Aaron's pov
The gunfire echoed around us, each shot cutting through the night air like a vicious reminder of the battle unfolding. My grip on my sword tightened as I stood, watching my men scramble to defend the pack from the invasion. Xaden and Logan, the two brothers I’d sworn to take down, were here, and their presence felt like a storm approaching. They didn’t come for land. They didn’t come for territory. They came for Ryker, their brother, but to them, I was a weapon, a bargaining chip they couldn’t stand.
I clenched my jaw, knowing they wouldn’t stop until they had him in their grasp. Ryker wasn’t a brother or a friend, he was my greatest enemy. They’d made their move, and now I had to act fast to bring them down.
"Alpha Aaron," one of my men yelled, his voice strained and filled with urgency. "They’ve blocked the rear! They’re after Ryker!"
I didn’t have time for niceties or strategies. "Get him out of there," I ordered, my tone firm and commanding. My gaze swept across the compound, taking in the turmoil and the increasing number of enemies closing in. I had to reach Ryker before it was too late.
"Where is he?" I demanded, adrenaline surging through me.
"At the back," the soldier replied, his words tumbling out in a rush. "They’re surrounding him. We can’t—"
I cut him off, not needing to hear more. I pivoted and plunged into the chaos, navigating through the cacophony of gunfire and the haunting cries of those who had already fallen. My focus was singular and unwavering.
Their brother is locked up in the rear of the compound, protected by a handful of my men. But that wouldn't be enough. If Xaden and Logan were as desperate as I knew they were, they would stop at nothing to tear through us, to get their hands on Ryker. They didn’t care who got hurt in the process. They just wanted their brother back.
I found Violet standing near the rear gate, her face a mask of frustration. She was struggling against the guard holding her back, her fiery eyes locked onto mine as soon as I approached.
"Violet," I barked, my voice sharp. "Where’s Ryker?"
She glanced behind me, then back at me. "Look for him yourself.”
I cursed under my breath, my mind already spinning with plans of how to move him. Violet wasn’t one to give in easily. She would fight until her last breath to protect Ryker. But even she knew we were running out of time.
"Lock them in my chamber," I ordered, before anyone could protest. "Violet, Ryker—now!"
The guards moved quickly, the chains on their legs rattling as they dragged them away from the chaos. My grip tightened around my sword, and I felt the anger bubbling in my chest. I knew what would come next. Xaden and Logan wouldn’t stop until they had their brother back. They would burn everything to the ground if it meant getting him.
Violet’s eyes met mine one last time, full of unspoken words, her mouth set in a hard line of resistance. But there was nothing she could do. Not here, not now.
As soon as they were secured, I didn’t waste another moment. I had no time for hesitation. I strode to my car, the engine roaring as I pushed it to its limits, my hands tight on the wheel. The faster I moved, the closer I would get to Xaden and Logan.
When I arrived at the meeting place, I immediately knew they were waiting for me. The clearing was empty at first, but the air was thick with the scent of hostility. I could feel the presence of the two brothers before I even saw them. It was their arrogance that gave them away—always so sure of themselves, always a few steps ahead. But not tonight.
As I stepped out of the car, my senses heightened, I saw them—Xaden and Logan, standing side by side. Xaden was the first to make a move, his eyes dark and full of rage. He was the quieter one, the more dangerous of the two. Logan, always with that cocky grin, was already smirking, as if this was some kind of game.
I didn’t give them the chance to say anything. I raised my gun and fired. The bullet slammed into Xaden’s arm, and he let out a sharp hiss of pain.
"Did you really think you could keep him from us, Aaron?" Xaden growled, his voice dark with barely-contained fury. He barely flinched as his wound began to heal itself. Typical of the stubborn bastard.
I didn’t flinch either. "I’m not here for a negotiation," I snapped. "You want Ryker, but you’ll have to go through me."
Logan stepped forward, eyes gleaming with something darker. "You think a bullet’s going to stop us? You can’t hold onto him forever, Aaron. You know that."
I fired again, this time grazing Logan’s shoulder. He staggered back but didn’t fall. The bastard just laughed it off, like it was nothing.
"You’re making a mistake," Logan said, his grin widening. "We didn’t come here to kill you, Aaron. But if you make us—"
“I don’t give a damn what you came for.” My voice was low, a dangerous calm settling over me as I took another step forward, my gun still aimed. “Ryker’s mine to kill, feed on, and you won’t lay a finger on him. Not while I’m breathing, I want to kill him just the way you killed my soldiers”
Xaden’s face twisted in something between disbelief and rage, his hands flexing as he clenched his fists. "You think you can keep him locked up forever, Aaron? He belongs with us. Not you."
"You’re wrong," I said, my voice growing darker with every word. "He’s your brother. He’s always been your brother but he is also my prey. And if you think I’m going to let you tear apart everything I’ve built just to get what you want, then you are a joker.”
I could feel the heat of the situation closing in, each second dragging by with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
Logan’s grin was still there, twisted and cocky. Xaden’s stare was colder, more calculating, as if he was already mentally carving out the path to Ryker.
"Enough of this game," I growled, my voice hard and final. I wasn’t going to let them toy with me any longer. They could threaten, they could mock, but they weren’t walking away with my brother.
I pulled my radio from my belt, my fingers pressing the buttons with a practiced speed. I wasn’t about to give them the chance to take anything from me.
"Bring only Ryker to the front," I barked into the device, my voice like steel. "Leave Violet where she is, and don’t let anyone get in your way."
The order was clear. My guards understood. They knew what this was about. I could already hear the scramble of feet over the radio as the soldiers made their move.
The moment I finished speaking, Xaden’s expression flickered—an imperceptible shift. He must’ve realized what I was doing, what I was planning.
"Ah, so this is how it is, then?" Xaden’s voice was icy, cutting through the air like a blade. "You really think we’re just going to stand here while you make this little game of yours?"
I didn’t answer him. There was no point. Few minutes later,the sound of footsteps approaching from the rear gate signaled that my guards were bringing Ryker to me. He was safe, for now. But it didn’t matter how much time we bought—Xaden and Logan would never give up. They had made that clear from the moment they set foot on my territory.
Seconds felt like hours as the sound of boots on gravel grew louder. I could hear the guards’ quickened breaths, the urgency in their movements. Ryker appeared.
His face was bruised, a few cuts marrying his features, but his eyes—they still held that fire.
He was shackled, his hands bound together, but it didn’t make him look weak. It only made the fury behind his eyes more palpable, more dangerous.
"Ryker," I said, stepping forward, my gaze hardening. I didn’t want him to think for one second that I wasn’t doing everything I could to protect him. "Stay close. Don’t provoke me."
"You’re making a mistake, Aaron," Xaden said, his voice colder than ice, and for the first time, I saw a hint of something resembling uncertainty in his eyes. "He’s our brother. He doesn’t belong with you."
I snapped my finger and my guards pushed Ryker to them. “Stay away from my pack and I will stay away from yours.”
“Fine.”