Chapter 12 Hunter and Warrior
"Damn it!"
Austin was Alpha Lycanisius, leader of the Lycan nation. But that afternoon, his pride had been trampled on by Nolan, and even more painfully, by his own Luna-to-be, in public.
"Alpha, a report from the northern border has just come in."
Alex's voice broke the anger that still burned in the office. The Beta didn't dare look him in the eye. Austin knew that Alex understood that one wrong word could end his life.
"Speak," Austin ordered curtly.
"A small village in the neutral zone, near Cinder Valley, was attacked last night. A rogue pack. They burned the barns and kidnapped five young she-wolves. There are many wounded, and they have no permanent healer."
Austin stood up immediately.
The neutral zone was not his legal responsibility. But allowing Rogue to roam near the Lycanisius border was like letting pests into his own kitchen.
And more than that, this could be an opportunity. It could be the same rogue pack that attacked him yesterday.
"Prepare a small patrol unit. We're leaving now. And Alex... call Seara. Tell her this is mandatory duty for a prospective pack healer."
Alex hesitated for a moment. "And, Young Master Nolan?"
A low growl escaped Austin's chest. "Don't mention that name if you want to see the sun tomorrow!" Austin said with a sharp gaze.
As if summoned by death, the office door opened without a knock.
Nolan stood in the doorway, looking relaxed, an expensive leather jacket slung over his shoulder.
“I heard the word ‘attack,’” he said lightly. “As an envoy of the Lycan Council, I am obliged to come along. To make sure you don’t use excessive force, Austin.”
"This is my pack's business," Austin hissed. "Go back to your father before you break a sweat."
"Unfortunately," Nolan smiled broadly, his dimples provoking a killing urge, "Seara asked me to accompany her as soon as she heard the news."
"Why do you always interfere, huh?" Austin asked irritably.
"I have to. You always make me jealous." Nolan said, lifting one corner of his lips.
The two stared at each other, Austin's face tense while Nolan wiped the smirk off his face.
Austin grabbed his jeep keys roughly, scratching the teak table.
"We're leaving now, Alex." Austin said, stepping forward first.
The trip to the village took two hours. Along the way, Austin could see Nolan's motorcycle following his jeep in the rearview mirror.
He knew Nolan was probably bragging about life in the city, and Seara—that stubborn woman—was probably listening just to annoy him.
As soon as they arrived, the atmosphere changed.
Black smoke still billowed from the wooden roofs. The smell of blood and the sweat of fear filled the air.
Seara jumped off the motorcycle as soon as Nolan stopped. She didn't wait for Austin. She ran towards an old she-wolf sitting in a pool of blood in front of a hut.
"Seara, wait! Check the area first!" Austin shouted, giving orders.
“There’s no time, Alpha. She’s bleeding out,” Seara replied without turning around.
Austin tried to chase after her, but Nolan deliberately blocked his path. In his hands was a medical bag.
"Let me help Seara," Nolan said. "You take care of the footprints, or whatever tracking dogs usually do."
Austin could only watch as Nolan knelt beside Seara, opened a bottle of antiseptic, and deliberately touched the woman's shoulder as he handed her the bandage.
"Seara, focus on your energy flow," Nolan's voice was soft. "I'll clean the wound."
Seara nodded briefly. "Thank you. Hold her leg."
Austin's chest felt like it was being pressed down by a large rock.
He stood stiffly in the middle of the village, surrounded by warriors securing the location. He was supposed to be interrogating witnesses. But his gaze kept being drawn to the hut.
Nolan smoothed Seara's hair, which had been blown by the wind. And Seara, who would normally brush his hand away if Austin touched even an inch of her skin, let it happen.
"Alpha, the village chief wants to talk," Alex whispered with a wary look.
"Tell him to wait," Austin replied coldly.
He stepped closer. "Nolan, take your hands off her. You're blocking his view."
Nolan smirked. "I'm just helping. Don't be so possessive. You look like a grandfather afraid of losing his cane."
"Nolan's right, Alpha," said Seara without opening her eyes. "Don't be noisy. This is a complicated procedure."
Austin's pride was trampled by that damn kid, and by the she-wolf who wasn't even officially his Luna yet.
To divert his anger, Austin approached a young he-wolf who was whimpering with a torn arm.
"Where did they go?" his Alpha voice trembled dangerously. "How many?"
“Ten… twelve,” the man trembled. “Towards the black elder forest.”
“Alpha, you’re scaring him!” Seara shouted.
She approached and pushed Austin’s hand away. “He’s in shock. Move aside.”
The slight push on his chest felt like an open insult. Nolan stood behind Seara with a mocking smile.
"You're only good as a tracker," he said, even more mockingly. "Let us take care of the healing."
Austin moved closer until their faces were only inches apart. "Protect Seara. If a single hair on her head is lost because of your negligence, Darkmore will lose its heir."
He turned away. "Alex, take Hunter and Warrior. We're not waiting for permission."
"But Alpha—"
"Screw permission!"
At the edge of the black elder forest, Austin found a shred of white cloth mixed with the foul smell of Rogue. But there was another smell, sharp and chemical.
"They're organized," he muttered as he circled the forest.
Nolan tried to interject. "Old tracks, maybe two hours."
"One hour," Austin corrected quickly, but still in a cold tone.
He found blood smeared on a tree trunk.
"They want us to follow them."
Austin glanced at Seara. There was fear in her eyes, even though she hid it.
"We'll go in after we finish healing," he said with a straight face.
"I'm done." Seara quickly tidied up her medical equipment with Nolan's help.
"Seara, stay behind me. Nolan, stop talking and show your fangs."
Austin stepped into the darkness of the forest.
Behind him, he could still hear Nolan whispering to Seara.
"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
Austin's hands clenched into fists.
"Be patient," he told himself.
Save the girls first. After that... Nolan would learn to stop 'smiling.'