Chapter 67
Alpha Dominic's Pov.
I stood resolute beside Alpha Scott as our pack gathered around us. The warriors were clad for battle. We would eradicate this threat once and for all. My jaw clenched grimly. I had no qualms about the violence to come - it was necessary to keep our loved ones safe.
My thoughts strayed to Freya and our son. Thanks to the powerful shield Freya had erected, no non-pack members could enter our territory. It would protect them absolutely from being caught up in the impending war.
I was determined that Freya remain behind this shield, no matter how capable she was. I didn't want her anywhere near the carnage to come. Though her power could likely end the conflict swiftly, the risk was too great.
No, I would make sure Freya and our child remained untouched by the battle, safe within the pack. My wolf snarled at the thought of them being endangered.
There was a change of plans, we would leave tonight. It would take us at least three days to reach our destination. By the time we arrived, it would be night - perfect for an ambush on Alpha Lucas's pack and the rogues they've allied with.
There was nothing more I would love right now than to cradle my mate and son within my arms one last time before heading into battle. But Freya wasn't here to wish me off. She had made it clear she wouldn't be present to see me go, a quiet protest against my refusal to allow her to fight by my side.
I pushed aside the pang of longing. I would have time to make it up to her when I returned victorious. Right now, my focus had to be on keeping our family safe by eradicating these threats.
I surveyed the gathered warriors - over a thousand strong between our pack and our allies. It should be enough against the force we would face. These seasoned warriors could handle Lucas's rogues.
"Time to move out!" I called out in a voice laced with authority.
At my roared command, over a thousand of us transformed into our wolf forms. Our thunderous paws shook the earth as we broke into a ground-devouring lope, beginning the journey to Alpha Lucas's territory.
The path ahead would be grueling, but our warriors were buoyed by the full strength we had regained since Freya's return. I felt immensely grateful that her coming back to us hadn't resulted in her predicted demise, as the oracle Sage had once warned. My mate was safe, our pack was whole, and we ran with renewed vigor.
We maintained a relentless pace, only slowing to catch fleeting rests and sustenance before pressing onwards once more. The sun would dip below the horizon, allowing the moon's cool glow to illuminate our path through the night. Then the dawn would break as we continued tirelessly.
Eat, run, sleep in short bursts - that was the cycle through days that blurred together. All that mattered was devouring the distance as swiftly as possible. I led the charge at the head of the pack, my strides consuming the terrain. The wind whipped past my fur and I opened my muzzle to taste the changing scents in the air. With each mile, the stench of our enemies grew stronger.
We were closing in. Soon their reek would overwhelm all else as we penetrated the borders of their lands. I could almost taste the bloodlust and battle hunger pulsing through my veins.
We charged forward at full speed, braced for Alpha Lucas's pack and the rogues to meet us head-on. I smirked coldly as I saw them shifting into wolf forms, including the arrogant Lucas himself, readying to receive our assault.
But then my stride faltered as a shocking sight made my hackles rise. Emerging from behind the snarling wolf lines were members of Lucas's pack armed with...silver bullets. I felt a surge of dread as my eyes landed on a familiar face among them - Mia, Freya's own traitorous sister.
A growl ripped from my throat as fury consumed me.
One by one, I watched in horror as my wolves took searing hits from the vile silver bullets. Agonized howls rent the air as the poisoned ammo found its marks. My pack thrashed and convulsed, driven into unbearable pain by the metal.
A chilling realization washed over me. Had her vague warnings merely set us up to be slaughtered by her mates? But why would she bring my son back? Nothing makes sense.
My mind reeled at the possibility of such an insidious betrayal.
My heart shattered watching brave warriors fall to the ground, the life rapidly leached from them by the toxins. Treacherous cowards! They would pay for this atrocity with their own bloodied hides.
With a roar of purest fury, I locked eyes on the smirking form of Alpha Lucas. That wretched cur stood amid the gunfire, reveling in our agony like the sadist he was. Unforgivable!
Dodging the next streak of silver with preternatural swiftness, I charged straight towards that vile beast. Bullets whizzed past me as I rapidly closed the distance. My bloodied maw stretched wide, fangs yearning to tear out that smugly beating heart.
I was locked in a raging whirlwind with that smug bastard Alpha Lucas. My jaws snapped at his throat as we grappled and rolled, each of us going for the killing blow. The reek of his fear was sweet - the arrogant prick knew I was about to end his pathetic reign.
Just as I reared back to rip out that smugly beating heart, a searing line of pure agony lanced through my side. An anguished howl tore from my lungs as blazing poison flooded my veins.
One of those cursed silver bullets had struck true.
I tumbled off Lucas, the world already graying out from the potent toxins invading my body. Everything tilted dangerously as I convulsed on the blood-soaked ground. Dimness crept in, more terrifying than the pain itself.
Freya...our son... Their faces wavered in my fading mind like spirits leaving this plane. My gorgeous mate, the reason I lived to win this battle...my child, the future I'd kill to protect.
With a snarl of fury, I summoned every last reserve of strength. If I went down here, that weasel Lucas was joining me in oblivion. Lunging with a final burst of rage, my bloody fangs aimed to tear that bastard's throat out.
Lucas's eyes went wide with shock and fear as my jaws closed in...then everything mercifully went black.