through the options, trying to weigh the risks of leaving the pack in the hands of someone else. But there was no choice. I couldn’t ignore my responsibility to my family.

We both knew this was a bad idea. Mile’s wasn’t a leader, not even close to an Alpha.

He finally exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if disappointed, but I could see the understanding in his eyes.

“Wait.” Miles’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “You need to call Liam. He’ll need to lead the pack while you’re gone.”

I stopped, a fire blazing through me.My relationship with Liam was... complicated, to say the least.

“What did you say?” I snarled.

“I can’t lead the pack,” Miles growled, “if you insist on going to your family, you need someone here the pack will follow, someone strong. The King Alpha’s son.”

I hated that idea. Loathed it. But Liam and I were like two sides of a coin, always butting heads, I hated him, but he was one of the most capable warriors I had. Whether I liked it or not, he could handle this.

“Fine,” I muttered, reaching for my phone. I pressed the contact for Liam, dialing him quickly. He answered on the second ring.

“Alpha,” Liam’s voice was steady, professional, but I could hear the edge in it, the tension of what was coming. He was a warrior first, a ‘prince’ second. Always ready for a fight.

“I need you to take the pack,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. “The rogues are closing in, and I’m heading out to get my family. Keep the borders secure. Don’t let them breach the city.”

Liam was silent for a moment, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. I wasn’t the easiest Alpha to deal with, and Liam had never been shy about challenging my decisions. But in this moment, I knew he understood the gravity of the situation. He had no choice but to obey.

“I’ll handle it,” Liam replied, his voice low but firm. “Don’t worry about the pack. I’ll hold the line.”

I felt a weight lift from my chest, but the gnawing dread in my stomach only grew heavier. I was leaving the pack’s safety in the hands of a man who had always been a wildcard. But what choice did I have?

“Good,” I said, my voice steady. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Hold the line, Liam. I trust you.”

“Get Lauren back here in one piece,” Liam replied before hanging up.

I stood there for a moment, my eyes scanning the room, mentally preparing myself for the task ahead.

With one last glance at Miles, I headed for the exit. As I passed the large wooden doors, I felt my heart quicken. The rush of adrenaline was starting to take over, the animal inside me clawing to break free.

It had been too long since I had let myself run. Too long since I had felt the wind in my fur, the earth beneath my paws.

I shifted into my wolf form the moment I was outside, the air thick with the scent of pine and the crispness of the air. The change was instant, my body stretching and rippling as I moved through the transformation.

Fur replaced skin, claws replaced fingers, and my senses exploded to life. I could feel the weight of the world lift off my shoulders, replaced by the primal urgency of the chase.

I ran.

The world blurred around me as I pushed myself harder, faster, knowing I had no time to waste. The path through the woods was familiar, the winding trails etched into my memory, but today, they felt different. It wasn’t just the rush of adrenaline that made me feel alive—it was the knowledge that I was running to something. To Lauren. To my family.

I raced through the trees, the scent of the rogues faint in the distance, but I pushed it aside. The pack would handle the threat. They would hold their ground. But I couldn’t take my chances with Lauren. With my family.